James Wight
Comprehensive School, Sussex
Fifth-year Medical student
(doing his second clinical
year at Addenbrooke's Hospital,
in Cambridge)
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Clare has a reputation
as one of the friendliest colleges in Cambridge, and there's a great
balance between work and social life. There are certainly lots of
essays to write, but there are ents on in the cellars
every weekend, formal halls almost every night (cheap evening meals
where you can drink too much wine with your friends), free squash
courts, and loads of different societies to join. Cheese also seems
to be very popular in Cambridge, and you are guaranteed to find
somewhere to dance to S Club if that's your thing!
The interviews can seem worrying at first, but both of mine were
quite relaxed. The interviewers won't try to catch you out, but
just want to chat to you - it's not the end of the world if you
don't know the answer! In my year, all medical/veterinary science
applicants took the MVAT before interview (a 2 hour test taken in
your school). My exam wasn't too bad, and no section required knowledge
beyond Key Stage 4 Science and Maths. This has now changed to the
new BMAT test.
There are three major areas of study in the first year of Medicine:
anatomy, biochemistry and physiology, while the second year courses
include pathology, pharmacology, reproduction and neuroscience (
http://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/sbs/facbiol/mvst/).
In the third year, you can study a subject of your choice. I chose
Pharmacology, though some people choose to study something other
than science, like Music or Classics. Some people in my year even
went to study in America at M.I.T. After your third
year, you graduate and get a BA degree in the subject you studied
in your third year (even if you have taken a science subject - Cambridge
doesn't give out BSc degrees!).
After you finish your three undergraduate years, you apply to clinical
schools in Cambridge, Oxford, or London. Wherever you go, you will
receive excellent training in clinical medicine, and over three
years you will learn the some of the skills and theory you'll need
to become a junior doctor. The lifestyle in clinical school is very
different to the three undergraduate years, with most days spent
on the wards or in clinics, plus the odd lecture block and practical
skills session. You even get the chance to spend some time outside
of Cambridge if you stay on to study at Addenbrooke's, as some of
your postings are in district general hospitals, including Ipswich,
Luton, King's Lynn and Bury St Edmunds (http://www.alternativehandbook.co.uk/).
The Addenbrooke's clinical school website has lots of details on
the course if you are interested (http://www.medschl.cam.ac.uk/).
Clare is both a great place to study and socialise. The college
has a fantastic atmosphere, and whatever background you are from,
you are sure to fit in well.
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