Year Guide: Premed
Contributed by Sethina Edwards – Premed 2004-05
Welcome and congratulations for securing a place at Bristol! Many incoming premeds seem to have similar questions about the course, so I’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions with honest, student-based answers.
Premed FAQs
Let’s begin with the big one…
1. What if I fail? What if I am rubbish at Science?
By the sounds of it the threat of failure is something that is always there throughout your medical training. Exams can be hard to pass. Happily, most people do not fail the course at the end of the year. They want you to pass! The January exams can be a bit of a shock to many, in Chemistry for example, in 2005 around 43% failed. By the summer apparently less than 1 person should fail. For many, especially us matures (who are used to success in jobs, home careers), failure can be a little hard to swallow. Also, hard to acknowledge (at first) is being ecstatic for getting a 40% pass. Those with 3 or more grade A levels find it as hard as those with good degrees or leaving successful careers. Remember, Bristol wouldn’t have given you the place if they thought you couldn’t do it! You do deserve to be there (many of us didn’t feel this at first). Failure can be character building!! However, as I said, most people do not fail. If you fail the end of year, you may have the option of re-sitting in Sept.
The courses are designed for people with no science background. They will begin at the basics, you will be fine. For example, this is the periodic table, this is an atom, this is a molecule, a minus plus a minus is a positive number, 30% is 0.3 and so on! You may laugh, but some of us haven’t seen this stuff for 20 years and we’d be scribbling it down furiously! You will be doing mostly A level, some first-year undergrad, level science. By the end of the year you’ll be rearranging equations, calculating half-lives or pH levels – and have the 12 cranial nerves committed to memory! You will have done the equivalent of 3 A levels in less than 9 months!
The first term’s learning curve can be quite hard. All the premeds tend to be at different levels, some with A level biology or maths. It is a fascinating and interesting journey into the hitherto unknown world of science! According to past years, apparently, the premeds start off at an advantage in the first year med course.
2. Can I/Should I have done anything to prepare?
No preparation is necessary. But if you want, you can read some A level physics, chemistry and biology (concentrate on human biology) books. One thing that would most definitely help you is to do some GCSE maths. Algebra if you dare, geometry, fractions etc. Buy yourself a scientific calculator (the ones less than 10 quid are fine) and carry it with you at ALL times!! I stupidly thought I could do the calculations in my head. Learn to use the calculator, as many errors have occurred not because the method was wrong but simply because it was inputted into the calculator incorrectly!
3. What will everyone else be like?
Everyone comes from different backgrounds. A diverse and interesting mix of people aged from 18 – over 36 (in 2005). The course has been going for 20 years apparently, you’ll get to meet the previous year’s premeds and share information. As it is such a small group you may feel like you are the only one like you, especially if you are a mature student. But everyone gets on well and you make good friends.
4. Worst/best aspects of the course?
Best of all is the tight knit group you become. I’m sure premeds annoy many others as we walk around en masse and sit together all the time. But you get to meet a wider range of folk from other disciplines including, geology, chemistry, equine science, physiology, engineering and more. Some of the lecturers are great and deliver science in a fun, stimulating way. The facilities are good and technology excellent.
Worst, sometimes you forget why you are there (to become a doctor) when toiling away at electrical circuits, measuring a piece of glass 20 times, or memorising animal anatomy. But the year goes quickly and you’ll have a well-rounded scientific background. Sometimes you feel ‘not like a real medical student’ and have little contact with the medical school. But you can make friends with other medics and use the common room in the medical building.
5. Study tips?
Go to the lectures and tutorials, this cannot be emphasized enough. Do the tutorial sheets (several exam questions are straight from the sheets) and get the most out of practicals. At exam time, get the past papers from the library or Blackboard and practice answering them. Use Blackboard and read the recommended course texts.
6. What should I buy?
As mentioned above a good calculator if you haven’t already got one. No white coat or stethoscope is needed – yet! (Of course, you can buy one if you so desire!) They’ll give you a list of books at the beginning; check the boards for second-hand ones. A good summer/general read might be the Bill Bryson “Short History of Nearly Everything” book; it’s a fun and interesting introduction to science. Course books which people seem to swear by are Seeley, Stephens and Tate, Kardong, Langman’s Embryology, Ramsden, Atkins, Hill and Holman, and Muncaster (see course handouts for further details). Also, a lap top for taking to classes is not necessary. You’ll need to get a lab coat and specs for chemistry (they’ll give you the info at sign-up).
7. Will I be squeamish?
You might be, you might not be! Most people do find some things at little squeamish at times. We did have someone faint a couple weeks ago. For the most part it’s not as bad as you imagine… There is dissection and everyone takes part. There are virtually no human anatomy practicals. That comes in your first year of the medical course.
Most of all HAVE FUN!! This has been a great and challenging year for us all – hope to see you around.
