Registered  members with 100+ posts do not see Ads

2015 Auckland Entry Scores and Offers

Status
Not open for further replies.

flower

Member
Core GPA: 8.75
UMAT: 56th percentile
Interview offer: Yes
OLY1/Graduate Entry: Graduate (BBmedSc at VUW)
MAPAS: No
Rural: No
Med offer: Yes :D:):D

I've been lurking in and around this forum for a while, thought I'd contribute :)
hi. I was a first year this year and didn't get in but what was it like studying biomed at VUW/did u always plan on med?
 

Trithorax

Lurker
Hey flower
hi. I was a first year this year and didn't get in but what was it like studying biomed at VUW/did u always plan on med?

Hi Flower,
When I applied to VUW from high school I had never done any biology and intended to see how it went - hoping to get a career in research in medical science.
There are three specialisations you can choose from: molecular pathology, human genetics, and molecular pharmacology. The programme is such that you do roughly the same papers until third year. I ended up double majoring in Path and genetics.
I'm not sure if this is the case in Otago/Auckland but I found Vic's biomed programme had a real research focus to it - especially the genetics and molecular bio aspect which involves a lot of literature analysis.

I thoroughly enjoyed Biomedical science and to answer your first question, it wasn't until the very end of first year/start of second year that I realised I wanted to get into medicine - but I had a number of backup options if this didn't work out.

Hope this helps. Is there anything specific you want to know?
 

flower

Member
Hey flower


Hi Flower,
When I applied to VUW from high school I had never done any biology and intended to see how it went - hoping to get a career in research in medical science.
There are three specialisations you can choose from: molecular pathology, human genetics, and molecular pharmacology. The programme is such that you do roughly the same papers until third year. I ended up double majoring in Path and genetics.
I'm not sure if this is the case in Otago/Auckland but I found Vic's biomed programme had a real research focus to it - especially the genetics and molecular bio aspect which involves a lot of literature analysis.

I thoroughly enjoyed Biomedical science and to answer your first question, it wasn't until the very end of first year/start of second year that I realised I wanted to get into medicine - but I had a number of backup options if this didn't work out.

Hope this helps. Is there anything specific you want to know?
thanks for such a thorough response. Was it hard maintaining high grades throughout your study/ what is the workload like?
 

flower

Member
thanks for such a thorough response. Was it hard maintaining high grades throughout your study/ what is the workload like?
+ thats pretty awesome that you did no biology and then decided to do it a uni. You must pick things up easily
 

DrFlower

Trainee Intern
Any tips on keeping GPA up in 2nd and 3rd year? Would greatly appreciate it!
Hi Littlehelper,
This ended up being longer than I thought- I hope it helps!

I think it comes down to being dedicated and having an aim of succeeding (not just for getting into med school) but my aim was to keep my academic transcript 'pretty', even after 1st semester I had 7 papers done ( 2 summer school, 5 in S1) I still worked hard to keep my grades when I all I needed to graduate was a bare minimum (pass). Just try to set a goal you know you can achieve and work hard for it. Even if it takes forgetting about social life (its just a mere 2 years anyway) and if you don't party for (8 months in 2 years, the world is not going to end, trust me its more fulfilling and rewarding to get good grade than you party). I think just set a goal and work your best. Another thing may be part of this is you have to be patient with yourself, sometimes you get good grade and sometimes bad but thats life (like internals, don't be disheartened, internals count for less so put in you extra 110% in the finals and you should be fine).

2. Trust me I make NO notes- I study directly from slides, perhaps because they are colourful ( I never print them- because I think its hard to manage paper- at least for me). Find a way that suits you and stick to it. writing notes? takes time but if it suits out go for it? flashcards? posters? scribbling while studying? yes I do the scribbling, and heaps of it!

3. Make a timetable and manage your time well- try to finish your assignments a day or 2 before the due date so that you can come back and review it before submitting (cant emphasize this enough)- I usually set a deadline 3-4 days before its due (usually the weekend before the actual date)-you don't have to, but I like being organised and done with things.

4. Make sure you study from day 1..WHAT? yes go over every lecture within 24 hours (just for 10-30 mins). Trust me you will remember the stuff forever and would take much less time to revise if you did it a week or two later. And then review it in the weekend. Two- four weeks before finals start the real studying! most of the stuff you will already know by no, like 70% if you have been doing the above, just fresh up your mind with them and a week before, learn the details. Coz they matter! Especially in essays, for e.g in immunology I would learn the cytokines released by specific cells and other such details.

5. Textbook reading are there for a reason- read them asap after the lecture- you don't have to memorise it, it will just help you understand the stuff really well. Go to the relevant figures (I love figures in textbooks)- they are a mini summary of the stuff so learn if they are relevant- its easier to remember the process with figs than a whole block of text. You don't have to read everything and definitely not to buy all those expensive books- they EXIST in the science library or somewhere or get a pdf version. I kind of skim them again a day or two before the final exam so that I can reference them in the essay and perhaps show that I have done the reading? maybe? I don't know!

6. There are always clues in the lectures of what is likely to be the essay questions- predict them- but HOW? Well, when you are in the lecture, if you hear something like "make sure you learn this" or anything along those lines, I would suspect it or perhaps "exam" word anywhere is a potential clue. Also look for these words in lab intros and conclusions!

7. If you think you don't understand something, be it APC interaction with T cells or what bones are involved in the knee joint, make sure you ask!Your classmate, lab partner, Dems or lecturers! ask anyone and the sooner the better! Or Google it, Youtube it, whatever, but make sure you learn it and don't leave it to last minute to ask someone at the gate for the exam room (I know a bit exaggeration but it happens a lot)

8. Be prepared and have confidence in your preparation- I know this may be a bit of arrogance, but just don't talk to anyone outside the exam room, it freaks me out when people ask their mates what is the biggest sesamoid outside the functional Anat exam... when I know the answer or don't I feel like I'm getting confused and that I don't know stuff... Trust me you know it, its just fear.. try to separate yourself and stand in the corner and think about your best holiday you had, or getting A+ on every exam you do. Just think of something else forget about others there! Just calm yourself down ' tell yourself- you know it, it will all come out when you will spit on the paper and ace it, God willing'

9. Pray- pray, despite which religion you are from- ask for help from your Creator and one who plans your life before you do.

10. Don't become arrogant after you get good marks ;) (just joking- but be down to Earth)
11. All the best for your future (make sure you have a goal and work for it!)
 
Last edited:
Hi Littlehelper,
This ended up being longer than I thought- I hope it helps!

I think it comes down to being dedicated and having an aim of succeeding (not just for getting into med school) but my aim was to keep my academic transcript 'pretty', even after 1st semester I had 7 papers done ( 2 summer school, 5 in S1) I still worked hard to keep my grades when I all I needed to graduate was a bare minimum (pass). Just try to set a goal you know you can achieve and work hard for it. Even if it takes forgetting about social life (its just a mere 2 years anyway) and if you don't party for (8 months in 2 years, the world is not going to end, trust me its more fulfilling and rewarding to get good grade than you party). I think just set a goal and work your best. Another thing may be part of this is you have to be patient with yourself, sometimes you get good grade and sometimes bad but thats life (like internals, don't be disheartened, internals count for less so put in you extra 110% in the finals and you should be fine).

2. Trust me I make NO notes- I study directly from slides, perhaps because they are colourful ( I never print them- because I think its hard to manage paper- at least for me). Find a way that suits you and stick to it. writing notes? takes time but if it suits out go for it? flashcards? posters? scribbling while studying? yes I do the scribbling, and heaps of it!

3. Make a timetable and manage your time well- try to finish your assignments a day or 2 before the due date so that you can come back and review it before submitting (cant emphasize this enough)- I usually set a deadline 3-4 days before its due (usually the weekend before the actual date)-you don't have to, but I like being organised and done with things.

4. Make sure you study from day 1..WHAT? yes go over every lecture within 24 hours (just for 10-30 mins). Trust me you will remember the stuff forever and would take much less time to revise if you did it a week or two later. And then review it in the weekend. Two- four weeks before finals start the real studying! most of the stuff you will already know by no, like 70% if you have been doing the above, just fresh up your mind with them and a week before, learn the details. Coz they matter! Especially in essays, for e.g in immunology I would learn the cytokines released by specific cells and other such details.

5. Textbook reading are there for a reason- read them asap after the lecture- you don't have to memorise it, it will just help you understand the stuff really well. Go to the relevant figures (I love figures in textbooks)- they are a mini summary of the stuff so learn if they are relevant- its easier to remember the process with figs than a whole block of text. You don't have to read everything and definitely not to buy all those expensive books- they EXIST in the science library or somewhere or get a pdf version. I kind of skim them again a day or two before the final exam so that I can reference them in the essay and perhaps show that I have done the reading? maybe? I don't know!

6. There are always clues in the lectures of what is likely to be the essay questions- predict them- but HOW? Well, when you are in the lecture, if you hear something like "make sure you learn this" or anything along those lines, I would suspect it or perhaps "exam" word anywhere is a potential clue. Also look for these words in lab intros and conclusions!

7. If you think you don't understand something, be it APC interaction with T cells or what bones are involved in the knee joint, make sure you ask!Your classmate, lab partner, Dems or lecturers! ask anyone and the sooner the better! Or Google it, Youtube it, whatever, but make sure you learn it and don't leave it to last minute to ask someone at the gate for the exam room (I know a bit exaggeration but it happens a lot)

8. Be prepared and have confidence in your preparation- I know this may be a bit of arrogance, but just don't talk to anyone outside the exam room, it freaks me out when people ask their mates what is the biggest sesamoid outside the functional Anat exam... when I know the answer or don't I feel like I'm getting confused and that I don't know stuff... Trust me you know it, its just fear.. try to separate yourself and stand in the corner and think about your best holiday you had, or getting A+ on every exam you do. Just think of something else forget about others there! Just calm yourself down ' tell yourself- you know it, it will all come out when you will spit on the paper and ace it, God willing'

9. Pray- pray, despite which religion you are from- ask for help from your Creator and one who plans your life before you do.

10. Don't become arrogant after you get good marks ;) (just joking- but be down to Earth)
11. All the best for your future (make sure you have a goal and work for it!)


Thanks for your reply! I will defs keep these tips fresh in my mind. I am doing summer school in 2016, 2 papers, one being stats the other is my gen ed. I have been warned by a prof. to be aware of the workload for summer school; do you think stats and a gen ed paper is manageable?

I'm still learning about the best style of study for me; currently its more of making revision and summary notes with all details as I go through the sem and then refresh the notes as exams/tests are coming up.

Keep us updated on the workload of Med!

x
A
 

engapol

Regular Member
Hi Littlehelper,
This ended up being longer than I thought- I hope it helps!

I think it comes down to being dedicated and having an aim of succeeding (not just for getting into med school) but my aim was to keep my academic transcript 'pretty', even after 1st semester I had 7 papers done ( 2 summer school, 5 in S1) I still worked hard to keep my grades when I all I needed to graduate was a bare minimum (pass). Just try to set a goal you know you can achieve and work hard for it. Even if it takes forgetting about social life (its just a mere 2 years anyway) and if you don't party for (8 months in 2 years, the world is not going to end, trust me its more fulfilling and rewarding to get good grade than you party). I think just set a goal and work your best. Another thing may be part of this is you have to be patient with yourself, sometimes you get good grade and sometimes bad but thats life (like internals, don't be disheartened, internals count for less so put in you extra 110% in the finals and you should be fine).

2. Trust me I make NO notes- I study directly from slides, perhaps because they are colourful ( I never print them- because I think its hard to manage paper- at least for me). Find a way that suits you and stick to it. writing notes? takes time but if it suits out go for it? flashcards? posters? scribbling while studying? yes I do the scribbling, and heaps of it!

3. Make a timetable and manage your time well- try to finish your assignments a day or 2 before the due date so that you can come back and review it before submitting (cant emphasize this enough)- I usually set a deadline 3-4 days before its due (usually the weekend before the actual date)-you don't have to, but I like being organised and done with things.

4. Make sure you study from day 1..WHAT? yes go over every lecture within 24 hours (just for 10-30 mins). Trust me you will remember the stuff forever and would take much less time to revise if you did it a week or two later. And then review it in the weekend. Two- four weeks before finals start the real studying! most of the stuff you will already know by no, like 70% if you have been doing the above, just fresh up your mind with them and a week before, learn the details. Coz they matter! Especially in essays, for e.g in immunology I would learn the cytokines released by specific cells and other such details.

5. Textbook reading are there for a reason- read them asap after the lecture- you don't have to memorise it, it will just help you understand the stuff really well. Go to the relevant figures (I love figures in textbooks)- they are a mini summary of the stuff so learn if they are relevant- its easier to remember the process with figs than a whole block of text. You don't have to read everything and definitely not to buy all those expensive books- they EXIST in the science library or somewhere or get a pdf version. I kind of skim them again a day or two before the final exam so that I can reference them in the essay and perhaps show that I have done the reading? maybe? I don't know!

6. There are always clues in the lectures of what is likely to be the essay questions- predict them- but HOW? Well, when you are in the lecture, if you hear something like "make sure you learn this" or anything along those lines, I would suspect it or perhaps "exam" word anywhere is a potential clue. Also look for these words in lab intros and conclusions!

7. If you think you don't understand something, be it APC interaction with T cells or what bones are involved in the knee joint, make sure you ask!Your classmate, lab partner, Dems or lecturers! ask anyone and the sooner the better! Or Google it, Youtube it, whatever, but make sure you learn it and don't leave it to last minute to ask someone at the gate for the exam room (I know a bit exaggeration but it happens a lot)

8. Be prepared and have confidence in your preparation- I know this may be a bit of arrogance, but just don't talk to anyone outside the exam room, it freaks me out when people ask their mates what is the biggest sesamoid outside the functional Anat exam... when I know the answer or don't I feel like I'm getting confused and that I don't know stuff... Trust me you know it, its just fear.. try to separate yourself and stand in the corner and think about your best holiday you had, or getting A+ on every exam you do. Just think of something else forget about others there! Just calm yourself down ' tell yourself- you know it, it will all come out when you will spit on the paper and ace it, God willing'

9. Pray- pray, despite which religion you are from- ask for help from your Creator and one who plans your life before you do.

10. Don't become arrogant after you get good marks ;) (just joking- but be down to Earth)
11. All the best for your future (make sure you have a goal and work for it!)

You earnt med, that's insane, getting a 9.0 GPA over 2 years. And I thought getting 9.0 over the 4 core papers in OLY1 was superhuman already.
 

engapol

Regular Member
Thanks engapol! I know this is gonna give part of my identity but hey, another fact, I finished my degree in 2 years in BiomedSci (hehehe)
All the best, Did you get offered?

Nah, I'm going to finish my BSc as well, I thought I did my best in OLY1 but I guess I'll have to work even harder to get a similar GPA...and make sure the interview doesn't sink me twice.
 

Registered  members with 100+ posts do not see Ads

DrFlower

Trainee Intern
Hey Littlehelper,
I haven't done either of those papers. But don't let anyone tell you that you cant do it! Because if there is in you somewhere that feels you can, then go for it. When I told them I want to finish my degree in 2 years (I did y first year overseas, which counted for nothing, just 1 cross credited paper), I was told by 3 different academics ppl that it was impossible! But it worked out. I took it more of a challenge that now I had another purpose of studying and making it come true. When I applied to do a 3rd year paper in first semester at Otago, they said no... I told them to please let me, after all If I fail, its gonna be my loss anyway. So eventually they approved it and I did PATH300 in my 1st sems with other HSFY papers (because the paper I was able to cross credit was a prereq that I met, if you're wondering how I could do 300 witout prereq). I would suggest, do as best as you can and put in your effort... you will be fine. Its manageable as far asI think. ost of the time in the SS you are 'free'. I dontt think you have labs for any of those papers, so you should have lotsa time on your hand for doing stats practice questions and practising essays. oh in the last post i should have included doing exam papers as well. Have look at them after every module, to see what sort of questions are asked for that module and prepare accordingly. Are you at Otago?
 
Last edited:

DrFlower

Trainee Intern
Hey engapol,
Dont worry, evrything happpens for a reason. Its a blessing in disguise, you will never regret it! trust me. The day you graduate you will feel it was worth it. My prayers and wishes are with you :)
 

mant015

Member
Hey engapol,
Dont worry, evrything happpens for a reason. Its a blessing in disguise, you will never regret it! trust me. The day you graduate you will feel it was worth it. My prayers and wishes are with you :)

Which med school did u get into DrFlower? awesome!
 

Registered  members with 100+ posts do not see Ads

Status
Not open for further replies.

Registered  members with 100+ posts do not see Ads

Top