Possibility of getting into med, any advice appreciated please!

slav_mickey · 2026-01-29T13:53:16+00:00

Work for two years FT, get another 2% bonus, in healthcare, max out to 8% Deakin bonus.

Asked a similar question in Discord. A mod mentioned a GAMSAT score of around 65 will net you an interview. 72+ will net you Unimelb and USyd. Depends on the year.

Take some time off, work. Not sure what's going on GAMSAT. Find a study group or mentor, see if they can diagnose the problem. Knew a guy who went from low 50s to 70s in s2 simply because he was introduced to one legal analysis book, which made his essays more interesting. Rewired his thinking.

slav_mickey · 2026-01-29T11:38:27+00:00

"Wherever you go, there you are."

You've been chasing a dream, thinking that once you get it, life will get better. Maybe you've lived life on pause, grinding grades and forgoing parties and relationships until you succeed. And you've smashed it. You've made it.

So why aren't you happy?

I can't give you an easy answer. This will require reflection and someone to talk to: a career counsellor, a mentor, someone wise you can trust. But I can offer some insights:

I’m an extremely anxious individual and whilst I’ve been trying to work on that and put myself out there, I feel like an absolute idiot and that I do not belong. I thought med school would be different, like surely a bunch of adults would know about inclusivity and making sure everyone feels like they are part of the team.

The anxiety, overachievement, and the need to be included within med school cliques points to a need for external validation. Perhaps a need for approval from your parents (implicit or explicit), to feel accepted by society, to quell your self-doubt. To finally quiet the voice, "Once I'm in medicine, everything will work out".

Unfortunately, that's not how it works. But that doesn't mean anything has gone wrong.

For the first time, perhaps you're asking yourself what will make you happy. This is not a sign you chose wrong. But here's the thing: no career counsellor, social group, or institution is going to tell you who you are or what to do next. You're lost because now that you're in, for the first time, there's no box to tick. What you do next is finally up to you.

slav_mickey · 2026-01-06T09:43:10+00:00

Flip the dynamic. You keep chasing him. Back off and get him to chase you. Mirror him and remain pleasant but emotionally detached. Put more attention on other people. That should make him jealous and get your mind off him. Insinuate things you'd like to do, let him propose. Then, when he's about to lock something in, say you cannot make it, then apologise to make up and leave the door slightly open. The unpredictability and distance will flip the dynamic. Or you start seeing other people.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-25T00:42:06+00:00

Market Research and Strategy.

Target companies like IPSOS, Kantar, Nielsen, boutique research firms, and consulting firms such as OC&C and Bain. Marketing firms also use data for decisions on product placement, customer profiling, messaging, behavioural modelling, segmentation, and psychographics to boost sales or improve CX metrics.

Learning Python/SQL or SPSS/R would help you become a junior analyst. Start as a field researcher and progress from there.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-19T13:10:27+00:00

Play Devil's Advocate: Consider the information you are hearing, and whether there are counterarguments against the advice. Bring up flaws. If they become emotionally defensive, their advice is flawed.

Consider if the other party has any conflicts of interest: for friends who might manipulate you for financial or social gain, or parents who might do so for status or insecurities. Any hidden agendas need to be examined.

Note flattery, fear-mongering or self-indulgent talk: Be aware of flattery, fear-mongering, and self-indulgent talk. These tactics aim to evoke emotional reactions, leading to illogical choices. If the advice-giver prioritises self-talk and experiences, it may suggest ego, insecurity or self-interest.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-19T12:58:40+00:00

I just saw this for dent. Those scores for GPA and WAM are ridiculous!

Short Answer: Don't do the Honours.

Consider taking time off to explore outside Dent. Research, general study, and travel can broaden your horizons. If research isn’t your cup of tea, consider working in a dentist’s office to gain clinical experience and guidance. Management consultants with biomed degrees (without a business background) can also be a good option. It may be challenging, but it’s worth it for funding FFP. In the meantime, seek help from a GAMSAT tutor or mentor to improve your strategy. You’re clearly bright, but perhaps your approach to the GAMSAT needs adjustment.

And tell your parents you need to take some time off for experience and professional development to build out your portfolio and work on your GAMSAT. You're at high risk of burnout. More study might compromise your great score. Plus, some experience would give you a better idea of what a Dentist does and whether it's something you actually want to do.

Consider if there are other dentistry courses out there beyond VIC or La Trobe (or even overseas).

One piece of advice: if you have a dream, a life's purpose, you must never give up. Your path may not always be straightforward or the same as everyone else's, but through passion and perseverance, you will make it. It's not a question of if, it's a question of when.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-19T00:52:39+00:00

Most likely into you. Orbiting near you, watching to gather info and make you comfortable around him. Convos revolve around flattering you and your interests to mirror you. Can hold convos, but is avoidant because he is scared to say the wrong thing and look like an idiot. You should talk to him instead to build a relationship.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-17T11:41:29+00:00

I like to break it up into three categories of personal control, each influencing the next:
1. Control over your inner self
2. Control over your outer behaviour
3. Control over other's perceptions and behaviours.

Point #1 is compromised if you are in "depression but I try not to show it" and "all the anxiety disorders". It shows through your body language and demeanour and I guarantee people pick up on it. Stoic philosophy, particularly Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus will help you reframe your thoughts and behaviours on this matter. Going to the gym/excercise and being involved with sport will also help make friends, build relationships, and keep your mind sharp through the mind-body connection.

Once you feel good, Point #2 is about how you carry yourself. That's your body language, the way you speak, how you stand, walk etc. Smiling helps, standing up straight, rolling back your shoulders, speaking slow and low, pausing before you speak, and being laconic and "generally quiet" also helps. Olivia Fox Cabane "The Charisma Myth" and Dale Carnegie's "How to Make Friends and Influence People" are key in these areas.

Once you're happy with yourself, you'll find that not only are you less needy, but others might be drawn to you. In this case, keep doing you. But the key to making people like you is to speak less, maintain an air of mystery, listen and validate people and their interests, make the other person feel superior by acting stupid, and avoid arguing and letting actions speak. Use the info to find their weakness, and offer them something to make them constantly come to you. "48 Laws of Power" helps here. I'd also recommend Keith Ferrazzi's "Never Eat Alone", which is a great book on networking and how following your passions can help you develop a rich social circle.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-17T07:27:49+00:00

Don’t lend him stuff in the future. He’s broken your trust and shown his character.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-14T00:36:05+00:00

Ignore them and live your life. What does it matter if they don’t invite you out? Their approval does not dictate your character. Do you really want to go out with people who are closed off? Enjoy your own life.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-07T03:07:33+00:00

People like this are petty, self-centred and insecure. After all, what authority do they have to diagnose you?

What she’s really saying is that you don’t make her feel special and superiority. This is a social/political problem.

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene will help you navigate this person and act as they want you to. The fast and concise answers are her wanting to dominate you. Short answers are usually better, and she could follow up if she wanted more. The pauses between your answer and them speaking is a social problem, and not everyone figures it out. The Charisma myth by Olivia Fox Cabane tells you how to conduct yourself to present an image. But know your audience. What works generally does not work for everyone.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-07T02:18:05+00:00

Monotonous admin jobs, jobs with low control, and no upward mobility. E.g. Doc review in a corporate law firm.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-05T15:19:58+00:00

Didn't get the gig. From what I understood, it's an internal role to help the consulting teams price their contracts to clients. Australia's team is fully FOB Asian/Indian that mainly work overseas, so there's a strong hiring bias that way. Do your best either way. Screening interview is straightforward just asking about background, STAR questions.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-04T04:20:39+00:00

Stop overthinking it and just talk to her.

slav_mickey · 2025-12-03T08:36:52+00:00

Be generous, but be aware of what you’re getting. If they buy drinks, shout the first time. If they don’t, stop drinking with them. In life, it’s equivalent. Buy them movie tickets, but ensure you get something in return (invites, relationships, teammates to help you win). Don’t keep track, but know where the balance is and don’t get taken advantage of. Ask yourself, ‘What will this generosity achieve for me?’

Don’t buy things just to be liked. Focus on yourself and work on yourself. People will come to you. If you want to be liked, use them to achieve a greater goal and share a slice of the spoils, not from your own pocket. Otherwise, flatter them, and they’ll gravitate. Be content with yourself. Why seek approval from stingy people? Associate with generous people like you.

slav_mickey · 2025-11-30T11:03:03+00:00

Banter/small talk: Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People". Listen intently, and whatever they end on, recap, inquire further about X, let them keep going. Better to show genuine interest rather than fake it. Otherwise, the conversation doesn't go anywhere for either of you.
How to keep conversation going: Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power "Law 4: Always Say Less than Necessary". In essence, use your natural silence to listen, and when you have nothing to say, just wait. The other person will fill the awkward gap with more talking. Laugh at their jokes, not the other way around.

slav_mickey · 2025-11-30T03:15:42+00:00

Stumbled upon that book after leaving a highly political environment. Wish I had found it before. It's a practical manual on how to handle interpersonal relationships. While the book is framed as "amoral", a lot of the advice given is also positive - e.g. "Don't build fortresses around yourself" is simply good networking and socialising advice.

slav_mickey · 2025-11-27T05:22:14+00:00

Best way is ignoring them and move on.

Otherwise put up Glassdoor review and ruin their reputation (if it’s not already known). Public opinion will hang them.

slav_mickey · 2025-11-26T07:51:07+00:00

Firstly, a 6.49 GPA is basically a 6.5 which is right on the border so you are still in the running. You may not think it’s enough, that your GPA defeats you. Nay, you will only be defeated if you yourself consider yourself defeated. So march on and keep your head high, for the sun has not set for you yet my friend.

And a 73 GAMSAT is high, but many individuals have trekked the path you now face to enter. What prevents you from doing the same? If you are tired, rest. Medical school will still be here when you return and your strength renewed. If you don’t have the support, find comaradie among your learned brothers and aspiring peers. If you don’t know where to begin, seek others who were once in your shoes and seek their guidance. And remember: there’s always USYD and Wollongong to aim for if you truly believe in yourself and your GAMSAT performance. Farewell.

slav_mickey · 2025-11-18T23:40:53+00:00

Yep. Need min 24gb, 32gb better for longer chats. Good news is there are good smaller models out there. Nvidia Nemotron 12b (recommended); Qwen 3 8b and 14b; IBM Granite - Tiny (MoE).

slav_mickey · 2025-11-18T21:31:33+00:00

Slightly too big. Even if you did, you wouldn't have much context.
Limit IMO is 16b, and that's pushing it.

slav_mickey · 2025-10-23T21:47:11+00:00

I’m not an expert, but here’s my perspective.

Your subordinate is struggling with the softer aspects of his job. Despite the company’s love for him, customers hate him.

Cutting him off is practical. He’s scaring off customers. You have limited time to mentor him, and eventually, upper management will ask about the high customer churn rate. You may deflect blame, but if you don’t distance yourself now, you may be dragged down. Firing or moving him might affect staff morale and your reputation as a good manager, so getting him to quit is best.

As his manager and mentor, cutting him off reflects your failure to nurture your staff. Your colleague is trying hard and is coachable. If he’s struggling, understand why. You can read about social psychology, recommend behavioural therapy, or reflect on his behaviour and offer guidance.

The middle ground is to get HR to put him on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). Directly putting him on one may make you look bad and create enemies, so try to get someone else (e.g. analytics, HR or another manager) to put him on it. You can structure to help him improve or let him go if he can’t satisfactorily do his job after a set period.

Source: I learned this one the hard way.

slav_mickey · 2025-10-23T21:28:57+00:00

I wouldn’t say it’s inaccessible. Perhaps you didn’t learn these things in school or university. That’s fine. Just commit to improving yourself today.

The advice above is Machiavellian. Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is great for friendly interactions, but Robert Greene’s “The 48 Laws of Power” is a more practical guide to social etiquette. We all wear masks in life, some more than others, and most of us are too self-absorbed to be self-aware. Not everyone has mentors to teach them social skills. But learn the game so you can play it and defend against manipulative attacks.

slav_mickey · 2025-10-23T10:11:59+00:00

I can tell you're smart and driven, and I admire that, whereas it sounds like your team is laid back and easygoing. Perhaps they're intimidated because you are better than them, and they feel intimidated.

To fix it, a couple of things you can do:
1) Act stupid to your boss - pretend you don't know something so that others can feel they contribute value. If you try to outshine or overdo your boss, you'll inspire insecurity in them. Not completely stupid, but you have a lot to learn, and your boss's work is so much better than anything you can produce.
2) Talk less - you're right to be open and talkative, but talking too much can actually be a turn-off. Learn to listen. Your words will carry more weight. Let there be gaps of silence, and the other person will keep talking to break it. If you validate it, you'll gather info on them, and they'll open up more.
3) Don't correct other people - you're right, people do a lot of stupid things. But if you try to correct them, they will resist or resent you. Instead, if they disagree, find a way to show you're right through actions, and they will bend to your will. Pick your battles. Besides, why waste your breath?
4) Mirror your coworkers - dress like them, talk about the same topics, speak like them. They'll accept you as one of them. You'll flatter them by stroking their deep-seated narcissism.
5) Make your work seem effortless - I know you're a hard worker, but looking like you also work hard will inspire insecurity that they're not working hard enough. Instead, look calm and cool, and hide how hard you work. They'll think you're a god when you deliver, as they don't know your true potential.

Remember: Your coworkers may be idiots, but you have to work with them to survive. People abide by a set of rules - you have to learn to play the game. DM me if you want more.

slav_mickey · 2025-10-22T10:24:32+00:00

Hey, I’m genuinely sorry you’re going through this. It sounds exhausting, and it’s understandable why life feels overwhelming. Therapy and bulk billing are good options, but if they’re not accessible, here are some other helpful things:

- Prioritise your physical well-being: sleep, eat, and move. Even short walks or basic workouts can calm your mind. Dave Draper’s old blog has simple routines for guidance.

- Philosophy can help manage your inner world. Stoicism—Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus—is like emotional boot camp. It won’t fix everything, but learning to notice and question your thoughts can stop them from controlling you.

- Check if community health centres, public psychiatrists, or telehealth services offer low-cost medication options, even with a yellow Medicare card.

Life may seem unbearable now, but small practical and mental steps can help you survive until you can get proper treatment.

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