Quite inspiring. But I wonder, why didn't you change to Dentistry after your 100L. I hear that is possible in UI

horpeyemmi66:

I believe I am in a better position to answer your question sir. It all started with the intention to study Medicine. A lot of constraints, as is the norm with numerous individuals aspiring to study Medicine. I got the UTME form in '15 (I had 269) applying for Dentistry hoping to cross from Dentistry to Medicine; a brazen foolhardiness. Eventually, I was told one couldn't cross in between two professional courses. So, I decided to get a JAMB change of course form to change my course from Dentistry to Physiology. That's a sin I am working fastidiously to atone for.

Eventually I got Physiology, I could have gotten Dentistry and probably be at UCH presently now, but then and again, shit happens. Now to Physiology, to be candid, it's not as bad as people have made it out to be. When looking back in retrospect, one should count his blessings not the losses. I am in 400L now, glory be to the Almighty.

Now, why people feel Physiology isn't worth it. To begin with, you get to do almost all the same courses with the Medicine guys at the Preclinical level. Here at UI, some of our Anatomy questions are repeated for the Medicine/Dental guys, which isn't too surprising. You see them coming to get the questions after some of our exams because they sometimes repeat these questions for them, word for word. It is imperative to state herein that, Medical and Dental guys go way deeper and faster. Again, they do things like Neuroanatomy, Embryology(UNIBEN Physiology guys do this, UI's Physiology doesn't), Dental Anatomy, Oral biology.

Although, you without doubt ought to grasp Physiology better than them. They are learning Physiology at an accelerated pace, but you learn it way deeper and detailed than them over three years(excluding 100L) culminating in a research project and eventually a degree.

Biochemistry in most instances is the Achilles heel of students of Colleges of Medicine and Faculties of Health Sciences. So many pathways, they need you to write a lot of stories and in many instances have callous and sadistic lecturers who are just of the Devil. So, no one escapes, even Pharmacy guys. Here in UI, I have done 6 Biochemistries so far, I got one left in 400L. I did three Biochemistries in the last semester, so you know. Although there are still differences, the Medicine guys get to do stuffs like Xenobiotics, but Physiology doesn't.

Now, there's a major advantage of having a B.Sc in Physiology, you'd be well grounded in the basic medical Sciences. It wouldn't be your first time seeing a cadaver, neither would you be taught how to arrange your essay when writing when you go back to study Medicine. The demerit: the time spent in school, nothing less than 10+x years in school(I'm factoring in the fact that you probably study Physiology presently). I'd be beginning my project work in Reproductive Physiology and Developmental Programming. This gives me a sort of edge research-wise. I know the basic tenets of research.

A lecturer of mine Dr. Odukanmi had his B.Sc from Ilorin, had his Msc at Ibadan and went back to Ilorin for Medicine. So it's not a new thing, there are many cases like this.

Finally, there are many ways you can choose to Utilize your degree. We can't all become lecturers. Take for example this guy, Babatunde Fashola, a software engineer, who is one of the 11 Nigerians who work at Twitter's Headquarters in San Francisco. He had his first degree in Physiology from UI and went to get an MSc in Bioinformatics from Morgan state University.

Doing a direct entry actually makes sense. It just doesn't check the box for me. It means I'd have to wait to get a call up letter, go and serve, be patient enough to get the discharge certificate and then apply for a direct entry whose chances are 50:50. Well, I obtained the UTME form this year, filled out Dentistry at the ABU, had 297 and hopefully would get Dentistry this year. I'd just run my first year and NYSC together in Kaduna. I can't go and sit down somewhere waiting for call up letter. And the NYSC thing is usually in batches. Who knows, perhaps by the time I get mobilized, I would already be in 2nd semester of my first year at Zaria. University of Ibadan has a slow academic calendar.

My advice, get Physiology, try the UTME again in 100L.. It might be tedious but it's worth it. Keep trying, till you get the Medicine.

This is as abridged as It can get. Nothing is good and nothing is bad. It all depends on how you see it.

Be resolute about your goal but flexible about your method.

I wish you the very best my friend.

Yours.

horpeyemmi66:

I'm in 300L(you don't cross when you go beyond 200L in UI)

Why didn't you cross after your 200L. Or they don't allow you guys cross from physiology to medicine? Didn't anyone in your set cross?