Was it a challenge learning that way?

There was a huge shift in my mindset, it was a completely different style to get used to but our lecturers were the best and the anatomy lab too helped us so much! The PBL (problem-based learning) curriculum is case-based. You get given a scenario and you set your own objectives then you go away and learn those with the resources the university provides. So, you go away and learn it the way you want and then you come back for a feedback session. It’s essentially based around these seminars but there’s a huge emphasis on independent learning.

How does that work for assessments?

PBL isn’t assessed. That’s the most important thing to know. You’re allocated into groups, and you spend a lot of time together you end up getting very close. You all work on a case and present your findings to your tutor. The independent learning side of things was tricky, but we worked together and collaborated. You can talk to your friends about things and talk through your notes and stuff. Some people find it stressful, but you have to see them as part of your learning rather than an assessment. By the end of the first 5/6 months we all learned to help each other out it became a group discussion.

What's the biggest change you've noticed since starting University?

I think I learned to listen more, not only to others but also to myself. I stopped seeing everything as a deadline or an assessment and more of a learning experience. That was the biggest change. Everyone is here for a reason and wants to do their best, so reaching out and sharing becomes its own experience.

What's the biggest change between school and university?

Well, it’s not like school. At school you’re used to the teacher leading everything, but in PBL it’s student driven. The tutor is there for support but only if you need it. It’s a lot better than school because everyone’s there for a reason, everyone chose to do this degree. The groups are really driven to do better! After the first couple modules it became very natural. I don’t think I’d be able to learn any other way now. I wouldn’t want to sit through hours and hours of lectures a week for three years.

If you could tell yourself anything about PBL, what would it be?

Just make the most of it and enjoy it. It’s so worth making the most of the time you have. You can collaborate and fill in each other’s gaps, you might deep dive into problem x but not a lot into y, but the person next to you might have done the opposite, so it’s exciting to share that. There’s definitely some competitiveness too, everyone’s trying to do their best, we all wanted to show the tutor how much we cared.

Was there anything about university that scared you?

I find everything so exciting so I didn’t find anything scary at all. I was just so excited to be here and to make new friends. Then when I was in a lab or in the lectures, I’d take pictures and send them to my parents and be like ‘’look, it’s me in a lab coat!’’ I found it so affirming.

How was your transition from the Gateway Year to year one of the MBChB?

There were challenges but I ended up with a great medic parent, a peer mentor during my first year. It’s like a professional relationship, we have to meet up with them, we build a relationship with them, and they helped me so much. I wanted to pay that back, and so I became a peer mentor for a Gateway student as well.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?

I would say put yourself out more, but I already did, I really put myself out there I did salsa, netball and chess, and I don’t even like chess! I also joined some amazing societies that helped me feel like a real medical student.