Dear New Students,

Welcome to the MA in Biomedicine program! The start of the new year brings lots of challenges with school, social life, and homework all in the balance. However, there is something special to be said about our program. Although our teachers will work us hard, they are truly committed to helping you succeed. A little courage to talk to your professors can really help you achieve your goals in their classes, and they are all amazing people. Along with our teachers, you can look forward to a new amazing family. As one of the smallest programs on campus, our program is a close-knit group where everyone is welcome! It can feel a little unnerving coming into a new school, but our group is very diverse, and you will feel at home very soon. The upperclassmen are by far one of the best resources on campus! Their experience with professors, course load, and all other changes that come with being in a graduate program are impressive. If one person doesn’t know how to help, they certainly know someone that can. In our program, you will see that we are committed to the success of one another. On that note, here is advice from my first year in the MA in Biomedicine program.

1. Don’t get overly stressed about the amount of material you will cover this semester, to put it in perspective, look at what you will need to accomplish each week instead of the overall syllabus.

2. You must put the effort to receive the grade that you want in class. This is very different from undergrad; every class will require your attention and it is important to devote time to each one.

3. Studying is incredibly important, and you should put your full effort into your classes. However, it is important to take a little time out to de-stress every week. Whether you are hiking, exercising, going out with friends or playing video games, it is important to take a little time out of your schedule to step away.

4. Sleep…. Do not try to cram the night before the test; it’s better to review a little bit each day. Not sleeping the night before the test will just make you more anxious and extremely tired.

I wish you all the best of success this year in all your endeavors! Happy first week of school and cheers to a great year!

Sincerely,

Noorunnehar (Noor) Qureshi