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Doctors and Dentists SayDr Deepak Williams B.Sc., MBBS, FRCS(London), FRCS(Edin), FRCS(Glasg), FRACS, FRACS(Vasc) Dear Dallas I cannot thank you enough for what you did with our eldest son Zoheb. He was extremely keen to do Medicine. As you know Zoheb was studying in a small school in Ballina - regional NSW. His class was only the third batch of students doing HSc from that school. As a result both the school and us were ignorant of what was required to get into a medical course. There are no tuitions or courses available here as there are in big metropolitan centres. It was only by accident that we came across a pamphlet for your course. Once we visited your website, we knew that it was what Zoheb needed to succeed. The course was very detailed, and you were there at all times to answer Zoheb's questions, and to guide him - sometimes at 1 am!!!. The skills you taught him not only put Zoheb at the same level as his city counterparts, but also gave him the edge in both UMAT and the various interviews. He was able to utilise the same skills in his preparation for the HSc exam as well, and am sure will be able to use them for the rest of his life. I was amazed at your enthusiasm, and single minded dedication to our son. With your help Zoheb got offers for both Monash and Newcastle Universities, and he has accepted the offer from Newcastle. We as a family will always be grateful to you for what you did, and personally as a surgeon I feel that you give the students the edge which they require to be their best and reach their potential. I commend you for your good work and would have no hesitation in recommending your course to any one who wants to excel, and achieve their dream in the field of Medicine Deepak Williams Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon B.Sc., MBBS, FRCS(London), FRCS(Edin), FRCS(Glasg), FRACS, FRACS(Vasc) Dr Nilaofer Meher-Homji MBBS MD MRCOG FRANZCOG DDU [New Zealand] NILAOFER MEHER-HOMJI 33 The Terrace I cannot thank you enough for the help, guidance and advice that you have given to Zaal, my son, in the last few months. Zaal has been accepted to the medical course at the University of Melbourne, which was his first choice. You have been an inspiration, friend and guide to us. My son has enjoyed working with you in your 2 day course and on a one to one basis to improve his interview skills. What I really appreciated is the advice and time that you gave to me, when I rang you several times in the last few months. Whenever I had a query or problem it was easy to contact you and talk things through, and you with your quick thinking brain and wit always had an answer for me.
Dr J Salvaris MBBS FRACGP [Perth] Thankyou for training our twin boys Ross and Patrick. We are most grateful for your services with UMAT and their placement at the University of Western Australia. I figure that the odds of them both getting into medicine given the present level of competition was about one in sixty four. This speaks more than highly of your training. They are both enjoying the course here. Many thanks and keep up your impressive work. Dr J Salvaris MBBS FRACGP Dr S Rastogi. M.B.,B.S., M.D. & Ms Seema Aggarwala. B.Optom. [Sydney] Dear Dallas, My wife and I would like to express our sincerest appreciation on your individualized Interview skills training for our son and his successful admission at University of NSW. It was very obvious that you had your “finger on the pulse” regarding the interview process and have a very meticulous and well-grounded interview skills training programme. Even though my wife and I are practicing health professionals of 20 years standing, I don’t think we could have in any way come closer to what was needed for our son .We admire the uncompromising, firm and disciplined manner in which you ironed out the undesired manners and at the same time reinforcing what were my son’s strengths. The interviewing knowledge and skills that he has acquired will stand him well for years to come in all aspects of his life. I have two other children in the wings and if they desire to pursue medicine in the future we would be greatful for your guidance. Once again, Thank you for helping our son realise his full potential and life’s ambition. Dr S Rastogi. M.B.,B.S., M.D. Dr Arnold Shmerling MBBS FRACGP [Melbourne] I am very grateful for the advice and education regarding the UMAT and Interview you gave to my son Eli. He enjoyed the course and the written notes, but in particular benefited from the practice for the spatial section of the UMAT via the Superkeenye practice questions practised on the internet. They were great and he starred in that section without having great natural talent. Best Regards Dr. N. Ghattas MBChB FRACGP, DCH [Sydney] After hearing of the efficacy of your 2-day Deluxe course for UMAT and private interview training from a colleague that knew of your students astounding results, I sent my son Samer to attend. It was important to me that he was afforded the best possible opportunity to enter medicine as that was the career he wanted to pursue. The results speak for themselves. He's been accepted into UNSW his university of first preference and rejected another offer from his second choice medical school. The support you've given him has been invaluable and he is looking forward to using your new complete medical course training notes online to assist his medical studies. Dr. N. Ghattas MBChB FRACGP, DCH Professor Frank W Stitt MBBS (USYD) FRACP [Sydney] I have had an opportunity to review the course prospectus of the Course in Preparation for Studies in Health Science, offered by Icarus College. The course aims to prepare candidates to successfully undertake tertiary studies in a range of health science courses (including medicine, dentistry, optometry, oral health science, physiotherapy) or employment in a range of paramedical and health-related occupations. The Steering Committee for the development of the course represent various sectors of the health science fields and they have had considerable experience in the provision of education in health sciences. They have confirmed that for students to be successful in health science studies, it is desirable that they have the following skills: - interview skills - abstract non-verbal reasoning skills - interpersonal skills - professional and empathic communication skills - dynamic reading skills - logical reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving skills - medical terminology The course is consistent with newer ideas about education in the health sciences and reform of possible harmful traditional practices, where students are taught using passive methods, such as lectures, and there is a strong focus on assessment based on rote memorisation. Newer programs for vocational training in health integrate teaching of basic sciences (anatomy, biochemistry) with clinical and social sciences, make use of community as well as hospital healthcare settings, increase overall patient contact, and provide greater student choice. New courses are likely to encourage learning methods that directly link new knowledge to patient care, modernise approaches to basic science (in particular anatomy), increase emphasis on appropriate consultation skills and attitudinal learning, and promote a more humane and supportive learning environment. Newer medical schools such as the four in the UK - also have the opportunity to take innovative approaches to selecting candidates for medical education and to the assessments that underpin the direction of student learning. Newer approaches to student selection and admissions policies have been influenced by the 'widening access' debate. They have reconsidered what constitutes necessary prior academic attainment, and they attempt to attract good candidates regardless of age and sociodemographic and school background. Newer and innovative schools claim to use selection procedures for applicants in which academic criteria are only one hurdle in the process, standardised interviews are the norm, and part of the selection rests on non-academic criteria. The Icarus College course appears to be a sound foundation for the preparation of potential students for admission into degree-granting programs in the health sciences, and to provide an appropriate focus on skills other than those assessed by secondary school barrier examinations. Frank W Stitt MBBS (USYD) FRACP President, Online Medical Education, Sydney Australia Formerly Vice-Chancellor and Founder, Oceania University of Medicine (Samoa) and International University of the Health Sciences (St Kitts) Clinical Professor, Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine Dr M Thakkar MBBS FRACGP [Sydney] Thank you so much for assisting Kiran in making her dreams come true. She worked assiduously as per your instructions and is now starting her career in medicine at UNSW. I can't believe we found you as I thought all the old fashioned teachers were gone. I know the firm discipline and never give up attitude you imbue into your students goes a long way in pushing them hard to achieve their success. Her whole outlook has changed since your clinic and she now knows she can be a doctor. I must add that your preparatory rigorous training and brutal honesty shocked her at first but as I explained to her - when she is a doctor she will experience far, far worse than this during her lifelong career. Well done ICARUS College. I started sending my twin girls Vashuki and Thevaki to ICARUS College in year 11 for preparation for entrance into medicine via UMAT.Coming from Broken Hill for his courses was a difficult venture but with his professional track record I considered it worth the effort. What a surprise. He was extremely disciplined in his approach and very strict. This suited me well as I wanted my daughters prepared for a challenging and enduring career in medicine and this is exactly what they got. This year I am pleased to relate they both received multiple interviews and offers to several medical schools with Vashuki choosing Monash and Thevaki deciding to accept her Melbourne offer. Thank you ICARUS College for helping my girls to come this far and the girls have said they would love to talk to new students at your Melbourne UMAT Deluxe Clinics this year. They will also be using your leading edge online medical course notes to help them through the long course. Dr A Sivagnanam MBBS FRACGP Dr Frank Piscioneri [Canberra] I have just had the opportunity to review this ICARUS College Course in Preparation for Studies in Health Sciences. Icarus College has done an excellent job in the design. It identifies the skills and attributes that are being used more and more in the selection of medical students. The course offers a very structured approach to enhancing these skills and attributes. Most potential students are poorly prepared for the selection processes used by most medical schools. A student who energetically applies him/herself in this course should be well placed to significantly enhance the likelihood of successful entry to medical school. The skills learnt will stand the student well in a wide range of life endeavours. Dr Frank Piscioneri (Orthopaedic Surgeon) Former Head of Surgery, Fiji School of Medicine MBBS (Adel), FRCS (Glas), MChOrth (Liv), Cert. Hlth. Econ. (Monash), MPH&TM (JCU) Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Medical Education, University of Canberra Dr Swainston MBBS, FANZCA [Lismore] The advice my daughter, Bianca, received during your two day course was invaluable. She was offered three interviews based purely on her UMAT scores, which speaks very highly of the training provided in the course. We are very pleased that she has been offered two medical places. The only advice we (and she) have would be to start the UMAT training exercises earlier not two weeks before both the UMAT and her half yearly exams! Alan Richardson BSc, MSc, MAACB, Post Grad Med Tech, JP “As a mature age applicant in my early forties, the difficulty of gaining a place in medicine was brought home by conversations with a number of medical professionals and academics. Sitting the UMAT on its own was a scary enough thought. I enrolled in the Icarus College program because I felt I needed every single ace up my sleeve and was not willing to be turned down and feel that I had not done everything possible to achieve my dream. The exercises provided by Icarus as preparation for the UMAT were extremely helpful and despite tertiary institution standard lines that you cannot learn to improve your UMAT performance by practice and preparation, take it from me, you can! The seminar was also very motivating and well worthwhile. I walked away from the 2 days with the firm belief that this goal was achievable and its achievement was solely in my hands. The advice provided enabled me to direct my efforts at gaining entry to a medical course in the most productive avenues available. I do not believe I would now be a medical student if I had not enrolled with Icarus College.” Alan Richardson BSc, MSc, MAACB, Post Grad Med Tec h, JP Ex-State Manager of a large Private Pathology Provider now first year Medical Student 2007 DR DILIP DHILLON, MBBS FRACGP MCGP LFOM (Melbourne) I am delighted that my daughter found you! Her success (obtaining a place at Notre Dame Fremantle for post grad medicine) means a lot to me and I can't thank you enough for your help with the private interview preparation. I would definitely recommend other students to attend the interview training. Magic happens! Dr. Dharmapala Wimalaguna MBBS, AMC, JP [Brisbane] Owing to Dallas’s UMAT preparation course my eldest is currently in her third year of medicine. Unbeknown to us at the time the UMAT exam is critically important to medical entry, not just ones OP score. Without Dallas’s course our daughter’s journey towards her medical degree may have been a lot more arduous and time consuming. The material that Dallas provided for all three sections of the exam in addition to the interview training ensured that our daughter was well prepared and able to perform to her full potential. I would strongly recommend the course to any student endeavouring to gain entry into a medical course. Dr. Dharmapala Wimalaguna MBBS, AMC, JP Dr Z Vilagosh MBBS FRACGP + Dr B Vilagosh MBBS FRACGP [Melbourne] Dear ICARUS College, Dr. A R Mittal [Adelaide] "My son wanted to do Medicine since year 7 and had been working very hard to achieve his objective. However to get in to medicine and realise his dream he needed help with UMAT. We found Dallas's course online while searching for resources and my son enrolled with Dallas since yr 9. Thanks to Dallas's intensive and individualised course, my son achieved his objective without any problem. In fact he has been offered places in most of the universities that he has applied to. Dr R O'Brien MBBS FRACGP [Melbourne] I found that ICARUS College' preparation for both the UMAT and the interview was extremely helpful in all respects. ICARUS College is most supportive, approachable and meticulous in their approach to getting people into medicine. We are most pleased our son Michael can now look forward to enjoying studying for his medical degree at Melbourne University. I highly recommend ICARUS College'courses for UMAT and private interview training to anyone seriously contemplating entering medicine or the health sciences. Thank you from all of our family! I really appreciate the effort that you put in with my son Ray. The help that you gave him in the ICARUS deluxe preparation course and the online facilities you provided to him encouraged him to solve as many questions as possible and the constant correspondence between you and Ray enabled him to keep track of his progress. I do not think that he would achieve what he did without your help. He was offered a place in the medical school in the University of Adelaide as well as the medical Schools in Monash University, the University of Newcastle and The University of New South Wales. The ICARUS college preparation college has helped Ray and I recommend it to any student who is seriously considering going to any medical school around Australia. Dr Nabil Kodsi MBBS Dr Audrey Clarke MBBS FRACGP [Perth] Hi Dallas and all the ICARUS College team, Dr Alan Broughton BDS FRACDS MDS FPFA [Adelaide] Thankyou for giving me the opportunity to comment on the ICARUS College Course in Preparation for Studies in Health Sciences. As you are no doubt aware, I have strong convictions that a course such as this should be made available for all prospective entrants to the health sciences degree courses. My particular conviction stems from a concept of equality of opportunity. At the undergraduate level of entry to Health Science degree courses, candidates from diverse cultural and socio economic backgrounds seek admission. These candidates will have a correspondingly diverse range of life experiences and personal interactions. Some of these life experiences may directly or indirectly affect their level of competency for satisfying the stringent entry requirements of a health sciences degree. For some candidates appropriate experiences occurring either by accident or by design, may give some tangible advantage to successfully sitting entrance examinations for the health sciences. For other candidates, the absence of relevant experiences may well be a disadvantage to their successful completion of the entrance examinations. It is my belief that all candidates should be offered an equal opportunity to achieve to their true potential at the admission procedures for the health sciences. To that end, I believe that a training course that encourages a consideration of the many avenues investigated by the health sciences admission process would allow candidates to enjoy a much more even standard of opportunity. I believe that the spatial identification skills unit (VBP211) will allow candidates the opportunity to develop a skill set that may otherwise for some be left underdeveloped and result in less than appropriate performance in spatial identification testing. The unit (VBP209) aimed at developing effective interview skills again allows students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to realise their true potential, rather than achieve a result that may be limited because of prior lack of exposure to similar situations because of cultural or socio-economic background. Unit (VBP211) offers a structured program for logical and critical thinking, an essential element for practitioners in health sciences. Again, this unit offers the potential to eliminate prejudicial effects of prior life events and experience, and allow training of candidates so that their true potential in this field may be realised. Thank you once again for the opportunity of commenting on this course, which I see as beneficial to all proposed candidates for health sciences degree courses, as well as those likely to be employed alongside these health professionals. Yours sincerely, Dr Alan Broughton (Prosthodontist) BDS FRACDS MDS FPFA Senior Lecturer in Dentistry University of Adelaide Dr P Bhabha, MBBS FRANZCA [Brisbane] My daughter Friyana has long wanted to study medicine and follow in my footsteps so I enquired re the task of her applying and entering medicine. My colleagues were unanimous in referring me to ICARUS College for a complete training including the UMAT test. She started with ICARUS College and gradually I noticed a positive change in her outlook as she began to believe that she could do it. Medicine was not an impossible hurdle but very achievable with hard work. ICARUS College gave her plenty of this and although adopting a very tough stance with her, he allowed her to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Her determination grew under his tutelage and his deliberate pushing her well outside her comfort zone. He claimed that the ascent was tough and arduous but the view from the summit was only for winners. Well I am so happy to say that now she has joined those winners and will enjoy a medical career commencing her studies at Monash the medical school of her first preference. ICARUS College my whole family thank you for your perseverance and bull dog attitude with Friyana which has gotten her across the line. Congratulations to Dr Valerie MBBS FRANZCO on obtaining a two year Fellowship working under Mr John Dart MA DM FRCS FRCOphth one of the United Kingdoms pre-eminent eye surgeons at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Valerie competed against high standard international applicants and faced an interviewing panel of seven surgeons for an extremely competitive Fellowship. She elected to train with ICARUS College for several days before facing the panel. |
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