So, it's year three of medical school and it doesn't feel as though much has changed. Despite best intentions we still sneer at the second years, just as they sneer at the first years. Fourth years don't seem to sneer at anyone because they're too busy getting ready for finals in just over 7 1/2 months, and fifth years are so close to being called doctor that us mere mortals who still have undergraduate exams to complete no longer exist in the same world as they do.
Already third year has provided more harrowing decisions that first or second year combined. Sure, we've had to select SSMs previously, but there were finite options and an inevitable eventuality that at some point you'd get randomly allocated to something no-one else wanted to do no matter what you chose. This year the decisions we have to make are limited only by our own sense of adventure and/or knowledge.
The first decision to be made: a subject for CTM. There were only three points of guidance from the faculty: the question must address a serious health issue; the question must make sense in relation to current knowledge; and the question must be currently unanswered by other research. This leaves an absolutely massive subject base which can be covered, making the decision process so much harder. If you imagine a group of people that struggle to select seven options out of thirty, just think how this problem would be multiplied if the same people had to choose one subject from almost infinite possibilities. Stress ahoy!
The second decision to be made: a hospital for fourth year. You may or may not be aware that students at Liverpool Medical School sit their finals at the end of fourth year. There are different options for hospital allocations in fourth year, and we have to choose where we want to go. In theory this is a much easier choice to make than, for example, CTM subject. However every one of the eight hospitals has definite pros, and definite cons. And everyone knows that the subject for CTM is far less important that the way the study is designed etc. But fourth year hospitals... that could be make or break (despite assurances from faculty that everywhere has similar pass/fail rates we naturally don't believe them). A good hospital for fourth year could set you up for a fantastic career as a consultant plastic surgeon (for example). A bad hospital for fourth year could leave you behind as a forgotten staff grade working graveyard shifts in the back of beyond. Of course this very likely isn't true, almost certainly fourth year hospitals have no bearing on future career prospects. But try telling that to my friends. Hell, try telling that to me!
The third and final decision which is currently looming on the horizon for the majority of my classmates is this: where should I go on elective? This is what I meant by "sense of adventure", as the elective placement can be anywhere in the world (on the proviso that they're willing to have you of course!). This of course includes the UK, but even those people who do spend their elective in the UK will usually admit that it wasn't their first choice. This doesn't mean they don't have a fantastic time, just that they had envisaged having a fantastic time in some far-flung destination that they have been dreaming of since year one. The question can be answered in part by breaking it down to smaller, easier questions. Questions like "am I worried about a language barrier?", "do I want to go on my own?", and ultimately "will I have some amazing stories to tell to make everyone jealous?". Of course, once you decide on a continent, you have to choose the country. Then find a hospital that doesn't mind having you. It might sound simple, but that depends on how good you are at making decisions and sticking with it. Thankfully for this one my decision is made, my application sent and the confirmation waiting on a letter from faculty.
More will follow on life at Liverpool Medical School soon!
SSM: Special Study Module, four week blocks in which a particular subject is researched in depth and a 3000 word report written.
CTM: Critical Thinking Module, a "simulated grant application" exercise.
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