What am I nervous/excited for upon starting medical school?

As requested by some of my lovely Instagram followers, I have decided that it is about the right time to sit back and really think about the things that have me nervous for medical school and those that make me unable to contain my excitement.

I thought a list-style might be best for this type of blog, so here goes....

Things that I am nervous for-

• Making friends - it may sound silly considering I have already done a degree so have become used to the 'Hello my name is Holly, nice to meet you' way of making friends, but no matter how many times you put me in the same situation I will always find meeting new people very nerve wrecking!! I'm very shy at heart!
• Keeping up with the content - I know I have the determination and skills, but medical school is a degree like no other and one that no one is ever fully prepared for. My worst nightmare would be falling behind. All I can do to prevent that is work my socks off like I always do!!
• Travelling - I have never used a train on my own for more than 2 stops (HECK WHAT I know) and the thought of traveling from my home town to Oxford Road everyday frightens me. I would be lying if I said it didn't. But, as a mature 21-year-old with the world at her feet, I am going to pull my big girl pants up and get on with it! How hard can it be 😅

Things I cannot wait for-

• Making friends - I am nervous, I won't deny that, but I am more excited to meet new people and learn about them and their interests over the course of my degree and beyond. Friends are always great to have around and I am sure that they are going to be key to making the most of medical school. Luckily, I have already made a few (you know who you are 😘) so I am less worried about starting out.
• Anatomy labs - HECK TO THE YES. This has me the most excited - being able to learn from those who lovingly and amazingly donated their bodies to medical science is something I will never get over - I will never have enough words to thank them, and only hope that I make enough of a difference in my future field of medicine to make their choice worthwhile.
• Clinical placements - this is what medicine is all about. Being able to put everything we have learnt in lectures and practicals into great use in real cases and with real patients. Making a real difference to people lives! It makes all the hard work worth it!!
• Learning more about Manchester as a city - something you can never be thankful enough for is the chance to explore new places, and I certainly look forward to doing just that. 
• Heck of a lot more, but not enough time in the world to share them all.... 

It is clear that starting a new degree, and for me one which I have spent my whole life prepping for, is going to make you feel nervous from time to time BUT the excitement overrules this every minute of the day. I cannot wait to get on my path to becoming a Doctor and really learning about myself! It is going to be a lot of hard work, but I am ready for the challenge and can't wait to show Manchester Medical School what I have to offer!!

Here's to the next chapter. 

H xx

Personal Statement clinic

It's easy to think you know where to start or how to write your personal statement, but it isn't until you come to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) that you realise the struggle that lies ahead. Your personal statement is the biggest and most unique piece of writing you are likely to have done (at this point in your life) - unless you are a graduate and had the stressful pleasure of writing your dissertation - so it is important that you don't rush, prepare like you would for an exam and think carefully about your best attributes that are going to make you stand out.

For a veteran like myself, writing personal statements has become second nature and I believe I have truly mastered the writing skills needed to make the admissions board wake up and smell the coffee - a new perspective on medicine, a breath of fresh air in their endless reading and something that makes them remember 'why medicine'. I don't say this to be cocky or up-my-own-***, I say this because from both personal statements I wrote and uploaded onto UCAS I received offers - something I think can be said is partly down to the way I express myself and my merits.

I didn't start this blog to tell you all of my triumphs and not help with those following in the medicine footsteps, but instead, I decided that it was my privilege to be able to give advice to similar students in the midst of applying to their future. Hence, I have decided that todays blog will focus on key tips I have to master writing your own personal statement. I hope you all find something worthwhile and keep your eyes out for my offers on social media to read over and give feedback on personal statements ahead of the UCAS deadline.

Top tips-

1. Never rush perfection - the personal statement is the eye to you for the admissions team to gain insight into what you are like as an individual and the reasons you should have a place to study. Don't be too quick to start writing, instead think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.

2. Be cautious of the word/line limit - this may seem an 'easy' thing to remember, but it soon turns into a challenge to keep to the limit once you get in the flow of writing. You must remember to say what you want to say without waffling - be consise and to the point.

3. Be picky with your work experience/volunteering - not everything you have done has a place in your personal statement. Some experiences need room for discussion at interview and others will show nothing extra to what you have already done. Make sure you know what you learned and don't repeat this by listing everything you have ever done. 

4. It is not a LIST - the number one thing NOT to do is list off everything you have ever done as a means to get into medical school. All applicants have done hundreds of hours, but that isn't what counts. What is the most important thing is that you are able to explain exactly what you learned from the experience and how this translates to medicine. 

5. Big yourself up - no explanation needed. 

6. Don't be cliche - it's easy to say and even easier to do. Remember exactly why you are wanting to study medicine and don't be fooled into thinking there is a right answer. Every pre-med student wants to make a difference to peoples lives - it's a key trait to wanting to be a doctor. But it isn't the only reason - think deep and think true as to why you really want to enter the field of medicine. 

Hopefully, with a few of the tips I have come to discover and hold true, you will be well on your way to securing the place you deserve at the medical school of your choice.

If there is anything more you would want to know from a been-there-done-that candidate, then feel free to contact me on social medical or via email -

@dreamsofamedic - Twitter and Instagram
holly.egan@hotmail.co.uk

All the best for this writing season.

New name, same me

Well, it has been a very eventful day - I am now no longer known as Biomed And The Blog, but instead Dreams Of A Medic!!

I made the decision this week, having finally become used to the idea that I will be A MEDICAL STUDENT as of September. I still want to help those going through the same or similar routes as me but wanted my business to represent me fully. I am no longer a Biomed stsudent and instead, a Biomed graduate studying medicine. The dream part of my new name came from my very dear boyfriend and fits me so very well - while I have reached my dream of becoming a medical student, there are still many more dreams I have for myself as I move through the path of becoming a Doctor!

I hope you will all continue to follow my journey - like I said, different name but the same old me!

All the best,
H x