Applicant
All of your eggs…
Posted on January 18th, 2009 by Matt
Don’t put all of your eggs into one basket
Well, I didn’t. My application started out being spread evenly between four good medical schools. Then, on 16th December last year, I got the email from track@ucas.ac.uk informing me that my status had changed – as it turned out I was rejected; one down, and three to go. It was only 2 days later that I got the next email from UCAS Track, and once again the nerves kicked in as I found yet another AS4 (rejection letter) waiting for me.
Last week, the same thing happened to me. Ironically, I got the email less than 5 minutes after saying goodbye to my Connexions PA, when I was telling her how I was still waiting on decisions from 2 medical schools. 5 more minutes of typing web addresses, application numbers, usernames and passwords on the tiny keypad on my phone, and I’d discovered the change. It was from the Univeristy of Southampton medical school, telling me that unfortunately my application to study BM Medicine (A100) had been unsuccessful.
So, here I am, blogging on one screen, a pretty disheartening Track on another. Like a few medical applicants, I’m now waiting for that fourth and final medical school to consider my application and make their decision – whatever that may be. I’ve applied to do Medicine (A100) at the University of Bristol, and I know that they interview their applicants. I’m getting some pretty tough-going practice at questions from Rob, just in case I need it. At the moment, I’m checking my pigeonhole at halls as soon as I can every day, and silently hoping for that letter…
Matt plans to write to the medical schools that rejected him, and hopefully gain an insight into what he needs to do better if he is unsuccessful this year!
1 Comment »Coping with rejection
Posted on December 30th, 2008 by Matt
As you know by reading this, I’ve been recently rejected by BSMS and Sheffield. Naturally, this is quite disheartening, and can make me feel a bit low at times. Being a resiliant chappy, I have carried on and found a brilliant coping method.
Now, I don’t think I’m supposed to be encouraging you to buy products from other places, but as a founding partner, “what the hell!”
For anybody who has been rejected, or just wants to hear the piss taken well and truly out of the medical profession, I recommend that you go out buy some of the Amateur Transplants albums. Failing that, have a look on YouTube at some of their live videos posted by PsychoManagement.
However, on a more serious note, I could still have another interview to go, so I’m going to remind you of the MedicalAdmissions.co.uk interview preparation days.
We offer a full day for up to 10 participants anywhere in the country, including an individual mock interview, group exercises, lectures and talks. The cost is ?2,000.00 split equally between all participants – so if you want one, book now via the ‘Contact us’ form, or by calling the hotline on 07077 088328.
Chemistry resits
Posted on December 26th, 2008 by Matt
I know I’m not the only applicant out there who’s resitting Chemistry this year – apparently last year was an incredibly bad year for AS Chemistry across the country!
My Xmas holiday from college was started with some wonderful “paper-based presents” courtesy of the Chemistry Department. Past exam papers, booklets from last year, and revision textbooks seem to form the most of my plans over the 2 weeks off.
Coming up on the 9th of January, the week of my return, is an afternoon of fun-packed(!) exams for 2 hours. I’m retaking Foundation Chemistry and Chains & Rings in the hope to bring my AS grade up to a high B or low A…
So, for now, whenever I get a moment to actually sit down, I’m working through past papers, reading revision material, and trying to memorise balanced equations and reaction conditions for organic compounds. Electrophilic addition seemed boring enough to look at, let alone memorise everything about!
Matt is braced for a very boring holiday…
No Comments »Status change II
Posted on December 19th, 2008 by Matt
This time I was sitting at home, on my bed. My Mum was next to me, working away on her desk (the room is shared between my and her office because I’m not often home). My phone buzzed with a new email, and again I flicked it open – “track@ucas.ac.uk”.
I told my Mum that again the status of my application had changed, and grabbed my laptop. Downstairs in the house are two ethernet ports where I can get internet access (for some reason my laptop and my Mum’s wireless don’t want to talk to each other). It didn’t take me long to enter “tra” into my browser before the bookmarked login screen appeared.
Another 30 seconds, and much frantic typing had me on the Choices screen. I held my breath, and waited as it appeared – would it be “Conditional”, “Unconditional” or “Unsuccessful”?
Well, I have another UCAS AS4 on the way to my address – Sheffield have chosen to reject my application. Oh well, it’s 2 down and 2 to go.
Matt is hoping one of his remaining medical choices accept him!
1 Comment »Status change
Posted on December 17th, 2008 by Matt
I was sitting in KFC in the Metro Centre last night, when my phone buzzed with a new email notification. I have all of my MedicalAdmissions.co.uk email and my important personal email sent to my phone, as well as the usual facebook notifications. Thinking most likely that it would be a facebook message, I finished my food before diving into my pocket.
And it was then that my heart skipped a beat. “1 New Meesage: track@ucas.ac.uk” was displayed on my phone, and I knew immediately what it must be. I clicked read, and was told that the status of my UCAS application had changed.
Sitting in the middle of the Metro Centre meant I had no wi-fi, and no internet points for my laptop. So, using only the tiny screen of my mobile, I entered the secure Track address – https://track.ucas.com/ucastrack/Login.jsp – and waited. After much fiddling about with the keys, I had my personal ID, username and password entered.
It seemed to take an eternity, but after 30 seconds, I had the main menu on screen, and was trying to find the “Choices” link. More waiting, and more nervousness meant that I could barely see my screen for shaking, but then I saw it, and my heart sank. “Brighton & Sussex Medical School, A100, Rejected”. 1 down, 3 to go.
But then, I scrolled down, and noticed something else, “Northumbria University, B940, Conditional offer”. Clicking through it, and trying to read the small text eventually told me that I can study Biomedical Science with a ‘Merit’ in HEFC Human Biology and 80 UCAS points in the 2008/9 exam season!
Matt still definately wants to study medicine, but it’s nice that? he a ‘Plan B’ if it’s needed…
1 Comment »MedicalAdmissions.co.uk Blog is powered by WordPress.