First Year Coordinator
First Year Coordinator
In my role as First Year Coordinator for the School of Medical Science, I am a key academic in the MSC Student Leadership and Lifecycle Group. I work with the Program Directors and Student Success Advisors to design and deliver an effective and satisfying learning experience for first year undergraduate students at both course and program levels.
Orientation Camp
As part of the Orientation Program, we run a two day/one night Medical Science Orientation Camp. The Camp is held at the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre.
The Camp is a terrific chance to meet fellow 1st year Medical Science students in a relaxed and fun environment, before semester begins. Stand up paddle boarding, laser skirmish and team building games are among the activities on offer.
Students who attended last year’s camp had a fantastic time, made great friends that they kept throughout the year, and even performed better in their courses than students who didn’t attend the camp.
What was the best thing about the Camp?
• "Being able to meet other like-minded people going to the same uni”
• "Meeting new people so that there will be familiar faces at uni. Hearing 2nd/3rd year students experiences”
• "Getting to know new people and feeling as though I’m confident to attend university now”
• “Meeting new people in my course who will be in my classes this year and the mentors in older years so that you know others around the campus”
• “Having known a lot of people before uni starts makes uni life seem less daunting. I’m now very looking forward to the start of uni because I know that I will fit in”
• “Having friends before starting uni will make it less intimidating”
Student Mentoring
To help students with the transition to university, the School of Medical Science has introduced a peer mentoring scheme for first year students in all degree programs. Mentors have been recruited from the School of Medical Science and will be allocated to each student during the orientation week school session.
Mentors will help you with your transition to University life by providing information, advice, and a friendly face. By teaming up with your mentor, it will increase your sense of identity and community with the university, as well as providing social and academic benefits.
This is a fairly informal service, so it is expected that when you meet with your allocated mentor that you swap phone numbers, email addresses and meet once a week during the semester.