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!(:
Wednesday 27 March 2013
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!!
Wednesday 13 March 2013
Just some motivation
Hey there!
It's been a few days since my previous post...
Today, i got my second medical school offer! I am really thrilled to have gotten a second offer especially since it has been said that 60% of medical school applicants do not get a single offer!
I think TSR really has helped me a lot in my entire application to medicine.. from deciding what subjects to take to what i should write in my personal statement!
Now, all i am left with is just meeting my offers. Since i am only taking 3 A2 subjects, my school hours are really short as well!
All I just want to say to all AS students out there who are intending to apply for 2014 medical school entry , just hang in there! It's not gonna be easy but it's gonna be worth it when you get your offers.. and then when you get into medical school you'll have a 'great' time with piles of assignments and work(:
It's been a few days since my previous post...
Today, i got my second medical school offer! I am really thrilled to have gotten a second offer especially since it has been said that 60% of medical school applicants do not get a single offer!
I think TSR really has helped me a lot in my entire application to medicine.. from deciding what subjects to take to what i should write in my personal statement!
Now, all i am left with is just meeting my offers. Since i am only taking 3 A2 subjects, my school hours are really short as well!
All I just want to say to all AS students out there who are intending to apply for 2014 medical school entry , just hang in there! It's not gonna be easy but it's gonna be worth it when you get your offers.. and then when you get into medical school you'll have a 'great' time with piles of assignments and work(:
Saturday 9 March 2013
Interview questions and how to tackle them! #2
Work Experience Questions
With regards to this question, to make this question easier to answer in your interview, I would advise that you make it easier for yourself by writing specific aspects of your work experience that you feel you can talk well about in your personal statement.
How do you do this?
Write 'stories of particular incidents you witnessed'
For example, you can say you witnessed how a doctor reassured a patient. The possible questions that then could be asked from there would be: What have you learnt from that?What aspects of a doctor do you think are important for him/her to succeed in his/her career? What are your feelings on how the doctor handled the patient? If you were in the doctor's shoes, what would you have done?
The questions become very specific so it makes you preparation much easier!
If you list everything that you've done, instead on going slightly 'in depth' you will then have a lot to prepare for and it then becomes very difficult for you to predict what questions could possibly come out!
Some common questions with regards to your work experience would be:
Your feelings/thoughts on particular events
What have you learnt from ______/ How do you think this will make you a better a doctor?
What is the most memorable thing from your work experience?
Who do you think is the leader in a healthcare team?
Why do you think ______ is an important of the team?/What is the role of a _(Doctor/nurse/physiotherapists)_ ?
What would you have done differently?
Do you think this is something that is common?
Ethical questions(depending if you have hinted on them in you PS)
Conclusion: This question would usually largely depend on what had been written in your personal statement so plan beforehand!
If you have any questions you would like to suggest I blog about, email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com !
With regards to this question, to make this question easier to answer in your interview, I would advise that you make it easier for yourself by writing specific aspects of your work experience that you feel you can talk well about in your personal statement.
How do you do this?
Write 'stories of particular incidents you witnessed'
For example, you can say you witnessed how a doctor reassured a patient. The possible questions that then could be asked from there would be: What have you learnt from that?What aspects of a doctor do you think are important for him/her to succeed in his/her career? What are your feelings on how the doctor handled the patient? If you were in the doctor's shoes, what would you have done?
The questions become very specific so it makes you preparation much easier!
If you list everything that you've done, instead on going slightly 'in depth' you will then have a lot to prepare for and it then becomes very difficult for you to predict what questions could possibly come out!
Some common questions with regards to your work experience would be:
Your feelings/thoughts on particular events
What have you learnt from ______/ How do you think this will make you a better a doctor?
What is the most memorable thing from your work experience?
Who do you think is the leader in a healthcare team?
Why do you think ______ is an important of the team?/What is the role of a _(Doctor/nurse/physiotherapists)_ ?
What would you have done differently?
Do you think this is something that is common?
Ethical questions(depending if you have hinted on them in you PS)
Conclusion: This question would usually largely depend on what had been written in your personal statement so plan beforehand!
If you have any questions you would like to suggest I blog about, email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com !
Thursday 7 March 2013
Interview questions and how to tackle them! #1
Why medicine?
Probably the most obvious question they can ask but also the most difficult!
There are different approaches to this:
1.'timeline' method
As the name suggests, you talk about how your interest grew and reflect on your growth and what makes you sure medicine is something you will be able to stick to!
2. Listing method
This would probably be the way most people would choose to answer this question! You should state at least 2 reasons as to why medicine is your career choice and then reflect on why these are the reasons.
For example:
Point:I want to do medicine because I enjoy working in a team.
Reason:From my experiences in working with others through my participation in my school's activities, I have come to realise that I thrive in an environment where others can support me and where I can provide others with motivation. For example, as part of my school's basketball team, I have come to experience working with different people and understand the different dynamics of different teams. I feel that Medicine is a career where I would get to interact with other professionals of the multi disciplinary team and I think that such an environment will help em achieve my potential
What makes a good answer, in my opinion, would be a good reflection and insight into YOUR personality, after all,that's why you've been called for an interview- so that the school can learn more about YOU!
Why XXX Medical school?
Here are things that you can consider talking about for each medical school:
Course structure: Clinically led teaching? PBL? Lecture based? Integrated? Early clinical experience/exposure? Special aspects of the course that is unique to the medical school?
City: Location?Accessibility?Transport links? Activities available?
University: Facilities?Reputation?(Student satisfaction,Ranking)Strength or research?
I would suggest reading up on what news had been published in newspapers from the University recently! Just google : XXX medical school research news and then read news from about 3 months ago!
That is all for now! I shall post more soon!
Probably the most obvious question they can ask but also the most difficult!
There are different approaches to this:
1.'timeline' method
As the name suggests, you talk about how your interest grew and reflect on your growth and what makes you sure medicine is something you will be able to stick to!
2. Listing method
This would probably be the way most people would choose to answer this question! You should state at least 2 reasons as to why medicine is your career choice and then reflect on why these are the reasons.
For example:
Point:I want to do medicine because I enjoy working in a team.
Reason:From my experiences in working with others through my participation in my school's activities, I have come to realise that I thrive in an environment where others can support me and where I can provide others with motivation. For example, as part of my school's basketball team, I have come to experience working with different people and understand the different dynamics of different teams. I feel that Medicine is a career where I would get to interact with other professionals of the multi disciplinary team and I think that such an environment will help em achieve my potential
What makes a good answer, in my opinion, would be a good reflection and insight into YOUR personality, after all,that's why you've been called for an interview- so that the school can learn more about YOU!
Why XXX Medical school?
Here are things that you can consider talking about for each medical school:
Course structure: Clinically led teaching? PBL? Lecture based? Integrated? Early clinical experience/exposure? Special aspects of the course that is unique to the medical school?
City: Location?Accessibility?Transport links? Activities available?
University: Facilities?Reputation?(Student satisfaction,Ranking)Strength or research?
I would suggest reading up on what news had been published in newspapers from the University recently! Just google : XXX medical school research news and then read news from about 3 months ago!
That is all for now! I shall post more soon!
Results Day!
Hello!
I hope everyone has gotten their desired results! I've gotten mine and I'm really happy with them! It seems like meeting my offers are going to be possible with just a bit more work!(:
I'm sure many people have lost sleep over today's results so take a break and congratulate yourself for your good work!~
I hope everyone has gotten their desired results! I've gotten mine and I'm really happy with them! It seems like meeting my offers are going to be possible with just a bit more work!(:
I'm sure many people have lost sleep over today's results so take a break and congratulate yourself for your good work!~
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Random Advice #2
1. All the medical schools in the UK are equally 'good'
They may have teaching methods and facilities but they are all recognised equally by the GMC. They may have different strengths in research and some may have a better location than others but none is 'better' than the others.
2.Choose wisely pleasepleasepleaseplease
DO apply to places where your strengths are considered. If you have a high UKCAT score(>680) you may want to consider applying to places where the UKCAT is used more, but if you did poorly in your UKCAT(<600) you may want to consider applying to a medical school that does not use the UKCAT(Eg; Bristol)
However, do bear in mind that if you apply to schools that do not use the UKCAT, they could potentially be relatively more competitive.
If you feel that interviews are not your strength, you may consider applying to schools that do not interview(Eg;Edinburgh) but then you would have to be confident of your personal statement, does it bring all that you are/all the passion you have across?
And if you are applying to a university which places a lot of emphasis on your Personal Statement please know that it is a sort of 'risk' because what you may feel to be a good/strong PS may not seem so to an admissions tutor going through a thousand over applications!Some may place more emphasis on extra curricular activities while some may look at your work experience more closely.
In conclusion, apply to schools where you strengths will give you an edge!
3.Prepare for your interview early!
I think I've said this a few times now><
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/What_you_should_expect_at_a_medical_school_interview this link gives a pretty good idea what the interviews are like at each school, but please do double check with the university website to see if any changes have been made
They may have teaching methods and facilities but they are all recognised equally by the GMC. They may have different strengths in research and some may have a better location than others but none is 'better' than the others.
2.Choose wisely pleasepleasepleaseplease
DO apply to places where your strengths are considered. If you have a high UKCAT score(>680) you may want to consider applying to places where the UKCAT is used more, but if you did poorly in your UKCAT(<600) you may want to consider applying to a medical school that does not use the UKCAT(Eg; Bristol)
However, do bear in mind that if you apply to schools that do not use the UKCAT, they could potentially be relatively more competitive.
If you feel that interviews are not your strength, you may consider applying to schools that do not interview(Eg;Edinburgh) but then you would have to be confident of your personal statement, does it bring all that you are/all the passion you have across?
And if you are applying to a university which places a lot of emphasis on your Personal Statement please know that it is a sort of 'risk' because what you may feel to be a good/strong PS may not seem so to an admissions tutor going through a thousand over applications!Some may place more emphasis on extra curricular activities while some may look at your work experience more closely.
In conclusion, apply to schools where you strengths will give you an edge!
3.Prepare for your interview early!
I think I've said this a few times now><
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/What_you_should_expect_at_a_medical_school_interview this link gives a pretty good idea what the interviews are like at each school, but please do double check with the university website to see if any changes have been made
Results
Tomorrow will be the release of A Level results!
With that in mind, I would like this post to about A Levels.
Your grades(achieved and predicted) are probably the most important part of your applications! No matter how good your work experience,volunteering experience or extra curricular activities record, you will not get any interviews/offers without a good set of grades!
Here are some tips for the subjects I did for my A Level course
Maths:
Practise!
Here are some links that will help you:
http://www.examsolutions.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/maths247
http://www.mathspapers.co.uk/
Biology
This is applicable to all 'memorising' subjects
Read your textbook to get the key ideas of what you need to know(refer to the specification)
Make notes/flashcards or even posters of your notes to paste on your wall!!You'll always be staring at them so they would get into your head somehow!
Go on TSR and discuss/trade questions and answers with other people!
You may want to consider doing 'legacy' papers(really old papers!)
Here are some links I found helpful
http://www.biology-innovation.co.uk/
http://sciencemathsmaster.weebly.com/biology.html
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1340698 ( this thread has many useful resosurces!)
Chemistry
Make flashcards/notes!
Practise! Do all the past papers and even papers from other boards! the concept is still the same just that different boards have different styles of asking questions! By exposing yourself to the different questions,you are doing yourself a favour!
http://a-levelchemistry.co.uk/ ( AQA and OCR) this is a really really awesome awesome awesome website!
Physics
Just keep doing papers, you will find that the questions are all about the same
Invest in a good revision booklet if you need to
Here are some links for old exam papers:
http://papers.xtremepapers.com/
http://www.freeexampapers.com/
http://www.thepaperbank.co.uk/
I wasn't paid by any website to advertise any of these!!
Good luck to everyone getting their results tomorrow!
With that in mind, I would like this post to about A Levels.
Your grades(achieved and predicted) are probably the most important part of your applications! No matter how good your work experience,volunteering experience or extra curricular activities record, you will not get any interviews/offers without a good set of grades!
Here are some tips for the subjects I did for my A Level course
Maths:
Practise!
Here are some links that will help you:
http://www.examsolutions.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/maths247
http://www.mathspapers.co.uk/
Biology
This is applicable to all 'memorising' subjects
Read your textbook to get the key ideas of what you need to know(refer to the specification)
Make notes/flashcards or even posters of your notes to paste on your wall!!You'll always be staring at them so they would get into your head somehow!
Go on TSR and discuss/trade questions and answers with other people!
You may want to consider doing 'legacy' papers(really old papers!)
Here are some links I found helpful
http://www.biology-innovation.co.uk/
http://sciencemathsmaster.weebly.com/biology.html
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1340698 ( this thread has many useful resosurces!)
Chemistry
Make flashcards/notes!
Practise! Do all the past papers and even papers from other boards! the concept is still the same just that different boards have different styles of asking questions! By exposing yourself to the different questions,you are doing yourself a favour!
http://a-levelchemistry.co.uk/ ( AQA and OCR) this is a really really awesome awesome awesome website!
Physics
Just keep doing papers, you will find that the questions are all about the same
Invest in a good revision booklet if you need to
Here are some links for old exam papers:
http://papers.xtremepapers.com/
http://www.freeexampapers.com/
http://www.thepaperbank.co.uk/
I wasn't paid by any website to advertise any of these!!
Good luck to everyone getting their results tomorrow!
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
Work Experience #2
This post will be a bit on my work experience
During my work experience the most common feeling i had was an awkwardness of not fitting into the surroundings. It was alright when i was with others but on those placements where it was just me, it felt very awkward especially since patients and other people working there would just stare at you!
Here are some advice that i have for those who may be faced with this situation:
1.SMILE
2.Don't hesitate to offer any help, even if it just to pull out a seat or to even hold a door open
3.Do not be afraid to ask your doctor/Whoever is in charge of you questions, if you don't ask and end up making a mistake, you'll seem even more of a fool!
4.Dress appropriately. While i am not implying you wear a suit. it would be advisable to dress in work wear
5.Make full use of your time and LOOK. Even if you have been standing for 4 hours straight, try to make full use of your time and see what's going on around you, how are the patients looking, how is the doctor interacting with his colleagues, what would you do if you were in the patients'/doctor's/nurses' position? What can you learn?
And as I said before,keep a work experience diary to ensure you remember what you have seen!
During my work experience the most common feeling i had was an awkwardness of not fitting into the surroundings. It was alright when i was with others but on those placements where it was just me, it felt very awkward especially since patients and other people working there would just stare at you!
Here are some advice that i have for those who may be faced with this situation:
1.SMILE
2.Don't hesitate to offer any help, even if it just to pull out a seat or to even hold a door open
3.Do not be afraid to ask your doctor/Whoever is in charge of you questions, if you don't ask and end up making a mistake, you'll seem even more of a fool!
4.Dress appropriately. While i am not implying you wear a suit. it would be advisable to dress in work wear
5.Make full use of your time and LOOK. Even if you have been standing for 4 hours straight, try to make full use of your time and see what's going on around you, how are the patients looking, how is the doctor interacting with his colleagues, what would you do if you were in the patients'/doctor's/nurses' position? What can you learn?
And as I said before,keep a work experience diary to ensure you remember what you have seen!
What should I wear for an interview?
Here are some ideas:
Boys:
Suit
Tie(a plain one preferably)
Pants
Work shoes(polished)
Girls:
Blazer
Skirt(Knee length)
Blouse
Trousers
Tights(plain and dark coloured)
Flats(Smart ones)
Heels(of a reasonable height)
Black Court Shoes
*Please ensure you wear shoes that are covered at the front
Colors/Patterns to consider:
Cream
Black
Gray
Pin-striped
Here are some shops you may consider shopping at for your formal clothes that may be reasonably priced:
Next
H&M
G2000(For Singaporeans)
asos.com
My advice would be to buy your interview clothing as early as possible(perhaps right after you send your applications off?) So when you get an interview notice you can start preparing for it immediately instead of fussing over clothes and also it will give you time to make the necessary alterations.
For my interview, I wore a Cream Blazer a black blouse and a black pencil skirt which i was comfortable in.
It is very important toe feel comfortable in your interview clothes and look smart at the same time. I suggest having your mock interviews in them if possible!
The above are just some of my suggestions, i am no fashion guru:/
Once again, I was not paid by any company/person to write what i have written, all these are based on my own experiences!
email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Before your interview
The night before:
Stop any interview practice/digesting of new information
Re-read your personal statement
>You were called in for an interview based on your personal statement, so make sure you sound like it!
Sleep early
What to bring:
Identification documents
Any documents the University may have requested/sent to you in advance
A bottle of water
Some snacks(if you are travelling a long way to your interview venue)
On the day of your interview:
Arrive at least 15minutes before your interview time!
If you are unfamiliar with the city, either arrive early to find the university or stay the night
Try to take a nice long walk before your interview to calm yourself down
Dress appropriately
SMILE
This is all i have to say for now!
Stop any interview practice/digesting of new information
Re-read your personal statement
>You were called in for an interview based on your personal statement, so make sure you sound like it!
Sleep early
What to bring:
Identification documents
Any documents the University may have requested/sent to you in advance
A bottle of water
Some snacks(if you are travelling a long way to your interview venue)
On the day of your interview:
Arrive at least 15minutes before your interview time!
If you are unfamiliar with the city, either arrive early to find the university or stay the night
Try to take a nice long walk before your interview to calm yourself down
Dress appropriately
SMILE
This is all i have to say for now!
Interviews
Interviews, the most important part of your application, it will either make or break you!
There are mainly 2 types:
1.MMI
The Multiple Mini Interview. Some say that it is like speed dating and for me it was all good fun!
I think that the key to doing well for this interview would be:
1.Move on. You will have a lot of time to mull over your performance AFTER your interview, but while you are still doing the interview, just forget about how you did in the previous station, it is for the better
2.Follow instructions. Since there will be a lot of movement, it is very easy for you to feel really lost so it is important that you read whatever instructions you are given and follow them, it won't help if you lose your cool!
3.Don't hesitate. Because you will be under timed conditions, you will have to complete the task/answer the questions the best you can within the given time frame so use the time wisely!
I posted some resources I found/used on TSR (here is the link: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1845730&page=84&p=40978175&highlight=#post40978175)
Also, it might be helpful for you to have some practice using some of the sample questions.
Additionally, here is some advice I gave to someone based on my own personal experience in preparing for such an interview on the different aspects of it:
Roleplay:
there's a variety:
-breaking bad news to people(refer to SPIKES framework- http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.o...t/5/4/302.full, use it as a general kind of method, not just for breaking news on cancer)
-Listening to a troubled person/comforting someone(use these empathetic statements as examples: I can see how upsetting this is for you,I can tell you weren't expecting to hear this,I know this is not good news for you,I'm sorry to have to tell you this,I can understand how you felt this way,I guess anyone might have the same reaction,You are perfectly correct to think that way
-Calming an angered person down(NEVER EVER SAY 'everything will be alright'/'stop crying'/'don't worry' use the same statements as above, always put yourself in their shoes, and keep your eyes on that person
-Handling a person who has a visual/hearing/verbal impairment.(you should/would be given something to help in your communication so use it to your advantage!)
For answering questions and explaining your thoughts, it'll probably be personality questions so you might want to have mock interviews to practise that
Practical tasks, here are a few possible ones:
-Helping a person complete a puzzle/activity(that person may have a physical disadvantage or smth)-for these types of stations, don't just focus on completing the section, if there are people involved, think of the people first. Like, make sure the person is comfortable and involved in the activity, think like a teacher who is taking care of kids in this case, if you get what i mean.
-communicating
you may have to communicate an idea to someone , for example, you look at a drawing and you have to try to get a person who is looking away from you to replicate it
-working with someone
this may be hard, you may have to try to encourage someone to do something /work as a team , or you may even have to act as a mediator
you may also want to do some lateral thinking exercises, just google them and do them, they help open your mind!(:
http://www.medical-interviews.co.uk/Multi-Mini-Interviews-MMI-St-Georges.aspx ---> here are some more examples
2.Panel/discussion
This would usually consist of varying people(eg; admissions tutors/doctors/health care professionals/medical students)
This would be the more 'traditional' interview method, there are many tips and resources you can find for such interviews out there.
Here are some that i used :
http://www.medical-interviews.co.uk/interview-questions-medical-school-interviews.aspx
http://www.getintomedicine.co.uk/interview.php
http://www.apply2medicine.co.uk/medical-school-application-support/free-resources-1/free-medical-interview-questions.html
http://www.slideserve.com/pollyjose/medical-school-interview-powerpoint
Youtube-Kevin Ahern's guide to acing your medical school interview(AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!)
I think the best way to do well in a panel interview would be to keep calm!The interviewers will definietely understand that you are feeling nervous and they will definitely do their best to calm you down so you have to respond to that too and try to be at ease as the interview goes on!
If you are ever met with a difficult question, a good way of 'buying' time would be to say: "Well, that is an interesting question, could I have some time to think about that?" But don't use that too many times because your interviewers will not be impressed if you seem like you can't think on your feet,
If you are asked an impossibly hard question, try not to let panic be your first response. Always try to keep yourself calm and trat the interview as a learning process and just admit it if you are not sure and then ask for the right question.
Always prepare for questions on your personal statement!
How to handle ethical questions:
1. If the situation is quite long, consider repeating the key points of the given situation to make sure you got everything and also to buy yourself some time
2.Do not start off by giving your view, save that for the last!
3.Consider all aspects of the situation(Who is involved? What are the possible outcomes? etc;)
Always aim to give a balanced view.It may be useful for you to read up on certain medical ethics.(http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance.asp would be a useful read)
This website also covers many ethical issues and i personally found it very useful when preparing for my interview:http://medicalschoolinterviewstheknowledge.wordpress.com/
Here are some books which i found particularly useful:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medical-School-Interviews-Practical-Questions/dp/1905812043/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362258297&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Succeed-Your-Medical-School-Interview/dp/0749461381/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362258297&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medical-School-Interviews-Need-Knowledge/dp/0957290403/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362258297&sr=8-3
Once again, I have NOT been paid by any company/person to write any of these things, what i wrote was based on my own experience and what i personally found really useful
Feel free to contact me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you have any questions
There are mainly 2 types:
1.MMI
The Multiple Mini Interview. Some say that it is like speed dating and for me it was all good fun!
I think that the key to doing well for this interview would be:
1.Move on. You will have a lot of time to mull over your performance AFTER your interview, but while you are still doing the interview, just forget about how you did in the previous station, it is for the better
2.Follow instructions. Since there will be a lot of movement, it is very easy for you to feel really lost so it is important that you read whatever instructions you are given and follow them, it won't help if you lose your cool!
3.Don't hesitate. Because you will be under timed conditions, you will have to complete the task/answer the questions the best you can within the given time frame so use the time wisely!
I posted some resources I found/used on TSR (here is the link: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1845730&page=84&p=40978175&highlight=#post40978175)
Also, it might be helpful for you to have some practice using some of the sample questions.
Additionally, here is some advice I gave to someone based on my own personal experience in preparing for such an interview on the different aspects of it:
Roleplay:
there's a variety:
-breaking bad news to people(refer to SPIKES framework- http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.o...t/5/4/302.full, use it as a general kind of method, not just for breaking news on cancer)
-Listening to a troubled person/comforting someone(use these empathetic statements as examples: I can see how upsetting this is for you,I can tell you weren't expecting to hear this,I know this is not good news for you,I'm sorry to have to tell you this,I can understand how you felt this way,I guess anyone might have the same reaction,You are perfectly correct to think that way
-Calming an angered person down(NEVER EVER SAY 'everything will be alright'/'stop crying'/'don't worry' use the same statements as above, always put yourself in their shoes, and keep your eyes on that person
-Handling a person who has a visual/hearing/verbal impairment.(you should/would be given something to help in your communication so use it to your advantage!)
For answering questions and explaining your thoughts, it'll probably be personality questions so you might want to have mock interviews to practise that
Practical tasks, here are a few possible ones:
-Helping a person complete a puzzle/activity(that person may have a physical disadvantage or smth)-for these types of stations, don't just focus on completing the section, if there are people involved, think of the people first. Like, make sure the person is comfortable and involved in the activity, think like a teacher who is taking care of kids in this case, if you get what i mean.
-communicating
you may have to communicate an idea to someone , for example, you look at a drawing and you have to try to get a person who is looking away from you to replicate it
-working with someone
this may be hard, you may have to try to encourage someone to do something /work as a team , or you may even have to act as a mediator
you may also want to do some lateral thinking exercises, just google them and do them, they help open your mind!(:
http://www.medical-interviews.co.uk/Multi-Mini-Interviews-MMI-St-Georges.aspx ---> here are some more examples
2.Panel/discussion
This would usually consist of varying people(eg; admissions tutors/doctors/health care professionals/medical students)
This would be the more 'traditional' interview method, there are many tips and resources you can find for such interviews out there.
Here are some that i used :
http://www.medical-interviews.co.uk/interview-questions-medical-school-interviews.aspx
http://www.getintomedicine.co.uk/interview.php
http://www.apply2medicine.co.uk/medical-school-application-support/free-resources-1/free-medical-interview-questions.html
http://www.slideserve.com/pollyjose/medical-school-interview-powerpoint
Youtube-Kevin Ahern's guide to acing your medical school interview(AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!)
I think the best way to do well in a panel interview would be to keep calm!The interviewers will definietely understand that you are feeling nervous and they will definitely do their best to calm you down so you have to respond to that too and try to be at ease as the interview goes on!
If you are ever met with a difficult question, a good way of 'buying' time would be to say: "Well, that is an interesting question, could I have some time to think about that?" But don't use that too many times because your interviewers will not be impressed if you seem like you can't think on your feet,
If you are asked an impossibly hard question, try not to let panic be your first response. Always try to keep yourself calm and trat the interview as a learning process and just admit it if you are not sure and then ask for the right question.
Always prepare for questions on your personal statement!
How to handle ethical questions:
1. If the situation is quite long, consider repeating the key points of the given situation to make sure you got everything and also to buy yourself some time
2.Do not start off by giving your view, save that for the last!
3.Consider all aspects of the situation(Who is involved? What are the possible outcomes? etc;)
Always aim to give a balanced view.It may be useful for you to read up on certain medical ethics.(http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance.asp would be a useful read)
This website also covers many ethical issues and i personally found it very useful when preparing for my interview:http://medicalschoolinterviewstheknowledge.wordpress.com/
Here are some books which i found particularly useful:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medical-School-Interviews-Practical-Questions/dp/1905812043/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362258297&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Succeed-Your-Medical-School-Interview/dp/0749461381/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362258297&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medical-School-Interviews-Need-Knowledge/dp/0957290403/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362258297&sr=8-3
Once again, I have NOT been paid by any company/person to write any of these things, what i wrote was based on my own experience and what i personally found really useful
Feel free to contact me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you have any questions
Different Course Structures
There are 3 different types of course structures here in medical schools in the UK:
1.Traditional
As it names suggests, it is the 'old' way medicine is taught, your pre clinical years and clinical years are very clearly separated.You will first be taught the science through lectures,dissections/prosections,etc; and then in your later years you will then be taught the clinical side of medicine by being placed in hospitals.
2.Problem-Based Learning
Otherwise known as PBL.This is a relatvely new teaching method that originated from Canada(I think). It encourages early patient contact and teamwork. It will involve a lot of group works and possibly 'projects' and you are taught less often in lectures.
3.Integrated
If traditional is one end and PBL is the other end of a scale , this method would be in the middle. You have early patient contact and you are also taught in lectures with minimal/no PBL.
You should consider which of these courses would suit your learning style the most and then consider applying to universities where you will enjoy the course!
Other things that you could possibly consider when applying would be :
1.Strength of research/Research opportunities?(Eg;Russell Group Universities?)
2.Facilities(is the school old/new?do they have a new medical building? How is their accommodation like?)
3.Location(how near to London do you need/want to be?)
4.Transport facilities(do they have good transport facilities?Newcastle, for example, has a metro)
5.Cost of living(A London university would be more expensive than a university somewhere more 'rural')
6.Safety
7.Type of university?(City/Campus based?)
8.Clubs and societies(Eg; volunteering opportunities? sports facilities?)
9.Proportion of international student accepted(if you are an international student)
I think this is all for now!
1.Traditional
As it names suggests, it is the 'old' way medicine is taught, your pre clinical years and clinical years are very clearly separated.You will first be taught the science through lectures,dissections/prosections,etc; and then in your later years you will then be taught the clinical side of medicine by being placed in hospitals.
2.Problem-Based Learning
Otherwise known as PBL.This is a relatvely new teaching method that originated from Canada(I think). It encourages early patient contact and teamwork. It will involve a lot of group works and possibly 'projects' and you are taught less often in lectures.
3.Integrated
If traditional is one end and PBL is the other end of a scale , this method would be in the middle. You have early patient contact and you are also taught in lectures with minimal/no PBL.
You should consider which of these courses would suit your learning style the most and then consider applying to universities where you will enjoy the course!
Other things that you could possibly consider when applying would be :
1.Strength of research/Research opportunities?(Eg;Russell Group Universities?)
2.Facilities(is the school old/new?do they have a new medical building? How is their accommodation like?)
3.Location(how near to London do you need/want to be?)
4.Transport facilities(do they have good transport facilities?Newcastle, for example, has a metro)
5.Cost of living(A London university would be more expensive than a university somewhere more 'rural')
6.Safety
7.Type of university?(City/Campus based?)
8.Clubs and societies(Eg; volunteering opportunities? sports facilities?)
9.Proportion of international student accepted(if you are an international student)
I think this is all for now!
Random Advice
I was recently talking to some of my juniors in school and i did up a document for them with some advice and i thought some of you might find it useful(: Some may be a repeat of my previous posts><
Here it is:
I hope this is of some help to you! Sorry if it is repetitive!
Feel free to email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you need any help/ have any questions!(:
Here it is:
Things to start on:
Read on-medical history, medical ethics, recent advancement in medicine
-this is for your
interest and for you to understand more about the career you are planning to go
into
-here are some
sources you should consider reading from:
BBC
Guardian health
Student BMJ
NHS choices
New Scientist
Attend Medical school preparatory courses(if you have the time and money to spare)
These are not
essential, in my opinion, but they may help you find out more about the career
Medlink-www.medlink-uk.com
Medisix-www.synergysolutions.org.uk/medisix.html(easter)
Medsim- www.synergysolutions.org.uk/medisim.html(july)
*These are in the UK
Practise UKCAT questions
START EARLY
A Ukcat prep course
with Kaplan may prove to be useful
Think abt personal statement which includes :
Interest and motivation for medicine
Well informed about demanding nature and requirements for a successful career in medicine
Well informed about demanding nature and requirements for a successful career in medicine
Independence
Responsibility
Compassion
Commitment to helping and
caring for ppl through relevant work or personal experience(work experience is very important!!!)
Participation in a wide range of activities
Contributions to school/community
Teamwork
Why UK(if you are an international applicant)
Here are
some tips to get started:
Come up
with a list of things you have done all the way starting from high
school(achievements/voluntary work/school activities/school leadership
positions/etc;)
Read some
examples of personal statements and try to understand what elements are
essential in every successful personal statement
It is
okay to have to constantly change it! So start early !
If you
are sure of which medical school you would like to apply to , you may want to
consider reading from their websites what they expect from your personal
statement so that may help you frame up your personal statement
Start
early on this and you might want to consider asking help from people who have
already applied to edit your personal statement for you via TSR-go under
personal statement help on the student room.(i used it personally and the PS Helpers on TSR are truly AWESOME(: A BIG Thank You~! to them!!)
Find work attachment
‘shadowing’ the
following people(the list is not exhaustive, as long as it is a caring role):
Doctor(GP/Specialist/consultant/Surgeon)
Nurse
Physiotherapist
Pathologist
Dietitian
Social worker
Junior doctor
Note; the most
important thing about work experience is not the amount, it is WHAT you learn
that counts
Also, remember to
have a reflective diary of some sort during your work experience, it would be
helpful to read it before your interview
If you are unable
to find work experience you may consider going on a work experience programme
overseas with companies such as Gapmedics
Read more: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine_Work_Experience(like I said, TSR will be your best friend!)
Find voluntary work
Here are some
places you can consider volunteering at:
Hospitals
Residential homes
Nursing home
Hospices
Charity shops (eg
Oxfam)-if you do it on weekends alongside studying for you’re a levels it could
possibly show commitment and the ability to handle extra-curricular activities
and your studies, but your grades are more important than anything else,
without them you won’t be able to go to medical school, regardless of how
strong your application is.
Think about University choices (sensible and achievable)
Things to consider:
Campus or City
university?
PBL/traditional/integrated
course structure?
Location
Look through the
university website and CHECK THEIR ADMISSION POLICY.
Get/read books about medicine (fiction/non fiction)
If you have more time this could be helpful in the future
when you get interviews and it also gives you some insight into the career and
will help you decide if this is really what you want to do.
Take part in school activities
Join different clubs so you have a range of things you
can add to your personal statement(especially if you have a leadership position !)
Useful websites
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine
http://mylifeasamedstudent.tumblr.com/
(blog of a medical student)
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/medicine/prospective/planning/application/
( advice for personal statement from University of Aberdeen)
*I have not been paid by any company/person to write these, all these are based on my personal experience!!
**As i have said, TSR will be your best friend(:
I hope this is of some help to you! Sorry if it is repetitive!
Feel free to email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you need any help/ have any questions!(:
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 !(:
Friday 1 March 2013
Work experience
This is a HUGE part in your preparation to applying to medical school!(for your interview and Personal Statement!)
Start early and start arranging for work experience really really early(preferably right after you read this post!)
Here are some places where you can look for work experience/voluntary work:
GP
Hospitals-nurses, physiotherapist,radiologist,specialist, junior doctor,consultant
Hospices
Care homes
Charity shops(eg: Oxfam)
Youth-related programmes(eg, tutoring children form less fortunate backgrounds )
Here are some useful websites:
Start early and start arranging for work experience really really early(preferably right after you read this post!)
Here are some places where you can look for work experience/voluntary work:
GP
Hospitals-nurses, physiotherapist,radiologist,specialist, junior doctor,consultant
Hospices
Care homes
Charity shops(eg: Oxfam)
Youth-related programmes(eg, tutoring children form less fortunate backgrounds )
Here are some useful websites:
vinspired.com
Personally, i decided to invest in a company called Gapmedics and i have to say i was really happy with what i got. Gapmedics really gave me the experience that i needed and i really enjoyed myself for the 2 weeks I was in Chiangmai!
Some tips before you go on a trip with them:
1.Make sure you are clear in what you say you expect for the placements(do you want to see surgeries? Pathology labs? A&E?)
2. Have fun, but not TOO much! remember, ultimately , you are there to gain work experience after all!)
3.Try to keep a work experience diary, you'll be doing many things and seeing many interesting things so try to note them all down so you can remember them really clearly when it comes to writing your personal statement or even your interview!
Feel free to email me @ lovebullets1995@gmail.com if you want more information about my experience and also the diary i kept on my experience with gapmedics if you need help in deciding if you should go for it or not!
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