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In Focus - Emily Helsby

Emily Helsby

Year of Study: Year 2

A girl with brown hair, wearing a black top and smiling at the camera

Emily Helsby tells us all about her journey to medical school and life at BSMS, including some tips for medical school interviews, how she managed the transition to university study, and getting involved in sports and societies at BSMS. Read her answers below and watch her video about dissection here.

What made you want to study medicine?

I was interested in how things work, and the physics of the human body, and really enjoyed science in school. I also did some volunteering at a local hospital and realised what a special role it is to be a doctor, being able to help someone in potentially one of the most vulnerable positions of their life and make a difference, no matter how small.

What made you want to study at BSMS?

While attending an open day, the students that I talked to were so enthusiastic and friendly, which seemed to be a trend across the medical school. I liked that it was smaller than some other medical schools, but also the MedSoc had so many great events on their website!

What are your top tips for UCAT and BMAT?

Revise regularly – ideally set a specific period of time to spend on them every day. Watch YouTube videos or read websites online to find tips and tricks first, and then practice, practice, practice. There is no need to pay for UCAT or BMAT courses, just put in some time to prep for them. I did my UCAT early in the season so that I would have time to revise for the BMAT afterwards.

How did you prepare for interviews, especially online ones?

I researched lots of current issues and developments in medicine, and the NHS to get a good baseline understanding, and then made a huge list of all possible questions that I could find online to get a general idea of what I could be asked. However, don’t rehearse your answers because it won’t come across as natural. I just tried to create a mental spider diagram of rough things I could mention for questions. Once you have prepped for interviews, the most important thing to do in my opinion is to remind yourself why you actually want to go to this university. Try to imagine yourself as a student there and think about all of the things that you would be excited about, because that enthusiasm is what will make you come across well.

Any advice for managing the transition to university?

Be open about your feelings, it will shout you that you are not alone because everyone is struggling, but also it I’ll help you make friends. I also suggest hanging out in social areas like in the kitchen of student halls, it might feel uncomfortable but will make you feel more at home and make friends faster.

What has been your favourite part of the BSMS Medicine course?

I have loved our dissection sessions. Being able to visualise the body and all of its contents is an amazing and unique privilege. Our anatomy team is excellent during dissection sessions as well and are always there to lend a hand.

Are you involved in any sports or societies? Can you tell us a bit about them?

At BSMS you can join societies like RockSoc, which I am part of. At the University of Brighton, I played badminton last year for the Brighton panthers, and at the University of Sussex I am part of the Sussex Rollerblading society.

Do you have as little time for fun as people think?

No! We have time to do loads of fun things! You are constantly adapting your revision methods across the year, but depending on how efficiently you work, you definitely have enough time to have fun, play sports, music, going out to restaurants or nightclubs, whatever you like.

What is your favourite part of living in Brighton and Hove?

We are so near to the town centre, with its huge array of shops and food options, as well as being on the doorstep of the beach, and the South Downs. I love how green the area is.

If you could go back in time to give one tip to your younger self, what would it be?

Don’t worry, everyone else is also nervous, and you don’t have to be perfect. You just need a good understanding of what you are entering, and to really want to be a doctor. People come for a huge range of walks of life, especially here at BSMS, and no one of us is the perfect med student.

Describe your medical school experience in three words.

Busy. Sociable. Exhilarating.