pmc Interview #1

Bismillah

Alhamdulillah x3

19th January

this  was my first interview with PMC. (Penang Medical School). It was a twinning programme. i was having a hard time to actually choose what to apply as a back up plan. I'm torn between rcsi(full course) and pmc(twinning with rcsi/dublin). not that i cannot apply both, but the money you have to pay for each application is just too much to ask for. i don't like asking more money to my parents.

you know what?

When in doubt, ask mom.

so, i did.

She said, "go on.take pmc. "

 and i believe her mother instinct right away.  resulting in me ,on short notice told uni-relation dep, about canceling my plan to apply for rcsi and go for pmc. i dont know why but never feel so confident in my choice until that day after a phone call from home.apparently, it was the last day before the break at that time. and i was nagged upon my request by kak zura. haih.

anyway... so, i received an interview offer at the end of dec. 

there were about 8-9 of my colleagues who did apply. i used college transport. many of my friends went there by themselves which leaves only me and 3 others to go with college.

i remember the location is AmpWalk,Jalan Ampang.KL. we ended up in this building with few stores at the 2nd and 3rd floor and also, restaurants on the ground floor. we arrived approximately at 11 am. and i have to wait for my session which is at 3pm if i'm not mistaken. i'm the last one among the four of us. so we had breakfast in secret recipe and later lepak-ing at an arabic restaurant. we talked a lot of issues. i remained silent most of the time though.

so, we perform solat at the surau which was suprisingly at the lonely basement of the building. i was accompanied by 2 of the guys while firah went for her interview which started at 2pm. since the room was actually for guys only, they were kind enough to stay on guard outside while i'm praying.poor suhey. x pasal2 lol. so suwitt of him

So, while waiting for our turns, we sat at the chairs in the office and i met this girl from taylor and few other students from other colleges.

there were 2 interviewers. i had an interview with the Dean of PMC himself. Prof.Dr Amir Khir who was a endocrinologist.He was a very kind and friendly man. yes.He is a bit solemn at first. even before my turn, the two guys said how serious this man was and sometimes it's hard to comprehend what he's saying coz he talked too slow. i was really scared . but when i came in, first of all, alhamdulillah, the fact that he's a malay, he sure understands when i didn't shake hands.

going through my forms. he said " hmm smk kubang bemban.. the name is..."

i wait. ah sudah. then he added "kubang.. it's the place where buffalos play around..in muds.." 

ok.didn't expect that.so i laughed nervously." i know sir , it's not a very commercial name indeed but oh well.." and we laughed. thankfully i think the situation was less tense by then. he continued asking more about kelantan. and he was very much interested with the fact that i'm from a daily school.a lot of the questions asked were about how i'm adapting myself and how will i apply it once i'm in Ireland. 

He asked about my hospital attachment. and what i'm most affected by at that time.i told him about being in emergency department.and learning the triage system, talking to the doctors and nurses mainly. 

i remembered being asked about what's  the challenge of being a doctor. of course i mentioned about the sacrifices and the commitment you have to give. and he later asked, and as a woman, don't you think being a doctor is hard coz you have lots of responsibility at home as well?

hm, i don't know why. i was kept silent for a while when given that question,so he quickly added, "i don't mean to be gender-bias..u know"

haha. so i said, no2 of course.i understand what he meant and yeah. i answered somemore. i was asked about interfaith dialogue.he told me when he was in ireland back then, the muslim society tends to stick together with their group and did not socialize with others.he very much hope, if i was given chance i will be more proactive and not act timidly.i agreed and said about joining other clubs and making friends with everyone regardless of where they came from. and  i was asked ,why twinning. why dublin*coz i chose that one.he's very friendly and when asked at the very last,did explain in great lengths to me.

overall, there are no ethical issue what so ever. and it was most of all about ourselves and knowing how you will carry yourself as a medical student or insyaAllah a doctor one day.

i hope it went well. i feel so.but you never know.

i'm hoping. truly am.

p/s: i'll write about the other interviews later~