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viomisehunt May 28 2012, 16:06:58 UTC
Martha had completed grad school and was doing the equivilent of internship. From background information she went to University relative young ( ... )

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persiflage_1 May 28 2012, 16:46:24 UTC
I don't believe that Martha was in post-graduate medical training - she's not nearly old enough for that. A medical degree in the UK takes far longer than most other regular degrees (only a veterinary degree takes as long) - in S&J she's only 23. If she had been in postgraduate study, she'd have had to have started her medical degree in her early teens, and Martha's not *that* academically talented.

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viomisehunt May 28 2012, 17:51:08 UTC
Hmmm checked the NHS site. UK medical school require "A" in levels in science, and they stressed high scores in chemistry. I'm thinking the fact that she got in means her academica skills were exceptional, as med school, is also competitive. Anyway in my private canon, she has, as the Daleks said: Superior intelligence, but it depends on the viewer. Martha would need a first or second hounours degrees. I'm thinking Martha started college around sixteen or seventeen--I started at 17, my grandson and cousin at 16--so at twenty three she's been in school for at least 6-7 years, more than enough time to complete Grad school if she unlike me, didn't interrupt school to get married and have kids.... Also among the requirements: Trainee doctors are now required to complete a two-year Foundation Programme in an NHS hospital. Foundation Year 1 (F1) is equivalent to the old pre-registration house officer (PRHO) year, and Foundation Year 2 (F2) is equivalent to the first year as a senior house officer (SHO).Because Martha was working in a ( ... )

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laura_luvage May 28 2012, 21:40:10 UTC
People don't really start university before 18 in the UK. It would be a huge deal for someone to start before 18, it definitely would've been mentioned. It would be even more unlikely for medicine considering the subjects and grades she'd have to achieve, plus most universities prefer to take 18+ for legal reasons.

It's worth remembering GCSEs and A-Levels, which she would've been required to take, are taken in certain years no matter the intellectual ability. Occasionally grammar and religious schools will start one GCSE a year early, but the rest are started a year later and take two years to do because of the depth of material. The same with A-Levels. Only a home-educated child would probably have a chance of finishing before 18. Fast tracking students a year, has always been rare, and especially so in the last few decades.

Plus if Martha was so intelligent, that she went to uni early, she probably would've gone to Oxbridge. Which also would've been a huge deal.

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viomisehunt May 28 2012, 22:41:38 UTC
really? They don't let you in college until you're 18? Might be a good idea. Do we have any idea where Martha attended undergrad? I know Liz went to Oxford and worked there. Maybe they kept the tradition? But still she's at five years at the most at twenty three.

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laura_luvage May 29 2012, 00:35:30 UTC
It does happen, but it's not that common. Universities have been very reluctant to admit under 18's after several relatively high profile cases of children being forced in by over-ambitious parents and having mental breakdowns. Those that do get in, have ridiculously high IQs. And most are home-schooled. Under the UK anti age discrimination laws, under 18s can't be banned from going to university. Students in the normal school system would struggle to take exams through schools early and taking exams privately is very expensive and finding a place to sit the exams is extremely hard (I should know, I'm currently in the process!). If Martha had gone, it would be a huge deal especially for medicine ( ... )

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viomisehunt May 29 2012, 02:04:01 UTC
I don't think they mentioned college because we don't see her in a class room but working at the hospital ( ... )

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