First step: Crawl

If you're thinking of applying for BDS at MMMC, then I hope the following will help you out. It is a step by step guide. I will divide the whole process into 2 phases. Phase 1: SSLN and Phase 2: Visa.


Of course firstly you have to get the application form. You can write in to the management or get it from their booth during any education fair. Fill it up and include the necessary documents (most of it needs to be certified). For BDS applicants, you will need to submit a HIV, Hep B & C test report. After everything is done, you can post it to the Melaka address (it's printed on the application form) or submit by hand at the Melaka campus.

You will be scheduled for an interview once they finish processing your application form. It's held in the Melaka campus (the same address on your application form) and is normally done on weekdays. You can take this opportunity to visit the campus. I know many of you will be worried about the interview. Here are some tips. Get ready an essay entitle "About myself". It's best to write about your reasons of becoming a dentist. It doesn’t need to be very long. About 200 words. Do look presentable on that day. I suggest formal wear. Say calm (I know it's hard, try your best) and don't forget to greet the deans inside the room.

Be there early. Once you have register at the counter, you can sit around the lobby area. Don't not wander around because they will call you once all the interview candidates have arrived. All of the interview candidates will be lead into this big hall. You will be given 2 sheets of paper. One, to write the "About myself" essay. The other, to write your past participations in co-curriculum activities. (Do bring along your certs!) They will give you roughly about an hour or more for this. After so, they will call out 10 candidates at a time for the interview. The rest will remain in the hall. Normally they will call MBBS applicants 1st. BDS applicants will only be called after all the MBBS applicants have been interviewed. It's not a group interview. You enter the room alone. There will be 3 interviewers. (Dean and the deputy dean) One of the interviewers will look through your essay, another will look through your co-curriculum certs and the last one will do the asking. Some common question asked, "why you want to be a dentist? what's your father or mother's occupation? Is there any family member working in the health science field?, why you choose MMMC? Have you applied to other medical school too?" My advice is to stay true to yourself. Don't try to create stories or act out another personality. By the end of the interview, you will know whether you pass or fail. There're high chances you will get it if you applied early. They might pass you the offer letter on that day itself, it depends. After this, you can walk around in the campus or head to Melaka town for some good food.

Together with your offer letter, you will receive 2 booklets which are the Sijil Sokongan Luar Negara forms. You will first need to pay your 1st year fees within the time frame stated in your offer letter. This will help secure your place in the course. (Currently MDC only allow 50 students per dental school) After that, you can complete the SSLN form. Again, certain documents need certification. After you got everything, you can either post it or send it by hand to the office in putrajaya. (The address is printed on the front cover of the form) If you're staying near putrajaya, I suggest that you make a trip there yourself. (You can get the approval within a week) It would take longer time for them to process if you post to them. (roughly about 3 weeks) The SSLN is just a sheet of paper saying that the government has approved you to further your studies in India. You will have to send that paper (the original one!) back to MMMC. That's all for phase 1.

Let the FUN begin!

Well, this is my first post on this blog. To be honest, I'm completely blank. The purpose of opening this blog is just to record my experience in university life for the next five years. I'll be pursuing BDS in Melaka Manipal Medical College and it's starting in a month time. Haven't pack my things yet. I'm worried, I'm excited, I'm sad to leave home, I'm looking forward. Ahhhh~


I'll start from handling in the form to interview to visa; everything back from the beginning. Maybe include some AIMST stuff. I will be hardworking.


Okay, I think thats all for my first post. Short and simple, don't you think so?


Ps:
For those who know about my previous blog: No, I'm not moving. I'll still be active in Abstract. Just want to segregate university stuff and personal thoughts. So, do stay tune! (to both)