Specifically deciding to study at Birmingham was mainly based on the high ranking of the Medicine degree in the league tables, and the amazing experience I had whilst visiting the campus and meeting staff and students who were all welcoming and very passionate about their field.
My first few week in Birmingham were an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. I was excited to begin a new chapter in my life and embark on a brand-new journey, but also scared of being so independent and far from home. However, meeting people on my course and other international students helped me feel that I’m welcomed here and I’m never alone, and soon I would find a second family in my friends and a second home here at Birmingham.
My first impressions of Birmingham were how green it was. I come from a desertous country so I was quite excited to see so much greenery. I was very happy to see the diversity of cultures and students here on campus and the city, which didn’t make me feel like I stood out. Everyone here is very friendly and people have a strong sense of community and whenever in need of help, you’ll always find a helping hand.
Managing work and life duties has been the biggest challenge. It’s very difficult to transition from living at home with your family, to start living independently, and I think that’s something I underestimated. I found it challenging to juggle doing work and still managing to cook a meal every day, and keeping on top of my laundry!
I have found the course really rewarding. Getting to meet patients only one month into starting my course was amazing and now I’m really getting a feel of what it’s like to be a doctor during my Year 3 hospital placements.
Medsoc provides such a great community and platform for people with similar interests to meet, and I have met most of my friends through the International Society. It’s also a great way to continue any extra- curricular activities you’ve had at school by having so many societies to accommodate all interests. It also makes it easier to interact with older years whom often have very valuable advice and experience on how to tackle any challenges you face. MedSoc isn’t only a way to easily make friends but also supports students academically with revision sessions and resources, which are very valuable for exams. It also hosts a number of talks by world-renowned guest speakers from the surgeon who operated on Malala Yousafzai to clinicians involved in life changing research, which is always inspiring for any student.
I love the diversity of Birmingham’s population and culture and the variety of activities and places you can visit.
I would tell my first year self to be strong when things get tough and you are not in this alone. I would also say to have a bit more fun – university is not just about the degree but making memories too!
To sum up my time at university in three words, I would say ‘exciting, challenging and memorable.’