transferring medical school

[Vinnyj]

Hi guys and gals
I've just finished my first year at one of the London medical schools but am thinking that though I love medicine, I cannot hack any more of London. Of course I knew it was going to be expensive, but financially it is disastrous for me; rather worse than I had anticipated. Am struggling to find a job and I detest all the noise and filth of london. You may ask why I came here, but I didn't anticipate that I would feel this way about it. I used to love London as a visitor, but living here is a different matter, as I have discovered. The housing thing is a total nightmare. So I find myself wondering if it is possible to transfer. Am on an integrated PBL based 5 year course. Not sure where I'd transfer to, anywhere not in London! any info appreciated,
V

[FruitcakeLiz]

i know you've got to have a pretty good case to transfer e.g. in your case show it's affecting your psychologically and financially, then it's a case of finding a course compatible/similar to yours that might accept you and then you'd have to go about getting them to take you. I don't think it's very easy at all, but if you're that desperate do some reseach and try and find someone understanding at your medical school to talk to about it.

[Giggy]

As far as I know most medical schools do not allow course transfers as the courses all have a different structure. Therefore in a transfer it may lead to missing something which later turns out to be important.

They may allow a transfer where there is a good case but it comes down to each individual school and they may ask you to start from year 1 again. I have no idea.

Probably best to enquire with individual universities. Definitely don't do anything untill you have another medical school who have said they will take you on though, the majority of schools will not take in people who drop out from another school.

[jamiewallis]

I think your best bet would be to finish year 2 in London, and then look at transferring to a non-London medical school for clinical medicine. Obviously medics transfer to London from Oxbridge, but I know it also works the other way. For instance, I know of a person who went from King's to Oxford at the end of year 2 (she had always planned to do clinical medicine in Oxford). I also know of someone who went from King's to Southampton, this time because she had a young family and wanted to move closer to home. I think your reasons are pretty valid reasons for transferring and I'm sure you could argue a case. Why don't you email some of the medical schools you would consider transferring to and see what they say?

Good luck,

Jamie

[elles]

Originally Posted by jamiewallis

For instance, I know of a person who went from King's to Oxford at the end of year 2 (she had always planned to do clinical medicine in Oxford).

I wonder if we have a mutual friend? She's probably not typical in terms of background though, as evidenced by doing it after Year 2 of the medical course - transfer to clinical school here (& I suspect Cambridge too) requires an 'approved Honours degree' in addition to preclinical qualifications.

Information re. Clinicals at Oxford: Study Clinical Medicine at Oxford

[Everhopeful]

you had any luck? Heard you'd found a flat so hope you're settling in... Roll on September!

[jonnym]

This article might interest you- sBMJ | Transferring between medical schools
Good luck!