Waiting for Edinburgh...

So something happened when me and mom went for the Edinburgh interview. Mom fell in love with the place and she said I can make it my first choice if I want to. I'm concerned about the money and how we'll manage but it's absolutely thrilling to imagine I can get this amazing education with so much exposure and opportunities which will definitely be a shortcut to where I really want to be. Travelling around the world, treating all kinds of animals and helping in conservation and preserving our beautiful fauna.

If I get in, I think I'll definitely go with Edinburgh as my first choice and somehow, i'll fund my studies and make sure it's not too much of a burden on my family. I really really want this. It's something I could only dream about before and now it seems closer than ever.

The Edinburgh interview went okay I think and while they told us, we'll hear back at the end of February, I'm hoping the offers might come through earlier! I really really hope I get one and then I will know what I need to do in my 12th boards. I doubt Edinburgh will give me less than 90% so I will have to gear up and do well. My chemistry especially needs to be pulled up and physics also needs a lot more refining.

Glasgow hasn't sent anything to me after but my representative (on my school's behalf) seems to have gotten some form I need to fill. I haven't managed to talk to her properly yet.

Oh, I also got my Nottingham rejection (without interview) yesterday morning. I must say, everybody seems to be frustrated with them as a lot of people have interviews from all three of the rest of their applications and just a rejection from Notts. I guess Notts place a lot of weightage on the questionnaires they give out. Anyway, I probably wouldn't have chosen Nottingham either and honestly I'm not that upset about them. I was kinda expecting it from both Notts and Glasgow but Glasgow seems to be giving me an interview now!

God forbid I don't get an Edinburgh offer, I'm not sure if I'll put Bristol (or would have put Notts) above somewhere in India because they aren't AVMA recognised and that is quite an important thing than Edi and Glasgow are. I'll think about it when the time comes I guess.

Just please please please let me get an Edinburgh (hopefully low!) offer and let me do well in my boards! Omg just one month left for those!!!!!

Bye, I NEED TO FREAK OUT!

Glasgow... Interview?

The title is that way because in not exactly sure if it's an official invite or not. I got an email recently from Glasgow asking if I've taken any English Language tests (which I included in my application by the way) and a question about how I intend to fund my studies.

I replied to that with my scores and assured them I knew the fee and how I would fund myself and got back a reply the next day! The email said I would tentatively get an interview at the end of February and furthur details would be provided near that time!!!

I was completely prepared for a rejection from Glasgow since I had heard zilch since the awknowledgement but seems I'm still in the running!

I'm not getting my hopes too high for this though and not counting it as an interview invite YET since it didn't seem very official.

Only Notts left now! I know a lot of people have had Notts invites but I haven't heard of a single non EU international student with an invite yet! Also, a lot of rejections have been coming out this week and I haven't got one yet.

The old mantra, no news is good news still applies! :)

In other news, my Edinburgh interview is in 5 days!!! Flying out to Singapore to take part in the interview. Seems it's all MMI with no 1 on 1 interview. Hopefully should do well in those! Shouldn't be too nerve racking!

Here's to getting in with a low conditional offer everywhere!

Bristol Offer!

So I got a Bristol offer just three days after my interview!!!!! I was jumping and screaming!!! I couldn't post before this because preboards and then my birthday and Christmas. :P

Anyway, I'm sooo excited and so thankful for the Bristol offer. It's 85% in top four subjects and 85% in biology and chemistry!!!

I'm also going for an Edinburgh interview to Singapore on the 19th of January so wish me luck there! Eeeeehh, I really hope I get into Edinburgh too.

Post Bristol Interview

So you want my advice do you?

I'd say these few things:
1) Be yourself.
2) Try to relax and not get nervous.
3) Be sure of everything you've written about in your personal statement.
4) Make sure you're able to speak for 1-2 minutes about each of your placements.

I think my interview didn't start as well as I hoped but ended on a much better note. Bristol have said I should hear back in about 2 weeks on UCAS one way or the other so I guess there isn't too much torture for that.

I've heard Nottingham has started sending out interviews now so fingers crossed I get one soon!

Short I know but just wanted to give an update. My pre-board practicals are going on in school so it's a busy time.

Oh, Indian people, there is this amazing site called mycbseguide.com. Amazing site and very helpful for previous year board papers.

Good luck to you and me!

Preparing for an Interview.

So I'm equally excited and nervous for my Bristol interview which is actually today! Since I did originally start this blog so that more people have an idea of what it's like to be a vet and go through the journey I think it's only fair for me to hi light some of the ways I'm preparing.

First of all and most important, I went through my personal statement so many times, I probably have it memorized. Any little thing mentioned there, I've done further research on and have at least a minute's worth to talk about.

I've searched veterinary interview questions and drafted some answers which I'm going to print and go over now. I have a basic list of answers for the tricky questions and I've thought about the ethical bits as well.

Bristol judges on the following (taken from their site):

• Depth of knowledge gained from work experience: I've brushed up on common animal diseases, decided a few cases that I've observed which are interesting, read about the vaccination scedule for dogs and cats and generally thought about my placements and what I leant from them.
• Informed about career / awareness of current topics: I've made sure I know all the careers one can get into after doing veterinary medicine, I've searched recent developments and have a few stories and articles that I've read, I've thought about the disadvantages of being a veterinarian and I've read up on things going on in science.
• Enthusiasm, commitment and determination to study: I'm hoping this will shine through on its own but I have searched Bristol's site and jotted down some of their best facilities which I can talk.
• Communication skills: I speak quite often in English at home so I'm not worried about that part, however I am a little concerned that I might not understand some terms in their accent and they could have a problem with mine but I'm sure I can work past that. 
• Self-confidence / interpersonal skills: While I'm not the most self confident person, I've recently improved a lot and I'm doing some mock interviews with friends and fimily which I'll then record and listen to. My strategy is to sit straight, have my hands on my lap or on the table in from and look right into the screen all the time. 

Goodluck to everybody preparing and here's to hoping my interview goes well! 

Edinburgh Interview and Imperial Offer!

I got the Edinburgh interview first and I seriously screech like a banashee when I opened the email!



I'm so happy about that but there are specific centres where we can take the interview and the closest one is Singapore.



Then I got an Imperial interview. When I opened my UCAS track I literally sat like this for a whole 5 minutes:



I was so not expecting that at all. I had just applied to Imperial on a whim, never really thinking I would get in. It was a great feeling.

Basically, I've been busy studyi- oh who am I kidding. I've gotten addicted to books again. Help me dear god, I finished 6 books in the last 7 days and I'm in the middle of my practice tests.



Damn authors and the huge amounts of books.

I should really study though and I've promised myself I won't read a book till the 8th now, which is my last practice test. I'm struggling with organic chemistry at the moment and can't seem to learn a thing.



Still, so excited for Edinburgh and Bristol and really hoping for a Nottingham interview next. Wish me luck!



Love,
JoAT