#mbchb

07 | 01 | 2020

Today, my friends and I registered for our last year of medical school. We are officialy final years and it feels so surreal!

But I passed that special exam, so I can officially start studying again in 3 days as a 4th year medical student.

I’m hella relieved.

Also hella tired.

08/03/18

10/11/17 I’d been asked by several people to write about med school interview questions I’d received, and this is me finally getting around to it as the Multiple-Mini-Interview (MMI) offers for Auckland are slowly starting to roll out! I’ve given general advice and info on how I prepared for interviews, which can be found under the “UMAT/GAMSAT/MED INTERVIEWS” section of the blog. The most helpful post might be this one:  https://chooliastudies.tumblr.com/post/157546997339/how-did-you-practice-for-the-umat-and-the

I’ve attended three (omg three) med school interviews, so I’ll just give a run-down on what was asked in each. Do note that these were about one or two years ago now, so my memory’s a bit fuzzy and I’m paraphrasing these hell out of the questions. If you’re really struggling to think of ways to answer some of them, feel free to flick me a msg and I’ll try and recall how I answered. Some of the questions are kinda personal, so if you want yours answered privately, let me know! (I can’t promise that I’ll always reply as I have a busy few weeks ahead of me, and the way I answered the question might not necessarily be the ideal or ‘best’ answer!)

The University of Auckland (MMI) -December 2015

1) Homelessness in Auckland is rising. Why do you think this happens? Is it a health issue? What can be done?

2) Climate change is a huge issue now. What steps can we take (personally and collectively) to lower the effects of climate change? Should doctors care about the issue? Why/ why not?

3) Acting station: You work for a company that produces standardised tests for high school students (similar to ACER for UMAT exams, but it’s totally not ACER hahaha). Your friend who works for a tutoring company asks if she could have a copy of some of the exam questions for the students to study off of. What do you do?

4) You are a pharmacist and a girl comes up to the counter to buy laxatives, which you know are used by some people to lose weight. You recognise the girl, as you’ve seen her come in to buy the same medications multiple times before. What do you do? Do you sell her the medication? 5) Some people see themselves as a more objective person, while others see themselves as more subjective. Where do you see yourself along this spectrum? Where do you think the study of medicine/ pharmacy/ nursing lie along this spectrum? 6) What is a weakness of yours? How do you work to overcome it? 7) When was a time you felt you had been judged unfairly or critically? How did you respond? 8) can’t remember for the life of me :( Questions from the other two interviews are posted below

I’ve personally really enjoyed my clinical years overall! In terms of maintaining a study/work-life balance, a good part of it’s ultimately still left up to you. Assessments for clinical years essentially all become pass/ fail (sometimes distinction), and while it’s encouraged you try your best and make the most of every attachment, there’s a bit of room/ freedom for you to pull back and take things easy and just do enough to pass the run. You’ll find that for some runs, most of your learning might take place while being on the wards everyday, while others, you’re better off leaving early to take some time off/ doing self-directed learning at home.

I think I remember feeling quite overwhelmed as a pre-clin sitting in those progress tests. There just seemed to be so much content I’d yet to learn, but at the same time, I was excited that I should be able to answer most of those questions relatively confidently in a few years’ time. I’ve definitely found that things have really started to come together. My knowledge is starting to feel less like random, disjointed bits of information, and more like puzzle pieces that snuggly fit in with what happens in the clinical environment.

According to a recent report, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the doctor-patient ratio in Zambia is 1:12,000. The ration shows that only one qualified doctor is available for every 12,000 patients in the country. The acceptable ratio, as per WHO guidelines, is 1:5,000. In this scenario, an extreme shortage of doctors can be offset by encouraging students to study clinical medicine in Zambia.

Lack of qualified professionals inevitably leads to a situation wherein doctors are required to work more than 100 hours per week. In such a case, these existing doctors have to struggle a lot to deliver quality healthcare. The National Health Strategic Plan provides directives for healthcare policy in Zambia. It also includes tackling the human resources problem in the healthcare field.

According to the Ministry of Health, Zambia faces a shortage of approximately 3,000 doctors. Moreover, only 1,500 healthcare practitioners are currently registered in the country. The need for specialists is also acute, and practicing doctors with qualifications and experience are always in high demand.