Latest posts
What happened to Matt?
Posted on March 21st, 2010 by Matt
For some reason today, I figured I’d have a look on this blog, and find out what my last post was. It dawned on me that it’s almost been a year since I last spoke to you.
Well, I did get the grades that I needed to be accepted onto the BSc (hons) Biomedical Sciences programme at the School of Applied Sciences in Northumbria University. I started studying back in September, and have already achieved 73% in both Cell Biology and Professional & Transferable Skills. They’re the only completed modules so far, each worth 10 credits; but, as far as I’m concerned, hitting firsts, even at this very early stage, can only be considered a good thing!
It’s a three year programme, which means that in 18 months time, I will once again be filling in my UCAS form, and sending it off. In 12 months time, I will have plans to visit around 6-8 universities that I’ve shortlisted from reading all 32 prospectuses (remember, I can now apply to Warwick and to Swansea, the 2 GEM only medical schools), and various recommendations, from other websites, and speaking to medical students and recent graduates. I can only apply to 4 medical schools again, and, speaking honestly, right now, I’m sure what Plan C will be (Plan B, of course, is what I’m doing now).
Another thought I’m having, is whether I should run in the Students’ Union elections next year. I know I’ll not run if I’ve already applied to medicine, as I’ll not have any decisions back in time to plan a proper election campaign, so I’d have to do it before I start my application. I wonder if it’s worth it, though. How will being the President of a Students’ Union, a successful business and charity, with a multi-million pound turn over, a membership of over 34,000, and a staff base of more than 200 employees, actually benefit my application to do medicine? And ultimately, how will it make me a better doctor at the end of it?
Sure, the large annual salary could be saved up quite nicely to provide me with a good start when I do get to medical school. But, aside from that, how will it help me?
Anyways, this is most likely the last you’ll hear from me for another year. When I’m back, I’ll either be running for the position of President, or I’ll be telling you all about my plans to visit university open days!
No Comments »The fourth and final nail in the coffin
Posted on April 12th, 2009 by Matt
I knew from the last post I wrote that it wasn’t likely to be my year. I’m now a majority statistic: the 2 in 3.
So, after holding out for almost 3 months since my last rejection, I got the dreaded email. “UCAS Application Status Notification” came from the usual “track@ucas.ac.uk” address to my mobile at 17:01 on 08/04/2009. I’m at my Gran’s house at the minute, and happened to be updating this very website from her computer at the time. I wasn’t sure what to do, and I certainly wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know what it meant.
Initially, I continued what I was doing – typing about 50 questions into the Question Bank. But then, I realised that no matter how long I put it off, that screen was still going to be the same. I launced the website, https://track.ucas.com/ucastrack/Login.jsp and entered my now familiar UCAS number. After passing that wretched screen about Route B courses, and clicking on the Choices button, I had my worst fears confirmed. The University of Bristol Medical School have considered my application to be unsuccessful.
I’m now in the unlucky position of having to follow Dr Rigley’s advice. I have still got my letters to write, I was holding off to see if I had four rejections before I sent anything – just so I can add that line into the letter. As the page says, it’s almost impossible for me to clear medicine, especially with my chemistry results. Of the 4 options listed, I’ve applied to do a BSc (hons) in Biomedical Sciences at Northumbria University starting in September 2009 – so I made that my ‘Firm’ choice.
Do you really want to do medicine? If you do and you have met the academic criteria you will get in eventually.
Yes, I really do. I’m still hoping to meet the academic criteria. And I’m now even more determined than ever to work hard for the next three years – so much so that I will be disappointed if I don’t get a first (although I know full well that a 2:i will do)!
Matt is natually disappointed that he was totally rejected, and that he has another 3 years to wait…
1 Comment »Bristol Admissions 2009
Posted on March 23rd, 2009 by Matt
I suppose it’s my own fault for making the phone call. I know I wanted to know so badly what it was, but in a lot of ways, I’d rather have found out via Track, if you know what I mean?
It’s not official yet, but I was told “it doesn’t look like you will be getting an interview with those scores.” Unfortunately, he didn’t say what scores they were, or what they meant. What I will be doing, is one of the things listed on our Rejection page, ‘write to all 4 admissions tutors for feedback’. Or, at least have the letter ready to send off when it officially comes through.
However, I did get something quite useful from the Admissions team – they confirmed to me that they will have another interview date in April (either the week beginning the 6th, or the week beginning the 20th), but couldn’t confirm exactly when. They also said that if you don’t have a letter about an interview this Wednesday, the 25th March 2009, then you won’t be getting interviewed this Wednesday.
Basically, keep hoping. From myself and everyone at MedicalAdmissions.co.uk, good luck if you’re still waiting on a decision!
Matt is feeling a bit gutted.
2 Comments »Results in March
Posted on March 12th, 2009 by Matt
Ok, so, I’ve just got my results, and how am I feeling?
To be honest with you, pretty shit, actually.
As a medical applicant, you’ll know that you need AAB, including Chemistry, to study medicine almost anywhere in the UK. Well, let’s just say that my chemistry grades aren’t looking too clever. I got a C average for last year (206/300), even after resitting 2 of the modules – I went up a single mark, and grade, for each. But, in Chains, Rings &? Spectroscopy, I got 61/90 – which is 2 marks from a B.
I’ve done some quick calculations, and, assuming my math is correct, I can only get a C overall for A2. Shit. That’s no good. So, what do I resit? Well, I got a B in HFHF, a B in FC, and a C in CR (after resits), so I don’t really think that resitting either HFHF or FC would be advantageous. But, maybe resitting CR or CRS (the first A2 module) would be alright. Problem is, at ?17 per resit, I can only really afford to resit one of them. I think, because of how recently I’ve done it, I’m going to have another pop at Chains, Rings & Spectroscopy.
My math wasn’t too bad, I got 71%, which comes out as a B for Core 1. Keep that up, and I get a nice 50 UCAS points to keep me happy! I was aiming for an A, but a B isn’t too bad. I could even make up those lost 9 points – from 2 remaining exams (each worth 100), I need 169 to get an A – that’s only 84.5 on each paper!
HEFC Human Biology was best, though, I got a Distinction in my first module, Cell Biology, and I think I’m on track to continue the high standard of work in this module, Human Physiology.
Matt needs to figure out a way to increase his grade average in chemistry – and fast!
1 Comment »Those dreaded history questions
Posted on February 1st, 2009 by Rob
I personally never ask candidates about history of medicine as I think it’s slightly unfair and I’m not sure what relevance it has to a medical student applicant; however, many older interviewers love asking about history of medicine and debate that it shows a commitment to the career, a wider reading ability, and demonstrates intellectual ability.
History of medicine is certainly not a starting point and will usually only be asked if the interview is going well and the interviewers really want to push you a little. For example if they were considering a preferential offer. I therefore think that it would be unwise to spend lots of time researching this area for your interview. You should however have a key event and key person in mind.
Typical questions might be:
- What event in the history of medicine do you think has saved most lives?
- Who in the history of medicine do you think has contributed most?
- Do you know of any key events in the history of medicine?
It’s obviously safe to say that large drops in death rates can be contributed to public health measures such as underground sewerage systems and flushing toilets and it could be argued that these advances far outweigh anything that a doctor has achieved eg the advent of antibiotics.
A significant era in the history of medicine followed the Second World War. “Advances in surgical technique, new ideas about the nature of disease and huge innovations in drug manufacture vanquished in three short decades most of the common causes of early death” (James Le Fanu). ‘The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine’ by James Le Fanu talks about twelve definitive moments in modern medicine. I highly recommend a read of this book.
- 1941: Penicillin
- 1949: Cortisone
- 1950: Streptomycin, Smoking and Sir Austin Bradford Hill
- 1952: Chlorpromazine and the Revolution in Psychiatry
- 1952: The Copenhagen Polio Epidemic and the Birth of Intensive Care
- 1955: Open Heart Surgery – The Last Frontier
- 1961: New Hips for Old
- 1963: Transplanting Kidneys
- 1964: The Triumph of prevention – The case of Strokes
- 1971: Curing Childhood Cancer
- 1978: The First ‘Test-Tube’ Baby
- 1984: Helicobacter – The Cause of Peptic Ulcer
Undeniably these were all key points in the history of medicine. Which do you think was most significant and why? For example hip replacements allow people that would have previously been immobile to continue leading a fulfilling and mobile life. Of course you don’t have to choose one of these as your personal favourite.
Allow me to explain number 3, 1950: Streptomycin, Smoking and Sir Austin Bradford Hill, (my favourite) a bit more. Before 1950 what doctors did and what we knew about medicine was determined by everyday practice – what doctors observed – what seemed to work. However, the curing of TB (streptomycin) and the link between smoking and lung cancer changed this because both required statistics to prove. This changed the way that medicine was practiced for good. This was the advent of ‘evidence based medicine’ – the use of statistics to prove the causality or decide which treatment works best. Therefore for me the biggest event in medical history was the realisation of evidence based medicine and the design of the double blind trail because this isn’t a cure for a single disease but a new way of working entirely that affects every new drug and the treatment of every disease. If I had to choose a single person to nominate as contributing the most to medicine it would have to be Sir Austin Bradford Hill as he was the leading force for this shift towards evidence based medicine.
I must stress to you that you shouldn’t just learn my answer and regurgitate it at interview. Remember that you are fairly unlikely to be asked about this but if you are have a key moment of your own that really does interest you and make sure you know why it interests you.
No Comments »MedicalAdmissions.co.uk Blog is powered by WordPress.