Jason
Class of 2022, Imperial College London
1. Twists and turns during the process of choosing major
My choice of major varied from medicine, to dentistry, then finally to biomedical sciences, which took me a long time to decide. I have always been intrigued and inspired by Biology- the subject which I first got in touch in my secondary school. Unlike those who are fascinated by evolution theory etc., I show special preferences for the study of human body mechanisms and diseases, which hence inspired me to pursue a career in majors related to medicine. Therefore, I started to do some extracurricular activities such as voluntary jobs in local hospitals, internship in dental clinics and projects online.
At the beginning, I thought my characteristics would suit me well for the surgeon’s job. However, after observing a series of field works, I realised the pressure and ethical dilemma that surgeons need to face on a daily basis are unimageable, so I began to question whether these were what I want in the future. In addition, owing to the limitations in my age as well as the choices of school, my chance of becoming a dentist soon faded away. In the meantime, biomedical sciences stood out and grabbed my attention, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The lab works as well as the potential career options fascinated me, and this idea was solidified after I cooperated with a post-graduate student, working on a special lung cancer research.
2. The busy and unsatisfactory start of my university application
Attracted by the culture deposits and level of professionalism in medical researches, Oxford has always been my dream school for all these years. As a result, I opted for Keble college in Oxford without hesitation. At that time, I had already been notified many times by my teachers, parents and friends about the extreme difficulties in applying for Oxford, not to mention this major. Whereas due to my strong passion and confidence, I still started to do preparations. Meanwhile, I as well applied for universities in Hong Kong and the United States, so at that time, my schedule was extremely hectic. After waiting for two long and painful months, Keble College sent me the invitation letter for interview. I embraced this challenge, while the outcome was not satisfactory – I was not able to be admitted into Oxford by only a few places. This was the first and only rejection letter I received in these months, and I realised that more hard work should be put in addition to my inborn confidence.
3. Unexpected surprises
In case of severe competition in university application, I applied to a total of 13 universities. Surprisingly, I received most of the offers, including the ones from UC Berkeley and HKU, which gave me plenty of joy and comfort. Just like what Ms. Irish and my counsellor Mr. Hamish from the UCO office said “we will thrive and do well in anywhere we go.” I would also like to express my endless gratitude towards all the teachers who had helped me during these years.
4. Enjoy your life
During my high school journey, despite some tiny regrets, I gained a plethora of happiness and knowledge, made a series of good friends and went to the Spanish fieldtrip which I craved for years. I learnt to slow down my pace and enjoy my life accordingly. Hope everyone could as well learn to have a sensible work-life balance.
5. My own advice
- Be free to explore your interests during G levels. Only if you experienced personally can you find out which major suits you the most.
- Manage a clear and reasonable timetable in A level. Choose a major quickly and accurately. After all, this is the first and the most important step.
- If you have a real passion for a specific school or major, just apply for it. Do not be regretful – even if the outcome might not be satisfactory, the journey will be worth it.
- Do according to your own abilities. Assess your limitations accordingly and do not be affected by peer pressure.
Wish you all the best in your upcoming university application.
