Kenny Liu- DMD at The University of British Columbia
HKSN alumnus, Kenny Liu, pursued an undergraduate degree in pharmacology at McGill University. He gives us insight on what he is currently studying, and emphasizes the importance of engaging inactivities outside of academics.
Tell us about what you have studied at McGill.
I graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology.
What are you planning to do after your graduation?
I am currently studying dentistry (DMD) at UBC. I have also applied to be a Dental Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces via DOTP, so that means I would serve in the military for a few years upon graduation. It will be an honour to serve the country and go on an adventure.
Interviewer’s note: for more information on UBC’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program, please refer to http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/dmd/dmd-about/
If you were to go back to your first year, what would you have done differently?
Although I joined HKSN during first year of McGill, I resigned after a year as the VP Technical Director, and I always felt that I had given up too easily. While HKSN, as with any other club, demands your time, ultimately you get what you give, and the friendships and experiences I missed has been a constant source of what ifs.
Try to learn French! Although you can definitely have a fulfilling experience in the McGill bubble, learning French empowers you to explore beyond downtown Montreal. I went to Québec City during my last reading break at McGill, and you can feel the appreciation from the local folks when an Anglophone speaks (or tries to speak) French with them. I have also had the pleasure of becoming friends with several Quebecois while learning French, who showed me a more local, intimate side of the greater Montreal area.
What advice would you give to younglings at McGill?
Spend time on things that may not necessarily pad your resume.
Corollary — don’t be afraid to spend time on things you enjoy that may not pad your resume, especially for those aspiring for medicine, dentistry, law and similar. Often we are glued to the unfortunate feeling that the pool of applicants get more competitive each passing year, but life is much more than achievements on a piece of paper.
I am a pianist and composer by hobby, but often what people hear are the product of many, many hours of practice, thought, and drafting. Even when I’m not sneakily practicing in the music rooms at night, I’m writing down drafts and editing sheets. Some evenings I busk or go play in public at Indigo, retirement homes, hospitals, music stores… just because I want to. All these uncountable hours don’t mean a thing to admission committees (mainly because they’re not verifiable), but they are an important exercise of the human experience.
P.S. for any interested in my music: www.soundcloud.com/kl-88
Best of luck!
