Long time no anything on the blog - I decided to focus on trying to create stuff for YouTube for a while to mix things up a bit. Hopefully you've all been able to see my stuff (I try to link most things on my blog but sometimes I forget :( .
Last week I thought I'd attempt to film myself everyday of the week so you can kind of see what my job entails. Deceptively my week was the most unbusy week I've had since I started so it looks like I don't get up to much at work, but I do, honest!
Obviously its difficult to film most of my job because I deal with the public, but hopefully I explained most things in my vlogs. I had half days on Monday and Tuesday because I chose to have my annual leave on half the day rather than a full day. I only have six weeks left in surgery and then I move on to cardiology so this was one of the last few chances I had to capture what I do on a daily basis.
Hope it was somewhat enjoyable! Click on the videos to see :)
Hi guys! These are some additional things and a summary from my video on personal statements. Hope its's helpful :)
Till next time!
Sammi
XOXO
BASIC LAYOUT - each title = a paragraph
Opening statement - nice catchy, interesting and unique statement
Avoid the following:
From a young I have wanted to do Medicine..
I have always wanted to do medicine...
Growing up, I always had an interest in medicine...
I want to help people...
I like help people...
I like science...
I like the human body/ human biology...
Medicine is a science and an art...
Avoid anything that describes what Medicine is
Try to do the following:
If you start with a quote/ statistic, try not to be be pretentious
If you start with a statistic, make sure its true!
2. Why medicine? - specific to you
Avoid telling the reader why people want to do medicine in general. Make this specific to you
Describe the ONE THING that made you decide that medicine is the right thing for you then expand on it
You will be asked about this at interview
3. Why not anything else?
Describe here the unique things that medicine offers compared to any other career choice
Usual things are obviously diagnostic skills, practical skills, ability to know what to do when things take a turn for the worst
Things to avoid
Helping people
Saving lives
Learning science
You can do all the above in other career choices.
4. What have you done to make sure this is the right pathway?
Work experience
Volunteering
Looking after relatives
Shadowing
Summer school
Research
Have you spoken to med students/ doctors
Do you understand the challenges/ limitations of medicine?
5. What have you done to prove that you're good enough?
Leadership
Strong academic profile
You have passed your exams first time, every time
Have you done more than the generic number of subjects - not a requirement but if you have then write about it!
6. Are you a well rounded person?
What do you do in your spare time
Do you have a life outside school/ academics
7. Conclusion
Something that lingers in the mind
What would it mean to you to be given the opportunity to study medicine and to ultimately be a doctor?
GENERAL NOTES
1. 4 Medicine Choices, 1 Back Up
Applying for Medicine on UCAS gives you a maximum of 4 Medicine choices and 1 non medicine, back-up choice. Most people apply to Biomedical Science/ Medical Science so their personal statement will cover for these choices anyway. But if you want to apply for something completely different, e.g. Maths, then you need to incorporate something about Maths in your personal statement. This is difficult given the limited space you have.
2. UCAS Basics for personal statement
At least 1000 characters
Maximum 4000 characters
Maximum 47 lines
Write your statement in a WORD/ PAGES/ iNOTEs/ WHATEVER document and then transfer to the UCAS portal. Note that non Microsoft word formats may be difficult to transfer directly to the UCAS portal because some characters are not recognised... Be mindful of this and read your statement from start to finish once you've uploaded onto the UCAS system.
3. Don't lie!
Its very tempting to make things up to make your statement stand out but you are easily caught out by the admissions tutor! You need to be prepared to talk about EVERYTHING on your statement at interview IN DEPTH and if you can't, you are unlikely to be offered a place.
