Liang Chen- MD at McGill University
Liang Chen is a student enrolled in McGill’s MDCM program. He speaks about his involvement at McGill and highlights the importance of having a strong support network throughout one’s academic career.
Tell us about what you have studied at McGill.
I did an Honours in Anatomy and Cell Biology and a minor in Psychology. Currently I’m studying Medicine at McGill.
What are some pros and cons about your program?
The best thing about McGill’s MDCM program is the people.
Interviewer’s note: for more information on the MDCM program, please refer to https://www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions/programs/mdcm
There is an extensive network of support dedicated towards developing you as a person and ensuring your success as a future physician. Within our cohort, we help each other by sharing notes, tutoring each other, and providing emotional support. Our assigned mentors are inspiring and model the type of physician we can be in our own future.
It’s great to be surrounded by such a positive community.
Our schedule in Medical school is pretty similar to high school — we’re in McMed from 8:30am — 3:30pm every day. Our daily routine is packed with lectures, small groups, labs, shadowing, clinical encounters, extracurriculars, etc. Unlike in undergrad, our schedules have less flexibility (I miss starting my day with 1pm class), which means you have to put some more effort in maintaining your hobbies/passions.
What were some valuable involvements at school that taught about yourself and oriented your goals?
During undergrad I was involved in Classical Music Club, Friends of MSF, Jam for Justice, Research, and Science Frosh. I didn’t sleep much at the time, but looking back I wouldn’t change a thing. With every role I adopted, I learned how to adapt to its requirements. At the end of my undergrad, I had plenty of experience in public speaking, leading teams, designing research projects, organizing events, and teaching froshies all the requisite chants of McGill. Ultimately, the experiences I gained pointed me towards a career in medicine, which I’m currently pursuing with an interest in global health.
What advice would you give to younglings at McGill? Or If you were to go back to your first year, what would you have done differently?
If you’re feeling lost, don’t be afraid to cast a broad net and start somewhere.
It’s important to test your boundaries. Join clubs that interest you, take on responsibilities that challenge you, and gain new skills. University is the perfect low risk environment to adopt new roles and strengthen your abilities. Get involved early and you’ll find that the small opportunities will quickly snowball into more important roles, and the skills you learn along the way will mirror this. Through this process, you’ll get a better understanding of yourself, what energizes you, and the type of work you enjoy.
