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Um Hello and a very warm welcome to today's podcast episode. My name is Julia and I will be your host. Um So, the topic for today is welcome, freshers. Um So last week, um I had the privilege to participate in uh the fresher initiation. Um And I have to be honest, it was amazing to see all the young um you know, all the first years joining us. So just to start with a little bit about um what freshest week is, the freshest week is basically um the first week when the students, new students join uni um usually it's an opportunity to explore, connect with people um but also make new friends. Um and also get to know a little bit more about your course that you're gonna study. Um This is also a perfect opportunity for you to join any societies and clubs that you're interested in. I would encourage a lot of you to do that. Um Because if you are, if you guys are medics, um you know, to the uni that I went to and the first term is a little bit overwhelming and there is quite a lot of content that you need to cover. Um So it can feel like that you don't have enough time to socialize, to make friends or to go out. Um you know, um to do join societies and clubs. However, don't let that put you off. Um You know, try and make time for those things because like I said to you, you'll never get this time again. Um You know, yes, you do. Obviously another degree. This would be the only time being a fresher. So do make the most of this week and also the whole, this time your first time as a fresh um as a first year. Um So, yeah, so I'll go a little bit through my own experience of being a fresher, but also um a little bit about some of the things um that um we went through last week now. Uh Usually I have a uh um I usually, I'm the host and I usually have a guest. So I was hoping to get a second and a first year to come and give insights into their lives um as freshers, but also obviously second years who have actually come out now on the other end. Um to just talk a little bit about what the experience was because since I was a fresher, it has been quite a while and things have obviously changed. Uh But unfortunately due to calendar clashes and some unforeseen circumstances, I wasn't able to get um any um I guess So I'm going to be doing this episode solo, so bear with me. Uh But not to worry. Um I did, you know, like I said, I did participate in the initiation week last week. So I have a rough idea of what to talk, you know, what, um you know, what some of the pressures might be thinking about and some of the things that they might be looking for. So let's get straight into this. Um So what I used to study, we have two different campuses. Um So we've got one, the main campus which is in cats and then we've got a campus at he which is for medics, dentists and other healthcare students. Um So I had the opportunity when I was a fresher myself um to kind of um interchange between the different camp because obviously there are some services in cat and some clubs are slightly can join in, but you can't a Heath and there are some things in heath that you can taste. So try and like try and part in both of the fresh affairs. Um And like I said to you at cats and at heath, you also have loads of opportunities to um um obviously join the student union. Um and you know, meet the people who work for the student union. Um and also get those of discounts. Um So, um usually the first few weeks um this, if you do decide to join societies, you will have events, um, taste days, um, you know, um, uh, you know, get to get togethers, you know, try and choose about a few different societies, um, that you really, really enjoy the things that you really pass about and go for it. But like I said to you don't overwhelm yourself because I think what I did was, um, I actually signed up for loads of different side because I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do what I was passionate about. Uh But I think that was and then at the end I was, yeah, I did. Uh you know, I realized that, OK, I've signed up for quite a lot here. I don't think I'll be able to manage all of that. So um kind of be sensible, make sure that you, you know, uh choose the ones that you think that you are going to actually participate and actually feel passionate about how some of some of the things that fresh is as fresher you might be feeling. And this actually comes from obviously a firsthand experience of being a fresher myself and also obviously asking and talking to some of the other freshers within the past few years. Um I think some of the things that nerves and a bit of anxiety, um especially like for me, um obviously, I studied in the same kind of school, high school and I did my kind of college six form in the same institution moving away going to UNI was the first time I actually moved away from home. So it was um you know, a, a learning curve, a huge learning curve for me. Um There, there was a lot of nerves there, a bit of anxiety of not sure what to expect to learn styles, you know, that, you know, the, the way we used to learn at school and sixth form was completely different when I actually started uni um the other things that I would be feeling would be things like loneliness. Like, so as a fresher, you have the opportunity to obviously live in a student hall or have your own accommodation and a lot of students opted to go to student halls, whereas I actually lived in a house um with a few different people that actually didn't know that well. Um So the first few months were actually really difficult for me because I had that. Uh you know, there was a lot of a bit of feeling of loneliness there going away from her, moving away from family. Um So there and, but also a lot of excitement and a lot of like, um you know, looking forward to what the New Year has is bringing, you know, looking forward to making new friends. Um uh you know, actually pursuing a degree that actually looked really hard for because I'm gonna be honest, let's just be honest, it's hard to get into medicine, it's hard to get into um to be in any degree. Um So if you have actually gotten into medicine, if you, you know, you should be proud of yourself. And now a little bit about the um first year timetable. So obviously on your first week, you will be given a timetable. Um and you, you will be given a bit introduction of what the course consists of and what are some of the uh the course itself. Um So, and above the timetable. So when you first start, um you'll be given um a little bit introduction on what to expect in the year. Um You will also be given a timetable that you can use to. Um um So this is just a rough timetable here that I'm going to attach apologies. It's a little bit blurry because um I just have to take an image from a presentation. Um But yeah, you will have a li little timetable um uh when you first start, um you know, and then for your first time, it's called P CS, which is basically called Platform for Clinical Sciences. And this is where you build your foundation, your foundation knowledge um that you actually build on um as you kind of um progress to the later stages. Um So it's, this is really important that you do talk, you know, uh talk about your um think about your foundation, make sure your foundation is quite solid. You will get a lot of prereading um during the first term that you would have to do before you attend any of your workshops, anatomy sessions, tutorials. So, II think it is something that we, I have, I have stressed in the past and also some of the other older years have agreed with me is to try and do your prereading. Um because I think going to a tutorial or to a workshop without knowing what, where, what you're going to do or what, what you're getting yourself into or what to expect. You don't get as much out of it as opposed to if you do some reading and just have a rough idea of what you know, you're covering. Um So a lot of the workshops and tutorials are group work. So it's nice to know a little bit about um what the topic is before you actually attend. So I would recommend doing this pre reading and you will get textbook recommendations. Um So do use those textbooks that you have been recommended, especially for physiology, immunology and biochemistry. The first three modules um are things like you remember the topics that I would have talked to you about. Um You might think it a bit, why do I need to know some of the topics there? Because uh when once you become a actual doctor, once you start your clinical years, you, you don't necessarily use some of the um the things that you've learned. However, I would encourage you to learn those those topics because it's really important, you build your foundation knowledge that you can actually, um, uh, kind of there foundation building blocks, um, that you can build on later, um, as you progress to the, to the higher years. And one of the things I really like about our curriculum is the fact that it's spiral, something called spiral curriculum. So whenever you're on a topic, you revisit that later at a, at a later date. So that's the um three modules that you'll be doing in your first time. Um So, you know, like I said to you, you will, you will revisit a lot of these topics again. Um And when you do it, you know, you form new connections every time you visit a topic and there is the, the, the space repetition or something that I had used here in UNI and II found that really very useful. So this is what I really, really like about our curriculum specifically is the fact that the fact that the curriculum and you revisit everything now, like I said to you, the first time is intense and can be overwhelming. But like, you know, but like I said to, you don't stop, don't let that stop you from making new friends and going, you know, socializing and meeting new people to P CS is new. And this is uh the platform for medical sciences and it can be overwhelming and this is not something that you have studied at this level, at this intensity before. Um and you'll have frequent lectures throughout the week. Um So try and attend lectures. And um one of the, you know, one of the things that a couple of the um second years um were recommended the first test and something that I would agree with is using the um learning outcomes from each lecture. Because when you do get tested in, in your exams, it's all about the most of the content is related to the things that you learn in lectures and the learning outcomes. So try to, you know, focus on the learning outcomes, make sure you write the learning outcomes down. And by the end of the lecture, make sure that you have met your learning outcomes. Um and then just read a little bit around that. Um once you finish the lecture, the lectures are recorded. So if you, if there's a specific topic that you didn't understand you want to listen to again, you can listen to that again. Um and make notes um related to obviously the learning outcomes to um to device. I often make notes. Um There are some apps that you can use to take notes and I've got some a few here that you can have a look at in your own time. Um But um but yeah, but you know, um there are loads of apps available that you can have a look at or some people I know prefer to actually handwrite and make notes, handwritten notes and that's completely fine, you know, whatever kind of floats your boat, whatever suits you, we all have different learning styles and different ways to do things. So, and you also have your anatomy sessions, the anatomy sessions I would say was one of the most useful things that I found in my first term. Uh because I think learning from actually dissecting and learning that way. Um It, it is, you know, you can't compare that to a textbook. For example, you know, um you know, you can learn from a textbook, you can learn from using an app, but actually dissecting and learning anatomy through dissection. It was absolutely priceless. Um So attend your anatomy sessions and like I said to you before prereading is so so important. Um because I think once, if you do your pe reading, um you'll be able to get the most after your anatomy sessions, I write anatomy tutorials. And because you know what you're talking, what you're doing, what you're talking about. So, yeah, I think the most important thing is anatomy. And then here are some of the websites slash apps that I used as a first year when I was revising anatomy to a little bit about. Um you know, after your first time, once you get used, once you get your foundation knowledge, you'll start going to something called case based learning. And this is where you go through different cases um and learn as a group. OK. So you'll, you'll all be divided into different groups, case groups and you learn um uh as a group. And this is something that I really, really liked about college uni was that the case based learning aspect? And this was one of the reasons why I chose to actually go to the kind of, um I genuinely, really enjoyed the case based learning and I thought I got the most out of it. Um It is uh you know, you combine your kind of science with uh you know, with you, you use a apply the science that you've learned um patient scenarios. Um So you apply the knowledge that you've gained and um to two scenarios. Um So it's really useful. I would, I absolutely enjoyed it and we also have the, I had the honor of actually um having placement as well. Um We had like once a fortnight placement where we would go into a clinical area and examine patients um doing practice histories examinations um as well as we have some clinical skills teaching as well. Um With the clinical skills, obviously, you will learn um your basic clinical skills, but you will build on those later on. Um And as you progress the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year, um you will build on the clinical skills that, that, that are taught to you. The I highlight 1st and 2nd year was the case based learning um, and I was lucky that I had a really nice group and a really, um, um, a really nice group. We work well together and to go through different cases. Um, so I wouldn't talk, um, too much about case based learning, um, in this video because that's something that you wouldn't have to worry about it for now. Um, but there are different ones, uh, in first year, um, which includes things like a practical research, exper practical experience, pathophysiology and as well as a literature review. Um So you, like I said, you, you will be given tutorials on that, on how to do a literature review and you know, um on the different projects that you would have to do. So, uh the electric components um again, gives you the opportunity to learn a little bit about research um and things that you um you know, you can do outside of just being a medic or medic student slash doctor. Um So, yeah, I think I did. Um I think I really enjoyed my and from what I remember, I really enjoyed my literature review. Um I really like the topic that I did my literature review on. Um So, yeah, so I think that's what we use for that link to what I've already said about um anatomy in your anatomy classes, in your practical workshops. Lectures. Don't be afraid to ask questions, don't be afraid to um you know, ask your friends if you're not sure about something because like I said to you, the first few weeks, do you feel, you know, like I said, and also you feel a little bit lost because you're not sure what's going on. Um There, there are many things to keep on top of. So try to keep, stay organized, um, stay organized, have a calendar, you know, you can use any calendars that you use. Um because there's quite a few things there that you need to do. So, if you want to socialize as well as participating in uni life, then you need to stay organized. And um in terms of revising, um then we use something called py at the uni I went to and where you made questions for each other. And you also answered questions from your peers. And that was actually one of the most important form of provision for me because I realized quite early on that I learned better by answering questions and asking questions. Um So that was something that I actually used. Um And II would say try to use that quite early on uh use P OS um make questions for your colleagues and also answer their questions. Um um So was, was really useful for me and I know some other people use flash cards as well. So the anti flash cards, um again, that's another thing that you can use. Now, I didn't use anti flash cards until quite later on. Um I think, I think I started using it when I was third year or fourth year. So um because I actually found PW and first secondary really useful because it's basically you answering questions and making questions. Um And it's, it's almost like an active recall but also space repetition that um So um yeah, so I think II found that really useful. But yeah, yeah, like I said to you anti flashcards and if, if you're somebody who enjoys learning, making flashcards then anti flashcards. Uh another great option. Um you will be assessed obviously at the end of the first time in January, you have two assessments, but like they are formative, so they don't actually count towards your final marks, but, you know, do make an effort. Um You know, do make an effort obviously, even though they're formative. Um And um your exams would be, obviously, it would just be a combination of everything that you've learned in your first. Um um So I think it's the first time is a little bit hard because you're just trying to find balance between your work life and your social life. Um And it does come with time, but II can assure you that you will slowly slowly build that up and be able to balance uni life with social life. Um It is hard, like I said to you, it is hard. Uh But with time it will come. Um And like I said, talk to your friends talk to your colleagues. Um you know, if you're struggling and see if they, if your friends have the different ways of the specific ways that they're, they're able to balance social life and work life. Um and try and get, you know, some tips from your friends and colleagues or even your former colleagues, the people who are in above you, the years above you, um you know, get advice from them, ask them you will have medic uh dad and mom. So they will be people in the older year who will mentor you, support you throughout your studies. So do use them. OK? Do use them um make the, you know, and my, my, my medic mom, you know, I was in touch with my medic parents and until quite later on actually. Um so yeah, my medic parents were great, they're really, really helpful. Um So yeah, I hope you found this useful. Um but should make sure you like subscribe um and share this video with your colleagues. Um And hopefully I'll see you soon.