04 May 2007

Sonal Mehra Web Diary

I cannot believe that next week is the last week of lectures and then we are done with first year medicine! Done! I honestly do not know where this year has gone. It has flown by!

This time last year I was still in high school studying frantically for my AP's (Advanced Placement examinations) to get into Sheffield University. It all seems so surreal. That part of my life in many ways seems so distant but it was only a year ago.

I remember being rather panicked about my AP´s because you are not into University until you receive the required grades, and if you don´t make the grades you can still be rejected from the University. That was my worst nightmare. Whereas for the US students once they received their offer they were in university unless they failed or something else drastic occurred.

As you have guessed I did make the grades otherwise I wouldn´t be here today! Though I was a very stressed high school student at the time, and now it is time to turn into a stressed first year (soon to be second year!) medical student.

A new system has been introduced into medicine this year that all our exams from first year onwards count towards getting a job as a F1 officer when we qualify. So no pressure or anything! Though I have heard from older years that the first two years, phase 1A (what I am in now) and phase 1B exams are the only exams that you can do quite well on.

Looking positively though, after the exams I do have almost 2 weeks off before the term ends and then I will be returning afresh in October to begin my second year. How exciting!