We drove there and arrived promptly at 11:30pm (after searching the different parts of the town hall!). We were signed in and given green wrist bands and a St George's university tote bag with brochures and pens inside.
We walked into a huge room with a stage and balcony, and sat a couple of rows from the front. We were welcomed by the speaker, James Ridgeway, who immidiently lifted everyones mood. He was so full of energy and enthusiasm, it was a great way to start the event. The first talk of the seminar was by Colin Dowe from St George's University of Medicine and Vetirnary Medicine. At first I thought it was a London university, but soon found out it was realtivley new (40 years old next year) and stationed in an island called Grenada, West Indies in the Carribean. I'd never thought about studying abroad before, but this talk really opened my mind and was highley persuasive. Apart from the location being absolutley breath-taking, SGU has a great approach to teaching and offers so much support and oppurtunities. With 5,817 students out of the 7,500 being in medicine, and having a 97% first time pass rate, joined with the UK, US and Canada (as well as requirements of A's and B's) I'm definitley considering applying for SGU as well as UK UCAS universities.
The second presetnation was about Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI), designed to help us through the university interviews by telling us about the structure of the interview, advice, and even doing practice ones that I did with my dad. There were also talks from Humanitas University in Italy, Student BMJ and Kaplan UKCAT & BMAT help. They were all so informative and used the short amount of time fantastically.
James then came back to speak about the exhibition and Stethescope practical. He was so motivational, and even shared his story of being kicked out of school at 16 for having dyslexia, his fear of public speaking and eventually going to Cambridge and becoing a doctor!
We were all then let out of the hall and made our way upstairs for the exhibition, where it was absolutley packed with people. There were pods with different universities and organisations to talk to, such as the University of Dundee, Nottingham, Newcastle, Carfiff, Belfast.. etc. I am so grateful for having the oppurtunity to speak to different university teachers and students about the differnt courses and oppurtunities, it really gave me an insight into my different options- it's now so hard to decide! I know have a book full of notes and a bag full of leaflets, a free copy of BMJ, pens and other freebies and QR codes that collected from each pod.At 3pm, we were all given a free Stethescope and app to go with it, that activated the QR codes. I'm totally in love with my Stethescope (now named "Seth" by my sister), it's so exciting to feel that much clsoer to being a doctor (even if I couldn't find my heart beat at first...)
At the table with the Stethecopes, I also saw some books called "Surf" to buy, which happened to be by the speaker/doctor James Ridgeway. I was so inspired by him that I bought one before heading back downstairs to get ready to leave.
As I went downstairs and tried out the Stethescope, I saw Dr Ridgeway so my Dad and I went to speak to him, and I even got my book signed! He was so kind and caring, saying that I could do it, pursure my dream of being a doctor, and to not let anyone stop me. He even got me to read an excerpt of his book out loud:
I know this to be true
Failure
Is something for you not
Success
You need to realisee
Your life is fixed
It is not that
Your life is full of choice and oppurtunity
Now read it again, starting from the bottom line reading upwards.
I was so overwhelmed from his kindness and inspiration, it's something I will cherish forever. I thanked him as he wished me the best, then my Dad and I headed on our journey home.
I can't wait to read "Surf" and all the different university brochures, it was such a brilliant event and far exceeded my expectations. It's FREE and I definatley recommend it t every student thinking about Medicine, it's not just in London!
Find MedLink info here
Buy Jame's book here
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