These are some general questions I answered for other people, I hope they help, and if you have anymore questions please feel free to ask.
PBL is interesting. I don't know if I like it much, but it does
have some attractive values. The work you do for PBL is a part of
your study time, since you get a sheet at the end of every case with the learning issues you should have covered in the case. So some of the research is very useful, but a lot of the time you go down the wrong track and don?t cover a lot of the necessary learning issues. The best thing about PBL is that it gives you a lot of time to study on your own for the USMLE, as I have already started doing. Also, it gives you a lot of free time when you are not close to exam periods. PBL hours out side of class vary a lot because it depends on how many learning issues your group comes with for that day. You will meet twice a week and three hours each time for PBL. There are really no assignments or projects that come with PBL or the course for that matter! The group will decide how they want to approach PBL and whether they want to divide up the learning issues. I don't recommend that since someone might get the most important issue and
you would lose out on learning it on your own. Lectures are awful for the most part. There are a few good ones but it is medical school and this many poor lectures isn?t not tolerable. But the best thing about it is that you will have time to study for the USMLE. By the way, PBL is mandatory attendance, which I find to be a joke considering we are adults in medical school, and should be able to decide what is best for us when it comes to learning.
2)The only time you might have an assignment or project is when you choose your elective, which is 3 units of any subject from a list of courses. (Biochem, Pharm, International Health, Pathology, etc. --You choose). But the electives are average at best and are quite disorganized. Once again you will have lots of leisure time, but you will get out of it what you put into it. Study smart and play hard!!!
3) The sports facilities are far below average. The weight room is not Gold's Gym. But they offer lots of sports clubs (sailing, aikido, wrestling, basketball, soccer, tae kwon do, fencing and much more) They are not free but are reasonably priced and the instructors are all licensed pros. I pay about 70 AUS dollars per year for the gym, basketball and squash courts. They do have aerobics. They do have a treadmill, cycle, and a versa-climber.
4) As far as how the ozzie students feel about us in their
classes.... well I am the wrong person to ask. There is a lot of animosity from them and they always make fun of americans, so if you are not from the US, then you will be okay. I knew the arabs hated the US but I never expected it from the ozzies. They seem to think that all foreigners got in just because they paid full price for their education. But if you ignore the students (I call them pseudo-intellectuals), you will be fine, because the locals here have no problems with us and are kind overall. Also, in fairness, not all the students are like that, as some are really great. But also, the instructors seem to make lots of anti-american comments often. Even though they recommend American text books, and American/Canadian websites for good study and research material. It is a love-have relationship. Mostly jealousy. But like I said, if you aren't American, you will be fine. Well I hope this helped. All, in all it is an ok school with lots of clinical experience, and that is what is most important when you start practicing one day. But don?t expect any help with the USMLE here. They offer no such thing. And the
5) Public transport is pretty shabby.
You could wait for some time depending on the distance
and where the stop is. there is no late bus transport so
if you study late at school, you will have to get a ride from
someone or catch a cab. But there are lots of places to
rent close to school. But there are lots of bicyclists
here, and biking around is okay. A car isn?t absolutely
necessary. But it is nice to have if you want a change of
scenery., which you will need after a semester of the
same old stuff day in and day out.
6) About car insurance. It is very expensive if you don't
get a letter from your insurance in Canada stating that
you are a good driver, and have no accidents, or major
tickets. Also, being under the age of 25 is a factor here.
that causes a major hike in your insurance rates. You
don't have to buy insurance here though since you get
third party liability when you register your car. That
means if the other person is injured when you hit them,
the government will pay for their medical bills. But you
still are responsible for loss of work, car damage to
theirs and yours. I have full coverage here with a letter
fro my insurance carrier and my rate is 300-350 per
year. But I am also over 25. I got it for peace of mind.
Parking on campus is about 70-90 dollars per year. All monetary amounts that I mention are in AUS dollars.
But Like I said, if you get here early enough, you can
find a place near campus, and walk.
7) There is very little culture in Adelaide. It is a
predominantly caucasian place and they seem to discriminate
toward aboriginals, and other cultures. But there are
Italian, Greek, and Asian communities, albeit very small.
We have a few aboriginals in our class but they are
1/16 aboriginal, or less and don?t look it at all. Our class
has some Indians(2), and Middle Easterners(3), but
that is it. Not very diverse for a class of 100+.
8) About work. Good luck. It isn?t easy to find work here unless you are young and are willing to do anything. They want the younger people sine they can pay them less. There is some sort of law here that entitles you to receive more pay the older you are. Good law in some aspects, but now the employers discriminate against older people.
Hope this helps.
