Song of the day: Paradise - Coldplay
I really wanted to do a last proper post for this year and I thought I was not going to have any time to do it, but it's finally here! I know I have been neglecting the blog lately because I am very busy with work, revision and interview prep along so many other things I do so I am never on the computer anymore! I do know that some people do read every post I publish so I think I can't do anything less than wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
To all those of us who have applied to university this year, I hope we all start our courses next year :)
Normally I am not a fan of these time of the year simply because we all start to look back at how the year have gone and for me 2011 has not been as good as it could have been. So many things have changed with all my friends, I messed up my exams and missed my offer and just so many things have happened that I just don't want to remember. However, I do have to say that I have had some unforgeable moments and I do think that I have met some awesome people that I will never forget.
For the new year I want to try to worry less about what other may think and just do whatever I feel like doing. Right now I feel to be scared of saying what I think to people and just of giving my opinion which means that at time I am just not comfortable when I go to places with people because maybe I just don't want to be there, probably because we don't have anything in common and they just believe I am someone I am not.
This nye I am just going to have a quiet night getting ready for a double shift tomorrow at work and for all the revision I have left for January exams and interview prep!
I hope you all have a lot of fun :)
Happy New Year! Let's make 2012 so much better than 2011
Beh
@behrouzn
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
INTERVIEW!
Song of the day: Daydreamer - Adele
This is just to say that I have an interview at UEA!!! :)
I could not be happier !!
Beh
This is just to say that I have an interview at UEA!!! :)
I could not be happier !!
Beh
Saturday, 3 December 2011
'All I want for Christmas...
Song of the day: Not on the Guest List - Marcos Dos Santos
It seems like I am only posting once a month lately as my last blog post was back in November. This time last year, I was flying to Birmingham to have my first interview and later this month I was on two rejections! Good news is I have no rejections so far this year.
However, the lack of knowing whether I am getting an interview or just a straight rejection is really not helping with my revision. I know that all I need is one offer, that was what I got last year and I was never happier, but I just don't seem to get revising as much as I should do to make sure that if one day I hold an offer I can actually meet it. I know I should not repeat my mistake and I should learn from them like I've always done, but this done it is proving much difficult to forget about the waiting and just focus at what is coming in January time- EXAMS!
I have spent most of my time volunteering and working in the café lately. Word AIDS Day was a huge success, at least at a personal level, because giving those talks to 400 teenagers over three days and getting to hear their opinions on the topic and how the talk had help them understand what the disease is all about was just amazing. I just can't find a word that will describe that feeling and I guess it should be similar when as a doctor you make a difference on someone's life.
I've met a lot of people lately, most of them studying in my home country which has led me to research universities in my country and looking at it objectively it turns out it's not actually that bad if I have to stay and study medicine here. The course structure is the thing I dislike the most as it is very preclinical then clinical so you don't get any patient contact until like third year but everything else seems fine and I can always go abroad for FY1 if I feel like it.
Lately I have been feeling a bit down so I am getting a Macbook to make me happier :P
All I actually want for Christmas if for everything to work out, I know that's actually a lot to ask but that's just what I want.
Merry Christmas :)
Thanks for reading,
Beh
@behrouzn
It seems like I am only posting once a month lately as my last blog post was back in November. This time last year, I was flying to Birmingham to have my first interview and later this month I was on two rejections! Good news is I have no rejections so far this year.
However, the lack of knowing whether I am getting an interview or just a straight rejection is really not helping with my revision. I know that all I need is one offer, that was what I got last year and I was never happier, but I just don't seem to get revising as much as I should do to make sure that if one day I hold an offer I can actually meet it. I know I should not repeat my mistake and I should learn from them like I've always done, but this done it is proving much difficult to forget about the waiting and just focus at what is coming in January time- EXAMS!
I have spent most of my time volunteering and working in the café lately. Word AIDS Day was a huge success, at least at a personal level, because giving those talks to 400 teenagers over three days and getting to hear their opinions on the topic and how the talk had help them understand what the disease is all about was just amazing. I just can't find a word that will describe that feeling and I guess it should be similar when as a doctor you make a difference on someone's life.
I've met a lot of people lately, most of them studying in my home country which has led me to research universities in my country and looking at it objectively it turns out it's not actually that bad if I have to stay and study medicine here. The course structure is the thing I dislike the most as it is very preclinical then clinical so you don't get any patient contact until like third year but everything else seems fine and I can always go abroad for FY1 if I feel like it.
Lately I have been feeling a bit down so I am getting a Macbook to make me happier :P
All I actually want for Christmas if for everything to work out, I know that's actually a lot to ask but that's just what I want.
Merry Christmas :)
Thanks for reading,
Beh
@behrouzn
Saturday, 19 November 2011
'You don't know what you are missing!'
Song of the day: Shake it Out - Florence + The Machine
This is my first post in November, even though the plan was to do weekly posts every Saturday... I just have been too busy to blog and also its not like I had anything good to write about as lately I have been in a weird mood because I am just too stressed with my life in general.
More than a month ago now I submitted my UCAS application and even though two of my four chosen medical schools have already given out ( a lot of) interview invites I still have not heard. I was actually hopeful this year, which was why I applied but now I sooo regret not working as much as I should have (and could have) last year to get the grades that Birmingham asked me for!! I'm just way too angry at myself for this and right now I just cannot concentrate on my January exams because every time I try to revise I start to think how I should not even do retakes because chances are I won't get any offers.
I have been doing some research into Ireland and both TCD and UCD have told me that I have to do 4 subjects in the same sitting regardless of whether I resit or not which means that because I am only retaking 2 subjects this January I am not eligible to apply. I have also looked into Spanish universities and if I do well in the entrance exam I could get into a nice city one!
My gap year, on the other hand is just awesome! I have a part time job in a coffee shop which is a lot of fun and the costumers are very nice and also I continue with my position in the Red Cross which means that next week I get to go away for a weekend with all the members of the Regional committee. Also, I have the first aid and CPR exam next Thursday so I hope to hold the certificate soon!
I will keep you all updated on everything!
Thanks for reading!
Beh
@behrouzn
This is my first post in November, even though the plan was to do weekly posts every Saturday... I just have been too busy to blog and also its not like I had anything good to write about as lately I have been in a weird mood because I am just too stressed with my life in general.
More than a month ago now I submitted my UCAS application and even though two of my four chosen medical schools have already given out ( a lot of) interview invites I still have not heard. I was actually hopeful this year, which was why I applied but now I sooo regret not working as much as I should have (and could have) last year to get the grades that Birmingham asked me for!! I'm just way too angry at myself for this and right now I just cannot concentrate on my January exams because every time I try to revise I start to think how I should not even do retakes because chances are I won't get any offers.
I have been doing some research into Ireland and both TCD and UCD have told me that I have to do 4 subjects in the same sitting regardless of whether I resit or not which means that because I am only retaking 2 subjects this January I am not eligible to apply. I have also looked into Spanish universities and if I do well in the entrance exam I could get into a nice city one!
My gap year, on the other hand is just awesome! I have a part time job in a coffee shop which is a lot of fun and the costumers are very nice and also I continue with my position in the Red Cross which means that next week I get to go away for a weekend with all the members of the Regional committee. Also, I have the first aid and CPR exam next Thursday so I hope to hold the certificate soon!
I will keep you all updated on everything!
Thanks for reading!
Beh
@behrouzn
Sunday, 30 October 2011
'Just go on, never look back'
Song of the day: Closing Time - Semisonic
Last weekend in October and that means Halloween. I am still not sure what I am going to do for Halloween this year but I always leave it to last minute (literally!). October was nice: I got to travelled, my UCAS got sent, I received a job offer and most importantly it has been fun!
From November to March I should be hearing from my universities, but there are no news for now. I am going to be very busy this upcoming month because I have to get revising very hard to make sure I get the grades I need this January. I have five exams compared to thirteen I had last summer so I hope that will help... In November I am going to start working as a waiter in a café, which should be fun and will be a good break from revision and just general university worries!
Two weeks from sending my UCAS, I have received my Welcome Pack which made it all very real and I have two acknowledgements having heard nothing from all the other choices. Lately I have been quiet stressed about my future life plans because I have no idea of what I want to do and I think its all because I am not sure of what I can do. Ideally I would really like to study in the UK, but if I am not given the option then I will have to go and study in another country. I would not really mind having to study medicine in my home country as I can go to the UK for the foundation years but all I've always wanted is to study medicine in UK and I have been to close to succeeding that now I am quiet angry at myself and I deeply regret not working as hard as I should have. I hope I get a second chance this year and I get to prove that I can do it and get the grades as many people have just assumed that I am just not good enough to go to medical school simply because I missed my offer.
I also have a dog now, which is supposed to be good for stressed people! It is like a new hobbie for me as it is the first time I have a dog and I actually really like. She cares a lot for me and she likes playing all the time so I now have things to do whenever I need to have a break...
Word AIDS Day is here soon and I am preparing a campaign around local schools, we will be going to about seven schools throughout the week which should be nice. We are getting together a dynamic talk about STDs and AIDS so that we actually have an impact on teenagers, something that is a bit difficult lately. With the Red Cross I am also planning to go on a night out with a breathalyser, to show people the effects of alcohol and just as a bit of game to discourage drinking and driving. I have spoken to my local council about this and they will be able to provide us with sufficient funding to forward with this idea which should be fun for me and my volunteers as well as for the people that participates as we will have games and give out prizes throughout the night!
The Red Cross is keeping me busy most of the time and now I need to start organising everything carefully to make sure that I still do all the things I have to with the NGO while I also revise a lot to make sure I get the grades I need in the January exams.
The weekend has been random to be honest. Yesterday I went to a Wedding Planning event with my friends where they gave you ideas of what and where to have your wedding so it was us in the middle of a lot of couples planning their weddings and today I got to bake some carrot cake which turned out to be very nice!
I will keep you all updated on how everything goes and remember to stay focused on your goal and you will get there!
Beh
Last weekend in October and that means Halloween. I am still not sure what I am going to do for Halloween this year but I always leave it to last minute (literally!). October was nice: I got to travelled, my UCAS got sent, I received a job offer and most importantly it has been fun!
From November to March I should be hearing from my universities, but there are no news for now. I am going to be very busy this upcoming month because I have to get revising very hard to make sure I get the grades I need this January. I have five exams compared to thirteen I had last summer so I hope that will help... In November I am going to start working as a waiter in a café, which should be fun and will be a good break from revision and just general university worries!
Two weeks from sending my UCAS, I have received my Welcome Pack which made it all very real and I have two acknowledgements having heard nothing from all the other choices. Lately I have been quiet stressed about my future life plans because I have no idea of what I want to do and I think its all because I am not sure of what I can do. Ideally I would really like to study in the UK, but if I am not given the option then I will have to go and study in another country. I would not really mind having to study medicine in my home country as I can go to the UK for the foundation years but all I've always wanted is to study medicine in UK and I have been to close to succeeding that now I am quiet angry at myself and I deeply regret not working as hard as I should have. I hope I get a second chance this year and I get to prove that I can do it and get the grades as many people have just assumed that I am just not good enough to go to medical school simply because I missed my offer.
I also have a dog now, which is supposed to be good for stressed people! It is like a new hobbie for me as it is the first time I have a dog and I actually really like. She cares a lot for me and she likes playing all the time so I now have things to do whenever I need to have a break...
Word AIDS Day is here soon and I am preparing a campaign around local schools, we will be going to about seven schools throughout the week which should be nice. We are getting together a dynamic talk about STDs and AIDS so that we actually have an impact on teenagers, something that is a bit difficult lately. With the Red Cross I am also planning to go on a night out with a breathalyser, to show people the effects of alcohol and just as a bit of game to discourage drinking and driving. I have spoken to my local council about this and they will be able to provide us with sufficient funding to forward with this idea which should be fun for me and my volunteers as well as for the people that participates as we will have games and give out prizes throughout the night!
The Red Cross is keeping me busy most of the time and now I need to start organising everything carefully to make sure that I still do all the things I have to with the NGO while I also revise a lot to make sure I get the grades I need in the January exams.
The weekend has been random to be honest. Yesterday I went to a Wedding Planning event with my friends where they gave you ideas of what and where to have your wedding so it was us in the middle of a lot of couples planning their weddings and today I got to bake some carrot cake which turned out to be very nice!
I will keep you all updated on how everything goes and remember to stay focused on your goal and you will get there!
Beh
Saturday, 22 October 2011
'Don't try, just do it!'
Song of the day: Houdini - Foster The People
Time is flying by, not so long ago I was on holiday in Norway trying to forget about Results Day... and now, its October: new UCAS has been submitted, I have rejected an HCA job, I'm on a gap year and just so many other things are happening, its just unbelievable.
This time last year I had an invitation to an interview in the University of Birmingham; by December I had an offer. It is sad to think about that and how I was at the doors of medical school and then I had to go back to stage 1. However, I am not that badly affected. I am hoping that in a few years I will look back and feel that the gap year was worth it.
I am not supposed to hear from any of my unis any time soon, which is okay because I am not really that stressed about them right now. I am much more worried about something else. I have my exams in about 3 months and that's very nerve wrecking! I have to get an A at A Level Chemistry this time and I am not sure of how to do this... if anyone has any tips, then please let me know :)
This weekend I should start to plan my revision schedule and then start working slowly until my exams making sure no cramming is necessary.
Lately I am very involved with the Red Cross, something that will give me a lot to talk about if I get an interview as I am learning a lot about communication skills and team work and I have seen how important the work of social workers are, especially in the current financial climate.
I am not sure if I have talked about it before, but earlier this week I phoned up the hospital which offered me the HCA job and said that I was unable to accept it. My main reason was because it coincides with my exams and I don't want to be under the stress of settling in a new city with a new job at the same time as I do my A Level resits. I do have to say though, that getting the job and talking to the nurses who interviewed me did make me feel more confident about my application as they seem to think that I could make a good doctor so I hope that Admission Tutors think the same. The rest is all up to me. Last year I got the opportunity and I wasted it by not preparing myself enough for the exams so I hope that if I am given a second chance I don't do the same.
As I have said I am looking for tips on Chemistry A Level, so please let me know if you have any.
I don't think I have much more to say today really, my social life is not very interesting at the moment and the weekend has just started so I will blog again next week!
Thanks for reading :)
Beh
Time is flying by, not so long ago I was on holiday in Norway trying to forget about Results Day... and now, its October: new UCAS has been submitted, I have rejected an HCA job, I'm on a gap year and just so many other things are happening, its just unbelievable.
This time last year I had an invitation to an interview in the University of Birmingham; by December I had an offer. It is sad to think about that and how I was at the doors of medical school and then I had to go back to stage 1. However, I am not that badly affected. I am hoping that in a few years I will look back and feel that the gap year was worth it.
I am not supposed to hear from any of my unis any time soon, which is okay because I am not really that stressed about them right now. I am much more worried about something else. I have my exams in about 3 months and that's very nerve wrecking! I have to get an A at A Level Chemistry this time and I am not sure of how to do this... if anyone has any tips, then please let me know :)
This weekend I should start to plan my revision schedule and then start working slowly until my exams making sure no cramming is necessary.
Lately I am very involved with the Red Cross, something that will give me a lot to talk about if I get an interview as I am learning a lot about communication skills and team work and I have seen how important the work of social workers are, especially in the current financial climate.
I am not sure if I have talked about it before, but earlier this week I phoned up the hospital which offered me the HCA job and said that I was unable to accept it. My main reason was because it coincides with my exams and I don't want to be under the stress of settling in a new city with a new job at the same time as I do my A Level resits. I do have to say though, that getting the job and talking to the nurses who interviewed me did make me feel more confident about my application as they seem to think that I could make a good doctor so I hope that Admission Tutors think the same. The rest is all up to me. Last year I got the opportunity and I wasted it by not preparing myself enough for the exams so I hope that if I am given a second chance I don't do the same.
As I have said I am looking for tips on Chemistry A Level, so please let me know if you have any.
I don't think I have much more to say today really, my social life is not very interesting at the moment and the weekend has just started so I will blog again next week!
Thanks for reading :)
Beh
Sunday, 16 October 2011
'The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about'. - Oscar Wilde
Song of the day: The Scientist - Coldplay
Last week I was on the middle of my 'English' adventure, so I could not blog, but have no worries, I will tell you all about it now!
I left to London last Friday and I was there for a bit more than a week. As a whole, it was an amazing week. I saw my old friends, I met new people, I ate new things, I saw new places, I went shopping... just everything I could have asked for.
I went to visit the universities in Manchester, Liverpool, Norwich, Lancaster and London. I have to say UCL wins for 'most beautiful university' out of the ones I visited. Lancaster and UEA are my favourite choices this time round. Lancaster reminded me a lot of St Andrews, the atmosphere was very nice and it seem like a bubble which is something I like. Norwich was also amazing, the day I visited they were all queuing up to get Coldplay tickets! The uni was much nicer than I expected because I thought it was going to be much smaller and its so green.
Now that I am back home I have to go back to 'normal' life tomorrow. I have a lot of red cross paperwork to catch up with before the end of this week and then I am also volunteering in the Children's Hospital which is always entertaining. Also, I have been advised (several times) to start doing some revision and I think I am taking the advice as this time I want to be very prepare for the exams instead of cramming for them. Tuesday has then been my chosen day to start with the planning of my revision for January exams! I have never started revising so early so if anyone has any tips on this matter please let me know :)
Lately I have receiving some comments / tweets/ emails asking how did I stay so focused and determined and I guess its is just because I really want that place at medical school and every morning I wake up and think about it and what it would mean to be a doctor and that just gets me going for the day.
Also, I have now submitted my UCAS application as the deadline was yesterday. I am not sure if I have confirm my choices on here already but I have applied to Lancaster, Liverpool, UEA and Southampton and I have already received acknowledgements from Liverpool and UEA which was excited. Sad news is that last year, on the 18th of October I received and invitation to interview in Birmingham and chances are this year it will take much longer to get any answers from medical school. I guess, I should get ready for the long wait, or as they call it: 'the waiting game'!
For now my gap year is going pretty well, at least better than expected, even though you cannot compare to those who go volunteering in Africa or on a tour around Australia... but do remember this gap year was very spontaneous as in theory I should be in university already!
Well I have heard that 'things happen for a reason' many times in the last few weeks so I think that by the end of next summer I will know if it actually happened for a reason or not!
That's all for now, I will write again next week :)
Thanks for reading !
Beh
PS: Best of luck to everyone applying to university this year :)
Last week I was on the middle of my 'English' adventure, so I could not blog, but have no worries, I will tell you all about it now!
I left to London last Friday and I was there for a bit more than a week. As a whole, it was an amazing week. I saw my old friends, I met new people, I ate new things, I saw new places, I went shopping... just everything I could have asked for.
I went to visit the universities in Manchester, Liverpool, Norwich, Lancaster and London. I have to say UCL wins for 'most beautiful university' out of the ones I visited. Lancaster and UEA are my favourite choices this time round. Lancaster reminded me a lot of St Andrews, the atmosphere was very nice and it seem like a bubble which is something I like. Norwich was also amazing, the day I visited they were all queuing up to get Coldplay tickets! The uni was much nicer than I expected because I thought it was going to be much smaller and its so green.
Now that I am back home I have to go back to 'normal' life tomorrow. I have a lot of red cross paperwork to catch up with before the end of this week and then I am also volunteering in the Children's Hospital which is always entertaining. Also, I have been advised (several times) to start doing some revision and I think I am taking the advice as this time I want to be very prepare for the exams instead of cramming for them. Tuesday has then been my chosen day to start with the planning of my revision for January exams! I have never started revising so early so if anyone has any tips on this matter please let me know :)
Lately I have receiving some comments / tweets/ emails asking how did I stay so focused and determined and I guess its is just because I really want that place at medical school and every morning I wake up and think about it and what it would mean to be a doctor and that just gets me going for the day.
Also, I have now submitted my UCAS application as the deadline was yesterday. I am not sure if I have confirm my choices on here already but I have applied to Lancaster, Liverpool, UEA and Southampton and I have already received acknowledgements from Liverpool and UEA which was excited. Sad news is that last year, on the 18th of October I received and invitation to interview in Birmingham and chances are this year it will take much longer to get any answers from medical school. I guess, I should get ready for the long wait, or as they call it: 'the waiting game'!
For now my gap year is going pretty well, at least better than expected, even though you cannot compare to those who go volunteering in Africa or on a tour around Australia... but do remember this gap year was very spontaneous as in theory I should be in university already!
Well I have heard that 'things happen for a reason' many times in the last few weeks so I think that by the end of next summer I will know if it actually happened for a reason or not!
That's all for now, I will write again next week :)
Thanks for reading !
Beh
PS: Best of luck to everyone applying to university this year :)
Sunday, 2 October 2011
'People don't change, you just get to know them better'
Song of the day: You Need Me, I Don't Need You - Ed Sheeran
I guess its time to wake up after the end of September, as whole it was a weird month. September meant going back to the Red Cross, starting new tutoring lessons, saying bye to friends that left university and also figuring out where I want to apply as well as what I am going to do if I don't get in. Yeah, September was not much fun.
October, however, promises to be busier than last month. The UCAS deadline for my four medicine choices is in less than fifteen days, and I still have not decided where I want to apply. This new month also brings the new iOS (apparently?), a new iPhone (always exciting!) as well as Pottermore (yes, I'm a geek!).
The one thing that I am looking forward the most in October is my trip to UK. I am kind of doing a UK tour where I am spending a lot of money just on travelling up and down. I will be there for a week and I will be visit London, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Crewe and Lancaster. I don't really have many things planned as of yet, so any suggestions are welcome! In London I will be visiting my best friends who are studying there and then I will be heading to Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster to see the universities. In Preston I am going to be with another friend so that should be very fun. I don't think I ever mentioned this but I have an interview for an HCA post in Crewe so I have to go there and do the interview hoping to get the job. Any tips for that?
One thing that I am a bit scared is going to see my friends who are at uni. I am really looking forward to seeing there (surprisingly!) but I don't know if they feel the same. They have met lots of new people in the past few weeks and they have been with them for a lot of time that maybe they just don't feel like having to have me for a few days there. I am trying not to worry so much about this though, I have made some good plans in London so that in case they are busy with other things I will have many things to do.
On the 30th September I took the UKCAT, which did not go as well as expected. I had done a lot of practice, or at least what I thought was enough, but I still ended up with an average of 645. My maximum score in one section was 670 when in some of the practice tests in the 600Q book I was getting 750 so I don't know what went wrong there but I am starting to believe I just don't have any luck regarding exams lately.
With that UKCAT I am not very sure of where to apply. My initial choice were Lancaster, Liverpool, Southampton and Peninsula. However, Peninsula had a UKCAT cut-off of 642.5 more or less so I think it would be a big risk to apply there when my UKCAT score is just slightly higher. As an alternative I have UEA. Norwich Medical School was one of my favourite choices but then they announced that they wanted A*AA for resit applicants which made me go for Peninsula instead. Now that I can't go for Peninsula I may choose UEA if they accept the A*AA in Physics, Biology and Spanish. I should be calling them on Monday.
My personal statement is more or less done, I should be doing the last changes today and then making sure its between the limits sometime this week. The rest of my UCAS form is done, the only thing missing is my reference which my old school is taking ages to put in. I will also call them on Monday!
On Tuesday I am starting my volunteering work in a Children's Hospital which should be an interesting experience. I will update you all on that soon!
I think that's about it for now.
Thanks for reading,
Beh
I guess its time to wake up after the end of September, as whole it was a weird month. September meant going back to the Red Cross, starting new tutoring lessons, saying bye to friends that left university and also figuring out where I want to apply as well as what I am going to do if I don't get in. Yeah, September was not much fun.
October, however, promises to be busier than last month. The UCAS deadline for my four medicine choices is in less than fifteen days, and I still have not decided where I want to apply. This new month also brings the new iOS (apparently?), a new iPhone (always exciting!) as well as Pottermore (yes, I'm a geek!).
The one thing that I am looking forward the most in October is my trip to UK. I am kind of doing a UK tour where I am spending a lot of money just on travelling up and down. I will be there for a week and I will be visit London, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Crewe and Lancaster. I don't really have many things planned as of yet, so any suggestions are welcome! In London I will be visiting my best friends who are studying there and then I will be heading to Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster to see the universities. In Preston I am going to be with another friend so that should be very fun. I don't think I ever mentioned this but I have an interview for an HCA post in Crewe so I have to go there and do the interview hoping to get the job. Any tips for that?
One thing that I am a bit scared is going to see my friends who are at uni. I am really looking forward to seeing there (surprisingly!) but I don't know if they feel the same. They have met lots of new people in the past few weeks and they have been with them for a lot of time that maybe they just don't feel like having to have me for a few days there. I am trying not to worry so much about this though, I have made some good plans in London so that in case they are busy with other things I will have many things to do.
On the 30th September I took the UKCAT, which did not go as well as expected. I had done a lot of practice, or at least what I thought was enough, but I still ended up with an average of 645. My maximum score in one section was 670 when in some of the practice tests in the 600Q book I was getting 750 so I don't know what went wrong there but I am starting to believe I just don't have any luck regarding exams lately.
With that UKCAT I am not very sure of where to apply. My initial choice were Lancaster, Liverpool, Southampton and Peninsula. However, Peninsula had a UKCAT cut-off of 642.5 more or less so I think it would be a big risk to apply there when my UKCAT score is just slightly higher. As an alternative I have UEA. Norwich Medical School was one of my favourite choices but then they announced that they wanted A*AA for resit applicants which made me go for Peninsula instead. Now that I can't go for Peninsula I may choose UEA if they accept the A*AA in Physics, Biology and Spanish. I should be calling them on Monday.
My personal statement is more or less done, I should be doing the last changes today and then making sure its between the limits sometime this week. The rest of my UCAS form is done, the only thing missing is my reference which my old school is taking ages to put in. I will also call them on Monday!
On Tuesday I am starting my volunteering work in a Children's Hospital which should be an interesting experience. I will update you all on that soon!
I think that's about it for now.
Thanks for reading,
Beh
Saturday, 24 September 2011
'Do whatever it takes to get to where you need to go', said Spanelsh twitter girl
Song of the day: Mi Lamento - Dani Martin
Summer is now over, even though the good weather continues which is nice. The end of September also means that everyone leaves to uni or starts schools... so most of my friends have gone to uni and I feel myself a bit lonely at times, especially when I get stressed about this whole 'messing up my exams, not getting to uni and having to resit and reapply' thing.
At times I find myself very down because of all these things and I really need to talk to people. As my friends are very busy, and very far away, with freshers I don't really want to start worrying them just because at times I don't know what I am going to do if this time round it does not go well. Thankfully though, I have received a lot of support and constructive criticism from twitter. My main support most of the time comes from Spanelsh twitter girl, who is actually very good at motivating you. So I want to use this to thanks her :D
Well, enough about others and more about me! I have just noticed that I didn't update in a long time and a lot have been happening recently.
Exams wise, I asked for a remark which came back as the same. I paid for my resits in January, I will be resitting two chemistry and two physics exams and I also got my scripts back so that I can go over my mistakes.
I have also (finally) decided where I want to apply. I will be applying to: Liverpool, Lancaster, Peninsula and Southampton. I really like all of them so it's not like I actually have a top choice or anything. I was a bit surprised by how nice they are as I had not even look into them when I applied last year as I knew where I wanted to apply from the beginning last year so there was no need of research or anything. Liverpool has a really good course and from what I have been reading online it is a really nice city. The thing I really like about Lancaster is how it is such a small community, very similar to St Andrews in that aspect (where I applied last year), and I think I would really enjoy living in a place where you know everyone. Peninsula has all the things I want and the only thing I dislike is the fact that you cannot choose the location where you start the course, but I like surprises so its okay! Southampton is my only non-PBL choice, which is good as I have no experience with anything similar to PBL and I tend to be a bit scared of the unknown at times. It's location is also really nice, near London where lots of my friends are now.
Personal statement was supposed to be finished but then I kept reading it and some parts didn't feel like me, so I have now decided to go back and get changing many things so I am working on it at the moment. In less than a week I have the UKCAT, scary!, I need a good score for Peninsula and I have been practising lately but not as much as I should have to be honest so this weekend I will be staying in with my 600Q book.
My job hunting with NHS Job has not been very successful so far but it's okay because I am very busy lately with the Red Cross where I am organising sex education talks for teenagers so I have to go to many meetings in the next few weeks with schools and other centres to arrange the dates and inform about the topic we will discuss.
Well , I think that is all for now. I should get my UKCAT book out and start working.
Thanks for reading,
Beh
@behrouzn
PS: Wish me good luck with UKCAT !
Summer is now over, even though the good weather continues which is nice. The end of September also means that everyone leaves to uni or starts schools... so most of my friends have gone to uni and I feel myself a bit lonely at times, especially when I get stressed about this whole 'messing up my exams, not getting to uni and having to resit and reapply' thing.
At times I find myself very down because of all these things and I really need to talk to people. As my friends are very busy, and very far away, with freshers I don't really want to start worrying them just because at times I don't know what I am going to do if this time round it does not go well. Thankfully though, I have received a lot of support and constructive criticism from twitter. My main support most of the time comes from Spanelsh twitter girl, who is actually very good at motivating you. So I want to use this to thanks her :D
Well, enough about others and more about me! I have just noticed that I didn't update in a long time and a lot have been happening recently.
Exams wise, I asked for a remark which came back as the same. I paid for my resits in January, I will be resitting two chemistry and two physics exams and I also got my scripts back so that I can go over my mistakes.
I have also (finally) decided where I want to apply. I will be applying to: Liverpool, Lancaster, Peninsula and Southampton. I really like all of them so it's not like I actually have a top choice or anything. I was a bit surprised by how nice they are as I had not even look into them when I applied last year as I knew where I wanted to apply from the beginning last year so there was no need of research or anything. Liverpool has a really good course and from what I have been reading online it is a really nice city. The thing I really like about Lancaster is how it is such a small community, very similar to St Andrews in that aspect (where I applied last year), and I think I would really enjoy living in a place where you know everyone. Peninsula has all the things I want and the only thing I dislike is the fact that you cannot choose the location where you start the course, but I like surprises so its okay! Southampton is my only non-PBL choice, which is good as I have no experience with anything similar to PBL and I tend to be a bit scared of the unknown at times. It's location is also really nice, near London where lots of my friends are now.
Personal statement was supposed to be finished but then I kept reading it and some parts didn't feel like me, so I have now decided to go back and get changing many things so I am working on it at the moment. In less than a week I have the UKCAT, scary!, I need a good score for Peninsula and I have been practising lately but not as much as I should have to be honest so this weekend I will be staying in with my 600Q book.
My job hunting with NHS Job has not been very successful so far but it's okay because I am very busy lately with the Red Cross where I am organising sex education talks for teenagers so I have to go to many meetings in the next few weeks with schools and other centres to arrange the dates and inform about the topic we will discuss.
Well , I think that is all for now. I should get my UKCAT book out and start working.
Thanks for reading,
Beh
@behrouzn
PS: Wish me good luck with UKCAT !
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Smile!
Song of the day: Junk of the Heart (Happy) - The Kooks
Lately I have been busy with leaving parties as all my class mates feel the need to celebrate the fact that they are leaving to university! I'm very happy for them and also for myself, a bit, because I hope that once they are done I can actually revise and do all the things I have to get to medical school next year!
Today I have been very stressed because I was volunteering with the Red Cross the whole morning and when I got home and I saw UEA's resit policy, which I am not very happy about. My school has said that they do not predict A* grades, but then UEA want me to have a predicted A* according to their website. I have been calling them to see if there is something that we could do, but nobody picked up the phone.
In less than a month I would be going to the University of Manchester Open Day, I still didn't receive my tickets for the Medicine talk and for now I doubt I will apply there. I guess it will depends on the Open Day as well.
My personal statement is more or less done. It has been reviewed by a few people and they all say its good so I don't know what to do with it... for now I will leave it like that because I have the UKCAT to worry about first. If I have to be honest, I have not started to prepare for it which is very very bad !
Oh and also... I have been appointed as head of the local Youth Red Cross which is exciting and now I have to plan educational campaigns for the school year which will concentrate on health and social issues. I think it will be an amazing experience! The first event I will organise will be for AIDS day in December and from now I have to get the organisation going and find new volunteers as most of them have left because there was never taking care of it. I have other things in mind like a platform of support for teenagers who do not have the necessary support to continue with their education, for example, because I think it will be very interesting to work with teenagers who have the potential to get somewhere but just do not have the right resources.
My HCA job hunting is going okay. So far I have received 3 rejections and I have completed a Numeracy and Literacy test and I am waiting (impatiently) for the outcome. I really hope I can find a post to start next year after the January exams.
Next week I have to go to my old school to talk about my UCAS applications so I have to have it all sorted by then.
I think that's about all... not much happening recently just stress and more stress
Hope you are all doing fine!
Beh
@behrouzn
Lately I have been busy with leaving parties as all my class mates feel the need to celebrate the fact that they are leaving to university! I'm very happy for them and also for myself, a bit, because I hope that once they are done I can actually revise and do all the things I have to get to medical school next year!
Today I have been very stressed because I was volunteering with the Red Cross the whole morning and when I got home and I saw UEA's resit policy, which I am not very happy about. My school has said that they do not predict A* grades, but then UEA want me to have a predicted A* according to their website. I have been calling them to see if there is something that we could do, but nobody picked up the phone.
In less than a month I would be going to the University of Manchester Open Day, I still didn't receive my tickets for the Medicine talk and for now I doubt I will apply there. I guess it will depends on the Open Day as well.
My personal statement is more or less done. It has been reviewed by a few people and they all say its good so I don't know what to do with it... for now I will leave it like that because I have the UKCAT to worry about first. If I have to be honest, I have not started to prepare for it which is very very bad !
Oh and also... I have been appointed as head of the local Youth Red Cross which is exciting and now I have to plan educational campaigns for the school year which will concentrate on health and social issues. I think it will be an amazing experience! The first event I will organise will be for AIDS day in December and from now I have to get the organisation going and find new volunteers as most of them have left because there was never taking care of it. I have other things in mind like a platform of support for teenagers who do not have the necessary support to continue with their education, for example, because I think it will be very interesting to work with teenagers who have the potential to get somewhere but just do not have the right resources.
My HCA job hunting is going okay. So far I have received 3 rejections and I have completed a Numeracy and Literacy test and I am waiting (impatiently) for the outcome. I really hope I can find a post to start next year after the January exams.
Next week I have to go to my old school to talk about my UCAS applications so I have to have it all sorted by then.
I think that's about all... not much happening recently just stress and more stress
Hope you are all doing fine!
Beh
@behrouzn
Sunday, 4 September 2011
19 Days Left of Summer
Song of the day: Different - LidoLido
My exams are done and I have finally catch up with all my lost sleep! All my friends are getting ready to leave to their university halls in about two weeks while I just think about what I can do to entertain myself.
My gap year is 'officially' starting on Monday. Tomorrow, I will start to revise for the UKCAT which I have the 30th September and I plan to go to the beach and get my tan back because so much work indoor has made me look very pale.
Tomorrow I am also going to talk to my Red Cross centre about the volunteer work to see if I can have something permanent in the evenings. My parents are going to help me arrange some work experience so I have to start contacting to people and also I have applied to some HCAs jobs all around England and I am waiting for them to contact me.
On a non-medicine related note, I have applied for a job at my local Hollister (but I didn't include a picture because I don't have a recent one) and I am waiting for an interview as apparently they interview most people that apply for the job. I've always wanted to work in a shop, as a temporary job, and I really like Hollister so it would be nice to work there.
To start enjoying myself during my gap year I have started the '101 things in 1001 days' challenge and I have until 2014 to complete them.
In October I will be going off to London for a few days to visit my friends, so if anyone can suggest things to do then let me know! I am also going to the University of Manchester Open Day, even though their resit policy is now completely different to what they said after Results Day, but I have my tickets and I want to go and see it. Last year I went to the KCL Open Day and I ended up not applying there, this always happens to me!
My university choices are still not very clear. My current options are: Liverpool, Lancaster, Peninsula, BSMS, Southampton and maybe UEA (they are reconsidering their resit policy). I really like the first three and I will probably apply to those so I just need to decide one more choice. Personal statement is also on my 'to-do' list so I guess from Monday I will have to get working on it.
Oh and also I think there is something wrong with me or my exam technique because since GCSEs every exam I take that I feel prepared for goes very wrong!
Well that's all for today!
Hope you enjoy the 19 days left of summer,
Beh
PS: Sorry, I didn't notice it was such a long post !
My exams are done and I have finally catch up with all my lost sleep! All my friends are getting ready to leave to their university halls in about two weeks while I just think about what I can do to entertain myself.
My gap year is 'officially' starting on Monday. Tomorrow, I will start to revise for the UKCAT which I have the 30th September and I plan to go to the beach and get my tan back because so much work indoor has made me look very pale.
Tomorrow I am also going to talk to my Red Cross centre about the volunteer work to see if I can have something permanent in the evenings. My parents are going to help me arrange some work experience so I have to start contacting to people and also I have applied to some HCAs jobs all around England and I am waiting for them to contact me.
On a non-medicine related note, I have applied for a job at my local Hollister (but I didn't include a picture because I don't have a recent one) and I am waiting for an interview as apparently they interview most people that apply for the job. I've always wanted to work in a shop, as a temporary job, and I really like Hollister so it would be nice to work there.
To start enjoying myself during my gap year I have started the '101 things in 1001 days' challenge and I have until 2014 to complete them.
In October I will be going off to London for a few days to visit my friends, so if anyone can suggest things to do then let me know! I am also going to the University of Manchester Open Day, even though their resit policy is now completely different to what they said after Results Day, but I have my tickets and I want to go and see it. Last year I went to the KCL Open Day and I ended up not applying there, this always happens to me!
My university choices are still not very clear. My current options are: Liverpool, Lancaster, Peninsula, BSMS, Southampton and maybe UEA (they are reconsidering their resit policy). I really like the first three and I will probably apply to those so I just need to decide one more choice. Personal statement is also on my 'to-do' list so I guess from Monday I will have to get working on it.
Oh and also I think there is something wrong with me or my exam technique because since GCSEs every exam I take that I feel prepared for goes very wrong!
Well that's all for today!
Hope you enjoy the 19 days left of summer,
Beh
PS: Sorry, I didn't notice it was such a long post !
Friday, 26 August 2011
Haven't You Heard ?
Song of the day: Valerie - Amy Winehouse
Sometimes people ask questions that you just don't know how to answer. Other times you think if you should tell them the truth or just make some up and go along with it. It actually happens a lot to me. I think I am good at lying, which is always a good thing and you never know when it could come handy.
These last few days I've had my ups and downs, but then who has not! Every day I woke up with a different thing to worry about. One day I didn't want to study Medicine in Spain, the next I didn't want to go to UK and the other one I just didn't want to study. I think it is because I just have too much free time.
I over-think everything when I am bored. To stop me from doing that I have been planning a lot of meet ups with people which has left me with no money and no revision time so now I need to catch up on revision and wait until I start to tutor again.
Academically wise, it as all been as good as I hoped. I went to my old school to talk about resits and they've said that I am welcomed to go in January and take the four exams I want to do there, which was very nice to hear. On an even more positive note, most universities which I am considering for 2012 entry have said that they are willing to accept my Spanish A Level as a third A Level which got me in a very good mood :) This means that I am applying with AAB. Right now I am thinking about Peninsula, BSMS, Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester and Southampton and I should do some more reading about them before deciding. I also hoped to go to an Open Day in October but parents are not liking the idea much so for now it looks a bit grey.
UKCAT has also been booked and I will be doing it the last week of September. My plan is to start preparing for it 3 weeks ahead and I do hope I can make a great improvement from last year 627.5 score. Next Saturday I have my Spanish admissions tests in Chemistry and Biology and I need 2 As to meet the entry requirements of the universities that I like. To my surprise Chemistry is going much better than Biology so this weekend I will be memorising all that Biology that I need.
About my gap year I have to admit that I have nothing planned yet. I will be busy with exams until February so I don't want to do anything too heavy until then. From March I will like to start working as an HCA, but I think I may be hoping for too much. I have all been looking at many travelling options including the Tall Ships Races 2012. Leave me a comment if you have any suggestions of what I could though :)
Thank you for reading and follow me on twitter if you want minute to minute updates :P
Beh
Sometimes people ask questions that you just don't know how to answer. Other times you think if you should tell them the truth or just make some up and go along with it. It actually happens a lot to me. I think I am good at lying, which is always a good thing and you never know when it could come handy.
These last few days I've had my ups and downs, but then who has not! Every day I woke up with a different thing to worry about. One day I didn't want to study Medicine in Spain, the next I didn't want to go to UK and the other one I just didn't want to study. I think it is because I just have too much free time.
I over-think everything when I am bored. To stop me from doing that I have been planning a lot of meet ups with people which has left me with no money and no revision time so now I need to catch up on revision and wait until I start to tutor again.
Academically wise, it as all been as good as I hoped. I went to my old school to talk about resits and they've said that I am welcomed to go in January and take the four exams I want to do there, which was very nice to hear. On an even more positive note, most universities which I am considering for 2012 entry have said that they are willing to accept my Spanish A Level as a third A Level which got me in a very good mood :) This means that I am applying with AAB. Right now I am thinking about Peninsula, BSMS, Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester and Southampton and I should do some more reading about them before deciding. I also hoped to go to an Open Day in October but parents are not liking the idea much so for now it looks a bit grey.
UKCAT has also been booked and I will be doing it the last week of September. My plan is to start preparing for it 3 weeks ahead and I do hope I can make a great improvement from last year 627.5 score. Next Saturday I have my Spanish admissions tests in Chemistry and Biology and I need 2 As to meet the entry requirements of the universities that I like. To my surprise Chemistry is going much better than Biology so this weekend I will be memorising all that Biology that I need.
About my gap year I have to admit that I have nothing planned yet. I will be busy with exams until February so I don't want to do anything too heavy until then. From March I will like to start working as an HCA, but I think I may be hoping for too much. I have all been looking at many travelling options including the Tall Ships Races 2012. Leave me a comment if you have any suggestions of what I could though :)
Thank you for reading and follow me on twitter if you want minute to minute updates :P
Beh
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Things Happen For a Reason
Song of the day: Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
People always say that many things happen for a reason. I never thought that kind of thing was true and for me life never gave second chances. However, now that I will have time during my gap year I will try and find out the answer to such sayings!
Some things about me:
I am an eighteen years old student who has finished A Levels. I was an offer holder from the University of Birmingham for Medicine. However, I thought getting the offer was the difficult part and decided that A Levels were just a walk in the park. Turns out, I was wrong. I didn't get the grades I needed and had no idea what to do.
First I wanted to give up on everything... but then I did some research and found some things on clearing that I could do and then I could go for GEM. I was not very convinced and so decided to email some unis to ask about resit policies. About five of them gave a positive response so I have decided to resit two of my A Levels to push up my grade and then reapply in the next UCAS cycle.
I will keep you updated on my UCAS, my gap year and just my non-interesting life in general so don't miss out!
I tweet a lot so you can follow me on twitter if you want @behrouzn !
Also, I previously had a blog about my first try with A Levels and UCAS. You can read it here.
I think that is all for my first entry, hope you enjoy reading and do leave comments so that I don't start thinking I am talking to myself here :P
Thanks,
Beh
People always say that many things happen for a reason. I never thought that kind of thing was true and for me life never gave second chances. However, now that I will have time during my gap year I will try and find out the answer to such sayings!
Some things about me:
I am an eighteen years old student who has finished A Levels. I was an offer holder from the University of Birmingham for Medicine. However, I thought getting the offer was the difficult part and decided that A Levels were just a walk in the park. Turns out, I was wrong. I didn't get the grades I needed and had no idea what to do.
First I wanted to give up on everything... but then I did some research and found some things on clearing that I could do and then I could go for GEM. I was not very convinced and so decided to email some unis to ask about resit policies. About five of them gave a positive response so I have decided to resit two of my A Levels to push up my grade and then reapply in the next UCAS cycle.
I will keep you updated on my UCAS, my gap year and just my non-interesting life in general so don't miss out!
I tweet a lot so you can follow me on twitter if you want @behrouzn !
Also, I previously had a blog about my first try with A Levels and UCAS. You can read it here.
I think that is all for my first entry, hope you enjoy reading and do leave comments so that I don't start thinking I am talking to myself here :P
Thanks,
Beh
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