The other half

Not so long ago, I posted my Track showing my rejected applications.

 

If you wonder,(I don't know why should you but whatever) this is how my other half of Track looks like. Let me tell you a little secret of mine; (I'm kind of tempted to just accept these offers and they are still open for me to accept them).

Now, why did I put biochemistry as my third and fourth choice? Your guess?? That's right! Because biochemistry have biology and chemistry in one single word. Two of my all-time favourite subjects in a course. Besides, at that time, doing experiments and understanding organic compound to the molecular level sounds exciting(for me, at least) but during that time and now, almost a year later, I've changed my mind and next my 1.5 best option. Dentistry!!

That's all for this post.
Till then, Assalamualaikum.

Medical student interviews at NUMed and Perdana University

I'm writing this post so that it might help future interviewees facing their interviews and because those universities never asked me to not do so. So, cheers!

If you're reading this post now, my best guess would be that you're going to be interviewed for a place as a medical student in one of the universities. So, all the best and I hope you'll get a spot there.

Now, for the interview process. First I was 'invited' for an interview at NUMed, Johor. I lived in Negeri Sembilan so the journey wasn't that long. It took us (my parents and I) about 2.5 hours to get there. The first impression for the Iskandar Malaysia was... hmmm.... quite disappointed. The area near the university was still under major constructions so all that I could see was lorries, half-finished buildings and lots of empty space but, BUT, Legoland was just 5-minute-drive so all was forgiven.

Arrived there at 10.30am (an hour early, pffttt) and waited(alone)at the reception area I guess. My parents waited for me at their cafeteria which I forgot to visit after the interview. They have an interview for every half an hour so before me, there was another interviewee. We didn't really speak because it's not long before he was called into the room(at a blocked area so I can't see the room). While waiting and staring and waiting for my turn, there was this lady, she went to the other side of the area and start yelling "Why is this not signed!!?? blah blah yadayada" . Can you imagine what's crossing on my mind that time. I was like all nervous, did she just yelled at the boy who've gone first, what did he do, and all sorts of questions. I didn't know what it's all about then and I still haven't got a clue now. Not long after that, that boy or guy(this is weird) came out of the room, smiling. Fuhhhh. I guess it's not him that were yelled at.

Then, I was called for the interview. There was a male lecturer and the admission officer. There were common questions asked like introduce yourself, why medic, hobby, etc. Then they start asking about what do you know about NUMed(thank god I read about them last night) and I said that their syllabus was quite interesting because they did not separate the clinical and pre-clinical phase but integrated both during all 5 years of studies. Then they asked "Why is that interesting?". I'm not writing my answer here, so start thinking! :) Then the must-have questions; ethical questions. If my memory serves me right, one of the questions was about an elderly man who had stage-4 cancer and based on past cases, he would have approximately 2 weeks to live. His family were waiting outside but the old man asked you (me) to keep it secret. Leaving his room, his son/daughter (can't remember) asked about his father's illness. What would you do? HINT: Read about doctor-patient confidentiality ethic. After a few follow up questions, they stopped and asked if I have any questions to ask. Usually I won't have any question but for NUMed, I wanted to know about their student support services. Then I was dismissed.

The interview was more like a relaxed conversation rather than just questions being thrown in your face. The interviewer was even making jokes, so relax and just do some digging about medicine which I suppose you've already done that when you made the decision to be a medical doctor.

And... for Perdana University, it would be in another post because this one is has been far too long of an essay.

To be continued...

My applications; REJECTED

You know it's a humbling process when you don't even get an interview and rejected.
It might be because of my not so-high-UKCAT score when compared to others or maybe it's because of my not so touching personal statement. Whichever it might be, I don't have any regrets. I chose A Level and now, I can continue my studies locally and I can say I've tried my best but there are others who are better than me to fill in those such competitive spots.

I got lots and lots of precious new experiences that have help shaped a more mature me.
I  have realized that my parents are awesome and they'll support me no matter what.
My aunts and uncles are also super cool, giving me advice and words of motivation.

For all those bursary students who have applied and going to apply for the critical courses according to the list provided by JPA, know this. You guys are awesome because you have the courage to try. Even if you(me) fail, it's never the end of the world. Maybe going overseas is not good for you and we have to try and work harder and make those who rejected us pay for it. MUAHAHA.

Right now, I'm working on my applications to local universities. I got an offer from MAHSA for BDS but unfortunately because I kinda didn't understand what a provisional offer is and waited for the early April to ask about the offer during their open day, they told me that all the places are full and the offer is withdrawn WTH! So, today I'm waiting whether I will be called for USM interview or not. If not, well... I guess I'll go for my second choice.(Medic)

p/s: don't ask me why there are only 3 choices for dentistry there when I can apply to four. And if you want to ask anything or share something. Feel free to email me :) mierashida@yahoo.com.my

Till then, Assalamualaikum.

My List

Because I'm currently doing nothing at home and not generating any kinds of income, I shall list the things I should do before entering a degree life.

1. IELTS
I'm done with it. Alhamdulillah, thank God, for the unexpected good results I've got. :D

2.Learn to play guitar
Yeahh, I know this is something cliché but hey, no harm in gaining new skills and because I have an awesome Paklong who gave me a guitar, I should put efforts into mastering it.

3.Get my driving license
Most people I know have already gotten their license so I should have mine and have the ease to go anywhere.

4.Travelling
This one is kinda hard. It requires money which I don't have that's why the next thing came up.

5.Working
Being unemployed and not a student sucks. I should start working now. My online surveys are too slow of an income.

What else....
Maybe I'll update this list later

A level. DONE

  It was frightening, that day. 24th January 2014. I wasn't feeling anything the day before but nearing to 2.00pm, I was wrecked. My hands won't stop shaking and the time seems to past excruciatingly slow. Right on 2.00pm, I refreshed my page on the CIE Directs and voilà! MY RESULTS!!

  

  It wasn't perfect, the results, but I was so happy and glad that I didn't get B for my Maths. Alhamdulillah. Though my mood was spoiled due to some reasons, it was compensated by parents who brought me to Pizza Hut for a 'celebration'. Yeah, we go to these kinds of restaurants mostly for special occasions.

  Now that my results was out, I can concentrate on my upcoming IELTS exam. I need to get 7 and I have to aim for the band 8 (in case you didn't know, 9 is the highest). No harm in aiming higher right? I think I can manage the listening and reading well, I'm just a bit(a big fat lie!!) nervous for the speaking and writing mostly, the former especially. As my 2-weeks-IELTS-prep-class told me, most Asians are better at receptive language than the productive ones. Yep I'm definitely an Asian. 

  Putting aside IELTS for a while and I'll be talking about my future plans(heh). Now that Manchester has rejected me(WITHOUT AN INTERVIEW) I am in dire need of plan B or C or D. Though this is nothing new(change of plan) in my life, it's still disappointing. A new level of respect for those who did their MBBS or BDS at the UK.

  Now over with my whining session, I'll just continue my IELTS practices. What else.

Till then, Assalamualaikum.

  

Nervous

Have you ever feel like sleeping is wasting your time and you need to wake up and continue to study and study and study. Luckily, although I have that kind of feelings all the time, I have never had the strength to do it. Huh. Now that I've done with paper 33 CIE Mathematics, all the motivations that I had before seems to vanished. A week to go for the next paper. AHHH. Okay, I better start to study now.

AS? DONE!

A month of waiting and it's done. Alhamdulillah, I'm really glad that it's done but I am also very nervous for the outcome. Insyaa Allah I have done my best and just praying for the results. Next sem it will be the A2, better go and prepare for now.till then, Assalamualaikum.

KPM Bursary holder I am.

'For this year(2012), all SPM leavers that get 9A+ and above will automatically get Bursary by the government through KPM'

That's an awfully good news. But the downside of it is that there are no more JPA scholarship for SPM leavers, EXCEPT for engineering(I want to be a dentist, if you're curious).

Well, I am NOT saying that studying in public university is anything worse but the mentality of studying overseas for degree has been carved, painted, screwed, pasted in my childish mind from (I think) kindergarten so when there is an opportunity laying in front of me, NO way I'm going to lose it. Although that means I have to give up my offered place in AsasiPintar, UKM (my dream foundation programme for public university).

So, here I am in INTI International University taking 18 months CIE A level programme with subject combination of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. I purposely take the 18 months programme because, hey we will never know what will happen in the future so the faster the better.

Someone wise(not really) told me before A level is really just studying past years papers. Well, I kinda half agree with that. Just finished my AS (except for paper 1) and yes, past years do help (A LOT) but as my lecturers always said those CIE people are creative in preparing question(hell yes!) you still need to be aware of the techniques and some other secret ingredients to answer the questions.

About the bursary programme, we the lab-rat batch aka the 'pioneer batch' there are still lots of things that are not clear especially about the degree programme's scholarship by JPA and some other small(medium if i can say) things such as the IELTS fees, university application fees, and the list of universities provided by JPA(ridiculous list, I say).

Nonetheless, I am truly grateful for the Bursary as going to private universities only comes in my dreams but it is now my reality and I will have to struggle(insyaa Allah), for the upcoming degree programme, the same as my other colleagues  in the pre-university programme.

Till then, Assalamualaikum. :)