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