Gordon Hale

Gordon Hale, from Sevenoaks in Kent, graduated in 2011 in Medicine.

Why did you choose to study at Dundee?

I chose Dundee because of the location and the excellent reputation of the medical school.

What is the best thing about your course and why?

The Dundee course is one of the best in the UK for training doctors to learn the specific skills that we'll need when we start work.

What has been your best learning experience to date and why?

The best experience so far has to have been my elective, the chance that every medical student has between 4th and 5th year to travel abroad and experience medicine in another country for 6 weeks. I chose to travel to Grenada in the West Indies and had a fantastic time.

What has been your best university experience to date and why?

First year of university was the best experience; moving into halls of residences, meeting lots of new people, joining various sports clubs & societies and generally settling into a completely new place before the hard work began to set in.

Have you taken part in any student exchanges/work placements?

Most of my course has been based at Ninewells Hospital on the outskirts of Dundee but I've been lucky enough to go on placements all over Scotland, including Glasgow, Kirkcaldy, Oban, Dunfermline and Perth during my five year course.

What was your experience of settling into life in Dundee when you first arrived?

At first it was quite a daunting experience because I hardly knew anyone who was going, however I soon met lots of people and settled in. Living in university residences was a great way to meet new people and socialise.

Do you have any advice for potential new students?

Get involved in a sports club. I'd say that for so many reasons, not just for keeping fit but for the social aspects as well and getting away from coursework a few times a week. Getting a part-time job was also extremely helpful to keep the debt collectors at bay and so I didn't have to miss out on any big events during the year.