Just heard the head girl in Concord College with 4A* did not manage to get any offer for medicine in the UK this year. Locally, the number of interviews at KYUEM for this cycle was significantly less too, according to those in the know.

Each occupation helps people in different ways.

It depends on one's own passion and interest but the main goal is still about helping people.

I agree on your point about KYUEM students getting lesser interviews.

Before my interview with one of the UK university, the interview attendant mentioned to me that number of Malaysians attending the interview was less than previous years, especially those from KYUEM, which was about 3-4 as I could roughly remember.
(Malaysia was the interview branch for southeast asia for that particular university).

statistically, 4% of all a levels students gets 3a*....no statistics for 4a*, as uk unis only require 3 principles.....

therefore, getting 3a* is relatively easy, and therefore, a lot of students have the same result.....therefore selection is based on criteria other than pure academic results...in fact, offers are made on condition of only a*aa....which means the selection pool may be as much as the top 12% of all students.....a very big group of applicants.....

Elaborate it to the interviewers.......helping people alone is a poor answer.......

haha, I don't think I want to elaborate the whole points behind helping people.

But generally, you get the idea of doctors on helping people, rather than chasing wealth or fame.

Doctors earn a lot? Maybe, not really these days. Good lifestyle? Not really, long hours, high stress environment. Work to $$$ ratio? not so good. Responsibility is extremely heavy; you need to know almost everything in med to some extent, and to find yourself only scratching the surface of each aspect; Patients think you're superman and if there are complications (assuming you've done your best taking in ALL possible outcomes and trying to prevent them like a good doctor you are which med school tried to make you into) you get sued; Work your head off and paid your head off through med school, only to find a small hill call internship, and a bigger hill call residency, and a huge ginormous mountain call Registrar position, and by the time you reach consultant you're pretty old. Then you might have some $$$ and time.

So why go into med with all these nonsense around us? Mind as well go into mining engineering/off shore engineering. Helps others, helps the country, loads of $$$, loads of free time, good lifestyle.

As for why AUS/UK and not Malaysia. If bottom line you think Msia's education standard is good enough, and ultimately you want to work in Msia only, then why not, just aim for any unis in Msia. I recommend IMU and Monash Sunway, but hey, even if you're not a top student, you can get into med easily. Malaysian style. I like it here in OZ, i'm adapted (well sort of) here well, I'm much more comfortable taking history and communicating in english which I'm sure I can't do so (as much) in Malaysia. I am trained in English, I took histories in Chinese and it was hilarious. Standard wise, I'm happy with the training I'm receiving, preclin and clinical knowledge wise. Pay is reasonable when I come out, good lifestyle, quite a safe country, I can go on and on.

So is Msian med education more inferior to those overseas (UK/Aus), maybe. It's up to you to judge. I certainly feel that I'm getting proper training here compared to when I studied briefly in Msia. But I can't judge just by that because it was just 1/2 a year of preclin.

The trend seems to be the same in sg as well for UGlasgow.

Hey onelove and podrunner, I really appreciate your comments. All I wanted to know was why so many students want to stay back in Aus/UK after studying. I thought money was one of the main factors. But it seems that I was wrong. From what I've read, you guys are implying that money is not the main factor. I am surprised to be honest. The main reason why I post on this medical thread is because I want people like you guys who are in the system to explain all these things that only you guys will know. Because my brother wants to know all these things, so I decided to ask in this forum. The reason why I ask about money is because I wanted to clear up certain things. In fact, I do not think a money-minded doctor is not a passionate doctor. Everyone does things for a reason. If money is a motivation and you can do a competent job, why be embarrassed to say you are driven by money? If a doctor driven by money is more competent, I am sure many of us would not mind as long as he does a good job and he is ethical, transparent and responsible in what he does. While I agree that the days where doctors make good money is over, I also see this in many industries. On the other hand, I would like to know, don't you guys feel lonely there? I mean skype and facetime is just not the same with seeing someone face to face. Do you guys plan to stay there for the rest of your lives?
Thanks?

This post has been edited by Mr Kong: Aug 20 2013, 11:56 AM

What's to stop you from making new friends?!

Overseas doesn't mean you being the only sad lonely neglected 'asian dude' among all the locals Yes I'm planning to stay. No I don't feel lonely, I still call back and message my parents. I have my med friends, non-med friends, church friends, and colleagues. I'm pretty alright here really Of course there are times when I miss home, but that's not like a deciding factor for my future. Time to grow up, be independent

When I meant was your family. Not being able to see your family.

Are you able to save money there? Sorry to be intrusive, but what is your typical day like and how do you normally spend your weekends?

No one can tell you that they will stay in a place for long. Things change and mobility is much more easy than previously. You go where you want to be.

Yeah, bolehland is still a nice country to be with lots of good food and sunshine and of course with the so called childhood and best friends. Wherever you are, think positive and live happily.

Yesterday in The Star: A letter from a Practicing Doctor (Sorry, din have the link)

A practicing doctor in KL highlighted that eventhough he works 7.5 hours a day and 5 days a week and average 600 patients a month, his net income is only about RM1,000 per month!!

I think its time for him to close his clinic and look for a full time job. This is pure MANAGEMENT FAILURE and surely does not reflect other doctors' earnings.

Net income means minus his car and house installment?

Then probably it could be true. Could also include holidays and investments.

But he also said BELOW poverty line.

I bet it's just a string of bad financial decisions.

Actually for a gp practice, 600 patients a month is considered a small practice, and if it is in a high cost environment, after deducting running expenses including staffing, there may not be much left over......

It would however, be a busy practice in a specialist setting.....

Remember running cost is a fixed cost, no matter how busy or light the practice is.....there is a breakeven point, which will vary.....so for most gp practices, at current charge levels, the first 10 to 20 patients may be just paying for rent, salaries etc....

Thought it would be much greater number.