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Happy New Year
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great break over the holidays, whether that included studying, moving house or otherwise! January is an exciting month, with many forum members starting at their respective medical schools. We look forward to hearing all about your experiences! As well, the GAMSAT hopefuls will be vamping up the study program, with just 10 weeks from this coming Saturday until the big day. Remember that registrations close on January 27th, so make sure you don't miss the deadline! Finally - I hope your enjoy GeekGurl's story below. I believe it is one of the best and most inspiring yet.
Budgeting - Your New Year's Resolution?
Whether have plenty of cash or just enough, are planning to work less and study more, or just saving for a great holiday or your GAMSAT fees, budgeting is useful for everyone. If one of your
New Year's resolutions was to manage your money better, check out the following websites to help you on your way.
Staying on topic!
The moderators of the forum have noticed many threads going off topic lately. It's important that, as a forum which is used primarily for resource and experience sharing, we stay on topic so information can be easily retrieved for future use. Here are a few hints:
- Check to see if a thread on that topic has already been started. If you add your opinion/information to an old thread, it is bumped back up to the top of the threads list. There is no need to start a new thread.
- If you want to congratulate people, or ask a question regarding a particular post that will lead off topic, perhaps you could PM them.
- Use the search function. Particularly for new members, chances are, when it comes to queries about the GAMSAT or interviews, your question has already been asked or discussed before. You can always add a post to the end of existing threads on these topics.
- As an example, the 'results' thread in the GAMSAT forum is a great spot to see what scores people achieved, and what they believe they did right and wrong in the exam. If you want to ask someone a specific question, congratulate them on their score, or ponder an aspect of their post, you could PM them.
- Moderators will be endeavouring to control this aspect more in the future, by making some structural changes, with more indicators in place to assist, however the best help will be if the members could follow some of the suggestions above.
Frangipani's Story
I had always wanted to be a doctor. However, in high school I was distracted and got mediocre results, only enough to get me into a BA. I really improved in the new environment and got great results. The head of my Department even nominated me as Woman Grad of the year. I didn't win, but it was enough to get my dreams back. I applied to do undergraduate medicine at UWA. They said no. I gave up and went to work. A few years ago, I was driving down Marmion Ave and heard on the radio that Notre Dame University was applying to start a graduate medicine program. The dream reawakens! In November 2004 I saw an advertisement in the newspaper saying that Notre Dame had places available. I rang and was told I would need to sit GAMSAT, and they sent me details on the upcoming information night. I attended with my husband. I was mesmerised from the front row. I thought everything they talked about sounded wonderful. I was grinning like crazy. Then they said applicants had to have finished their initial bachelor degree in the last 10 years. Mine was 20 years old. Several people questioned them insistently, but they were firm. We left, and I was gutted. When we got home my children asked how it went. I started sobbing uncontrollably. The whole family looked at me in horror. No one had ever seen me cry like that. My husband swore he would find a way. I said there was no point. He said he would do whatever it took. He sat up half the night searching for a solution. When I woke up in the morning, he had found one sentence, hidden in an obscure document, saying that the University of Western Australia would consider applicants with a degree over 10 years old, "on a case by case basis." It took me three weeks to get the courage to ring. I was too scared of being destroyed again. Eventually, I did ring, and spoke to a lovely man called Steve. He said it was possible, but unlikely. I had to write a submission that would have to be approved by the whole admissions committee. He said the important factor was what I had done in the meantime. I told him I had worked in Customs Intelligence and Investigation; that I had represented Customs in the Stuart Royal Commission taskforce; that I had been assistant director of the Maralinga Branch, finding out what happened and assessing claims; and that I had written and successfully fought to pass legislation to give automatic compensation to nuclear veterans who had any sort of radioactive related complaint. This was while I raised my kids, completed a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science and had risen from base programmer to Head of Applications Development for the Premier, responsible for over 100 websites and applications. He seemed more hopeful then, and said it was always worth trying. He advised me to sit GAMSAT regardless, as if they said no, a good GAMSAT score would give me a case to try again for permission in 2006. So I started studying. My year 10 son taught me basic chemistry and physics. It was all new to me. I went to the Des O'Neill course and came home after the first day and cried, because I didn't understand anything. I didn't want to go back. But I did. I met NursePitto, who kindly helped me. I needed a friendly face. I felt old and dumb. In my first run through my GAMSAT practice test, I only understood one question. But by studying in every available moment, it started coming together. I still worked full time and looked after my family, but they all did a lot more cooking and housework to help me. I studied on the train, during lunch breaks and at night. I still had no answer back from the university about my special application. So I didn't know if it was all pointless anyway. Every time I was thought about the enormity of what I was trying to learn, I felt overwhelmed and hopeless. So I concentrated on learning one thing at a time. Every one thing I learnt was one more mark. They add up. Both my mother and people I work with tried to dissuade me. They couldn't understand why I would give up a lucrative career for 4.5 years of study and a country GP job. My mother told me that I was setting myself up for failure, and that all I'd get out of the experience was a sense of humility. That God didn't want me to be a doctor or I would have got in earlier. And that it was not fair to my children. Luckily I have a truly fabulous husband who was certain from day one that I would get in. I have sisters who sent me roses and Moet before the exam. And children who helped because they love me. I got 65 on my GAMSAT, the University said yes to my special application, and now, I'm in! Through this forum I have met some wonderful people. Especially DrDream and NursePitto, who I think will be friends for life.
Kat said something wonderful to me, "I read somewhere that at a speech to first years at the University of Sydney, that 90% of the doctor you will be, you already are." It made me very happy. Don't give up! There is always a reason to give up, always detractors who try to drag you down. Ignore them, and only talk to people who believe in you. If you don't achieve your dream now, when will you? Just hang in there - it will happen for you too.
'til next month,
Emma 
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Getting in the mood for Gamsat!
Vet's Story
Before starting my little story of the 'medicine journey', I have to thank everyone on this forum. I only just passed the gammy and that was in the main due to the advice, support and encouragement I have received here. I can't thank all of you enough. I want to name each of you to thank you, but I would leave someone out, so I won't. But you know who you are. Thanks!
Where do I start?
As I said in my "ten randoms" I left home at 14. Although I stayed at school it was a bit hard. My dad was a GP and, when I was younger, I always loved going to the local hospital with him and watching the odd surgery performed (those were the days). In the middle of year twelve I dropped out.
Suffice to say there was no medicine road open to me there.
I married and had three kids. Although I loved all this, I have to admit to feelings of frustration. I was always researching things to do around the house and making things. In 2002, my receptionist job was made redundant and I had trouble getting another job. Around the same time the "National IQ Test" was held on TV. I wasn't going to do it. I didn't want to know how low my IQ was. But my husband wanted to and so I just did it. I got a great score and was astounded. It started me thinking. Not about medicine but about uni.
So I sat the STAT test. I thought it was the most gruelling thing I had done!! I hadn't heard about the
GAMMY obviously!! I got my results and thought I had failed but I read the percentile the wrong way. At that moment I allowed the thought of medicine to waken in my heart. I walked the house saying "I can't do medicine. I can't do medicine". I didn't even know I still had those feelings. I enquired about med but the applications had already closed!
I hadn't sat the UMAT. So I applied to do nursing.
One of my lecturers told me about GEMP in first year. I decided to wait until I had nursed for a while and then do medicine later, if I wasn't satisfied with nursing. Anyway to try and shorten this long, long story, before I finished my nursing degree, I knew I wouldn't be satisfied. On New Year's Day, 2005 I found some info on GEMP on the UWA website. I still didn't know about the Gammy (I thought I had to do the UMAT in May). When I found out about the gammy I thought I would do it as a practice run and registered just before closing date. The exam day was really hot, about 38 degrees and everyone I spoke to at the exam was so clever and nice! I felt pretty calm though.
When I passed I cried. What would I have done if I had failed! I got 63/76/51 - 60, very close to not making it at all! Through all the study for nursing, studying for
GAMMY, waiting for results and interviews, and feeling very stressed, my family has been remarkable. When I didn't want to go on they told me I could do it. Even now when I am scared they tell me I'll make a great doctor.
So here I am. I'm currently doing a graduate nurse program in Perth and starting Medicine in May at UWA. I feel certain I don't deserve this second chance at life, because that's what it is, a second chance. But at 42, I have no intention of wasting one second of the next 5 years as I grow and develop into a medical practitioner. My hope is that it will be worth it for those that I provide care for and that my family will survive the rigors of the course unscathed.
'til next month ...
Emma 
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GAMSAT
Just a short one this month. With a large number of the Paging Dr members sitting
GAMSAT on Saturday, you certainly don't need any distractions from me! Just a
quick note to say on behalf of the Paging Dr forum, absolute best of luck, and
we look forward to hearing about your experiences.
Laugh and relax!
If you are looking for something to ease the tension before the big day, need
a break from studying, or just want to be amused, check out these fine tunes about the medical
profession, visit http://www.amateurtransplants.com
and check out some of their songs. WARNING: Explicit language and crass humour.
Member's Story
I haven't asked for any new story this month, as, well, I've
been a bit busy, but also I honestly feel that the spirit of GAMSAT can best be
represented by DrFatass' story from the newsletter last August. Some people
may not have been members at the time to read it in the newsletter, nor found it
later on the forum. Either way it is a great read, and an inspiration to all who
sit the test on Saturday. I don't think he'll mind me sending it out again.
DrFatass' Story
This year (2005) was the fourth time I sat GAMSAT. I was so
embarrassed about my three previous failings that I would to lie to my friends
in order to not appear so pathetic. I believed I was too stupid, and yet didn't
feel like a stupid person. Thank goodness a few months ago I was proven
blissfully wrong - I nailed a 67. My first attempt was, as for many, a
learning experience. I did no study and was completely convinced that GAMSAT was
the type of exam you couldn't study for (an argument I'm still hearing from
friends who sat this year and failed). I scored 54. On my second attempt I
studied a little over the holidays and convinced myself that it would be enough
- I scored a 55. On my third attempt I got tough on myself, although I only did
about the same amount of study. I did the MedPrep course. I thought this would be
enough, and at first it did appear that I was rewarded with a 62; that is, until
a letter came in the mail two weeks after receiving my initial results,
informing me of my real results (apparently a clerical mistake). I ended up with
a 49 in section II and 56 overall. At this point I threw in my dreams of
being a doctor and headed off overseas. I worked in a hospital pathology
department and burned with jealously every time a doctor entered the labs. I
attempted to convince myself that medicine wasn't for me and I was fortunate
not to have passed the GAMSAT. I creatively came up with dozens of excuses to
justify my loss.
- I don't need that type of stress.
- I'm happy without the
responsibility
- I wouldn't have time to surf
- I'm more happy in my current
job
- I'll never see my family and end up being an irresponsible father
(someday)
- I'm too absent minded and probably end up sewing a set of forceps
inside someone
This list was substantial. But I couldn't ignore the way my
stomach would twist whenever I had to visit the wards. I came back to
Australia seeking a job with patient contact and started a Masters in OT. I was
determined to do well, worked my butt off and ended up with a 6.8 GPA. This got
me thinking about my ability to do well in GAMSAT again. In my previous degree
my GPA had never gone too far above 5.0 and I had persuaded myself that this,
along with my previous GAMSAT grades, was my potential. 6.8 had me convinced
otherwise. I believed hard work was the key so I decided to throw my dice onto
the table one last time. I worked VERY hard in preparation for GAMSAT for 3.5
months prior to the test. I ended up doing 10 full tests in test times and
conditions. In the days between tests I studied science and did in excess of 60
essays (including Des O'Neils better essays course). My hard work and belief
in myself paid off. I saw an 11 point increase in my overall score, and a 16
point increase in my essay score. I don't cry, ever, but I did when I received
my results (just a little). The purpose of this story isn't to brag, I'm
not looking to impress, I'm hoping this story may encourage those out there
who sat this year's test and came out feeling a little disheartened. DON'T
GIVE UP. It took me four tries over a 7 year period. I lost complete faith in
myself, I even tried to talk myself out of my desire, but in the end I nailed
it. I learnt that tenacity, hard work and self belief can take us places the
easy road will not. Failure is not the end it is just a stepping stone to
success, NEVER GIVE UP. Like an old rowing coach of mine once said, "If
winning was easy everyone would be world champ." Postscript:
DrFatass is now in his first year at Griffith University.
Good luck tomorrow!
Emma
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Paging Dr forum is alive and kicking!
This is a brief note to let you know what is happening with the forum.
GAMSAT applications will open at the end of October 2006. Our GAMSAT boards have been restructured to make it easier for next year's candidates to find the info they need. We now have separate sub boards for discussing study materials, study groups, S1/S2 preparation and S3 preparation.
This week, all graduate entry medical schools (except UWA) would have completed their interviews for next year's intake. More than 100 members are waiting to know the outcome. Thank you all for observing the interview discussion blackout. We appreciate that you are just bursting to tell us how you went. As of today (5 October) the blackout is over for all unis except UND and UWA.
We wish you all the very best as you take the final hurdle for entry into medical school. Remember Paging Dr members have a high strike rate for gaining places in medical schools!
Paging Dr's first cohort of medical students are nearing the completion of their first year. We would love to know how you found your first year. For those of you sitting exams in the coming months, we wish you all the best for success.
For a little diversion, we have introduced a new sub board in Off Topic: RANTS This is for you to get something off your chest. As usual, lively and interesting discussions still prevail in all our boards.
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Early Offers!
What a surprising month October has been! Both Griffith University and University of Notre Dame (Fremantle) released their first round offers one week after the interviews ended. An even bigger surprise was the arrival of Sydney University's offers three weeks earlier than expected.
Congratulations to the following members, who received offers for 2007 entry:
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY (2 Offers):
Zhong, PennyCillin
GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY (25 offers):
Haley, Becca, Howie, Kristyk, Monkeymagic, Sheep, Unimed, Lizieme, Johanath, Spike, El.double.you, Srh9876, Kurly, Lopez, Kinny, Faisalk, Loz01mhs, mjs, Schi0085, Adele, Kasey, Polly, Tranniele, Jono, Adlcat
UNIVERITY OF NOTRE DAME, FREMANTLE (4 offers):
Surfieguy, Subterranean, Welner, Jayjay
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY DENTISTRY (4 offers):
Gemmbo, Benjemimo, Goldengirl, Aala2835
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY MEDICINE (26 offers):
Kat, Cam, Manda182, Comradekite, Sando, Moocow, Teratoss, Wma, Davey1000, Jda, Complexityam, Crookiemonster, Rnag3154, Impervious, Supernerd, Asdf, Dimanavillage, Ryu, Steph859, Slapper, John, Mackinss, Greenbean, Africalove, jimyip2, kimh111
UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG (1 offer):
Lozzy
To date, 62 Paging Dr members received medical/dental school offers for 2007 entry. The majority of medical schools have yet to release their offers. Further offers from Flinders expected in December and January. Make sure you login to Paging Dr this month to let us know of your offer or to find out how everyone else is going.
Good luck to all members, who are still waiting to learn the outcome of their med school applications.
As we celebrate the success of those who received offers, let us also commiserate with those who did not make it. The path to medical school is difficult. Many of us will not make it on the first attempt. Paging Dr members, who succeeded after several attempts, have shared insights into their struggles. We have several topic threads to support those who need to work out what they will do next year.
MY STORY
For further inspiration, visit the MY STORY topic thread in the Welcome sub board. Here, we invite members to share something about their lives and possibly, how this has influenced their decision to enter a medical career.
GAMSAT APPLICATIONS
ACER has now opened its applications for GAMSAT 2007. The exam will be held on Saturday, 24 March 2007. Visit ACER's web site to register. Registration fee is $296.
Remember to also look into our Archive sub board, as well as our restructured GAMSAT sub boards for help with GAMSAT preparation.
PAGING DR BANNER COMPETITION
We invite you to submit your design for a new Paging Dr banner. The banner design must conform with the existing Paging Dr colour scheme. Please send your entry via PM to admin. The owner of the winning entry will be invited to enter the Orange Room.
GREEN MEMBERSHIP STATUS
If you are a medical / dental student and have less then 50 posts, the name of your university will be displayed beneath your username. This allows other members to recognise you as a medical / dental student.
Your membership status will be upgraded to green, when you have authored 50 quality posts. While it is easy to count 50 posts, the task of determining quality is quite subjective. Paging Dr moderators/administrators can tell when you are spamming the boards to get the green stars. Please do not fool yourself into thinking green stars are an end of their own. The purpose of green membership status is to recognise members, who actively contribute. Paging Dr is a success because of these contributions.
WB
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GAMSAT PREPARATION COURSE SURVEY
Many thanks to all members, who contributed to Kimmy's survey. Kimmy received many good responses from members. Even the funny responses were appreciated. Click here to view Kimmy's findings. These comprehensive notes will assist members preparing for GAMSAT 2007.
PAGING DR BANNER COMPETITION
Many thanks to Sando, KJ and srh9876 and ScienceGeek, who all contributed interesting and creative designs. Of these excellent submissions, ScienceGeek's mock exam paper design appealed most to the Paging Dr Council. ScienceGeek now becomes a Senior Member of the forum. Congratulations ScienceGeek!
HOW DOES KARMA WORK?
You may have noticed the word KARMA beneath a member's name with a number and the word EXALT. Karma is a rough measure of a member's contribution to the forum. To give karma to another member, click once on the word EXALT under their displayed name. This increments the member's KARMA tally by one point. The exaltee does not know who exalted them unless you tell them.
Exalt people if you think they give good advice, amuse you, offer a valuable insight or when you want to encourage them to contribute more. You can choose to exalt anyone or to exalt the same person many times. You can only exalt once per hour.
If you do something sneaky like create a dummy account to exalt yourself many times, you will be caught! There is a log which administrators can view, showing who exalted who.
FIRST YEAR MEDDIES: WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
If you have just completed the first year of your medical degree, log in to Paging Dr and tell us about it! Give us a rundown of your experience. How closely did it meet your expectations? What advice do you have for Paging Dr members, who commence their studies in 2007? Click here to share your thoughts.
WELCOME TO MEDICAL SCHOOL Board
This board is now open for all Paging Dr members to post. We want to encourage new members, who are also medical students, to contribute to forum discussions. It is now easier for you to author 50 quality posts and achieve green membership status.
OFFERS FOR 2007 ENTRY
As expected more offers were announced in the previous month. Congratulations to the following members, who received offers for 2007 entry:
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (6 offers)
IntoMedSchool, boags78, To2623, Goliath, MagicFace, Jays3
GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY (1 offer)
Braddles
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE (6 offers)
Goldy, Super Geek, Captain, Barmino, Lozzaroo, DrLimo
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, FREMANTLE (5 offers)
MalibuStacey, Danmac, JB, Jonothan, Nix
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND (27 offers)
Kimmy, Cranky, HollywoodUpstairs, Adzatious, MedicalHopeful, Sida, Will2902, DctrDctr, Pod, Rat, Haz, AqueousJam, Unidude, Manticore, Cupes, Molligrub, MBonython, AaronW, Ddwl, JRagon, JoanneL08, Grandpa, BecciBarnes, DocSox, Ceral, 44darts, Eadern
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY DENTISTRY (2 offers)
Pants, Azjaz13
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY MEDICINE (1 offer)
Yannie
UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG (1 offer)
HG
To date, Paging Dr members have claimed 99 medical school places and 6 USyd Dentistry places for 2007 entry. It is not over yet! First round offers from Flinders and University of Western Australia are due to be completed in January 2007. To all those waiting, hang in there. We look forward to hearing more good news in the New Year.
As we celebrate the success of those who received offers, let us also support those who did not make it. The path to medical school is difficult. Many of us will not make it on the first attempt. Paging Dr members, who succeeded after several attempts, have shared insights into their struggles. We have several topic threads to support those who need to work out what they will do next year.
MEMBERSHIP DATABASE TRIMMING
Last month, we deleted over 800 members from Paging Dr's membership database.
We had a massive number of 'lurkers' registered. This made the forum a little harder to manage size-wise. Lots of people register but then never come back, so there is little need to keep them 'on the books'. Alternatively, a lot of people use this forum to achieve their ends (i.e. getting into med school) and then choose not to contribute any further. That is their prerogative, but again we do not need them as members if that is the case.
This is a valuable forum with lots of information and intellectual stimulation. Whilst posting may be a little anxiety provoking at the start, we feel everyone has something to contribute. Furthermore, given the mass of useful information here, it is fair to say that members have an obligation to contribute where they can, rather than "loving and leaving" us. As much as we love our regular contributors, we also need continual injections of ideas etc from new members who can build on the knowledge base we have. We are trying to encourage a community where we have a mass of regular contributors adding to the richness of the intellectual broth here - this unfortunately necessitates the occasional trimming of members who have contributed in a long time.
Bottom line here - all are welcome. We are not that scary, and if you feel you are benefiting from the forum then it is only fair to give something back.
PAGING DR PERSONNEL CHANGES
Kat has been appointed as Administrator. Kimmy and Cranky have been appointed as Global Moderators. ScienceGeek is now a Board Moderator. The names of all Paging Dr administrators and moderators are shown in the news bar at the top of the Paging Dr Forum home page.
Paging Dr Staff wishes all our members a safe and joyful holiday. We look forward to catching up with you in the New Year!
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