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In Focus - Harriet Sharp

Harriet Sharp

Year of Study: Intercalating (year 4)

Intercalating student Harriet Sharp reveals what made her want to study at BSMS, what piece of advice she would give herself before applying to medicine and her favourite part of the course so far. Read her answers in full below or watch her video here.

What made you want to study at BSMS?

The really friendly atmosphere was really encouraging to me. I came from a small school so I wanted to go to a university where there was a friendly vibe and everyone knew each other. Being close to others in the medical school was so important for me as someone with high frequency hearing loss meant I knew I would require support from my friends in my learning.

Early clinical access was also a huge plus. Learning in a clinical scenario really helps to put the theory into practice and provides another opportunity for learning.

What work experience did you undertake before applying to medicine? How was it beneficial?

I spent a week on a work experience course in a hospital learning about the different departments as well as a week in A&E and a few days in a GP surgery. Work experience allowed me to envision myself working as a doctor and appreciate what being a doctor actually entails. I also attended some conference which involved medical students talking about their own experiences. This was really beneficial as it provided me with details as to where and how to apply to medical schools that would suit me.

How did you prepare for the BMAT/UCAT?

I did both BMAT and UCAT. Practice books were a must just going over and over again. It was important as well that I spoke to teachers in school about any BMAT science or maths questions I did not understand. I had not done some of the topics in BMAT as part of my GCSE as different courses have different topics. Working with others also gives you confidence for learning from others in medical school too.

How did you prepare for your interview(s) for medical school?

As everyone says practice makes perfect. I would often ask my friends to ask me questions as we ate lunch at school or would ask my parents to go through some answers over dinner. It is really important you know information about the school you are applying to and how their interviews are structured. It was hard work with lots of research but I had 3 interviews with offers from them all.

What’s your top tip for interviews?

Be yourself. At 2 of my interviews I made the interviewer laugh. I was worried that would go against me but realised that being myself and bringing my own personality across would make me memorable. Anyone can remember scripts of model answers but only you can bring your experiences to life.

Is there a piece of advice you wish you could have given your younger self when thinking about/applying to medicine?

I have hearing loss as well as type 1 diabetes. I was worried that these would hinder my application as hearing difficulties makes interviews a lot harder and diabetes can be difficult to control particularly in stressful situations. I would tell myself that even if I had nerves about my disabilities that these would not be counted against me. All the medical schools were very helpful as I explained my conditions to them before I stepped into the interview room. These individual challenges also helped my experience as I was able to reflect on these challenges I faced in order to show I was adaptable to unpredictable situations.

How did you choose which medical schools to apply to?

I wrote a massive spreadsheet on my computer with names of all the universities down one side and then information about each university written next to it. Once I went through and worked out what factors were important to me (e.g. early placement contact, not too far from home, teaching styles) I then went to open days and spoke to current students about their experiences to learn more. BSMS was the place I could envision myself the most so that is what I went with.

How did you find/ manage the transition to university?

It was weird to start with. I was used to classes of no more than 8 and suddenly I was in a lecture with 140 other people. My disabilities took time to adjust to my new timetable and teaching style but there was a lot of support from the university in helping me manage this such as ensuring there was a fridge in my room for my medication, and making sure I had all the resources I needed to hear in lectures.

Which part of your course have you found the most interesting so far?

3rd year was my favourite year as that is when you are in the hospital environment on a daily basis. You have the opportunity to follow patients through their journey in hospital which is really insightful. Last year I followed a patient who was having surgery due to an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). I was able to attend some of his scans with him and had the opportunity to watch his surgery as well. Talking to the patients about their experiences always reminds me as to why I want to be a doctor as it shows the huge impact we can have on patients' and their families' lives. The day he was discharged from hospital I had a small cry (happy tears) as it was a privilege to have been part of his journey and to see him leave hospital after such a long period of time.

What has been your BSMS highlight so far?

Being able to study during a global pandemic was definitely something all of us will remember. For a term our teaching was transferred to online. It was a shame to miss out on patient contact but being able to adapt to difficult times is definitely a skill that is useful for being a doctor.

What is your favourite thing about studying and living in Brighton?

Having everything so close is so useful. This means if you finish lectures early or you have a day off you can easily go and explore Brighton with friends without spending a long time travelling back and forth.

Do you have a favourite place to visit in Brighton?

The marina is gorgeous. There are lots of attractions there such as mini golf, the cinema and bowling. There are plenty of places to eat too and parking is free. I always go there when my parents come down to visit.

What is your top tip for prospective applicants applying to study medicine?

It is OK to be nervous at each stage of the process but have some confidence in yourself. If you really have a passion for medicine then make sure you show that at each of the stages of the application process. It does take time and hard work but it is worth it once you get the offer.