April 23, 2020, by School of Medicine
Bella: My experience studying medicine at Nottingham
My name is Bella Moss. I’m from Cheltenham, England but I spent most of my childhood living in Kenya. I moved to the UK in 2015. I’m a first year medical student, I moved up to Nottingham in September and have moved into catered halls. I really enjoy sport mainly swimming, running and going to the gym. I also enjoy cooking and travelling particularly to places with a beach!
Why did I choose to study medicine at Nottingham?
I chose to study medicine because I was inspired by my upbringing in Kenya to hopefully be able to make a difference in the future. During my work experience in GP surgeries I really enjoyed the surgery atmosphere and could picture myself in that role in years to come. The challenge and problem solving elements of studying medicine also really appealed to me.
I chose Nottingham because on the open day everyone was really friendly and so welcoming. The campus is really pretty and was a real draw for me. I also wanted to be able to get involved in sports which is very big at Nottingham and the facilities in the David Ross Sports centre are amazing.
I really liked the medical course at Nottingham because I like the integrated learning approach and early clinical exposure that we get. I also really wanted to be able to explore some of my specific medical interests through the BMedSci which is offered within the 5 year programme. Another thing that attracted me to this medical school is full body dissection which happens through first and second year, not many medical schools offer this and I think that this is an effective way to learn anatomy. The student support at Nottingham also attracted me to the university from hall and course tutors to the welfare team available.
What do I like about studying medicine at Nottingham?
Studying medicine at Nottingham is really enjoyable due to the variety in the course. I have really enjoyed the practical sessions and learning clinical skills. We have had 2 clinical placements already and both the hospital and GP surgery were great learning experiences and really inspiring as we look forward. I have really enjoyed getting to know other people on my course particularly my seminar group, the seminars are a great chance to ask more questions and to go deeper into ethical issues. Despite not enjoying them at the time the formative assessments we have each 6 weeks in first year have been very beneficial as a marker for how I am doing and how my revision strategies are working!
What extra-curricular activities have I been involved with?
Since coming to university I have joined the canoe-polo team. I really enjoy swimming and water sports but had never heard of canoe-polo until the freshers fair. I have really enjoyed trying a new sport because it has been a great way to meet new people as well as learn a completely new skill. Everyone has been so friendly and I have been invited to play in freshers tournaments and training weekends. I also joined the recreational running society which meets twice a week, I joined this because I really wanted to improve my running and I’ve also found it a great opportunity to meet like minded people. The David Ross Sports village is an excellent resource so I have enjoyed trying out the different classes offered particularly Zumba, Pilates and grit cardio.
I am also a member of the Christian Union and attending their weekly meeting has been a great chance to meet new people and to get involved with activities and events organised by the CU.
What advice do I have for first year students?
Get involved! Arriving at university can be daunting but I would suggest getting involved in as much as possible. There are so many opportunities at university and joining societies is a great way to make friends and meet new people. I would also advise new students to try to keep on top of your work because it is does feel like a large jump from A levels, but also to remember that everyone is going through the same thing so you are not in it alone. Finally, to really enjoy it because my first term absolutely flew by and I am sure the rest of medical school will be the same!
A fun fact about Nottingham
Albert Einstein did a lecture here and the blackboard he wrote on is still preserved here.
What’s my favourite thing about living in the city of Nottingham?
Nottingham is a great place to live due to the wide variety of things to do and places to see. I love Wollaton Park which is just across the road from my halls this year, it is a great place to go for a walk and see the deer or look inside the manor if that’s your thing! Within the city of Nottingham there are so many great places to go out for drinks and food and so much variety, we are very spoilt.
No comments yet, fill out a comment to be the first
Leave a Reply