Site Preference forms are due soon and some applicants may still be struggling with their site preference rankings. Other applicants have a pretty good idea of where they would like to go, but may be curious about what it would be like to live and study at a site other than their first preference. Luckily, our lovely medical students have stepped in to answer a few questions about life at each of the sites. Keep reading for a med student perspective on student life at VFMP, IMP, NMP and SMP.
We’ll start with NMP. Thank you to Adrienne and Jarad for giving us a peek into NMP life!
Adrienne says:
- What do you like best about your site? The medical community here is small and you get lots of great opportunities such as research (I had a great experience with radiation oncology at our cancer centre), rural weekend shadowing in small rural communities, as well as simply getting to know many physicians, making clerkship less intimidating as there are many familiar faces. We have some great physicians up here who love to teach and it’s easy to find mentorship if you want it. Community members are also very welcoming to us!
- What makes your site unique or special? Lifestyle. Being a med student is not easy and being able to afford comfortable accommodations and gain extra time in the day (by eliminating a commute) makes life a lot less stressful. I have a 5 minute commute to the University, 5 minute commute to the hospital, and am 8 minutes to the mountain bike and ski trails! Not to mention the university backs onto a beautiful forest – and lunch hour snowshoeing is an NMP activity. I don’t think any other site offers this. This is all especially key during your clerkship when you are incredibly busy and sleep deprived.
- What are some challenges associated with life at your site? There really aren’t many challenges… but one day I had to wait a while before I could go home because there was a moose in the parking lot near my car.
- What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? People who like the outdoors and nature. People who dislike long commutes.
- Is there anything else you would like to add? After my interview I changed my site preference to Prince George and don’t regret it. It’s a great community to live and study in.
Jarad says:
- What do you like best about your site? I enjoy the maturity of the class, I enjoy the wilderness around Prince George. When you go out to the woods, there is just so much space that you are going to be the only one there.
- What makes your site unique or special? Each site has their unique opportunities. More than anything is the involvement and by in from the medical community and the community at large. I have been thanked for being a medical student up at the NMP more times than I can count, at the grocery store, helping someone out on the highway, at city hall…
- What are some challenges associated with life at your site? Shadowing opportunities are at times limited because all the physicians are already SO involved we try not to burn them out.
- What kind of person would really like living and studying at your site? PG is a city and has all the amenities you could ever ask for, but it’s not the big apple. Someone who enjoys community, likes being in some true wilderness and may be looking for a place to set down some roots will thrive here.
- Is there anything else you would like to add? No, that’s all.