Studying medicine (1 Viewer)

[Schmeag]

Calm your farms. Anyone from any university can become a specialist!

Research isn't necessary but is smiled upon. Given how competitive specialties are consultant recommendations and interview will count for the majority of the intake criteria. If you conducted research it will help elevate if you are on par with the recommendation+interview. At the end of the day if you do research and ignore your job as a a clinicianl your consultants won't give you a great recommendation. It's all a balancing act.

Mostly agree. In most cases, the trifecta is the CV, referees and an interview. Research is one of many things that can be added to a CV, and therefore can be somewhat beneficial. However, the yield or opportunity cost from engaging in such research (spending a year to add something onto your CV) for the purpose of entering a training program, especially at a medical student level, is not as high as some here make it out to be.

Also if you fail your exam a number of times during your speciality training you may be kicked out of the program forever. For example for Basic Physicians Trainee (BPT) you are allowed 3 tries for the written and clinical exams. If you fail the 3rd time you can no longer be a BPT. Most people do pass (50%+) however there have been cases where people failed 3 times (Fail rates per year sit around 40%).

Did they change the maximum number of times a BPT can sit again? I thought it was five.

Also if you fail multiple times it's also hard to be rehired at hospitals. Something I learnt recently which adds to the pressures of life.

You're an intern. Don't feel pressured. Live life.

 

[Schmeag]

much really, the teaching can be lousy, there's not enough support, the people in medsoc are a bunch of stuck up pricks... but we work fucking hard, and have a course that is actually becoming reasonably tolerable.

Sheer curiosity, but what don't you like about the medsoc?

 

[Medman]

Mostly agree. In most cases, the trifecta is the CV, referees and an interview. Research is one of many things that can be added to a CV, and therefore can be somewhat beneficial. However, the yield or opportunity cost from engaging in such research (spending a year to add something onto your CV) for the purpose of entering a training program, especially at a medical student level, is not as high as some here make it out to be.

I think it's that as a medical student you have a lot more time on your hands so it may be easier to complete a research project. I.e. my friend and other people who completed his PHD/Masters whilst in university.

Did they change the maximum number of times a BPT can sit again? I thought it was five.

My reg just told me the other day it was just 3 but you get 3 tries each (Written and clinical). For paediatrics I know it's 5 times total.

You're an intern. Don't feel pressured. Live life.

Yeh I'm not. GP life but thinking back I probably would have enjoyed a corporate life better now. Obviously the job security isn't there but I reckon I could reach a high enough level to be stable.