Melbourne Dental School second-year OzTREKK student Jasper Follows offers his advice to first-year students

With a year under his belt, University of Melbourne Dental School student Jasper Follows has a lot to say about what he learned both in the class and in the city.

The West Vancouver native and Whitman College graduate started the Melbourne Dental School DDS program when it first launched in 2011.

Last year, OzTREKK checked in with Jasper following his first few weeks on campus. He provided us with his first impressions of Melbourne as well as with the Melbourne Dental School Doctor of Dental Surgery program and life on campus.

It’s been a month since he started the second of the four-year program. Now that he’s a sophomore, he can reflect on what he took away from his first year in Australia and pass it on to the first-year students.

Like most students starting a new program, particularly overseas, he had to find balance.

“My first year at Melbourne Dental School was a whirlwind,” he says. “It was hard to keep school a priority whilst becoming familiar with a new city as lively as Melbourne as well as making new friends. Despite the busyness both academically and socially, I really enjoyed the year.”

He says he liked that the university eased the students into the program.

“At first, we had quite a lot of time off and the schedule was quite forgiving. Then, as we settled into school, it became more rigorous,” he explains, adding he doesn’t believe the Melbourne Dental School program is as intensive as the in North American DDS programs.

“But that isn’t to say we don’t learn as much. It’s just that there is more onus on students to learn things individually here rather than being led the way.”

Jasper says he prefers the University of Melbourne approach as it’s more suitable to a graduate-school format.

What he wishes differently for the program is for it to be better organized.

“The schedule seems to constantly be changing and often we won’t know what lectures we’ll be getting the next day,” he explains. “However, this is the nature of a new program and being the inaugural class, that is to be somewhat expected.”

Jasper headed home to Canada for the holiday break in December. He says it was the perfect opportunity to recharge his batteries.

“It was really nice to come home for a visit and spend time with family and old friends again,” he says. “It was also nice to compare the little differences that one doesn’t necessarily notice whilst away from home. I certainly hope to return home for a few visits during my time here in Melbourne.”

Entering Second Year

Now that he’s already into his second year, he says he looks forward to applying the knowledge he acquired in his first year in a clinical setting. In fact, the clinical work has already begun!

“We saw our first patients in the second week of class and it was the most nerve-wracking yet exciting thing that I’ve done yet,” he says. “Once it was over, I got this great feeling of satisfaction of having properly treated someone, even if it was just a simple medical history. So, as we see more and more patients, I’m hoping that I will enjoy this aspect even more.”

First-year Tips

Jasper has a few tips for the first-year Melbourne Dental School students, and it all comes down to balancing one’s life.

“Keep up to date with school work right off the bat because it’s easy to fall behind,” he says. “However, if there’s any year to really enjoy oneself and see all of Melbourne, first year is the year to do it! Don’t lock yourself away. A good balance of academics, exercise and a social life will keep you happy and healthy.”

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