The Ultimate Guide to being a Bristol 1st Year Medic

Welcome to Bristol! Here is quite a lengthy introduction to your first year as a medical student in Bristol.

Freshers Week

My first week at university was really great however I would say I have had many more weeks that match the fun of freshers week, so don’t worry, it’s not the only time to have fun at university.

I was in halls of residence at Stoke Bishop and made lots of friends with people in my block and the hall in general. I found it difficult to tear myself away from these people to venture to university for the medic introductory lectures however I am very glad I did!

The first time I walked into the E29 lecture theatre was quite scary as everyone seemed to know each other! I had arrived with other medics from my hall but wanted to meet other people too. There was a really positive atmosphere, everyone seemed eager to make a good impression and were really friendly. I can still recall that day clearly, the talk from Geoff Clarke and other people was really useful and interesting.

Freshers week is an amazing time to socialise with lots of different people, it’s just unfortunate that medics have more course introductions and talks than other courses. I would say seize every opportunity with arms open wide and make the most of everything! Definitely go to the freshers fair, it’s a great time to see what the university has to offer and obviously to pick up loads of free stuff!

Soon after freshers week, Galenicals shall hold a Freshers’ Pub Crawl which is a definite MUST!!! I think it was one of the best nights of the first term as on to of getting to know your own year better you also get to meet people in all the different year groups. There is always a fun fancy dress theme which you will learn is essential for a medics night out!

Settling into university takes time. Some people adjust quicker than others. You will make amazing friends with people straight away but it may take a while for uni to feel like a second home. I didn’t feel completely settled until the end of term 1.

Extra-curricular Activities

As a medic there is so much to get involved in and plenty of opportunities to meet people from other years. I won’t say too much about this as there’s a lot of information on the website. Medics sports are great fun as it doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or a pro, it’s just about having fun and you can go to other medical schools for matches followed by a social. These are always fun. Also Galenicals offers a ski-trip which usually leaves uni on the last day of the first term. Last year we went to Val Thorens and it was on of the best weeks of my life! It’s reasonably priced and I would recommend this to anyone!

Medic music is also popular, again you don’t need to be grade 8, it’s just a good way to get to know other years!

Before the start of the Easter Holidays there is a Pre-clinical revue. This is a great show as it makes jokes of many of your lecturers and it had everyone in stitches! Many of my friends were in it and had so much fun doing it, so if you’re into that kind of thing definitely get involved. The biggest night of the medic calendar is Clicendales – a massive charity dance show (with a bit of stripping in some of the dances!) put on by medics with an audience of 1000 people. Not many 1st years tend to audition without having seen it first, but if you do manage to you’ll have loads of fun and meet loads of people as well as earning a bit of kudos! Definitely one to go and watch if not!

Galenicals will give you medic parents who will be there to help you settle into university life. Don’t forget that they were in your position only a year earlier! Your parents will be introduced to you at the Mums and Dads night, a big black-tie party that’s not to be missed! Mums and Dads is a great scheme and don’t be afraid to contact your parents with anything that may be worrying you, that’s what they are there for. Some parents may invite you round for dinner or out for drinks, hence it’s a good opportunity to meet second years and you may be lucky enough to have an extended family – cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles etc!

Finding the Balance between Medic & Non-Medic Life

It is hard to get the balance right between hall life and medic life. Most people find it hard. Some people tend to do more hall activities than medic ones. I think it’s best to try and do both. I probably did too many medic things compared to those in hall, but it depends on where your best friends are. Mine just happened to be medics. Saying this, which ever way you sway you will have friends on both sides!

Work Strategy

Unfortunately the work load for medics is epic, however you will find lawyers, vets and engineers probably do more – you are not alone! How to keep on top of all the work varies on the type of person you are. If you can be told something complicated and remember it for six months then I am very jealous. Most people find going over lectures helps in the long term as you won’t have to try and understand it when it comes to revision, it will just be a case of going over the content. Then again, it truly depends on you learning style!

Textbooks

I wouldn’t advise buying too many textbooks. I made this mistake and probably lost about £200 of alcohol money. No, seriously the library is so well equipped there isn’t any real need to buy any textbook but if you’re really itching to get some, I would advise an anatomy textbook like Gray’s or Moore and an anatomy atlas. For biochemistry the Instant Notes books are good, and for everything in general Mosby’s Crash course books are excellent!

Don’t go and blindly buy every book your lecturers recommend!!

The Academic Side of Things

Bristol’s first year curriculum is split so that you spend the first two terms learning the ‘basic sciences’ needed to understand the systems part of the course that you start in the third term and continue in year 2. You will be split into two halves of the year – A and B groups. You will have lectures as a year but then for things like anatomy and other practicals you will be split, this means you may have different timetables to your friends but you will make friends with people in your group without any problems.

The First Term

I found the first term very daunting. Biochemistry and Physiology make up the majority of the first term work load. These don’t appear to be very relevant to clinical medicine but provide a sound background to the later content of the course.

The Human Basis element kicks off in term one with Society Health and Medicine. We had lectures followed by tutorials on a Monday morning, this element isn’t too bad and gives a good break from all the science stuff.

Anatomy also starts in term one. This is possibly the best part of year one! You have three hours a week in the dissection room working in groups of about 10. I would say anatomy really gives you a link to medicine and helps you to remember why you are doing it. The only down side is that you have a spot test every week but, in the first two terms this is multiple choice, but I would still suggest going over notes as this will help in the long run.

Epidemiology is also taught in the first term and first week of the second term. This is basically medical statistics. It is not too challenging and if you don’t have maths, this makes no difference as it doesn’t require a high level of mathematical genius. Contrary to many beliefs it is relevant and you can learn some interesting facts and statistics!

You will also have various practicals in the first term, these are mainly biochemistry but you also get a few physiology and histology labs too. My personal favourite were the physiology ones as they were much more interactive and fun! You do have to do write ups for the practicals but these don’t count towards the year. But it’s definitely worth doing them as they will help your understanding of the topic.

The best part of the first term for me was the opportunity to go to a GP surgery in Bristol. I was out at Whitchurch which seemed a bit of a mission but it was good getting out of the centre. These placements are one afternoon a week for the whole of the first term. The size of the group going to each practice varies on the size of the practice. I was in a group of 4 and we alternated between going to a patients house one week and sitting in on surgery other weeks. I particularly enjoyed the home visits as you can learn so much about how people react to illness and how they cope in very different ways. I think it’s excellent for teaching you to talk to ill people, as you are literally just ‘dumped’ in someone’s house with only their medical notes! At the end of the placement you have to write an essay on one of the patients you visit and also one on a case you see in surgery. This isn’t as tough as it sounds and doesn’t need to be too perfect. Most GPs don’t have the time to scrutinise too harshly!

Christmas Exams

Just before you leave for Christmas you will have a histology spot exam and an anatomy spot exam. It seems pointless to be tested on histology when you have only had three sessions in the lab, but it’s not as difficult as it seems. Anatomy is relatively lengthy and I would say its vital to look over notes and attempt to get to grips with the anatomy as it will help when it comes to easter exams.

After Christmas you shall have the joy of your first ever university exam! These normally take place in the wills memorial building’s great hall which many of my friends found quite scary! (But Wetherspoons is directly opposite for post-exam drinkage). You are examined in Element 1 (anatomy lectures), Element 2,4 (biochem) and Element 3 (physiology). The paper is two and a half hours long and for us was 4 short essays and a true/false section.

I was very scared about these exams I must admit, possibly because I am one to worry and stress! Many people fail these exams so don’t worry too much if this happens to you. These exams count for nothing but are just there to prepare you for easter. I would advise not missing out on your Christmas holiday too much as after a hectic first term it’s important you relax and meet up with old friends!

Term Two

The second term is packed full of lectures and seems very dull as most people have GP placements in the first term so you may forget what you’re aiming towards. Albeit, I think I preferred the second term as it was the term that I began to really feel settled and the course seemed much more interesting!

This term revolves around two large elements – Cancer and Pathology/immunology. There are also nutrition, pharmacology and genetics elements. Hence it’s a fun packed term of lectures and tutorials! Anatomy still continues as do the spot tests.

This term also sees the introduction of ethics and whole person care – Medical Humanities. I quite enjoyed them as you can see how they are important in clinical practice. Whole person care has been described by many as the ‘hippy’ part of the course. I suppose I would agree with that, it is afterall the only element of the course that asks you to look inside and draw out creative juices!

Easter Exams

You will not have a fun easter! Well, you can try but the exams after easter are the most important of your first year. It is a little bit like the weeks leading up to A Levels but you don’t get very long to revise as you have lectures right up until the last day of term.

The exams examine you on absolutely everything you have done in your first two terms. You start with the molecular and cellular basis of medicine then get a day off to revise for the human basis exams and then on the Friday you have anatomy and histology.

I shall not mince my words… this week was the worst week of my life!!! BUT… the Friday following exams was possibly the best night of my life – the usual trip to Wedgies – the best student night in Bristol – along with practically the whole of the first year. The other great thing is that you finish exams before everyone else, so while all other subjects are revising away, locked in their rooms, you can have an amazing third term! I think it is definitely worth the stress over easter.

Term Three

Start of the systems course! What you have been aiming for for what seems like forever! You start with the Cardiovascular System and get lectures from lots of different people. My favourite part about the systems part is that you only get one booklet! You don’t have loads of stuff to cart in and out like in the first two terms! I’m easily pleased! We are so happy to have finally reached the more clinical aspect of the first year. You start to learn relevant stuff that you can easily relate to your future careers. Following Cardiovascular system you learn the Musculoskeletal system; this is of similar structure to the CVS teaching. Both of these systems are supposedly the easiest compared to those you learn in the second year. You get an exam in June on the Cardiovascular System which also has some but few questions on the Musculoskeletal system. But you get a week off in june to revise for this exam, and it is only one exam!

The third term has been an amazing time to socialise with other medics as everyone else has exams and don’t want to go out as much! There are lots of medical ents this terms and I have had the best term of university so far. It’s definitely makes up for the first two terms and I just can’t wait to carry on with the partying, drinking, and of course learning medicine!

All that remains to be said is good luck with it all and go out there and enjoy being a fresher!!!