Jordan Lee

Hi guys, my name is Jordan, and I’m from Sydney. When I finished high school, I went straight to university. I studied a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Pre-Medicine) at UTS.

When I finished year 12, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to study medicine. I decided to study pre-medicine so I could get a feel for the course and make an informed decision on whether medicine was for me. This course also appealed to me as I could explore my options in other fields such as pathology, microbiology, teaching and biomedical engineering.

I’ve now finished my bachelor’s degree and I now know medicine is the right career for me. I made the decision in my second year when I was studying anatomy- I really enjoyed it! For now, my goal is to get into medical school and I’m currently studying for medical school entrance exams.

The best thing about university life is how close you get to both your teachers and peers. While studying pre-medicine, I’ve met many like-minded, driven people who are also passionate in what they’re studying. We all are keen to provide an essential service to society and bond over our ambitions to make it in the medical field. I also enjoy the fact that my classes are small, which means you get to know one another quite well. There is also plenty of support available from our academics.

One thing I wish someone told me when I was in year 12 was how different learning at university is compared to high school. When I started my first semester, I found it quite challenging to adjust to a learning environment that was more focused on independent learning. However, my tutors have been quite supportive when I’ve needed extra support.

One word of advice I would share with those who are now studying online is to make sure you take plenty of study breaks. The brain works better when you’re well-rested, so if you’re tired, you won’t absorb the content at an optimum level which will make it harder for you in the long run. I would also say getting at least eight hours of sleep a day helps, but no more than nine hours a day! I find I’m lazier and groggier when I take longer sleeps, so I tend to avoid that.

While I’m in isolation, one thing I’ve been working on is getting back into reading. I’ve started with classics like To Kill A Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby to help prepare for the comprehension section for my medical school entrance exams. I haven’t read these books since year 12, so it’s been a fun experience going back to revisit them. I’ve also been taking my dogs, Milly and Mika, on walks and playing with them whenever I get the chance.