Michelle Arakgi
Third year at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever even thought of being anything other than a doctor.  It was always my plan, probably since kindergarten, and I set out to do everything I could to achieve that goal.  I got good grades in high school, got into a good university, did my best in all my courses, participated in TONS of extracurriculars, all with the intention of getting into a North American med school and starting my training to be a doctor.  That last bit is where my plan got derailed.  I applied once, no luck.  Did a Masters degree and applied again, no luck. I was all but certain my dreams were over...

Then I talked to a couple of friends who were in med school in Ireland.  They told me how they had been down the same road as I had and decided to apply to Irish schools as an alternative.  I had never really considered going to school in another continent, but having heard their stories, I decided I should at least apply.  I was accepted the National University of Ireland and haven’t looked back since!

The moment I arrived in Ireland I knew I had made the right decision.  The friendly Irish atmosphere made me feel right at home immediately.  The schooling here has been outstanding.  You can tell right from the outset that the professors really care about training excellent physicians and that they want to see you succeed.  We are lucky to have a full cadaver lab here at NUIG so the hands on learning starts right away!  The class schedule is rigorous but not overwhelming.  Our class size is 140 which may seem large but we have all of our classes together so you get to know everyone pretty well.  The class is mostly young Irish students, but there are also many other North American students in the same boat as you. 

Another great aspect of NUIG student life is the clubs and societies.  There are so many you’re almost certain to find something that suits you.  I’ve joined a few clubs and it’s been a great way to get to know some Irish people outside of my class.  There are also many research opportunities for students to participate in. 

Galway is a smaller of a city than Dublin, which I find nice.  You can walk everywhere and the cost of living is much cheaper.  We’re also very close to Salthill where you’ll find the famous Galway Bay.  There’s nothing really like a stroll down the Promenade to clear your head. 
Basically, you can find everything you need to enjoy life here in Galway, except for maybe a good jar of peanut butter.  And don’t worry it doesn’t really rain EVERY day...

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