Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by BadJuju

How do I beat the UKCAT and the BMAT?

BadJuju — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:42:46 +0800

It's been awhile since I posted anything here since my SPM days; I feel old, sigh

Hi there!

On August and November the BMAT and the UKCAT exams will be held, respectively. Problem is, I still have my International Baccalaureate exams and assessments (i.e. EE submissions) to worry about during that period. I am EXTREMELY worried about not getting a high enough score to get admissions into Cambridge, ICL and UCL to do medicine, and I'm worried that my scores wouldn't be as competitive as my A-level peers who just finished their A2 and are putting 100% concentration on their BMAT/UKCAT.

Few questions:

i) Has anyone took these exams before. How did you fare?
ii) I'm aiming for a 750++ for the UKCAT and a 7++ for the first 2 sections of the BMAT. Any tips? Am I too ambitious?
iii) Should I put my IB studies on pause and completely focus on the 2 exams?
iv) How long did it take you to prepare for those tests?
v) Any good books to recommend?

vi) On a side note, UK university interviews are coming up as well. How should I best prepare and conduct myself on that day?

I think that's it for now. Thank you in advance! (:

p.s. I'll be heading there in 2014 if all goes well.

Anyone here knows how MARA scholarship works like?

BadJuju — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:34:20 +0800

Helooo peeps ;D

I've successfully passed through MARA's interview, and now I'm accepted for their scholarship/convertible loan. Thing is, I don't know how does this scholarship work. Is it really true that there is no bond imposed? How much of a percentage must i pay back should if it is a loan? Hypothetically speaking here, if i get a 4.00CGPA in University and manage to convert my loan into a scholarship, does that mean that they have given me money just like that? Where is the logic in that? Doesn't that sound a little bit dodgy/shady?

I've been trying to call them for the past week but they haven't been answering my calls.

So dear awesome people/MARA seniors, could you enlighten me on how this convertible loan works like, and what the contract will look like? Also, could you share some of your experiences regarding Mara scholars?

Since i had 10A+ for my SPM, KPM is also offering me a bursary to study A-Levels for free (and JPA would sponsor my undergraduate degree afterwards). Is it wise for me to reject my KPM bursary& JPA and go for MARA instead?

Terima Kasih Daun Keladi.

Aspiring doctor needs your help! Is UM any good?

BadJuju — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:29:25 +0800

Hi there awesome peeps. I'm an SPM leaver of 2011 and i got 10A+. I'm also meleis.
I aspire to be a doctor someday. And I have several options, but I'm somewhat unsure which route should I go about.

So there's option A:

i) Accept gomen's bursary. Take A levels for 2 years at Taylor's College. Get 4A's
ii) Say hello to JPA after my A levels. Apply for Top 10 universities in the world. Hope for the best.
iii) If my applications to Top 10 didn't fare so well, I'll have to apply for medicine locally in IMU,AIMST,Monash, etc.
iv) Become a doctor.

Annddd there's option B:

i) Accept the offer to study 1 year of foundation (asasi) in UM.
ii) Continue to study in UM for degree for several years.
iii) Become a doctor.

I'm unsure which path is the best. I always dream of studying overseas. I know option A can get me there by applying for the Top 10 universities, but from this thread: http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...7353&hl=BadJuju
there's a HUGE possibility i won't make it to the overseas since "Top 10" is actually "Top 4". Self sponsor is not an option. I need a scholarship to study overseas.

So is rejecting UM in hopes of going overseas a smart choice? Or should I be grateful by just staying put in Msia and accept UM? Is UM any good if I were to study medicine? How does it compare to AIMST,Monash,and IMU?

Would these A-Levels subject combo suffice?

BadJuju — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:11:28 +0800

Hi there! (:

I'm under the KPM bursary, and by 2014 I'm eligible to apply for a sponsorship via JPA to read medicine overseas in the Top 10 universities.

Basically, after my a levels, I'll have to apply for medicine in Oxford, or Cambridge, Stanford, John Hopkins, etc.

My question: Is this subject combo enough to enroll in these top 10 universities?

QUOTE

Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Thinking Skills
Pengajian Islam (under MQA)

Also, I'll be enrolling in Taylor's. They students here seem active in participating in extra cocurricular activities.

My question: Do I need to join the debate club, choir, Model UN, sports and other clubs and societies to spazz up my CV? Would it be an advantage to have co-curricular achievements in applying for universities in Medicine? How much of a role does it play in interviews?

Terima kasih daun keladi (:

EDIT: thank you so much for your replies. It's nice to know that I can always count on informative seniors for help. This is the list of universities provided for the 2014 scholarship.

http://www.moe.gov.my/upload/galeri_awam/k.../1334048998.pdf

I cannot help but notice the Title "Klinikal, pre-klinikal, dan kesihatan". What is it, exactly?

With the bursary money: Taylors or Sunway?

BadJuju — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:36:03 +0800

Greetings, I'm eligible for the government bursary and I'm planning to take A levels. I've narrowed my options to two: Taylors and Sunway.

To seniors who are reading this, could you please describe your honest experience in these colleges? I know every college is bound to have bad lecturers, but what are the chances of that happening in these two colleges? I find it grossly unfair how luck will determine whther or not I'll end up with a sucky lecturer or an awesome one.

I have visited bit of these colleges, and they both look fine to me.

Just to clarify,
i) money is NOT an issue . Everything is covered by the bursary. I don't have to pay a single cent.
ii) I have accommodations ready by the bursary, so distance and location is NOT an issue

Also, bonus question unrelated to the topic, Taylors has a subject combo of Maths, Bio, Chemistry, and Physics. Would this suffice to study medicine in the UK? I've always thought Physics was unnecessary, and Further Maths is a must. How wrong am I ?

Terima kasih daun keladi (: