Hello,
Seems there is interesting depate going on about feedback day issues.
First I wish to thank for the very quick response on missing information
about new master`s degree. Now even that it`s not complete yet, it gives us
good insight what to expect in the future, thank you.
When it comes to this language issue, yes it is true some first year
students might feel it difficult. Still I think it is good to bring it in as
early as possible, becouse we can`t hide english language forever. What we
should do is to encourage students to use the language. We finns easily
think, that we are not "allowed" to use the language before it`s fluent and
almost perfect. I guess this way of thinking is just in our culture. Thats
why many people feel it awkward or even embarrassing to actually use the
language they do not fully master. Only way to get over it is to just use
the english, even if its not that fluent. Next semester this might become
easier, as new international master`s students come. I hope there will be
interaction between nationalities, not separate two groups; we and those
others.
Medical school, yep people want there, some actually manage to go
there. There are numerous of reasons why we lose students to medics, here is
some:
1. Unfortunately biochemistry is a number 2. plan for those who try to
get into medical school, and yes indeed we give good preparation for
entering exam. ( actually biophysics gives even better preparation, they are
dealing same problem?? )
2. People are afraid of their future, what happens after graduation. Do
we get any job? If yes, do we get any salary? As for graduated from medical
shool, nowdays you get a job, you get very good income. And if you want, you
get to do partially same kind of work as graduated from here.
3. High school graduates do not know that biochemistry exist, those who
apply to medical school get to know it along the way as they read on
entering exam.
What could be done to prevent the loss. Setting our own entering exam
on same day as medics is definitely bad idea, as we lose lot of good
applicants right away. At this stage we can get advantage of our highly
international department. We should advertise ourself; tell those high
schoolers, that we can provide world class education on international level
in biochemistry. Also make it clear at the very beginning, that some courses
will be in english. This could be told already on high school visit, as the
fact that this is not an easy way to go. This way we get students that are
searching for challenges, and come for biochemistry, not for the plan 2.
Yep these are just thoughts of a first year student, and regrets for
those language mistakes..;)
~ Kalle