Wierdest Interview EVER!

I had an interview yesterday at 9am which I was late to unfortunately, my lateness will most probably cost me the job, oh well on to the next one. 

Anyways the interview was soooo wierd! I was interviewed by a lady and a man. The manager (the man) was just in a very funny mood (unless that's his mood all the time at 9am). He was cracking jokes and acting like it was a mock interview which was a very different experience to other interviews I've been to. In a way I found this difference quiet refreshing and very relaxing to say the least. I didn't feel as nervous and I was actually smiling but I might have been influence to take it as a joke. 

At one point in the interview he asked me a scenario based questions, "what would you do if all the MLAs call in sick one morning and you're  the only one there, how will you cope with the workload? Oh and I need you to pop to the shop and get me some pencils?" 

I might or might not have answered with "I would priorities the work load and get you the pencils last". 

To which he replied, "OK your out" 😅 imagine my face LOL

They said I would know by next week if I got the job or not. Oh and to top it all off there are 25 potential candidates but apparently a lot of vacancies available. 

I hope he is mad enough to hire me in shaa Allah. 

Job hunting: After graduating!

I actually stuck to my word aha "will update once I finish my placement" (previous post). 

So as you can tell this post is about job hunting after graduating. After you graduate from Biomedical science you realise 3 things:

One. Even after studying Biomedical Science you are NOT I repeat NOT a biomedical scientist! 

Two. To find a job is EXTREMELY HARD especially anything to do with what you studied 

And Three. You'll be in that retail job much longer than you anticipated.

But regardless I need to remember to be thankful and say Alhamdulilah because I know finding a placement isn't as easy as it came to me (Thanks to my lovely neighbour).

I'm also grateful as I'm applying for SO MANY jobs I'm getting a few interviews. I had one on the 1st of December, thought it went well until the last question (a dilution question came up - although I did prepare - I just felt so presurrised). My neighbour works at the place and she told me they recruited a n Indian girl who had a lot of experience. 

I have two more interviews and still applying (to even night shift lab jobs - desperate times calls for desperate measures). I have one interview tomorrow at the SAME place just a different department so maybe second time lucky in shaa Allah? And I have an interview next week. I will obviously update on how they went if I get any of them. 

No progress with med school application - that's just taken a backseat until I find a job - although I should be using my free time a lot better than I am currently. 

First Placement: MLA

Hi there,

So I have FINALLY started my first laboratory placement as a medical lab assistant volunteer at a hospital. I will be doing 8 weeks of unpaid work, 3 days a week. After that I will be registered on the staff bank system so I could apply for jobs within the NHS.

I've only done 1 week so far and have to say I am truly enjoying this experience. Although the hospital is far from me, I'm not very bothered about it as i know the next 7 weeks will fly by. 

I'm also working during the weekends so that means I only get 2 rest days during the week. 

As I have already mentioned (I think I did)x, I did not apply to medicine this year but hope to apply in 2017 for 2018 entry in shaa Allah. 

I haven't found any shadowing work yet but will update what I am up to once I finish my placement. 

The End: Third Year Results & Classification

Firstly let me start by saying Alhamdulilah! All thanks is due to Allah! Who has helped me during these nerve racking and enjoyable 3 years at univeristy! To be quiet honest there was a lot of ups compared to downs and I'm very appreciative and happy with my performance at uni and who I've become. I couldn't be more grateful! 

I feel like I'm writing my leaving speech LOL! 

Alright enough on my "speech" let's see how I did this year.

Let me paste my module components from my previous blog post, (anything with a * is an estimate - will edit these in once I've contacted the module leaders). 

This year I have 4 modules:

1. Dissertation: 2:1

Total = 66%*

2. Clinical Biochemistry: 2:2

- Biomarker Essay: 64% 

- Exam: 40% 

Total = 52%

3. Cellular Pathology: 2:1

- Wiki group work & presentation: 57%

- Special Stain Lab report: 70%

- Exam: 67%

Total = 65%

4. Haematology: 2:1 

- Poster Presentation: 61%

- Lab report: 71%

- Exam: 66%

Total = 67%

So for 3rd year I got 63.5% which is that's no where near to a first but I would have beat myself up if I got anything below 60%. Alhamdulilah! 

I've never shared the univeristy I went to for anonymity purposes but now I've completed my time there I can reveal I studied at Middlesex Univeristy from 2013-2016! 

I've started revising for my UKCAT now FINALLY! I went onto the medify website and subscribed for a month to test it out, I haven't used much of it yet but it's definitely motivated me to finally get going. I'm not sure if I'll be doing GAMSAT but that WAS the plan. 

Will keep you updated and also review the medify revision tool compared to the 600Q book that I used last year. I'll also keep a track of the amount of hours I spend revising for the UKCAT to see if that reflects on my score this time round. 

Have a lovely summer and leave any post suggestions with me, if you'd like me to post more frequently! 

😊

Graduation:To attend or not to attend

To attend or not to attend, that is the question. Just last night I was thinking about the pros and cons of going to my graduation. I've come to the realisation that the cons outweigh the pros. 

Pros: 

- my first graduation - a day I looked forward to 

- last time I get to see everyone from my class 

- a chance to dress up and have fun 

Cons:

- costly 

- can't decide what to wear

- not the degree I hope to graduate from (if it was medicine- I'd definitely attend) 

- need to measure myself to order gown by Friday 

Basically all the cons I can forget about no big deal but I can't overcome the costs!!! 

I am able to pay the costs but I am currently saving for many different occasions:- 

- got accepted to do an Arabic intensive part time program which costs £2500 a year 

- planning to do the GAMSAT which costs around 200 quid 

- I do taekwondo and have a competition in September in Scotland and national competition in Nottingham in novemember which are both costly that's excluding travel expenses.

- because of the competitions I have coming up I need to attend all lessons which aren't free 

I am greatful to be graduating and Alhamdulilah couldn't be happier. But in my current situation I doubt I will be attending the graduation ceremony. It's not the end of the world and this might even motivate me to continue to apply to medicine so I can attend at least 1 graduation ceremony in shaa Allah. 

Everyone that has passed and is graduating, congratulations! I hope you and your families have an amazing day celebrating the end and new chapter in your life. 

I haven't forgotten to update you all on my results, the post is due soon as I am waiting for the 1st of July for my classification, as they haven't told us that yet. 

Upset!

So to my surprise the grade and progression section in my univeristy website has been updated and thank fully! Alhamdulilah I passed! But I'm not happy! 

I will give you a breakdown of my results once I digest this sadness. I didn't get any first class for any of my modules this year and apparently your meant to have 4 first class in either 2nd and 3rd year, I have only 3 from last year and was hoping for at least 1 this year. 

As the univeristy didn't tell us the grades were, I hope these aren't the real results and they update it again as Monday the 20th is the official day for the results. 

Keep me in your duas. Either way if I get a 2:1 it's not the end of the world but inshallah Khayr.

Today's Exam ! Cellular Pathology!

If you read my previous post you probably realised I was feeling very uninspired yesterday BUT things have changed... The exam today was AMAZING! I honestly couldn't believe almost everything I've revised came up although I didn't remember it all aha .

The exam had 6 questions but we had to pick 5 questions to answer (10 marks each) that's 50 marks for the paper, which means 20 marks would get you a minimum pass! And 25 would be 50%. 

I tried counting my marks - being very harsh (27/50) and a little harsh (37/50). That's 54% and 74% respectively! I really hope inshallah I did aswell as I think I did. I know there's times where you think you might have answered it right but you misunderstood the question.

Anyways exams have ended in a good note alhamdulilah! And now I'm finally FREEEEEEEEEE. 

Things I want to do during summer: 

- Lab placement 

- Get a lab job and leave my part time job

- Revise for UKCAT

- Revise for GAMSAT 

- Gardening project - our garden needs ALOT of attention! It's too big of a project but I feel like once I'm done it would feel like such a success! 

I've also been into motivational/inspiring speeches and have bought some self- help books. If you guys ever want me to talk to you about anything I find interesting in these - do comment and I will let you know. 

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER or GOODLUCK! With your final exams!!!! 

Always believe in yourself (I should practice what I preach) ahaha 

I BELIEVE I WILL GET A 1st class honour!!!!!

Giving up?

So I've got my last exam tomorrow (Thursday 12th of May 2016) Cellular pathology. A very boring and fact based module. 

Firstly my revision this year was all LAST MINUTE! So obviously I don't expect to do amazingly well.

You might wonder what am I giving up on? ... I am giving up on getting a first class honour degree. This might sound ridiculous as tomorrow is my last exam but I've realised I might fall onto a 2:1 instead of a first overall. 

Let me explain. Last year overall I had 68% that's almost a first but it's a 2:1, that's 3 first class modules and 1 2:2 module. This year I can't even predict what I will be getting as they haven't even given us a SINGLE result. 

What I feel like I might get: 

Dissertation: 60-70% either 2:1 or 1st

Haematology: 60-70% either 2:1 or 1st 

Clinical biochemistry: 40-50% 3rd 

Cellular pathology: 40-50% 3rd 

That's basically around 50-60% average which is a 3rd right ? 

I'm honestly hoping inshallah that I get a first in haematology and dissertation - then hopefully I will get a first class overall for my degree. 

I am already in bed as I've given up revising - I won't say what I believe I will score tomorrow as I feel that's not very helpful! 

Will post soon to let you know how exams went or will be back once I have something to post - exam related or placement or graduation! 

Update!

Hey All! 

So I know I always say this but it's been a while! I don't even remember what my last post was about but.... So far all assignments and DISSERTATIONS! Have been handed in! I've just got two lab handbooks to hand in one by next week and the other after my last exam. 

I think I've already mentioned exam dates . I've got 1 next Thursday inshallah and I feel alot better than I felt last week about it! I'm revising (more like learning). The module is quiet interesting but our module leader (some Chinese genius - not being racist here) just loves to complicate everything for us. 

I haven't revised for the other exams either but as soon as I'm done with haematology I will definitely get cracking! 

I have so many things I do outside of uni and med application that I sometimes want to share but I feel like I need to continue to keep it this way to keep on reminding myself why I made this blog in the first place. 

I wish you all the best of luck with exams, assignments and anything else you are doing. 

Hopefully you will hear from me as soon as I'm done with exams ... With some longer posts! 

Feeling Uneasy!

It's been a while ! 

I don't think I've made much progress since the last post. Today I've got my 4th (second last) lab for haematology, I'm pretty happy about that. Although I do love this module I honestly find it quiet difficult (maybe because I'm not even revising) but I'm glad it's almost over. 

Assignments due at the moment: 

1. 23rd of March (next week) - Group Poster

2. 30th March - Laboratory Pro-forma summative

3. 13th April - Dissertation Deadline 

I have finished the lab Pro-forma work completely so it's ready for submission. 

We are almost done with the group poster - just need to add pictures and make it much more clearer and concise. 

And the dissertation - not good progress being made. The results are takin forever to collect and next week is our last week before Easter holiday. 

I'm honestly so so annoyed with my supervisor. He is toooo relaxed about the entire work. I understand he usually has time and does things according to him but we have a deadline and we can't write much without results. Anyways hopefully it will still work out. I'm trying to keep it cool so inshallah all will be fine. 

Exams: 

1. 21/4/16 - Haematology

2. 6/5/16 - Clinical Biochemistry 

3. 12/5/16 - Cellular pathology 

I'm not ready for any of the above exams, which is why I feel so uneasy Its quite scary how close exams are and the amount of prep I have done. Nevertheless, I have started revising for haematology as it's the first exam. I have revised the first lecture and made exam style questions. I sent the questions and answers to the module leader for confirmation that I understood the topic right. 

Today I will try to do the second lecture and will update on here just to hold myself accountable. 

  

Feeling bad! University group work!

Don't you guys just hate the feeling where you feel soooo bad! 

By tomorrow we have to have chosen 5 people in our group to do the poster presentation with. It seemed like everyone wanted to bring a friend along which I ended up putting 7 ppl in a group. When I went home and actually got to think about it, I realised that's too big of a group for the piece of work. The smaller the group the easier it would be. 

Instead of telling people to leave the group I decided to leave with two of my friends, although it was going to be 3 of my friends but (one is attached to one of her friends) she said she's okay with it and hopefully she and her friend will be allocated to a group soon.

So now I ended up moving to a group and now we are 5 ppl.  PERFECT right? Then why don't I feel like that!

I wish I could just have been with everyone. Now I'm thinking the teachers allocating us might not have been such a big problem. 

Anyways what's done is done! I'm also my done at this university (a couple of more months), I can't let petty things like this ruin my mood. 

Alhamdulilah for everything. Inshallah I hope the best for everyone no matter what group they end up in.

Update:

Still working on intro of dissertation ( April 1000 words).

Set up some revision times for me and some of my friends, for cellular pathology and clinical biochemistry).

New module !

Officially started the new module today, haematology and transfusion science. 

So here are all the assessments involved in the module:

1. Formative Pro-forma due Wednesday 2nd of March 2016 

2. Group poster presentation due Wednesday 23rd of March 2016 

3. Summative pro-forms due Wednesday 30th of March 2016 

4. Objective structured practical examination (OSPE) - Thursday 21st of April 2016 

Not really sure what each work requires right now - but when I'm sure I'll update you guys. 

Just dreading the group work - hope they let us choose our members inshallah. 

Updated: 

Have done and submitted my lab report for cellular pathology.

Started on intro of dissertation 

Third Year Biomedical Science: Catch up!

This is probably the most overdue post EVER! 

It's January and I've been at uni for 3 months already and have still not made this post. You can call it whatever you want but I think I've just become super lazy these days. 

If I'm quiet honest with you, I haven't had a great start to my third year. I keep having this feeling where I always feel like I'm so behind, even the first couple of weeks at uni (wierd or what).

So today I will mention all the modules, deadlines etc I have for this year.

This year I have 4 modules:

1. Dissertation 

- deadline 13th April 2016 

2. Clinical Biochemistry 

- Biomarker essay 18th Dec 2015 

- Exam in April/May 

3. Cellular Pathology 

- Formative Lab report on H&E 15th Nov 2015 

- Wiki group work & presentation (Video) 28th Nov 2015 

- Special Stain Lab report 22nd Jan 2016 

- Exam in April/May 

4. Haematology & Transfusion Science 

- have not started module yet - will be starting next week. 

As you can see most deadline dates have passed & I have also finished my Cellular Pathology module alhamdulilahb (thank god)! Literally hated this module &I still haven't revised for it yet! 

For clinical biochemistry there are only 2 components, 50% each! Which sounds so scary! But hopefully I did okay on my Biomarker essay & need to start revision ASAP! So it doesn't pile up! 

My dissertation, I have not started as my approval only came through last week of uni before Xmas holidays. I will be doing a lab based project and hopefully will start this month (depends on laboratory availability). I need to make sure to have at least done introduction first draft (2500 words) before I start the experiment. 

I haven't started haematology & transfusion science yet but will be next week, I just hope there isn't much to do for the module. 

I know there will be a piece of group work for the module but I do hope they let us choose our groups. For cellular pathology we were allocated a group and omg, was it difficult to get everyone involved and participate in meetings. Hopefully it will be better for this new module. 

Update: 

Finished my Special stain lab report & have submitted (will edit if I want to since I still have 9 days remaining).

Need to revise for 2 modules 

Need to work on dissertation EVERYDAY! Bit by bit inshallah! 

Now I've done this catch up post, hopefully I can start posting more regularly.