BSMS > About BSMS > Information for schools, teachers and parents > In Focus - Thivya Kularajan

In Focus - Thivya Kularajan

Thivya Kularajan

Year of Study: Year 2

A girl standing on the beach with the sea in the background with a sunset in the sky, wearing a green top

Second Year student Thivya Kularajan discusses her experiences as a graduate student at BSMS, what her favourite parts of the curriculum have been so far, and her tips for managing stress as a medical student.

What made you want to study medicine?

I was doing a degree in Biomedical Science and discovered that my favourite parts of the course were the ones that involved diagnosing conditions based on blood tests and biopsy slides. At the time I was volunteering in healthcare roles, and those two things together steered me towards a career in medicine. I’ve always loved working with charities and working with people that don’t have the same privileges that I do. Not everyone has equal access to care, and I want to be a doctor so that I can use my role to help people who are disadvantaged by that..

How did you choose which medical schools to apply for?

I made a spreadsheet which had columns for grade requirements, entrance exam type, interview type, and pros/cons of the course. I also thought about where I’d like to live, and how far away from home each medical school is. You can find pretty much everything on the university’s website, but you can also email them directly if there’s any further information you need.

What made you want to study at BSMS?

I had already done my degree at the University of Brighton, and I loved it - Brighton is a really vibrant city and I’ve never run out of things to do here. I liked the fact BSMS teaches clinical skills right from the first week of Year 1, and that they do cadaveric dissections from Year 1.

Do you have any top tips for the UCAT or the BMAT?

Book a date for your UCAT and stick to it - you’re always going to wish you had more time to practice, but you only need about a month to work towards it. Do as many practice questions as you can for both the UCAT and BMAT, just so you get used to the style of questions, and try and do some practice runs under timed conditions.

How did you prepare for medicine interviews?

I found interview questions online and made notes on roughly what I would say in response to each one. I made sure I had some points to discuss with regards to my work experience, both clinical and non-clinical, and I also researched the medical school’s teaching methods and what I liked about their course specifically. I would honestly advise against preparing set answers for interviews, because you’ll sound like a robot and interviewers will be able to see that.

What advice would you give for managing the transition to university study?

Try and socialise with your course mates as much as you can in the first year. Everyone is away from home and everyone is nervous! It will make the transition much easier if you’re doing it with other people by your side.

What has been your favourite part of the BSMS medicine course?

The anatomy teaching at BSMS is amazing and you get to do dissections right from the very first week of Year 1. It’s such a privilege and it’s a great way to learn. I also really enjoyed my GP placement at the beginning of Year 1. We had 2 afternoons in a local surgery and the teaching was amazing even though the GP was really busy.

Are you involved in any societies?

I was the Graduate & Mature Students’ Rep for BSMS MedSoc, which involved being the point of call for any mature students at the medical school. I also arranged regular socials for mature students, and was involved with making decisions with the committee.

How do you manage stress at medical school?

Keep active and don’t neglect your hobbies! Extracurricular activities aren’t just for your personal statement, they’ll be the thing that keeps you sane when you’re in the middle of exam season and you need to give your brain a break. Don’t feel like you have to do 12 hours of studying every day, it’s important to have a work/life balance.

If you could go back in time and give one tip to your younger self, what would it be?

Don’t listen to the people who say you can’t do it! I had so many teachers at school who said I wasn’t smart enough for medical school and I so badly wish I could go back in time and not listen to that. It’s really easy to want to give up, especially when you’ve had a few knocks to your confidence.

What three words best describe your medical school experience?

Challenging. Insightful. Fun!