Visiting a University #2

This is part two in the (I guess..) three part series about me, visiting a university in Holland. Making my decision which one I should join next year..

I think it is wise to tell you that I live in a small city, with nothing like a university, so every trip is a trip to 'the big city'.

I've been to University of Utrecht friday. One of the best University's in Holland.

First I've been to the informative meeting of medicine, which fell short of my expectations. I thought Medicine in Utrecht was very, very good, but the presentation was not that good.

But the quality of the study ís good, there are every year 120 registrations who have an 8 average (so you don't have to compete in the draw). So pretty much motivated students.

And there are good abilities to study in a foreign country, something I would like to do.

After that informative meeting, I went to the meeting of Biology.

I didn't have any expectations, it is my favorite class in high school, but the study is nothing for me, I thought.

I was wrong. There are not only treehuggers in that study, and it is much more than just some flowers and some animals. You can chose very much, you can chose which way you want to go, so for me, the neuro-biology way would be great.

And here are some very good abilities to study somewhere else also great!

I have to check biology in more cities, if I wouldn't make it in medicine, I can always drop back to biology!

I didn't went 'down-town' Utrecht, cause I had to be somewhere in Apeldoorn, the place I live, so that's a pitty.

Everything together, I'm not that excited about Utrecht. But I certainly am about Biology. It was a very usefull day!

Speeching: How to use 'err' correctly

I already mentioned my physics teacher, who says 'err' 25 times in 5 minutes.

When he says it, it is really annoying. It looks like he just doesn't know what he wants to say, all the time. But you also may use 'err' in a good way.

When you are speeching, in front of a 'bigger' audience (more than 10 human beings) you can use the word.

The only golden rule is don't use it too much.

But how should you use it?

When you come with something big, if you want to say a really important thing, the 'err' can be really powerfull. It should go something like this: "How should I say this, err, when you ..."

And you have to look above the audience, with the obama-wayoflooking, to a brighter future, to a fantastic oppertunity you seem to see.

It will make you look philosophic. It looks like you are choosing your words wisely. So the audience will think that you are wise, cause what you want to tell, you want to tell good.

An other way to use the word 'err' is to speak very fast after it. So the silence between the word 'err' and the following word must be like nothing. "So if you use plan A to accomplice, you have to err-do this and this."

You show a little bit weakness, and that makes you actually charming.

So, you can use the, in common bad, 'err' correctly, you can use it in your advantage.

Do you have any tips, to turn the bad word 'err' in a good thing? I would like to hear!

Further reading on presentations:

How to give the perfect presentation in class

Presentation in class: The Introduction

Presentation in class: The middle

How to make a presentation, quick

Visiting a University #1

This is part one in the (I guess..) three part series about me, visiting a university in Holland. Making my decision which one I should join next year..

I think it is wise to tell you that I live in a small city, with nothing like a university, so every trip is a trip to 'the big city'.

Today I've visited Leiden University, Holland's oldest university.

Leiden is one of the biggest student cities. 1 on 7 person who lives there is a student. I love it.

It is a really Dutch city, with the old houses near the canal. So Dutch, so lovely.

I went to the informative meeting of medicins.

The speakers spoke in a large lecture room. A room which can fill 350 men. A sparkling new room, with microphones on the desk so you can ask the teacher question, without screaming.

The presentations of different persons was talked to each other by a student. A typical student from Leiden. A prep. In Holland we call it a 'bal'.

I heard some interesting presentation, I think Leiden is a good city to study medicins.

After the meeting, we went to the city, not less important!

We ate a pancake, in a cosy restaurant. And in front of us, there were to elder woman. I guess they were above 70. And what do old people do when they have to read the menu? Getting their glasses. But what did this woman do? Get a magnifying glass! I was perplex. So funny, seeing this woman looking at the menu through such a big magnifier!

I wanna put it in a list. Why should I chose Leiden, and why I shouldn't.

Should:

• Fantastic, Dutch city
• Oldest university, so many old traditions
• Relatively not that expensive rooms
• Everything is close, from your room to the university is 5 minutes on a bike

Shouldn't:

• There are many preps, which I don't want to become
• The decentral selection (on which you can avoid the draw) requirements are just crazy. I won't stand a chance

So, only two shouldn'ts. But the second one is a very heavy one. If I want to be sure to enter medicine next year, I can compete in the decentral selection. I think I will do that, but not in the one from Leiden, but from Groningen. Which I will be visiting soon, I hope..

How to stay awake during class

I am a person who can sleep everywhere.

It doesn't matter, a couch, in a car and even in class.

And it did happen, once. Well, it happened once that the class noticed.

It was a really hot day, and the teacher decided to show some dia's about his holiday, with the curtains closed, and I was very tired.

And pretty often I'm between sleeping and not sleeping, so I tested some things, which probably helps you staying awake.

1. Watch the teacher

Watch the teacher, all the time. And with watching I mean watching all his moves. How he walks, how he talks, how he acts. It is really funny, cause every teacher got something strange, and when you notice that strange thing, you can enjoy it.

It starts to get fun when you take notes. One of my teacher is saying 'euh' all the time, so me and a friend start to count how often he says 'euh'.  The outcome: 27 times in 5 minutes.

2. React on the teacher

I'm following bèta classes, so we have to calculate much. And the teacher has to do it also. They are highly trained in it, absurd. But sometimes he can't calculate it in his head, and he needs a calculator. Since teachers are to lazy to grab their calculator they will always ask: "Can anyone calculate this please". That is the moment you come in. Do it! Calculate, as fast as you can. And when are the fastest of the class, be really jubilant. You will enjoy class more, and there are some teachers who likes that behaviour (no garantee).

3. Start your homework

Just start with your homework. No teacher bothers if you are paying attention, or looking in the book all the time. Homework will be the challenge you might actually need to stay awake. Plus the time you save. If you make your homework in class, you don't have to do it at home anymore!

4. Ask questions

Ask something about the content of the lesson. Popping the first question can be really hard, especially if you are really sleepy, but after the first question you will awake. And then comes the next question, and the next and the next.

5. Make up a story

Don't make up a random story. But make up a story about the person you have to look to the whole lesson. The teacher. Think of him when he is at home. What paper does he read? What does he eat? How is his wife/her husband. What will he do when he comes home?

My girlfriend and I tried that with our physics teacher. Instant fun!

6. Learn something

Last but not least. Step into the class with the idea you are going to learn something today. 

When you are standing on the doorstep think 'I AM going to learn something today'.

And when you stand on that doorstep again, but then when you leave class, you will be satisfied, and awake.

So, do you think this works? Do you have other tips for staying awake? Post them, I'm curious!

I'm dutch, so my English is pretty good, but not perfect, please correct me when I'm wrong!

Checking it out

In my first post I said I want to be a doctor. Well, on thursday there was an 'doing-day' in the hospital in my village. Everybody could go there, and just see what the nurses do.

You could give a fake arm a drip. You could stitch a fake arm, things like that.

So I went there with my girlfriend, and decided to take the round. We had to collect stickers at every part of the round. So we saw everything.

Really an informative day. Talked with some junior assistents (is that the correct word for a medical student on clinical attachment?) and we learned some interesting things for our study.

The only but is that the day was mainly focussed on peeps who want to learn for nurse, which we don't. We want to be 'real doctors'. So when they asked 'you are already in schooling for nurse?' we had to answer all the time 'no, we are in the examclass now, and we want to study medicins'. And then they said 'Oh, I can't tell you anything 'bout that'. Bummer..

Furthermore, I am 5 pencils richer, got some candy and they made a heartmovie of my heart. Pretty funny, cause when I had the results, some nurse came to me 'show it please'. And I did, she said 'Ah, young and lean'. Well, yeah, that's me!

The best learning moment was when we were at the 'PAAZ' (Psychatric Department General Hospital).  I didn't know the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Well I do now, a psychiatrist works more with diseases and medicins, and a psychologist talks more about immaterial problems. So, I don't wanna be a psychologist anymore, and perhaps I do wanna be a psychiatrist. 

Well, I still have 7 years to chose.

Who am I

The Dutch School kid.
Let's just start with that. I'm 17 years old, living in the Netherlands, and I'm in my last year of high school.
I seriously wanna study medicins next year. There is only one thing. In Holland there is a draw with that.
So if I wanna be sure that I will make it, I need an average of an 8. (In Holland the system works with points, 1-10). And after my first examweek this year, I have an average of 7,8. Just not high enough. So I have to work really hard, cause I wanna make it.
Besides that. I like swimming, and with swimming I mean swimming in competition. I train like 4 times a week.
I got the greatest girlfriend. Also 17, also in my class. She is just wonderfull.
My school has a school play every year at Christmas, I'm in it. We are playing the classic: Christmas Carrol, I play the ghost of Christmas present. Lovely role.
So these will be the topics I write about. Just write about my life, just write something which might interest you.

Oh and, I'm dutch, my english is pretty good, but isn't perfect. Please correct my spelling!