An Overdue Blog Post! :)
Well, it has been quite some time since I last updated this haven of miscellaneous scraps of information and general generalities, so I thought (with a gentle nudge or ten from Lesley! :)) that I would get around to another post this evening.
I finished college in the middle of June, the two years really flew by and it is frightening to look back at it. I can still remember the first days I spent studying the sciences (and history) there, the end of mundane trivial representations of science that secondary school provide, and the start of science proper - delving into the laws of the world and the wider universe. I am now going to continue studying physics at university and hopefully build upon my love for the subject whilst playing with lasers, star-spotting on the roof with telescopes and making sense of elegant equations that amazingly describe physical phenomena with tremendous accuracy. The only thing that can stop that at the moment is my 'A level' results which are due to be released on August 20, so not long! I need to get AAB (A is the top grade on a scale of A, B, C, D, E and U) with an A in physics and at least a B in mathematics. I would like to get AAAAA (I took five A-levels which started to take its toll towards the end) but as long as I get into university I don't really mind.
The physics degree will hopefully be the start of something great for me, despite wanting to study medicine originally (see later). I have applied to do a Master's degree which will take four years to complete. Depending on how well I do in that, I would love to study for my PhD in an American University (don't know where yet) before proceeding to find a job out there - hopefully the job market for (nuclear/particle) physicists is good!
As I mentioned earlier, I originally applied to study for a medical degree but I had door after door slammed in my face. The whole thing is a scandal, and shortly after I received my fourth and final medicine rejection there came out reports (nothing people didn't already know) that the medical and legal professions are very much out of bounds for people, such as myself, who 'belong' in the lowest two socio-economic groups. A gentleman from the British Medical Association (BMA) stated that just 4% of all medical students, and by extension doctors, are from the lowest two socio-economic groups. Seeing as the bottom two groups represent the vast majority of the British population, the chiffre of 4% is absolutely ridiculous. I know this may sound like a rant, but hey, what are blogs for!? :) I went through the hassle of taking five subjects at A-level, when the national average is three; I volunteered in the special needs department in a local school that was predominantly for children with conditions on the autistic spectrum of disorders. I had weeks of clinical work experience including witnessing an autopsy, including weighing brains and kidneys! It was great, truly fascinating stuff. I believe, though it is open to interpretation, that I have a decent knowledge of biology and medicine - but it doesn't seem as though it is enough with a prediction of AAAAA at A-level.
What aggravates me the most about it all is that many people who I know that have been accepted at various British medical schools have terrible grades and made no effort to become involved in the medical/caring community until a few weeks before their interview. It is remarkable that these people, not just because of the reasons just outlined, get accepted but what is very clear is that having a parent who is a doctor means a lot. This vile and unethical criterion is a major reason for the 4% statistic I mentioned above. I actually don't want to talk any further about it because it still makes me so angry. In September, I will be going to see my local MP about the situation, but I'm not holding my breath. It just seems to me that you can do everything perfectly - get the grades, get some experience and so on but as soon as your fate is in the hands of others, you will be wronged. Well do you know what, they can stick their job where the sun don't shine - some underqualified doctor's child is welcome to have it. [/rant]
I have decided to widen my horizons of late, I spend most of my reading time, reading science books. However, I have started to read fiction!!! Now I very rarely read fiction but I thought I'd give it another go. I started off by trying out some Russian literature, but that really didn't do much for me. So, I decided to buy 'The Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie. I haven't read much of it yet, but I have very much enjoyed what I have got through so far! Maybe I've found a genre of fictional literature that I like!
Other than that I am quite bored. I finished school in mid-June and it's now the start of August. If I get into university, I will start in mid-September. The amount of time off is just ridiculous and I just want to get back to some sort of 'normality'.
If there is anything else I can think of I will post another blog entry :)
Jonno
10 Comments:
Good post, Jon, and worth waiting for. Just don't make a habit of it - OK?
Yes, your anger still radiates, and I'm not surprised. I didn't know what the figures were, and the figure of 4% is astonishing. Peter Hain is sticking his neck out for Gary McKinnon, so maybe he is good at sticking his neck out, and will do it for you too.
I've heard The Satanic Verses called a lot of things, but I don't think "enjoyable" was one of them. Tell us when you've finished them.
Don't get bored. Have sax lessons! You've been talking about it for years - what better time to start than now?
By lesley153, Aug 03 09 5:51 PM
Your information about medical school is quite disheartening. I'm so sorry that this was your experience. It's very frustrating to think that certain careers are "out of bounds for (certain) people" in this day and age. Grr! Well, anyway, thanks for keeping us updated on the Saga of Jonnowales. :-)
By Pagiedamon, Aug 03 09 10:03 PM
Your grades are there, why can't you be? The whole thing seems ridiculous to me!
Maybe you should REALLY broaden your horizons, and apply in the 'states'...I always hear how few doctors there are, to manage the-(I was going to say "health care" but that is the biggest joke of all)--population. What do you think?
By veronikkamarrz, Aug 03 09 10:15 PM
Our loss would be your gain, VM. You lot don't seem to have quite the same old school tie system that we have. I think it's there, just not as rigid.
It's a thought, Jon. I believe that all American medical degrees are post-grad. So you get your Physics degree under your belt, then fly off to rather broader horizons. You have three years to plan something!
By lesley153, Aug 04 09 7:52 AM
All I can say is ditto Jon!
I'm sure you'll love studying physics in more depth. My final exam in physics (synoptic - 5 units and 2 hours) was possibly the hardest one I've ever taken so my result should be interesting!
Oh and I'm back from Zante (obv) and I brought you back some baklava but lesley ate it ALL ;) :O
By doublemm, Aug 04 09 8:45 AM
Hehe Lesley - I shall make more regular posts, that is if you are willing to read my rants :)
Peter Hain isn't a bad MP, but I just get the feeling that there is going to be nothing he can do, but I'd be very happy to be proven wrong. To clarify, I am not going to him to get me a place in a British medical school, as I have said they can stuff it. It is just wanting to make the issue known so that other people in the same situation aren't cheated out of a place studying what they love in order to get a job that they desperately want.
Lesley, I have decided that when I move to Cardiff I will take up sax lessons - I can't believe it has taken so long. I think it will be best for the lessons to be based there as it is where I'll be spending most of my time over the next four years, hopefully!
Paige, do you know anything about how medical schools work in the USA? As Lesley mentioned, you have to be a post-graduate - but do you know what degrees are good pre-med courses? When do you have to pay back the fees for the course? I appreciate that you don't lecture in medicine but you have a better idea than me! :)
By jonnowales, Aug 04 09 9:25 AM
VM, that is a great idea and I have to admit it hasn't been a thought of mine but maybe it should be! I would have to do my physics degree first, I shall just have to wait to get some info on whether physics is a good degree to have to enter an American medical school. West coast or east coast, now that is a hard choice! I wonder if San Diego has a medical school, another thing to check - but Lesley you are
right, I have years to figure something out. Taking up the saxophone may make me seem more "well-rounded" whatever that means.
Mike, I hope you enjoyed your trip to Zante and I love baklava! Miffed at Lesley for scoffing it all, but I will forgive her, she hasn't got a spleen! Mike, my physics synoptic paper was hideously hard as well, but the grade boundaries are always artificially low. Not long to go until results now :)!
Jon
By jonnowales, Aug 04 09 9:26 AM
Jon, I am really, really, really sorry - I didn't realise the baklava was meant for you. But gosh it was delicious drooool.
I thought you might start sax lessons now, as you said you were so bored. And you'd have a few weeks to make sure that you're comfortable with your choice of instrument, with not much to contend with except boredom. Just a thought. Then you'll arrive at Cardiff with some basic ability, not as a sax virgin. Not only will it make you seem more well-rounded, whatever that means, it will give you a whole different social dimension - you'll be out drinking lemonade with musicians, as a change from out drinking lemonade with rugby players and physicists.
I hadn't thought of using my newly-revealed asplenia as an excuse for anything, but I have now. Thank you for putting the idea into my head.
By lesley153, Aug 04 09 10:32 AM
Jon, my cousin is a pre-med student in Connecticut. He suggested majoring in biology or chemistry.
By Pagiedamon, Aug 04 09 2:02 PM
Hi Jon, nice to hear from you. Best of luck for your results. I am sure you'll do well. ;)
By Matthew_07, Aug 16 09 10:41 AM