Non Science Graduate Help: Basic Study outline

[Lawyer to Doctor]

I passed the GAMSAT and im now in my 2nd year at Penisula. I would also reccomend the ACER past papers, I found them really usefull. The main reason I did not go for anything like Griffiths is I did not have the time (6 weeks from deciding to apply for medicine to the GAMSAT test date). I am also from a non-science background - I did an economics degree before coming here. I spent most of the 6 weeks preparing from the A level chemistry, but there is no way my knowledge was up to a level standard when i took the test. I just time managed well and had a 'nothing to loose' attitude on the day. Good luck.

Hi Chris, well done on passing and being in your second year, it's really encouraging to hear that non science grads are passing, and with only six weeks you really did well. I think you're spot on with the nothing to loose attitude, sometimes self-doubt can be your worst enemy. I just plan to learn what I can understand and use, and give it my best shot.

How is the course going?

Thanks again,

Michael.

[Dr. Cool]

Hi, I would like to thank you also for your helpful reply, I'm going to try and study as much as I can to try and make it stick, I don't think that I personally, could answer the questions without gaing some knowledge and you are correct n saying it will help me in the long run by learning at least some basics.

Did you use the practice guides that you can buy for GAMSAT? How did your GAMSAT go ? Thanks for all the advice, it is really helpful.

I went into the GAMSAT with a non science background too (econ). Chemistry suddenly gets far less intimidating once you've gotten a little more familiar with it. Once you’ve learned how compounds are graphically depicted, and memorise a few things, so you don't have to keep looking back at the periodic table. Then it gets even easier still, when you realise how most of chemistry relates back to a few very core ideas.

I purchased some practise guides from ebay but didn’t touch them. In the end I used (quoting from another thread):
2/3 of Organic Chem for Dummies
~1/2 of Thinkwell Chemistry (a video textbook thingy)
Chemguy on youtube
16 hours of these MCAT DVD’s (at 2x speed, the guy talked slowwwwwlllly)
Griffiths GAMSAT Review
+2 of the ACER sample papers

I just scraped by for Notts/SGUL interviews. The essay section was my saving grace. I didn’t revise for it much at all, just wrote a couple of 30 min practise essays to get a feel for timing. My educational background has mostly been about winging essays, so I was never really fretting about it. The other two sections didn’t go great, the biggest problem was concentrating on so many long passages of text, so I would recommend doing anything that'll help you with that.

If you have the time, you could watch some of the courses offered online, for free, by some of the fancy pants US universities. They’re very good though I didn’t watch them before the GAMSAT myself. The only downside is, *some* of the apparently introductory courses aren’t always so introductory.

[Lawyer to Doctor]

Hi, thanks for the great advice, I will have a look at those links you suggested, well done on getting those interviews, must be a relief. I'm just going to give it my best shot and prepare as much as I can, I'm planning on sitting UkCAT as well and use GAMSAT to apply to two med schools, chemistry is starting to piece together a little, well the basics, bit stuck on balance equations, but it's early days.. Thanks once again, everyones help is really appreciated.

Michael

[dalek]

Hey Michael, for the essay sections, all I did were the acer practice essays, using the exact structure set out in the griffiths guide. For the humanities section, again, I just practiced the acer questions. With your legal background I'm sure you'll find these parts fairly straight forward - although its important to practice them under timed conditions, as the whole exam is a bit of a marathon.
(One thing about st georges - which I'm sure you already know from your research - beware of their work experience requirements. This is one of the most important parts of the application, so make sure you meet their requirements - if everything else is perfect, a low score on work exp will immediately exclude you).
Best of luck, and let me know if you have any other questions.

[Lawyer to Doctor]

Hey Michael, for the essay sections, all I did were the acer practice essays, using the exact structure set out in the griffiths guide. For the humanities section, again, I just practiced the acer questions. With your legal background I'm sure you'll find these parts fairly straight forward - although its important to practice them under timed conditions, as the whole exam is a bit of a marathon.
(One thing about st georges - which I'm sure you already know from your research - beware of their work experience requirements. This is one of the most important parts of the application, so make sure you meet their requirements - if everything else is perfect, a low score on work exp will immediately exclude you).
Best of luck, and let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi Dalek, thanks for the advice regarding work experience, I have a meeting at a local hospital next week to try an get some on ward experience, or A&E, I've also applied to a number of care homes and the Hospice, so hopfully something will turn up and I can gain some good experience and help out at the same time, St georges looks a really good place to study, and I like the look of it's teaching methods, I'm hoping to visit on an open day soon.

I think I should be ok for the essay section, as on my degree we wrote essays and problems not stop, although in a different context to GAMSAT, I will just need to practie my timing method like you suggest. You have been really helpful already, it's really nice of people helping others on the same path. Hopefully you will keep checking on here and I can let you know how I am progressing, you never know I might only be a year behind you at St Georges, fingers crossed.

Thanks again for all your help,

Michael

[dalek]

If you're being this dedicated 7 months in advance, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Best of luck with the revision and please shout if you have any more questions!

[Lawyer to Doctor]

If you're being this dedicated 7 months in advance, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Best of luck with the revision and please shout if you have any more questions!

Hi, thanks for the support.
Their is one more thing that I'm worrying about and that is student finance. I have checked on the Student Loans system and it seems, I am elligable for tuition fee loans etc, but I have read on other parts of this site, that as I already have a degree, and had student loan before, than as a Graduate; I am not entilted to fee support etc, I'm screwed if I'm not...

I was under the impression, that as long as your studying Medicine/Dentistry etc, then you can get finacial help even as a graduate, but only if you study medicine ? Am I correct ?

Michael

[dalek]

Hmm, I can't be much help here I'm afraid. I know that for St George's GEP course that you have to pay your first year tuition fees (£3,255) but can apply for a grant which will pay the next 3 years. In terms of loans I don't know, as I will be relying on my husbands generousity!

[Lawyer to Doctor]

Hmm, I can't be much help here I'm afraid. I know that for St George's GEP course that you have to pay your first year tuition fees (£3,255) but can apply for a grant which will pay the next 3 years. In terms of loans I don't know, as I will be relying on my husbands generousity!

Lol ok cool, I will work somthing out hopefully. Bet you can't wait to start ?

[dalek]

I'm counting the days!