Buffetting : Monash University Medicine Interview

Another day another interview, I'm getting numb...

Or that was what I thought.

Apparently the administration revamped their conventional/traditional interviews for med-students in 2011, just when I*yes mighty me* is about to enter their program.

The traditional interview, according various sources was a 2 stationed interview,

Station 1, the interviewer CHATS with you about anything yada yada... The same old stuffs.

Station 2, the student is given a scenario on a medical case, and he is required to describe and explain them to the interviewers as if they know cocks about medical terms.

In the newly modified interview, according to my experience today was also a 2 stationed interview.

Station 1 and 2 both have a scenario in which students are required to look through and brainstorm on the possible questions and answers to be brought up by the interviewers*talk about speculation* within 2 minutes.

After that, a bell goes off, students will enter the room and 2 interviewers will ask 5 questions in total regarding the scenario given, and students are to answer those questions.

I was totally caught off guard by this.

Yet, my speculation these days are getting better, especially for interviews.

Scenario 1 was also Grey's Anatomy identical.
You overheard a conversation between 2 person over the room.A houseman was proposing a reasonable and proper medical treatment for a patient. Yet, the senior consultant brushed it away, and was somehow posting sarcastic comments towards the houseman. The consultant then posted a new approach and the houseman immediately agreed to it. As the senior consultant moves away, the houseman turns around and wiped tears away her eyes.

Life's like a drama.

Speculated questions: What will you suggest, What will you do, How do you approach.

I hit 3 questions, but the last 2 questions was weird, and I kinda forgot about them. The last one was something like: Plenty of medical researches and practicals are based on trial and error, to what extend do you agree to this so that the areas wouldn't be costly.

I had to make interviewer to repeat this question TWICE. Gosh, wonder if that was appropriate.

I'll spare you my answers. What's most important is those answers can make me pass this interview. Then I will post my answers.

Scenario 2:

DNA has been know for its accuracy in the justice conviction system. The juries were well known for their trust towards the experts, especially scientific ones.

And the rest was kinda vague.

The questions were things like do you agree, how would you see things, and a few more again which I do not recall. Probably because I was having a headache trying yo answer those questions.

Bottom line, the new systems kinda rocked. It tickles the student's critical thinking, though I think I kinda screwed up a lil. Hopefully I can actually gain an admission, if better the Monash in Clayton.


PS: The Australian adults actually talk just like US. I mean the words they used, not their accent.

Owh well, lets hope for the best for now.

Geez, why am I always the first to be in more interviews? Just like today.
PPS: Random pictures. I have no idea why this exist in the internet.

Buffetting : MEXT Scholarship Interview

I'll be damned if I said I wasn't nervous at all.

What's worse, I thought I was doomed when I got stuck in the jam near the old The Jump on my way to Persiaran Stonor.

Yet, luck was on my side, and I managed to hit the place on time, with everything well equipped.

jam ar...

The Japan Embassy is very strict, in which they do not allow visitors to bring in phones, hence I have really limited photos for this post.

But one thing is for sure, its so hard to differentiate both Japan Embassy and Singapore High Commission from far.

They are both plain white, and both filled with bars.

The only thing different is the interior and security measures. Japan Embassy's was much more stricter, and Nicer. At least they greet you well.

It was 8.45 am when we enter the commission's 1st floor, and we were greeted with a video showcase on Japan Traveling while we wait for the lady in charge.

Got to know a few friends, though it was mostly girls. Like what Karyne said, girls are normally more punctual than guys, and yes it's true. of all 4 early birds, I was the only guy.

Chit chat a lil, and Cik Nuraini came in and rechecked our documents.

She was so nice,*bet she did this like a gazillion times* and she flipped through our applications to check if everything is fine.

I panicked a lil and she reassured me with ," It's okay I know you are nervous. The panels won't eat you up!"

And it did help.

The day proceeded with going into the waiting room before entering the interview panels' room. There was where I met few more people, a girl from Samtet taking social science in psychology, and a girl from TARC taking medicine, and a fellow STPMer Keith Conrad taking medicine also.

Pfft. 2 competitions. Hopefully I can outweigh both of them with my Japanese XD

When it was my turn, I just head in, and VERY IMPORTANT GESTURE:

SHAKE THEIR HANDS. No matter you have sweaty palms, smelling palms, whatever shit palms, shake their hands because it makes a great impression and respect.

It shows that you are prepared, and not afraid. Well, at least to me.

red stripes today~

The interview started with introduction, then asking of why taking medicine, in Japan because engineering would be so much more easier. Why Japan, out of UK, US, Australia?

Luckily I was smart enough to ask Hoshino Sensei about some Japanese university cultures. Apparently, in Japan the students do not only go for the school's prestige, but the professors' too. We have to resource out the professor we wish to study under instead of basing on the curriculum of the field like how we do it over here.

That was why I chose, Japan.

And if you were to be offered pharmacy, do take it up because it can also help people.

It was weird because they keep on stressing that I have excellent academic background.

I was like, "Are you serious? It's like nothing! Somebodies out there ought to be smarter than me!"

Yet, I succeeded in impressing them with my Japanese language scores, and also JLPT N3 when they were asking about my co-curriculum activities.

I wanted talk about Form 5, but they prompted me to talk about Form 6. So impression time.

Form 6 Council Vice Secretary cum Ad-Hoc President, Debate and Drama Club, and Event Manager+ Interpreter job in Japanese Cultural Exchanges.

Next up is impression on Japan. Technologically advance country, even better equipments than Russia and States.

Then it was politic question. We expect you to return to Malaysia after graduation, and becoming the bridge between both countries. How are you going to succeed in doing that.

I was actually predicting this question, somehow it just popped into my mind in the showers. And I just thought of medical researches right on the spot. HIV is definitely one thing which can bring both countries together. If we manage to nail this virus, we can get closer in different terms,especially with what's going on in Japan.

There are other stuffs, I think my interview was one of the longest around. They were impressed I can see. I think its because I've already done so much. I was prepared already. The Japanese from UM was very enthusiastic towards my application, I can see that.

He was like,"You've already gotten impressive academics, and you have gained admission from universities already! What are you going to do if you get this scholarship? Are you going to consider any other outcomes?"

I couldn't give a concrete answer. But I will choose Japan over any other thing else.

Owh I totally forgot about the panels. There were 5 of them, one from JPA, one from Jagam, one from UM(Japanese lecturer), one from JIS(the Japanese) and one more Malay man from I have no idea.

I know The lady from Jagam because I sat for EJU. The Japanese professor from UM was informed to us by Cik Noraini. The JPA lady was introduced when they asked me if I applied for JPA. And the Japanese form JIS is because I've seen him during my written examination.

But the Malay dude was very nice also, much better than the panels I have had in JPA interview.

We even joked about me being the ambassador in the future! And they were so cool with it!

"Practicing doctor ambassador. Imagine that."

I can't stop but to think that they were actually amazed of my application, despite of the low scores I have had in the examination. I got like 45 for maths, while people who took physics got 90. Wtheck how did they get 90 at all???!!!!

I got the highest for Chem among all applicants, but still, I'd wish I can have higher scores.

They were like," Are you sure Japan is the place with all the tremors going around? You are like the hope of your family, the brightest one!"

I'd swear I wanted to digress. Because I'd never see myself in that manner.

Anyway, they said it will be a strong recommendation from them, and I can see in their eyes they liked me.

Last question was, do you really want to go to Japan.

HELL YEAH WHO ARE YOU KIDDING ITS MY DREAM MAN!!!!!

Lets hope for the best then. Replies to be done in August, when I will update again.

PS: Keith! Post your experience also!

Buffetting : IMU Interview

So far, this is the 3rd interview I've had in 2011 for entrance into a med school.

Well, since its the third, and because it's IMU(no offend meant), the nervous issue seemed to be toned down a lot, though the interviewer did say that I looked tense.

Probably due to the tiredness I have had on that day itself from sending in the Singaporean Scholarship, not to mention house chores.

It's just so stupid that even after I've told the family that I'm having an interview, the clenching on to me and asking me to do everything still persisted, regardless of what I need to deal with.

Okay, post on complaint next time.

So, I''d practically just talked my way through, literally for 15 minutes in the room.

I would say that the interviewers weren't particularly interested in me, and maybe they were just already too tired after multiple candidates stepping into the room.

The whole went just like a ice-breaking session, who am I, my background, family check, hobby(i know right, what the heck?) and the game would be the situation given:

Tim was given the power to put a position into his firm. Paul, his friend applied and was qualified.Yet another candidate also applied and is more qualified than Paul to take up the job. Tim was deciding whether he should be impartial or inconsiderate to choose between both candidates. Finally, Tim chose to be impartial as he is not willing to drop the friendship.

Okay, what would you do.

This is pretty much Malaysian stylo question.

Candidates choose to agree or disagree. Of course I'm the type that disagree to almost everything, for Pete's know reasons.

Gave them my reason, its unfair, gotta be professional, if Paul were to be a good friend he would know Tim's position and perspective, explain to Paul what's going on, yada yada, you know the drill.

Ended up with me asking about some this and that about IMU, viola and I'm done.

Anti-climactic I know, can't believe the interview went so boring.

Maybe I expected too much, who knows.

My mum even said that I was condemning the interviewers, as I stated that the scenario given would be Malaysian Education System all over again.

Yet, after thinking about it, if I were not to sound my opinion on things like this, no matter how sensitive it might be, I don't think I would be a good doctor.

Imagine you were asked to hide things from your patient as a doctor.

I won't be able to do that. It's unfair.

It's a different matter maybe, but to me it relates.

Woohoo, more differences between me and the family, way to go man.

Guess it's the part of puberty which hit me real late.

No pictures, IMU's interview is a lil bland. Maybe things will be different upon enrollment.

Buffetting :NUMed Malaysia Interview

Attire for the interview~

I am sure I had butterflies in the stomach while driving my way to PJ8 this morning.

The fear of being late, the fear of blurting out stupid words, what's worse, the fear of not being able to perform well in the interview.

I never liked venturing around PJ. The roads pretty much suck and the sign boards sometimes make no sense.

Yet, there are always nice people around to ask for directions, and the uncle in Esso today made my day~

*THANK YOU WHITE-HAIRED UNCLE IN ESSO BESIDE ARMADA HOTEL*

Went there, waited for my turn.

Dr Kevin Khoo and Mr Richard *forgotten his last name, i think it was stones or something* were two decent men.

Interviewing with them wasn't a pressurizing task, more over it was a real fun one.

I got to speak up my opinions and points freely, without any verbal restrictions or blabbles like I had in the HKU interview.

I guess two-to-one interview is more of my thing, instead of group ones. Things get worse if I were to start of the whole interview.

Anyway, questions do not get far from the ethics I will face as a doctor, including the rights of patients, working with other team members of the health care business, inclining obesity in Malaysia, and the dignity of a doctor.

The funny part was when they mentioned I had a 4th language, and Mr Richard came in and asked:

R: what if there was a patient with a Tamil medical history? What would you do?

*stunned for 5 seconds*
B: Good question. My friend asked me to pick up Tamil before, but I wonder how much I can learn till then. Well, I'd probably get a translator. *eyes opening wide*

R: Of course! Well, that's the only thing you can do. *everyone laughed*

And there are questions like do the specialties choose the doctors, or the otherwise?

I answered most questions with the term "circumstantial". as that's what we face everyday.

There is no more definite right and wrong anymore.

It's like asking is being homosexual.

It can be wrong in religion's view, but aesthetically it can be argued.

Yet, stating these points can only mean that I'm not firm enough on my own stand, and everything can be changed due to circumstances.

Well, I got the offer anyway. I can see that Dr Kevin Khoo was eager to have me in NUMed
*nose as long as Pinnochio's after 100 lies*

The constant "pushing" of questions one after another, that's not only interview, that's immediate acceptance XD

Well, it's a good start of interview. Hopefully things do not get freakishly crazy when it comes to NUS, HKU, or Local University interviews.


Owh, and I came across this 2nd hand shop in Amcorp Mall, Joe's Mac, which sells practically anythiing from jazz records to saxophones. But I only managed to get my hands on the Economics and Trudi Canavan's Magician's Guild.

Believe it or not, I only cost me at least 70% less of the original prices. The lady was nice enough to offer me Rm20 for both books, despite the price tag or rm 12 each. Hunters should come to this place to check nostalgic stuffs out.

Thumbs up!


PS: There's this franchise in PJ too.