Student Stories: “A culture of mutual support and encouragement”
First-year MBChB (ScotCOM) student Akondu Iyoko shares his experience of starting his medical degree at St Andrews.
Why St Andrews?
Growing up in a large city like Leeds, I knew I needed a drastic change. I needed something more tight-knit and community focused, which made St Andrews a perfect choice. I learned so many things about the University before I got here – from it’s weird and wonderful traditions like academic families and the Pier Walk, to the numerous opportunities to get involved in activities outside the lecture hall. With all of that, I knew I’d enjoy studying here.
Additionally, the course itself really enticed me. I was particularly excited by the opportunity to engage in hands-on anatomy studies and early clinical placements, and during my clinical years, there’ll be a large focus on community medicine, which aligns with my interest in public health. This, coupled with the support you get from the University – not just in making career-defining decisions, but in managing everyday life as a medical student – meant St Andrews was the best place for me.
First Impressions
In spite of the pressures that come with studying medicine, I was surprised at how close we are as medical students. Older years are always willing to give advice, and as first years who have only known each other for three months, it feels like we’re all in this together, which has helped me settle into life as a medical student.
Finding opportunities to get involved in things outside my immediate studies has also been easier than I thought. Participating in all sorts, from the Music Society to the Matcha Society, and still having time to engage in career advancing seminars with Students for Global Health and the Scottish Public Health Society, really makes me look forward to what’s to come!
Life in St Andrews
Getting to explore the streets of the town centre has been really great, but it is outside of the centre – the beaches, the pier, the Fife Coastal Path – where I’ve grown to love living here. Furthermore, with study spaces and the medical school itself being within walking distance, acclimatising to life at St Andrews was not as hard as I thought it was going to be.
The call to medicine
It wasn’t a straightforward choice for me, but being able to combine my passion for equitable healthcare with my love for science and problem-solving, made the decision a little bit easier, and I have no regrets. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the content so far and how it has been taught, and a lot of new topic areas have really caught my eye, like embryology and histology.
Being able to learn about anatomical structures through generously donated bodies has certainly been the biggest privilege of being a medical student at St Andrews. I’m really looking forward to the next semester where we learn about the musculoskeletal system via dissection, which will be a very good opportunity tie together a lot of the knowledge gained in the first semester.
Advice for future students
I believe the most important thing to if you’re interested in medicine is to do your research. Fully understand and digest what you’re getting yourself into by reading books, browsing websites and talking to people who have walked the same path. With that knowledge, you can come to an informed decision that’s right for you.
Otherwise, here are some other tips I recommend you follow:
- Use study techniques that you’re comfortable with. Not everyone uses flashcards! If they work for you, that’s great, but if not, don’t feel pressured into changing what already does.
- Make friends with non-medics. Sometimes you’re not going to want to talk about medicine, but if you’re around medics, I promise it’ll always come up. So, get involved in things outside the medical school building altogether, and that way you’ll make the most of your time at St Andrews.
- It’s okay to feel burned out. In fact, you’re bound to at some point. But there are so many people around you who have either done this before, or are doing it with you right now, so you aren’t alone. Acknowledging this will help you make it to the other side.
Would I recommend St Andrews?
Absolutely. Within the course there isn’t that sense of harmful competition that brings people down, but rather a culture of mutual support and encouragement. People understand and respect the fact that you want to balance your studies with your personal life, and living in this beautiful town with these people will allow for an unforgettable university experience.