The Results Are In...

And (thankfully) they weren't (quite) as bad as I was expecting.

I wrote this ages ago, but I've only just got round to publishing it because I'm lazy....

I'd tried desperately to keep the thought of receiving my results right to that dark, murky bit right at the back of my head. I was doing quite well at that as well. That was until, on Tuesday morning, I awoke to find a email from GAMSAT with the subject reading:

'GAMSAT 2013 UK: Your Results Are Now Ready'

Cue lots of uncontrollable shaking and butterflies and everything else associated with acute-exam-result-related-nerves. It's safe to say I was a bit of a wreck. 

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank ACER (the people who do GAMSAT) for telling me the results wouldn't be ready until LATE November, before releasing them on the 19th - Which still classes as Mid-November to me... I'd also like to thank them for giving me no prior warning and for emailing me at 5:53am, so that when I woke up just before 7am, I went into a tizz before I even got out of bed.

I opened the email on my iPad; clicked on the link and carefully entered my login details, whilst simultaneously trying not to drop said iPad through nerve-related shaking.

I then tentatively clicked on the 'Get Results' link before reading three little numbers which have given me a confidence-boost somewhat.

They're not great results, and, as I expected, I'll be doing the exam again next year. But, as someone who expected to be greeted with the dreaded:

'30. 30. 30...'

...Across the board, I'll take what I actually achieved (with very little in the way of revision) as not too bad indeed. For me...

49. 51. 42.

Average: 46.

GAMSAT IS OVER! (For now...)

It's been far too long since I've written anything on here; and I apologise for that.

It's just, you see, I've been a little busy with all the GAMSAT malarky. But it's over now! And I feel a bit strange... Relieved yet worried. 

I sat GAMSAT at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield. It's really near the train station; so my walk (which made me feel like a dead woman walking...) was relatively quick. My admission ticket said to be there for 8:15, and like the Square that I am, I got there at 8:14.

The queue to the Sports Hall was MASSIVE. I was quite surprised that there were so many people sitting the exam. The Sports Hall was full; and they had to put people in two separate meeting rooms in addition to this.

The Sports Hall at Ponds Forge

One thing I learned very quickly is that there's a lot of bureaucracy surrounding the exam. Lots of talking about rules etc. You also (and I didn't know this before) have to keep your admission ticket and ID on your desk throughout the exam.

And you get a rather nice stamp on your hand; which reads: 'Inspected'. Nice. It took thoroughly washing my hands sporadically throughout the day and having a bath before bed to just about get rid of it.

'Inspected'

I can't really tell you that much about the content of the exam because we were kind of sworn to secrecy... I can tell you though, that I had questions about medical ethics and organic chemistry in abundance.

As you probably already know, the exam is split into three different parts:

Section I - Reasoning in the Humanities and Social Sciences,

Section II - Written Communication,

Section III - Reasoning in the Biological and Physical Sciences.


Section I is an hour and a half, Section II an hour (You have to write two essays in that time frame) and Section III is a whopping three hours long!

You get an hour's lunch break between Sections II and III; and, like me, most people chose to go outside and get a little fresh air. In fact, one poor lady had what looked like a panic attack outside the doors because of the sheer strain of the exam.

This is not the aforementioned poor lady...

I was fine during Section I - which leads me to think I did quite badly. Usually the better I think I performed in an exam; the worse my grade ends up being.

I'll admit that I panicked quite a bit during Section II - I prepared for this section in the wrong way. I read lots of newspapers; books relating to Social Sciences and the like; but I didn't practice the writing side of things enough. So, my mind went a bit blank and I started to panic; but I recovered and rambled on about a load of rubbish; which also leads me to presume that I won't do all that well...

Section III on the other hand ended up being a bit of guesswork in parts. I did what Griffiths' GAMSAT Review suggests and guessed 'C' (apparently, there's ever so slightly more chance of guessing correctly if you choose the answer that's 'C'). There were things I recognized and a lot of things that threw me a little. I'm not holding my breath.

At the end of the day, all I did was my best. I was so nervous about Section III that I did consider scarpering during the lunch break; but I would have been so disappointed with myself if I had. It's not my style to abandon things before I succeed; I'm too stubborn like that.

Results are out at the 'end of November'. Oh I love how elusive ACER are.

Hmmm.

Hmmm. Today's been a bit of a crap day to be honest.

Four hours sleep. Then I spent half the afternoon sitting on my bum in front of the fire whilst eating cornflakes and watching comedy on TV to try and alleviate my bad mood.

I went on a wild goose chase too. All around the city to get my Mum an iPad. (She was paying, I was just picking it up for her...)

When I got home, I still felt crap: bad mood, hungry, tired, fed-up etc. I could go on (but shan't for fear of boring you all to death...)

Whilst on my wild goose chase, I picked up some pick and mix. First time I've had it in about ten years. That seems to be helping keep me a little cheerier; that and copious cups of coffee.

I had a really good weekend. A family wedding on Saturday and then drinks with my friends on Sunday evening. I had a laugh for an entire two days (back-to-back) for the first time in ages. It was wonderful.

Then today, I came back to earth with a big bump: I received two job rejections. GAMSAT revision is also looming but I seem to be so bad at self-discipline at the moment, I've hardly done anything recently. It's ridiculous. I need to give myself a big kick up the backside; except I don't know how.

Boy and best friend problems also don't help my mood. Why can't everything just be a bit more simple for once?

Still, tomorrow's another day and I've still got about three quarters of a bag of pick and mix to wade through. So it's not all bad... ;)

The University of Nottingham Open Day!

Apologies for being such an appallingly infrequent blogger!

I went to an open day last month at the University of Nottingham's Graduate Entry Medical School at Derby, and I've got to say that I was very impressed!

I wasn't feeling that well, in fact, I was thinking about cancelling altogether, but I persevered nonetheless, and dragged myself out of bed to go.

The day started at half 9, with a 30 minute registration period where we were all given complimentary tea or coffee in the cafe.

Whilst we were all sat down, uncomfortably chatting to those who we'd never met before, the academic admissions lead was orbiting the tables and chatting to us all. Turns out, he sings in a choir in my hometown. 

Small world...

Anyway, at 10 we went for an hour of presentations, one on 'How to Get in' and one on the course structure.

They were informative, yes, but you couldn't help but notice a change in tone, and everyone's faces suddenly turn a bit sullen at the prospect of GAMSAT!

After this we were separated into different groups, and went off for a series of different workshops.

The first that my group went to was 'Meet the Students', which is pretty self explanatory, really.

It was quite reassuring to hear about the six or seven students' experiences with GAMSAT...

Many of whom had failed first time, or weren't from a science background, just like me!

Then we moved on to 'Clinical Skills', led by a lovely lady lecturer/GP, where we got to try taking the pulse of a real-life medical student, and then also got to try the percussion test on her.

After this, we got a free lunch thrown in!

We got back downstairs (and there are a lot of stairs at this medical school, believe me!) and were greeted by the biggest banquet of triangular shaped sandwiches anyone could ever dream of. 

After our 55 minute long lunch, my group then got separated for our PBL workshop. Which I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed!

We got the case of a 49 year old travel company director, called Henry Fotheringham, who had come to his GP (that was us) presenting with epigastric pain. He'd been suffering for three days, but hadn't been to see his GP for the past decade. 

So we spent 25 minutes trying to work out what was wrong with him.

The seven of us, obviously pessimists, were convinced that our imaginary patient was suffering from something serious like cancer, that was, until, we were told by both of the medical students who were acting as our facilitators, that it was probably something as simple as reflux...

From this, we moved to anatomy...

We'd been told at lunch, that someone in another group had fainted and hit his head at the sight of a cadaver...

So, feeling quite under the weather and weaker than usual, I was convinced that I was going to faint too!

I was the first into the room,

'Cause I'm a geek like that...

And said "Hello" to the lecturer and her two medical student assistants, and casually walked past the chest of a dead body without even flinching...

Go me!

I found the workshop absolutely fascinating! We got to look inside the heart of the body, which was enlarged due to calcification. 
And we even got to see the dangling, stringy looking nerves that reach the arms!

After 25 minutes of that, we moved on to our final workshop, which was Neurophysiology. 

We got the opportunity to volunteer to have electrodes attached to our arms and have an electric current pass through it.

Apparently a test for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome...

You really do learn something new every day...

25 minutes of this and testing reflexes was over quickly, and then we departed back to the lecture theatre for a Q&A session.

By 3:10pm the open day was over...
And there I rediscovered my determination...

Who'd have thought the sight of part of a dead body could awaken somebody's faith in themselves...

The University of Nottingham's Graduate Entry School of Medicine at the Royal Derby Hospital.

A little bit more about GAMSAT, anyone?

So, seeing as I haven't got a lot else to do, I thought I'd tell you a little bit more about GAMSAT.

I'll do it in a list-y type thing, so it's easier to read:

GAMSAT stands for: Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test.

Yes, I know I'm from England, and not Australia, but it's also used over here too!

It's used by the following Universities for entry to their four year Graduate Entry courses:

1. St. George's, 
2. University of Nottingham, 
3. Keele,
4. Swansea.

It's an entrance exam used by the above Universities to see if their Graduate Medical applicants are up to scratch.

It's also used by Peninsula for entry to their five year course.

Whereas King's College London, Newcastle and Leicester all require you to take the UKCAT test.

There are three different parts to the five hour test, which are:

1. Humanities and Social Sciences,
2. Written Communication,
3. The Science-y bit.

Basically the information that I've received on the level of science required for the exam is quite conflicting. 

I've been told, by someone who has actually taken the test, that it's best if you revise up to first year undergraduate level Biology and Chemistry, and also A-Level Physics.

I've read, however, that AS Level in all of the sciences are adequate enough to get you through the test, even if you aren't from a science background.

Apparently, there's a lot of organic chemistry featured within the exam.

So get revising that kids!

The science part of the exam is double-weighted, so it's quite important!

The date of the test this year is Friday 16th September.

There are lots of Universities that allow graduates to study Medicine, but as I'm not from a science background (having done no science since GCSE) I thought I'd focus on the courses that are more relevant to people like me ('arty' people). 

Sorry if all of the above is of no use to you! 

And also apologies if I've got certain bits and bobs wrong, I'm no expert on GAMSAT!

Next time I'll be telling you all about my recent trip to St. George's! So...

Until then!

xx

So... That's that then...

So, my second year of uni is over, as of today!

Yey!! I'm free!

Now the problem is what I'm going to spend the rest of my summer doing!

Actually, having said that, I think the answer is quite obvious... GAMSAT revision!

Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment, evidently.

But, I'm being nice to myself, and I'm giving myself the next week off!

Believe me, after the fortnight I've had, I think I've earned it.

My best friend (let's call her Daydreamer for the sake of anonymity) and I are thinking about some volunteering work at our local animal shelter.

I've been going to this animal shelter on their open days, monthly, since the start of the year.

And it's quite upsetting, if truth be told.

All these cats and dogs that people don't want, that they don't love. 

When these poor animals have clearly done nothing to deserve abandonment.

Anyway, enough of this sad talk!

I'd absolutely love to take all of the animals home! 

But I can't. Which I'm gutted about.

There's the fattest cat ever there, he's huge! 

Let's just say, I'd never met a cat with a double chin before I'd met him!

But bless him, he's still lovely!

In fact, I'd go as far as to say a legend!

You might think I'm mad, but if you met him, I'm sure you'd feel the same!

They're looking for volunteers, and Daydreamer's Mum suggested we go for it.

So I'm waiting for Daydreamer to let me know what day's best for her, and hopefully we will go for it!

I've also been trying to get some work experience at my local hospital.

For what seems like forever!

All to no avail, unfortunately.

I'm not going to give up until they let me! 

Even if I have to kidnap and lock some of their current volunteers in a cupboard.

I emailed their voluntary service back in November of last year.

I got an email back a few days later, saying that they didn't want anyone, but wishing me good luck in "my quest for voluntary work".

So, anyway, I rang up their number, by chance (or desperation) in March, and they said that they were holding an open day in April.

They were urging people who were interested to email them a completed application form.

Which I did...

And heard absolutely nothing back.

Until, my Dad spotted the open day advertised in a magazine!

It was last Thursday, but my assignments and tutorials stopped me from going...

They haven't emailed back about my application form, so obviously still don't want me!

But to be fair, when you actually go through the hospital, 

which I do quite a lot because I'm an outpatient there, 

just about all of the volunteers are over retiring age! 

I might be a little too young. Or they might be a little bit ageist.

Or, it might by my 'student-ness' that puts them off. 

I don't know.

All I do know is that the volunteers get to drive certain disabled patients around in these pretty amazing buggies.

And I want a go!

Other than lots of uni work, this past week has been fairly unexciting!

I went to the hospital yesterday, actually, and spent nearly an hour, yes that long, in the dentist's chair!

Well, orthodontist's actually. 

I'm a braceface, you see.

Cue days of not being able to eat properly, and getting mardy because I'm so hungry...

Yey!

And there's barely been a peep from Barry Scott either! 

Which is quite nice, I'll admit.

But I'm not holding my breath.

He'll be back to his old tricks soon.

I bet.

So I'll keep you posted about how "my quest for voluntary work" goes!

And how the GAMSAT revision goes...

Until next time!

xx

Just a Weekly Update, I Guess...

So...
This week is basically the last week of the semester for me, which in turn is the last week of my second year! Eek!

I'm frantically trying to finish all of my essays, so that I can enjoy the weekend and have all my work ready to hand in before their deadlines.

I'd like to say I was actually getting somewhere, but...

I'm finding it hard to find my self-motivation, and when I do seem to find myself ready to work and concentrating, I'm surrounded by distractions from just about everything.

I definitely can't seem to concentrate on anything GAMSAT related, at least not until my essays are out of the way.

Which is pretty soon, as all three of my deadlines are next week. Eeek.




Anyway, let's talk about good old Barry Scott...

He's been 'busy' over the last few days.
When I say busy, I don't actually mean busy.
I mean, I do more than him, and I'm a student!


I was sat there in the garden yesterday, working away, scribbling all my ideas down to peaceful birdsong, and I was actually feeling calm and serene. Until...
I heard my lovely next door neighbour (the wonderful Barry Scott) shouting at his TV.
Which is reasonably acceptable when it comes to some programmes.
Except... He was shouting at -


wait for it - 


Deal or No Deal
Yeah, honestly.


There he was bellowing pointless advice to the contestants of the show...
"Deal!" "No Deal!" "No! Not that box!" etc.
He must be very excitable.


Purely scintillating stuff!


So, calm was disrupted by Mr.Shouty and my concentration was once again ruined.
But I persevered.
I'm quite proud of myself for that.


Other than that, I've had a fairly uneventful week.

Bit of News In Brief for you here.
This morning, at half threeish, a pipe burst, in turn flooding the bathroom.
Which made me panic a bit... It was only flowing out for about a minute, two tops, and yet it managed to flood the entire bathroom, and seep down into the kitchen.
I swear it wasn't my fault! I didn't touch the pipe! Honestly!
All I can say is:
Thank God for Dyno rod!


I told you I don't lead a very interesting life.
In fact, I'm starting to think that I should rename this blog, to something Barry Scott related.
But I'm not going to.


Anyway, until next time...