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In Focus - Evie O'Rourke

Evie O'Rourke

Year of Study: Year 3

Evie O’Rourke tells us about how she prepared for the transition to university level study, advice she would have provided her younger self, and which parts of the BSMS Medicine course she has enjoyed the most. Read Evie's answers in full below.

What made you want to study at BSMS?

I went to the University of Sussex for my undergradate degree, and I fell hard in love with Brighton. I'm from a really small rural area so Brighton was dazzling in every sense of the word! BSMS in particular is famed for its great student feedback, and it seemed like there was a lot of support for its students which is why I ultimately picked it as my firm choice.

What work experience did you undertake before applying to medicine? How was it beneficial?

Well, my specific medical experience involved shadowing GPs, doing some HCA shifts, and primarily my years as a First Aider for St John Ambulance. The latter was by far the most useful to me, as I got to work in a multidisciplinary team, alongside nurses, paramedics, doctors etc., so it taught me the value of teamwork and working under pressure. However, I have to say, working in bars and cafes really helped my self-confidence. Sometimes you have to be firm with people and sometimes someone might be having a really hard day so that definitely taught me a lot about having difficult conversations. So never discount any experience, it all depends on the lessons you learnt from it!

How did you prepare for the BMAT/UCAT?

There are so many resources out there for students so I used all the free resources I could find. I did a lot of science GCSE revision, as it had been a few years since I did them myself, did practice essays, and even just reading news articles thinking of critical viewpoints. I built on these skills in around a 4-6 week period leading up to the BMAT, and near the exam started timing myself too.

How did you prepare for your interview(s) for medical school?

I printed off a list of possible questions and got my partner to quiz me every so often! I never wrote anything down as I didn't want to sound scripted in my interview.

Do you have a top tip for interviews?

I know it's really hard, but you have to try and relax as much as you can. Feeling nervous is good - it means you care, but too many nerves can get the better of you. I had applied to Medicine three times before with no luck whatsoever, so by the fourth time around, I still wasn't convinced I was ever going to get an offer - and because of this somehow it gave me a sense of confidence I hadn't before. I had learnt the hard way that getting rejected from Medicine doesn't mean I'm less of a person, it doesn't even mean that I wouldn't be a good doctor! Knowing my fate wasn’t tied to this one interview weirdly calmed me down. I would say find that grit inside you, put on your confident mask, think how you would talk or act if you had that extra confidence and self-assurance and just pretend for the day. Do this enough and you'll grow into this mask.

Is there a piece of advice you wish you could have given your younger self when thinking about/applying to medicine?

Yes - think seriously about an alternative to Medicine, it'll soften the blow if the rejection comes and gives you something positive to focus on.

Remember you're applying for one of the most competitive courses, do your best, but ultimately a rejection from medical school does not define your self-worth.

If medicine is something you really want, then apply again, think of ways to improve your application ask current medical students and doctors (Instagram is great for this!) what their advice would be, or if they would give your personal statement a read through - if you don't ask you don't get!

Don't be tempted to buy that expensive one day BMAT course - I've heard really mixed reviews about them and ultimately if you're strapped for cash it's not worth it. You're much better off finding a current medical student to give you half an hour of their time (most are willing to do this as we love talking about medicine!!)

How did you choose which medical schools to apply to?

I only really wanted to go to Brighton but thought I ought to put a couple more down - so I also put down Imperial and UCL - I ended up getting offers for all three but turned down the London ones so I could stay in Brighton.

How did you find/ manage the transition to university?

I'd been to uni before so it was pretty much what I expected. The one thing that I was pleasantly surprised about was that the teaching isn't 9-5 everyday like I thought. Although they catch you out with all the independent study that's needed. Saying this, the myth that it's nose to the grindstone for five years is totally wrong! Whilst it's a lot of hard work, I have time for extracurriculars, exercise, catching up with friends and part-time work so please don't fill all your time with just Medicine!

Which part of your course have you found the most interesting so far?

The full body cadaveric dissection is by far the most interesting aspect of the course for me. Sadly, this got disrupted a lot due to Covid, along with every other aspect of the course. But the DR sessions we have now are still the best. I learn by doing and seeing so these sessions teach me better than any lecture could. Being able to learn through cadavers is truly a privilege and I'm so grateful to the families and people that decide to donate to medical science.

What has been your BSMS highlight so far?

My friendship group that I've made. I've always struggled to make friends quickly, and the first year at uni can kind of feel like a frenzy to form concrete bonds quickly. However, spending so much time with the same people every day really helps those bonds form naturally. Whilst I'm not sure I'd want to take a bullet for them, I'm definitely willing to share my lecture notes with them!

What is your favourite thing about studying and living in Brighton?

I love living in a small city, the convenience of transport and food is especially helpful in Covid times! Being able to walk along the beach is definitely good for me too.

Do you have a favourite place to visit in Brighton and Hove?

YES. Julien Plumart café. They are on UberEats too, they are the most stunning French café ever and my all-time absolutely favourites. They're pricey so not one to do too often, but oh so worth it when you do. They are famous for their macarons, but they do breakfast/brunch boxes which are just heavenly.

What is your top tip for prospective applicants applying to study medicine?

It's not about the quantity of the work experience you've done, it's the lessons that you've learnt from it. It's not enough to say in an interview what work experience you have, you need to be able to show how it has helped you develop your skills, or what it helped you understand about the profession etc.