My name is Omar Al Qassab and I am currently a third-year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB). Prior to this appointment, I had studied Biology at an undergraduate university in Canada, NB.
After finishing my undergraduate degree, I decided to apply to medical school within Canada. However, I was unsuccessful in attaining placement but that never stopped me from exploring other options for medicine. After all, if you have passion for the profession, it shouldn’t matter where you study.
This is when I decided to look for medical school abroad, and this is how I found the Atlantic Bridge program. Thankfully to wonderful individuals who work there, I was able to find a new home in Bahrain. I was excited, but also afraid. Moving to a new country is always an emotional roller coaster but I was amazed at how welcoming the country of Bahrain was, especially RCSI-MUB staff, faculty and students.
Firstly, the country itself has a vibrant culture full of beautiful Middle Eastern traditions. The locals and expats are both open minded and respectful. Not only will you be able to immerse yourself in rich Bahraini culture, but you also get the opportunity to sample the many restaurants the country has to offer (for me, this was a big selling point!)
When moving to a new country for a new school, it is definitely important to feel welcomed. This is exactly what RCSI-MUB was able to offer. The vibrant and immersive student experience made the transition much easier. The school offers a buddy program for newcomers, which I found to be very beneficial as a freshman. Furthermore, student led clubs and societies will definitely make your experience at RCSI-MUB memorable. With so many different and unique clubs, you will never find yourself bored when you’re not studying.
The University itself is beautiful and is continually improving its facilities. From a well-equipped gym, to a full-sized football pitch, staying active is not an issue at RCSI-MUB. The HUB, which is our sports complex, has many exercise and fitness coaches that will be more than glad to help you stay fit and active during your semesters at school.
To summarize, RCSI-MUB has been a wonderful experience so far. I always look forward to returning to school after a long summer break because I know I will have a different experience every day at this school. If you’re a passionate future medical student and would like to explore new challenges and new locations, then I recommend you come study here. I guarantee you would have made the right choice.
Hope to see y’all soon! And best of luck with your future endeavors.
