Student review [#14173] for Chemical Biology
at University of Oxford

As a Mexican under a government scholarship, I was very conscious about making a choice that would be both beneficial to me and my country. When I chose Oxford, I was intent on becoming a bench scientist and return to do research and teaching in Mexico. But my stay in Oxford opened a whole new perspective for me. I learned how much graduate scientists can contribute to research in industry and how much more value we are economically outside of the lecture halls. With my scientific credentials, a flawless command of English and a cosmopolitan perspective I found myself back in the workforce in no time after four years out doing my degree, and with a significant raise, and the promotions have not stopped since. Contrary to what people may think, the industry does appreciate having graduated from top-tier universities in their workforce, even if they will not be working to get themselves a Nobel price.
My stay in Oxford could not be better. I had the opportunity to live in a very congenial college, Hertford, and serve in the student’s bodies for the four years I was there. That gave me my first taste of politics and made me realize how important it is for everybody to be involved with our surroundings from a social and political perspective in order to enact the changes we believe are important. I made some of the best friends I ever had and completely change me for the better.
From the professional point of view, even if I did not follow on the research pathway that I started, the abilities to develop as a problem solver have proven invaluable in the different assignments I have had in the pharmaceutical industry and will surely aid me as I progress in my career.