2010 Interviews....

[BEULA24]

I'm in Fulham. You're even further than I am, train may be best, certainly less stressful - the central train station is a fair old distance to the uni so may have to get a taxi or the bus - oh but you're staying Monday night right? Will you be close to the uni?

I quite like the train
I'm staying the centre in the Premier Inn. I think it's about 10 minutes from the uni so not to bad.

[anarchaeon]

Yeah that's ok, it's a nice walk along the beach too if the weather is good. I'm quite looking forward to the interview day, although am nervous due to the emphasis that Swansea place on them. It would seem that even if you're great 'on paper' if you scew up through nerves then that's it, try again. From what I read it's a panel interview, which is way better than MMI.

[BEULA24]

Yeah that's ok, it's a nice walk along the beach too if the weather is good. I'm quite looking forward to the interview day, although am nervous due to the emphasis that Swansea place on them. It would seem that even if you're great 'on paper' if you scew up through nerves then that's it, try again. From what I read it's a panel interview, which is way better than MMI.

I know what you mean. I'm really nervous too I have no idea what they are going to ask I do like the fact though they make a day of it

[anarchaeon]

Definately, the interviews being last on the itinerary makes it seem less intimidating - entice you with the med school then dash your hopes with a grilling (I hope not).

[BEULA24]

Definately, the interviews being last on the itinerary makes it seem less intimidating - entice you with the med school then dash your hopes with a grilling (I hope not).

That's true. I'm sure it will be fine

[nickbranch]

You have obviously done a lot, what motivates someone like you to think “I know, I’ll become a doctor?

OK, but what is it specifically about medicine that interests you?

But if it is the medical side... the scientific side... the why not look at molecular biology, or bioscience?

And is there any particular area of medicine that has caught your attention?

In business you work in a fairly free environment, to make your own way and create things, and that is probably quite exciting. Medicine is very heavily regulated, with rules and guidelines and monitoring. Do you think you will feel restricted by this, and miss the freedom of business?

Why this school?

What about the 5 year option. What do you know about that course?

OK... And what do you know about the course itself?

Yes, but what about the actual subject matter... Have you looked into that?

For example, on the 5 year course there is a module in family medicine. You do realise that although the first year of the course is taught here, 2 of the other years are completed at regional centres, I don’t know how those posts are allocated. Have you considered the implications of studying in these places?

OK... different tack entirely. You’ve heard about the issues of organ donation?

A couple of years ago there was a parliamentary move to make organ donation ‘opt-out’. This parliamentary move failed. What do you think about that?

What about the situation with the relatives of someone who is critically ill though, and the difficulties of asking for their consent?

What about the recession. How will we continue to fund healthcare in the next 5 years when budgets are actually getting smaller. What elements of healthcare do you see being affected?

OK... and what about the situation where you have £1m, and you can either provide a young lad with pioneering heart surgery, or you can spend the £1m on public health programs to prevent diabetes. What would you do there?

You obviously are starting from a position of having very little science. How would you set about filling that gap and getting the science you need?

How would you fit in this ‘extra learning’ in what is already a very full calendar?

You mentioned communication before. Would you say communication is one of the things that is hard-wired into you?

What about weaknesses?

What are your definitive strengths?

At work, what is it you actually do?

Tell us about your bike ride... sounds very tough?

Obviously you may not get an offer. Have you a contingency if you don’t get in?

Have you any questions?

[ctaylor]

Hey Nick. Thanks so much for posting those questions its certainly made me think about what I need to look at. My interview is on 8th Feb so i have some time to get my stuff learned! Good luck with your application.

[Dr Shadow]

Thanks nick, i see quite a bit of that must have been from his PS. Theres the usual 'Why 'mediicine and not science stuff' some current issues with the NHS. Why swansea.

What I don't get is, what do the mean by the '5-year option'. Do they mean the 5 year mediicne course at Cardiff?

Edit: Oh, and how many interviews do swansea generally give out?

[anarchaeon]

don't think this was from a Swansea interview. They don't run a 5 yr course, and I'm pretty sure they don't start interviewing until the 25th Jan. Thanks anyway, interview feedback is always useful.

On the GEM Page Swansea state that around 220 interviews will take place for 70 places ( I guess maybe 80-90 offers?) - although I did read that GAMSAT numbers were dramatically higher (of the order of 50%) so they may be interviewing more this year, I don't know.

[talknerdytome]

I have mine on the 10th of Feb =D Do you know how many people they give interviews to out of those that apply?

This is my first med school interview as well, anybody got any good books they can recommend??