u/MitosisMindset

Hey guys, I was just wondering if you had any tips to help me improve my speaking and social skills.

It's really hard for me to project my voice, and I tend to speak incredibly fast to avoid awkward silences. I'm also very bad at small talk. When I'm talking to someone for a while, maintaining eye contact and smiling starts to feel forced. On top of that, I have a resting sad face and tend to look confused, timid, or upset, making it hard to show when I'm actually happy or excited. My speech often sounds scripted rather than natural, and my body language is pretty closed off.

Public speaking is another massive issue. Whenever I'm in front of a large group, my hands start to shake, I stutter, and I look totally frightened. I forget what to say and usually just end up blurting nonsense.

I just started a job at McDonald's and I'm supposed to be leading a huge club starting this September, so I really need to fix my presentation and communication skills as fast as possible. I have the intelligence to lead, but what is a leader without communication? People always take advantage of this and use me for their gain and I hate it. What should I do? Any advice is appreciated!

Hey everyone,
I’m currently a Grade 10 student in Ontario, Canada (graduating high school in 2028). My ultimate goal is to study Medicine at Oxford, specialize in neuroscience/neurosurgery, and eventually practice in the UK.
Because the UK medical system accepts students straight out of high school, I want to make sure I am tracking the exact admissions requirements early.

A few specific questions I have:

1. For Ontario students, how does Oxford view the OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma)? Should I aggressively pursue AP courses or try to switch to an IB program to be competitive, or are top-tier OSSD marks + Grade 12 4U/M courses sufficient?

2. When should I begin preparing for the UCAT (or whichever clinical aptitude test Oxford requires by the time I apply), and are there specific resources that bridge the gap for international students?

3. What kind of super-curricular activities (besides standard hospital volunteering) stand out to Oxford tutors for neuroscience/medicine?

4. For anyone who made the jump from Canada to UK Medicine, what do you wish you knew about the international fees, interview style, or the UK foundation training pathways?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Hey everyone,
I’m currently a Grade 10 student in Ontario, Canada (graduating high school in 2028). My ultimate goal is to study Medicine at Oxford, specialize in neuroscience/neurosurgery, and eventually practice in the UK.
Because the UK medical system accepts students straight out of high school, I want to make sure I am tracking the exact admissions requirements early.

A few specific questions I have:

1. For Ontario students, how does Oxford view the OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma)? Should I aggressively pursue AP courses or try to switch to an IB program to be competitive, or are top-tier OSSD marks + Grade 12 4U/M courses sufficient?

2. When should I begin preparing for the UCAT (or whichever clinical aptitude test Oxford requires by the time I apply), and are there specific resources that bridge the gap for international students?

3. What kind of super-curricular activities (besides standard hospital volunteering) stand out to Oxford tutors for neuroscience/medicine?

4. For anyone who made the jump from Canada to UK Medicine, what do you wish you knew about the international fees, interview style, or the UK foundation training pathways?

Thanks in advance for any insights!