Page 11 - Eureka 2011

Canadian has been selected for this interview was conducted by a panel flew off to Vienna where he spent an
program which typically accepts made up of a faculty member, a senior incredible summer conducting research
students from Cambridge, Oxford, medical school student and a practicing on genes that can play important roles
Columbia and Yale. doctor. They didn’t ask me much about in our immune system.
The scholarship that came with my biographical information, though This fall Luu began his graduate
the placement would cover his they seemed to be fully aware of who I studies in Biology and plans to reapply
accommodation, airfare and an was and what I had done already, but to medical school after completing his
additional 800 euros a month. instead presented me with hypothetical master’s degree. “This is all good,” says Students news
Just as his fourth-year was winding cases to gauge my response to Luu. “I’m still doing what I love and I’ll
down, Luu got the news that he had situations. A lot of the situations wait and see how things unfold. ”
been selected for an interview at the involved ethical questions which I then
University of Ottawa’s medical school. had to speak to. The interview was
Each year, the school receives around intense, but I think it went well.”
3,500 applications. Of that number, 500 A month later, he heard that he had
applicants get an interview and 150 not made the first cut but had made
are accepted into the program. “The it to the wait list. Two weeks later he

Students helping students

hough volunteering is mandatory in Student Success Centre (SSSC), she of like performing triage in a hospital;
Tmost high school programs, many hired John Nelson as a full-time students come to the SSSC and centre
students continue to look for volunteer paid co-ordinator. They both felt the personnel assess the situation and
opportunities during their university centre could provide more than just guide them to the next steps.”
years even though they don’t have to. information on the campus services But Bertram and Nelson couldn’t
That’s something Biology professor Sue available. Instead they envisioned provide all these services on their
Bertram realized when she was setting a place where new students could own and thought who better to help
up a centre at Carleton to help first-year drop in for advice on course work, students than those who had already
science students make a successful exam preparation, lab report writing, successfully navigated first year. So
transition to university. time management skills and more. in advance of the start of the 2009-
“In 2008, I was asked to set up a The centre would not offer specific 2010 academic year, they sent out a
one-stop shop for first-year science academic advising as that is done by call for volunteer student mentors.
students,” says Bertram, “a place where departmental undergraduate advisors, Sixteen students applied and almost
they could go to get all their questions but would offer just about everything all were ‘hired,’ though the work is
answered.” To help her run the Science else. As John Nelson puts it: “It’s kind strictly volunteer. The following year, 30
students answered the call and joined
the centre as student mentors. This fall,
almost all returned for another year.
For mentors, the commitment to the
centre includes meeting with students
one-on-one or in a group, participating
in training sessions and attending team
meetings. Mentors usually volunteer
five to ten hours a week during
regularly scheduled shifts. Mentors are
assessed weekly and given feedback
by the centre staff. At the end of each
term, mentors submit a report detailing
how they contributed to the centre and
any suggestions for improvements.
Photo : Nanci Jolicoeur “a central place for mentors to belong.
For Bertram, the SSSC has become
Here they can meet their peers, share
information, and learn from each
other. We set out to help first-year

also helping the students on the other
Student mentors gather in the Science Student Success Centre to assist incoming students but also to students, but along the way we are
brainstorm at team meetings, propose new initiatives and help co-ordinate Centre-run events. side of the desk as well.”

EUREKA
EUREKA 11