Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

[jcpmed]

Hi everyone! I'm new on here.

Just want to know if anyone is starting at medway this year or any medway students or graduates.

Please get in touch!!

[pharmchick]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Hi everyone! I'm new on here.

Just want to know if anyone is starting at medway this year or any medway students or graduates.

Please get in touch!!

Hi.

Yes......I'll be starting at Medway this September, just got the timetable for Freshers Week which is starting on 22nd. Are you looking forward to it??

[jcpmed]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Are you looking forward to Medway? I'm apprehensive abit. 4 years & all. Just wonder if its a good course plus do we get 'taught' ? I hope the curriculum is not purely based on self teaching e.g. PBL! Too much of that at the 'new' medical schools - you tend to suffer later on the curriculum.

[pharmchick]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

I think its a good course. I went to the open day there and I was led to believe that the lecturers were very supportive. I think most degrees are based on self teaching but at I know someone who has been a student at Medway and she said that the lecturer's staff room door was always open plus her personal tutor was always available if she had any problems. I'm hoping that the 4 years go by really quickly. Not sure if the 'new' medical schools are any different from the established ones in the way they operate.......I'm hoping not....in fact I'm hoping that because they are a new school that this will mean that the staff are still keen and enthusiastic about teaching!!!!!!

[jcpmed]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Well, that sounds promising. What I am trying to get at not all the learning/teaching is left to all the students i.e. PBL as its cheaper than didactic methods of teaching. Of course vast majority of learning is done by the student themselves etc. The information I have some people I know at other 'pbl' type courses students teaching each other 'blind leading the blind' and having a non specialist facilitator in the room - as it is cheaper than employing a full time lecturer in the field.

[pharmchick]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Really??? Don't like the idea of the 'blind leading the blind'! What is PBL???? I've checked out the staff list at Medway and everyone on it seems to be qualified in some shape or form. I know there us a lot of group work......perhaps we are expected to teach ourselves in these 'groups'...?

[jcpmed]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

There is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching ourselves in groups. what my concern is how much time is devoted to this activity compared to lecturers teaching us.

What does your friends say about the first year curriculum? The assessments & the exams etc??

What proportion is spent working in pharmacies in Hospital or community settings?

[pharmchick]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Well from what I understand the course has work placements in all four years:
1st year - 1 day in industry, 1 day in community and 1 day in hospital
2nd year - 1 week in industry, 1 week in community and 1 week in hospital
3rd year - 1 month in either of the above settings sometimes longer.

We have a dispensing exam in Dec and exams in January and April and May.
Assessment are ongoing throughout the year..........
When we get our study packs the actual lecturing hours for each module should be in there.

[jcpmed]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Thanks Pharmachick!

That sounds very promising. I have a friend at medical school, placements are 1 day a week in a clinical setting from day one of medical school and this increases exponentially over the next 5 years.

In Pharmacy I suppose we have alot of techical information to absorb in the next 4 years that clinical placements are shorter or contact time is limited.

From what you said the course sounds very demanding, quite alot of assessments. No pain no gain!

[pharmchick]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

thats right!! No pain, no gain! Do you think we will have enough clinical experience though?? because compared to your friend at medical school our placements seem abit limited.

[jcpmed]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Without seeming harsh I would say so. It would be great if we could spend a day a week in a hospital or community setting. To be fair thats where we will be ending in the most part.

I suppose, without knowing to much about the Pharmacy course at Medway, the training is very specialist technically. On the most part at medical school as long you can take a decent medical history & do a reasonable physical examination and can deduce a sensible diagnosis you need to see as many patients as possible. Thus the need to be in clinic is essential part of the training.

Though I hoped we would spend more time in clinic/community than PBL or the class room. Mon - Fri 9am-5pm (Wed 9-1pm) does sound very tough. Probably no time for a part time job? We'll see!!

I presume you are excited? Me too all be told. I'm so longing for the finishing line and hope the next 4 years goes smoothly!!

[pharmchick]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Yes I am very excited......and I'm sure it will go as smoothly as it can!!! The timetable is full on so I don't think there will be much time left over for a part time job. I've seen a vanancy for part time counter staff in an independant pharmacy local to me. I was thinking of applying for Saturdays. Maybe not such a good idea as I don't want it to interfere with my studies........did anyone else have a part time job during the first year??? If not I'll just have to find a way to live on the measly student loan!!!!

I'm gonna enjoy this last week of freedom before the work starts!!!! See you there jcpmed.......and all the best!

[jcpmed]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

Yes all the best Pharmachick!

[johnep]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

I worked every Saturday and in the holidays during my years at uni.
johnep

[pharmchick]

Re: Anyone going to Medway Sept 2008

really?? So it is doable then. I think I'll send in my CV in because the thought of gettin by on that student loan is really scary, plus I think I'll learn loads if I get the job. I here pharmacy counter staff don't earn that much but every penny counts especially in this credit crunch....