location location location

[beargrylls27]

hey folks, simple question, is there any reasoning applied to where we are situated for the first 2 years (exeter or plymouth), or is it random. i ask because I had my interview in exeter, and spent the day there and thought it was amazing. And having never been to plymouth as nice as i'm sure it is, i'm very nervous about being placed somewhere i've never been before. i'm going to try and head down to plymouth just to check it out because i think that's the main cause of anxiety is that i've never been there.

yeah so recap, how and when do we find out where we're going in sept.

thanks,

BearG

[Yixian]

I wrote to them before hand with a load of reasons why being placed in Exeter first would help me out a lot, and I got it, but whether that was chance or not I don't know. They didn't put me in the most Exeter-based rotation.

Anyway it's worth a try if you want to go somewhere in particular, but whilst Exeter may be very pleasant I personally find the more city like feel of Plymouth to my tastes.

[beargrylls27]

thanks for your quick reply. yeah i think it's purely the fact i've not seen or been to plymouth, and the other thing is that it adds an extra hour to my journey home.

[Yixian]

Same, that was my only reason for wanting Exeter, I wanted the hour less on the train to see my family and gf.

In terms of the two places on their own though, it's kinda true that the south west doesn't have a proper "city" as such, however Plymouth and Exeter sort of represent two halves of a pretty good city experience - Exeter has the old buildings, the nice cafés etc. but it's very small, a bit snooty and posh and it has to be said if you're nightlife involves nice classy, interesting bars you're almost shit out of luck.

Plymouth is much bigger, busier, more to do, gritty in both the good and bad ways, betters pubs and I'm told nightlife. Not sure about restaurants, but Exeter isn't bad in that area really. But the hospital in Plymouth, the Derriford, is really huge by anyone's standards, the regional centre for most things and a national centre for a couple of others - so I'm seriously pleased to be spending my first 2 clinical years there!

Also the university buildings in Plymouth are far better (some really nice), which is where you'll be spending most of your time in years 1 and 2, so that's a plus there.

I wont say anything about the infamous Plymouth CSRC for self-protection reasons

[houseMD]

Bear - don't worry about it!

I spent my first 2 years in Plym and now I'm at the end of 2 in Exe, both have their merits!

Plymouth was a fantastic place to spent the first two years - great social life, all the students are really close together, you're by the sea, it's just lovely! It does have it's gritty side - but what place doesn't? If you get clinicals here I hear it's great too, all my friends who are there love Derriford and you get the nightlife again...

Exeter is much more refined - it's a bit like Cheltenham or Bath but in redbrick?! Nightlife is okay though more cocktail bars than nightclubs, better for sports than Plym, but you're situated miles away from main campus. Again though, all my friends who did first 2 years there loved it so it can't be that bad. I'm doing clinicals there and the hospital is genuinely outstanding - it's one of - maybe even - the best in the country (by government measures that is...) and the teaching is brilliant - but they do push you extremely hard judging from what I know about the other campuses.

Truro for clinicals is lovely too - it's near a beach, what more do you need.

I think the main thing I'd say is that in the first 2 years you'll be placed somewhere, and you'll develop an incredible loyalty to that place, and will probably be very, very happy that you were placed wherever you were placed.

Hope that helps.

[beargrylls27]

hey yix and houseMD thanks both your replies are really informative. everyday more i wait for a decision from manchester, the more i'm warming to the idea of coming to peninsula. so when do you find out your location, are you told when you accept the offer. i'm wondering how getting accomodation works and stuff like that.

[Dr Noodle]

Are you serious about Wonford being one of the best hospitals in the country?? Infection control there is outstandingly bad in my honest opinion as a humble nursing auxiliary.

[ilovehotchoclate]

Are you serious about Wonford being one of the best hospitals in the country?? Infection control there is outstandingly bad in my honest opinion as a humble nursing auxiliary.

I think they mean RD&E

[The Fantastic Dr. Fox]

Are you serious about Wonford being one of the best hospitals in the country?? Infection control there is outstandingly bad in my honest opinion as a humble nursing auxiliary.

You may be in for a shock at Derriford or Treliske. Not sure if it is one of the best in country (although I dont reallly know much about anything out of the south west) but it has done ok on the government ratings (Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust)

[milly sherwood]

If you are allocated Exeter, do you have to stay in the "Medics" campus? I have always wanted to Self Cater - just to make things a bit more flexible, and from what I've heard, it is all catered.