Tips on Surviving Notts Medical School ..an individual's perspective

[Stormchild]

I was asked on any tips on surviving medical school, specifically in Nottingham, so I thought I'd post this here for those starting in September. These views do not necessarily represent the students or staff of the medical school and I can only advise you from my own experiences as an undergraduate between the years of 2001 - 2006. This is part one as I only have so much time..

First Semester
Enjoy yourself - most important. You will need to settle down in a new environment, new city, meeting new people. No worries about exams until at least January. Take the opportunity to join societies in Freshers Fayre, however in reality you'll probs end up sticking to about 1 or 2 at the most. In my first year we had 9-5 lectures on a daily basis.. not sure its that bad now, but it gets better throughout the course I promise! Get to know people in your halls as they're the ones you'll probs move in with in the second year as you will be aware of their living habits compared to your medic buddies.

Do not buy books / stethoscopes / lab coats until you arrive - Med school provides this at a reasonable cost. And don't go crazy with buying lab coats.. I ended up with 3 which is ridiculous because they're used once in a blue moon or if you're attached to a surgical firm during your clinicals run by the likes of Mr. Iftikhar in Derby Books can be found in the library so don't bother investing until you know its the right one for you as they're fairly expensive.

Freshers are seen as fresh meat for the pickings.. beware! - particularly by senior years within the med school and beyond. However its particularly useful to establish contacts in the senior years as its your free pass to how to survive, free notes and also free books. Ensure its a symbiotic relationship.. at Notts there is a parenting system where every new med student has a medic mum or dad in the year above. How you choose to continue the relationship is up to you.. however there have been several episodes of incest I'm sure.

Joining Medical Societies - The medical school has a developed a fantastic range of societies for medics ranging from your usual Medics [enter sports name here] society, societies appreciative of the arts (ie music, drama) to societies focusing on different aspects of medicine e.g. Scrubs surgical society, Marrow, Prof Soc etc. and of course there is a Medic's Karni group. My advice for you if you happen to come across any society that may appeal to you (other than Medsoc.. just hand over the cheque!), don't sign up on the first day!! Go to a meeting/session/practice before you hand over the rest of your first student loan installment because it may not ending up being your cup of tea, no matter how much they insist or offer you sweeties, be sensible with your money and ensure you're getting your membership's worth!

Work
Clinical experience in the preclinical years is fair - When i first started med school I had this impression that I would be on call from day one (largely imposed by my mum.. who's a teacher!), however unfortunately you don't really get that experience until the clinical years at the end of the third year. In the pre-clinical years you have weekly visits to hospitals and GP surgeries for a morning, as well as clinical skills teaching in a designated..well.. clinical skills lab. I find it keeps you in touch with the practicalities of being a doctor as well as taking you away from those sometimes dull didactic lectures in the lecture theatres.

I signed up for A&E shifts on a few occasions, which gives you the opportunity to shadow some of the doctors. You see a great deal, but unfortunately you tend not to know much, so altho it may keep you in touch with your ambitions, its not as useful until you reach the clinical years. Try and get your hands dirty if anything.. best way to learn and at least you can look slick once your mates are starting to learn cannulation a few years after you've mastered it.

Surviving Lectures - Lectures can be dull as ****.. nobody really wants to be there (including the lecturer), illustrated by the sheer quantity of doodles on the desks.. and its content! (ie... the lecturer self-destruct button) Some people tend to skive a few, but if you do decide to attend, at least prepare yourself for the content.. read up the night before, review the objectives and sit near the front.. you're less likely to fall asleep that way. If you'd rather sleep in your lecture, sit at the back or in the corner.. its easier especially when they dim the light for powerpoint slides. I advise you not to ask questions from the middle of the room once they ask 'Any Questions'. All your peers will hate you for unnecessarily extending the torture session. Unless it was obviously an enjoyable lecture for all, its best to ask them face to face as the lecturers would only be happy to answer any questions. You can also start a forum on the pertinent subject on the NLE.

Exams - These have changed from when I started.. there are mix of different formats, but most of my exams were True/False MCQs with the occasional essay question paper.. these may vary as you move up the course and eventually you will come across Extended Matching Questions in the clinical years and OSCEs which are designed to test your clinical skills. Pass Mark as set by the university is 40%. The majority easily surpass this, however if you fail.. its not the end of the world. You can retake an exam at the end of the year. If you fail again, you are reviewed by the board and you may have to repeat the year. Very few people get to this stage, but nevertheless is does happen. Just remember you've managed to secure a place in medical school.. that was probably the biggest hurdle you'll face in a long while. EXams take place twice a year in the pre-clinical years (Jan and May/June), and twice a year in fourth year (after two attachments), and one set of final exams in the fifth year. For third year read below;

Managing Exams - Depends on your method of revision and what works for you. Don't leave revision too late unless you're one of those people that cram last minute and get firsts.. (don't you hate them?!) Its best to keep on top of things during the term so at least you have a general idea about what you need to revise by the time revision period arrives. Always stick to objectives and utilise the lecturer's email address! Use the NLE (network learning environment) which is an invaluable tool for extra info, lecture notes, forums etc. Don't be afraid to go out during your revision period.. ensure you leave time to rest because you'll find that you stop absorbing and consequently read the same sentence about 50 times before you realise that in fact its just the bit that tells you who published the book.

The third year is a twilight zone - Why? Because you're left to your own devices for most of it, engulfed in research in some lab or getting off with the nearest foreign lab PhD student on E floor who is never seen without a labcoat (even when you bump into them in town..!) This is the BMedSci year, and counts for a large proportion of that degree. Exams are set by the school you have been doing your research in.. ie. public health, and there are also some other general exams related to research you will have to take throughout the year. After the research which lasts until mid January, there is an Anti-microbial chemotherapy course which crams everything the microbiologists know in 2 weeks including an exam at the end of it. Its pretty intense and I definitely did not enjoy revising for it and as a result I know very little as it was over such a short period of time. Clinicals then ensue and finally you're on the wards.. yay! Medic car ownership also increases at this time..

Dissection - dead bodies are your best friends - We started dissection in our second semester. I remember the intro session when one of the technicians fondly slammed his hand down on a cadaver and several of us screamed or whimpered. The purpose of dissection is not to prepare you for starring in a documentary entitled "When Good Doctors go Bad", its merely a fascinating method of learning human anatomy.. eventually you desensistise yourself from the fact its a cadaver and recognise it as an invaluable learning tool. Plus the objectives you cover are examined at the end of every session, hence an incentive to actively learn in addition to developing a craving for meat just before lunch time. This session is a privilige.. at the end of the course, all students attend the cremation of their cadaver. Ensure you familiarise yourself with the relevant chapter before you attend as it will gain you brownie points and save you time during the sessions.


Well thats all I'm writing for now.. next time I'll cover finances, transport, how to make the most of your holidays whilst you still have them and a brief lot of info about postgraduate medical education in the Trent Deanery ie.. what happens after year 5. Any more requests or comments, let me know.

I have my second graduation tomorrow.. remember you'll be having two.. not many people can say that!!

[Tangliss]

What valuable information.

Thread is now a sticky.

[Stormchild]

This is part two.. graduation was a lovely occasion for the family and the cameras. We had Prof Kumar from Kumar and Clark there.. how starstruck was I.. altho I ensured I stole the stage when my name was called out...anyway.. oh yes, one thing they don't tell you before you apply is that graduation takes place in the Sports Hall on campus.. nope, doesn't sound glamorous does it, however the decor and lighting makes it pretty impressive.. for a sports hall.

Finances
Budgeting - Still don't know how to do this.. just got myself a financial advisor (now that I'll be getting a wage) so hopefully he'll be able to tell me what to do with my money. Just be wise with what you spend your money on.. don't go around handing out blank cheques, don't eat out too frequently and never never never sign up for a direct debit for a charity that approaches you on the street.. remember you're basically a charity in your own right. Just stick to donations!

Banking - Most students I know live on their interest free overdraft. The bank should be able to extend your overdraft every year, the max being £2000 in the fifth year. Professional trainee loans are also available from some banks, namely Natwest, where you can borrow up to £20 k at a fixed or variable interest rate. I ended up getting a loan at the end of third year.. or fourth year, to buy and maintain a used car (was only 2 yrs old with low mileage when bought..still fantastic and sexy) for travel to clinical attachments. Also took out some more loans for living costs and finally a bit for my elective. Repaying the debt occurs six months after graduation in monthly installments. Student credit card... only use when you're abroad!! Credit cards are generally bad bad things.. it is NOT a bank account, you can get into serious debt with them.. I only started using mine when I went on my elective in the fifth year as there was no alternative (other than the usual alternatives of course.. :P) I have friends that maxed out their cards early and its still accruing interest at the bank's delight.

Fifth year relief - NHS Bursary is a lifesaver. In the fifth year they cover your tuition fees (unsure if this will change according to top-up fees), give you some extra means-tested dosh, potentially cover your travel costs, and are the most impossible people to get hold of throughout the year!

Renting - Getting value for money - Most decide to move out after fresher's year in to a flat/house share somewhere in the peripheries of the university. Each area has their range of prices for rent.. some are cheaper than others, but few exceed £60. Basically I'd be suss if I had to pay more than £55.. an extra 5 quid a week could be spent on more useful items such as alcohol and the weekly visit to the local chippy.. Don't go for the first place you find out of pure worry you won't find anywhere else. Everybody finds somewhere to live eventually, and the late deals often turn out to be the best. Strangely enough its cheaper to live in Dunkirk (which is on the doorstep of the medschool) at about £40-£55 a week max, than it is in Lenton (student capital.. 10 mins plus walk away) at about £50 to £65 a week. Some of my friends chose to live in town in fashionable apartments. Some could afford it. Some just got into more debt.

Buying your own gaff - Advised if you or someone in your family can afford it as its quite a money spinner if you get your mates to live together with you. Some people intend to live in Nottingham for the medical course and beyond, so evidently not a bad investment as you will not be wasting money on endless amounts of rent.

Deciding on your personal mode of transport - You can sail through medical school without buying a car. No worries, but as clinical years ensue, the majority tend to buy one because it secures travel, looks flash and provides choice when applying for attachment locations further afield from Nottingham ie Mansfield, Derby, Lincoln (some attachments have better reputations in certain hospitals). Even if you don't have a car, people tend to car share and you can contribute towards petrol money, however you'll be forced to live your attachment by someone else's personal timetable which may not always be convenient.. and there's always a risk of being stranded if you haven't made any prior arrangments (either that or an hour's bus ride home). Cars are not required in the first couple of years. Even if you already own one, don't bother bringing it to uni.. parking on campus is limited and certain areas are notorious for car vandalism/thefts.

Possibility of acquiring income - Anything's possible! There are medical students that manage to sustain part-time jobs throughout medical school at retail outlets or restaurants as well as doing medical secretarial work or settling for a car boot sale. The main problem I had was that our timetable varied on a daily basis and I would find it difficult to committ to certain hours on days except for the weekend which I'd prefer to reserve for leaving Nottingham! Having a part-time job is not discouraged but requires excellent time management... especially in the clinical years where you may be staying on late, doing weekends and/or on calls.

so.. more later.. comments/questions?

[eldopol123]

oh ure a star! thats info that is life saving!!!!thank UUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!
but i need to get into med skool first!!! thank again, mor info, anything wil help me relax about stuff i should b worried about!!!!!!!!!

[Huw]

what about things like crime!!!!! plz give us some saftey precautions.

is nottingham still the gun capital of the uk?????

[bijou]

Thanks, Stormchild, that's some pretty nifty advice

[sakura17]

Hey there, I understand that exams are in January..Will that be right after we come back from the Christmas break (As in the day the Spring term starts)? Or do we have a few days to settle down before sitting for our exams? Can anyone help me there 'cos I've got to book a reasonable date for my flight back to Notts..Thanks bunches!!

[Tangliss]

Yes they will be right before you start semester 2. Basically you have 5 weeks off for christmas which includes your study break, then you have 6 days of exams, one after the other fri - fri with the weekend off in between. Then you more or less start semester 2 straight afterwards.

Hth

[sakura17]

Thanks for the info..On the website, it is written that the Autumn term ends on Friday 14th Dec..Spring term starts on Monday 7 January 2008..So do I assume that our Christmas break is from 15th Dec 07 to 6th January 08? That's about 3 weeks!! I'm not sure that's enough time for revision!! That's if exams start on the 7th of January when we come back..

[Tangliss]

You have 3 weeks for christmas, then uni opens but you have a further two 'study weeks' hence 5 in total, after which you have a week and a day worth of exams. You will begin semester 2 the monday after your last exam (which ends on the friday before)

Hth