The waiting game is finally finally over for me!
I've gotten 3 offers and I am feeling really really beyond happy now :D
Just want to wish anyone out there who is still applying or are intending to apply to not give up and do your best!
I just wanna give loads and loads of thanks to TSR and my teachers at school for giving me so much help throughout the entire process and also lots of thank yous to my family and friends who have given me so much support throughout this step to achieving my dream!
'Chance favours the prepared mind'
~Louis Pastuer
Showing posts with label UCAS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UCAS. Show all posts
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Sunday, 3 March 2013
The waiting game-How to stay sane
Most people would submit their UCAS applications in September/October and not receive any news (or even a confirmation email!!) from their universities until March!(shocking! i know!) There are some lucky ones that get interviews by November/December and get offers by January but there are also those unfortunate enough to not hear anything(but rejections><) until March.
SIX months, half a year. It's enough to drive anyone mad.
Personally, i found myself lucky enough to have received an invitation to an interview in December and an offer in January and still have interviews in February and March. However, I understand the misery many people would be in, frantically checking/refreshing their inbox every minute of the day.
Having experienced all these firsthand, I understand the anxiety one would feel for this life changing application!
Here is what I did/would like to suggest for others to cope :
1.Study for my January A Level exams(but since the January exams have been abolished, I would think you will now have to focus on June exams!)
This is actually quite important but quite difficult to do!But you will have to keep telling yourself that later if/when you received interview invites, you will be too busy stressing over/preparing for your interviews so you should study ahead of time so you won't have too much trouble catching up later!Additionally, you must tell yourself that even if you get an offer,if you don't meet the grades, all your efforts will go down the drain!
2.Stalk TSR pages(yes! it helped me feel better when I discussed my feeling with other applicants on TSR. you will find other applicants that are equally(or even more!) anxious than you and it may make you feel better that you aren't the only one freaking out and constantly pressing the refresh button for your email!
3.Start preparing for your interview:
-Shop for your interview clothes
As i have said in an earlier post, this will reduce your 'freak out' level when you get an interview invite and also give you plenty of time to make the necessary alterations!( I suggest shopping online because it takes more time shopping for a suitable outfit and it takes your mind off things!)
-Get your interview preparation books/browse for interview questions/advice online
I always believe that Chance favours only the prepared mind(Louis Pasteur) so it won't hurt to be prepared before your interview!
-Do some extra reading
Read around the subject/about the career! You may also consider reading blogs that medical student! Here are some:
http://crazylifemedstudent.blogspot.co.uk/
http://lifeofadundeemedstudent.wordpress.com/
http://tofumilk.blogspot.co.uk/
http://complicated-it-is.blogspot.co.uk/
http://ilovehotchoc.blogspot.co.uk/
These blogs are all really fun to read and it really gives you an insight as to what you are really stepping into!
4.Do some Voluntary work outside of your studying
This may take your mind off things and also if you are volunteering in a caring environment,it may even help you during your interview!
5.Pick up something new
For me, I wanted to pick up driving but i could not due to certain limitations, but if you have the chance you could maybe try something new!
SIX months, half a year. It's enough to drive anyone mad.
Personally, i found myself lucky enough to have received an invitation to an interview in December and an offer in January and still have interviews in February and March. However, I understand the misery many people would be in, frantically checking/refreshing their inbox every minute of the day.
Having experienced all these firsthand, I understand the anxiety one would feel for this life changing application!
Here is what I did/would like to suggest for others to cope :
1.Study for my January A Level exams(but since the January exams have been abolished, I would think you will now have to focus on June exams!)
This is actually quite important but quite difficult to do!But you will have to keep telling yourself that later if/when you received interview invites, you will be too busy stressing over/preparing for your interviews so you should study ahead of time so you won't have too much trouble catching up later!Additionally, you must tell yourself that even if you get an offer,if you don't meet the grades, all your efforts will go down the drain!
2.Stalk TSR pages(yes! it helped me feel better when I discussed my feeling with other applicants on TSR. you will find other applicants that are equally(or even more!) anxious than you and it may make you feel better that you aren't the only one freaking out and constantly pressing the refresh button for your email!
3.Start preparing for your interview:
-Shop for your interview clothes
As i have said in an earlier post, this will reduce your 'freak out' level when you get an interview invite and also give you plenty of time to make the necessary alterations!( I suggest shopping online because it takes more time shopping for a suitable outfit and it takes your mind off things!)
-Get your interview preparation books/browse for interview questions/advice online
I always believe that Chance favours only the prepared mind(Louis Pasteur) so it won't hurt to be prepared before your interview!
-Do some extra reading
Read around the subject/about the career! You may also consider reading blogs that medical student! Here are some:
http://crazylifemedstudent.blogspot.co.uk/
http://lifeofadundeemedstudent.wordpress.com/
http://tofumilk.blogspot.co.uk/
http://complicated-it-is.blogspot.co.uk/
http://ilovehotchoc.blogspot.co.uk/
These blogs are all really fun to read and it really gives you an insight as to what you are really stepping into!
4.Do some Voluntary work outside of your studying
This may take your mind off things and also if you are volunteering in a caring environment,it may even help you during your interview!
5.Pick up something new
For me, I wanted to pick up driving but i could not due to certain limitations, but if you have the chance you could maybe try something new!
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements play a huge role in helping you decide which medical school to apply to. Here are the main aspects of it:
1.GCSE(O Levels)
2.Predicted/Achieved Grades @ A level/IB/Scottish Highers/Etc;
3.UKCAT
4.BMAT
5.UCAS Tariff(http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/ please refer to this website for the exact information, from what i know, Queen Mary is an example of a medical school that uses this)
Different medical schools place different emphasis on different parts of your academics.
GCSEs:
Some schools require a minimum number of As/A*s(Eg: Cardiff, Birminghan,Belfast) while some use it as part of their 'scoring system' (Eg; Leicester) While some consider it only when there is a tie breaker (Eg; Dundee)
These school may change their admissions policy from year to year so please make sure you check on their websites!(http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medical_School_GCSE_Requirements gives an extremely clear guide as to what is needed for each medical school)
Predicted/Achieved grades:
Since I only did A Levels, I can only speak for those taking their A levels.
Generally , your predicted grades should be at least AAA and a predicted A* would not usually matter unless you have already achieved your A*(My friend applied to Bristol and got an interview which he believes he got mainly because of his achieved A*)
If you are a gap year student, AAA would be the minimum grade that you need!
UKCAT
Just as how the GCSEs are used differently by different medical schools, the UKCAT is used in varying ways. Some use it as part of their 'scoring' method(eg:Leicester), some use it to decide who get an interview by ranking their UKCAT scores(Newcastle/Durham), some use it as a cut off, in the sense where if you have an average score about the threshold they set, your UKCAT would no longer matter(Eg; for 2013 Entry, the cut off for Sheffield was 600)
Please note that all these are based on the 2013 application cycle and may vary from year to year.
BMAT
There are only a handful of medical schools in the UK that require you to take the BMAT, unfortunately I am not really clear on it as I chose not to take it and apply to the schools that require it. I would hate to be misleading so I would suggest you read up about it on TSR to get a clear idea on how it is used and what it is about
This is about all that I have to say about this really ! Please note(again), that all these are based on what I have heard/learnt about the medical schools from this year's application cycle and may vary from year to year! So please do your own research and ensure you are clear of your chances of getting an interview before applying!
Best of luck to you! Feel free to contact me at lovebullets1995@gmail.com !
1.GCSE(O Levels)
2.Predicted/Achieved Grades @ A level/IB/Scottish Highers/Etc;
3.UKCAT
4.BMAT
5.UCAS Tariff(http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/ please refer to this website for the exact information, from what i know, Queen Mary is an example of a medical school that uses this)
Different medical schools place different emphasis on different parts of your academics.
GCSEs:
Some schools require a minimum number of As/A*s(Eg: Cardiff, Birminghan,Belfast) while some use it as part of their 'scoring system' (Eg; Leicester) While some consider it only when there is a tie breaker (Eg; Dundee)
These school may change their admissions policy from year to year so please make sure you check on their websites!(http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medical_School_GCSE_Requirements gives an extremely clear guide as to what is needed for each medical school)
Predicted/Achieved grades:
Since I only did A Levels, I can only speak for those taking their A levels.
Generally , your predicted grades should be at least AAA and a predicted A* would not usually matter unless you have already achieved your A*(My friend applied to Bristol and got an interview which he believes he got mainly because of his achieved A*)
If you are a gap year student, AAA would be the minimum grade that you need!
UKCAT
Just as how the GCSEs are used differently by different medical schools, the UKCAT is used in varying ways. Some use it as part of their 'scoring' method(eg:Leicester), some use it to decide who get an interview by ranking their UKCAT scores(Newcastle/Durham), some use it as a cut off, in the sense where if you have an average score about the threshold they set, your UKCAT would no longer matter(Eg; for 2013 Entry, the cut off for Sheffield was 600)
Please note that all these are based on the 2013 application cycle and may vary from year to year.
BMAT
There are only a handful of medical schools in the UK that require you to take the BMAT, unfortunately I am not really clear on it as I chose not to take it and apply to the schools that require it. I would hate to be misleading so I would suggest you read up about it on TSR to get a clear idea on how it is used and what it is about
This is about all that I have to say about this really ! Please note(again), that all these are based on what I have heard/learnt about the medical schools from this year's application cycle and may vary from year to year! So please do your own research and ensure you are clear of your chances of getting an interview before applying!
Best of luck to you! Feel free to contact me at lovebullets1995@gmail.com !
Saturday, 2 March 2013
UCAS
Today, I think I shall talk about the UCAS applications.
I was really lucky as I'd gotten quite a lot of guidance from my school on this aspect of my application.
Here are some basics on it:
1.You can have only FOUR medical school choices
2. Your fifth choice should (preferably) be a non-occupational course choice(this was what i was advised)
3.The different sections:
Personal Details(Check through it a few times before sending it in)
Student Finance(this is simple, just read through it)
Choices( One thing to be careful with is choosing of campuses(Eg; Newcastle-Newcastle campus,Durham Campus or No preference)
Education(Your previous schools and what subjects you are currently taking, please declare all the modules you have already taken, some schools are really strict on this, and if you look carefully, you can also find a part of it where you can input your UKCAT results, it may help you in getting an interview invite earlier:/you never know!)
Employment(it wont affect you unless you had a job before)
Personal statement(Use the 'box' to check your statement's word limit!Much more effective!)
And that's about it!
You will also need a referee's statement.
Here are somethings to consider when choosing a referee/approaching you referee:
1.Choose someone who knows you well(a teacher/lecturer), someone who knows of all the work you've done and who appreciated all your efforts
2.Consider giving your referee a 'list' of things you have done/achieved-this makes it easier for them to start on writing your statement, also, if you know that the schools you are applying to look for certain things in your application(Eg: Academic achievements,leadership positions,dedication,etc;) that you could not fit in your personal statement, you may consider urging your referee to mention some of these things
3. Try to find someone who has experience in doing this
4.Ask of your referee this favour early, it would not only be good for you referee but it will be beneficial for you too because your referee will then have more time to consider what to put in your statement!
I think this is all for now:/
As usual, feel free to ask me any questions @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com !(:
I was really lucky as I'd gotten quite a lot of guidance from my school on this aspect of my application.
Here are some basics on it:
1.You can have only FOUR medical school choices
2. Your fifth choice should (preferably) be a non-occupational course choice(this was what i was advised)
3.The different sections:
Personal Details(Check through it a few times before sending it in)
Student Finance(this is simple, just read through it)
Choices( One thing to be careful with is choosing of campuses(Eg; Newcastle-Newcastle campus,Durham Campus or No preference)
Education(Your previous schools and what subjects you are currently taking, please declare all the modules you have already taken, some schools are really strict on this, and if you look carefully, you can also find a part of it where you can input your UKCAT results, it may help you in getting an interview invite earlier:/you never know!)
Employment(it wont affect you unless you had a job before)
Personal statement(Use the 'box' to check your statement's word limit!Much more effective!)
And that's about it!
You will also need a referee's statement.
Here are somethings to consider when choosing a referee/approaching you referee:
1.Choose someone who knows you well(a teacher/lecturer), someone who knows of all the work you've done and who appreciated all your efforts
2.Consider giving your referee a 'list' of things you have done/achieved-this makes it easier for them to start on writing your statement, also, if you know that the schools you are applying to look for certain things in your application(Eg: Academic achievements,leadership positions,dedication,etc;) that you could not fit in your personal statement, you may consider urging your referee to mention some of these things
3. Try to find someone who has experience in doing this
4.Ask of your referee this favour early, it would not only be good for you referee but it will be beneficial for you too because your referee will then have more time to consider what to put in your statement!
I think this is all for now:/
As usual, feel free to ask me any questions @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com !(:
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