WCMC-Q welcomes new pre-medical class

During a three-day orientation the new students were given a wide-ranging introduction to college life, helping them prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. They also had the opportunity to bond with their classmates and with second year pre-medical students, of whom many had stepped forward to assist with the orientation. Leisure time was high on the agenda, with activities organized by the Medical Student Executive Council.

Dean of WCMC-Q, Dr. Daniel R. Alonso, said: "We've planned this orientation program with careful thought, as we want the students to adjust to their new surroundings as seamlessly as possible."

"It is important that the students, and their families, understand the pre-medical program will challenge them in many ways, but we would also like them to enjoy themselves as they enter the Medical College. They are assured of a warm welcome."

Class members are citizens of countries that include Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, France, Bangladesh, Syria and Jordan as well as South Korea, Tanzania and the US, among others.

The incoming students were selected in a rigorous admission process, which takes into account not only academic excellence, but also the breadth of their interests.

This week's orientation program included a wide range of activities designed to help students make the transition from high school to university life.

Welcome introductions from WCMC-Q's faculty and staff, site tours and discussion forums on a range of topics from study skills to grading policies helped familiarize students with the business side of the Medical College. A separate session for parents offered them the opportunity to understand this transition, and to put their questions to faculty and staff.

By taking part in the Cornell University summer reading project, which this year focused on F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, they were also brought into the wider Cornell community.