The FAQs
We’ve complied and answered the questions most commonly asked by those looking to intercalate or are currently intercalating, including “is it worth intercalating”, “can I do a non-science course” and “should I do primary research”.
1.Can I do a non-science course?
Absolutely! Pick something that you’re going to enjoy, be it neuro, anatomy, management, political sciences, theology, history of art, engineering or language. However, if you’re career oriented and already know your aspirations; i.e. want to be a neurologist for e.g. then doing neuro for your intercalation could carry some weight later on by increasing your scientific knowledge of the field and boosting your applications. However, other things you do during your clinical years matters more. So, take a moment to decide your priorities, consider enjoyment.
2.Is it worth intercalating?
Let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros: a.Enjoyable b.Makes your more rounded c.Get you an extra degree d.Gets you extra points for applications. Cons: a.Extra year to an already long training b.More effort. Overall: it’s definitely worth it. It’s a great opportunity to be given the option of intercalation, so unless you have a compelling reason like already having a degree etc, then I’d highly recommend going for it!
3.Should I do a research project?
Some universities offer the opportunity to do a guided research project, where you run experiments (either in a lab, hospital or in the community) to answer a objective research question. This is a fantastic gateway into research and will arm you with so many skills that will serve you well later in your career. More on this on the next post.
4.Is it hard to get back into the medic mindset after intercalation?
This can worry a lot of people when deciding whether do intercalate or not, especially at unis where it’s optional. In reality, I’ve found that it’s likely to make you more eager to want to learn clinical medicine. Also, intercalation happens in between preclinical and clinical studies, so it doesn’t really disrupt the flow that much. Clinicals are a world away from preclinical studies anyway.
5.What is the actual benefit if you’re going to end up working for the NHS anyway?
Even if you have no interest in academia, it’s becoming increasingly important to have greater academic achievements like extra degrees, masters and PhDs, especially to secure competitive consultant posts. Therefore, intercalating provides you with several things that set you apart from the crowd like professional development, wider knowledge basis and additional points.
