Applicant
Observation skills
Posted on August 9th, 2008 by Matt
Stop. Don’t move. Don’t even think. What colour is the front door of your house?
You know, the one you walk through every day. It’s the one you’ve got the key for. It’s quite big, you know, with a certain type of handle. Front of your house, you know which one I mean.
Now honestly, answer me this, could you answer this question correctly and honestly in less than 2 seconds? I couldn’t.
I’ve asked more than 40 people at my halls to correctly name the colour of the 3 front doors. They are Red, Green, and Blue (in that order). Most people guessed a colour other than those three, and nobody identified that they were each a different colour.
You’re reading this because you want to be a doctor. Before you start medical school, my advice to you would be: brush up on your observation skills. Suggestions include the doors in college, the name of your college cleaner, the name of the shopkeeper on the corner, the colour of the drivers uniform on the bus/train, the road name of the shortcut you use to get to town, the name of the all the bar staff in your local.
For your information, mine are glass/automatic, don’t know, don’t know, white shirt & navy trousers, St. Bede’s Terrace, and I don’t know. But guess what I’ll make it my business to find out. And one more thing, doctors need to be approachable – are you the kind of person to start spontaneously talking to the person sitting next to you on the bus? If not, get the confidence and try it – it can be quite fun!
Matt says: You’ll interact with all sorts of people as a medic. Get to know each one personally, and make time to say “Hello” to them.
No Comments »Controversial note
Posted on August 8th, 2008 by Matt
Many parents may well want to have a go at me for this! However, as an applicant myself I feel it is very important to say this: Students applying to do medicine should do so because they want to and not because of any other external factor…
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.?– Dr?Seuss.
Now another little anecdotal tale I have is from the University of Birmingham – the claim to have had a student that turned up for interview and said, “I don’t want to do medicine, but my Dad made me apply, please fail me, please!” Needless to say, she didn’t get in.
I understand that parents want the best for their children, and that they want them to do well, and have a good job, earn lots of money, and the rest (gee, aren’t ideal worlds nice these days?). That’s quite right. But remember that medicine is a very demanding career choice, and influnces the rest of your life in almost every way. The best support a parent can give any university applicant is to provide them with the information and the opportunities for every course and university that they would like to consider, and then support them in whatever choices they choose to make. End of!
Matt says: It’s all about mind over matter, really!
No Comments »Parents’ and Supporters’ guide
Posted on August 8th, 2008 by Matt
I went over to a university today for a Campus Tour, as I thought I should get on with something having left everything back at halls. It was a very nice tour, and they even gave us a “goody bag” containing some badges, a pen, the prospectus, and some smaller booklets. I also met a 16-year-old girl who had just finished her GCSEs and was effectively going to some visit days to start shortlisting potential universities – a brilliant idea, start early and find out as much as possible!
I’ve been reading the guide aimed at parents, because they usually summarise all of the useful information from everywhere else into a much smaller size. A few things stuck out at me, and I’ll point them out below, as well as expland on them.
Some young people are more independent than others, but your son or daughter will settle into university life more easily if they have certain basic practical skills, such as being able to do their own laundry, clean their room and cook a few basic meals.
Very true. Amongst that, other key points include being able to read a map (namely the campus one), budget effectively (rent does not pay itself), remember things (like the code for the front door), wash dishes (no university has fairies that can be booked out), iron (unless you like wearing creased clothes), and – most importantly – make a decent cup of tea (this, of course, being essential when it comes to meeting new housemates).
Buying a Young Persons 16-25 Railcard (?24 for 2008) will save a lot of money if your son or daughter will be travelling by train. It provides discounts of one-third on most rail travel in britain.
Not only that, but I even know of one route that does 50% off for students! Don’t forget that almost every medical school is close enough to a principal railway station to make it a viable option for going home. Purchasing tickets in advance with a railcard is an excellent way to save money – personally, I can travel first class (return) for ?40 on a journey that would cost me in excess of ?200 for standard open tickets)!
The University holds undergraduate open days in the summer and autumn of each year, providing a real taste of what life is like at the University
You can check our Online Diary to find out when all of these are taking place. And don’t forget to check the invidual websites too, as some of them will even let you stay in halls the night before the open day! I really recommend you go to at least one, just so that you get a good insight into the medical course. But, personally, I wouldn’t choose a university without looking at it first!
Matt says: Read as much information as you can get your hands on, even the unlikely stuff!
No Comments »Newcastle
Posted on August 7th, 2008 by Matt
I’ll start by saying I’m not actually applying to Newcastle! I know its a really good medical school and all that, but I live in the area already, and although I really do love the North East, I think my time at university would be better spent in another part of the country.
Why I’ve called this Newcastle is because, as far as I know so far, the next Newcastle University visit day will be the first of the MedicalAdmissions.co.uk face-to-face advertising sessions! If you don’t know when this is, our ‘Diary‘ will tell you…
So, if you’re visiting the university to find out more about its medical course, or are just in the area generally, come and find me! I’ll be wherever there is a talk related to medicine (maybe even sitting at the back of one or two of them trying to pick up some tips for the site). If you’re wondering what I look like – check the ‘About us‘ page – or play spot the MedicalAdmissions.co.uk ID Card which I’ll have attached to me somewhere…
Matt says: Come and say “hello”, I don’t bite!
No Comments »How not to be prepared
Posted on August 5th, 2008 by Matt
It’s by doing this website I’ve realised that I’ve only done one stupid thing this summer. I’ve left all of my notes on, and prospectuses for, the universities I’m thinking about applying to back on my bed in halls. In the same pile is my personal statement, and the books I bought about getting into medicine.
It’s a good thing, therefore, that I had planned to buy one more book this summer, Progression to Medicine, Dentistry and Optometry 2009 Entry by UCAS. It’s a real shame I can’t seem to find it in a high street shop anywhere, because I’d like it now! Instead I’ve bought it off the UCAS website, and should have it by the end of the week. A bargin for only ?19.99 including delivery – well, I’ll think it was a bargin if it helps me get in, if not I’ll think I’ve wasted ?20.
They say that first drafts of personal statements are always in need of re-drafting, so I may as well go ahead and just do that. I don’t suppose it can do any harm, this way I’ll be able to pick the best parts from both of them!
Matt says: Now really is the time to be starting your application properly!
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