So, what's so special about Glasgow?

[psycgrad]

I live in Glasgow and I like Glasgow but I'm wondering about unique attributes of the medical course.

Sadly, i never made it to the open day as I was in a far off country and I havent visited since the uni only has one day a month and it is a general tour of the uni so a bit pointless.

I was impressed with the course details sent with my interview and they seem to have the whole PBL thing really organised (with the medical school building well tailored) with some early clinical contact but so do a lot of unis! Is there anything that people think makes glasgow particulary great or is it just an all round good egg?

Looking for input from other applicants or even some current students if you are out there, please 'wow' me! Thanks!

[heed]

i am wowed anyway - im a current student. i love the course and the place - and lets face it, you are not going to find a city with more pathology than glasgow. its an exciting place to work with many world-class and world renowned facilities and NHS Greater Glasgow are currently starting the biggest ever hospital rebuilding and modernisation program in the history of the NHS. thats just one thing though. im sure if you came for the day and could see round and talk to students you would get a better feel for it. they can arrange one-to-one tours with current students if you email them.

[scohoust]

If you're from Glasgow I probably don't need to highlight any of the city's key features, which were a major pull factor in me when picking where to go.

As for the course, you really need to be pro-PBL to enjoy Glasgow. This is quite hard because I find most people don't really know what the hell PBL is until they start it. The course has input from some really great teachers, who make it enjoyable to be here.

Unfortunately, there are also those who aren't so good. This is where PBL is a great benefit - you have the skills to study a subject without any teacher, far less a good one. You're also put in a very mixed group of people who may be able to show you how to view something in a different light - almost like 8 lecturers teaching the same subject.

Have you anything specific you're not sure about how Glasgow equals somewhere else?

I'd also repeat what heed suggested about visiting and talking to as many of us as you can. There's an Applicant's day in March where people in similar situations will be looking for reasons about why to come to Glasgow, so I'd recommend that if you can make it.

[psycgrad]

Thanks heed and scohoust!

Yep, I've booked the open day off work incase i get an offer for glasgow. Got my interview in a few days so was just trying to think what i might say if they asked why glasgow uni? There's the usual about PBL being an active learning method etc. but wasnt sure what else i could say as that could be said about a few unis!

Forgot about the new hospitals! I was on a nhs corporate induction day for my auxiliary job a month ago and they were talking about the developments. That's quite exciting! Do you know where the new hospitals are going to be? I know there is the new gartnavel royal which is already built. I expect the other hospitals arent due for completion till 2012 or something!

How many lectures do you get a week in first year (and later years)? Do you find you are learning enough with PBL? is there much anatomy? I am slightly apprehensive about PBL but i'm good at researching and self directed learning (i think!) plus I think it is something you can only know if you like when you try it. I never has a problem with lectures in my undergrad but PBL is the way forward in terms of evidence based practice and that! Hopefully there will be more guidance and info about it at the offer day if i get that far!

[heed]

The victoria is being rebuilt across the road from the current hospital.

Stobhill is havind the same as the victoria.

The Southern is going to be ripped down and rebuilt across the road. Will be one of europes biggest hospitals (the new childrens hospital and maternity hospital on the same site).

The Western is being moved to Gartnavel and the western demolished.

The royal is being overhauled (much of this already happening)

All to be completed by 2012.

[doc99]

Originally Posted by heed

The victoria is being rebuilt across the road from the current hospital.

Stobhill is havind the same as the victoria.

The Southern is going to be ripped down and rebuilt across the road. Will be one of europes biggest hospitals (the new childrens hospital and maternity hospital on the same site).

The Western is being moved to Gartnavel and the western demolished.

The royal is being overhauled (much of this already happening)

All to be completed by 2012.

The Southern will become the BIGGEST in the UK

[psycgrad]

Exciting!

[dehydrated water]

indeed, it is very exciting, although i wouldn't like to be the poor doctors stuck in the transfer of services, thank goodness i'll be through my foundation jobs by the time they open.....!

the victoria hospital is looking fantastic so far, really huge as well, much bigger than i though a day hospital would be!!!


when thinking about hospitals linked to glasgow uni don't forget that lanarkshire has 2 new district generals with all new facilities, and of course the lovely monklands.

glasgow also has links with Dumfries, stirling, inverclyde, crosshouse, and ayr.....so theres lots of scope for studying outside glasgow in your final two years, as i'm doing for 3/4 of this year!

[sefkhet]

Originally Posted by psycgrad

How many lectures do you get a week in first year (and later years)? Do you find you are learning enough with PBL?

I can't speak for later years, but the number of lectures varies a lot in first year. For example, at the end of last term we were having two or three every week, but in the block we're in at the moment, it's more like one a week. If you'd like to see a copy of my timetable, PM me with an email address.

As far as PBL goes, there are ways and means of working out whether you're doing not enough or too much or what. There are seven other people in your group, just for starters, and for all it's a PBL course, we do *have* labs and lectures and seminars that are usually at least somewhat related to the scenarios and give a decent guide as to how much you should be doing.

I love Glasgow -- the city and the medical school. Came for an interview last January and the place felt like home, and that was really it for me. I moan about it, as we all do from time to time, but the bottom line is that I'm doing exactly what I want to do and I'm doing it exactly where I want to do it.

Originally Posted by dehydrated water

although i wouldn't like to be the poor doctors stuck in the transfer of services

Yeeeeah.

I knew it was going on, but I hadn't realised that was the projected completion date, grimaced she who should be graduating in 2012.

[graemematt]

Originally Posted by doc99

The Southern will become the BIGGEST in the UK

Is this really the case? I'd heard that was going to be Manchester Royal Infirmary, they're making that like 3 times larger than it already is, and it's already ridiculously large!

So if Southern will be the biggest hospital in the UK, it's going to be just insanely large!

Don't get me wrong, I hope you're right, would be amazing to train in such a place!!