Not looking good at the moment :(

Today, I just received my first Medicine rejection from Birmingham. I was absolutely distraught and it took a lot for me to accept it. I simply wasn't good enough - it's an indicator that I still have a lot more work to do to get to where I want to be, and perhaps an indicator that I need to do more to get ready for the medical vocation.

In addition, my Hull interview a couple of days ago kind of went belly up. I don't want to say more, but it just wasn't good enough.

There's still hope

I really do pray for an offer for Medicine (in Jesus' Name)... I basically have two lives left: Barts and St George's. I'm more likely to get an interview at St George's, but I promptly need to sort out getting references for my work experience. Also the competition for Barts has sky-rocketed this year: 800 interviews from 2600 applicants. Will my 611 (651) tarriff + 2870 UKCAT be enough?

I'm still as determined as ever to get into Medicine. Knocked down, but certainly not knocked out. Rejections only make you stronger, as long as you get back up. If anything, my devotion to get into Medicine has increased two-fold, which is kind of ironic, but utterly true.

Priorities now:

• It's the Christmas Holidays now: up the tempo to getting 41 - 45 points in the IB 
• Reflect on my two interview performances: where did I go wrong? What would I do differently if I were to do it again? How will I improve for future interviews, in order to match and potentially beat the competition? (My experiences have really brought home the extent of the competition for Medicine - the calibre is incredibly strong) Interview techniques-wise? Which qualities do I need to enhance?
• Remember the goal of getting into Medicine, but still try to enjoy myself + some social and recreational exposure with friends, and come back to equanimity 

Now, I can only move forwards. Medicine is the number one goal, I will get in, in Jesus' name.

Not feeling particularly merry at the moment, but, Merry Christmas.

Interview at Hull!

Let me start off by describing how my Birmingham interview experience was. It was actually, and very much surprisingly... alright... I gave it the best I could, and a strong performance; I sincerely hoped that I exemplified and presented the particular attributes they sought for in each station.

So I woke up at 5am on a cold 3rd December morning. The adrenaline was already beginning to rush. I was REALLY going to be having a MEDICINE INTERVIEW... an interview to enter my dream career. It was a tad unbelievable - very exciting.

I slapped on my suit, complete with a blue tie reflective of the theme colour attributed to the University of Birmingham. A two-hour car drive up the Midlands (THANKS DAD) and a sleep along the way later, we arrived at the medical school, and as we drove through, the pre-eminent, supreme Queen Elizabeth Hospital oversaw us. I pointed at it and said: 'In 2020, I'll be working there'. That was my motivation to smash the interview.

Thankfully, I had been on the open day, so that eased a bit of stress with regard to getting our way around.

So then to the interview...

I registered an hour before my inteview (well sort of an hour) - registered at 10am and was told it would begin at 11:25am. It was a bit of a nervous wait, but I just gathered my thoughts at this point and scanned over a few interview notes... and that was about it.

At 11:25am, a group of six students who had just had their interview came out of the interview area, and my group of six were then invited to proceed entry by an admission's tutor.

I said a prayer - put my trust in the Lord.

• The first station was on resilience and personal attributes. I felt I showed what I NEEDED to show. I thanked God for a good start.
• The next station was on my motivation and insight to Medicine. It was a bit of a blur, but I hopefully spat out a few things that genuinely presented my vehemence
• The next station was Ethics. It was hard, but the prep I had had got me through I believe.
• The next station was healthcare issues. Coming off the back of a tough ethics station, it was nice to have a fresh-faced, warm, welcoming, FEMALE interviewer to ease the stress. I thought that I didn't go too badly, but it was probably horrendous; who knows though... (except them) my opinion on this is rather unestablished
• The penultimate station was data interpretation. I mean, it was alright. I had a shaky start (which probably prompted the interviewer's gestures that seemed to express Why is he even here?) but I soon got into form by the end of the six minutes and that fact is probably reflected in the fact that he gave me a handshake with a smile at the end. I feel I should have done better here, though - I probably over-complicated things for myself. Hopefully they would have seen through that. Hopefully it will be appreciated, that as truly as it is the case, my quantitative reasoning skills are functional for a medical career.
• The last station was an interactive task with a fourth year medic. Well, I interacted. I showed that I am not an alien, that I can actually interact with a ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. My regret is perhaps that I didn't come with the mindset of "mature demeanour" and maybe asked a few too many questions. 

I then left the interview with a smile. I genuinely felt I had given the 48 minute interview a good crack of the whip. I thanked God for His everlasting help. My whole existence, individuality, persona, and lifelong ambition came down to this one day. That smile, I feel, was a smile of relief. 

So it's now up to them. I hear back week beginning 16/12. I pray to the Lord God almighty, who is able to do the impossible, that I am part of the 50% that will hear back with a straight-out offer (20% get straight-out rejections, 15% get put on hold and rejected, 15% get put on hold and given an offer).

So that was my experience. May I say, it was unforgettable, and it was nice to chat with some potential colleagues/medical students afterwards

Aside, I heard back about a week and a half before with an interview at Hull on 18th December! Kind of expected it, as I was guaranteed it based on my UKCAT score. But I am still looking forward to making the most of this evasive opportunity. I have already listed out my aims for this interview based on its structure (which I will detail post-interview, but its basically group discussion, medical interview, personal interview), and have learnt from this interview experience at Birmingham. I promise my performance will genuinely be good enough, and that the interview will go well, so that I can post up some valid tips in the coming days. Interview experiences are really like no other - you're there to show off and sell yourself... show why you deserve a £250,000 investment for medical training (yup, that's how much it is)... let them WANT to give you an offer, moreso than the other way round.

Also I don't think that I ever mentioned that a few days after sending off my UCAS, within the 7 day adjustment window, I changed my 5th choice from Imperial Biochemistry to UCL Biomedical Sciences, as, I feel that if ever I would go for my fifth choice (which is very unlikely, and had I even gotten it) that it would at least be better worth its money leading up to post-grad Med. It would have been a simple Biochem to Biomed switch for Imperial had they not required the BMAT. As I mentioned anyway, the back-up is a gap year; Medicine is what I want to do, through and through. I will get there :)

Will be getting a decision from the above beautiful institution this week! I pray for an offer In Jesus' Name (John 14:14 - 'Ask for anything in the Name of Jesus and it shall be done')

Considerations

As I continue to prepare for my two upcoming interviews, whilst keeping tabs with the funness of the IB, I've recently begun to reflect on how far I have ventured into my journey towards what really is an audacious ambition of mine: being a doctor.

A major component of that has been relishing the potential great deal of fulfillment that I'll get through working with and creating a positive difference in patients in a career in medicine, but also considering what I'd actually like to specialize in.

As such, I've decided that I'd like to become a Psychiatrist or Neurologist. To be honest, from day one, when I first considered a career in Medicine, this was my the career path that initially appealed to me. I love the brain.

Interview at Birmingham!

Hey, it's been a while, but just to report that I've heard back from Birmingham with an invite for interview! It was a complete compete shock, and I heard back whilst on my holiday in France this half-term. Email came on 29th October, titled "Invitation for Medicine Interview". I went crazy! I had a mock interview today which greatly helped me to prepare, and have another on November 14th. Now I am absolutely determined to achieve an offer for Medicine!

I've booked it for December 3rd and you'll be first to know how it goes. Fingers crossed.

I'll be sure to post up some interview tips as well :)

UCAS form sent off!

On the UCAS side of things, each day since I received my UKCAT score, I've gone full-on with regard to sorting out my application. I can't lie, it's been quite stressful: incessantly getting feedback on and re-editing my personal statement to a good enough standard (at least, not atrocious), deciding where to apply to, ensuring that I use my strengths wisely, going on open days (went to Birmingham and Hull York with my dad to check them out) and speaking to my UCAS co-ordinator (I'm really not sure of the huge figure of the number of times I've been to see him) regarding the administrative side of things.

ON TOP of the IB.

In that space of time I've also spent countless hours deliberating over whether I'll be doing the BMAT, and even went forward to get myself registered through the examination officer at my school. After all, it's turned out that I won't be going for it and will be getting refunded. With regard to getting the best out of myself, it just does not appear prudent to do so, even in the light of the attractiveness of Oxford, Imperial, Cambridge, UCL... medical school is the aim regardless. The past couple of days have been even more hectic, finalising my university choices and my personal statement. All that I can say however, is that I've ended on a positive note... it's over and done with! The era of working on my application has now ended; now ensues the next journey of waiting for interviews, and praying for offers. No seriously, I will be praying each and every day.

It all feels somewhat anticlimactic, however. Perhaps, because my form hasn't actually been sent off to UCAS, just to my referee. I think when I get the emails from the actual universities themselves that they've received my application, the excitement will really begin to amass. So for now, I'll say that I have virtually applied for medical school!

Right my choices...

Birmingham has hung in there. Loved the campus on the open day, my favourite out of my choices. It's clear from speaking to admissions tutors that my strengths apply. Additionally, it's somewhere I can see myself living for the next 5 - 6 years.

Hull York Medical School. Guaranteed interview, giving me something to work towards! Only visited the York campus though. Still loved it.

Queen Mary. Of course.

St George's. From day one. I have a personal affinity for this medical school!

...and... my insurance choice is Biochemistry at Imperial. Yes, it has happened before! People have received offers from here with medicine personal statements, and I got an email saying that they still accept medical school applicants. I spent a lot of time deciding between Imperial and King's, but in the end just went with my gut feeling.

Medicine is the sole goal at the end of the day. If I was to be asked 'What's your back-up plan', as a to-be school leaver, the answer I would sincerely give is 'a gap year'. Obviously, things are capable of working out better than that!

So, yep, I've virtually applied for Medical School - 2 in London, 2 out of London :) Praying for the utmost best - the goal is for 4 interview and 4 offers, but all I really need is one. The whole process has only served to increase my passion for this incredible vocation!

717.5 average; Band 2 on SJT

Yep, that's what I got. If this post seems quite calm or anticlimactic, it's because I've done all the celebrating I can do and there's nothing left in the tank, really. As soon as I saw that result sheet I received coming out of the test room after two hours, life flashed before my eyes and I couldn't believe it, I just thank God so so much. It feels like a huge step towards being a doctor, albeit the first; there's still a long way to go. I'm so so thrilled. My mock results admittedly weren't looking amazing going into the test, but I just held my trust in God, executed my strategy, and came out well. I'm so pleased. Breakdown:

VR - 520
QR - 750
AR - 740
DA - 860
Total - 2870
Avg - 717.5 (718)

SJT - Band 2

OK the VR was quite bad, but no complaints really, I've done a bit of shopping looking at different medical schools and found that this would only be a cause of concern with Plymouth (and supposedly Exeter I guess - Peninsula Med School together) and Nottingham, who look at each sub-test individually. I need to give them phone calls however at the earliest opportunity to check up on this and see whether I should put them into consideration. However I now need to ensure that I apply very strategically, and really hit on the nail on the head in terms of my decision surrounding taking the BMAT as my result has given me quite a bit of confidence to consider pushing for it. I love Imperial and would love to try for it.

I'm just amazed with the range of doors this score has opened for me; I'm actually guaranteed an interview at HYMS if I choose to apply, since 2800+ means an automatic selection for one of the 480 for interview. Also, post interview stats look good for HYMS as around 300 earn offers from interview, so it may work as a lower choice.

That being said, it looks like I'll be applying to:

• Barts (my combined UCAS tarriff and UKCAT score is 651 and 2870 respectively; I'm confident that'd be strong enough to earn interview - hopefully I can also better my tariff to 672 by perhaps bringing up that Chemistry prediction to a 7! I'll ensure that over the coming weeks I do everything I can to put myself at ease and be confident that I'll achieve an interview - 700+ on UKCAT was good first step!)
• St George's
• Birmingham
• Hull York

UKCAT-heavy universities that will allow the full exploitation of my score need to be explored soon, and I've heard of the likes of Sheffield, Leicester, Manchester and King's being examples. Imperial is under consideration as well. At the end of the day it's important to apply tactically, and ensure your character/strengths matches the kind of candidate a specific medical school will look for. Although Imperial is renowned worldwide and is a top top medical school, as the end goal is purely just to get into A medical school, I believe applying based on prestige is pointless. It may work as a riskier option, and give me a sense of empowerment of knowing that I'm trying for a very prestigious university, but what is important is being realistic to ensure 4/4 interviews. To be honest, time will tell, but I really would love to be in contention for Imperial; the consideration of taking the BMAT just lingers at the back of my mind I guess. If I manage my time well it should not be too much of a burden to prepare and then go for the BMAT (Nov 6th), after applying for Imperial (playing the risk). Yet on the flip side of taking the BMAT, with extra time on my hands I may feel less pressurized in what will be a busy first term of year 13 for me.

So the UKCAT is over and done with, but really the next steps are just as important, if not more. My priorities for the rest of the holiday are just tying up loose ends with my academics in prep for Year 13, and revitalizing that PS/interview prologue to a great degree and high level of excellence, for the fact that I'm applying to Birmingham, who are as PS heavy as they are on academics! I'm just as determined to earn an interview at Birmingham ---> I will, in Jesus' name. Much more research will still be done concerning where I'll be applying to, and this will be done by looking at the holistic picture of each medical school in succession, along with my portfolio/strengths.

UKCAT Day!!!

So today is the BIG BIG day! The first realistic step I'm taking towards becoming a doctor. Wow. I am absolutely psyched up, I'm gonna treat this as a battle to fight haha!! I've always played a lot of psycholigcal cards, trying to remember that I've done a lot of practice for test that's not exactly made to be practiced for (so ukcat.ac.uk imply) meaning that I should be confident. Also, just remembering to be myself, seriously! This is where one has to showcase their own intellectual ability - showcase why they won't let Medicine, an academic, rigorous subject, be overwhelming and that they're suited for it.

I will post later regarding my result, the test is at 13:00 in Sidcup! All the practice really does come down to this, the Medify mocks, the 600Q book, the Official Mocks, the 166+ sets of AR practice questions (all for just 11 sets today) and I've got a the strategy down for each of the four sub-sections, as well as SJT - it's all on my phone so I might post it up on here to give as a guide! Ahh really do hope for 700+!!! 750+ even better to further support application to Barts!