How to: Second Year Medical Sciences at Western, Part 4 — FAQ and Miscellaneous Details

This article is the fourth instalment of the “How to: Second Year Medical Sciences at Western” series co-authored by Jason Wang and Liangchi Zhou. To see the rest of the series and learn more about the purpose/authorship of these articles, click here.

For this last section we decided to cover a bunch of relevant topics that do not necessarily relate to one another. This includes common student concerns like grad school, different degrees in science, living off-campus, and more. Stay tuned until the end for some things you can do for yourself RIGHT NOW to give you a head start on second year!

I just finished first year, and am thinking about eventually applying for medical school/another type of graduate school. Should I be thinking about the MCAT/other entrance exams right now?

Although you can write the MCAT whenever it is convenient for you, most students opt to write in the summer after second year. You’ll be fresh out of your biochem, organic chemistry, and other core second year science courses, many of which overlap with MCAT material. Most students buy a set of prep books, and some may take a class with a prep company. The MCAT is still a little ways down the road, so just keep it in the back of your head for now, and maybe just do some research into what types of admission requirements different med schools have/how to strengthen your application.

These same principles can be applied to any other graduate school options you may be exploring, like dentistry or optometry school (just remember to do your own specific research!).

I keep hearing people talk about majors/minors, honours specializations, etc. What’s the difference in the context of my Medical Sciences degree?

While your first year or two of medical sciences are quite general, you’ll have to eventually “specialize” in a particular field of science study (Physiology, Epidemiology, Microbiology/Immunology, Pathology, etc.) in your third and fourth year. You could also do a degree in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences as well, which explores a bit of everything.

The words major, minor, and honours specializations are simply different “levels” of depth into a field of study for your degree, and have varying graduation requirements. Minors need the least courses from a select discipline, with majors requiring slightly more, and honours specializations requiring the most. It is worth noting that honours specialization modules in Medical Sciences require you to complete a capstone research project in fourth year.

For more information on your degree options, check out the academic calendar here.

I feel unsatisfied with my experience in Medical Sciences. What are some of my options?

Medical sciences isn’t for everyone! If you feel like science as a discipline is not for you, you could consider transferring to another faculty, or taking a gap year to consider your options. If you still enjoy science, there are other options in the faculty such as general science, computer science, actuarial science, and more! It’s best to reach out to academic counseling before you make any big decisions.

If you’re looking into switching into a different stream of science, a list of Faculty of Science programs can be found here.

If you’d like to view a list of ALL programs offered by Western, click here.

I’m interested in doing a dual degree with another program and Medical Sciences. What can I do to further explore this option?

There are several options for people interested in adding another degree to their Medical Sciences education. This can be particularly useful for careers that require more than one degree or just for keeping doors open.

More information on dual degrees can be found here.

What kind of lifestyle changes should I expect for living off-campus in second year?

Along with the added responsibility of having to cook for yourself and paying bills, living off-campus means you will be physically further away from campus. Keep this in mind when planning your day; for example, you might have to leave the house earlier to get to class on time. Past students gave advice such as packing a lunch, and bringing things like laptop chargers and gym clothes to class to save time commuting back and forth.

Any advice on the social life aspect of university?

Great question! One thing to consider if you lived on res in first year and are now off-campus is that you’re probably not going to be as close to so many students anymore. This means that, other than your housemates, you’re going to have to make more of an effort to see your friends outside of class. Be sure to reach out to them to hang out/grab a bite once in a while.

Second year medical sciences also has you in more small classroom environments where you will be interacting frequently with your peers (i.e: labs, tutorials, Biology 2290, etc.). Don’t be afraid to extend an olive branch!

Where are some good areas to live off-campus?

Popular neighbourhoods for off-campus housing include but are not limited to: Old North (Richmond & Main Gates), South Side (Oxford & Wharncliffe), Downtown, Masonville, and West Side (Sarnia & Wonderland). Use this as a guideline though, and find a location/house that suits your specific needs!

A full list of housing areas and descriptions can be found here.

I’m worried about struggling with my mental health next year/am currently struggling with my mental health. What are some resources that would be helpful to me?

Mental health and maintaining a balanced state-of-mind are integral parts of your university experience! Do not prioritize things like school, your extracurriculars, social life, etc. over your own personal wellbeing.

A comprehensive hub of in-person and remote mental wellbeing resources offered/sponsored by Western can be found here.

A list of some in-person and remote mental wellbeing resources offered locally in the London community can be found here.

Lastly, what are five things I can do RIGHT NOW to be productive/give me a head start on second year?

Here you go, as promised!

1. Reach out to connections/professors/industry workers regarding potential work or volunteer opportunities. After adjusting to the dynamic environment of university in first year, now is a great time to explore career paths you are passionate about and dip your toes into the real world!
2. Make a list of potential degrees/programs you’d like to pursue and the prerequisite courses you need to take for each of them. If you have already decided, then look into which electives you may find interesting! Use our articles as a starting point, but make sure to do your due diligence as well!
3. Improve your employability tools! This includes updating your resumé/CV template, creating a LinkedIn, or taking a snazzy headshot photo.
4. Brainstorm at least one type of extracurricular you’d like to get involved in next year (scientific research, sports, charity, etc.) and actively inquire about how you can pursue this opportunity when school starts.
5. Make a list of things in first year that went well and things you’d like to improve on this year (could be academics, social life, sleep schedule, etc.). Work on designing a specific course of action for reinforcing all the things that went well, as well as bettering your areas of improvement.

This was the fourth and final article in the “How to: Second Year Medical Sciences at Western” series. To provide us with some feedback and topics for future written pieces, fill in this form. To return to the “How to Second Year Medical Sciences at Western” series homepage, click here.