What do current Imperial medics advise prospective students?

[PROWESS]

Hey there!

I'm hopefully starting medicine at Imperial starting October., absolutely thrilled!

For those of you who are already medics please share your thoughts, or any advice you can offer that you feel is valuable. For prospective students like me, please ask all questions on your mind.

I'm going to start with this question. What advice would you give us concerning preparation for med school, do you regret not buying books or doing some reading?

thanks!

[agneishd]

Only if you haven't done A-level Biology, I'd say it would be worth reading some of that up. Otherwise, have fun while you can*.

*That's not to say you don't get the opportunity during 1st year...

[PROWESS]

is there a list of books that in 1st year, maybe I'll get one or two and start reading.

[agneishd]

You don't really need to buy any books for first year. Not much worth reading from now, honestly! It goes at such a pace that it's pretty much pointless.

The books that the lecturers often use diagrams and text from are vander's physiology, albert's essential cell biology, langman's embryology, etc. - not really worth buying any of them (can just get them from the library). You could read some concepts people find more difficult to get, such as ECGs or immunology, but there's plenty of time for that during next year.

[mintllama]

sheesh, one needs to chill out and de-geek after a levels! i would vomit if i saw another textbook.

[hasan.asif]

sheesh, one needs to chill out and de-geek after a levels! i would vomit if i saw another textbook.

you can sooooo say that again!

[PROWESS]

hehe, sorry about that mintllama., its not that I don't want to have fun, relaxation is part of the summer holiday, and is absolutely vital after such tough A levels, but honestly, if you're thinking of becoming a doctor, then reading will inevitably be a significant part of the rest of your life. I just thought there is enough time to do everything in this holiday, so I should utilise it to start getting used to what med school is going to be like.

Hope you did well in your A levels and looking forward to seeing you in fresher's week.

[PROWESS]

hey agneishd, thanks for the advice, I guess I'll take it slowly then and enjoy it as it comes!

[blue]

i'm a final year (eek sounds so weird to say that for the first time) and i'd definitely advise against doing any reading. you'll have plenty of time during the year to do so. and i didn't start buying books until 3rd year. all the other years i borrowed from the library and renewed all year. i'd say enjoy your next few summers, cos come the summer of 4th year, they won't be very long at all! i regret not making my summers more memorable.

between 5th and 6th year, you only get 2 weeks summer hol, and that's after a hectic 5th year of 1/2 weeks christmas, 2 day easter (not including weekend) and 1 week 'floating week' (can take off whenever you want within reason). argh...it's been a long year...

[moonshine]

Don't come if you don't desperately want to do medicine... you'll hate it.

Don't listen to people who say they're not working. YOU WORK!!!!

Keep on top of lectures on a weekly basis even if you don't actually make it to them... but try go to practicals!! Don't ever miss anatomy... don't know why anyone would cos the sessions are sick but they help your understanding SO much.

Once you get here you will forget all this advice :S So all i can say is HAVE FUN---ITS FIRST YEAR!!!!! Get pissed when you can, and play safe

N.B its hard to get into imperial [so WELL DONE ] but its piss easy to get kicked out

Good luck... see you next year!

xx