New Zealand - Otago or Auckland University?

[Captainkok]

I need some help in choosing my university.
Will be doing a Health Sciences first year course ther (medicine intermediate year, you cannot get straight to med after high school)
Whats the best? Auckland uni or Otago?
Some recommendations and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
cheers

[sjkpark]

Originally Posted by Captainkok

I need some help in choosing my university.
Will be doing a Health Sciences first year course ther (medicine intermediate year, you cannot get straight to med after high school)
Whats the best? Auckland uni or Otago?
Some recommendations and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
cheers

Where are you from?

If you are from Taupo up, choose Auckland.

If you are from Wellington down, choose Otago.

There's no difference in terms of education, but I hear Otago is much more fun as a preclinical student. On flip side, I heard Auckland is better for clinical training. (I'm an Auckland student.)

Auckland has an interview, and your other options should you not get into med are optometry, pharmacy and nursing. (Or do BSc in biomed or something and try again)

Otago is a bigger med school, and your other options should you not get into med are dentistry, pharmacy, and physio.

No difference in terms of reputation, quality of graduates etc.

[Captainkok]

I am from auckland.

You said otago is a bigger med school. Does it mean that
it Is easier to get into med if i went to otago rather than auckland uni?

I think theres an interview for both auckland and otago for getting into med.

Can i just do a first year biomed in Auckland and then go down to otago for med?

cheers

[sjkpark]

Originally Posted by Captainkok

I am from auckland.

Then I think there'll be more opportunities for you here. Costs less if you live at home, more moral support from family and friends, more opportunity to participate in summer research (well, you can live away from home and do it but then again you'll be spending all the money earned for accommodation)and can build up relationships with people who will help you in your career.

As a school leaver in 1999, I was admitted to both UNSW in Sydney and Auckland - never regretted choosing Auckland.

You said otago is a bigger med school. Does it mean that
it Is easier to get into med if i went to otago rather than auckland uni?

Maybe, maybe not. I think there's 180/yr for Otago (+20 rural positions, I think) and 120/yr for Auckland. I really don't know. It probably doesn't matter if you are outstanding. In the past I always advised people to go down to Otago if they were "borderline," however I hear it is hard to concentrate on your studies down there. With the current system you really have to completely dedicate your medical intermediate year on being a student.

I think theres an interview for both auckland and otago for getting into med.

Ask Otago. I thought they didn't have one, but I might be wrong.

Can i just do a first year biomed in Auckland and then go down to otago for med?

No. Not possible.

cheers

Good luck

[Purifyer]

From Otago,

Agree with sjkpark. Both are good schools, Auckland seems to have perhaps more funding in research but I've never had any trouble getting involved with research at otago and otago also offers a combined mbchb/phd programme which I'm not sure if Auckland does.

I don't feel I know enough about Auckland to comment on the clinical experience there but I feel I couldn't ask for much more from Otago. I'm on a service at the moment with elective students from Oxford, Guys and Thomas (? The london one and Auckland and we are all more than comparable.

Weaknesses of Otago include (in my view) the preclinical microbiology teaching and embryology. This may have changed substantially since I was preclinical however. Also I think my pharmacology is weak but that is probably more my fault. Too many strengths of Otago to list.

I would say that I have been taught by some of the visiting Auckland specialists and they have been fantastic so I doubt you could go wrong either way.

The best med school is the one that accepts you.

Good luck.

[sjkpark]

Originally Posted by Purifyer

From Otago,

Agree with sjkpark. Both are good schools, Auckland seems to have perhaps more funding in research but I've never had any trouble getting involved with research at otago and otago also offers a combined mbchb/phd programme which I'm not sure if Auckland does.

Auckland does have MBChB/PhD option with generous funding from Paykel (as in Fisher and Paykel) Trust. However there's not many people who take up this scholarship and opportunity. There's no huge time advantage in doing MBChB/PhD vs. straight MBChB then straight PhD, so it has never been a popular option but has been done.

[Captainkok]

Right now, my goal is just to get in.

[Ezechieltey]

Umn.sorry, my I ask about the Pharmacy course of both Universities? which one would be better? base on....

-lecturer
-course teaching method
-reputation
-International recognition

I am a student just finish my year-12 in Australia, I hope anyone can provide me some information thank you

[farqueue]

Originally Posted by Ezechieltey

Umn.sorry, my I ask about the Pharmacy course of both Universities? which one would be better? base on....

-lecturer
-course teaching method
-reputation
-International recognition

I am a student just finish my year-12 in Australia, I hope anyone can provide me some information thank you

auckland

[Purifyer]

Originally Posted by Ezechieltey

Umn.sorry, my I ask about the Pharmacy course of both Universities? which one would be better? base on....

-lecturer
-course teaching method
-reputation
-International recognition

I am a student just finish my year-12 in Australia, I hope anyone can provide me some information thank you

I don't know much about pharmacy except that didn't auckland's school only start up 3-5 years ago? Otago's has been around for a million years. Could be wrong.