With first-year exams only a month away I’ve been looking back on my first term of medical school, what can I say it’s been busy. From moving away from home for the first time and starting new sports to university itself it’s been quite a steep learning curve however I’ve enjoyed every minute. So, buckle up and get ready for a whirlwind tour of my first three months of learning to be a doctor.
Moving In
Preparing for moving in for university I was quite excited. I was going to be living across the country from my home in Dumfries and Galloway it was going to be my first real taste of independence and I was ready, really ready. I packed my life into my intermittently reliable 2010 Corsa ‘Clara’ and headed off on a 5-hour drive to the North of Scotland. The first learning point of this story; don’t have your first time driving on a motorway be on your literal cross-country drive to university. That being said, Clara and I arrived in Aberdeen just about in one piece if slightly traumatised at a junction somewhere around Dundee.
At my halls, I started the delightful task all first-year uni students know and love of carrying everything you own up what feels like 100 flights of stairs. Second learning point; check the weather before your moving day. Scotland was, unfortunately for me, experiencing a record-breaking heat wave and by the time I carried that first load of clothes to the door of my new home I was already hot and sweaty. The ideal way to meet your new flatmates. I would like to say at this point that my flatmates are lovely, and we all get on very well despite my somewhat dishevelled introduction. Upon finally getting to my bedroom my next difficulty arrived. My keys didn’t work. After chasing around the surprisingly helpful maintenance staff, I was in and unpacked. I didn’t realise that my door now wouldn’t lock until later that evening and wouldn’t for the rest of the term. Good job for those nice flatmates.
This leads me on to my 3rd and final advice for move-in day; try your best to introduce yourself to the others. University is full of people who don’t know anyone and are looking for friends saying hi and being nice will go a long way. Trust me if I managed to make friends looking like I’d just run a marathon while having the facial expression of someone who almost died in a car wreck then I can guarantee you can too.
Joining Clubs
University has every club you could possibly imagine from your standard sports teams to the Taylor Swift Society it has it all. Where is the best place to meet all these societies? I am glad you asked.
It’s at the delight universities like to call the fresher’s fair. For Aberdeen University, this consists of what feels like the smallest hall ever jammed with hundreds of tables and stalls for each club. Now imagine several 1000s people trying to walk through this hall to talk to different societies and you can picture how busy and noisy this environment is. Ours was so packed they had to run it over 2 days as there wasn’t enough room for all the clubs. Why would anyone want to queue for almost an hour to put themselves through this? Well other than the obvious of wanting to join new clubs and make friends it’s clearly for the freebies. Of which I will talk more about later. Now here is your survival guide for the fresher’s fair:
- Bring a friend. Can be anyone I went with one of my flatmates, you will be standing around for ages in ques, so you’ll want someone to chat with to prevent pulling your own hair out.
- Clear the day. If you want to do freshers fair properly you don’t want to be rushing around trying to get out quickly, think trying to get on a bus after a concert you won’t be able to get out without pushing past several 100 people so just accept, you’ll be there for a while.
- Bring a bag for freebies and flyers. You’ll be given hundreds of bits of paper and branded pens bring a tote bag to put them all in. You can sift through what you want to keep later.
- Take a flyer for everything. You’re starting uni you might already have an idea of clubs you want to join but there are so many options you might want to start something new. Take a flyer for everything you might be interested in you can always decide later that you don’t want to go. I thought I wanted to do netball as I had played at high school. Went to the trials and realised the competitive teams were definitely out of my league so ended up bailing and joining the social team. On the other hand, I went to lacrosse trials having never played before just because the girls at the fresher’s fair were so lovely (they rescued me from being yelled at by boys’ rugby – a story for another time). I loved it and ended up playing all year making some of my best friends and I am now on the committee for next year so although trying something new might be daunting, it can absolutely be worth it.
- Talk to the people at the stalls. I know it can be scary and intimidating as these stalls are usually run by older students who are members of or presidents of these societies. But they are generally very passionate but their club and actively want you to join. So, ask them questions about what they love about their clubs and I’m sure they’ll all have something to say. This approach also increases the number of freebies you get so it’s a win-win. Now as promised onto my favourite part …
- Freebies!! I know I’m excited too. Over the 2 days, I collected 11 tote bags, 6 mugs, 4 cups, 2 pizzas, countless pens and stationery, piles of coupons and discounts and possibly my favourite a bucket hat! Seriously, you do get a lot of stuff and there are some gems in between your 30th pen (You never know when you might need your 5th bottle opener). So, remember take a bag. You’ve been warned.
Congratulations you are all now ready to rock your first freshers fair and remember you can try anything you want, you’re at university, have fun. And the best bit? No one knows you well enough yet for them to judge or remember you for sucking at netball so just give it a go.
University
Now more importantly and probably the only bit of my whole babblings that you are actually interested in, Med school. It is very different to high school, and you will have to change the way you study and work but it’s so exciting and interesting. You feel you’re working to become a doctor.
During my first 3 months, I got to see my first patient, learnt all the basic biology to back up my medical teaching, got to go on GP teaching days, had anatomy, learnt a variety of clinical skills, and had my first exam. Now that may all seem like a lot, and it was the volume of information you must consume is enormous at some points I struggled, at worst I felt I was drowning at best barely keeping my head above water. If I could put what I was feeling in one word it would be overwhelmed. I was sitting with masses of content thinking I couldn’t possibly know everything, and this was true I couldn’t, but I wasn’t expected to.
Med school for me has been all about changing my expectations. I’m used to working to get A’s or learn almost 100% of the content but now I’m learning so that I might be able to use my knowledge to help others not to pass exams. It’s this change in mindset that helped me to feel more confident in myself and my abilities and I hope if you guys start off with this mindset set then you’ll be able to start swimming right from the get-go.
My first term at university has been an intense learning curve, to say the least. I have struggled with something at almost every point whether it be the sheer change of moving out, the fear of trying new things or just simply understanding the content of my lectures itself. However, what I said at the start is true. I have loved every minute. If I hadn’t taken the leap, I would have never met any of the wonderful people I now call my friends and I wouldn’t be on my way to becoming a doctor. Don’t get me wrong I’m still a long way off and I’m sure I’ll have many more disasters and overwhelming moments to come but if it’s anything like my first term then I’m excited about what the rest of university has to throw at me. Just please not another heat wave I beg.
So, for those of you who have made it to the end of my ramblings well done, I wouldn’t have. I hope you have an amazing first term as I have and if any of my unsolicited advice helps then make sure to let me know my ego would appreciate the boost. All the best and good luck.
From Alice and Clara (who broke down a further 3 times that term before finally exploding and catching fire 3 miles into my 250-mile drive home for Christmas, rest in pieces, my unreliable friend).
