ANEM NEUCHÂTEL - THE NEWEST SWIMSA-FULL-MEMBER!

As you have probably noticed, each university is different regarding the medical curriculum. The German-speaking part of Switzerland is used to the well-known numerus clausus. The Frenchspeaking part of Switzerland, on the other hand, has opted for a yearly selection and Neuchâtel is no exception to the rule. 132 students were registered as medical students at the UNINE for the year 22/23. First year students in Neuchâtel must take two exam sessions. The first session takes place in January and the second session in June. Students are ranked based on the average grades of these exams. Only the top 26 students can go into the second year of medical school.

Other students can choose to either repeat the year or to change completely their curriculum. Students who passed their exams but weren’t in the top of the ranking also have the possibility to go directly to the 2nd year of biology thanks to a gateway provided for this purpose.

As the university of Neuchâtel is small, you can only study there for the first year. “Laureates” (top 26 students on the ranking) must move to Lausanne or Geneva. 18 students move to Lausanne and 8 students move to Geneva. During their first year, must tell in which university they would rather go and, according to their ranking, they get their first or their second choice. Fortunately, in the last two years, all students could move to their first choice uni.

The main goal of ANEM, the Neuchâtel medical students' association, is to support first years students. This support consists of a mentorship throughout the year and a cloud space dedicated to shared summaries, mock exams to practice and many tips to best organize themselves according to each classes.

Even though this first may look like hunger games (at least that’s why it sounded to us in the first place), it’s important to us to support our first years as much as we can and try to guide them through the year. We really put an effort into trying to build a “safe place” for them and putting them in touch with an older student who can give them relevant advises.

We also organize an information session to explain the main differences between the medical curriculum in Lausanne and Geneva to help student choosing their next university.

Even though our first years have to study hard because of the few spots available to pursue their studies in another university, it’s important to remember why we started. Helping others? Understanding the human body? Educating patients and their relative about their pathologies? Getting to build this unique bind with patients?

When stuck between organic chemistry and physics exercises, these students might forget why they decided to study medicine in the first place. That’s why we decided to organize a Teddy Bear Hospital (l’Hôpital Des Nounours). This event allows healthcare students to get along with and accompany them through a fun journey in “hospital” during which they turn into a doctor who heals his stuffed animal. Our goals are preventing “white-coat fear”, giving students an opportunity to spend time with children in order to better deal with pediatric patients in the future, having fun and - of course – healing teddy bears! This event takes place in October and is open to anyone from 4 to 8 years old.

You may wonder: why do you study in Neuchâtel even though you will have to move to another university for your 2nd year of med school? A lot of students are dealing with these same doubts. That’s’ why presentations are held in our local high schools and at the unine-open house. During these sessions, the unine first give the needed information (registration dates, how the students are selected ,curriculum, gateway between from medicine to biology, etc…). ANEM then presents how this first year was perceived from a student (why you should or why you shouldn’t study in Neuchâtel) and give feedback on different sides of this curriculum.