USM Interview 2018 - Medicine

USM Interview 2018

It's 15 May 2018, rain pouring heavily outside the lecture room. I was patiently waiting for the Hubungan Etnik class to start while listening to some classical songs. "Message from 15888" popped out on my phone and I saw the word "USM" and immediately my pupils enlarged like the cat's. By that I would like to start my experience at USM Medical Interview. Some of you must be wondering why is he going for a medical interview when he is already in a medical school. One word: SELF-SATISFACTION (and bunch of other reasons).

25 May 2018 : Left Ipoh at 1.45 pm and reached Kubang Kerian around 7.00 pm. The most exciting part of the journey was of course passing the Tasik Temenggor bridge.

26 May 2018: So I woke up around 5.50 am and started to read some information on USM that I did not manage to cover yesterday such as the Chancellor's name, APEX 9 thrusts and also the difference between sympathy and empathy (this was later asked in the interview :D).

I had 2 breads for my breakfast and dashed out in my dad's car to USM. Upon arrival, I was looking at the buildings around the campus in case they asked, "Why did you choose USM?" I could answer - there are a lot of facilities around the campus such as football fields, netball field and others ensuring that students have a balance between studying and social life.

After arriving at the main building (not sure about the name), my parents dropped me and I went in to register. I was astonished that the queue was 5 times longer than Nasi Ganja usual queue (means it is freaking long probably 150 students in that line). I went to the back of the queue and joined the queue. Since the queue was so long, I was wondering whether to take a picture and post in on Snapchat but then I was afraid of being judged by other students, so that didnt happen.

After a hiatus of about 15 minutes, the queue starting moving and soon after I was already in the other small queues for registering. Basically there were 8 small queues and this will later become your group for the interview session. One more thing is that although they had stated in the interview letter that applicant are required to bring the certificates such as SPM, STPM, MUET and koko, they didn't ask for them during the registration.

After registering, they gave us an ID tag with the group, session and starting station and asked us to take a sit in the designated area. I think we waiting there until 8.45 am. Later, some of the USM staffs will then direct and bring us to the interview building. All the groups in one session will be brought up to the interview building. There we waited for another 45 minutes. Finally the interview started.


The interview consists of 9 stations (7 active and 2 rest stations). In that 7 active stations, 2 were essay writing and 5 were the one-to-one interviews based on the question given outside the interview room. And each station has 2 minutes to read the question and 5 minutes to give your answer to the interviewer.


Station 1: Rest
Station 2: Your neighbor went to see to a doctor and the doctor instructed her to do mammogram. There were several instructions given by the doctor but your neighbor and her child does not seem to understand them. You are still a student who is waiting to enter higher education. How will you describe the instructions to the neighbor's child? [This is the one that involves an actor and you need to interact with the actor] (Answer in English or BM) But since the actor (a senior I believe) started to speak in Malay I also continued speaking in Malay. 
Station 3: Anda dikehendaki menulis langkah -langkah untuk memain salah satu Permainan Tradisional. (Answer in BM)
Station 4: Your friend lost his family and his 2 brother. He now stays with his uncle and wants to commit suicide. He tell you about it and asked you not to tell anyone. What will you do? (Answer in English)
Station 5: Rest
Station 6: Decribe the medical curriculum in general and also the curriculum in USM. (Answer in BM or English I think)
Station 7: Apakah pengajaran-pengajaran anda boleh perolehi dari video tersebut? This is the video
Beggar  (Answer in Malay). This was my last station and the interviewer kept asking for more and more pengajaran lol.
Station 8: You are driving motorcycle and carrying an envelope with RM2000 on a busy road. However, the envelope dropped on the road. You saw an old woman picking up something from the road. You approached her and she denied taking the envelope. What will you do and justify. (Answer in English). This was my first station. It was really bothering me like what do they want us to write.
Station 9: Describe your talent or something you overcame or __________ (cant remember). (Answer in BM). I think I performed not so good in this station as I started off telling my talent is drawing and doing wooden crafts and then the interviewer wanted to know and then I forgot many terms that are used in wooden craving in Malay so IDK lol.

Group Work: You will be given 20 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to present. My topic was to present to Year 6 students about Excess Sugar Problems. Here you need to be careful : Some individuals are parasites here, literally parasites - they will discuss with you everything but then during the presentation they will speak beyond their required task and taking people's point. So do WATCH OUT.

At the end, they will bring you down to a room for you to answer how was the interview, what can be improved, how was the group activity - More like a feedback. I don't think they will take into account this feedback as it had no name.

In summary,

* Prepare early and know about common situations and their solutions.
* Read a lot about USM - about APEX, their curriculum and etc
* Don't panic during the interview (Breath)
* Have fun! (Don't remember your points like a computer, instead know the main points and some keywords on the elaboration so you will seem more natural)

Don't worry they will give briefing before the interview.

Day 15

9th October 2017

This is it. Today is the day where I will begin my official Medical Studies at RCMP (Royal College of Medicine, Ipoh). Although the classes had started 2 weeks ago, today is the first day that we learned about Anatomy, Physiology and etc. I woke up early today, around 6.50 a.m., and was full of enthusiasm to begin my days although I realise that what I will be embracing would be a huge storm. Anyway, the first class was Fundamental English in which the lecturer introduced herself and made us to form groups of 6 people. As usual, my group was the last one to be formed since everyone already have their groups of friends from their Foundation. There are 4 guys and 2 girls in my group and I think we would make a great group. I just don’t want them to be lazy and unproductive like the previous students that I dealt with. Then, after the class ended, I immediately rushed to Blue Lecture Theatre as I wanted to get the front sit and thankfully, I got the front sit and the other boys joined me. “A good start is essential for great success”, I silently thought. The first lecture was about Introduction to FOMS – 1 where Prof. Muniandy was just explaining about the module. The next lecture was on Anatomy – Cell division. I have went through the slides yesterday night and it was not that hard to comprehend. The lecture was really fun as Prof. Myo Than made a lot of jokes during the lecture. He also highlighted on certain things that we should concentrate as they ‘may’ be tested during the exam. While I was in the lecture theatre, I pondered on the knowledge that lies in that brain of Prof. Myo Than. If only I can see through it, how wonderful it would be. I think I also got myself confused as I did not know whether to write my notes in the slides or in a notebook. After much self-debate, I decided to write notes on both – main notes in the notebook and notes relating to images in the slides. The class ended at 12.30 pm and all of the students rushed out of the theatre. I had a question to ask Prof. so, I stayed until other students left. After that, I decided to have spaghetti for my lunch and planned to go to Padi House. Unfortunately, it started drizzling and I was forced to resort to the library. After the rain had slowed, I walked to Padi House and had their Tomato Spaghetti that cost me RM13.50 (after student discount). I came back to the library to make my notes for today’s lecture and also took recording of a lecturer for IMedik event. That’s all for today, folks. 

Spaghetti from Padi House

Day 1 at Medical School

The first day of Medical School. I have started my MBBS programme at Royal College of Medicine Perak (RCMP). In general, it was good but I was still missing certain aspects of Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia.

Let’s hop on.

I basically arrived at the campus around 7.30 am and sat near the hallway since I did not know where to go for my first class. When students finally started flocking the hallway and made their way to the Purple Lecture Theatre, that is when I realised PLT stands for Purple Lecture Theatre.

The day started by the Dean delivering an impromptu speech to all of us. He was kind of amusing and serious at the same time. Then, Dr Malhi came forward and started the day with PPD lecture (Personal & Professional Development). It was basically about how to develop yourself when you are in a medical school.

Not long after that, another lecture on Etiquette was given by Dr Tham ( I can’t seem to remember his full name). That is about it for the morning session.

I quickly headed to the cafeteria and ordered my lunch which consisted of Fried Rice and Fried Chicken as I had to print and collect certain documents from home.

The afternoon sessions kickstarted by a brief on eLMS (Learning Management System) by Dr Gopal and as a Group 1 member, we headed to the IT lab for our hands-on session. I was surprised to see the computers as they were huge and better I guess than those I used in NUMed.

Since we were not able to access the VLE, we spent the afternoon answering questions on Kahoot, introducing ourselves and listening to Dr Gopal on how to use VLE.

Ya, that is pretty much for the first day. Not hectic right, just wait for the next few weeks. That is when the real fun begins. 

A Gloomy Week

Hello to whoever is reading this,

This may sound like I am ranting about my life but I don't know where else to exonerate my feelings. This week (you can consider the whole month) has been the worst. Last Friday, I got my semester 2 results and although I got CGPA 4.0, I felt I really did bad like really bad compared to my peers. All together there were around 20 plus students (out of 45 students) who got 4.0. I calculated my position in the whole foundation and for the first time I felt I have failed so miserably that I need so much support now. Do you know why? After around 6 years this is the first time I have fell out of the top 10 league. Oh my god why. Ya I know you all must be saying be grateful that you got 4.0 but that is not my point. How do value someone's intelligence? By looking at the relative position of his or her. The only thing that separates all of us is our intelligence and we need to take it into consideration seriously. Back to the topic, I also did terrible in my English. I don't know why. I got 80 whereas many other students got like 88 plus. Maybe I am not used to the format, I don't know. Uggh.

Adding fuel to the fire, the dreadful situation isn't over yet. Now I feel so lonely. Even my circle of friends are isolating me. I mean what the hell dude. Why? WHY? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
Even some of them are making some gruesome comments when I tell them something. Sometimes I just feel like smacking them so hard especially that one person. I think all of this started when one new person came into existence in my group. Literally that person stole everything from me. I mean I told that person to join us because IT was feeling sad and no body listened to that person. I took pity of that person and told that person that IT can talk any of us. After that, that person came in and took over my place. Furthermore, how could my friends be so blind to this situation. We used to have lunch together but recently they started sitting in their own table and never once told me that I could join them even though I am sitting alone. This is all so depressing. I can see through their eyes they don't want me but I am still keeping silent because I am engaged in an assignment with them.

Since they are doing like this to me, I had to find some other alternative method to chill then. I am trying to keep myself happy but I don't know when I will break loose. I don't want to go down that route I was few years ago. I know the outcome and I hated it. I just want some people to be good to me.......

After a Long Time

Bonjour,

After such a long time in the wilderness of studying and college, I finally decided to instigate back blogging. I obtained my admission offer from Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (it's in Nusajaya, Johor) back in May 2016. That marked a new chapter in my jejune life.
I have to say that it was totally different than I had thought (you know like in the TV dramas) but it was an explicit experience. I met so many weird, interesting, extraordinary and colourful people here. But that's not what I want to bat around. I have finished 2 semesters till present and just started semester 3 three days ago. After so long being hidden in the delusion of my achievements, I just here and now get thoughts in my mind that in fact there are many people who are better than me academically, socially and physically. I had to say that semester 2 was not a plesant experience. It was like going through SPM twice. I thought I had studied all but it was near the exams I felt like I had not done much as I should had. I think I personally have problem of spending too much time of a single chapter in any book for a particular subject. Despite that, I somehow managed to finish all my studying during the exams. Now, I am just waiting for the results which I was told will be released after Chinese New Year holidays. So may God bless me.

I have always have this attitude problem, I would say, that I do not give up even at the last time and I think it has helped extensively to great lengths all these years. What I would like to say all the folks who are reading this: In order to achieve something in your life, you need to work towards it eventhough it requires copious amount of commitment, sacrifices and hardship. I was in Johor Bahru city last Saturday and I decided to pay the JB Gurdwara ( a Sikh temple) a visit. During my short visit to the Gurdwara, I was sitting there alone and thinking hard about my dreams, purposes and goals. One of them was to become better than my peers in academic aspect. Out of the blue, an idea or you could say it as a method popped up. The method involves early preparation, repetition in a designated intervals, constant exercise, becoming inquisitive and of course meditation. I would expound on this method after implenting it and obtaining the results in another post in the near future. Back to the track, as I am approaching the climax of my Foundation course, the university has asked us to send in out medical application forms. I think I am going to do it these coming Chinese New Year which is like 3 days from today and hopefully they will interview me after me. I am still perplexed of how to write the personal statement. I think I am going to read some blogs pertaining this topic and I will make a summary of the interview experience later here.

Oh ya I also decided to start writing blogs again because there are no writing exercises in uni so I don't want my English to deteriote and I think writing blogs coul
d fill the empty gap. I am still in consideration of making vlogs but I don't think that's a good idea as I am introvert lol. Better get back to studying and preparation for tomorrow's presentation.

Bye.

p.s This is the first picture I took of my uni

RUTIN PEMERIKSAAN KENDERAAN (RPK) DAN RUTIN SEBELUM MEMANDU (RSM)

As I promised last week, I will post the RPK and RSM of car. This is it :

RPK 

Exterior

1. Tekanan angin, bunga dan fizikal tayar hadapan sebelah kanan dalam keadaan baik.
2. Lampu isyarat sisi kanan dalam keadaan baik.
3. Bumper hadapan dalam keadaan baik.
4. No. Plate ______ hadapan dalam keadaan baik. 
5. Lampu besar hadapan kiri dan kanan dalam keadaan baik.
6. Lampu isyarat depan kiri san kanan dalam keadaan baik.
7. Bonet dalam keadaan baik.
8. Wiper dan bilah wiper dalam keadaan baik.
9. Cermin depan dalam keadaan baik.
10. Cermin sisi sebelah kiri dalam keadaan baik.
11. Lampu isyarat sisi sebelah kiri dalam keadaan baik.
12. Tekanan angin, bunga dan fizikal tayar hadapan sebelah kiri dalam keadaan baik.
13. Cermin dan pintu hadapan sebelah kiri dalam keadaan baik.
14. Cermin dan pintu belakang sebelah kiri dalam keadaan baik.
15. Tekanan angin, bunga dan fizikal tayar belakang sebelah kiri dalam keadaan baik.
16. Bumper belakang dalam keadaan baik.
17. No. Plate ______ belakang dalam keadaan baik.
18. Lampu besar belakang sebelah kiri dan kanan dalam keadaan baik.
19. Lampu isyarat belakang sebelah kiri dan kanan dalam keadaan baik.
20. Lampu reverse belakang sebelah kiri dan kanan dalam keadaan baik.
21. Cermin belakang dalam keadaan baik.
22. But dalam keadaan baik.
23. Lampu brek ketiga dalam keadaan baik.
24. Tekanan angin, bunga dan fizikal tayar belakang sebelah kanan dalam keadaan baik.
25. Cermin dan pintu belakang sebelah kanan dalam keadaan baik.
26. Cermin dan pintu hadapan sebelah kanan dalam keadaan baik.
27. Cermin sisi sebelah kanan dalam keadaan baik.         

In but 

1. Perkakasan seperti jek dan sepana ada.
2. Tanda amaran segi tiga dalam keadaan baik
3. Tayar simpanan dalam keadaan baik, bunga dalam keadaan baik dan tekanan angin mencukupi.

In bonet  

1. Air simpanan radiator mencukupi.
2. Air bateri mencukupi dan bateri dalam keadaan baik.
3. Air radiator mencukupi.
4. Air wiper mencukupi.
5. Hose dalam keadaan baik.
6. Tangki minyak brek dalam keadaan baik.
7. Penyukar aras minyak enjin dalam keadaan baik.
8. Tali sawat dalam keadaan baik.
9. Minyak enjin mencukupi.

RSM

1.  Kedudukan seat selesa.
2. Cermin belakang  dan sisi sebelah kiri dan kanan dalam keadaan baik.
3. Brek tangan telah ditarik.
4. Gear dalam keadaan bebas.
5. Tangan di stereng pada 10 dan 2
6. Tali pinggang dalam keadaan baik.
7. Tolok suhu enjin dalam keadaan baik.
8. Tolok bahan bakar dalam keadaan baik.
9. Lampu amaran brek tangan berfungsi.
10. Lampu amaran tekanan minyak enjin berfungsi.
11. Lampu amaran air bateri berfungsi.
12. Lampu besar dan kecil hadapan berfungsi.
13. Lampu isyarat kiri dan kanan berfungsi.
14. Hazard light berfungsi.
15. Wiper berfungsi.
16. Pemecut air wiper berfungsi.
17. Hon berfungsi.
18. Takometer berfungsi.

For video version : ( Video is not mine )

Effects of Abiotic Components on the Activities of Microorganisms

Here is the Doc. file for Effects of Abiotic Components on the Activities of Microorganisms if your tuition or school asked you to make a folio of SPM Form 4 Chapter 8

Link