Naomi Hopwood

3rd year, Physiological Sciences

Since doing work experience in year 10 I have wanted to be a physiotherapist. However I was unsure about the job market and whether I really wanted to go straight into a vocation with short holidays and lots of clinical practice. Luckily my Biology teacher at my sixth form college found out about a Physiological Sciences access day taking place in Oxford and knowing my love of hearts, lungs and muscles and dislike of plants suggested I go along. I fell in love with the University and the city and realised that the course was perfect for me. I decided I’d like to study physiology first and then carry on and do physio, so I applied along side my physio choices to see what would happen.

The Physiological Sciences course starts with a general first year covering biochemistry, neuroscience and physiology, and pharmacology. During this year teaching is a mixture of lectures, practicals and tutorials, all of which complement each other very well. Physiological Sciences is a small course within the medical sciences department and you get to know the other 25 or so people in your year very well. This is a great way to meet lots of people from many different colleges. In your second and third year the course is very flexible allowing you to specialise in exactly what you are interested in. We carry out our own original research project and work only from primary sources, which makes you feel very much at the forefront of science. Tutorials also become university-wide and so each time you are having a discussion with one of the leading people in that area. It’s an amazing opportunity and you come away after an hour and a half having learnt more that you could ever imagine, and completely in awe!

I applied to Univ for a number of reasons. I liked the library, the sofas in the JCR and the bar, the College was old but not too showy, it’s really central, you live on site for the first two years and so get to know other years very well and I met one of my tutors on an open day and he was nice to me! However the main reason was that I liked the feel: it sounds a silly thing to say but you really do walk into a college and think, yes, this is the one for me. All the students who showed me around obviously loved it and were very keen to chat about everything they were involved in at College. Univ’s reputation for friendliness really is true. Within a week I knew everyone in my year by sight and felt like I had known them for ages. My best friends are Univ-ites and it very quickly became my home. By the end of the first term I was exhausted, but very sad to leave.

There is so much to get involved in on a university or college level and I certainly need more days in my week. At the moment I swim for the university blues team, play in the Oxford symphonic band and am a member of the French society. I play netball for College and am a Student Ambassador. I also spent new year on the Univ ski trip. There really is something for any interest at any level of commitment, and you meet some great people.