GAMSAT- Work smart not hard

• Assess the gamsat exam- look through some questions, understand what needs to be done:

What I have understood from the test is that it requires a lot of revision of basic sciences, however, this alone will not get you very far. The test is about reasoning in the subjects. You have to train your thinking skills for this exam just like you do for the UKCAT. So it would make sense to have some means of mental challenge on a daily basis

• Prioritise and make a plan:

Make a subject related plan. There is a gamsat syllabus and you can make a neat plan of when you will revise these subjects on what day.

• Take a holistic approach:

I made the mistake last year of revising like a maniac for the UKCAT, its no good just revising. You must completely understand what the test is about. These entrance exams are not knowledge based exams, they require you to use your reasoning. You can build up reasoning skills just like a muscle in your body through the power of habit.

• Decide when you want to take the test exactly (note to myself)- 

are you going to take it in march or september. I think you can still get a good mark for the one in march but you can wait until january to decide properly, it wouldn't hurt to brush up on your science anyway.

• Make a life plan for the year ahead (note to myself)-

 So I have been just cruising on automatic, I need to have a clear plan of where I am going in my life and what to do if those plans dont work out. Sometimes, it easy to say 'I will only do medicine even if it takes me a hundred tries', but realistically its quite difficult when all of your friends are settling down in their lives while you are still chasing something that seems so out of reach. You need to have a back up plan making use of your degree and natural talents. I think ill wait for this step in january, yes i know Im one of those people who wait until the new year to change their lives. I just think I would feel like a fresh new person in 2013. 2012 sucked donkeys ass, it was one of the worst years of my life and I have my fair share of tragic experiences.

I will not be giving up

So I sent off my UCAS just as a joke! I actually have a really good personal statement so I still have the tiniest of chances ever. But Im ready for next year, I will be doing both the UKCAT and GAMSAT this time so that the UKCAT doesn't mean the be all or end all.


Continue doing math revision as much as possible

THE PLAN.

Shitness prevailed this year. I have close to 0.00000001% chance of getting in this year the way my application looks!

I have however decided to take the plunge and apply anyway, at least I will make other people's applications look good. 

So the plan is:

-Finish the first draft of the personal statement tonight

-Send to H and L and then to R, Y and S. And Dr Ref. 

-Then send to Yas from work 

- Finalise choices

-Get reference from dr ref by the 12th

-Finish UCAS and send off by the 13th or 14th

I was hoping the day would never come where I would have to write this post. Unfortunately, it happened and it is here. I completely messed up in the UKCAT.
My average was 600. I think my chance of applying this year has gone down the drain. I will try and look up to see if there is anywhere I can apply to, if there is then I will.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ye73ZlXgeCg

Come on seriously it's not the end of the world. It's 12:30 and I'm up thinking about life. What's the point take it easy. Take an overdose of chill pills. 

You are still young, you have the whole world to see and even outer space if you wanted to. There are one way tickets to mars if you really wanted. So why are you even worrying? 

This time tomorrow you will be done :) 

CALMER...

Im feeling much better since my last post. I always feel better in the evening time...hormones? i don't know whatever it is it seems like I always panic during the afternoon and get over it by the evening.

Just doing some last minute revision before tomorrow's test.

This whole experience was painful and i won't miss it at all.

I am so WORRIED RIGHT NOW. I cant concentrate at all. I havent done any revision today ARGHHHHHH :(((((((((((((((((((((( I wish i could get this sick feeling out of my system. I feel doomed! :(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((



:(((((((

;(
DONT KNOOW WHAT TO DO. :(

i might go to yoga class or something. Feel so anxious

Things I have learnt

This whole process isn't easy, its the uncertainty that is hard. I have made all kinds of mistakes this year regarding this application process, here they go:

• I should have revised math all year round, I have absolutely no math foundation how can I expect to start a month before and finish all of GCSE maths from the basics?! Also considering that I will be competing against UKs finest students, I have done quite well in terms of my math knowledge. I think a good way of revising math all year round is allotting a time each day for it and playing brain training on the DS.
• I should have taken the UKCAT early. OH HOW I WISH I DID THIS.
• If i had taken the UKCAT early I would have known my score and then determined if I should take the BMAT and GAMSAT.
• I should have read books on medical law and medicine throughout the year- this one is no biggie but it would have helped a lot on the SJT.
• I should have started my PS earlier...now I only have a week and a half to prepare it tops.
• I should have allotted no more than 3 weeks for revising the UKCAT. This year I took the little but lengthy approach...I think that was wrong, I am so fed up of this test. 3 weeks is really enough. UKCAT is supposed to be intensive and thats how I think the revision should be too.
• I should have read more books/articles to practice fast reading.
• I should have researched university entrance requirements wayyyyyy earlier, then I would have prevented everything relying on the UKCAT.
• I should have practiced a healthy lifestyle during the revision period. Right now I sleep late, I am undisciplined, I eat unhealthy food, I spend the whole day at the desk..only to work solidly for about two hours in total, I wake up late, I hardly exercise, I make too much time for friends...and the list goes on. This is something that needs to be practiced all year round...it has to be a lifestyle decision.

official UKCAT mock 1

These are my results:

VR- 25/44 =640

QR- 8/36 = 433

AR- 31/55= 638

DA- 21/28 =750

AVERAGE= 615



arghhh QR killed me in that one its way too hard. I love DA right now, i thought it was one of my weakest areas in the past mocks.

AR was quite hard in this one too