Katie
University of Cambridge
Medicine
2nd Year
DBS
5
9
7About Me
Hello! My name is Katie.
I’m currently in my second year of the graduate-entry medicine at Cambridge. Prior to this, I did a BA in History at Oxford, so I came to medicine from a different background from most people. I’m glad I took the long way round though, as I’m particularly passionate about medicine as an interface between health and social problems. Understanding medicine as an craft or art, as well as a science, is something which is increasingly important in the NHS, and I’d be keen to share this passion with my students. I have a particular interest in pre-hospital care, and hope to specialise in emergency medicine.
Attending both Oxford and Cambridge has given me a great insight into their admissions process. Oxbridge is really about a style of thinking, about being able, and willing, to push your thinking outside of your comfort zone and engage with multiple, conflicting ideas. I feel lucky to have had such incredible teachers across both disciplines, and I’m excited to share style this with my students.
In my spare time I enjoy climbing (indoors mostly, but outdoors whenever possible), music and writing! I’ve recently taken up running, and I’m training for my first half marathon.
My teaching style
I’m dyslexic, so feel very acutely that all students have different learning styles, and a tutor must be able to adapt to them. While at Oxford, I attended multiple study groups looking at different learning styles, and methods of engaging with material through different mediums (auditory, visually or physically). I am a flexible and adaptable teacher, and will vary my style according to my students wishes. If a student is unsure how they learn best, then I see it as part of my role to trial different learning methods and see what works best for them.
My past experience
During my undergraduate degree I volunteered weekly to go into local primary schools and read with students who had low reading ages, helping to build their confidence and identify particular weaknesses.
During the pandemic, I got involved in pandemic tutoring and provided tutoring to exam year groups who had limited access to online learning. I helped produce a GCSE English textbook which was a self-learning tool.
During my gap year, I helped organise a work experience week for students applying to medicine. This was run through the Heritage Centre for the Royal College of Anaesthesia and helped students engage with the historical narratives and implications of medical practice.
My Proudest Achievements
This is easy…My first surgical knot which actually looked like the real thing, and passed the surgeon’s approval! (before that, they’d all been a bit of a mess!)
I teach
- Medicine Interview
- Oxbridge Interview
- HAT
- UCAT
- Med Personal Statement
- History
- Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM)
My Results and Achievements
- UCAT: Scored 3160 overall
- UCAT: Scored 890 in Abstract Reasoning
- UCAT: Top 5% in all categories
- UCAT: Band 1 situational judgement
- Received 4/4 offers for medical school (GEM)
- History: 1st in BA from Oxford University
- History: Scored 75 in final year thesis
- History: Ranked 29/224 in finals at Oxford
- A*A*A*A at A-level
- 12A* at GCSEs
- Grade 8 flute
- Grade 8 piano