Horror Stories

**exen-** · 24-09-2008, 10:14 PM

I saw a thread on the evil calculator, but let's have a more general one as well.

I just did my ukcat today, and here's what happened.
Right at the start of my QR section, I tried to use the pen and whiteboard for the first time... the pen didn't work. I put my hand up to ask for a new one, but the woman in the next room couldn't see me, so I knocked on the window and waited a short while for her to come (precious seconds wasted

).
THEN she came over and brought 2 pens.... NEITHER OF THEM WORKED.. I'm not even joking... I settled for one that was slightly better, but after writing like 1 number, I had to scratch in the board to make anything visible!!

So anyway I was like FORGET THIS and panicked loooaaads and just skipped all the questions that seemed too complex not to do in my head. At the last minute I decided to attempt the questions I'd skipped, but ran out of time to even guess them.

It's a cruel world.

Not to mention the calculator is the most retarded thing ever.
They should let you use a scientific one. All the questions are siiiiimple anyway, it's just more time-efficient to use a better calculator.

GAWD!!!!!!!!

**snape.sept90** · 24-09-2008, 10:40 PM

Can relate to you with the pens not working-mine wouldn't work so did stuff in the head..... + guessed. Come to think of it my calculator was big, fat, and also retarded. ( couldn't store stuff in the memory using the ANS button so had to redo questions)
All this hassle because pearson vue has effed up equipment.
Don't worry bout it, there's other stuff uni's will look for... made a good read though...

**DoctorTony** · 24-09-2008, 10:51 PM

EXACTLY, I was like entering a bloody percentage (i.e 80/100) and GOD it was so annoying I was like typing in : - (8/00) ?? 8/00 come on??????

I hated the calculator and I was even given a used notebook :[] - spent 5 mins rubbing the junk out but found out it was the same exam :[]

**DMXX** · 24-09-2008, 10:52 PM

Where do I begin...

It's the 22nd; only a day until my UKCAT. I'm obviously a bit tense; the unis I'm applying to for Medicine all want the UKCAT, and I was determined to surpass my old score of 673 from last year.

So, there's me, sitting in the sitting-room at 6am, chillin' out, relaxing, eating some breakfast; I had to go to work in an hour, so I thought I'd get an early brekkie in.

At around 10am?... The digestive engine starts to falter. I feel a bit ill, and, gradually, as the morning and afternoon wears on, my tummy begins to really hurt. I found that drinking or eating aggravated it, so I refrained from THAT daily routine.
Went to see a doctor immediately, and, it's gastroentitis. I was immediately put on a course of antibiotics, and, the rest of that day was pure, uncensored agony...

I tried to nod off at 11pm, but, I really couldn't. Clutching a hot-water bottle and sweating like a KKK fanatic in a Crips neighbourhood, I finally dozed off... Before waking up again promptly at 1am. That's right; 2 hours of sleep. And, my UKCAT exam was only 10 hours away...

...I went into that test room, sat down on the PC, and, I had to literally lean onto the desk, because sitting upright was too painful. My head just wasn't with it all; I could only think of my stomach, and how agitated I felt, being in that position.

So, there was me yesterday, with a stomach infection, next-to-no sleep, famished, very dehydrated, and burdened with the situation.

...I somehow walked out of that test room, with a higher score than last year. Horror story? This was more ironic than horrific. XD

**DoctorTony** · 24-09-2008, 10:57 PM

Grats anyway DMAX, horrible things happen in that centre.

**exen-** · 25-09-2008, 01:00 AM

oooooh feeling the pain here.

Mention Gastroentitis in your interviews.. they're bound to sympathise. Reminds me of some personal statement I read on the internet, the first line was:
"One day when I was 14 years old, my father was suffering from chest pains, sweating, and shortness of breath; immediately I knew these were signs of myocardial infarction."

¬_¬

**Kinkerz** · 25-09-2008, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by exen-

oooooh feeling the pain here.

Mention Gastroentitis in your interviews.. they're bound to sympathise. Reminds me of some personal statement I read on the internet, the first line was:
"One day when I was 14 years old, my father was suffering from chest pains, sweating, and shortness of breath; immediately I knew these were signs of myocardial infarction."

¬_¬

Hahahaha! Not at the dad having a heart attack bit, but the dude diagnosing it from some vague(ish) symptoms that could indicate a number of things, at the age of 14 with no/limited Medical knowledge.

**exen-** · 25-09-2008, 01:07 AM

The best thing is, that's ALL he said about it.

Then he moved onto some random thing.

**Kinkerz** · 25-09-2008, 01:11 AM

I think it's safe to say he was rejected(?) Even if he is a super-duper diagnosing machine!

I bet they get a good few of those kind of statements every year though!

**exen-** · 03-10-2008, 08:45 PM

He got 4 offers, including Cambridge, and rejected them all.

He didn't need a degree, and now he heads a team of diagnosticians at the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.