Making the most of your time at university

Once you've passed the GAMSAT exam and medical school interview, you should be able to attend med school. Attending university is so much more than earning a degree. Every now and then I look on nostalgically at the campus grounds that are thriving with undergraduate barbeques, jumping castles, societies, and events. Making the most of your time at university can lead to memories and experiences you will remember for the rest of your life, and it can form a crucial part of personal growth.

 Here are a few things I think you should definitely do during your degree to enrich your tertiary experience:
    

1. Join a society or group. When else will you get to harass university staff to sign petitions and advocate for socialism?! Joining a society can also help you explore new interests, find a new hobby, and of course help you meet new friends. Involvement with societies can also bolster your resume as it demonstrates your commitment to a cause, and a different set of skills depending on what role in your society you play. Group studying is also a great idea. 

2. With your newfound friends from your society, you should at least once try to enact tangible change. This can be as simple as starting a community garden at your university, or helping first year students write essays. A more extreme form of this on campuses comes in the form of protest movements. University students have made some great stands to fight for things like gender equality, and university commitments to environmental goals. You may even get to camp out on campus! If you do engage in ‘active’ participation however, consider how it may affect your future image and aspirations.

3. Take advantage of university events. Universities have many free and great seminars by visiting academics, leaders of industry, artists, and occasionally politicians. You can also either join or view art exhibitions, theatre shows and sporting events put on by students.

4. Take advantage of university services. There are hardly any services that cannot be found at the university. This includes medical, career, and dentistry services, but you can also wind down every now and then by visiting student clinics that practice acupuncture and remedial massage, or find cheap/free yoga and meditation classes.

5. Find your local coffee joint or bar. You are going to be there for at least 3 years so you may as well get comfortable, get to know the barista or barman/woman, and potentially get free drinks or a part time job.

Overall, university will be a great educational experience, but it will just as importantly be a great social experience. For more tips & tricks and stories about life at medical school, check out our GAMSAT To Med School Podcast, now available on all your favourite platforms!