Holly's tips for medical school interviews

While this could be a premature blog, having not heard as of yet whether I have been successful with my own interviews I don't think it can be harmful for those quite possibly preparing for the biggest day of their life so far.

I have a few tips which I stick to during interview season, some of which I hope people can find helpful-

1. Stay calm.
2. Read up on current and past medical issues which are making 'waves' in the news.
3. Look over the duties of doctors and what is expected of you both as a medical student and well into your career.
4. Make sure you can answer the question 'why medicine?' - so many fall at this hurdle and its the one that should be the easiest.
5. Don't over prepare to the point that you can recite answers to potential questions in your sleep.
6. Be aware of ethical dilemmas which could crop up in your time as a doctor.
7. Always be appreciative of other medical professions - their role is no less than that of a doctor by any means.
8. Read - whether this be books, journals, or newpapers make sure to widen your knowledge and be prepared for them asking about something you have read recently or something you enjoy to read about.
9. Don't prepare answers to what you think the medical school want you to say - they want your opinion to situations and for you to be yourself.
10. Spend time away from your preparation with family and friends.

While these may be personal tips, I believe they are ones which are well rounded and useful for all applicants preparing for medical school interviews.

I hope this helps someone out there.

Best of luck, Holly. x

Starting my 'dissertation'

So the last two weeks have been superrrrr busy, and filled with lots of new challenges and adventures. Being in my final year and final semester of Biomed at Newcastle means that I am well into 'dissertation' semester. While for us we are not officially writing a dissertation and instead completing a research project which we will write a 'paper' on, it's kinda the same thing.

We are given a question or topic to which we create our own question, and have 10 weeks to attempt to answer/prove/disprove this. This is either done in the form of a lab experiment or by carrying out statistical analysis/research (the latter of which is what I am doing). 8 of the weeks we have to find the data and complete the experiments/studies and the final 2 weeks are solely for writing it all up ready to hand in (ooooh scary).

Up to now, I am loving every aspect of what my project entails. I get to look at congenital heart disease in adults, which for anyone that knows me is of major interest to me and a field of medicine which I would LOVE to go into one day, be in the hospital learning from the best in their field and do tons of research which is the side of Biomed I really enjoy. For me, I get the best of both worlds.

This semester is full of new oportunities and one which I think I can say is my favourite of all the semesters, but it is also quite a sad one - we don't get to see our course friends nearly half as much as we would like and it's the final semester ever of this degree which is obviously sad to have to say.

Being able to look back on the degree and forward to what this 'dissertation' will teach me, it is safe to say that I am beyond lucky for the way my life turned out and if I had to go back and do it all again I would not change a thing.

For anyone thinking Biomed as a step into medicine or as their aspiration in life, I highly recommend it, and Newcastle. I have learnt so much, not just academically but about myself too and grown more as a person than I ever thought imaginable.

What an amazing 3 years it has been so far!

H. x

Here's to 2019

As I take a break from university work and interview preparations, I am able to reflect on the year I have had and all the amazing things that have come my way during 2018. While it may not have been completely smooth sailing, and I have definitely had some huge knockbacks and disappointment, it has been a year which has given me lots to be thankful for.

Some amazing things that were part of 2018 include-

• Overcoming major issues with regards to my anxiety
• Traveling to Amsterdam with my best friends
• Lots of fun times with new and old friends
• Having a summer full of laughter, sun and, great people
• Getting my first tattoo with a meaning close to home 
• Watching Ed Sheeran in concert
• Visiting Madrid with my 'big sister'
• Falling in love
• Making memories in new countries with my family
• Learning to love myself
• Securing 3 medical school interviews
• Turning 21 🎉

I have never been one to create resolutions, but this year I am setting myself goals. I want to make sure that I make time away from university work to enjoy the small things in life and the experiences which make everyday special.

Some goals I have set myself are-

• Read more books 
• Take at least one day a month off social media 
• Be more appreciative of my parents and the sacrifices they have made for me 
• Learn sign language
• Travel more 
• Write a blog every fortnight
• Save money
• Learn to cook 
• Exercise more 

While some of these may seem little, they are things which I believe will make a huge difference to my life and the lives of others. 

I hope that you have all had a wonderful New Years Eve, and are ready for 2019 - here's to it being full of love, happiness and success. 

Love H. x