Lucy Cavendish Student, Chris Launchbury, shares his experience of studying Graduate Medicine at Cambridge University.
Why did you decide to study Medicine?
There are very few degrees which place you in a privileged position in the care of people’s day to day living, and medicine allows you to take on the responsibility of helping patients navigate the complexities of their own health. Medicine is unique in combining this with leadership from the outset, plus of course the very tactile and hands-on practical side of managing patients.
And why Medicine at Cambridge?
Medicine is an exceptionally challenging course, particularly in terms of the volume of content. Cambridge’s college system really provides you with the close community that you need both academically and socially to feel supported whilst undertaking a course which is so intense. Cambridge is also a pretty, small, flat (good for cycling!), and well-connected city.
How did you find applying for your course?
Applications, interviews, and waiting to hear back will always be stressful, but the Lucy Cavendish admissions team were absolutely fantastic for helping clarify any questions that I had, and were exceptionally reassuring whenever I had any doubts or anxiety about satisfying the bureaucratic side of the application and acceptance process!
What has been great about your course so far?
The full-body dissection at Cambridge has been a real highlight; we’re all very grateful to the donors, and I can’t imagine ever having learnt anatomy without it.
How have you found the college system?
The community that your college provides is invaluable. Importantly, it allows you to mix with lots of students from very different courses – this gives you a vital daily break from medicine! It’s also great to have a set of supervisors and staff who know you personally, which simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Of course, college rowing with the Lucy Cavendish Boat Club has also been a brilliant scene to get involved with!
What advice would you give to someone thinking of studying Medicine?
Really make sure you know why you’re applying! Try and speak to as many people working in the medical profession as you can about their day-to-day realities of practising medicine. Also pay attention to the course curriculums for whichever universities you are looking at, and the examination format. Especially if you are graduate-entry, you might be glad that most of Cambridge’s exams, at least in first year, are MCQ-based!