SSC's - not sure

**gradmed** · 05-04-2008, 02:24 AM

Did anyone get this clear at their interview, or can current students clarify for me: are the SSC's usually full time or do you run with several things simultaneously?

In case that question isn't clear, I am asking if you start an SSC and run with it exclusively for x weeks, or if you work on it (say) 1 day a week while doing several other things as well.

Anyone know?

**fishie** · 05-04-2008, 05:05 AM

In phase I you do 3 SSCs a year. Two of them are run over 10 weeks with time set aside on Wednesdays mornings for them (although you won't necessarily have sessions each week). The last SSC is 'intensive' and is two weeks straight, which has nothing else happening at the same time (except revision!).
In phase II you do 3 SSCs a year again, but this time they're all intensive and last 3 weeks.

**MedMadMan** · 26-04-2008, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by gradmed

Did anyone get this clear at their interview, or can current students clarify for me: are the SSC's usually full time or do you run with several things simultaneously?

In case that question isn't clear, I am asking if you start an SSC and run with it exclusively for x weeks, or if you work on it (say) 1 day a week while doing several other things as well.

Anyone know?

My three SSC's this year were: term 1) the myelin sheath, term 2) primary school project, and term 3) ancient medicine. The first two were run on wednesday mornings over the whole term. The third one was run over a two-week block at the beginning of term 3. I actually prefered the wednesday morning SSC's than the intensive block.

**Lovejones07** · 03-05-2008, 11:38 AM

how hard is it to get onto the french ssc? I know there are limited places but that would be sooo much help to me.

**fishie** · 03-05-2008, 12:32 PM

It depends which French SSC you would apply for...
Level 1 and 2 (beginner and GCSE level) run in Phase 1, and AFAIK are quite easy to get onto (at least I got onto it easily enough!!).
Level 3 runs in Phase 2, but only in year 3, and is in danger of not running this year due to lack of interest.

**.:Malik:.** · 26-12-2009, 04:50 AM

how exactly are SSC's taught?

**Dr.Thor** · 26-12-2009, 03:10 PM

I assumed they were entirely independent study based. After all SSC = student selected component. May be wrong though!

EDIT: After actually reading the thread, obviously i'm wrong...

**yummycustard22** · 26-12-2009, 04:34 PM

They are taught in a range of ways, depending on what youare doing. For example, I am doing dissection in January and this is not really taught. We all get a prosection to dissect and at the end we have to do a 15 min presentation. We will be able to ask lab technicians, but i expect textbooks will be used to teach ourselves. Whereas if you are doing something like the history of medicine, you attend lectures and workshops. The uni find tutors who are willing to run the SSC and so they generally tutor the groups. Hope this helps!

**.:Malik:.** · 27-12-2009, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Dr.Thor

I assumed they were entirely independent study based. After all SSC = student selected component. May be wrong though!

yeah that's exactly what I thought :S

**.:Malik:.** · 27-12-2009, 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by yummycustard22

They are taught in a range of ways, depending on what youare doing. For example, I am doing dissection in January and this is not really taught. We all get a prosection to dissect and at the end we have to do a 15 min presentation. We will be able to ask lab technicians, but i expect textbooks will be used to teach ourselves. Whereas if you are doing something like the history of medicine, you attend lectures and workshops. The uni find tutors who are willing to run the SSC and so they generally tutor the groups. Hope this helps!

ahh okay great thanks!! and how exactly are they assesed? I know i'm probably being a right pain but do you mind telling me also how many exams you have during the year (formal exams which count towards the final degree), cheers