All final year medical students

[Dr C]

Dear All
I am a post-graduate applying for both graduate and undergraduate medicine (2008 entry). I have a BSc Biomedical Sciences (2.1) and MSc Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases (B+) and pray/hope that I'll get a place this year. My question is simply How difficult is life after medical school? Will having these qualifications (BSc and MSc) be of some help regarding job prospects? Will it make it easier to get F1 and F2 placements at all or will I still be ranked as everyone else and be in the same boat as those without these qualifications (meaning will it just be my medical degree that matters)?
In genaral, how difficult is life after medical school? How are things for you ito MMC and how do you think I'll be affected say in 4/5 years?

I would be grateful for some insight from everyone facing the same and those who are currently applying for F1 and F2 posts (final year students) and anyone who has just completed medical school (most preferably within the last few years). I thank you in anticipation of some responses.
Best wishes

EDIT: I also have a couple of publications (so far...)

[gimperial99]

Im not a final year student, I have qualified (not too long ago).

I wouldn't worry about these things. Almost everyone gets a F1 job. You would have to have done something seriously wrong not too. Life will be difficult because you will be starting on unbanded salaries. So you will get less than a nurse. They are taking away free accomodation for the first year as well. So to be honest do not expect your standard of living to increase.

[Dr C]

Phew! That's a relief (about F1 job prospects) I am glad that it works out well for all. On the other hand it does suck a bit re pay rates and accommodation so I better save up really well now and learn how to survive on a tight budget (lol), but then again medicine is a vocation so I suppose one will have to learn to make do! Thank you very much for your reply, this really helps a lot.

[DamianUK]

OK as someone who actually has the mark scheme and knows whats going on i would say.

THe marking changes from year to year, however at the moment your degree gives you extra points on your MTAS application.
I.e. if you get a 3rd you get 1 point, up to 4 points for a 1st.
If you have a masters/ PhD you get no extra points, if you have a publication in a peer reviewed journal or a national level prize you get 1 point on top.
So the most points you can gain is 5, this =5% extra on your form over someone with no degree/ intercallation/ publication/ prize.

[gimperial99]

Originally Posted by DamianUK

OK as someone who actually has the mark scheme and knows whats going on i would say.

THe marking changes from year to year, however at the moment your degree gives you extra points on your MTAS application.
I.e. if you get a 3rd you get 1 point, up to 4 points for a 1st.
If you have a masters/ PhD you get no extra points, if you have a publication in a peer reviewed journal or a national level prize you get 1 point on top.
So the most points you can gain is 5, this =5% extra on your form over someone with no degree/ intercallation/ publication/ prize.

Are you talking about the foundation year application or the ST application?

[DamianUK]

F1 application.

[Dr C]

Thank you very much DamianUK, this help a lot. Will I get a point per publication or do they just group all publications and give a point?

[auden]

this year it's one point in total for any number of publications.