South thames foundation school

**dudey** · 06-09-2007, 08:56 PM

Hi,
I've just finished my third year of medicine, I have 3 years to go till i apply for a foundation post (I am doing a BSc next year). I was just wondering how hard it is to get into the south thames foundation school?

In my medical school, the 3rd year and 4th year results and SSM results contribute towards our ranking. I am pretty much a 2nd-3rd quartile student. I understand that elements of the application form change yearly, but I am one to plan ahead for these things. Is there anything I can do to enhance my chances of getting into STFS? Would anyone who has applied/ got a place in the STFS like to share their experiences?

Cheers

**Clarkey** · 06-09-2007, 09:47 PM

Oh noooooooo i have competition already!

I don't have any advice sorry. I'll just be applying at the same time as you. Roll on 2010 eh?

**Gmed** · 06-09-2007, 10:51 PM

I'm not sure if you are aware, but South Thames covers a truly massive area as it combines the old SW Thames and SE Thames Foundation Schools. I imagine there would be more competition for the jobs based on hospital location rather than the Foundation school itself (i.e. more competition for the most popular specialties in London hospitals, less for those based in more peripheral hospitals like Maidstone etc).

**dudey** · 06-09-2007, 11:59 PM

Thanks for your responses. I am thinking of neurosurgery/ general surgery, how popular are these? I am confused about the MTAS application. Do we specify the exact hospital we want AND what speciality?

I thought you just applied to a foundation school, and what you did covered aspects of everything. I do not want to work in CENTRAL london, I was thinking more of the Princess Royal Hospital/Lewisham (NOT as far out as Maidstone).

**Spencer Wells** · 07-09-2007, 12:13 AM

You don't apply for a specialty for foundation posts.
In final year of medical school you will firstly apply to a foundation school. Once accepted, you then select foundation jobs inside that foundation school.
You won't get to select specialist posts (e.g. for neurosurgery or gen surgery training) until you are doing your FY2 year. There are 35 neurosurgery training posts nationally each year.

**Clarkey** · 07-09-2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Gmed

I'm not sure if you are aware, but South Thames covers a truly massive area as it combines the old SW Thames and SE Thames Foundation Schools. I imagine there would be more competition for the jobs based on hospital location rather than the Foundation school itself (i.e. more competition for the most popular specialties in London hospitals, less for those based in more peripheral hospitals like Maidstone etc).

That is very true. I would just be happy to get into that deanery first off. I could cope with being in maidstone/hastings etc if i got to be in London for a year.

However all of this is a long way off....I'd love to work in central london because that is home to me but hey, everything will change by the time i apply.

**roopa** · 11-09-2007, 05:02 PM

Back to the original question asked....

I think the answers might generally apply to all deaneries...that you should have lots of eye-catching things to put into the application. I have a friend who didn't get any of the choices last year for MTAS, then she took a year out and did an MSc at UCL and reapplied. She got her first choice (Oxford deanery) and first choice neurology F1.

She mentioned she thinks that because she was once in Oxford uni (she did med there 1st yr and then dropped out), that she also went to UCL, that she took lessons to be fluent in Portuguese (and has a certificate), and got distinction in her tests at med school.

So I'm guessing you have to do quite a lot of hard work....if you want a really good chance to fight competition?