2010 Interviews....

[anarchaeon]

I don't think it was a conscious decision to test applicants, just different personalities on the panels. As regards the scoring I think that the degree classification does not matter - a first in any discipline is worth more than a 2.1 in a scientific field. They did mention however that there has to be some evidence of ability in science, so if you have a non-scientific background then there is more emphasis placed on the science component of the GAMSAT. I understood this to mean that in some cases a good average score will not be sufficient if a low science section is accompanied by a non-scientific academic record, but this is judged on a case-by-case basis so they can offer no general advice. I'm extrapolating alot from a few statements on the interview day but it sort of makes sense. A level has no bearing, postgraduate degrees count for some points, but by far the most significant is interview performance.

[beavis4666]

I don't think it was a conscious decision to test applicants, just different personalities on the panels. As regards the scoring I think that the degree classification does not matter - a first in any discipline is worth more than a 2.1 in a scientific field. They did mention however that there has to be some evidence of ability in science, so if you have a non-scientific background then there is more emphasis placed on the science component of the GAMSAT. I understood this to mean that in some cases a good average score will not be sufficient if a low science section is accompanied by a non-scientific academic record, but this is judged on a case-by-case basis so they can offer no general advice. I'm extrapolating alot from a few statements on the interview day but it sort of makes sense. A level has no bearing, postgraduate degrees count for some points, but by far the most significant is interview performance.

Ah now I'm really worried, I had an interview but they obviously knew i only had gcses in science subjects and my science section score in gamsat was only 54 (scored alright in other two sections) so not looking good right now at all, plus I didn't sound confident in my answers either, well what will be...

[anarchaeon]

Sorry Beavis, didn't mean to get you worried. I may be wrong on this point - did they say anything like this on your interview day?

[beavis4666]

Sorry Beavis, didn't mean to get you worried. I may be wrong on this point - did they say anything like this on your interview day?

No but i could see that they were looking at my science score when they did the interview (they had it written down in front of them and was really off-putting), know it sounds negative but they just seemed really half arsed when they interviewed me and asked very open ended vague questions and the last straw was when they asked what area of medicine I would like to get into, I replies that I wanted to go in with an open mind, see what my interests, strengths were, etc (so I wasn't sure) and one of them rolled their eyes (ouch!)

[anarchaeon]

Yes I can see why that must have hurt. They probably encountered that a fair bit though so maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed. I think it's a fairly reasonable thing to say when just starting out. Did they not just ask you about your opinions on studying Science? Some of the questions I had were open ended, but I took that as suggesting they didn't want to quiz me on something I clearly couldn't talk about and preferred I did most of the talking.

[crawford]

Ah now I'm really worried, I had an interview but they obviously knew i only had gcses in science subjects and my science section score in gamsat was only 54 (scored alright in other two sections) so not looking good right now at all, plus I didn't sound confident in my answers either, well what will be...

i'm in a similar situation, but I have chem at a-level...not sure if it will make any difference...also got asked the 'what field' thing...said pretty much the same thing...to be honest, wasn't feeling too bad after the interview...think i've pretty much talked myself out of it now though...ready to be put out of my misery

[beavis4666]

Yes I can see why that must have hurt. They probably encountered that a fair bit though so maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed. I think it's a fairly reasonable thing to say when just starting out. Did they not just ask you about your opinions on studying Science? Some of the questions I had were open ended, but I took that as suggesting they didn't want to quiz me on something I clearly couldn't talk about and preferred I did most of the talking.

No they asked about self directed learning and I kinda had that covered, guess it wasn't that bad but just didn't feel like i'd nailed it and had fluffed some responses, form what i've heard swansea are the most relaxed interviewers and people i spoke to who tried at st george's and nottingham sound like they faced the spanish inquisition, more annoyed at the situation and not them :/

[anarchaeon]

Yeah it's frustrating if you feel you've messed up at interview as it's so close to an offer. I know what you mean Crawford, the longer you spend running though the interview the more faults you pick up in your own performance, best to try not to think about it until the offers/rejections come out (as if!).

[aniceguy]

Hi all,

On the day of my interview, we had been told that there will be a talk about the interview and the selection process, but the person who was supposed to talk never turned up. Did anyone have had that talk? What was is all about?

[ctaylor]

No I didn't get that talk either! We were left in a room till the first years turned up...