Rejection #3

From Leicester this time. Unfortunately, my UKCAT score failed to offset my poor A-level results in their points-based application process. Harsh reality to face.

Last Saturday, went to London to a MedicPortal organised MMI circuit to gain experience with MMIs and it was absolutely worthwhile. I certainly have a more focal view of the areas of which I now need to improve. Those areas being primarily communication skills, understanding of modern medical issues and ethical dilemmas and showing confidence in your response. With only a need to brush up on some basic physiology, the main areas that I need to improve in are no longer academical.

And it is the time of year when PhD interviews are taking place and it has been a consideration for me. Do I see myself enjoying the challenge of a PhD and perhaps a clear career path involving what I have learnt afterwards? It is an option. However, at this time, I believe is not one that would help me improve the areas in which I need to improve in for medical school. A career in clinical medicine remains my long-term goal. Several areas about myself and my character need to be improve and I principally believe they centre around me showing as much confidence to others as I know I have in my own ability to improve.

The day of nailing that interview is coming. Just be ready.

Rejection #2

Tough but expected. From Newcastle. Likely a low UKCAT score.

It is deflating but nothing new that I can't cope with.

I am at a juncture, aged 21 (22 in April), when I honestly need to start thinking about the impact I hope to bring as a clinician. Not necessarily a specialty specifically but what I envision myself doing as clinical professional. Whether that be contributing through research, presiding within societies or policy-making. A lot of graduate applicants to medicine, particularly with a scientific background, I would think would be keen to use their previous work in some facet as a clinician. I am no other. Genomics is upcoming, particularly in informing individualised risks and stratifying subgroups of treatments to people. However, the introduction of such data clinically faces enormous structures and policies which simply do not exist. To be at stage of informing these policies, you need to demonstrate a track record of implementation work to get yourself in the policy-making room. Can you deliver such a track record of years of research and analysis whilst training to become or practicing as a junior doctor?

That is the crux of it. If you want to make the most of what you already know, knowing that at least 12 years combined of training, junior doctor employment and specialty training await, you need to make a decision on how you want to make your impact.

This thought came to light after a conversation with a clinician on the fourth module of my Masters in Genomic Medicine.

Never have I been so fuelled to understand the real reasons for me wanting to do Medicine. To act in the interest of others, deliver on a personal level and prove people wrong. Those are the abbreviated reasons. And I'm still hungry.

Rejection #1

Well it has been coming. In my gut, felt as if I did not perform as well as I would have liked at my Plymouth interview. Combination of nerves and inability to express myself through past experiences did not help. I did feel as if I coped better with the ethical scenario that Plymouth allow you to devote time to prepare beforehand but for the impromptu ethical situations, I could not think as laterally or quickly as I would have liked. It is certainly harder in a panel interview to give more a practical representation of how you are rather than describing how you would act theoretically.

It was a great learning experience nonetheless. I still have the drive and enthusiasm to get to Medical School. I will certainly be looking for more additional interview practice through my university, careers department and other companies. As I prepare more, I think I will show myself as being more naturally confident which undoubtedly will help. I think I am coming close. A Plymouth reunion is off though.

Interview #1 Lined Up

Just over a year ago, 13th November 2015, I had four rejections, this time I have yet to hear back from three but today received an invitation to an interview at Plymouth University.

Just relief and happy to have an opportunity to prove myself. 

For now, time to focus on completing my lecture notes from today.

Motivation

So this is the beginning hopefully of more prosperous times than last year. A First Class degree and Acceptance onto a Master's degree at Cambridge was great but still I have yet to achieve my primary goal on leaving school. Get into Medical School.

Ever since that fateful day when I realised I would finish my school years with BCC as my A-Levels, the clock was ticking. It was time to prove just how badly I wanted to do Medicine and how badly I wanted to work to achieve it. But never did I want to experience failure like that again.

My undergraduate degree really helped prove to myself that I can compete. After the first year of my undergraduate degree, I finished with just under a 69% average. After not particularly working hard that year, it was very reinforcing to me that with a little more application, I can go on and be one of the best students in my degree cohort.

That all changed in the final year of my undergraduate degree when I was unfortunately predicted a 2:1 despite a 73% average during second year. It meant instant rejection from Plymouth University and quite likely hindered my other applications elsewhere. That was hard for me but it wasn't the first time my tutor did not believe in me.

On the final day (Leaver's Day) at school, our housemaster typically delivers a short speech on each of the leavers to the entire house. I was second in the alphabet and his opening words were: '[my name], he lacks common sense.' Never will I forget those words. But forever will I try and prove him wrong by moving onto a career where, perhaps, above all, is common sense expected the most.

After rocky roads of my UKCAT and GAMSAT in 2015, I'll be submitting my UCAS application tonight armed with a slightly better UKCAT score in 2016. I just hope I have an opportunity to prove myself at an interview. Its coming one day. Just be ready.

Masters Acceptance!

Before my hopeful 2017 entrance to Medical School, I have applied to do a one-year Masters in Genomic Medicine ('Modern' Medical Genetics essentially) at the following universities:

St George's

Imperial

Cambridge

I have been fortunate enough to have offers from all three universities and I have accepted Cambridge (Girton College). Very pleased about how this has turned out. Doing a summer research studentship after the first year of my undergraduate degree really cemented my interest in genomics and undoubtedly helped place a research-heavy focus on my application despite having medical school ambitions.

Degree Classification

Four months on and I have successfully completed my BSc Biomedical Science degree with my final year module marks are as follows:

Personal Research Project: 72.34%
Molecular and Cellular Pathology: 74.17%
Specialist Biochemistry and Screening: 79.13%
Current Developments in Biomedical Science: 68.25%
Medical Genetics: 75.21%

And those marks wrap up a First Class Degree Classification which I am certainly very pleased about. For the first time, I finally have the academic criteria box firmly ticked. A third attempt at the UKCAT awaits and I am also close to finding out about my Masters application. Exciting times ahead.