If anyone out there has anything you want me to talk about on my blog , feel free to email me at lovebullets1995@gmail.com !
As you can see I have not really been updating my blog recently, I think I may just move on to discussing about recent medical news that have caught my interest so if anyone has anything in particular that you want me to talk about regarding the application process, contact me!
Friday, 10 May 2013
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Should i go for....?
It's been a long time since my last post and I feel really bad about it. I had a really good Easter Break and now its back to work for me!
This post will be about the usefulness/effectiveness of interview/ukcat courses.
Personally, I attended 2 UKCAT Courses, one in Singapore and one in the UK.
Were they helpful?
Honestly, to a certain extent, they were kindda helpful. I did the course in Singapore first over Summer during which i got to go through the 600 UKCAT Questions book very thoroughly and through the practice, familiarise myself with the different question types. I then attended a KAPLAN Course which i though was absolutely fantastic. It was a 2 day course and we were even provided with extra tests afterwards. This was honestly very very helpful.
While the first course made me realise the difficulty level of the UKCAT, the KAPLAN course definitely raised my confidence and gave me tips and methods to handle the UKCAT questions.
In addition to these courses, i also signed up for Medify for extra online practice. I only started with medify 2 weeks before my test and I must say, i really regret not using it from the start!
The thing with the UKCAT is that it's an online test. And as with any other test, the best way to practice is under standard conditions. Medify was able to give me this opportunity to try out real questions with a format very similar to the actual UKCAT test .
Now, on to interview courses.
I have not been for any interview courses because i felt that I had invested a lot of my time and money on my UKCAT and I kindda knew that interviews were something that i was quite strong with. I had a senior who went for a course and she passed her notes on to me. From what i saw in the notes. interview courses could either be good or bad.
They could be good because:
They help you gain confidence and give you some practice
You are given some insights as to what to expect
You are given a lot of material to use for your preparation so you will not risk not learning anything important
They could be bad because:
You may come across as being TOO prepared during the actual interview
With the amount of information given , you may be over preparing/ stressing yourself out too much
To me, i think that before you invest your time and money on a course, you should seriously consider if the course will benefit you or not. Consider the following questions first:
Is this aspect of my application my weak point?(do you little confidence in it?)
Will me spending time on this course affect other aspects of my application(A levels)?
Basically, if you think the course is good, go for it, but only if you are sure that you will be able to cope.
This post will be about the usefulness/effectiveness of interview/ukcat courses.
Personally, I attended 2 UKCAT Courses, one in Singapore and one in the UK.
Were they helpful?
Honestly, to a certain extent, they were kindda helpful. I did the course in Singapore first over Summer during which i got to go through the 600 UKCAT Questions book very thoroughly and through the practice, familiarise myself with the different question types. I then attended a KAPLAN Course which i though was absolutely fantastic. It was a 2 day course and we were even provided with extra tests afterwards. This was honestly very very helpful.
While the first course made me realise the difficulty level of the UKCAT, the KAPLAN course definitely raised my confidence and gave me tips and methods to handle the UKCAT questions.
In addition to these courses, i also signed up for Medify for extra online practice. I only started with medify 2 weeks before my test and I must say, i really regret not using it from the start!
The thing with the UKCAT is that it's an online test. And as with any other test, the best way to practice is under standard conditions. Medify was able to give me this opportunity to try out real questions with a format very similar to the actual UKCAT test .
Now, on to interview courses.
I have not been for any interview courses because i felt that I had invested a lot of my time and money on my UKCAT and I kindda knew that interviews were something that i was quite strong with. I had a senior who went for a course and she passed her notes on to me. From what i saw in the notes. interview courses could either be good or bad.
They could be good because:
They help you gain confidence and give you some practice
You are given some insights as to what to expect
You are given a lot of material to use for your preparation so you will not risk not learning anything important
They could be bad because:
You may come across as being TOO prepared during the actual interview
With the amount of information given , you may be over preparing/ stressing yourself out too much
To me, i think that before you invest your time and money on a course, you should seriously consider if the course will benefit you or not. Consider the following questions first:
Is this aspect of my application my weak point?(do you little confidence in it?)
Will me spending time on this course affect other aspects of my application(A levels)?
Basically, if you think the course is good, go for it, but only if you are sure that you will be able to cope.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Happy Easter!
Hello!
I would just like to wish everyone out there a good Easter break! If you are doing your A Levels and are having easter break, take this opportunity to study to get the best grades you can in your June exams(expecially if you are in your AS year!)
Your exam results in June will be very important in helping your teachers decide what your predicted grades will be so give it your all and do your best!(:
I would just like to wish everyone out there a good Easter break! If you are doing your A Levels and are having easter break, take this opportunity to study to get the best grades you can in your June exams(expecially if you are in your AS year!)
Your exam results in June will be very important in helping your teachers decide what your predicted grades will be so give it your all and do your best!(:
Sunday, 24 March 2013
A Gap year idea
I have been looking through information on volunteering while being on a holiday because it's always been an interest to me.
So today i came across this pamphlet( Link http://ww4.statravel.co.uk/gets_apps/downloads/brochure/2012/volunteering/Volunteer-Work-and-Learn.pdf)
And it looks really good!
Well, although the volunteering may not have to do with 'medicne-stuff' and there aren't any clinical placements or anything, I still think that volunteering is definitely something that every applicant should try taking some time out to do.
Personally, I did not do much volunteering, just 2 months in a Hospice but i felt that that experience had really changed the way I look at things, especially how i look upon the lives of elderly people. When i came back from Summer after my voluntary work,I found myself paying more attention to elderly people around me. In the UK, there is a ageing population and as time passes, the elderly are going to make up a huge part of the population and this is something that will affect every aspect of society! Health care will definitely face the weight of this and hence I believe that as a person aspiring to go into this career, being able to interact and come to understand the elderly is something really important.
Coming back to the main topic, I felt that the pamphlet looks really promising and it sounds like any of these trips would be great fun! If I am able to save up some money perhaps i would go for a short one(:
So today i came across this pamphlet( Link http://ww4.statravel.co.uk/gets_apps/downloads/brochure/2012/volunteering/Volunteer-Work-and-Learn.pdf)
And it looks really good!
Well, although the volunteering may not have to do with 'medicne-stuff' and there aren't any clinical placements or anything, I still think that volunteering is definitely something that every applicant should try taking some time out to do.
Personally, I did not do much volunteering, just 2 months in a Hospice but i felt that that experience had really changed the way I look at things, especially how i look upon the lives of elderly people. When i came back from Summer after my voluntary work,I found myself paying more attention to elderly people around me. In the UK, there is a ageing population and as time passes, the elderly are going to make up a huge part of the population and this is something that will affect every aspect of society! Health care will definitely face the weight of this and hence I believe that as a person aspiring to go into this career, being able to interact and come to understand the elderly is something really important.
Coming back to the main topic, I felt that the pamphlet looks really promising and it sounds like any of these trips would be great fun! If I am able to save up some money perhaps i would go for a short one(:
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Need to sell off!
Hello!
I am trying to sell off my UKCAT Books as well as Interview books.
They are all mostly in good condition and most are just like new!
Here is a list of things that I am selling:
UKCAT Books:
UKCAT For Dummies
600 UKCAT Practice Questions
BMAT and UKCAT Uncovered
Interview books:
Succeed in your Medical school Interview
Medical School Interviews
Personal Statement book:
Write the Perfect Personal Statement
Others:
A Career in medicine: do you have what it takes?
SOLD:
KAPLAN UKCAT Course book- 20Pounds
How to Master the UKCAT-3rd edition
The Knowledge: Medical school interviews, all you need to know
So you want to be a doctor?
Do email me at lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you are interested! Prices are negotiable!
I am trying to sell off my UKCAT Books as well as Interview books.
They are all mostly in good condition and most are just like new!
Here is a list of things that I am selling:
UKCAT Books:
UKCAT For Dummies
600 UKCAT Practice Questions
BMAT and UKCAT Uncovered
Interview books:
Succeed in your Medical school Interview
Medical School Interviews
Personal Statement book:
Write the Perfect Personal Statement
Others:
A Career in medicine: do you have what it takes?
SOLD:
Do email me at lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you are interested! Prices are negotiable!
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Rejection?
If you have been rejected by all your medicals schools here are some things you may want to consider doing:
1.Ask for feedback and reflect
How far had you been successful throughout the application process?
Pre-interview rejections:
Your weakness may then have to do with the following:
Predicted Grades
If you were not given the predicted grade that you needed, it may be advisable for you to complete your A level course and achieve the AAA grade and then reapply!
GCSEs/Achieved A Level Result
If your achieved results were the reason for your rejection, then you may have to consider an alternative route into medicine or even an alternative career.
UKCAT Score
If this was a reason, work hard and practise for it again , resit it and reapply. If you are unable to achieve a satisfactory score, consider applying to BMAT schools or schools that do not look at the UKCAT.(Refer to my previous post for advice on the UKCAT: http://ajourneytofufilmydreams.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ukcat.html)
Reference
Personally, I don't think that this would be a huge factor, but if this was something that had been a hinder to you, you will have to just prove yourself to your teacher/referee to get a better reference for your next application.
Personal Statement
I would think that this would be a common aspect of the application that has shattered the dreams of many. If the feedback you have received from your universities has to do with your lack of experience/maturity/insight/etc; you will ahve to really look at your personal statement, ask yourself, what could you improve? Could you have reflected more?To work on improving your personal statement you may .like to consider taking a gap year to gain more work experience and do some volunteering to help strengthen you application. I have touched on these aspects of the application in my previous posts.
Rejected Post-interview
If you've received interviews but had gotten rejections, i would say that your weakness would most probably lie in your interviewing skills and how you presented yourself.
Think back tonthe days of your interviews, how were you feeling? Could you have performed better?
If your nerves were the reason that you were unable to have a successful interview, you might want to take up some self-improvement courses such as public speaking courses or even take some time out to go for interview workshops!
You had already gotten quite far into the application process so no doubt, you would be a strong applicant if you reapply!
Also think about your choices, did you apply strategically, could you have made better choices?
2.Take a gap year and improve on the different aspects of your applications as stated above)
Here are some ideas for a gap year:
In your Local area
Apply for work experience at your local hospital/clinics
Volunteer at your local old age home/hospice
Sign up to help out with any activities to do with helping others!
Get a job- it may or may not have to be in a caring environment, as long as you learn something while doing it(for instance,teamwork,organisation or leadership)
Abroad:
You may want to consider going on placements/volunteering with companies such as gapmedics. A quick google search should be able to get you a long list of companies that organise these kind of things!
3.Reconsider medicine as a career.
If this is not your first rejection, you may have to decide if medicine is really the career for you.there have been cases of applicants being successful on their third application to medical school. If your situation allows for this, then by all means, go ahead!(:
4. Consider alternative routes into medicine
I touched on this in my previous post!(:
The very best of luck to everyone out there! Don't give up and keep chasing your dreams!
1.Ask for feedback and reflect
How far had you been successful throughout the application process?
Pre-interview rejections:
Your weakness may then have to do with the following:
Predicted Grades
If you were not given the predicted grade that you needed, it may be advisable for you to complete your A level course and achieve the AAA grade and then reapply!
GCSEs/Achieved A Level Result
If your achieved results were the reason for your rejection, then you may have to consider an alternative route into medicine or even an alternative career.
UKCAT Score
If this was a reason, work hard and practise for it again , resit it and reapply. If you are unable to achieve a satisfactory score, consider applying to BMAT schools or schools that do not look at the UKCAT.(Refer to my previous post for advice on the UKCAT: http://ajourneytofufilmydreams.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ukcat.html)
Reference
Personally, I don't think that this would be a huge factor, but if this was something that had been a hinder to you, you will have to just prove yourself to your teacher/referee to get a better reference for your next application.
Personal Statement
I would think that this would be a common aspect of the application that has shattered the dreams of many. If the feedback you have received from your universities has to do with your lack of experience/maturity/insight/etc; you will ahve to really look at your personal statement, ask yourself, what could you improve? Could you have reflected more?To work on improving your personal statement you may .like to consider taking a gap year to gain more work experience and do some volunteering to help strengthen you application. I have touched on these aspects of the application in my previous posts.
Rejected Post-interview
If you've received interviews but had gotten rejections, i would say that your weakness would most probably lie in your interviewing skills and how you presented yourself.
Think back tonthe days of your interviews, how were you feeling? Could you have performed better?
If your nerves were the reason that you were unable to have a successful interview, you might want to take up some self-improvement courses such as public speaking courses or even take some time out to go for interview workshops!
You had already gotten quite far into the application process so no doubt, you would be a strong applicant if you reapply!
Also think about your choices, did you apply strategically, could you have made better choices?
2.Take a gap year and improve on the different aspects of your applications as stated above)
Here are some ideas for a gap year:
In your Local area
Apply for work experience at your local hospital/clinics
Volunteer at your local old age home/hospice
Sign up to help out with any activities to do with helping others!
Get a job- it may or may not have to be in a caring environment, as long as you learn something while doing it(for instance,teamwork,organisation or leadership)
Abroad:
You may want to consider going on placements/volunteering with companies such as gapmedics. A quick google search should be able to get you a long list of companies that organise these kind of things!
3.Reconsider medicine as a career.
If this is not your first rejection, you may have to decide if medicine is really the career for you.there have been cases of applicants being successful on their third application to medical school. If your situation allows for this, then by all means, go ahead!(:
4. Consider alternative routes into medicine
I touched on this in my previous post!(:
The very best of luck to everyone out there! Don't give up and keep chasing your dreams!
The possible alternative routes into medicine
If you have GCSEs or A Levels(the achieved ones) that can't fulfil what most Medical schools need it would be quite silly to take a gap year, however, if you have not gotten an offer because of a lack of experience, poor interview skills or a weak personal statement, take a year out, work on strengthening your application and then reapply!
For those who think that their GCSEs/achieved A levels results aren't good enough(by this i mean, getting less than 5As at GCSEs and less than AAA at A levels) here are some route you may want to consider:
1.Apply to another course that allows for you to transfer to their medicine course after your first year(provided you have really awesome grades) Form what I know, an example of a university like this would be Newcastle where you are allowed to transfer to medicine from Biomedical Sciences. Here is a link on TSR that may help:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Access_to_Medicine
Please always call up the admissions team of respective universities to find out about the course you are applying for so you know what you are in for.
2.Graduate Medicine
Do bear in mind that this route is definitely the harder route ! It takes a whole lot of determination and focus and its definitely more competitive!
3. Do an undergraduate course and then apply for undergraduate medicine
I had a friend who did this and she has gotten quite a few offers. the offer would be given based on your degree so your GCSEs/A Level may be able to be made up for by that. This route would take a much longer time and it needs a lot of determination and perseverance to be able to do an undergraduate degree only to do another undergraduate degree! So think carefully!
4. Consider a private medical school
If your family is able to afford it then go ahead! RCSI and University of Malta are some examples. I have not really read much about them but from what i know RCSI even offers ABB for A Levels!
An alternative would be to apply for medical schools that look ONLY at your strong points, for example, if you have a fantastic UKCAT score(>700) you may want to consider universities that only look at your UKCAT score.
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medical_School_GCSE_Requirements
This link tells you the minimum requirements of the medical schools. I don't want to be a wet blanket but I must remind you that most applicants would usually have GCSEs that are more than the minimum requirement.
All the best for your applications!
For those who think that their GCSEs/achieved A levels results aren't good enough(by this i mean, getting less than 5As at GCSEs and less than AAA at A levels) here are some route you may want to consider:
1.Apply to another course that allows for you to transfer to their medicine course after your first year(provided you have really awesome grades) Form what I know, an example of a university like this would be Newcastle where you are allowed to transfer to medicine from Biomedical Sciences. Here is a link on TSR that may help:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Access_to_Medicine
Please always call up the admissions team of respective universities to find out about the course you are applying for so you know what you are in for.
2.Graduate Medicine
Do bear in mind that this route is definitely the harder route ! It takes a whole lot of determination and focus and its definitely more competitive!
3. Do an undergraduate course and then apply for undergraduate medicine
I had a friend who did this and she has gotten quite a few offers. the offer would be given based on your degree so your GCSEs/A Level may be able to be made up for by that. This route would take a much longer time and it needs a lot of determination and perseverance to be able to do an undergraduate degree only to do another undergraduate degree! So think carefully!
4. Consider a private medical school
If your family is able to afford it then go ahead! RCSI and University of Malta are some examples. I have not really read much about them but from what i know RCSI even offers ABB for A Levels!
An alternative would be to apply for medical schools that look ONLY at your strong points, for example, if you have a fantastic UKCAT score(>700) you may want to consider universities that only look at your UKCAT score.
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medical_School_GCSE_Requirements
This link tells you the minimum requirements of the medical schools. I don't want to be a wet blanket but I must remind you that most applicants would usually have GCSEs that are more than the minimum requirement.
All the best for your applications!
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Happiness!
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
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
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Things I fussed over but later found to be useless
1.Looking at other Personal Statements
I even bought a book for it! In the end, it just makes you feel so stressed because you will be wondering if your experiences can match up with what other applicants have! Sure, read some personal statements to get some idea of the structure and what you should include, after that, don't mull over it and stress yourself up! Your personal statement has to show you and your passion, channel all your energy into doing that and you'll be fine!
2.Looking at the stats of others(How much work/volunteering experience they had, how many A*s they got at GCSEs, what extra curricular activities they did, etc;)
Doing this just made me so so stressed and i kept comparing myself to them! Especially on TSR where i compared what i have done to people who had applied in past years and have been successful! Even those who had been unsuccessful had a whole list of work experiences!!!Do not waste your time doing this, and just focus on what you can do , because ultimately, your application would be compared against those applying with you and never forget that people on TSR are usually over-achievers(not all though><) Just do your best for your own application!
3.Cramming my summer with work experience
I must say that I was really fortunate to have gotten so many work experiences but in the end, I could not even fit some of them into my personal statement and I could have used some of that time preparing for my UKCAT or doing up my Personal statement. However, in a way, although i find it useless, I do not regret having had all of them because from there I have really come to understand that medicine is something that I really am interested in and am serious about!
4.The need to call every university and ask what they look for in an application
It's all stated in the admissions policy of each university and on their websites!! Calling up the different universities would just be a waste if time unless you have a question that can't be answered by the websites
I even bought a book for it! In the end, it just makes you feel so stressed because you will be wondering if your experiences can match up with what other applicants have! Sure, read some personal statements to get some idea of the structure and what you should include, after that, don't mull over it and stress yourself up! Your personal statement has to show you and your passion, channel all your energy into doing that and you'll be fine!
2.Looking at the stats of others(How much work/volunteering experience they had, how many A*s they got at GCSEs, what extra curricular activities they did, etc;)
Doing this just made me so so stressed and i kept comparing myself to them! Especially on TSR where i compared what i have done to people who had applied in past years and have been successful! Even those who had been unsuccessful had a whole list of work experiences!!!Do not waste your time doing this, and just focus on what you can do , because ultimately, your application would be compared against those applying with you and never forget that people on TSR are usually over-achievers(not all though><) Just do your best for your own application!
3.Cramming my summer with work experience
I must say that I was really fortunate to have gotten so many work experiences but in the end, I could not even fit some of them into my personal statement and I could have used some of that time preparing for my UKCAT or doing up my Personal statement. However, in a way, although i find it useless, I do not regret having had all of them because from there I have really come to understand that medicine is something that I really am interested in and am serious about!
4.The need to call every university and ask what they look for in an application
It's all stated in the admissions policy of each university and on their websites!! Calling up the different universities would just be a waste if time unless you have a question that can't be answered by the websites
Interview questions and how to tackle them! #3
Why Medicine and not another course?(nursing/biomedical science)
For this question , you have to think over your answer carefully.
Personally, I found this question a bit tricky especially now when nurses take on quite a lot of roles that has traditionally been taken up by junior doctors!
Personally, my approach to this question is to say how i witnessed the difference of the role of a doctor and a nurse during my work experience and why i think the doctor's role is something i want more.
Don't forget to reflect on why you say some things!
For example, if you say: I prefer taking up the role of a doctor because it involves more of a decision making role.
Don't just stop there! It would sound better if you link it to past experiences.
Like: From past experiences in working in a team , I think I enjoy and am quite suited for the role of a decision maker. For instance, when I was working with a group of classmates to come up with an idea for a community project, we came up with many ideas. However, with so many ideas, it made it very difficult for us to meet the dateline when we have to come up with a proposal for submission. In the end , i decided to take up the role of a leader and drew up a list of pros and cons for the ideas and presented it to my group mates. We were then able to swiftly come to a conclusion.
Something like that.(This is not the best)
For this question , you have to think over your answer carefully.
Personally, I found this question a bit tricky especially now when nurses take on quite a lot of roles that has traditionally been taken up by junior doctors!
Personally, my approach to this question is to say how i witnessed the difference of the role of a doctor and a nurse during my work experience and why i think the doctor's role is something i want more.
Don't forget to reflect on why you say some things!
For example, if you say: I prefer taking up the role of a doctor because it involves more of a decision making role.
Don't just stop there! It would sound better if you link it to past experiences.
Like: From past experiences in working in a team , I think I enjoy and am quite suited for the role of a decision maker. For instance, when I was working with a group of classmates to come up with an idea for a community project, we came up with many ideas. However, with so many ideas, it made it very difficult for us to meet the dateline when we have to come up with a proposal for submission. In the end , i decided to take up the role of a leader and drew up a list of pros and cons for the ideas and presented it to my group mates. We were then able to swiftly come to a conclusion.
Something like that.(This is not the best)
Things to start doing RIGHT NOW!
I would think that students who are intending to apply to Medical schools for 2014 entry would be starting to prepare for the submission of their applications this October.
Here are some things you may want to consider doing to be well prepared for the stressful application when it comes:
1. Study for the UKCAT
Like,start right now!
Get your books, sign up for online UKCAT Practises, start using the sample tests on the UKCAT website!
Yes! You can study.. well, actually, practise.. you can practise for the UKCAT! Trust me! There are a lot of resources out there and the more you do the more used to you'll get to the questions and also you will have exposure to a good range of resources so you'll be very prepared for any type of question that comes out in your actual test!
Refer to my previous post for resources and advice on it : http://ajourneytofufilmydreams.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ukcat.html
2. Arrange for work experience
Start early! Some hospitals in the UK have waiting lists of 2 YEARS! Be it volunteering at a charity shop or at a elderly home, start early! The longer your commitment, the better your experience would be a reflection of your commitment and determination.
3.Your Personal Statement
Draft it, ask people around you for opinions,ask the PS helpers on TSR to look at it and give you advice, START EARLY. It really sucks if you start panicking a week before you submit your personal statement and have to keep rushing to complete it only to feel unsatisfied with it after you've sent it off! Look at my previous posts on my advice for doing your personal statement here : http://ajourneytofufilmydreams.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Personal%20Statement
4. Study for your June exams
These exams are your last chance to prove yourself to your teachers, your last chance to show that you are worth being predicted the required AAA. Not forgetting, you also have to declare all your results in your UCAS form, it won't look nice if you have a D or an E, so hit the books and start studying!
Here are some good sites for Chemistry and Biology(AQA):
http://sciencemathsmaster.weebly.com/biology.html
http://vbio.weebly.com/a2-level.html
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1288539 (AWESOME AWESOME NOTES!)
https://www.heckgrammar.co.uk/index.php?p=10312
http://a-levelchemistry.co.uk/( OCR and AQA)
5.Check out some universities
Go for open days this Easter/Summer, go to as many as possible and talk to medical students. Look at the schools' campus, ask what universities look at strongly on your application. If you can't order prospectuses from the universities and look through them. It's always good to have a goal in your mind!
That really is about it. focus all your energy on doing all these and then start thinking about other stuff when you've sent your application off!
Best of luck!
Feel free to email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Here are some things you may want to consider doing to be well prepared for the stressful application when it comes:
1. Study for the UKCAT
Like,start right now!
Get your books, sign up for online UKCAT Practises, start using the sample tests on the UKCAT website!
Yes! You can study.. well, actually, practise.. you can practise for the UKCAT! Trust me! There are a lot of resources out there and the more you do the more used to you'll get to the questions and also you will have exposure to a good range of resources so you'll be very prepared for any type of question that comes out in your actual test!
Refer to my previous post for resources and advice on it : http://ajourneytofufilmydreams.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ukcat.html
2. Arrange for work experience
Start early! Some hospitals in the UK have waiting lists of 2 YEARS! Be it volunteering at a charity shop or at a elderly home, start early! The longer your commitment, the better your experience would be a reflection of your commitment and determination.
3.Your Personal Statement
Draft it, ask people around you for opinions,ask the PS helpers on TSR to look at it and give you advice, START EARLY. It really sucks if you start panicking a week before you submit your personal statement and have to keep rushing to complete it only to feel unsatisfied with it after you've sent it off! Look at my previous posts on my advice for doing your personal statement here : http://ajourneytofufilmydreams.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Personal%20Statement
4. Study for your June exams
These exams are your last chance to prove yourself to your teachers, your last chance to show that you are worth being predicted the required AAA. Not forgetting, you also have to declare all your results in your UCAS form, it won't look nice if you have a D or an E, so hit the books and start studying!
Here are some good sites for Chemistry and Biology(AQA):
http://sciencemathsmaster.weebly.com/biology.html
http://vbio.weebly.com/a2-level.html
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1288539 (AWESOME AWESOME NOTES!)
https://www.heckgrammar.co.uk/index.php?p=10312
http://a-levelchemistry.co.uk/( OCR and AQA)
5.Check out some universities
Go for open days this Easter/Summer, go to as many as possible and talk to medical students. Look at the schools' campus, ask what universities look at strongly on your application. If you can't order prospectuses from the universities and look through them. It's always good to have a goal in your mind!
That really is about it. focus all your energy on doing all these and then start thinking about other stuff when you've sent your application off!
Best of luck!
Feel free to email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Sunday, 17 March 2013
The thread and website that has gotten me here where I am today
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2171140
This thread has gotten me through 3 interviews and has gotten me 2 offers(for now, since i am still waiting to hear from one more)This thread has links that lead to this blog/website:
http://blog.unireq.co.uk/
Which has AWESOME AMAZING WONDERFUL advice and, more importantly, the statistics and information to prepare you for ALL the medical schools you have applied to and their interviews(for example, presenting you with the interview scoresheet) With what is given on this website, you can also then make an informed decision as to which medical school you should apply to that will give you a higher chance of getting an interview.Further reading?
This post will be about the extra reading you may/may not be interested in.
(Note: Nobody has paid me to advertise anything, these are just books/websites i personally found to be interesting)
Websites
http://medicalppt.blogspot.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FGrnndbxLs&feature=relmfu(History of surgery-Anaesthesia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9WtBRNydso ( A series of lectures on integrative biology)
http://www.bartleby.com/107/2.html
https://www.coursera.org/courses(you can have online courses on certain topics that are relating to medicine, I found them to be really interesting!)
http://www.mednotes.net/notes/biology/
http://medic4u.webs.com/
http://www.ted.com/search?cat=ss_all&q=medicine ( Love TED videos!)
http://www.mbbswiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Main_Page
http://blog.unireq.co.uk/?s=reading
http://www.newmediamedicine.com/forum/medical-school-interviews/20812-stupidest-things-said-interviews.html(just for laughs!)
http://www.learningradiology.com/
Books:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Guts-Short-History-Medicine/dp/0141010649/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363723116&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-History-Medicine-Introduction-Introductions/dp/019921543X/ref=pd_sim_b_3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medical-Ethics-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/0192802828/ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-Me-Im-Junior-Doctor/dp/0340962054/ref=pd_cp_b_3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Black-Swan-Samuel-Shem/dp/0552991228/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363723193&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Confessions-GP-Benjamin-Daniels/dp/1906321884/ref=pd_sim_b_7
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cutting-Stone-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0099443635/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363723244&sr=1-1
I'll add more as I go along~
(Note: Nobody has paid me to advertise anything, these are just books/websites i personally found to be interesting)
Websites
http://medicalppt.blogspot.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FGrnndbxLs&feature=relmfu(History of surgery-Anaesthesia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9WtBRNydso ( A series of lectures on integrative biology)
http://www.bartleby.com/107/2.html
https://www.coursera.org/courses(you can have online courses on certain topics that are relating to medicine, I found them to be really interesting!)
http://www.mednotes.net/notes/biology/
http://medic4u.webs.com/
http://www.ted.com/search?cat=ss_all&q=medicine ( Love TED videos!)
http://www.mbbswiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Main_Page
http://blog.unireq.co.uk/?s=reading
http://www.newmediamedicine.com/forum/medical-school-interviews/20812-stupidest-things-said-interviews.html(just for laughs!)
http://www.learningradiology.com/
Books:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Guts-Short-History-Medicine/dp/0141010649/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363723116&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-History-Medicine-Introduction-Introductions/dp/019921543X/ref=pd_sim_b_3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medical-Ethics-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/0192802828/ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-Me-Im-Junior-Doctor/dp/0340962054/ref=pd_cp_b_3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Black-Swan-Samuel-Shem/dp/0552991228/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363723193&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Confessions-GP-Benjamin-Daniels/dp/1906321884/ref=pd_sim_b_7
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cutting-Stone-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0099443635/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363723244&sr=1-1
I'll add more as I go along~
What is enough?
I think this is a question many to-be applicants would have with regards to their application and my answer to that ,really, would be : enough to fill your personal statement up.
This does not mean that you LIST what you did. NO.
The key to a good personal statement , in my opinion, is to SHOW not TELL .
For example , you were part of a team.
Telling would be something like this:
In my high school, I was a member of my school's basketball team. From my experience with working with my team, I have gained communication skills which , I feel, is one of the most important aspects of a good leader.
Showing , on the other hand, would be like this :
I enjoyed being an active member of my high school's basketball team . By often playing the role of a mediator between members with different personalities I have come to appreciate the differences between members of a team and learn to create a sense of unity between members.
By showing , you are telling a story of an aspect of your experience and hence giving insight into your personality and thoughts.
So, back to the main question, what is enough?
As long as you have experiences where you are able to show that you have qualities that a doctor would need , you would be alright , the most important thing is bringing it across effectively to the admissions tutor.
Here are some ideas for qualities that you may have picked up though extracurricular activities that you may want to include in your personal statement :
Teamwork
Leadership
Empathy
Ability to cope with stress
Perseverance
Wide range of interests
Good time management
Good organisation
Responsible
The list is endless , really, you just really have to reflect on everything you've done since high school and then try to think back on activities you did that brought out the best in you.
For work experience, aspects that you could have learnt that you may want to bring across in your PS could possibly be:
Teamwork in a multidisciplinary team
Role of a doctor
Difficulties involved in the career
Aspects of the career that appeals to you
Ethics
Everything really depends a lot on what you see while you are at your work experience. For example, if you worked as a receptionist for a GP, then you may often have encountered anxious patients , you can then perhaps talk about how you've seen the doctor(s) have the ability to calm them down and provide them with reassurance .
In conclusion, you do not need to go on a month worth of work experience , neither do you need to achieve gold DofE, all you just need is a good brain and good reflection of what you have done and learnt. You do not need to safe a person's life or anything dramatic, just show that you are able to learn from what you've been shown/observed and that it enough. Do not feel intimidated by the long list of things that others may have done (especially those on TSR!) have faith in yourself , your passion will definitely be conveyed to the admissions tutor!
This does not mean that you LIST what you did. NO.
The key to a good personal statement , in my opinion, is to SHOW not TELL .
For example , you were part of a team.
Telling would be something like this:
In my high school, I was a member of my school's basketball team. From my experience with working with my team, I have gained communication skills which , I feel, is one of the most important aspects of a good leader.
Showing , on the other hand, would be like this :
I enjoyed being an active member of my high school's basketball team . By often playing the role of a mediator between members with different personalities I have come to appreciate the differences between members of a team and learn to create a sense of unity between members.
By showing , you are telling a story of an aspect of your experience and hence giving insight into your personality and thoughts.
So, back to the main question, what is enough?
As long as you have experiences where you are able to show that you have qualities that a doctor would need , you would be alright , the most important thing is bringing it across effectively to the admissions tutor.
Here are some ideas for qualities that you may have picked up though extracurricular activities that you may want to include in your personal statement :
Teamwork
Leadership
Empathy
Ability to cope with stress
Perseverance
Wide range of interests
Good time management
Good organisation
Responsible
The list is endless , really, you just really have to reflect on everything you've done since high school and then try to think back on activities you did that brought out the best in you.
For work experience, aspects that you could have learnt that you may want to bring across in your PS could possibly be:
Teamwork in a multidisciplinary team
Role of a doctor
Difficulties involved in the career
Aspects of the career that appeals to you
Ethics
Everything really depends a lot on what you see while you are at your work experience. For example, if you worked as a receptionist for a GP, then you may often have encountered anxious patients , you can then perhaps talk about how you've seen the doctor(s) have the ability to calm them down and provide them with reassurance .
In conclusion, you do not need to go on a month worth of work experience , neither do you need to achieve gold DofE, all you just need is a good brain and good reflection of what you have done and learnt. You do not need to safe a person's life or anything dramatic, just show that you are able to learn from what you've been shown/observed and that it enough. Do not feel intimidated by the long list of things that others may have done (especially those on TSR!) have faith in yourself , your passion will definitely be conveyed to the admissions tutor!
Thursday, 14 March 2013
What GCSE grades do I need for medical school?
Well, to be honest , the answer is : it depends on which medical school you are applying to
In other words,
If you have good GCSEs, you have the option of applying to places that have stated that they place an emphasis on your GCSEs(eg: a specified number of As/A*s)
If you have average/below average GCSEs , just make sure to ring up /email the different med schools to ensure that you are not disadvantaged(much)
If you are still doing your GCSEs, study hard ! If you are done with them, there's nothing that can be done now so use then to your advantage and apply strategically !!
All the best to everyone applying / intending to apply!(:
In other words,
If you have good GCSEs, you have the option of applying to places that have stated that they place an emphasis on your GCSEs(eg: a specified number of As/A*s)
If you have average/below average GCSEs , just make sure to ring up /email the different med schools to ensure that you are not disadvantaged(much)
If you are still doing your GCSEs, study hard ! If you are done with them, there's nothing that can be done now so use then to your advantage and apply strategically !!
All the best to everyone applying / intending to apply!(:
The worries/doubts I had (am still having)
Before sending my UCAS form in, I remember that at some point of time I started questioning if I really am willing to go into medicine.
I was talking to a doctor who had very harshly told me that medicine is not gonna be an easy career path. It is a long and bumpy road and it will definitely take a whole lot of perseverance and determination to make it through. What really made me start doubting if medicine really is what I want is the fact that medicine is not just a career , it is a lifestyle. Once you step into it, you're in it ... Many aspects of your life would end up revolving around it, I know this because when I talk to current medical students it seems that they are all pretty much wrapped up in this 'bubble' of medicine and everything related to it . What scared me the most about this was really , the unknown of the future... As an international I may not be given the same opportunities as people who have even born in the EU, and for me to return to Singapore , I may end up not having a proper post where I would be restricted in my chances of achieving my full potential..
This really truly scared me at that point of time. As a girl , I also had to consider the aspect of having a family so this worried me quite a bit too.
After much thinking , I then slowly started to overcome this fear slowly, a bit at a time, I find myself having to reassure myself that everything will turn out one as long as I just do my best in everything I do .
Even now , I am still pretty much unsure of what to expect , I'm not even sure of which choice I should firm and everything seems like a whirlwind that I would be so easily lost in. But I always try to tell myself that 'whatever will be ,will be'
I hope that everyone out there would be able to find their own reassurance when faced with such uncertainties (: Ganbatte!!
I was talking to a doctor who had very harshly told me that medicine is not gonna be an easy career path. It is a long and bumpy road and it will definitely take a whole lot of perseverance and determination to make it through. What really made me start doubting if medicine really is what I want is the fact that medicine is not just a career , it is a lifestyle. Once you step into it, you're in it ... Many aspects of your life would end up revolving around it, I know this because when I talk to current medical students it seems that they are all pretty much wrapped up in this 'bubble' of medicine and everything related to it . What scared me the most about this was really , the unknown of the future... As an international I may not be given the same opportunities as people who have even born in the EU, and for me to return to Singapore , I may end up not having a proper post where I would be restricted in my chances of achieving my full potential..
This really truly scared me at that point of time. As a girl , I also had to consider the aspect of having a family so this worried me quite a bit too.
After much thinking , I then slowly started to overcome this fear slowly, a bit at a time, I find myself having to reassure myself that everything will turn out one as long as I just do my best in everything I do .
Even now , I am still pretty much unsure of what to expect , I'm not even sure of which choice I should firm and everything seems like a whirlwind that I would be so easily lost in. But I always try to tell myself that 'whatever will be ,will be'
I hope that everyone out there would be able to find their own reassurance when faced with such uncertainties (: Ganbatte!!
What subjects should I take at A Levels?
For medicine , usually Chemistry or Biology would be compulsory so I would really suggest that you take both of them to A2 just to be safe and so that your options to almost all medical schools are open!
Personally, I think Math is a really good subject which you can easily score an A in so I would highly recommend taking it ! However , please do note that most universities may consider further maths and maths as one subject !
As for the fourth subject which you may or may not carry on to your A2 year I strongly suggest that you take a subject that you are truly interested in. Some people say that by taking a Humanities subject(like art, geography or history ) it shows that you are an 'all-rounder' . Well, to some extent it is true but personally I think that as long as you are able to justify why you study each subject and how it may contribute/prepare you to be a better medical student/doctor ,it is alright.
Personally , I chose to do physics. To be honest , I only chose it because I felt that it was the easiest to score in. But I felt that it was really tedious because I just had no passion for it so I eventually decided to drop it even though I definitely had the capacity to take it on to A2. So my advice would definitely be to pick a fourth subject you will really enjoy!!
Personally, I think Math is a really good subject which you can easily score an A in so I would highly recommend taking it ! However , please do note that most universities may consider further maths and maths as one subject !
As for the fourth subject which you may or may not carry on to your A2 year I strongly suggest that you take a subject that you are truly interested in. Some people say that by taking a Humanities subject(like art, geography or history ) it shows that you are an 'all-rounder' . Well, to some extent it is true but personally I think that as long as you are able to justify why you study each subject and how it may contribute/prepare you to be a better medical student/doctor ,it is alright.
Personally , I chose to do physics. To be honest , I only chose it because I felt that it was the easiest to score in. But I felt that it was really tedious because I just had no passion for it so I eventually decided to drop it even though I definitely had the capacity to take it on to A2. So my advice would definitely be to pick a fourth subject you will really enjoy!!
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