[update] USyd interview complete...

I just completed my USyd interview recently. I could have done better. I wouldn't be surprised if I pass or failed. I hope I passed though, but if I failed, then I would be a bit disappointed, but I guess it is not too bad. At least I did get some practice before Melbourne's one.

I should have been more confident when they asked me whether I had more things to mention, and said no, instead of spending time being unsure about what to say. Ah well. Obviously I will not say what questions were asked here, as that is unethical and breaches the confidentiality agreement.

Anyway, I have visited the Reserve Bank of Australia like planned. I will be back home in a few days.

I hope everyone who has done interviews has gone well. Anyway, the computer here is running out of time now, so I'll talk later.

[update] USyd interview offers are out!

This afternoon, USyd interview offers were released. I got one, which was pretty much expected I guess. The GAMSAT cutoff rose a lot though, due to USyd pulling out of the consortium, from 62 to 67 (about 79th percentile to 93rd percentile). I wonder how many of those will decline an offer for a GEMSAS place in the end. I would if I get a place in unimelb MD.

I'm excited to have an opportunity, although I'm not exactly that confident for the interview. Especially since they assign a minimum interview pass mark unlike Melbourne. That said, at the moment I have watched a few videos on ethics, and will watch more in the coming days.

I'll be going up to Sydney by car with some others in the family then. First time in just over ten years. This should be interesting.


In other news, there's 1-2 weeks left until uni results come out. I hope they come out before I go up to Sydney, but if not, then no big deal I guess.

[update] Going to apply to USyd!

So today I just found out that the University of Sydney is conducting its medical school interviews on 4-8 July this year (intersemester/midyear break) instead of in the midsemester break of semester 2 like most unis (USyd pulled out of the ACER system this year and now require direct application). After my parents said they don't mind paying the extra cost, I decided it would be good interview practice to have before a Melbourne interview. Also, it opens up another option to study if I do get in.

Now I'm a bit nervous having an interview for medical school so early though! I only expected to have one interview this year, in the midsemester break of semester 2. Add to that, this interview is worth 50% instead of 33% for Melbourne! USyd seems to ask pretty tricky scenarios sometimes too, so I'll have to somehow work out good responses to them. But more practice can only be a good thing. If I get into USyd it will be quite a confidence boost, but if not, I know I'll have to work harder on interview skills before Melbourne's interview. Well, that was assuming offers come out before other unis' interviews, although the medicine offer date for USyd is yet to be decided.

It's been more than 10 years since I've been to Sydney. When I'm there I'll have to visit the Reserve Bank of Australia like my introductory macroeconomics lecturer told everyone to do, since he used to work there. That's the place which controls our interest rates in Australia, in order to control inflation (and to reduce output gaps in economic downturns).