Medical schools:unhelpful to parent students?

**aspirant doc** · 23-02-2009, 03:31 PM

Ok, recently I've had a few conversations with people about this thorny issue. So I'm just wondering what other people's experiences are.

Here's one question (of the many I could ask on this subject) to get this thread rolling...

Is it just me who asks for timetables before rotations start so that I can actually plan ahead as a responsible adult and get my single dad childcare arrangements sorted in advance and get told "No!"?

Intrigued to hear your replies...

Nick

**Frank's mum** · 23-02-2009, 03:42 PM

The timetable issue esp in clinical years is my main bugbear. An 8 o'clock start with only a day or two notice is just not on, they wouldn't do it if you were working!
Apart from that, I'd say they were as accommodating as any employer, it's nice to know where my placements are going to be etc.
My only other issue is that in the first couple of years the exams were directly after the school holidays, so my poor boy had to go to holiday club so that I could revise.

**aspirant doc** · 23-02-2009, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Frank's mum

The timetable issue esp in clinical years is my main bugbear. An 8 o'clock start with only a day or two notice is just not on, they wouldn't do it if you were working!

Agreed. Even finding out on the Friday before the rotation starts on the Monday would help! It's not as if the information isn't there on Friday; doctors are not scurrying around on Monday morning allocating us to groups/wards/consultants etc, it's all done by then.

It's the can't-be-bothered factor coming into play...

**Tangliss** · 25-02-2009, 05:22 PM

I have not started Clinicals yet, so can't comment. So far I have found my medical school very supportive in terms of my current pregnancy. As I can't afford to take a year out, nor do I want to, I am taking 10 weeks off at the start of my fourth year, which I will make up during electives in order to graduate when I should in 2011. I am also going to be based in Nottingham for the whole of my 4th year as a result, and have also been told if I am not able to physically do my OSLER in late june, as baby is due early July, I don't have to and I can sit it in Sept. So all-in-all, so far so good

**Kim leanne** · 26-02-2009, 03:28 PM

I agree with the timetable problem - i am in preclinical years and even the lecture timetable seems to be hidden from us until the last minute.

My main problem at the moment is that the school my son is due to start at won't tell me whether he can start in Sept or will have to wait till January because his birthday is in April. I would like him to start in sept because as well as him being completely ready to start school, it would save us £1000 in child care!! But the school haven't decided how many children are starting in Sept and how many in Jan yet.