[Patrick Ruthven-Murray: Erfolgreich zum Medizinstudium – Wie ich mir einen Studienplatz in Deutschland oder im Ausland sichere]

 Thomas Shiozawa <sup>1

1</sup> Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Anatomisches Institut, Tübingen, Deutschland

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Bibliographical details

Patrick Ruthven-Murray

Erfolgreich zum Medizinstudium – Wie ich mir einen Studienplatz in Deutschland oder im Ausland sichere

Hogrefe-Verlag, Göttingen

Year of publication: 2013, page: 165, € 16,95

ISBN: 9783801725341

Recension

With Erfolgreich zum Medizinstudium, a handbook on applying to medical school, the experienced academic advisor Patrick Ruthven-Murray has followed up on his first, very well received book about choosing a course of university study (Was soll ich studieren?, also published by Hogrefe Verlag).

For the first time in book form, all relevant information on applying to medical school has been compiled and presented briefly and informatively. The book comprehensively lists information, ranging from the description of the application procedure via “hochschulstart.de” to the university-specific selection processes of all 35 medical schools in Germany, making a systematic and realistic assessment of the acceptance chances for an applicant possible. In doing this, the author does not sugarcoat the facts: his analysis is honest and arrives at the logical conclusion that the hurdles which must be cleared in order to study medicine in Germany are very high. Ruthven-Murray also does not shy away from suggesting that going to medical school is not a suitable option for everyone.

Reformed and model courses of study are also discussed, although the somewhat odd statement regarding these that students are potentially treated as “guinea pigs” suggests that the author has not really delved into the principles of medical education.

Even the non-traditional routes for entering medical school, which must be viewed critically, such as career change, litigation and study at a foreign university, are not only covered with a good deal of information, but also evaluated objectively in terms of risks and chances. A small weakness in the chapter on career changes is worthy of mention, since it seems the author is missing a sense of the daily routine at universities: the options for attending required medical school lectures as a student registered at another university, or even as an auditor, have been systematically eradicated by medical schools in recent years through changes to the pertinent university regulations. Mainly, this simply cannot be allowed during preclinical study due to limited capacities.

All in all, this book provides a good overview of applying to medical school, presented usefully through well organized tables and handy decision-making aids. It is up-to-date as of the summer semester 2013; however, in one to two semesters readers may have to research the data themselves online, since medical schools are continually amending their admission rules and regulations.

Competing interests

The author declares that he has no competing interests.