2009 GEM students - what's your background?

[emj1987]

Vmash, like I said before I didn't get any prep materials. If I'm totally frank I think they're a waste of money. Fifty quid for a skinny little book? Knob off!- excuse my french! Some old A level revision books were all I very quickly scanned through to refresh what I knew. The thing with the GAMSAT is that it's to test aptitude. They are well aware that a large proportion of those who do the test are from a non science background so the test is more to examine your ability to extract the necessary information from given text and then be able to answer questions on it. The key is to read the questions carefully and make sure you answer what they ask. Sounds basic but it's true!

Colette,
You're welcome hun, I hope you get the offers you want

[Vmash]

Thanks emj, my background is chemistry, did some biology and physics as well, hopefully i'll get through. Planning to start preparing around July (not sure if its too early ). Turns out i might have to sit the UKCAT for some UNIs so that should be fun

[paddy-uk]

Hi Vmash,
My background is BSc in Biomedical sciences (same as everybody else!!) I got a 2.2, and took a job in a local hospital as a cardiac physiologist. Have loved it, and gained some important experience.
One thing I found with GAMSAT is that for section 2, you have to get into the GAMSAT way of writing essays- I failed GAMSAT (section 2) the first time, so I took a days course in GAMSAT essay writing. I'd always been told at school and uni to write a proper essay with a start middle and end, etc. GAMSAT don't look for this so much. They check that you can write properly, but the key is presenting a good arguement. In the half hour you have there isn't time to waffle. Other than that, GAMSAT is quite passable- just need to think what they want from you.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

[Vmash]

Thanks paddy, that is very helpful haven't started studying yet but will as soon as i get out of college. I am going to volunteer in a nursing home for a few weeks and see if i can get experience maybe in a GP (Considering asking my GP . Don't know if i will get any hospital experience due to the nature of my degree.
Thanks again

[Katharine]

Hello,
I am 25, a graduate of Arabic and Law from SOAS, University of London (so one of those ones who is mildly anxious about lacking a science background-!)
Currently live in Cairo and will be back in the UK end of August to get everything sorted before starting...!