Bookworm.

As much as I've come to terms with not getting into University, and as much as I love my gap year job(s) (and the money), I am still rather worried.


I don't mean worried about repeating the same 'Oh, you know... I didn't get into University' routine (although it is a recurrent nightmare of mine) - I'm worried that I'll forget how to be a student. After all, working post-A Levels is pretty easy: I have very few bills to pay and none of the stress that comes with it; my working day finishes at 3.15 and then I work part-time taking children swimming, horse riding, feeding the ducks etc and once I've finished work, my time is my own. I have no homework, my University application is done and I'm not fretting over job applications. The days of poring over textbooks until 11pm are gone. For now at least.


For some reason, I have thrown myself particularly vigorously into preparation for my Cardiff interview and it's taken some getting used to! My procrastination is worse than ever, and I'm generally very demotivated to revise (although this could be due to Xmas break). After a week or so of complaining, I've fallen back into my familiar pattern of planning my revision tasks meticulously, creating detailed notes and brainstorm diagrams that can be used right up until I am called into the interview rooms. And the reason why this is particularly bizarre behaviour is that a Cardiff interview is almost unique in that in encompasses a chat about yourself. That's it. There's no test on chemical compounds, or tricky analyses of recent news stories, or Oxbridge-style brain teasers. Cardiff are interested in finding out about you, expanding on your personal statement and hearing you speak naturally about yourself and your interests. 


Of course, there's very likely to be the standard 'Why Medicine?', 'Why Cardiff?' but any medical student wannabe worth their stethoscope should have these carefully pre-prepared. (In short, Medicine is a vocation that combines science and psychology with a person-centered focus and has the common goal of bettering others' lives. Medics are constantly relearning and learning new material, as well as reflecting and increasing their personal growth to become life-long learners. Cardiff practice dissection, to me, essential for developing respect and appreciation for the physical aspects of patients. There's a nursing module in Year 2, opportunities to intercalate a degree and a Senior Clinical Project in Year 5 as well as the usual Elective.)


I've heard rumours that a basic understanding of the Welsh NHS (operates seperately but still very congruent with English NHS, free prescriptions and a reform in 2009) and knowledge of recent news articles may be important. But the vast majority is exploring the PS - of course, this has the dual function of allowing candidates to expand on topics in a way they may not have been able to on paper (e.g. my work experience at GWH and volunteering wasn't even mentioned and my recently-changed employment status may need some explaining) and sussing out candidates who may have taken a certain artistic licence with their claims. 


So the next part of Operation: Interview is to go through my statement with a toothcomb, writing my own notes on how to expand each statement so I have some pre-prepared thoughts should I be asked about anything on it. For my opening 'Why I want to be a doctor?' paragraph I've brainstormed further reasons, linked these together and tried to find practical examples (such as    'I found the physiology of nerve transmission fascinating during my A Level Biology course, but even more interesting when you consider nerve function to be the root of all movement, thought, emotion, memory and unconscious responses such as breathing and blinking'). Something I was told at my practice Oxfizz interview was to develop my skill of cross-linking ideas. So when I am asked about my Extended Project on the Psychology Of Tribal Medicine, I can drop in how the contrast in atmosphere at the Prospect Hospice and local hospital (both of which I have volunteered at) produce different feelings in patients which may in turn affect their perception of their illness, much as my report suggests.


Of course, it's all well and good to practice and rehearse in my bedroom, but something quite different when you're in the actual situation... As well as nerves, interviewers can word questions unexpectedly, may push for a particular answer or challenge a point of view or may want to spend the whole 30 minutes discussing the finer details of your journey in. We'll see.


The interview is next Tuesday, and like Hull York Medical School, Cardiff aim to give out offers/rejections by the end of February. The statistics for these kind of things are always interesting - I believe there are around 3000 applicants for Cardiff's 280 places. That's a statistical chance of around 1/10 at application. Around 900 people are then interviewed, so about 3 people per place but (and this is the part people forget) around 450-500 offers are given out, increasing your chance to around 1/2. Not quite as high as HYMS' 2/3, but it's certainly a relieving thought going into interview.