Monday 21 June 2010

USM Interview 2010 - A Delayed Post

So I passed my MUNSYI test and was given the 'ticket' to attend the interview for DENTISTRY course in USM.

Interview time : 8:30 a.m. (as stated in the electronic 'ticket')
Interview venue : Riverside Majestic Hotel

The day finally came and I arrived Majestic Hotel at 8:00 a.m., thinking I was the earliest. But when the lift door opened, I figured I might be the latest to arrive. Hahaha...It seems that everyone is very enthusiastic to be interviewed, so am I. I was rehearsing the expected interview situation with my friend, exchanging opinions on what questions were most likely to be asked.

At around 9 a.m., the interviewers finally came. I overheard an interviewer saying that Dentistry interviewee will be tested on their hand skills. A jaw-dropping news for everyone involved. There were around 45 people (Sarawakians) shortlisted for the interview, if I'm not mistaken. And we were divided into 2 groups according to alphabetical orders. I was in the second group. :)

After waiting for around 2 hours for the first group to finish their hand skill test, it's out turn. There were a projector, 6 long tables (2 person for each table), chairs and an IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSONNEL (but I have forgotten his name...LOL!) in the room. He introduced himself as a academic staff in USM(Health Campus). Although he is a Malay, he speaks fluent English and he is very friendly.

So the first round, we were asked to answer questionnaires, the questions that were much similar to the MUNSYI test questions.

For the second round, it was the much anticipating activity : HAND SKILLS TEST. We were supplied with silverish-normal-looking plier (which costs RM1000++), a 5cm So the IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSONNEL explains thoroughly what we were supposed to do and he also played an step-by-step instructive video on HOW TO BEND A WIRE.
Using the 5cm long and 0.7mm thick wire, the Adam plier, and a ruler, we were supposed wire into an angled Ohm (Ω) shape. (5 straight sides)

It is not as easy as it looks because all the angles must be 90 degrees sharp and the end product must lay flat on the table surface.

There were some interviewee who were twice my size but they can't seem to even bend the wire. They complained that their hands were painful when bending the wire. Luckily, the IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSONNEL were helpful enough to teach them (one-to-one).

Actually, we were given 15 minutes to complete the task, but the IMPORTANT-LOOKING PERSON totally ignored that and allow us to try several attempts until all of us were satisfied and ready to hand in the end product. He even replayed the instructive video throughout the task. Nice huh?

It's about 12 noon and the first badge had not finished their interview session. So we were given an 1 hour time break to have lunch and come back around 1:30pm.

So there we are. 12 people sitting outside the interview room, waiting for the interviewer. The officer said the interviewer were having lunch and they should be back around 2pm. We waited and waited and waited and finally came back. Guess what? It was 2:45p.m. already.

Each person had around 15 to 20 minutes of interview session. Some interviewee were kind enough to share with us the questions they asked. While waiting, we constantly went to the bathroom to 'reheat' ourselves as we felt that we were in Arctic. -.-'

By 4:30 p.m., the waiting isle is empty, except us, still waiting PATIENTLY outside the interview room. For your information, I was the second last in the name list. And I waited till 6:10p.m. FOR MY TURN TO BE INTERVIEWED! I was not nervous anymore. Tiredness had conquered my soul. So, I went in the room and responded naturally to their questions.

*No self-introduction this time round. They'll ask about your family background. Didn't ask for my certificates too. Just plain talking.*

1st Question (in BM):
Siapakah yang menjadi inspirasi anda untuk menjadi seorang doktor gigi? Dan apakah sebab-sebab anda bercita-cita untuk mencenderungkan diri dalam bidang pergigian?

2nd Question (in BM):
Apakah kriteria-kriteria yang anda perlukan untuk menjadi seorang doktor gigi?

*told me a joke that is not even funny* :P

3rd Question (in English):
If you are working in a clinic, who are the personnel that you have to cooperate with?

4th Question (you can choose your own language to answer situational questions):
(they purposely give me this question because my dad is a civil engineer)
Your father dreamed to become a civil engineer but he could not achieve this ambition due to family problem. He asked you to pursue the same field in order to realize his dream. But you have your own ambition. What would you do?

As you answer, they'll keep questioning you and drilling you until they are satisfied with your performance.

5th Question (in English):
Why should we offer you a place in USM? What qualities you have that others don't have?


Be relaxed and answer questions sincerely from your heart help a lot in going through the interview smoothly. But you'll need to do research about the respective university and your chosen course before you step into the interview room. The interviewers love to see one prepare themselves with real facts and strong points. At least that was my experience. =)

Friday 11 June 2010

A Laughter - Only Happens In Malaysia

My mum just came back from polyclinic. Oh, for those who don't know what's a polyclinic, let me clear your doubts.

Polyclinic is a clinic run by government to serve its people. There are doctors, nurses, medical assistants and medical officers working in the polyclinic. Mind you that when you seek for treatment in polyclinics, you might see a medical assistant instead of a qualified doctor.

So, here's the case.
My mum told the medical assistant that she is suffering from joint pains.
The funny thing was what happened next. Guess what the Medical Assistant said?
Medical assistant asked her, "Why?" The tune of him asking makes it even more funny.

LOL!

Aren't he supposed to figure out the reason why my mum is having joint pains? If my mum could diagnose her illness, then they could have swapped place. Hahaha...Only in Malaysia. :)

Tuesday 1 June 2010

USM here I come!

I guess I am very lucky to be offered a place in USM as a dental student. I have read from various websites where students said that they take into account of your results, extra curricular activities, interview and family background in the university filter process. With an STPM CGPA of 3.92 out of 4.00, extra curricular activity CGPA of 9.04 out of 10.00, and being totally honest about my parents' income; I thought I would not get an offer from USM, the APEX uni, especially in Dentistry because the vacancies are really limited. Try to imagine that only 50 seats are available for the both the STPM and Matric students. And I am one of the lucky ones. Thank God for guiding me and giving me the strength all this while.

But there's fear that I need to overcome after accepting this offer. I need to leave home and I would certainly be homesick even a day away from my family, especially my mother. The relationship between my mother and I is very close. No gap at all. And I am worried about her after I leave Kuching. Tears.

Hopefully I can cope with these changes. Praying hard that my parents will be healthy and happy always. Amen.