Degree
Biomedical Sciences
Hometown
West London
What do you enjoy most about LMH?
Alongside the super relaxed and friendly community, I would say the beautiful grounds. Not only do we have so much garden space to relax with friends or do work in the sunshine, especially in the the Trinity (summer) term, but we also have our own tennis courts and a field to play football/hockey. We also even have some of the Cherwell river which is great scenery for walking breaks during revision and it means we have easy access to punting, a fun Oxford tradition! I also love being right next to the university parks.
What has studying at Oxford been like so far?
Studying at Oxford so far has been quite the rollercoaster and a real mixture of emotions. The workload is undoubtedly a lot, as one would probably expect, especially going from no essays at A-Level to an essay-based degree. There is also a lot of content on my course to revise for exams so it has felt quite overwhelming at times. However, having the tutorial system really helps since you can easily ask questions about things you’re struggling with, and get personal feedback on your work. This has really helped develop my skills since starting the course. Also, despite the hard work, my experience at Oxford so far has also been so much fun! If you organise yourself well enough then it is possible to have a good balance of work and social life. During my time here I have met some amazing people, joined a variety of societies (and when I mean there is a society for basically everything I really do mean that!) like sports and science writing related ones, and tried many new things, meaning I have made really fun memories outside of my degree. Also in terms of Oxford itself, it is such an amazing city to be a student in. Whether you like to work in libraries or cafés, there are a ton of each, and since it is on the smaller side it is very walkable so you can get to places quite easily. The fact it has a beautiful park, a sports centre, an ice rink, many museums and more is also fantastic – it makes it an amazing place to live with so many opportunities on offer!
What do you enjoy most about your course?
I would say the breadth of content, especially in the first year! You get to cover so many different aspects of human biology. From the molecular basis of DNA and proteins, to cell structure and entire organ systems, and even the structure and functions of the brain and theories of psychology – there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy! I loved being able to learn about so many fascinating things before choosing what to specialise in during the later years (the fact we can then choose so soon is also great!), since I enjoyed topics I didn’t know much about beforehand, like pharmacology. Despite the high workload of the course, it is genuinely so interesting.
What’s your best advice for a prospective applicant?
I think one of my main tips would be to just be yourself during the different application stages. For example, for the personal statement it can be useful to get some inspiration from others but make sure that you are not writing things in it just because you’ve seen them online or in other statements, or you think it would sound good. Make sure that you are being authentic because that’s when your passion will truly shine through and also because this can be asked about in interviews. This is similar for interviews themselves as well, just say what you are truly thinking as opposed to what you think they want you to say, because the tutors want to see your thought process and they use this to decide if they could imagine teaching you. Also on the topic of interviews (which I understand are quite scary but are very helpful in distinguishing between applicants), being comfortable talking about your subject is super important in my opinion. Whether that be with teachers at your school, parents or siblings, friends, or even to one of your teddies or pillows! It does not matter much, it is just more about the process of knowing how to formulate your ideas out loud, which is often harder than it seems. Overall, do not be scared to give it a shot - you have a chance of being successful just like anyone else, and best of luck to future applicants!