Subhan

A very diverse background. Was born in Pakistan, where I studied till Grade 6. Afterwards, I moved to Saudi Arabia, completing my IGCSE’s there. Now, I have been in the United Kingdom for just over 5 years. Here, I completed some of my GCSE’s and sixth form. Currently, I am in my Y2 Medicine (A100) BM5 course at the University of Southampton. This background would allow me to help students mind-map/ trace their steps in life and in guiding them to plant and craft a story for their UCAS application, rather than just writing a personal statement.

I love interacting and talking to people, and having re-applied for Medicine, I appreciate that a student needs to be confident in answering questions, rather than just trying to cram all the interview hot topics in their head. I believe that the interview is very straightforward – you just need to be yourself! Everyone has heard this a million times, but not many replicate it in their journey. I hope to take my students in a journey with me, where I can highlight to them that: yes, that MMR story and Harold Shipman were important parts of history, but no more important than the hand signals, eye contact, smiling face you try to maintain during your interview!

Re-applying, this is the mindset that I went in with for my online MMI. With Southampton doing traditional interviews, I was just myself! I smiled, I laughed, I used my hands to signal/ signpost, I nodded. I actively listened. I did things that I would have done in a normal conversation with my friend. And, in the end, I could tell that I transferred all my energy to them. They were buzzed!

I hope to use this experience and reflection as a tool to TEACH – NOT TELL, where I can dig out the hidden personalities all these students, all these people, all these minds have!

Personality = interview offer.