Otago HSFY chat - archive

[skyglow1]

i wasn't looking down on it, i just havent heard much about it.
Are any other HSFY 2012 staying there?
Should i take the offer?

Dude...like 2/3 of the hall is HSFY :/

 

[godoftoast]

Is there any comparative advantage of going to one hall over another in terms of academics? I dont get this hall system of yours.

 

[skyglow1]

Is there any comparative advantage of going to one hall over another in terms of academics? I dont get this hall system of yours.

No, but people look at the halls which have more students getting into med and think "oh that means I need to get into that hall" because that will somehow increase their chances of getting in. The halls just differ in their distance from uni, size, rooms, catering etc.

 

[marsupial]

Does anyone know if, starting from next year, admission into medicine at Otago requires an interview? Or could perhaps cite somewhere that states this? I have just heard a couple of people saying this, I would like to know if it's actually true.

 

[aaa24]

I lol'd

 

[greenglacier]

Does anyone know if, starting from next year, admission into medicine at Otago requires an interview? Or could perhaps cite somewhere that states this? I have just heard a couple of people saying this, I would like to know if it's actually true.

I very much doubt this to be true.

 

[Hebros]

Does anyone know how many places there are for HSFYs straight up (not Maori or Rural) for Med? How many in Auckland? Are they increasing this number next year for 2013 entry? A friend is trying to decide btw the two....

 

[miss_universe]

Then maybe a hall can suit for study needs superficially, and hence help you get in..

(that was sarcastic..)

 

[sid_kudav]

Dude...like 2/3 of the hall is HSFY :/

Until after semester 1 hahaa. Well its the case in unicol anyway, started with just under 1/2... probs down to 1/3-1/5 now im guessing.

 

[marsupial]

[MENTION=12275]Hebros[/MENTION]: I'm not really sure how many places there are exactly at Otago and Auckland but I imagine that if the number differs at all, it wouldn't make a significant difference to one's chances of getting into Med. Sorry can't help you there.

By the way, would past HSFYs be able to shed light on whether the 2008 HEAL192 exam is anything like the 2009 and 2010 one?

 

[Ben]

So glad I don't have a daunting interview over my head anymore... Bring on HUBS?

 

[greenglacier]

By the way, would past HSFYs be able to shed light on whether the 2008 HEAL192 exam is anything like the 2009 and 2010 one?

The 2008 exam was quite different from the 2009 exam, and I suspect your exam will be closer in nature to the 2009 one. I posted some details of the 2009 exam on this forum last year in the HSFY thread - you'll be able to dig the post up if you have a look.

 

[skyglow1]

I felt 2008 was a nightmare in some parts but 2009 didn't sound that much better either.

 

[marsupial]

@greenglacier : Thank you! It was easy to find too
[MENTION=3119]skyglow1[/MENTION]: It seems as though the final epi exam has always been a bit of a shocker hasn't it The 2008 paper seems reasonable overall but the questions on the content-specific lectures are a little daunting, which is what I'm reaaaaaallllly worried about- not knowing what they actually want you to get out of the content-specific lecture.

 

[greenglacier]

I think it's very individual. Some students would have found 2008 significantly easier than 2009. Others (myself included) would have found 2009 significantly easier than 2008. It all depends on where your strengths lie.

 

[AmyT]

I have a quick question regarding the epi exam as well.. I understand that the MCQs test the lectures after the terms test so will include those content-specific lectures, but do the short answer questions also test specific points or are they more general ideas? Thanks.

 

[bulbus]

Hey @marsupial , what page was greenglacier's advice on?
Thanks^_^

 

[marsupial]

[MENTION=12481]bulbus[/MENTION]: I have no idea, but I copied it, so I'll PM it to you

 

[Hebros]

Yepp. I'm looking for the same thing.:unsure:

 

[greenglacier]

I've copied the post to here:

The 2009 exam was very different to any of the past exams, and compared to 2008 had a far greater emphasis on actual epidemiology (interpreting studies) than on public health. The reason why the 2008 exam is predominantly public health stuff is because that year the (33%) terms test was entirely epidemiology.

The basic structure was 6 sections:

Section 1 - MCQs, mainly on epidemiology (basic concepts of interpreting studies such as calculating various measures, choosing the best study design for a given question, interpreting stuff). Mostly straightforward but with a couple of nasty questions that really made you think. 36 marks. Not too dissimilar in style to the 2008 MCQs (but I reckon easier overall).
Section 2 - about 50 marks. Basically a load of short answer questions that seemed to be randomly selected from across the whole course. A real mix of everything. (So, much like the short answer component of the 2008 exam, but shorter, and it felt like a greater proportion of the mark had been allocated to epidemiology as opposed to public health).
Sections 3-5 - about 15-20 marks each. Each of these sections consisted of a half-page long description of a study and then a few questions relating to it.
Section 6 - the pre-released question