Hello I'll be having my IMU interview in 3 weeks' time.

May I ask do most students get within their top 3 choices of PMS? If you do well academically and in your ECAs, will you be able to secure one of the top 3 choices? Someone in this forum said that EACH school takes some weak and some strong students - I do not think this is true, because if you are strong, you get ranked higher, and therefore, if all strong students apply to the more 'sought-after' or reputable schools as their top 3 chocies, they will in fact attain what they want! My top 3 choices are Edin, Glasgow, and Dundee in order of preference. I understand that some 'A' students may not get their choice, probably because their personal statement does not contain enough volunteer work, etc.

I am actually an Aussie citizen, so I don't think I will be matched to the Aussie schools, and Thomas J in US doesn't take international students, only M'sians. Therefore I will have all UK schools, one Ireland (Galway) and Canada (Dalhousie). I would prefer to study and live in the UK, therefore the UK schools will make up my top 14 choices. Hence I don't see any problem getting one of the top 14! However, must I still list Aussie schools as part of the process, or will I have to simply ignore them and list the 16 schools that are left?

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Added on October 6, 2012, 3:00 pmAlso, does anyone know why U of Manchester is so popular among IMU-PMS students?

This post has been edited by aong: Oct 6 2012, 03:00 PM

For the PMS programme: If I work reasonably hard, will I be able to get into a UK uni if I list all 14 UK unis first? Sorry if it sounds like a silly question.

I am an Aussie citizen, so I cannot apply for Aus or NZ unis. Therefore, I am only able to apply for 14 UK unis and 1 Irish and 1 Canadian unis. So, I think my chances should be quite high, if I list all 14 first?

YAY !

Well I hope to do my foundation programme there, and do my specialty thereafter - will take about 13 years in total including first 5.5 years in the bachelor's degree! And who told you UK degrees can't be recognised here. It has been reported that Aus are looking avidly for UK doctors BECAUSE their degrees are recognised. Australia are partners with the UK fyi. There has been a lot of exchange between the two countries, in terms of doctors moving down from the UK, and doctors moving up to the UK to work.

Well.... whatever the case is, I always have dreamt of doing my training in UK, because it is world-class. Life is only given once - we must seek the best I'm not disparaging Australia, but given parental and their financial support (at least for the MBBS alone), I would rather go there. Plus, I want to experience living in the UK for some time. If you're clever, you can always pass the tests to be registered by your own country again. I know you will say that there is a shortage of jobs for international students, but I will somehow find my way around. It's only 5 years from now before I graduate - hard to say too much. I'm more a British at heart than Australian, anyway. (sorry australians)

I've just had my IMU interview. I applied for the PMS programme. Initially when I rang up to confirm, one of the staff told me that I will definitely be matched to one of the PMS. However, when I asked the interviewers today, they said that those who perform poorly or do not meet the partner schools' requirements will have to stay in M'sia for the next 2.5 years. I am doing a Bachelor of Science currently, and my average is around 85.5% for all units - if I maintain this standard, it shouldn't be a problem for me to enter a PMS right? I need to confirm this, because I don't want to be 'tricked'!

I understand that, but if you work hard and meet the requirements, you can get a PMS right? I don't see why I'm not able to since I have scored very well in my Science degree, and every year many IMU students who get only a B average get a PMS.

So you think I should be daring to accept the offer if given one? I'm clearly a very hard worker - I got a TER of 98.9%, and my BSc is currently averaging on 85.5%. I don't want to go for this PMS programme (I'm from Australia) just to end up in M'sia in the end! Anyway, like I said, from people I have contacted, most people with even a B average get a PMS, isn't that so?

Because I didn't do extremely well in my sciences for a levels.. only got 70+
And, if I want to go for the graduate entry, I would need honours, which I will have to take another year to do, and moreover sit the UKCAT or GAMSAT .... therefore the admissions process may not be as simple as IMU's. GIven the competition as well, it is tormenting for me to wait another year. Moreover, many reputable graduate-entry schools do not take in international students.

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Added on October 22, 2012, 8:06 pmYes I am Aus citizen. Correct - I failed to get into undergrad med school here because I did not do well in the UMAT even though I attained a TER of 98.9. I believe I will not get stuck in IMU because I am very able academically, and will attain a place in one of the partner schools. It's only that I am not good at "IQ" tests such as the UMAT, even though some may not say it is difficult or it tests your IQ. I hope to work in the UK in the future. If I want to come back to Aus, I know that there is a process I have to go through, but as I am a citizen, and it won't be a problem.

This post has been edited by aong: Oct 22 2012, 08:06 PM

No - that's impossible! I only did the tertiary entrance exam - I just called it "A-levels" to facilitate understanding among the chat members. The interviewers asked me to check my offer in 2-3 weeks' time. Thank you. It sounds all so intimidating when all the bad news about this IMU course goes around such as not being able to get into a PMS, but given the type and no. of people who have made it, I would like to stay optimistic.

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Added on October 22, 2012, 8:17 pmOh sorry - as I said I used the term "a levels" so everyone can relate more easily. I didn't know it was graded that way.

This post has been edited by aong: Oct 22 2012, 08:17 PM

Yes, I got a TER (Tertiary entrance rank) of 98.9 meaning my average of my 4 highest-scoring subjects was around 80 plus, which qualified me to be within the top 1.5 percent of the state. I'm in WA. I would love to apply for direct entry - it's just that I have no one to talk to and advise me about this. There are so many choices, such as Aussie schools right at my door step, which I can't even enter, such that I didn't bother thinking about applying overseas. I know the competition is crazy also, so what's the point. IMO the UKCAT is 10 times easier than the UMAT - I just haven't done it yet, but I've seen sample questions and taken a look at practice books. I really wish I can do direct entry, but I'm getting older and what if I don't get in again?!?! Waiting too long is crazy. Anyway, I'll try IMU, but meanwhile I'm also waiting for my Aussie graduate-entry school offers to be released.

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Added on October 22, 2012, 9:31 pmI'm being kind for one, not confusing anyone. In all australian states the 'a-levels' are named differently. In WA it is called TEE. You may think that there are problems staying after FY but UK-school graduates are entitled similar competition to the locals in regards to specialty training posts - please be clear on this. Like I said if you are in need in a country short of doctors, and you have the brains to be a doctor, passing a simple exam or a process is not a problem.

This post has been edited by aong: Oct 22 2012, 09:31 PM

Finally got into medicine at IMU!!! Called yesterday to confirm. The lady said YES. I'll receive my confirmation letter next week she said. For students starting in August and who want to go to UK where most schools start in Sep, will we be the earlier lot (as compared to the Feb intake in the following year) to be considered for UK places in Sep? How about those wanting to go to Aberdeen and Nottingham which start around Feb?

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Added on December 15, 2012, 6:34 amOh sorry just to add I'm in the August lot next year ie M2/13.

This post has been edited by aong: Dec 15 2012, 06:34 AM

Aberdeen is the among my top choices. Of course selection is done by the schools themselves, but if I want to go to Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Dundee (my top 3 choices), what do you think matters, personally? Do you think it is wise to wait till September or proceed straight to Aberdeen? Does one year make a lot of difference? I need to think hard about this when listing my preferences. I might be ok with listing Aberdeen first, as it is a top medical school and I won't have to wait that long, and I also get to finish one year earlier than the rest.

Yes, my preferences can change by the end of 2015. If I do well, I should get at least within my top 8 choices. So, I'm also prepared to wait till September, since all my top choices are all the 14 uk schools, then only followed by the rest.

Does anyone know how to get or have a list of the books we need to get for the first 5 semesters for Medicine?

Hello Irisss, I sent you an email. All the best!

I've heard my grandmother's friend's son whoe graduated from Jefferson is practising in the US now!

I'm an international student (from Singapore/Australia) beginning the phase one of the medicine twinning programme in Feb 2014. Is it important to have a good grasp of the Malay language for phase one? Being Singaporean I did not have a chance to learn Malay (I learnt Mandarin as a second language, first being English) except to know several common words. I know that for the first few semesters teaching is mainly in the university, but what concerns me is having to converse with patients and doctors, or having to read Malay in the hospitals especially in the last semester before we transfer overseas. Anyhow, I am very good at languages, and I don't think I'll have problem learning a substantial amount of it fast. My father and grandmother are also very fluent in Malay, so I can learn from them.