Here are write ups about studying medicine in the University of Adelaide, if you wish to contact the author for specifics, send an email to tjchighed@gmail.com.
Write Up #1
Hi, I'm a Medical Student. 2nd Year. University of Adelaide. I study. I party with friends. I shop. I gym. I am part of the Singapore Association. I performed for the Med Faculty in first year. I'm in a dance group this year. Only thing missing is my wonderful family and a job, which I'm looking for at the moment. Other than that, I love what I do and life is beautiful.
What was the selection process like, rounds of interviews, question types, any essays to write?
I applied through IDP, which is near Orchard. I had to show them my original transcripts, fill up a few forms (I applied for as many universities I could - for Medicine & Physiotherapy) and pay up for the tests I was required to sit for. I had to pay $300 for my PQA test (which is a pre-requisite for Uni of Adelaide) and ISAT (which is a pre-requisite for Uni of Western Aus). I sat both tests. PQA was easier. It had a logical thinking section and a section on decision-making. ISAT had a lot on various subjects - there were questions on Economics, Geography & Literature even.
After the test, I waited for quite a while before I was called for an oral assessment by University of Adelaide. It was one-on-one but the person interviewing me was nice. I was very nervous but tried to be as honest as possible. He asked the standard questions like why I wanted to do medicine (and I told him it was my love for human biology & my liking for interaction with others), what I would consider specialising in (I said paeds/O&G). He also interjected things like "You can't always help people through medicine sometimes" to which I gave an anecdote about my aunt who suffered from cancer and how medicine could not help her live longer but the treatment given by her health carers and the effort they put into making her as comfortable as possible made a difference. I made it known that I understood that it wasn't always the quantity of life but also about the quality of life.
I waited 2 months before I got a call saying I was accepted. I went back to IDP, signed the confirmation forms and made sure I got all the information I needed before leaving for Koh Pangan where I partied to celebrate. Haha.
How can a current applicant best prepare for all this and is there a certain outlook or approach they should take?
I came out of the oral assessment really upset because I thought I could have done much better. I think one just has to be patient, do your best to try and get into the course that you want and leave it to fate. If you're meant to get it, you will.
Would you say there are prerequisites for studying Med in general?
Chemistry is always a must I believe. Unless, you've got a degree already I think.
How is the medical faculty in Adelaide different from that in NUS, and is there anything special to note – like having to take a one year course upon coming back?
Adelaide Uni is very different from NUS. My best friend is in NUS and he learns a lot from books and there's a lot to cram before exams. NUS pre-clinical years have more structure in a sense they have a lot of lectures and tutorials to give them a good foundation. I must say I do miss the spoon-feeding that I used to get back home in Singapore. In Adelaide, it is a lot of independent studying. We have Case-Based Learning (CBL) three times a week. The tutor is usually not a healthcare professional and only facilitates the discussions that the small group of ten has. In these sessions, we are given a case to work on and some prompts as to which area to focus on. It makes the learning very broad but it trains us to search for information well and equips us with skills so that we know how to update ourselves constantly as doctors. There is however Resource sessions every week. We get to see our 'first patients', the cadavers in the basement. There is a demonstration and proper notes to guide us through anatomy & physiology (we love mechanisms here). There is also lectures on anatomy, physiology, pathology, ethics, etc. But we have no tutorials. The best thing about Adelaide Uni is the exposure we get. In first year, we had a project to talk to patients as part of our Medical Professional & Personal Development (MPPD). In second year, we're supposed to follow a pregnant woman through her pregnancy and watch her birth. Every week, we see standardised patients (people paid to pretend to be 'ill') and we get to practise taking histories & doing examinations on them. One of the highlights of my week. We also get to do electives - anything from psychology (med-related) to physics (non-med-related).
Adelaide has pretty strong ties with Singapore. SingHealth comes over annually to give a talk to all medical students interested and it's usually held at Uni of Adelaide. They also hold interviews for 6th year students who are non-singaporeans and interested in doing internship in Singapore. Singaporeans get to sign up to do internship in Singapore upon graduation. Adelaide graduates start earlier than Singaporean Graduates as the Singaporean ones only graduate in July while the Adelaide graduates do so in December.
One thing to note however, intake is only in February and thus, you'll have to take a year off before coming to Adelaide. They only look at original certs and do not take prelim results into consideration.
Is there a common theme among you and your friends and do you feel that will help you become good doctors and was this the main basis for selection?
There is definitely no stereotypical med student. The variety is as vast as what you'd see in an MRT train - the usual nerds, the party goers, the perfectionists, the latecomer, etc. Everyone has different abilities. I've got friends who don't have to study very much and still pass exams and I've got ones who work their ass off and have to accept a B instead of an A. It really depends on your attitude and also your ability. The inclination to help others and to love what you're studying is definitely a common theme (there are exceptions of course) but most of us got in because the examiner saw that we had the willpower to get through med school and the determination & good intentions to help others in future despite the obstacles we may face. It's not the easiest course but if you have the passion and right attitude, studying medicine would give the world another excellent healthcare professional (you!)
Is there anything you wished you knew before your started on your Med applications?
No. Because knowing some of the things may have put me off doing Medicine but now that I'm doing it, I finally realise that I can survive some of the things that would have scared me off initially. It ain't that bad at all.
How is life like now that you’re in the midst of it?
Life is good. I like having a routine. I won't say there are fewer distractions, however, as an international student, I do have more time to study due to fewer family commitments (baby showers, birthdays, family dinners, etc). Med faculty is very close-knit and if you open up and give others a chance to get to know you, you'll find that you have a new family and need to grow a whole new discipline to resist the temptation to go for every function that comes up. Finding friends is part of studying abroad. I found that I learnt a lot from starting afresh. I miss home sometimes but the feeling passes and knowing that I'm studying what I love, living independently, facing challenges on my own, discovering myself and reaching out for opportunities others could only wish for, makes it all worth it.
Student life is a lot of hard work but it's a lot of good fun as well.
Write Up #2
Another write up by a Med student in Monash.
Hi! I'm a 1st year medical student at Monash University, Clayton. I enjoy Taekwon-Do as a form of stress relieve as well as fitness regime in my free time.
What was the selection process like, rounds of interviews, question types, any essays to write?
Selection process includes a written MCQ test called ISAT(International Students Admissions Test). After which there will be an interview in Singapore by Monash University representatives. The interview will include reasons why you would like to study medicine, why Monash University, as well as various short tests to gauge certain skills of yours, for example, explanatory skills.
How can a current applicant best prepare for all this and is there a certain outlook or approach they should take?
There isn't much which you could prepare for, other than getting your reasons for wanting to study medicine as well as your expectations of a medical career clear.
The best preparation which I can think of would be to attend a job shadowing programme in teaching hospitals, e.g. NUH, just to get a good feel of how it is like to be a doctor at the different stages, house officer, medical officer, registrar etc. Ask them questions about their lifestyle, workload, satisfaction, and follow a house officer around on night duty (this would be how your life will be like for a good year after you're done with your 5 year course). I don't think that job shadowing experience will give you a leverage over other applicants if you put it in your resume, but it does give you a much clearer idea on what to expect of the medical career.
Would you say there are prerequisites for studying Med in general?
Yes, you would have to be clear that you are prepared to commit yourself to medicine, as well as accepting a hectic lifestyle with a good deal of stress. Chemistry is a must I believe. And no, you do not need to study biology in JC. Studying biology in JC will give you an easier time in the 1st 3 to 4 months in 1st year, and thats about it.
How is the medical faculty in Monash different from that in NUS, and is there anything special to note – like having to take a one year course upon coming back?
I don't think I'll comment on how different the medical faculty in Monash University is from that in NUS because I haven't studied in NUS. The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences of Monash University is listed in the Schedule of the Medical Registration Act, so you will be able to apply for Housemanship in singapore upon graduation. Look at the Singapore Medical Council Website (http://www.smc.gov.sg) for more details on medical registration.The interesting part of studying in Monash University though is that you get to learn loads of useful stuff which will aid you in practice in future. These include Medical Law, Sociology, Health Enhancement Programme (How to maintain your well being as well as your patient's well being). You'll get quite a bit of exposure in the field too. As Year 1s, you will have a site visit to a General Practice Clinic as well as one to a Hospital in the first semester. Monash University's approach to medical education is very clinical, with Patient Centered Learning and Problem Based Learning. Clinical skills are also taught from first year.
Is there a common theme among you and your friends and do you feel that will help you become good doctors and was this the main basis for selection?
Well, I think what's common is that we all have our own definite reasons for studying medicine. I feel that the main basis for selection will be how informed you are about the medical career, as well as the clarity of your reasons for studying medicine. My advice is to be honest during your interview.
Is there anything you wished you knew before your started on your Med applications?
I'd pretty much gotten most of my information for application from my agent, so get to an agent fast. IDP Singapore is one of the major ones with a number of Australian universities application fairs a year. There should be a fair just for medicine, nursing and health sciences. Apply at these fairs because its free to do so (there is a fee involved if you apply by post on your own), and you can pick up information booklets on the different programmes. The university representatives will also be present to answer your questions. You might want to go for the fairs 1 year before you apply so that you get some time to think about which course you would prefer, as the fairs usually span over 1 weekend and you'll have to put your applications in by the time the fair closes. There are other good agents for Australian universities as well.
How is life like now that you’re in the midst of it?
Life in Australia is a totally difference experience from what I had in Singapore. More so because I have to juggle my studies with things like cooking, house work, bills and hobbies. You'll tend to cook a lot in Australia because it will cost at least 7 bucks for a decent meal. Its highly recommended that you pick up cooking in Singapore before studying abroad. In short, you'll learn to be a lot more independent, and the medical course is demanding but fun and engaging at the same time.
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