GAMSAT

I sat GAMSAT yesterday and I must say that despite popular belief that exam is not as hard as we all claim. I have no doubt that I did poorly, my essay on tyranny could have been better related to the topic, my essay on love could have had some structure and content, and my knowledge of physics could have been present. But this exam is not as hard as I thought it would be!

My study tips!

• Practice writing essays on absolutely any quote you can think of about any subject
• When writing essays focus on covering every point of the topic and coming to a solid conclusion, with many supporting features (they want you to show them that you will be able to make a good clinical decision for the patient!)
• Learn your physics equations and practice them!
• Make sure you can do division (and the other base mathematics) in your head quickly
• Learn how different chemicals interact and what substance they will form in their base chemical structures (like phenols and carboxylic acids)
• Make sure you know your chemical numbering and maybe how to balance a chemical reaction (there was one question)
• Practice the humanities section, the only way to prepare for that is to practice, practice, practice! (I used the ACER material)

Then there is the basics guys

• Don't panic!
• Keep an eye on the clock
• Listen when the announcer says what time the exam will finish
• Pretend that the exam will finish 5 to 10 minutes earlier so you have time to fill out the questions you don't get around to, or finish you sentence
• Don't spend time on the questions you don't know in the physical sciences, leave them and come back, because you will run out of time!
• Take time to think about your essay response, don't just start writing
• Think of an essay conclusion and main points before you start writing
• Choose which quotes you are using and your general essay points for BOTH essays in the reading time (before she tells you to start)

Other than that just get a good nights rest, have a coffee before the exam, make sure you eat lunch and breakfast, and wear clothes that you are comfortable in (tracksuits are common)
If you can bring lunch and a good drink then take them and sit outside so you don't get stressed before heading back in. Also don't talk to people about the exam, don't over think it when you finish, and don't stress to much ... the worst that can happen is you resit it again next year or even GAMSAT UK in September (it allows aus med school applications)

Hope this helped

I remain, as always, your loyal servant,
With offerings of Pumpkins,
xoxx Kit

Prayer to St Jude

To Saint Jude, Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition, in return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Saint Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

Say 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Marys and 3 Glory Be to the Father.

Publication must be promised! I have used this prayer a few times now and it has never failed, no matter how extraordinary it sounds, it truelly has delivered miracles. Thank you St Jude

Top 5 Reasons to Dislike Pre-Med Students

I recently read a blog with this title, so I decided I would re-blog it with my reasons why even though some of this is true, it's not our fault, sometimes the system just forces us to be this way and if we want the future we have to do the work.

The blog went like this

5. They haggle with their teachers for extra points.
As a teaching assistant, I would have been rich if my pre-med students gave me a dime every time they nagged me for partial credit on questions that they had gotten completely wrong.

In my experience, if there is a possibility I can get extra-credit for the work I put in, the I am going to try and get it, because getting in to med-school relays directly off these marks. This is even more the case if I am hanging just on a 5 for the subject (1-7 GPA system) and I need to maintain a GPA of 5.
Btw - I am not the smartest student in my class, I do not get the best grades, but the grades I do get I have to work my ass off for and I know many others who are just the same, so don't ever feel discouraged to follow your dream because of how smart you think you are/aren't

4. They use questionable tactics to get good grades.
Some of them may turn to study drugs like adderall, dexedrine, provigil, and ritalin. Others will beg upperclassmen for copies of old exams, which give them an unfair advantage over their classmates.

I have never taken drugs, I do know people who have to stay awake to cram the night before an exam, though mostly we will just drink a whole lot of caffeinated drinks and take a no-doze, because you know, when there is that much to remember, you need all the hours you can get in a day.
If I can get a copy of an old exam, you are damn straight I will take it, but that is why it is the Uni's responsibility to make sure students don't take them home right? o.O In my opinion, it's as unfair as having a good study group, the course coordinator as your lecturer, or an awesome tutor - If we have access we will take it and I don't believe for a second an engineering, law or business student wouldn't do exactly the same!

3. They horde leadership positions and then run organizations into the ground.
To pad their résumés, they run for the presidency of science clubs and volunteer organizations, and then fail to fulfill their responsibilities because they are too busy studying.

We do like to pad our resumes, because our resumes are what get's us into med-school. And if I'm not mistaken we want to be there because we are passionate about helping people, I know myself that when I volunteer, I do my very best to help out in whatever way I can. My mission in life is to help people, it's why I want to be a surgeon and that's the same for everyone who can make it into med-school. Otherwise we wouldn't work so hard for it

2. They game the system to get good grades.
By strategically dropping any class that is not going well and carefully picking courses taught by the easiest professors they ensure themselves a good grade point average.

Well yeah, if I am failing a course or it's too much for me to handle I will drop it (granted it's before census dates) because really, does anyone want a fail on their record and more importantly, that one fail will leave you feeling bummed for ages and it will be damn hard to get back up with your other courses (I know, I've been there).
Now here is where the system really fails, I want to learn and I want to choose courses that will allow that, but if there is an easy course option that will allow me to boost my GPA, I will take it, because in the end my GPA is what will get me into med-school and that is where I want to be - simple -

1. They are not motivated by curiosity.
If they ask a question in class, it’s often to find out what will be on an upcoming exam. Some of them volunteer to work in a lab on real research projects, but they don’t give it their all because they have no passion for scientific inquiry — it’s just another line on their résumés

This one actually really bugged me, I am curious, about science and anatomy and physiology, not so much about math or physics or psychology. But when I volunteer for a research project, I work hard to get there and I work even harder to get the results, saying that we aren't as interested because we focus on our grades, is exactly the same as any other University student am I right? I'm going to say it one last times OUR GPA'S GET US INTO MED-SCHOOL so yes we will focus on them. But more importantly we want to help people, if we are involved in a research project that can help people, do you really think we wouldn't give it our all? and if it is another line on our resume do you think we would not give it our all, do you not realise we also need your letter of recommendation?


Give me a break, pre-med students work their asses off, I know I do
We have limited time for a life, no time for sleep, limited time for showering, no time to work, and everything we have is put toward; study, volunteering and furthering our academic knowledge and transcript - DAMN STRAIGHT

though honestly, I wouldn't change it for the world

How to be Pre-med

I have a few blogs, but this is my first one about being a student and I intend to update it regularly, give you tips on being premed, how to cope, and just tell you about my experience.

I am 19, studying Biomedical Science as a pre-med course in Australia. I successfully completed first year last year (2009) at CQU, however due to being screwed around by my current University (QUT) I am repeating first year. I will undoubtedly tell you more about this in days to come, and I may inform you of the possibility of suffering depression. I have had this, I may be suffering now, many students do, YOU CAN STILL BE A DOCTOR if you have a history of mental illness! this wasn't the case some years ago, but with changes in laws and mental illness awareness, you can now open up to a councilor, friend, psychologist or whatever, without fear for your future. Anyway that is not the point of this blog right now (maybe tomorrow).

If anything happens whilst you are studying pre-med I can guarantee you I have probably done it, if not I know someone who has, so fear not. I will blog as much as I can on everything and if you crazy kids ever want to ask questions or talk e-mail me (kat_lll@hotmail.com) (it is also linked on my page)