Practice Interview Question Thread

[Crow]

Wait guys do you get questions like this in interviews?

Please select one of the following words and explain it in a way that could be understood by someone without a science background. Use an every day example as part of your explanation.

pH, gene or momentum

Aren't they not supposed to test prior science knowledge?

That’s a past University of Melbourne graduate entry question. I included some like that for the graduate entry applicants on MSO, but don’t fret for undergrad entry! You’ll be given the info you need to answer questions like that.

 

[dotwingz]

In my (undergrad interview) experience they typically give you a blurb about the scientific principle and get you to explain that.

 

[ucatboy]

- The prompt says everyone is keen to impress the professor though. Regardless how small this course is, the prompt suggests that this is important for a lot of the students and so I would think it's important to bring this up with the professor.

Just a small comment on a comment on an interview response (lmao), I don't think this consideration is very relevant to the situation at hand. I would argue that the "everyone trying to impress the professor since it's the first week" part is a bit of a distractor, to put interviewees' off the key themes: (healthy) interpersonal relationships and academic dishonesty. By making a big fuss out of making sure the professor knows that you're actually the brains behind her answer and therefore should have all of his compliments redirected towards you, you may come across as being complicit/willingly taking part in this immature dick measuring contest, doing whatever it takes to make sure the professor knows you're smart. In a situation like this, you may have to swallow a bit of your self-pride and let it go - it's only the 3rd day of uni after all and it's too soon to be burning bridges with 11% of your cohort lmao.

By ignoring this distracting piece of information and instead focusing on how you'll resolve the situation between you and your classmate, you demonstrate to the interviewer a certain level of maturity and restraint from playing this "game".

 

[DrDrLMG!]

In my (undergrad interview) experience they typically give you a blurb about the scientific principle and get you to explain that.

Yes, without veering too close to the NDA, I have also done something along these lines.

 

[kotoloper]

Hi guys, sorry to be pushy but my last two attempts seem to have gone over everyone's heads; I understand that everyone's busy but given that posts after mine have received quick feedback I'm just a little confused and concerned that this will keep happening! Please don't think I'm crying for attention or anything - I just hope that my future attempts will attract at least a few lines of feedback. I appreciate everyone's time!

 

[ucatboy]

Hi all, trials are finally over (phew)! I wasn't sure how much to write for this one - surely this one question wouldn't take up a whole 8 minutes (would it?). I hope I'm improving honestly, but only continued practice will tell. I would, as always, greatly appreciate any feedback at all!

A third year medical student posts negative remarks about a consultant at the hospital on a private group on Facebook. Is this okay? Does it matter that the group was private? What should have the student done?

Making negative remarks about any individual is not okay, as this can hurt feelings and damage relationships and perceptions. Social media makes it easy for people to hide behind screens and vent out frustrations without fully considering the impact these remarks will have on others, and this can encourage a sense of ease surrounding the making of these remarks. Although the group being private means that the remarks were not seen by an extended range of people, this does not negate the fact the remarks were made public and were negatively aimed at an individual. This can encourage the spread of rumours and gossip, which can have a adverse effect on both the consultant and the hospital’s reputation. Furthermore, if majority of the group were medical students who are active within the hospital and know the consultant, these remarks can damage their perception and relationship with the consultant, which could potentially impact their learning with the consultant and foster an uncomfortable environment. The student should have instead reflected on what concerns they had with the consultant, and then communicated these concerns directly with the consultant in a respectful and tactful way if the concerns were valid and could act as criticism. In this way, their relationship can benefit from the open communication, and each individual can understand the other’s point of view and learn from the experience.

Really good response, don't forget to add to your answer to the privacy follow-up question that just because a group is private, doesn't mean chats can't be leaked/shared with the public - this is something that should always be mentioned whenever a question asks you whether a private group makes a difference (TL;DR: it doesn't really, the risk is always there).

For your final answer detailing the student's suggested response, don't forget to explore alternative, equally mature ways of voicing your concerns. The medical "hierarchy" may discourage many students from directly taking up their concerns with someone who is more senior to them, so in that case you may want to suggest some other ways of making yourself heard.

 

[kotoloper]

Really good response, don't forget to add to your answer to the privacy follow-up question that just because a group is private, doesn't mean chats can't be leaked/shared with the public - this is something that should always be mentioned whenever a question asks you whether a private group makes a difference (TL;DR: it doesn't really, the risk is always there).

For your final answer detailing the student's suggested response, don't forget to explore alternative, equally mature ways of voicing your concerns. The medical "hierarchy" may discourage many students from directly taking up their concerns with someone who is more senior to them, so in that case you may want to suggest some other ways of making yourself heard.

Thank you so much! Will definitely take these other factors into consideration. Also as a side-note, when I'm typing these responses I jump all over the place - I add stuff to the beginning when I'm halfway through because I suddenly thought of it and it fit better earlier in the response, etc. I'll probably move onto timed attempts soon which will help me practice getting my thoughts in order promptly, but any tips on how to structure the response to prevent it from being too chaotic?

 

[threefivetwo]

Disclaimer: I'm a year 12 student so take what I say with a grain of salt.
First of all, do we need this many considerations?

That's fine! Everyone starts in the same position.
My intent was to signpost my answer to the interviewer and demonstrate that I understand all of the potential considerations in the question, which in turn demonstrates lateral thinking (looking at the problem from all perspectives). It's possible that you wouldn't need that much, but I reckon it'd be good to walk through those considerations mentally as practice for identifying nuances in questions that may change your answer

Why can't you just catch her on the way out and tell her then (ensuring no one overhears of course)? The coffee comes across as a bit much imo

Many people discussed this and I personally agree. It was my intention to soften the blow, but sometimes it's better to be direct so the intent doesn't come off as malevolent - I'll adjust this in future responses

I think the issue at hand is her taking credit for literally ALL of your work.

I feel that there is nuance in the question. This is true, but is it really worth such a severe response? It's only a summary at the end of the day, and while it is academic dishonesty there are bigger things to worry about. My opinion (and by extent personality) is that it's better to take the kinder approach and let it go one time, then escalate if it happens again. She has her own issues to contend with, something that I could have enquired about as a concerned classmate (and didn't address).

Here are examples of bad and exemplar responses from the source:

Spoiler: Answer

BAD
This person has essentially plagiarized by offering my ideas as her own. Since my supervisor is also the professor, I definitely want her to know that such impressive work is actually mine. I would immediately raise my hand again to draw the professor’s attention, and when called upon, I would expose my classmate as intellectually dishonest (lack of maturity, fostering conflict, inappropriate response). It is wrong for her to get credit when she didn’t do any work, and everyone in the class should be aware of her wrongdoing, so that they can protect their own work, in the event that she approaches any other students for such assistance (judgmental, assumptions around intention). Additionally, I want my supervisor to see that I am dedicated to academic integrity, and that I’m willing to call out those who violate this foundation of scholarly work (overly prideful, self-centered).
GOOD
In this scenario, a classmate has claimed my reading summary as her own, after she approached me before class for help understanding the day’s readings, which she had not completed due to a personal emergency. The professor of the course is also my supervisor, and all 10 students in the course are vying for the professor’s favor (recap). This is a complicated ethical issue, and while feeling upset about this is a normal reaction, I want to ensure that I’m handling the situation in a way that is mature and appropriate, balancing my own needs with those of my classmate and with those of our broader classroom community (most pressing issue, identifying affected parties). There are two competing issues here: academic integrity and the needs of a fellow student in distress (problem/value identification). In the immediate context of the class, I would refrain from disrupting the conversation or calling out my classmate in front of others. I’ve put the effort into doing the readings, and there will be plenty of opportunities in the next 2 hours of class time to impress my supervisor and contribute meaningfully to the conversation. I know from the professor’s reaction that my summary was top-notch, so that should give me the confidence needed to express further insights or observations during class discussion. At the end of the class, I would attempt to get my classmate’s attention and ask if I could speak further with her. I would find a private place for us to speak, and I would address her in a calm, non-confrontational manner (demonstrating tone and approach). I would begin by telling her that I sympathize with her situation – surely all students have been in a situation in which urgent personal matters got in the way of completing a course reading, and I’m happy to support my colleagues and to foster an ethic of sharing in academia (empathy). I would then express my confusion over her actions in class and ask why she presented my ideas as her own, particularly when she hadn’t actually done the reading herself (information gathering). I would listen attentively and actively to her explanation. I would remind her that what she did would be considered a violation of academic integrity – plagiarism – and emphasize that her own learning experience is disrupted by not engaging the material herself (directly and indirectly involved parties – herself, myself, and the broader academic community). I would request that she consider confessing her actions to the professor; however, for the time being, I would not personally escalate the issue. It’s entirely likely that she was simply overwhelmed by the personal issues she’s facing and that she was swept up in her desire to impress the professor. So long as this didn’t happen again, I would keep this to myself and focus on putting together the best work possible for the course. If, however, I came to learn that she had done something like this again, then I would consider bringing this to the attention of the professor. (If/then, solutions)
DISCUSSION
In this scenario, you need to balance your sense of justice and fairness with your empathy for others, while avoiding acting purely
on self-interest. In the “BAD” response, the student thinks only of their own self, and makes a bad situation worse for an already struggling and overwhelmed peer. While dedication to academic integrity is laudable, this should be turned into a learning opportunity for the other student, not an opportunity to get ahead by putting someone else down. In the “GOOD” response, the student is empathetic and tries to understand why her colleague has done this. She tries to help her fellow student understand why this behavior is inappropriate and provides room for her to do better in the future. As well, the student recognizes the quality of the work she’s put in, and uses this to boost her confidence, rather than doing so by turning her back on a classmate in need.

 

[JL538]

Do you mind sharing the resource threefivetwo? Unless its a paid one or something.

 

[threefivetwo]

Do you mind sharing the resource threefivetwo? Unless its a paid one or something.

It is unfortunately paid :/

 

[JL538]

All good!

 

[Sokka]

Just a small comment on a comment on an interview response (lmao), I don't think this consideration is very relevant to the situation at hand. I would argue that the "everyone trying to impress the professor since it's the first week" part is a bit of a distractor, to put interviewees' off the key themes: (healthy) interpersonal relationships and academic dishonesty. By making a big fuss out of making sure the professor knows that you're actually the brains behind her answer and therefore should have all of his compliments redirected towards you, you may come across as being complicit/willingly taking part in this immature dick measuring contest, doing whatever it takes to make sure the professor knows you're smart. In a situation like this, you may have to swallow a bit of your self-pride and let it go - it's only the 3rd day of uni after all and it's too soon to be burning bridges with 11% of your cohort lmao.

By ignoring this distracting piece of information and instead focusing on how you'll resolve the situation between you and your classmate, you demonstrate to the interviewer a certain level of maturity and restraint from playing this "game".

Yeah looking back I think I may have treated this as a “cheating on a test” type prompt, and so my responses were a bit extreme. I’ll know next time to think critically about each prompt rather than to use bits from other prompts.
I really liked this discussion, I’ve learnt a lot

 

[Sokka]

threefivetwo (I thought I quoted, mb mb)
Yep your response is super similar to the “good” response, so good job on doing so well early on.
(this is a question for everyone)
The thing is when I’ve tried recording myself to answer prompts, i can imagine this being really one sided where I’ll be talking for literally 8 minutes straight. In my experience with interviews they’re more conversation-like, and I’m super comfortable with this. However, I’m starting to learn that these ethical MMI prompts are less like a conversation but more of a lecture/explanation. Am I interpreting this interview correctly?

 

[watermelona]

Hi guys! I think this question has been done a few times but here's my take on it. Any feedback at all would, as always, be appreciated!

You are close friends with a Joan (a mother of five children) whose husband is an entrepreneur who is always travelling. You meet Joan for coffee one day and you notice she is quite withdrawn and upset. Her 18 month old infant has recently been admitted into hospital for measles and is currently in a stable condition. She tells you that she was so busy at home, that she forgot to get him vaccinated. She feels extremely guilty and blames herself for her oversight.

1. What would you suggest to her as a friend?
2. Your friend asks you not to tell her husband. However, the husband suspects something and has called you. What do you say?
3. Your friend’s husband finds out what has happened and he becomes verbally abusive. Their relationship becomes strained. Your friend is asking for your advice.

1. I would first reassure Joan and reiterate that her son is now in a stable condition. However, this is quite a severe error which could have led to much worse scenarios for her son’s health, especially as an infant who is more vulnerable to disease due to an underdeveloped immune system. I would comfort Joan, as we all make mistakes, but emphasis to her the importance of acknowledging and correcting them. I would gently talk through the factors leading up to the situation –as she says she was so busy at home and thus forgot to vaccinate, I would explore methods on how to manage workload and remember to prioritise her children’s health. This could be as simple as writing to-do lists; the aim is to address her mistake and ensure that this oversight does not happen again. Her busyness at home can also suggest a need for assistance; as she is a mother of five and her husband is often not at home, it is understandable that she can get overwhelmed. As such, I would offer my assistance as a friend to help out when needed and be there for emotional aid. I would also encourage Joan to check her son’s medical records and history to ensure that all other vaccinations are up to date and that there were no oversights in the past. This goes for her four other children; I would suggest that she ensure all children have received the necessary vaccinations for their health.

2. I would break the trust between us if I tell her husband when she has specifically asked me not to. I understand his concern, as they are his children too, but I need to respect my friend’s wishes here and ideally not be involved as this is a family issue. However, a lack of communication can be a factor in increasing unhealthy tension in a relationship, and as such as I would encourage the two to talk together about the issue. If needed, my role would simply be as a mediator; I would try to minimise my involvement as this is really between Joan and her husband.

3. Verbal abuse should not be condoned in any circumstance, and this can be a pre-warning to escalating domestic violence. I understand that the husband would reasonably be upset with the situation, but there are a number of healthy ways he could’ve addressed the issue, such as talking with Joan on how to avoid this happening again in the future. I would encourage Joan to try and initiate a peaceful conversation with her husband, but as he has become verbally abusive this may not be possible. Verbal abuse can take a significant toll on someone’s mental health, so I would also make sure that Joan is not suffering mentally and if so, recommend talking to a therapist individually. I would also suggest couple counselling or therapy to delve into the issues in the family dynamic and try to address the husband’s abusive behaviour before it escalates into extreme verbal and physical abuse. Victims of domestic violence are often reluctant to speak up due to things such as fear or shame, and I would emphasise to Joan that in no situation this abuse can be condoned, and that it is paramount to stop the abuse and either salvage the relationship, or possibly leave the toxic relationship. I would also remind Joan of the numerous hotlines and organisations available for victims of domestic violence, such as 1800 Respect and White Ribbon to ensure that she knows of the help available to her.

(btw im just a uni student preparing for interviews for the first time)

1. I think that its good that u addressed that she made an error and talked about ways to manage her workload but at time I think that at the time where her infant is in hospital, more emotional support over management for the future might be more helpful for joan here as what has happened has happened and she obviously feels very guilty about it. This could be through words of comfort/reminding her of how strong she is with all her responsibility. I do think the managements strategies are a good discussion to have with Joan possibly at a later time when her son is in a better state.
2. i approached this q the exact same as u so I agree
3. again I personally would maybe include more emotional support in the advice as well but I really like the suggestions you made for couples counselling, therapy, hotlines to let her know theres help if she needs it

these r just small suggestions, sorry my advice isnt very deep but hope it helps

 

[Crow]

However, I’m starting to learn that these ethical MMI prompts are less like a conversation but more of a lecture/explanation. Am I interpreting this interview correctly?

It honestly depends on the station at hand and the interview style of the university. Generally speaking, you might talk for 1-2 minutes before a follow up question, but questions like this one aren't really a conversation in a standard MMI format (at least not from my own experience). However, if you're interviewing at JCU for example, the "scenario" questions at the end of the panel-style interview are very much like a conversation.

 

[kotoloper]

(btw im just a uni student preparing for interviews for the first time)

1. I think that its good that u addressed that she made an error and talked about ways to manage her workload but at time I think that at the time where her infant is in hospital, more emotional support over management for the future might be more helpful for joan here as what has happened has happened and she obviously feels very guilty about it. This could be through words of comfort/reminding her of how strong she is with all her responsibility. I do think the managements strategies are a good discussion to have with Joan possibly at a later time when her son is in a better state.
2. i approached this q the exact same as u so I agree
3. again I personally would maybe include more emotional support in the advice as well but I really like the suggestions you made for couples counselling, therapy, hotlines to let her know theres help if she needs it

these r just small suggestions, sorry my advice isnt very deep but hope it helps

No suggestions are too small! Thank you so much for your advice, looking back I agree I should've had a broader approach to empathetic approaches so thank you

 

[Sokka]

It honestly depends on the station at hand and the interview style of the university. Generally speaking, you might talk for 1-2 minutes before a follow up question, but questions like this one aren't really a conversation in a standard MMI format (at least not from my own experience). However, if you're interviewing at JCU for example, the "scenario" questions at the end of the panel-style interview are very much like a conversation.

so are you suggesting that for a prompt like this it’s alright to go off for 5 mins?

 

[Crow]

Practice Interview Thread Etiquette

To avoid some users' practice responses being overlooked, we have decided to implement a new system with this thread. Any attempts to questions are not to be posted until the previous post has received feedback. If you are relatively inexperienced with interviews, you do not have to provide official "formal" feedback, but you can preface your post with "Disclaimer: I have not sat an interview before so please take my response with a grain of salt" or something similar. Then, you can share whatever your thoughts were in response to the preceding post, e.g. "You made a good point here that I hadn’t thought of... if I was answering this I’d like to do something similar or do X, Y, Z differently" etc. before posting your own attempt that you want feedback on.

We are implementing this to ensure everyone receives feedback in a fair manner. As a bonus, reading and providing feedback on other's responses is actually one of the best ways to prepare for your own interview!

Senior members (and hopefully whoartthou) will also still endeavour to provide more structured feedback when they are able. The above is not designed to replace that aspect of the thread, but rather to augment it and to create a more collaborative environment between you all!

Thank you all for your cooperation

 

[Crow]

so are you suggesting that for a prompt like this it’s alright to go off for 5 mins?

You'd most likely be cut off after 2 or 3 mins by the interviewer with the follow up question, in my experience.

 

[threefivetwo]

Disclaimer: Second time interviewing, not successful yet, take my advice with a grain of salt

A third year medical student posts negative remarks about a consultant at the hospital on a private group on Facebook. Is this okay? Does it matter that the group was private? What should have the student done?

Making negative remarks about any individual is not okay, as this can hurt feelings and damage relationships and perceptions. Social media makes it easy for people to hide behind screens and vent out frustrations without fully considering the impact these remarks will have on others, and this can encourage a sense of ease surrounding the making of these remarks. Although the group being private means that the remarks were not seen by an extended range of people, this does not negate the fact the remarks were made public and were negatively aimed at an individual. This can encourage the spread of rumours and gossip, which can have a adverse effect on both the consultant and the hospital’s reputation. Furthermore, if majority of the group were medical students who are active within the hospital and know the consultant, these remarks can damage their perception and relationship with the consultant, which could potentially impact their learning with the consultant and foster an uncomfortable environment. The student should have instead reflected on what concerns they had with the consultant, and then communicated these concerns directly with the consultant in a respectful and tactful way if the concerns were valid and could act as criticism. In this way, their relationship can benefit from the open communication, and each individual can understand the other’s point of view and learn from the experience.

Placing your position statement "...not okay", signposting your answer with "Although", "Furthermore", and "instead", and adjective buzzwords such as "relationship", "learning", "reflect", and "respectful" make this an excellent response on its own as it's logical to follow. Exploring multiple alternate possibilities and showing how they arrive back at the same conclusion makes this an outstanding response, as you validate your argument and show the ability to think laterally. I especially love how you talked about the importance of open and tactful communication in a working relationship, and making sure all perspectives are understood. Spot on response - wouldn't have done anything differently.

You are close friends with a Joan (a mother of five children) whose husband is an entrepreneur who is always travelling. You meet Joan for coffee one day and you notice she is quite withdrawn and upset. Her 18 month old infant has recently been admitted into hospital for measles and is currently in a stable condition. She tells you that she was so busy at home, that she forgot to get him vaccinated. She feels extremely guilty and blames herself for her oversight.

1. What would you suggest to her as a friend?
2. Your friend asks you not to tell her husband. However, the husband suspects something and has called you. What do you say?
3. Your friend’s husband finds out what has happened and he becomes verbally abusive. Their relationship becomes strained. Your friend is asking for your advice.

1. I would first reassure Joan and reiterate that her son is now in a stable condition. However, this is quite a severe error which could have led to much worse scenarios for her son’s health, especially as an infant who is more vulnerable to disease due to an underdeveloped immune system. I would comfort Joan, as we all make mistakes, but emphasis to her the importance of acknowledging and correcting them. I would gently talk through the factors leading up to the situation –as she says she was so busy at home and thus forgot to vaccinate, I would explore methods on how to manage workload and remember to prioritise her children’s health. This could be as simple as writing to-do lists; the aim is to address her mistake and ensure that this oversight does not happen again. Her busyness at home can also suggest a need for assistance; as she is a mother of five and her husband is often not at home, it is understandable that she can get overwhelmed. As such, I would offer my assistance as a friend to help out when needed and be there for emotional aid. I would also encourage Joan to check her son’s medical records and history to ensure that all other vaccinations are up to date and that there were no oversights in the past. This goes for her four other children; I would suggest that she ensure all children have received the necessary vaccinations for their health.

2. I would break the trust between us if I tell her husband when she has specifically asked me not to. I understand his concern, as they are his children too, but I need to respect my friend’s wishes here and ideally not be involved as this is a family issue. However, a lack of communication can be a factor in increasing unhealthy tension in a relationship, and as such as I would encourage the two to talk together about the issue. If needed, my role would simply be as a mediator; I would try to minimise my involvement as this is really between Joan and her husband.

3. Verbal abuse should not be condoned in any circumstance, and this can be a pre-warning to escalating domestic violence. I understand that the husband would reasonably be upset with the situation, but there are a number of healthy ways he could’ve addressed the issue, such as talking with Joan on how to avoid this happening again in the future. I would encourage Joan to try and initiate a peaceful conversation with her husband, but as he has become verbally abusive this may not be possible. Verbal abuse can take a significant toll on someone’s mental health, so I would also make sure that Joan is not suffering mentally and if so, recommend talking to a therapist individually. I would also suggest couple counselling or therapy to delve into the issues in the family dynamic and try to address the husband’s abusive behaviour before it escalates into extreme verbal and physical abuse. Victims of domestic violence are often reluctant to speak up due to things such as fear or shame, and I would emphasise to Joan that in no situation this abuse can be condoned, and that it is paramount to stop the abuse and either salvage the relationship, or possibly leave the toxic relationship. I would also remind Joan of the numerous hotlines and organisations available for victims of domestic violence, such as 1800 Respect and White Ribbon to ensure that she knows of the help available to her.

1. Again, an excellent response, but what makes it excellent is that you've picked up the nuance in the prompt that her husband isn't at home hosten. While you've mentioned that it's understandable that she can get overwhelmed, I would have personally made it a point to validate her feelings, but you've covered the 'emotional' part of the response adequately.
2. IMO, you've covered how to respond (quite nicely, and acknowledging your role in the conflict is excellent), but not what you would say. My ideal response to this would provide an example sentence that you would say, such as "I'm unsure as to what happened, but you should talk to Joan to find out.", while acknowledging that the situation is ethically difficult + your role in the situation, but a white lie that may lead to them making steps towards a resolution is better than telling the husband which breaks the trust, saying that you don't know anything which is a 'worse' lie and may make him more angry when he finds out + break trust with both parties, or hanging up on him which technically resolves the issue of having to say anything but is suspicious and would probably lead to him probing further.
I'm curious to hear what people have to say on this one. It's a tough situation where you have to draw the line about what's an ethical response and what isn't, or perhaps I'm overinterpreting it.
3. Good response that covers a. verbal abuse not ok, b. looks at the husband's perspective but explains why it still isn't ok to be verbally abusive, c. the psychological consequences of verbal abuse within a relationship and reasons why victims don't leave, d. resources for seeking help, showing you understand this issue which is prevalent in many communities.
You do acknowledge that it may not be possible to initiate a productive conversation with the husband, but from my limited knowledge it would probably be better to take more decisive action and help Joan and her children seek refuge ASAP, when it is safe and possible to do so, and assist her to your best ability. Victims of abusive relationships often find it hard to recognise the symptoms of being in one and leave the relationship due to gaslighting, manipulation, and other such factors. It is impossible to know whether the abuse will escalate and result in harm to either Joan, the children, or both. I would personally put the focus on making sure she is safe.
The onus is not on Joan to try and fix the relationship - the husband is responsible for his behaviour. In a healthy relationship, the husband would have recognised that the problem is not entirely of Joan's making, but that he also shares responsibility for not carrying some of the household's workload, and made action towards correcting this - working as a team, not sparring from two distant viewpoints.

Again, please take my advice with a huge grain of salt. I'd love to hear other advice too as the questions are quite complicated!