THE TRUTH ABOUT UK MEDICINE AS A GRADUATE STUDENT | KharmaMedic

Summary

In this video, the host, a graduate student at King's College London, shares his experience of entering the undergraduate medicine course as a mature student. He addresses concerns about age differences, the benefits of prior academic experience, and dispels myths about fitting in with younger peers. The host encourages other mature students to pursue medicine, highlighting the unique perspective and valuable skills they bring to their studies.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker is a graduate student in the undergraduate medicine course at King's College London, sharing their experience to help mature students considering this path.
• 🔬 The speaker had an undergraduate degree in immunology, biotechnology, and microbiology from the University of Toronto before applying to medicine in the UK.
• 👶 Concerns about being older than direct school leavers were expressed, but the speaker found that age diversity was common and not a barrier to integration.
• 📚 Having completed an undergraduate degree, the speaker could leverage prior knowledge and skills, focusing more on socializing and pursuing hobbies like sports or a YouTube channel.
• 🤓 A mature student can appreciate the journey to medicine more, being 'hungry for knowledge' and bringing a different perspective to learning.
• 📝 The speaker is familiar with academic rigor, having taken numerous exams and assignments, which eases the transition into medical school exams.
• 👨‍🏫 Younger students often look up to mature students for advice on studying and note-taking, which the speaker finds rewarding.
• 🚫 The speaker dispels myths about graduate students feeling out of place or unable to make friends with younger peers.
• 🏠 Living in graduate residences can ease the transition for mature students, offering a balance between integration and a study-focused environment.
• 🧠 While there is some relearning of undergraduate material, medical school introduces many new subjects and a broader overview of topics.
• 🌟 The speaker encourages graduate students not to be deterred by the path of applying to an undergraduate medicine course and to pursue their passion for medicine.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to share the speaker's experience as a graduate student in the undergraduate medicine course at King's College London and to help mature students considering this path by dispelling misconceptions they might have.

What were the speaker's initial concerns about being a mature student in the undergraduate medicine course?

The speaker was initially concerned about being significantly older than the students who went through the direct path after high school, and whether this age difference would affect social interactions and friendships.

What is one advantage of being a mature student mentioned in the video?

One advantage is that mature students have already developed skills from their previous undergraduate studies, allowing them to focus more on socializing, pursuing hobbies, and other interests while maintaining efficient academic performance.

Why does the speaker believe that exams don't scare mature students as much?

The speaker believes that mature students are less intimidated by exams because they have already experienced numerous exams and assignments in their previous studies, making them familiar with the process and better prepared.

What misconception did the speaker have about the age difference between students?

The speaker initially thought that the age difference between 18 and 22 or 23 would be significant and that it might hinder forming friendships and socializing with younger students.

How does the speaker describe the experience of living in a dorm as a graduate student?

The speaker suggests that living in a first-year dorm as a graduate student might not be ideal because younger students may prefer to party and stay up late, which could be disruptive to the graduate student's focus on studies.

What was the speaker's concern about relearning biomedical science in medical school?

The speaker was concerned that relearning subjects like biochemistry, biology, and chemistry would be boring and unengaging, making the first year of medical school uninteresting.

What was the speaker's strategy for integrating into the university community as a graduate student?

The speaker recommends considering graduate residences for mature students, which can help ease the transition into medical school by allowing integration into the community without being constantly surrounded by party-focused students.

What was the speaker's experience with the teaching approach in medical school compared to undergraduate studies?

The speaker found that medical school takes a broader overview of topics, focusing on surface-level details over a wide range, as opposed to the deep dive into specific topics experienced in undergraduate studies.

What advice does the speaker give to mature students considering applying to medical school?

The speaker encourages mature students to apply to medical school and not be deterred by the fact that many other students may be younger, emphasizing that the experience can be very rewarding and enjoyable.

What does the speaker look forward to in the upcoming years of medical school?

The speaker is excited about the clinical aspects of the medical school curriculum, such as spending time in GP surgeries and hospitals, which will begin in the following year.