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In Focus - Farazi Virk

Farazi Virk

Year of Study: Year 5

Farazi Virk tells us about her experience of being a student at BSMS, how she prepared for interviews and what brought her to study medicine in Brighton. Read Farazi's answers in full below.

What made you want to study at BSMS?

I had a look at the BSMS website and really liked how BSMS was one of very few Medical Schools to offer full body cadaveric dissection. I was also impressed by the high student satisfaction and listened to some of the Student View on the BSMS YouTube channel. BSMS sounded like a friendly Medical School and a place where I could imagine spending the next 5 years of my life.

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

I did some work experience at a Pharmacy and this experience allowed me to appreciate the multidisciplinary approach to patient care. I also undertook a two-week placement with Gap Medics in Thailand. I was able to see surgeries and sit in clinics with doctors. This experience allowed me to appreciate healthcare delivery in another country and compare it to the NHS. I volunteered in the Paediatric A&E department and a charity shop for six months. This was beneficial as I was able to use an example to demonstrate my commitment and use specific examples of what I learnt from these experiences including customer service in the charity shops.

How did you prepare for the BMAT/UCAT?

I did lots of practice questions using the 1000 BMAT questions book and used the curriculum for the science/maths section on the BMAT website to help plan my revision. I also used the practice papers that were available on the website. For the UCAT I used Medify which is website that has a bank of questions you can practice online.

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

As with anything, the more you practice the better. Make sure you are aware of the qualities of a good doctor and the NHS core values. A good idea would be to come up with examples of where you have shown these examples and why that sets you in a good stead to becoming a doctor.

What’s your top tip for interviews?

Stay calm and give yourself time to think before jumping into an answer. If a station does not go to plan during your interview do not worry, the interviewers in the next station have not met you yet! It is a fresh start. Always use examples of where you have shown the key qualities of good doctor and demonstrate what you learnt from your work experience.

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

To not worry when things do not go to plan. Not everyone's journey into medical school is the same. You are surrounded by people who have come into medical school either straight from school, after a gap year, having completed an Access course, as a mature student or as a graduate. I believe it is important to remember not to give up and if Medicine is what you really want to do you can get there through many different routes.

How did you choose which medical schools to apply to?

I went through the list of medical schools and entry requirement for each. I made sure to apply to my strengths and ensured I met the requirement and additional criteria to maximise my chances of gaining an interview.

How did you find/ manage the transition to university?

I did a degree in Biomedical Sciences before applying to medicine so I had the benefit of experiencing university before. However, there is a lot of support at university to help you settle in and BSMS were great. The BSMS Medical Society matched freshers with 'Medic Parents' who are in older years for advice, academic support and orientation during your first year.

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

The part of the course that I have found the most interesting is the Individual Research Project in Year 4. During an eight-month period you have the opportunity to research an area of interest to you as well as help facilitate change using your research findings. This is an exciting prospect! You may present your research at conferences and submit your research for publication to share your findings with the wider community.

What has been your BSMS highlight so far?

My involvement in the Student Societies! There are so many opportunities to get involved in societies as well as the chance to set up a new society. I have been part of the Medical Society as a Treasurer and my role was to manage the society finances. I learnt how to create invoices and liaise with businesses which was a great experience and skill to develop. I spent four years on the Paediatric Society; as President of the society in 2020 I organised an International Conference and Ball with my committee. We invited speakers from across the country and it was a huge success.

I have a keen interest in Medical Education. As Events Manager for the Medical School AMECS Society that help students with clinical skills teaching, my role involved organising teaching events to help students develop their skills. As President of the GP Society I have been able to develop my leadership skills as well as my interest in General Practice through organising talk with GPs. I am also the founding member of the BSMS Pakistani Society, I created this society as I wanted to bring Pakistan's identity to BSMS and for students to learn more about the culture. It has been a huge success so far and we have hosted events such as Bollywood Dance Classes, Games Night and Cook with PakSoc where are members learnt how to make biryani!

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

My favourite thing about studying and living in Brighton has to be being so close to the seafront. There is always something to do and the best part has to be the seafront view from the hospital!

Do you have a favourite place to visit in Brighton?

My favourite place to visit is the Seven Sisters Cliffs. It's a great place to visit for a picnic, a chance to explore the outdoors and destress!

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

Believe in yourself and make your application the best it can be.