Medicine: what’s better, Oxford or Cambridge?

[AsPerMyLastEmail]

DS wants to study medicine. For certain reasons beyond academics & reputation, he and I think Oxford or Cambridge may be a good fit for him. He’s Year 11 now so will be doing proper research nearer the time. Out of idle curiosity, I’d appreciate thoughts on which of the two is better for medicine. With the obvious caveat that ‘better’ is partly subjective.

No you didn’t confuse me @orangenasturtium I got what you were saying.

@goodbyestranger I meant that it is ironic that lots of posters gave good advice based on an understanding of how the system works that you dismissed as wrong based on the fact that you don't remember your DS worrying about the FP points system, however, the changes to the system mean that you were right. But purely by chance.

I disagree. Obviously I think my advice given in relation to the points system was better than the advice to which you refer, or I wouldn't have given it. You have a different view of the advice proffered which is equally obviously fine.

I tend to look at the bigger picture on the whole, it's much less hassle.

As long as we can all agree that the points system is irrelevant for prospective medicine undergrads

AsPerMyLastEmail the early comments about the relative merits of Oxford and Cambridge didn't include any mention of points. The selection criteria for F1 posts is a complete red herring as far as your original question goes. The points system was just used to leapfrog to the idea that med school is irrelevant, all that matters is qualifying as a doctor, and thereby taking the thread off on a frolic of its own. It's got nothing to do with Oxford over Cambridge or the other way round.

Intercalating will still score points for specialist training.

Yes but apparently those who are serious about intercalating don’t care about those extra points

Sorry, why wouldn’t they. Not as in points for points sake, or to gain narrow advantage over others. But as in more learning around your chosen specialisation that will be helpful in the future.

I assume you’re addressing me with that @Needmoresleep? I was being tongue in cheek because you and one of two others said the other day that students didn’t intercalate for the points.
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@AsPerMyLastEmail - I don't think there is any difference in the preclinical academic medicine between Oxford or Cambridge. Look at the hospitals they will go to train clinically after their 3rd year for training. Apart from that, it really depends on which city, how far he has to travel during his training and the college he prefers. Good luck to him.

I am a consultant working in NHS and my Dd is in doing 2nd year medicine at a London university.
I would advice her to stay clear of busy big hospitals when applying for F1 jobs. It is a massive jump from being a student to being a junior doctor. I would prefer her to begin her junior doctor training in a hospital where she is looked after well, gain confidence, have time to do her exams and have some social life.
I would also encourage her to go abroad at some point in her career for training. She speaks three languages so hopefully can find a suitable place to go.
In medical profession, we know who is good and who is not good clinically and that's is what matters for most patients. This requires decent knowledge and a lot and lot of common sense and is not a preserve of just elite universities.

Thanks @ProfessorLayton1. DS is definitely keen on going abroad at some point. He’s considering doing his degree in the US. He has dual US & UK citizenship and we have family out there.