Sheffield for grads?

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Last day to make my decision.

Can someone give me the lowdown on what sheffield is like for grad students?

What is the nature/structure of the course?

Lastly what is the cost of living like?

Cheers

[Fabulous_Barratt]

hi

sorry if this is either information you don't need anymore or whish you'd had!

I'm a graduate who started at Sheffield in 2006 and are currently in my 4th year at med school but intercalated a Bmedsci so I'm technically a 3rd year as far as the main MBChB is concerned.

There are a fair few grads at Sheffield from diverse backgrounds. I did my first degree in nursing at hallam, there are a couple of other nurses too. Off the top of my head there is a tree surgeon, a herbalist, a pharmacist, a physiotherapist, a geographer, a fair few biomed grads, I can't think of any dentists but I know there have been in the past!

The course is good but having only ever trained as a doctor here I guess thats not the most informed of statements. I enjoy it. As a grad at times it can be a little slow and sometimes can gloss over stuff they assume you already know. This is the same for any grad and depends on the emphasis of their first degree.

I also think the course is well suited to grads because there is a responsibility on you to learn. Its not PBL but you won't pass if you don't read the material, do the ILA's and put the effort in. After the challenge of a 1st degree you will have graduate skills that allow you to study effectively and efficiently. Its also nice to know that sometimes you have to just jump through hoops to get on like you did in your last degree.

The cost of living in sheffield is very reasonable. Its far cheaper than the likes of london. Travel around the city is very student friendly both in provision and price and there are loads of things to do music scene, sports and shopping wise. With two huge universities and a massive college you can also be sure that many places and events have the student firmly in their sights.

I hope you have applied to Sheffield because I think the majority of people that train here are happy here. the course is not perfect but no where else is either.

if you need further help just PM me or reply to this thread. Best of luck with your application.

Steve

[more_eggs_please]

Hi Steve

Thanks for your informed reply. I did go ahead and put Sheffield as one of my choices so it is good to hear your thoughts. I was choosing between the likes of UEA, Brighton and Sheffield and the thing that swung it for me in the end was nothing to do with the course but Sheffield's close proximity to the peak district!

Cheers!

[mayaaa]

hiii!
so theres not many of us on this thread... but was wondering has anyone who has applied to sheffield as a grad heard anything back yet?
Im guessing they sort out all the school leavers first and then go onto the grads... :-S

did my first degree in sheffield, its a wonderful city!!

[algy_lacey]

mayaaa - I'm not sure how they decide which applications to look at first, but I don't think your graduate status has much to do with it. When I was interviewed, there was at least one other mature/graduate but as far as I know, the rest were still in school or on gap years.

However, be reassured that there is plenty of time to hear from Sheffield. They didn't acknowledge my application until I was invited for interview (I think I heard at the start of January for a late January/early Feb interview). I know of plenty of people who heard nothing at all until February/March (maybe later? I forget how late the main block of interviews go). And at least one international student was invited to interview during the summer. They seem to be a lot faster after interview though - most people I've talked with about it seem to have had offers within a fortnight (I heard after nine days).

So, while I know you'd feel a lot happier to have some offers (or even just some interviews) under your belt before Christmas, relax, breathe, and remember that there's plenty of time.

Best of luck

[mayaaa]

hey algy_lacey! thanks loads for the info, its really good to hear from someone who's been through it all, really appreciate it.
how is the course going?
also, do you remember anything they asked you at the interview?
think my ukcat will let me down so totally prepared for lots of rejection. but I thought id get prepared just in case!
thanks again! take care

[algy_lacey]

how is the course going?

It's great being a clinical student at last Not so great that we now have December exams - especially this year when we also had exams in the summer. Results are out in about an hour! I may have a different opinion about the course if I've failed

also, do you remember anything they asked you at the interview?

My interview was quite focused on my personal statement - they asked mostly about things that I'd mentioned on there. I think they also asked a bit about MTAS and Foundation training, but that was very much "the issue" of that year. I think most people find their interviews at Sheffield to be more of a friendly chat than a grilling - they already like the look of you on paper, and now they want to make sure you're as good as (or better) than the paper version. There are a couple of meaner interviewers that you might be unlucky enough to get, but even thinking of one in particular, he just wants to see that you are willing to engage in a discussion rather than just reel off answers that you might have rehearsed. I think the interview system at Sheffield is set up very much in favour of the interviewee, which is nice

think my ukcat will let me down so totally prepared for lots of rejection. but I thought id get prepared just in case!
thanks again! take care

I was the first year to take the UKCAT, and as a result, none of the universities really seemed to use it. Total waste of £60 (or whatever) as far as I was concerned. I don't know why Sheffield take such a hard line on the UKCAT, because those of us who took it first are only just in our third year. If anything, today's (Phase 2) exam results are likely to be the first real indication of what kind of doctors any of us are going to be, and therefore the first real indication of how useful the UKCAT scores are at predicting that. But our marks in two years from now will be an even better predictor, so it would make sense to me to not put too much emphasis on the UKCAT until at least 2011. Not up to me though...

[Bailey1]

Mayaaa- I am also a grad applicant to Sheffield and just heard the other day that I've an interview in Jan. From what I can gather they seem to be ranking us by our UKCAT results and interviewing in that order as I know some people who have already been interviewed who had higher UKCAT scores than me (685) and likewise some who have been rejected with lower ones - presumably at this stage no news is good news!

[mayaaa]

Hey algy_lacey, good luck with the results and all your exams! (sorry im a bit late!) you must be very stressed, but still found the time to write back to me with some more info, thank you so much! do you get time off over christmas? hope you have a good relaxing break.
do you do your clinical practice in sheffield? I have a friend who just finished and she worked in rotherham/chesterfield/other such places.
thanks for the interview info too! am still waiting with fingers crossed.

hey Bailey1, big congrats on the interview!!! im sure you will ace it
have you got a long way to travel?
my UKCAT was not great at all, 645, but I haven't had any rejection yet so still remaining (slightly) optimistic.
what was your first degree in?
algy_lacey, were you a grad too when you started?

[Bailey1]

Thanks Mayaaa!
No I've not got far to travel - I'm from Sheffield! So if anyone has any questions about the place then feel free to ask! My first degree was in (Bio)Veterinary Science at the Royal Veterinary College in London - after nearly 4 years in London I am dying to get back to the country!
What was your first degree in Mayaaa?