Section 1 of UMAT: Tips from MedEntry UMAT training

Section 1 of UMAT: Tips from MedEntry UMAT training

• The process of elimination is a vital tool. Often you are able to cross off a few answers before beginning to work out the answer.
• Use the exam paper and scribble all over it – you are allowed to and should.
• Create simple graphs, diagrams or charts for yourself. Jot it down on paper, it helps!
• When confronted with large paragraphs, read the question and answers first to get an idea of what you are looking for. During the exam, use your pencil to underline as you read.
• Allow yourself to skim and look for keywords to save time.
• The MedEntry  UMAT course has many long and convoluted paragraphs, which are probably more difficult than the actual UMAT exam. So the MedEntry UMAT course prepares you well.
• Learn research methods. There is a section about this on the LMS of MedEntry prep. It is important to learn terms such as “placebo” and “single-blind”. The UMAT often includes questions such as “is this a conclusive study?” and “how could this study be improved?”

UMAT Preparation Tips

Preparing for the UMAT: MedEntry UMAT Course Tips

There are two reasons to combine your UMAT preparation with a regime of vigorous exercise. Firstly, being physically healthy yields mental benefits – you can focus longer and think faster. Secondly, getting your body in shape teaches you a lot about getting your mind in shape. Think about how you would prepare to run a marathon: getting out there every day and doing the kilometres is critical to success. Similarly, consistency is the key for UMAT prep – you will see more benefit if you spread you study into little bits across the week rather than setting it aside in chunks. Physical training also teaches you to listen to your body (you learn when to push yourself that bit harder and when to ease up), and this parallels to how UMAT training teaches you to listen to your mind. You will come to understand which types of questions you can complete easily, which ones are more challenging but are still manageable, and which ones are truly challenging for you.

Focusing and relaxation exercises are fantastic for helping eliminate distractions and unnecessary tension so that you are able to do your best. Here are some easy examples that you can practice:

• Focused breathing calms nerves and focuses the mind. Sit in an upright chair with your hands on your knees, or on the floor with your legs crossed. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. At first just notice how it becomes slower and deeper after a few breaths (you are increasing the oxygen flow around your body and hence aiding relaxation). Now try to control your breathing so that both the in and out breaths are extended (during the in breath try to fill your lungs completely with air, and the out breath should be slow and controlled). The whole time your breath should move smoothly in and out – do not hold your breath. Soon your mind will begin to wander – try to ‘release’ these thoughts from your mind in the same way you are releasing the breath from your lungs, and then return to focusing solely on your breathing. After a few minutes of releasing these distractions your body will be relaxed and your mind alert – you are now prepared to study for UMAT.
• Systematic relaxation releases tension. Sit in an upright chair or lie on the floor, close your eyes and bring your attention to the muscles in your head and face. As your attention moves around to the different muscles in your face ‘see’ them in your mind’s eye and consciously relax them. Move to your neck and shoulders when your head and face feel relaxed, and then down the rest of your body. As you move further and further down you should feel the tension flowing out of you like sand flowing out of a bag. After several minutes of this you will find yourself having a relaxed body and altered mind, and again be ready for MedEntry UMAT training.

MedEntry Interview Preparation

Interviews are a crucial aspect of the selection process for entry into health science courses. In some universities, interviews are weighted at more than 40% of the total selection criteria! Most students focus on their ENTER/UAI/OP scores, study for the UMAT but pay little attention to interviews.

However, knowledge of the types of questions asked, training on interview technique and understanding of the principles underlying interviews can dramatically improve your performance. The MedEntry Team has extensive interview expertise and knowledge of the questions asked at all universities, which we use to provide you with focussed training.

You cannot cram for interviews. Interview preparation is a long term process, involving reflecting on issues and developing skills over a period of time. MedEntry offers interview training during the two day workshop, as part of the interview guide and in our Interview Training Sessions. The knowledge and skills you will acquire will be invaluable to you not only for your health science interview, but also for future interviews and for life in general.

Interview Training Sessions will provide students with strategies and tips on how to succeed in medical or dental interviews. The sessions are tailored to the specific university/course for which the student has received an offer, enabling detailed discussion of the specific questions likely to arise at that interview.

The sessions are conducted in small groups of between ten to twenty students, allowing personalised feedback and interaction to occur. An expert will facilitate the session and provide feedback on everything from interview technique to the intricacies of students’ answers.

For some student comments about the MedEntry’s Interview Training Sessions, please visit the MedEntry website below.

The training session is a day long program, and lunch will be provided.

If you wish to enrol in one of the workshops, you should visit the Med Entry website below.

http://www.medentry.edu.au/products.asp?t=i

MedEntry 2010 Workshops – Only a few remaining

Adelaide 03/07/2010-04/07/2010 School Holidays

Brisbane 28/06/2010-29/06/2010 School Holidays

Brisbane 30/06/2010-01/07/2010 School Holidays

Darwin 22/06/2010-23/06/2010 School Holidays

Melbourne 12/06/2010-13/06/2010 Post Exams

Melbourne 19/06/2010-20/06/2010 Post Exams

Melbourne 26/06/2010-27/06/2010 School Holidays

Melbourne 17/07/2010-18/07/2010 Weekend Course

Mildura 24/07/2010-25/07/2010 Weekend Course

Perth 03/07/2010-04/07/2010 School Holidays

Sydney 12/06/2010-13/06/2010 Weekend Course

Sydney 03/07/2010-04/07/2010 School Holidays

Sydney 05/07/2010-06/07/2010 School Holidays

Sydney 15/07/2010-16/07/2010 School Holidays

Auckland 08/07/2010 School Holidays/Uni

Auckland 09/07/2010 School Holidays

Dunedin 10/07/2010 School Holidays/Uni

Dunedin 11/07/2010 School Holidays/Uni

Remaining workshops for 2009 UMAT

2009 Packages including 2 day workshops and online practice materials still available!!

2009 UMAT PREPARATION WORKSHOPS REMAINING:

Melbourne (1)	RMIT University	13/06/09 – 14/06/09
Melbourne (2)	RMIT University	20/06/09 – 21/06/09
Melbourne (3)	RMIT University	27/06/09 – 28/06/09
Melbourne (4)	RMIT University	18/07/09 – 19/07/09

Sydney (1)	Uni of Technology Sydney	06/06/09 – 07/06/09
Sydney (2)	Uni of Technology Sydney	11/07/09 – 12/07/09
Sydney (3)	Uni of Technology Sydney	16/07/09 – 17/07/09

Brisbane (1)	University of Qld	23/05/09 – 24/05/09
Brisbane (2)	University of Qld	29/06/09 – 30/06/09
Brisbane (3)	University of Qld	01/07/09 – 02/07/09

Adelaide (1)	Adelaide University	30/05/09 – 31/05/09
Adelaide (2)	Adelaide University	04/07/09 – 05/07/09

Perth (1)	University of WA	13/06/09 – 14/06/09
Perth (2)	University of WA	06/07/09 – 07/07/09

Auckland (1)	Auckland Uni of Tech	13/07/09 – 14/07/09

Dunedin (1)	Dunedin Centre	09/07/09 – 10/07/09
Dunedin (2)	Dunedin Centre	11/07/09 – 12/07/09
Hobart (1)	The Friends’ School	02/06/09 – 03/06/09
Mildura (1)	St Joseph’s College	25/07/09 – 26/07/09