Lucy Wainwright

Why did you choose Medicine and Surgery at the University of Birmingham?

There were so many appealing features about the university and the course. For starters, it is an amazing campus! The facilities across campus also have everything you need. The course itself has so many benefits other medical schools didn’t. 

What has been the best part of studying Medicine and Surgery so far?

I am really enjoying being a student. It has been a rocky journey at times, but I have grown so much as a person! I have made such amazing friends and done some incredible things. I would do it all over again! As a fourth-year medic, I love being a clinical student where we spend time in hospitals/community seeing patients and shadowing health care staff. You get so much experience, and it is so enjoyable!

What have you struggled the most with during your studies?

I really struggled with adapting to the new style of learning in first year. Aspects of it can be very different to school and college. It took me the whole of the first semester to get to grips with it. I thought I was the only one struggling, however, I now realise this is a very normal experience. Lots of younger students I have talked to had the same struggle. So, if you feel like this, don’t worry, it is a universal experience!

What has you inspired you most during your time as a student?

The patients I met. Being a medical student is such a privilege as you are involved in a patient’s life during their most vulnerable times. You get to hear about a patient’s life in a way you would never be able to unless you were in the medical field. The stories you hear are very inspiring.

What has been your highlight as a University of Birmingham student so far?

This is so hard I am going to have to mention two!

The first must be the end of exams/end of year Medsoc trip to Gower! I went in both first and second year. We got a coach down to South Wales and camped right on the beach in the most beautiful location. Loads of my friends went and we had the best few days exploring, swimming, BBQing and partying on the beach!

The other highlight is events I do with the Medsoc women’s rugby team. We have events nearly every week, and I have been playing with then for 3 years now. We are such a close-knit group, and it has really made my university experience joining the society! (peek at our Instagram @ubms_wrfc to see all the fun we get up to!).

What advice would you give to students thinking about studying Medicine and Surgery?

You probably hear things like ‘it’s such a long course’ or ‘it’s really difficult’ and this might be off putting. I heard the same things when I applied. And it is partly true; it is a difficult course (you’re training to be a doctor!) – but each stage of your education is more difficult than the last, and you have managed to do it so far! You have 5 years to get to grips with what you are doing, and it has been the best years of my life so far.