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