This is my last. ever. blog. I wanted to tell you guys three things today so let’s get right into it?
But before we do…let’s take a moment to appreciate this sunset room view from O’Rorke
FIRST THING
Apply to be part of the Science Scholars Programme next year. Science Scholars is a programme for UoA students studying any Bachelor of Science. You can apply as a school-leaver (Year 13s!), or as a current undergraduate science student (first-years!). The application takes time – but I’m telling you it’s so worth it (and not just for the free tee-shirt & cookies every week). Applications close on 8th of December. You can find out how to apply here.
But basically, every semester, on top of your usual papers towards your degree, you take a SCISCHOL paper. I nearly didn’t apply because I thought I wouldn’t be able to handle another paper on top of biomed and all…but there’s no “work” as such to do, except for a creative project at the end and you can do whatever you like. It’s a great way to expand your horizons outside your degree.
SECOND THING
Apply to be an Inside Word blogger next year! Around the end of the year, a post will come up on the main Inside Word blog about recruiting new bloggers for the following year. The application involves creating a blog about whatever you like which you need to submit by the deadline, usually early next year. It’s not even about the money (yes, we get paid 😉 ) but I have genuinely enjoyed writing / filming / creating content for you guys. It’s been a no doubt stressful year and blogging in between of all it has been super enjoyable! It’s also an opportunity to become *lowkey* famous (emphasis on the lowkey).
THIRD THING
You may remember me mentioning it before, but all the first year hall of residences have an academic mentoring programme for the common courses like law, biomed/healthsci, engineering, commerce, arts etc. It’s basically where second year and above students come to your hall of residence for one hour every week to mentor and assist us clueless first years, and provide us with academic support with our papers. But the surprise is….
I WILL BE A 2018 SCIENCE MENTOR FOR UNIVERSITY HALL.
That means if you are studying biomedical science, health science, nursing or other science majors (like pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, food science or nutrition), AND you are going to stay at University Hall next year, I will be one of YOUR mentors! Hope to see some of y’all next year 🙂
The year has gone by so fast…It seems like just the other day we were all moving into O’Rorke and putting up our room decorations…and now we’re all packing up our things and moving out ☹ Although my year isn’t truly over just yet. While all my major exams are over, I still have my general education paper exam left (I’m doing economics – ECON151G) and an interview (for those applying for MbChb, BOptom & BPharm) to go.
-
- The face you make when you have to move out from your home for the past year …
-
- … And the face you make when you realise summer’s just around the corner!
This may be my last blog buuut I will still gladly answer any questions or comments for a while so hit me up below!
-
- Queen’s Wharf
-
- Cool Artwork in the lighthouse
-
- Boats?
Goodbye Everyone!!!! :'(
– Emotional blogger
Heyy!!
You must be so relieved to get into Med!!! Good luck!! I was wondering what subjects you took in year 13 and what maths you took?
Thanks!!!
Sonna! Did you get into medicine???!!!! I know it may not be something you’d like to answer publicly, so no worries if you don’t answer, but if you did get in, congrats!!! Smart cookie 😏
Hey, Yes I did – super excited for what’s to come! A big thanks for following me throughout last year 🙂
Hey:) I’ve really enjoyed following your journey this year and was wondering how your interview went and if you got into Medicine??!!
Hey Caitlin, Thanks for following me! The interview was not as scary as everyone makes it out to be – it was really chill and at some point became kinda fun! To answer your question, yes I made it into medicine!
Yay! Congrats😊
Hi there! I was wondering what option your timetable was for BIOMED and how you found it in terms of managing your time and preparing for the next days classes?
Hey Mikayra! I don’t remember but it doesn’t really matter but there’s two streams for lectures – “morning” and “afternoon” stream (but you can technically hop between them 😉 ). So decide if you’re a morning person or not!
I’m the worst at time management – always missing lectures and struggling to catch up at the last minute 😛 keep up with lectures and revise the stuff so you don’t forget but don’t be hard on yourself if you miss a few – as long as you catch up with the recordings!
As for preparing for the next day’s classes, just show up 😉 you can always do the textbook pre-readings after the lecture (when it usually makes more sense).
You got this!
Hey Sonna!
First off, congratulations on the interview, and all the very best with the MMI!
Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice, it’s really made the transition into next year that little bit easier!
Was wondering if you could expand a little more on what the science scholars programme entails as I am interested in applying!
(Also going to UniHall and studying biomedical next year so looking forward to the mentoring and continual words of wisdom!)
All the best!
Hey John 🙂 Thank you!
The science scholars programme involves a 2 hour lecture every week. It’s not really a lecture though, it’s in a classroom and open to heaps of discussion. We have guest speakers every week from different faculties in the university and outside the uni who talk about their job / research / cool stuff. The only assessment was an open-ended, creative project for which you could make ANYTHING (I created a piece of art). I stopped going to schischol in sem 2 because of another commitment at the same time but really wished I could’ve continued! Sem 2 had more guest speakers and the final project was writing a blog post (I would’ve enjoyed this so much).
Pumped to see y’all at Uni Hall next year!!! Enjoy your hols and check out applying to be a blogger for the Inside Word next year here:
http://theinsideword.blogs.auckland.ac.nz/2017/11/are-you-our-next-blogger/
Hi Sonna!! I have really enjoyed reading your blogs– they have been so helpful! I will be in unihall next year doing biomed so hopefully I can see you around. 🙂 How does the hall mentoring programme work? Also, how did you personally study throughout the year and what did you have to do to adjust your study methods in comparison to NCEA? 😀 And one last question– what would your most valuable piece of advice be for those beginning biomed next year? Thank you so much for your help and best of luck for your interview 🙂 Hope all goes well x
Hiya, thank you!!! Every week of the semester, your mentors (usually two/three per course) will come to the hall for one hour sessions. It’s up to you all how often you wanna attend them but we’re here to answer any questions you have, give you advice and support, and mentoring (not tutoring as such, but more guidance) for your papers and even other things like UMAT/interviews. Basically, we’ve been through it all and just wanna help you out so your first-year is as smooth as possible.
Seeya round next year!!! And check out applying to be an Inside Word blogger next year if you’re keen:
http://theinsideword.blogs.auckland.ac.nz/2017/11/are-you-our-next-blogger/
Hi Sonna,
Congratulations on getting your interview and becoming a mentor! Best of luck!
I will be studying biomedical sciences next year. Though I’ve heard of the sci scholars programme I honestly thought it wasn’t compatible with biomed, but your post made me reconsider. Could you expand a little on your experience with it, especially as relates to whether it added extra stress and what the value of it was to you? Thanks 🙂
Hey Tez! 🙂 they were no assessments really so you can just learn for the fun of it with no added stress. Just one 2 hour class a week. And if you have a biomed test or something on that week, you can always skip a session if need be. There’s actually quite a big bunch of biomedders so you can also meet new people (all my lab partners in semester one, I had met in scischol so it was cool).
Have a good holiday!!!
Hi,
I have applied for Biomedical Science next year but I am still quite confused about the entry requirements. Is it right that the entry requirements only compose of reaching the 280 rank score as well earning the 16 credits for 3 approved subject?
Thank you so much! 🙂
Hey 🙂 You have to meet both the rank score (280) and University entrance requirements (14 credits in three approved Level 3 subjects, and the literacy and numeracy requirements).
You can check out more about those here:
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/applications-and-admissions/entry-requirements/undergraduate-entry-requirements/new-zealand-secondary-school-applicants/national-certification-educational-achievement.html
Have a good holiday!
Hey that’s cool that you’ll be a mentor for Uni Hall. I’ll be there next year however I’m not studying science … Enjoyed your blog v much ! All the best
Thank you! I’ll still be at uni hall every week so if you ever see me around, come say hi 🙂 enjoy your long and well-deserved break!!!
Thank you for providing us with such amazing content, Sonna! It’s been really great being able to see a realistic, yet fun insight of what first year is like from someone who is so close to home (#eastaucklandrep). See you next year at UH! 🙂 All the best for your MMI! x
Thank you east akl gal for following me throughout one heck of a journey! Pumped to see some of my readers next year at Uni hall!!! Enjoy your holidays 🙂
Hey Sonna!
I’m going to unihall(apartments) next year, so really excited to see you there too!
I was just wondering, whether the stories about getting into med are true? Like is everyone super competitive, and you must get an A+ to get into med etc… Also, to get an a+, in NCEA terms, what would that kinda be? Like getting excellence plus or something?
I’ve really enjoyed your posts this year, and I feel so much more ready for uni next year. Thanks for sharing all this terrific stuff 🙂 Hope your interview goes well!
Hiya Grace, Thank you! Can’t wait to meet everybody next year at Uni Hall too 🙂
Pretty much everyone I’ve met this year doing biomed or healthsci has been super friendly, so that’s definitely not true!
I can’t really compare NCEA and Uni just because they are completely different in terms of the amount of content and the way it is assessed, but I assume the study skills and abilities to get excellences in NCEA would definitely be helpful at uni!
For entry to medicine, it is only really determined by the four core papers, so for the other four non-core papers there is no pressure at all. For your core papers, aim to achieve greatness not perfection (i.e you by no means need to have a perfect A+ GPA but always give it your very best!)
Hope your exams went well and enjoy your holidays 🙂
Hi Sonna! Many congratulations on getting an interview! Hope it goes well!
Do you have any advice on what to write about for when you’re applying for the Insideword blogs.
Do you have any specific study tips for the core papers (chem, poplhlth, biosci, and medsci) which helped you succeed>
Also did you do any studying over the summer before biomed
What advice do you have for those of us hoping to do bio med or health sci next year in terms on managing the workload, staying kinda motivated, and keeping on top of things while trying to maintain a balance
Cheers! Good luck with your interview!!
Thank you! 🙂 You can write about absolutely anything for your Inside Word blog application. From memory, I think I wrote about my summer experiences & my thoughts about starting uni but it’s absolutely up to you!
Your summer is your well-deserved break after a long year, so take that time to relax with your family and friends (especially if you’re moving to Auckland for uni!). I just went on roadtrips, learned how to drive, and basked in the glory of three full months of freedom!
In terms of workload, stay on top of lectures (go with friends!) – it’s easier than you think to fall very very very behind & use reminders on your phone or a diary to stay on top of things (guilty of missing a lab!). Maintain the balance by joining the Uni Rec Centre (and going there regularly!), joining some UoA clubs or getting involved at your hall of residence (if you are going to one!).
Enjoy the holidays 🙂