UCAS TRACK

I remember checking UCAS track everyday, even two or three times a day when I applied for Medicine. I was so obssessed I think that's why the rejection hit me so much harder than they should have. Second time round and I can happily say things are going better.

Within two weeks of applying for Biomedical Science I have two unconditional offers (Plymouth and Leicester) and an interview with Bristol. Fingers crossed for QMUL and UCL but we'll have to wait and see. No matter what I am going to uni this year :D shame it's not med but oh well.

Blogging from my iPhone btw and I've also got into Twitter. I'm all about communicating on the go. Still planning to become a doctor but will have to review the when and how :/

iPhone

Evening.

Been a while but I do like to blog so though I'd give you guys a brief update. Now on the uni front I've applied for Biomedical Sciences at UCL, Queens Mary and Plymouth. I've also applied for Biological Sciences at Leicester and Virology and Immunology at Bristol. I've got my fingers crossed and I'm hoping for a best response than last time.

Also I have an iPhone :D Working full time at my Jobcentre Plus is really paying off!!!!

Results

This is gonna be brief cause I'm unbelievably busy at the moment.

Law - A
Chemistry - B
Biology - B
Maths - B

Slightly disappointed that I didn't get an A in chemistry but oh well! I've been offered a place at Queen Mary for Biomedical Science for this year but I still want a gap year. Before you say, I asked them and it's QM's policy not to defer clearing offers. Sucks but I'll just have to apply again in September.

I may retake some chem and bio modules for my own personal ego, not to be submitted with my UCAS application, but who knows. I'm quite excited about all this.

Plus I have a job!!!!! I've been working for my local DWP Job Centre for the past two weeks. I'll get about a grand a month and the people are great. I'll be saving for uni and gap year in no time at all :D

Future Doc's Advice for Pre-Meds

I remember when I first considered becoming a doctor. I bought books, went to open days, joined sites, even considered MedLink (Don't waste your money). But then I found the world of blogging. I found so much advice and help from students going through the process or had done it in the past few years. I plan to make several posts stemming from this one. I want to help future students, but also get some things clear in my mind for me. I plan to cover:

• Why do you want to be a doctor?
• General Requirements
• Work Experience
• Personal Statement
• The UKCAT and BMAT
• General Application Info
• Gap Years
• Which Medical School?
• Preparing for the Interview
• Things which aren't true

I've got some drafts lined up already. I'll also be posting about my plans for the future depending on my results.

So it's over....

It's been a stressful two months. I've pulled at my hair, chewed on pens, used enough paper to help wipe out the rainforests and forced myself to work endless nights till 2 or 3 in the morning with the sole aim of passing these A-Levels.

In total I did 10 exams. 4 were retakes, 6 with A2s. The retakes seemed to go alright. I touch wood every time I discuss this because they all technically need to be A. Maths need to be a high A but oh well :/

A2 Law were very challenging. I entered that exam believing I would fail, that it would end here. However three questions that I couldn't have loved more came up. I seriously was so happy that it restored my hope. I can't guess biology synoptic for the life of me. Neither Chemistry's synoptic. Chem 5 seemed to go all right but who knows.

I now have two months till results day. I excited and nervous. I need to plan for the future over the next few days and get a good idea of what's going to happen. If I don't get minimum AAB then it's looking like I'm not going to med school anytime soon. It's possible to get an A in both Bio and Law. Without an A in chem my options are severely restricted but since I can't judge the paper, I really don't know. I'll stop now cause I hate dissecting papers. I refuse to talk about them after the exam because I can't change my answer and will just make me wonder.

More interesting posts to come, I promise. I'm also seriously considering looking at America but I need to research funding. It's unlikely to happen, but just want to know that I can rule it off my list of options.

New theme

Had some spare time/procrastinating so got a new template for my blog.
Shout if there are any problems.
Enjoy.

Going to see the Killers

Revision Break. I'm going to see The Killers and the Kooks in Hyde Park on the 26th.
Gonna be brilliant. Going with a bunch of mates. Can't wait!!!!!!!!

Back to Criminal Law :/

Student Finance Update

Basically. There are 10 people with my name on the system. 2 other people have the same birthday and their system cannot deal with it. So that meant I was forced to do the paper forms.

My parents earn over £50,000 a year so there is no point me putting down my financial information. I'd rather just do a non-means tested application. So I search the form for an hour, to tick a box or let them know some how that I'm dependant but will just take the 75%. Doesn't bloody exsist. I've phoned Student Finances three times and they're final answer, it doesn't exist. Just leave out 2 sections of the form and they'll get the message. Brilliant. I'll chuck a cover letter in when I send it off cause I know they are going to be bastards about this. Gonna be some fun times.

Yes I am very later for non-means tested deadline and 4 days over the deadline for means-tested application.

Revision Break

I'm pretty proud of myself. Been working very well the past week. Law and Mechanics seemed to go okay but can never judge with law or maths. Hope I get some As there *touch wood*

Um.. mainly been focussed on Foundation module for biology next monday morning. Awful module. Everytime I've take it I've never got higher that a D. I'm focussing on the textbook still, making sure I know the knowledge. Gonna look at past papers possibly tonight, probably tomorrow. Do some Maths tonight. Just have to finish a chapter on DNA transcription and I'm done.

Sorry it's nothing interesting. I'd give you some drama updates from my life but they are pretty sad and won't give those people the benefit of knowing they've even touched on my life.

Will start talking about plans soon. UKCAT. America. Medicine. Other Degrees (what the fuck do I do on results day for accommodation and funding?).

College

Don't know how it is at uni but all my lessons are compulsory although if you miss a few, tutors rarely kick up a fuss. For the past two weeks I've been going to college less and less. I find that lessons don't suit my revision at all and that I get so much more done at home. I've only got this week left with two exams on Friday (Mechanics and English Legal System). Went in yesterday to see if any important notices but today didn't bother. Revised Law all day.

Now cause of this decision for the past two weeks I've got really weird reactions off of my classmates and tutors. Classmates assume I'm bunking off and want to know where I was and I why I didn't go. Tutors think I'm wasting my time by not coming even when I explain or physically show my revision. It just annoys me that because I revise better outside the classroom at the moment I should be judged and assumed to be slacking.

Plans

I've got quite a few pms over at TSR about this, five in fact, from pre-meds who've been rejected like me for all their choices. I've replied to them but thought I'd post my plans here for others to read.

Basically my plans hinge on results day. If I get three or four As then I'm taking a gap year. I plan to get a job. Go to Peru. Volunteer with vitalise. Join a gym. Take up Tennis again. Take up Hockey again. Camp America next summer. Some more hospital work experience. Volunteer at a nursery/day care centre. Some more care home voluntary work. Learn a language or two. And gate crash freshers weeks up and down the country :D

If I don't get AAA then it'll be plan B. Go to uni somewhere, doing something. Bio med or virology. Then transfer in first year, or finish the degree and apply for medicine at the end of it. I really don't want to do that route. I will just hate it. So bring on the revision!!

Camping

Loved every moment of it. Went to Porlock, Minehead from Tuesday to Friday. Bloody Brilliant. I've never had a better time with friends and I'm so happy. About 20 of us went up on Tuesday and left over staggered days. We've got so many in jokes and it's amazing.

Tuesday
Got picked up by a mate and then picked up another on the way to a car park where we'd all agreed to meet. It was immense. All our cars were stuffed with stuff: Bags, Cooking Stuff, Guitars. We all set off at about 9. I had made a mix CD for the journey. Got there in about hour and half. Set up camp, had a search around Porlock and then drove to Minehead for some Tesco shopping. Got back and by 3 I was drunk :/ Remained drunk well into the night and slept amazingly. Loved it.

Wednesday
Got up, had a shower in an interesting "recently done up" shower block and then went in search of breakfast. Discovered that Porlock had seen us coming and wanted every last penny we had. Eventually found a café that was still serving breakfast at 10am. Had the best crumpets in the world. The butter was amazing. The woman must have litterally made it from cows out back. It probably increased my chances of a heart attack by about 10 but I don't care. It was so nice.

Did a bit of snack shopping, buying some lunch and that. Then headed into Minehead for a drive. Ended up buying coconuts in Tesco and then going on to play crazy golf. Brilliant. Got back. Headed back and made dinner plans. Had a BBQ and then headed to a local pub. It was a mate's birthday and she was wrecked. So many jokes came from that one night and she'll never live it down. Great way to have an 18th though.

Thursday
Another late start, meaning I missed breakfast but ended up having some chocolate shreddies instead. Excellent! Hung around playing the word-association for about two hours. Eventually headed for some lunch. Worse lunch every. Cost me better part of a £10 for a bagette and small drink. The service was awful, she didn't even ask about drinks till after she'd taken food. She left the menus the entire meal and also started tidying plates away and then just gave up. There was also a hair in two of mates meals. They got free lunch but the rest of us had to pay. Was not happy about that.

Headed back to camp to find other half of the group downing WKD using straws. Hilarious. The sun had also come out for a bit. So we headed to the pebble beach in wellies. Me and few headed into the water. Got soaked and had a laugh. However had to crawl out cause the pebbles hurt so much. While everyone went back to camp to pay the "propiertier", I stayed with two mates and dried out. Laid there for about 2 hours talking. It was so good.

We eventually walked back to camp where they had created Alice MK II. A girl called Alice couldn't come but wanted a model made so she was there in spirit. MK I was a box with a hole that became an on going joke, while MK II has balloon breasts and a "vag".

We eventually went in search of dinner. Pubs were so expensive we lived off fish and chips. It was freezing that night so went to the pub with a small group. Met the owner who had yet to show up for him money and he was drunk off him face. He was tradional farmer and having moved from London to the South West I recognised that he was meerly a product of his background. However his bluntness grated with a few friends who promptly left the table after feeling insulted. Medicine always seems to create this image of drive and intelligence that people take very seriously.

When we headed back to camp, less than 5 mins later, the drama started. A friend collapased and was so cold it was crazy. She'd barely eaten and was unconsisous for about 30 seconds. We got her inside and when it happened again within minutes we got the ambulance out. They were great and luckily she didn't have to be hospitalised. We got her filled with sugar and then later some proper carbs etc.

The rest of the night was a blur due to panic from some people. Loved it though.

Friday
Leaving day. Shower. Pack up and then wait for everyone's lifts. For some reason that car I was going home wouldn't start, even though we'd had the engine on less than 10 hours ago. Eventually after repeated pushing across a field, we got the engine going and we were on our way. We did stop the engine once on the way home and all it seemed to need was some warming up. The journey back was exhausting and we all met up a pub for CHEAP food. Everyone was shattered but it was brilliant.

QUOTES are flying everywhere. Pictures are on facebook. Plans for the next one are already in place and I have never felt happier. Love it.

Family

I've always been grateful for parents who have stayed together. Most of my friends have divorced parents. In fact I can only think of 3 mates who live with their original parents. As much as I love them, it's not been a happy home all the time. I've never told anyone this but today has been so bad. They are both very strong willed people who can be very stubborn. My mum comes from two parents who were very controlling. She rebelled in her own way and as a result does not like to open up to people. My dad comes from similar controlling parents, who put him down and eventually separated when he was 17. He failed his A-Levels and never went to uni. It's affected both of them and as a result they have had to be strong willed people.

They've never touched each other but they can be very verbally abusive. They'll scream, shout, slam doors, break things and just generally argue. My mum believes we take her for granted. As I wrote this she came in my room to tell me "she's had it". That she does everything. That we do nothing. I just listened and then she left.

My dad is a control freak sometimes. He can talk down to my mum and she'll just fight back. They bounce off each other and it's crazy. I hate that they argue, it's something I've learnt to live with from such a young age but I deep down I know they still love each other. I don't know why I'm writing this. I don't think there is an answer. Whether a gap year or uni, I want to get out. At the moment I don't get on with my dad. He tries so hard but we always fight. I can't really talk to him. He wants me to go to uni so desperately that he pushes it all the time. I know it comes from his short comings but I will go. I've always wanted to go. I shouldn't really post this. If anyone recognised who I really was then it could cause so much trouble. But there is something therapeutic about writing this down. Something where I can just talk. I don't need anyone to listen. I don't have to have a response. Just put it out there for my own benefit. Have it somewhere I can look at and know that none of my family will see this.

TSR, Facebook, Revision and all that Jazz

As I was procrastinating on TSR I discovered a new blog to read, Gillian's World. Turns out, she'd already found me and put me in her blogroll. I'm in a blogroll! Big news really. (Previously thought that only Harry, XE and Little Medic stopped by)

Anyway, exams are ever closer. For the first time I'm starting to panic. I've got 11 exams to take and need to plan for them: Chem 5, Chem 6, Chem 1, English Legal System, Criminal Law, Core Maths 4, Mechanics, Core Maths 1, Unifying Concepts, Environmental Biology, Foundation.

I'm confident that with the right planning and technique I can do this but it's just kinda overwhelming me at the moment. Plus I crazily agreed to camping (tues-fri) with about 20 friends next week. I know it will be brilliant and I know that I will regret not going but revision is such a massive thing on my mind. I might try and come home a day early.

Also the girl, well that ended properly about a month ago now. She's got a uni boyfriend who's at uwe so have to move on. Course she was kind enough to tell me by text before she updated facebook :/ Oh well. More fish in the sea or something like that...

Medicine is going to plan at the moment. This was a very likely outcome of my UCAS application. I've been rejected by all my choices and am now in limbo. My main decision comes down to results day in August. If I get AAAA then it's gap year and reapply. Anything lower and I'll enter clearing and reapply as a graduate for the 5 year course. I really don't want to do that route so will probably go knuckle down after this post.

I've also been considering my university choices next year. I've only told one of my friends this but I'm considering oxbridge. I went to an open day and 3A* is the minimum currently. I know i'll be up against much better GCSE grades but if I can absolutely wow them with my gap year then I'm going to apply. This is going to take some major decision making and gonna have to think long and hard about it.

Speaking of the gap year, I've got a good plan I think:

• Get a job when college finishes
  
• Get some more hospital work experience
• Work till Christmas
• Go to Peru for volunteer work for 3 months
• When I come back volunteer with vitalise for a week maybe a month
• Take part in Camp America during the summer
• And get into a medical school at some point

I need to look at timing better because of interviews and stuff. Not sure how to deal with it. Maybe leave a note in my personal statement although doubt I'll have the room. I'll phone up Queens Mary later and ask them about it...

UCAS Application

UCAS APPLICATION

2010 Application for Biomedical Science - UCAS FORM
Queen Mary - Unconditional
Awaiting Halls of Residences - 07/06/10

ABBB - Law, Biology, Chemistry and Maths


2009 Application Medicine - UCAS FORM
In Extra

MED SCHOOLS
Barts - Rejected - 09/03/09 (UKCAT)
Leeds - Rejected - 30/01/09 (GRADES)
Leceister - Rejected - 22/12/08 (GRADES)
Pennisula - Rejected - 04/03/09 (Unknown)

PARAMEDIC COURSE
St Georges - Rejected - 05/03/09 (PS)

EXAM RESULTS
JAN 08
Chemistry
Chem 1 - 57/90 (C)
Biology
Foundation - 47/90 (D)
Maths
Core Maths 1 - 66/100 (C)
Law
Sources of Law - 54/80 (C)

JUNE 08
Chemistry
Chem 1 - 52/90 (D)
Chem 2 - 35/90 (U)
Chem 3 - 75/120 (C)
Biology
Foundation - 43/90 (E)
Human Health - 54/90 (C)
Transport - 78/120 (C)
Maths
Core Maths 1 - 59/100 (D)
Core Maths 2 - 59/100 (D)
Statistics - 67/100 (C)
Law
English Legal System - 72/120 (C)

JAN 09
Chemistry
Chem 2 - 70/90 (B)
Chem 3 - 89/120 (B)
Chem 4 - 64/90 (B)
Biology
Human Health - 88/90 (A)
Transport - 91/120 (B)
Central Concepts - 63/90 (B)
Maths
Core Maths 2 - 82/100 (A)
Core Maths 3 - 68/100 (C)
Statistics - 67/100 (B)
Law
Special Study - 72/80 (A)

Results (I got some As!!!!)

I've held off for a while 'cause I've been 'crunching the numbers' and working it out. But thought for any pre-meds who were interested in my UMS and all that they'd be able to have a look. This will probably identify me very quickly but denial is a guy's best friend.

I took 4 A2 exams in Jan and 6 AS retakes.

A2 Exams
Chem 4 - B
Central Concepts (Bio) - B
Core Maths 3 - C
Criminal Law: Special Study Paper - A (72/80) !!!!!!!!

AS Retakes
Chem 2 - B
Chem 3 - B
Human Health and Disease - A (88/90) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Transport (Bio) - B
Core Maths 2 - A!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Statistics - B

Not as brilliant as I hoped but they are much improved from last year. I'm planning to do four retakes (Chem 1, Foundation, Core Maths 1 and English Legal System) in the summer and as long as I get As in both the retakes and A2 exams, it'll be fine. I'm going to be knuckling down, once again but first I've got to get coursework out the way. Fun times. I'm so happy though. First time I've gots As and bloody good As in A-level exams!!!!!

It's Official...

I have been rejected by all five of my universities. I currently have no place at university either this year or next (deferred). I still have Leicester floating around and I've been entered into Extra already so need to start planning properly. Hasn't hit me yet, give it a day and we'll see....

Surprise...

It's another rejection. Less than 24 hours after I was rejected from Exeter, St. Georges made their move. I understand their reasons though. I don't show enough enthusiasm for the course in my personal statement, which is true. I discussed the appeal of emergency medicine but neither the actual career of a paramedic. Surprised I didn't see that coming. Oh well. Four down, One to go.

Guess what...

Another rejection....
Exeter this time :(
They did it through UCAS this time. No letter or anything but fun.

Just waiting on Barts which is so odd. With a requirement of AAA, they technically should have rejected me straight away....

Course there is my backup but I'm not sure about it anymore. The course is three years instead of two and I'm just not sure. I really want to do medicine.

I've also decided I don't want to do the course at Leicester. It's going to be more competitive that normal medicine entry plus I hate the course. I can't get stuck on a course where the last year is pure research. I get bored of being in a lab for 5 hours with yeast. Can't do it for a year...

I have just spent the last 24 hours talking to The Girl. If we're not texting we're on the phone for 6 hours straight. What the hell am I doing!

Last night...

I had such an amazing time yesterday. I got to see The Girl straight after college. Went back to her house and then to a neighbour and his girlfriend who have become amazing mates in the space of a month. The four of us watched scrubs until gone 2 in the morning. We sat on the sofa together, had great talks and came close to making out on several occasions :D

What stopped us? My best friend. I've never felt about a girl like this before. I've met her parents, I been in her room, I've text/facebook/msn everyday since I've met her. Just happens my best mate likes her as well and they've slept together. She says she doesn't feel for him like that anymore and that it's purely him liking her now. I just don't want to hurt him. When he falls for someone, he falls deep.

It's crazy and I hate it, but i'm seeing her tonight with my best mate. I don't plan to drink and repeat last Saturday's events in front of him however much I'd love to.

Good News

Been having a crap week cause of my best mate and the girl. Short story. Got drunk, made out with her and then called me mate at four in the morning to apologise. I then left some drunken answer phone messages. Fun Times.

What's cheered me up is that when I got home today, I found a nice big brown envelope. I know what you thinking, it is the same as me. It was from Leicester which I found rather odd. Turns out they liked my application so much that they have offered me a place on one of their Biological Sciences Degree. It was amazing. They still wanted to keep me even after rejecting me from medicine. They also talked about the opportunity to transfer at the end of my first year to the medical course if I was 'top of the class'. I've phoning them tomorrow to find out more but was wondering what anyone else knew or thought.

I'VE GOT AN OFFER! (Not med but still)

Leeds

Rejection. Bad Times.

It's all over..

Well exams anyway. Had my last today. Central Concepts for A2 Biology. To be honest, went bloody awful but oh well. Have to wait and see. Apart from that, this January has gone pretty well with exams. I feel quite confident about my results *touch wood* but have to wait till January to find out.

Now gotta start the whole cycle again. Feeling better prepared and already planning for the rest of this year. Got Bio coursework that is about to start and some pretty fun Chem if the textbook is anything to go by.

The biggest news I suppose is I got feedback from Leicester about my rejection. It was brilliant news if that doesn't sound strange because it confirmed everything I hoped for.

Leicester have a method in which they score your application out of 20. I got 5/5 for my personal statement, 4/5 for my reference, 3/5 for my UKCAT and 1/5 for my academics. I need to get 16/20 to be called for interview. I managed to get 13/20 only 3 off. It was purely my grades that dragged me down which really does make me happy. This is something that I can fix and sort for the Summer. It means that next year I can safely apply to Leicester with good grades and hopefully get an interview. Woo!

Being drunk isn't all good

Well exams are almost over. To partially celebrate I got very very drunk at an 18th birthday on Friday. Apparently I made it very obviously I liked my best mate's girlfriend to his face. Of course I was oblivious to him knowing when I went to the pub yesterday. Cue awkwardness when I find out what I've done from fellow party goers. Thankfully we sorted it all out today and I've confirmed my love for my best mate once more!

On uni news, nothing. Nelch. Zero. Nada. That's right, not a word. Fellow pre-meds at college also haven't heard anything and keep telling me it's okay. Apparently you get rejected straight away.
They've got straight As though at AS so doesn't really help.

That's my little post for the day. Once Central Concepts is out the way I'll be posting more about my gap year and any uni news.

Exams

Been a hetic month so far. Already done 6 exams and got 4 to go. So far they've gone really well except for C3 this morning. Won't say anymore but you get the idea. I feel I've become so motivated over the last month and bit. I've been revising every night and day, doing my best to ace these exams.

I've begun looking into AEAs (Advanced Extention Awards) as another way to make myself more attractive if/when I have to apply a second time to medical schools. If any of my (limited) reader base has any experience with these feel free to drop a comment so I can bug you with questions :D

I feel that this year I have defiently changed. I've got this whole new focus towards learning and I am already planning my work schedule for this year. It may be sad but I love it. I'm so excited about leaving college with As knowing that I earnt the bastards!