Medicine 2012...(hopeful entrants) !!

i don't think theyre expecting us to know as much as andrew lansley, but i think as long as we know the main principles of what is going on, the expected implications of the changing and why so many people are objecting to them, we should be okay.

i think med schools would be missing out on a big opportunity if they didn't involve it in their interviews

True

Ah BBC you have saved me Can't believe I've actually been on bbc news-health page (almost) everyday for the past 3 months and two of the very few days I missed actually had nhs shake up stuff on that would've helped me understand it ages ago

same i only found the pages when somebody linked them in this thread!

im so scared im going to say something stupid and muck up the rest of the interview

Last year in my interview I was asked about what I think on dissection and I replied something like "I think it's a great idea because... you can... like... see where everything... goes" whilst doing hand actions of me sort of squishing an imaginary ball. They sort of laughed at me but I then went on to explain myself better and I think I redemed myself a bit :P

I'm on the same boat, or at least I would be if I had at least one single inteview... Moreover English is not my first language and I'm afraid I' going to misundestand a fair half of their questions... Ready to simulate a heart attack, just in case....

Anyway what would you suggest reading? It's better focusing on specific topics or having a clear general idea?

I'm exactly the same I'm afraid they'll ask me "So what inspired you to be a doctor?" and I'll reply something like "Scrubs", freeze at what I just said and not expand and then they'll think I'm an idiot Whereas I could talk more and explain and make it not sound so stupid as long as I don't freeze in shock lol

I'm sure they're not going to mind too much if we make little mistakes (especially over something so confusing as the shake up).

Last year in my interview I was asked about what I think on dissection and I replied something like "I think it's a great idea because... you can... like... see where everything... goes" whilst doing hand actions of me sort of squishing an imaginary ball. They sort of laughed at me but I then went on to explain myself better and I think I redemed myself a bit :P

i'm scared they'll say something and i'll automatically respond with 'thats whats she said' without thinking! i say it so often now, i don't even realise im saying it until i do

Ah cool, what's your first language? I'm sure they'll allow some exceptions if it's not your first language particularly if it is something that doesn't translate well (although don't take my word for it because I have no idea :P )

I doubt they'll allow exceptions for non-native speakers, if you're in medical school/a hospital they would expect you to know the words for medical terminology in English, I don't see why that wouldn't extend into an interview situation. If you apply for a course as communication-based as medicine is you need to be able to fully speak the language.

I actually feel so under-prepared. I don't even know where to start!

I actually feel so under-prepared. I don't even know where to start!

same

i need major help. im buying that isc medical interviews book and im going to my tutor tomorrow to beg him for another mock interview. i'm thinking the more mocks i do the better i can get so im gonna ask some of my subject teachers too.

Thats been me for the past month You've still got a little while before your interview haven't you? Just keep doing little pieces, like reading through their course content and stuff, and going over what you did in your w/e and what you learnt from it and stuff. You could try making a list of questions they might ask you and just answer them every so often. Every little helps Some of the best answers are said to be those that are spontaneous so if you can't come up with an answer to one question, you might just come up with something in the interview That's what I'm hoping anyways because I still can't answer "So, why do you want to do Medicine?". So far my answer consist of "because, I know it's right for me, I can't explain why, but I just know it" lol And this is me having spent the past 45minutes trying to answer that question... lol

Fingers crossed for the both of us. I need help too I think I'll do what you're doing and do as many mocks as possible. I've already ordered the interview book it just hasn't arrived yet. I'm also stuck at what medical stuff I need to research (apart from the reforms)

Haha thanks that was helpful and made me feel better && no I only have 10 day s left I'm trying to just note bullet points to some questions so it doesn't sound at all rehearsed.

Lol I know how you feel, I still can't answer the question 'so what is your motivation for medicine?'

same

i need major help. im buying that isc medical interviews book and im going to my tutor tomorrow to beg him for another mock interview. i'm thinking the more mocks i do the better i can get so im gonna ask some of my subject teachers too.

I was wondering since I am Scottish would I need to talk about the NHS reforms in an interview (at scottish universities) since they wouldn't really apply to me or the scottish nhs? I don't want to spend too much time revising something that won't come up.

I have 3 days left I've had a month to prepare but I've completely wasted it because I'm an idiot I think I've always worked better close to deadlines and am almost always better thinking on the spot (I'm hoping this will make up for my lack of prep :P) Maybe I could use this as a talking point? Something about how things are unexplected then bam! I think well on the spot with the unexpected - but in smarter more doctor-ish sounding words haha

My answer to that would be: "Erm, let me think... I'm gonna have to say Scrubs!" But then explain it so they don't tihnk I'm just a JD wannabe. Another answer of mine could be "Well, I've become more or less nocturnal now and I always seem to work well at nights, and I like working with and helping people, so I thought medicine with all the night shifts would be a great idea " lol

In a way I'm almost lucky, no matter how much prep I do or what I practice, I NEVER seem to stick to what I've planned so *I hope* it doesn't sound rehearsed Although it does make my prep feel pretty much pointless

With what to research, I'm not sure either, but I'm going to make sure I have an article that I have found interesting and could talk about if they ask me questions. And maybe have a back-up article just incase



If theres anything I can do to try and help both you guys just PM me and I'll try and help

What interview is it? I'm usually a last minute person too lol, I definitely work better closer to deadlines

I also have an article, and a back up one. Although my first article is about Viagra and I'm worried they might look at me thinking I'm weird

If we could practice asking each other questions will be great, and telling each other about any news we've heard about


GOOOOOOOD LUCKKKKKK!

It's at St. Andrews I'm hoping it goes ok, cause that was the only place to give me an interview last year and it seemed to do well in my interview it was just my ukcat and lack of grades that mucked me up.

Haha I'm sure it'll be fine, as long as you can talk about it and stuff. If it was an advert for it more than an article about it, then it might be considered weird haha

Yeah sure that's fine pm me whenever if you like. If you've not already seen this thread it's really useful for good articles:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1815919