After missing my A-level grades to meet my conditional offer terms in 2005 for Barts, 3 years on i've finally found my pass back to Barts as a biochemistry graduate - conditional on health and CRB checks. ^_____^
It almost feels surreal, to the point in which i'm still quite calm, having randomly checked my track on tuesday afternoon, and havn't had the emotional dance, cry or shout... yet (i'm sure there is plenty of time for that in the time to come!)
It's an odd feeling, i don't know how to describe it, but am just really glad its all worked out, and my gap year plans are on course. I think working as a HCA has really made the extra difference this year, and though that said.. i can't wait to move on to the travelling part of my gap year!
Until then.. i'm back onto night shifts tomorrow night!
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Post BARTS-interview
Woke up early, but as things go with the london underground and general morning traffic, i arrived at the Garrod building/old library in Whitechapel with only 2 minutes to spare! - it almost became a bad start (!!!). I signed some bit of paper i never got to read through properly, ticking to mark my ethnicity and rushed into the seating area.. and before i even got to take my coat off, one of my very very VERY tall interviewers came across the room to invite me to the interview "bay".
The interview area looked almost identical to last years, with two rows of seats arranged to face the interview area, which was defined by green office-styled screens, boxing off different areas of the hall into small make shift interview bays. I was in the one on the right hand corner, luckily quite a distant from the other bays, though throughout the interview it was hard not to over hear other people having their interviews in the background.
The interview started with big smiles from the two really friendly interviewers, then came a few very typical interview questions, followed by some questions off the personal statement, and finally a good long discussion on the ethical case article they sent along with the invite. I actually prefered the ethical case discussion taken in their interview approach this year, compared to their video approach in the past years, and i felt the interview also went a lot better this year, but only time (and ucas track updates) will tell.
However, of all the possible ways i could have ended the interview by asking a normal question, we ended up talking about their helicopter... ~.~
The interview area looked almost identical to last years, with two rows of seats arranged to face the interview area, which was defined by green office-styled screens, boxing off different areas of the hall into small make shift interview bays. I was in the one on the right hand corner, luckily quite a distant from the other bays, though throughout the interview it was hard not to over hear other people having their interviews in the background.
The interview started with big smiles from the two really friendly interviewers, then came a few very typical interview questions, followed by some questions off the personal statement, and finally a good long discussion on the ethical case article they sent along with the invite. I actually prefered the ethical case discussion taken in their interview approach this year, compared to their video approach in the past years, and i felt the interview also went a lot better this year, but only time (and ucas track updates) will tell.
However, of all the possible ways i could have ended the interview by asking a normal question, we ended up talking about their helicopter... ~.~
Saturday, 10 January 2009
A new kind of January - interview invitations
Finally went back to work on thursday after having a very relaxed 2.5 weeks off; it was sort of weird going back to the ward after such a long break, but its good to be back, albeit a little tiring - especially as i don't have the discipline and will power to make myself sleep early, even with knowledge of a 12.5 hour working day ahead.
Went downstairs today to find something to munch on (actually, it was specifically chocolate i was looking for haha, a family friend had bought some back from her trip to switzerland... yum!) and saw a pile of post on the floor, with 2 interview invites, one from qmul/barts 5 year A100 (only 1 day off from my interview there last year, a bit unnerving) and the other was from warwick 4 year A101. January has actually managed to be a niceish month so far - and with the interview for warwick being in march, also means i won't have the same sad situation of receivng 4 rejections in January, as i did last year.
Whilst excited, i'm also a bit worried, as the selection centre at warwick sounds difficult, and barts seems like they have changed their interview style this year, and has sent me a few pages to read about a recent ethical situation to read and to discuss at interview. I suppose this may be the new replacement to the video from past years?
Will probably browse the forums in a moment and see what sort of information i can get, but until then... its time to collect my free shuffle replacement from the apple store - yay another nice january moment thus far into 2009 (i had accidently placed my shuffle into the washing machine with the rest of the laundry, and obviously it came out broken, but having taken it to the people at the apple store in regent's street, they are going to give me a free replacement ^^)
Went downstairs today to find something to munch on (actually, it was specifically chocolate i was looking for haha, a family friend had bought some back from her trip to switzerland... yum!) and saw a pile of post on the floor, with 2 interview invites, one from qmul/barts 5 year A100 (only 1 day off from my interview there last year, a bit unnerving) and the other was from warwick 4 year A101. January has actually managed to be a niceish month so far - and with the interview for warwick being in march, also means i won't have the same sad situation of receivng 4 rejections in January, as i did last year.
Whilst excited, i'm also a bit worried, as the selection centre at warwick sounds difficult, and barts seems like they have changed their interview style this year, and has sent me a few pages to read about a recent ethical situation to read and to discuss at interview. I suppose this may be the new replacement to the video from past years?
Will probably browse the forums in a moment and see what sort of information i can get, but until then... its time to collect my free shuffle replacement from the apple store - yay another nice january moment thus far into 2009 (i had accidently placed my shuffle into the washing machine with the rest of the laundry, and obviously it came out broken, but having taken it to the people at the apple store in regent's street, they are going to give me a free replacement ^^)
Thursday, 1 January 2009
New Year ~!
It’s not often I get to wake up and welcome a new year, but as it’s THAT time of year again, I suppose I’ll be setting a whole bunch of targets, most of which will probably be forgotten in a few months time… not because I am forgetful, but with time I tend to realise how unrealistic some of my plans tend to be.
A good example would be my gap year plan to earn enough money to repay my student loan, squeeze in a major backpacking holiday trip, save some money for the future, and most importantly get into a medical school.
-This was sort of going to plan, until:
i) I realised how big my loan was
ii) I realised how little pay HCAs get
iii) when I promised mum I would take her on holiday, so paying a trip for 2 on top of everything else
and
iv) When i was put on the waiting list after interview
However, although there are now greater limitations to my backpacking trip, i am still really looking forward to my mini adventure, and can’t wait to meet up with my friend to discuss possible plans this week. I was all hyped to go alone, but as I found out one of my friends also wants to take a break after her degree, I thought the more the merrier! (+ safer and cheaper ~.~). Not too sure where we plan to go yet, but hopefully that would be cleared up after a chit chat over some coffee, and with some access to the internet.
---------------------------------------------------
On application side of things, i met someone recently whos currently in the final year of her biomed degree at kcl, and having had an interview at kcl in november, has now secured an offer for the 5 year course.. what a great christmas present that must have been!!
- - though whilst i was extremely happy for her.. eeeeek it makes me wonder whats going to be happening to those put on the waiting list... >_____< !!
====================================
WELCOME JANUARY 2009 ~!
Let me hope you will be nicer than January 2008!!
====================================
A good example would be my gap year plan to earn enough money to repay my student loan, squeeze in a major backpacking holiday trip, save some money for the future, and most importantly get into a medical school.
-This was sort of going to plan, until:
i) I realised how big my loan was
ii) I realised how little pay HCAs get
iii) when I promised mum I would take her on holiday, so paying a trip for 2 on top of everything else
and
iv) When i was put on the waiting list after interview
However, although there are now greater limitations to my backpacking trip, i am still really looking forward to my mini adventure, and can’t wait to meet up with my friend to discuss possible plans this week. I was all hyped to go alone, but as I found out one of my friends also wants to take a break after her degree, I thought the more the merrier! (+ safer and cheaper ~.~). Not too sure where we plan to go yet, but hopefully that would be cleared up after a chit chat over some coffee, and with some access to the internet.
---------------------------------------------------
On application side of things, i met someone recently whos currently in the final year of her biomed degree at kcl, and having had an interview at kcl in november, has now secured an offer for the 5 year course.. what a great christmas present that must have been!!
- - though whilst i was extremely happy for her.. eeeeek it makes me wonder whats going to be happening to those put on the waiting list... >_____< !!
====================================
WELCOME JANUARY 2009 ~!
Let me hope you will be nicer than January 2008!!
====================================
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Happy Holidays
Yay Christmas was actually quite good this year!! - but then my ward decided to close out of the blue and has now left me alone in london for no reason!!!! GARRRRRRR i hate undecisive ward managers! - it means i don't go back to work until the end of the 1st week of January. Although i enjoy my time off, i wish they could have told me earlier as i could have planned something, instead of having not very much to do.
Thankfully this year my brother his girlfriend, and my cousin has decided to visit london, so its not actually been too bad, as i got to spend time at home cooking up a feast to cheesy music, watching re-runs of old films, drinking alcohol and playing stupid games. All in all, twas a very merry Christmas.
On the med application side of things... absolutely nothing! no news! de nada!
- - but from experience January is a very very horrible month - so lets just hope i manage to hold through the month without toooo many rejections!
Thankfully this year my brother his girlfriend, and my cousin has decided to visit london, so its not actually been too bad, as i got to spend time at home cooking up a feast to cheesy music, watching re-runs of old films, drinking alcohol and playing stupid games. All in all, twas a very merry Christmas.
On the med application side of things... absolutely nothing! no news! de nada!
- - but from experience January is a very very horrible month - so lets just hope i manage to hold through the month without toooo many rejections!
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Waiting listed
After 6 weeks of waiting from my kcl interview, i've been notified by mail today to stay waiting until march/april, as i sit on the waiting list.
I suppose i am glad its not a straight rejection, but i know my chances of staying at kcl for another 5 years is unlikely, as the chances of receiving an offer from the list is very very low. I will just have to sit and hope. The worst part being through the post-interview wait, i was thinking how i would really enjoy spending another 5 years at kcl; but alas, fate tells me to keep waiting.
My ward has a new HCA, another med applicant gapper, theres now 3 of us on the ward and it seems as if the ward sister has taken a liking to taking on gappers, as the 3 latest hcas (me included) have all been gappers.... or it could possibly be because theres a surge of gapping applicants this time of year; none the less it means i now have another person to chat to about applications and things. However, i do cringe on the idea of seeing one of them on friday, as she also had an interview at kcl last month, and i'm just going to be reminded of my unlikely chances with every shift i share with her.
Really hoping i'll hear from other unis soon, i think it would be pretty shattering to have to fail another round of applications if this year sees a similar fate to the last.
I suppose i am glad its not a straight rejection, but i know my chances of staying at kcl for another 5 years is unlikely, as the chances of receiving an offer from the list is very very low. I will just have to sit and hope. The worst part being through the post-interview wait, i was thinking how i would really enjoy spending another 5 years at kcl; but alas, fate tells me to keep waiting.
My ward has a new HCA, another med applicant gapper, theres now 3 of us on the ward and it seems as if the ward sister has taken a liking to taking on gappers, as the 3 latest hcas (me included) have all been gappers.... or it could possibly be because theres a surge of gapping applicants this time of year; none the less it means i now have another person to chat to about applications and things. However, i do cringe on the idea of seeing one of them on friday, as she also had an interview at kcl last month, and i'm just going to be reminded of my unlikely chances with every shift i share with her.
Really hoping i'll hear from other unis soon, i think it would be pretty shattering to have to fail another round of applications if this year sees a similar fate to the last.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
december update
Oh was waiting for the BMAT results to arrive a nuisance, (i believe there was a mix up, and they were sending them out a tad late) but i wish i was still waiting.. as the results weren't just a tad crap..they were worst than last years!
Ok it's only 0.3 marks less than last years..but i think its almost definately means my chances at ucl have gone down the drain, and mixed in with the sudden cold weather, a bad flu, and my desktop officially dead and failing to be reformatted, the week has been pretty grim.
I don't regret taking the bmat and risking it slightly as such, at least now i won't have to live with the "what if" factor. I was slightly dissapointed with my bmat results, but the dissapointment didn't last too long; i suppose i'm just glad its something out the way.
It just goes to show... no news is good news !
on the line of news.. ucas track has remained looking the same as it did almost 2 months ago; however im sure thats going to change soon, as from last year's experience - january seems to be a popular month for bad news ~.~
Ok it's only 0.3 marks less than last years..but i think its almost definately means my chances at ucl have gone down the drain, and mixed in with the sudden cold weather, a bad flu, and my desktop officially dead and failing to be reformatted, the week has been pretty grim.
I don't regret taking the bmat and risking it slightly as such, at least now i won't have to live with the "what if" factor. I was slightly dissapointed with my bmat results, but the dissapointment didn't last too long; i suppose i'm just glad its something out the way.
It just goes to show... no news is good news !
on the line of news.. ucas track has remained looking the same as it did almost 2 months ago; however im sure thats going to change soon, as from last year's experience - january seems to be a popular month for bad news ~.~
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