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In Focus - Olivia Tolson

Olivia Tolson

Year of Study: Year 4

Year 4 student Olivia 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 her answers below.

What made you want to study at BSMS?

I was initially drawn to BSMS because of the small cohort and early clinical exposure as well as the location. At an open day, one of the things that really stuck out for me was how friendly all the students and staff were, which was something I didn’t feel as much when I visited other medical schools. I liked how the lecturers took time to get to know individual students and I felt that I would be fully supported during my studies.

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

I volunteered for a year at my local hospital which provided exposure to various different team members but also increased my confidence in communicating with new people. I then spent three days shadowing the urology team. Here I was able to experience ward rounds, clinics, theatres and learn about the responsibilities of an FY1.

How did you prepare for the BMAT/UCAT?

Lots of practice questions! For the UCAT, I tried to come up with an approach/mnemonic for each type of question so I had a system to work through if I got stuck on a question. My top tip would be if you don't immediately know the answer, just guess and come back to it as it isn't worth wasting time for one mark.

For quantitative reasoning, the questions vary in their length/difficulty despite all being worth the same marks. I found it more effective to randomly mark an answer for the longer questions and focus my time on the quicker/easier questions. This meant I didn’t run out of time or leave any questions blank. I then went back to the questions I had guessed if I had time at the end.

For the BMAT, I didn't study Physics at A-level so I made sure to focus my learning on these subjects. There was a revision guide on the BMAT website, similar to the GCSE CGP revision books. I used this to help guide my revision topics. For the essay section, my advice would be to practice a lot so you know how much you can fit on a single page of A4 and don't run out of space at the end.

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

I was lucky that one of my local universities offered a scheme similar to BrightMed where I was able to practice some MMI-style questions. I then just focused on learning key principles of the NHS and keeping up to date with what is in the news and the current problems facing the NHS.

What’s your top tip for interviews?

Make sure you know the roles and responsibilities of medical students but also junior doctors when you first graduate. Don't panic about learning medical knowledge as this isn't expected and is what you'll be taught at university.

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

Just to remind myself that the hardest part about the course is getting in and not to stress if I didn't get in first time.

How did you choose which medical schools to apply to?

My priority was the location as I didn't want to go too far from home. I also scored highly in my UCAT so I applied to universities that ranked that highly at the time to try increase my chances of being accepted.

How did you find/ manage the transition to university?

I really enjoyed the transition to university and the independence that came with it. As BSMS is a campus university, you have everything close by, so I think that alleviated some stress as it allowed me time to find my feet and learn where things were in Brighton.

The biggest change I found was the workload. I learnt more in a term than I did for my entire A-levels. But I soon adapted my methods of learning to accommodate this. I’m also more motivated as I enjoy, and am interested in, what I’m learning.

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

I've found my 4th year placements in obstetrics & gynae and paediatrics the most interesting part of the course. It's made me want to work in specialities that I'd never considered before.

What has been your BSMS highlight so far?

Getting to know and work with the other students in my year. For 4th year, we spend the whole year in the same group of about 20 students which has meant there's always people around who can support and relate to you.

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

Brighton is such a diverse place to live. I love how there's always something going on and you can always find new places to explore.

Do you have a favourite place to visit in Brighton?

Currently I'd recommend Redroaster or Wolfox Avenue Cafe on St James’s Street but I'm always on the hunt for new quirky places to eat and drink.

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

Try and get as much exposure to healthcare as you can so you know what you're getting yourself into. Even reading about people's experiences online can be helpful in understanding the daily responsibilities of a doctor.