“The class. We are an awesome group of people who do so much together. We help each other in class (sending out study tools we make for ourselves), party together, get along better than any group of 171 people that I have ever seen, and even work together to make a difference in the community. If you don't believe me, check out our awesome movember team! If you have an initiative you want to start, you will find more support than you can even imagine!”
Blair, Class of 2014, London Campus
“When anyone asks me why I chose Schulich as my first choice medical school, I always say it’s because I just can’t seem to leave my home here at Western. I also did my undergrad at UWO, and when the opportunity to spend more time here came up, it was impossible to turn down. The university community here at UWO is incredible. The staff, students and faculty at Schulich are proud of where they are and excited to be here, and it genuinely shows. Our curriculum is unique and really provides students with an ideal balance of academics, extra-curriculars and social time. The teachers and staff are always available to listen and help, which is refreshing and makes you feel like your presence here at Schulich is valued. I believe the curriculum here is ideal. Schulich offers a unique blend of lecture time, small group learning, and hands-on experience, as well as an excellent clerkship program in upper years. On top of these things, what has truly solidified my belief that I definitely made the right choice in choosing Schulich are the other students I have met in my first year of medicine. Getting involved in a ton of different clubs, some intramural teams, and even the class council has allowed me to get to know a lot of my classmates, and make friends that I will no doubt keep long after my time here is done. I know that my four years at Schulich will not only allow me to get the best medical education possible, but also to have a lot of fun while doing so.”
Sarah, Class of 2014, London Campus
There are so many things I love about medicine at Western. Most importantly, we have an amazing school community and a well-balanced student life. There is a sense of family among the medical students- we do everything together… there is even a 7 am club in which students go to the gym before class! Studying medicine is challenging, and I found my favorite thing about medicine at UWO is learning so much in such a happy and healthy environment.
This school is also rich with opportunities for community involvement and career development. The pass/fail grading system allows you to make commitments to other aspects of your career/life than grades- whether this is being involved in student council, global health advocacy, organizing toy drives, teaching children about going to the doctor, or doing 20 surgery observerships. In my opinion, this is integral to being an excellent well-rounded doctor. London is also the best of both worlds in terms of having opportunities for both city and rural experiences.
There are also many brand-new facilities/ labs at UWO, with a lot of great research (through Robarts and London’s Children’s hospital). In addition, there are lots of funding opportunities for research. As an MD/PhD student, I feel well-supported in both my clinical and research endeavours. Another great quality about the MD/PhD program at Western is that our progress is monitored and we are kept on track to ensure the length of our program is 7 years (not 8, 9 or 10 + years like at other schools!)
Finally, the doctors that teach and facilitate our classes are always very excited to take us on board for some clinical experience. What more could you want?
Adrienne, 2014 MD/PhD student, London Campus
Since day one I have been so impressed with the friendliness and support of all the administration staff, faculty, and, perhaps more importantly, our class. We consider ourselves to be the “Schulich Family,” and it is through this network that we help and support one another when needed and celebrate and appreciate our successes together. In addition, the diversity, enthusiasm, and compassion of our class not only contributes to our academic success but also our social relationships and overall well-being.
Our instructors are very friendly, passionate about their work, and, especially care about our academic and personal success. The faculty here treat us as colleagues, and are also very keen to ensure that we understand all aspects of their field: whether we meet with them individually, contact them through email to clarify any lecture material or arrange to do an observership with them, all instructors want to be a part of our learning. Moreover, through completing observerships, we learn what it means to be a physician, witness the passion of our instructors for their work, and get hands-on experience. Although Medical school and a subsequent career in medicine may seem to be a daunting endeavour, our curriculum stresses the importance of balance in our lives, which further enforces the high morale, collegiality, and school spirit.
There are also so many ways to get involved - whether you join or create a club, volunteer abroad or locally, become involved in a research project, play sports, or have an interest in politics - Western really provides the opportunity for one to find his or her niche. I am very proud to be a Schulich student and even more proud to call Western home!
Skylar, Class of 2014, London Campus
I made my initial decision to come to Western a while ago. Back then, out of high school, I wanted to go to a campus that wasn't too far from home (Toronto) and that seemed like it cared about its students. During my four years of undergrad, I fell in love with the campus and surprisingly, the city. Even though I was used to a big city lifestyle, knowing people in the hallways, feeling pride in my residence and faculty, it was refreshing and fulfilling. When choosing a medical school, I talked to a lot of people at the different institutions that I was interested in. I strongly recommend that you do the same. Common themes that I discovered in talking to Western Meds students were love for Western's strong curriculum, their focus on creating well-rounded physicians, the amount of spare time that was afforded by the number of lecture hours, and overall, students exhibited a similar passion to what I felt when I was in undergrad. Western feels like home and it will quickly become a home to you too if you do choose to attend. Don't just take my word for it though, ask around.
Shawn, Class of 2014, London Campus
Western has it all - great academics, athletics and social events. Having come from an undergraduate program with a strong focus on problem-based learning, I was somewhat hesitant about Schulich's approach to academics. But I quickly found that the program strikes a fine balance between lecture and group-based learning - something that appeals to students from varied backgrounds. The doctors involved in the program are eager to answer all questions and to make you feel comfortable. Everyone here is friendly and well-rounded and with so many different interests, there is always something to do - whether you want to try a new restaurant in London, play on an intramural team or join one of the many clubs that Schulich students run. Hope to see some of you in the fall!
Bianca, Class of 2014, London Campus
For undergraduate students, Western boasts that it offers the “best student experience” – but the slogan very much applies to Schulich as well! Ultimately, medical students want to attend a school that will prepare them to be effective future physicians. Through a balanced curriculum of traditional lectures, small-group sessions, clinical sessions and labs, students are exposed to academic material in many ways. Western’s curriculum is nicknamed BCOE (“Best Curriculum on Earth”) and it just may be, as evidenced by Schulich graduates having the top ranking on the MCCQE!
Of course, a fulfilling medical school experience must extend beyond the classroom, and this is where Schulich really shines. If you choose Schulich, you’ll have a couple half-days each week free to participate in research, observe a local physician, catch up on schoolwork or unwind. By offering countless academic/extra-curricular clubs, intramural teams, school trips and the time to participate in such endeavours, Schulich truly is a school that aims to build a “whole” physician.
After choosing Schulich, you’ll also have to decide on which campus to attend, though you cannot go wrong with either! There are several unique advantages to attending either campus. However, I encourage you to become familiar with both campuses in order to make an informed choice on which one suits you better.
Any of our Windsor students (or London campus students from Windsor) will tell you that Windsor is a very underrated city. As a lifelong Londoner and a Western graduate, I do appreciate how nice it is to be a student in London. However, my time in Windsor has been equally enjoyable! When we’re not back in London spending time with our classmates or out of town for a class trip, the Windsor class has had non-stop fun at home: Pistons, Red Wings and Lions games, casino nights, US shopping trips, Mexicantown nights in Detroit and so on. There has never been a slow weekend this year, and its made for the most exciting year of my life thus far.
The greatest advantages of the Windsor campus are opportunities for clinical experience, our facilities, faculty and staff and the Windsor community. It is a true privilege to study at a campus and in a city that are genuinely excited to have us. Though our younger campus is in some ways less established, this is not necessarily a drawback, as it has meant a greater opportunity to develop existing programs and begin initiatives both at the school and in the community.
At this time last year, I struggled greatly with which campus to choose. I had the benefit of speaking with others before deciding to list Windsor as my first choice, and their experiences convinced me that this campus was the right choice for me. Had I not done this, I may not have made a decision that I’ve been very pleased with.
In short, the qualities that make our campus so special can’t be appropriately captured in a testimonial: you have to come visit! Also, please do send me (or another student) an email if you have any questions or if you want to hear more about our experience. We’d be happy to tell you more about Western or either campus.
Best of luck!
Rahul Sharma, Class of 2014 Windsor Campus
My name is Abdul Naeem. I attended Western for my undergraduate studies along with three of my siblings. Western holds a special place in my heart as I have many wonderful memories of my time spent there. Everything was just phenomenal from school-spirit to social events at Western. And so it comes with no surprise that my heart was set on Schulich for my medical education since the application stage. Although Schulich has a nationally renowned clerkship program, for me it was the warm, humble and welcoming attitude of students and staff during the interview weekend that re-affirmed my desire to come to Schulich. Also, the plethora of extra-curricular clubs and activities available meant that I could continue to lead a balanced academic life while actively being involved in my class and community. In short, Schulich was excellent.
For a change of pace, the allure and excitement of brand new medical facilities, smaller class size, and proximity to the States I decided to go to Windsor Campus. I remember hearing about it during the interview weekend, but at Schulich you are indeed without a doubt a part of the Schulich Family. I have witnessed this first hand. Since I came to medicine from a non-traditional field (Engineering), it was a bit challenging at first to adjust to class material. I was surprised by the amount of my classmates that were willing to step forward and help. We held study sessions, essentially lived together during exam weeks and went out to various traditional restaurants. I could have not asked for better classmates. And the Windsor staff is literally beyond words. They treat you like family and will go the extra mile (almost daily) to help you, and be there for you when you need them.
So far being a medical student at the Windsor Campus – a home away for home –has been fabulous and I know it will only get better from here. I can’t wait to meet all of you during the interview weekend and hope to see you in September!
Abdul Naeem, Class of 2014 Windsor Campus
