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AGONY UNCLE FORM

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Recent Happy Customers (last updated 06/07/2023) 

Q » I did the IUPA on Monday and it was the first exam I have a horrible feeling I have failed. I didn’t do well on one of the starting stations and let that affect all the ones after it. I’m really worried about resitting it as I have put so much work in this year to make sure I understand the content and on the day it was so much more challenging than the formative or the written exams. I feel like a failure. Any advice ?

I hope that you received positive news on results day, and that your worries were unneeded- I remember when I sat the IUPA lots of people felt the exact same and ended up passing. It is such a different exam to any we sat previously, and so it can be really hard to judge how well you did. It may be that even if you feel it went a lot worse than the written exams you still did really well comparatively for the IUPA!  If you did sadly get bad news then all is not lost. Try to make the most of the next 4 weeks to prepare for the resits in the most effective way. It seems that you have a solid grasp of the content already, which is amazing. Perhaps over your revision focus on preparing for the spoken aspect of the exam- ask your friends/family to quiz you and practice answering exam questions and flashcards out loud. Finally, try to remember (as difficult as it is) that exams don’t define us, and that failing one exam doesn’t make you a failure. There are many many reasons as to why people fail- nerves, extenuating circumstances, illness, family commitments, and none of these make anyone a failure or worth any less than someone who passed. Hope this helps :)

Q » Hello, does everyone get a chance to resit exams failed e.g. have poor attendance and how badly does attendance affect chance to retake whole year if you fail the resits?

Hello, it is my understanding that anyone gets the chance to resit a failed exam in August, however I would recommend messaging Caroline Woodley (Head of exams) on [email protected] to double check this. Hope this helps :)

Q » How do I find answers to old uncle khalil answers? xx

Hello, I would recommend messaging Amir as he is webmaster and will know if there is an archive of them somewhere.

Q » In year 3 do students wear scrubs for both the medicine and surgery blocks or just surgery?

Hello! From my experience of UHL medicine and surgery, scrubs are available in the theatre changing rooms to change into before the surgery and change out of afterwards, and so technically they’re only supposed to be worn in the actual theatres themselves. However its really common for people (including myself) to wear scrubs on ward rounds/clincs etc while on surgery placement. Also, if you have your own scrubs that you have bought it is common to wear those on both medicine and surgery blocks. 

Q » Hi I was wondering if you had any advice on resitting the IUPA- how should we prepare for it? Are there any resources you would recommend? Thanks

Hello. First of all I want to wish you good luck for your resit preparation- I am sure you will smash it. In terms of revision techniques I would suggest focusing on preparing for the spoken aspect of the exam- ask your friends/family to quiz you and practice answering exam questions and flashcards out loud. Additionally, I would suggest messaging Harriet, our academic officer, as she may be able to suggest specific websites/textbooks people have found helpful. LUSUMA also runs a QUALYBUDDY scheme where people resitting can be paired with someone who previously resat the same exam- this could be a really helpful tool in your revision. Hope this helps :)

Q » How many hours per day should I dedicate to studying in second semester of year 1? As the timetable is a lot more packed compared to first semester.

Hi and thank you for your question,

Although the amount of hours you spend studying is entirely up to you I will tell you how I did things and other ways of using your time.

The goal of studying should be to understand new content relatively well and actively recall past topics through revision. So what I used to do was the following » any new lectures I'd do my best to understand any theory or concepts then create flash cards for said topics, that way I understand the content there and then but was also able to create flash cards which I would use through spaced repetition for the future to make sure I could remember it. This process would take maybe an hour or two every day. In the lead up to exams this number would rise until I was pretty much studying throughout the day, this works for me and doesn't lead to burnout in myself as I will still make time for the things I enjoy.

As you are in first year it might be useful to see what process works best for you e.g. pre-reading before lectures then reviewing afterwards, or doing the majority of work on weekends etc. There's lots of different methods to try out, so explore what works best for you, as well as the most efficient and time-effective learning methods. I have a bias towards my own method since it has worked for me in the last 5 years, but may not be the most suitable method for you and vice versa. If you would like to discuss this or your current methods feel free to message again, email me [email protected] or the new Welfare Instagram page. 

As you progress through the years the content will tend to increase as well as stack due to the material from previous years. It is certainly challenging to balance all this, so trial and erroring different methods at the start of the course can truly prove helpful when faced with increased demands in future years.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question through the form or here - [email protected] if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards,
Uncle Kalil :)

Q » What resources should I use for the SJT exam in year 5 of med school?

Hi and thank you for your question,

We have been informed the best resources to use are those that the UKFPO website provides and to stick to using official information only, you can find these on the following website » https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/resources/situational-judgement-test-sjt/practice-sjt-papers/.

There are a multitude of other online resources both free and paid which we have been recommended against due to them potentially being different to how the official papers may present. I believe this is due to the subjectivity this exam entails. Following official guidelines and answers to questions would therefore be most useful in learning what the best way to approach and answer them, we have been told this is sufficient.

It is best to begin preparation 4/5 weeks beforehand to get into the mindset required for the exam.

Q » "Hello, what is the standard expected of third years in EOY3 exams? How obvious are positive clinical signs? What would you recommend third years do now to prepare? Is it difficult to pass well in these exams?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

So EOY3 exams will have the typical SBA, SAQ and OSCE formats. That will include content from your medicine, surgery and GP blocks which will tend to have some overlap anyways. There will also be longitudinal themes that are mentioned during your University Days so make sure to look through them too. Alongside this there will be throwbacks to Phase I for example physiology and the population and social sciences so try your best not to neglect those. 

In terms of obvious +ve clinical signs in the OSCE, they usually pick quite common presentations so as long as you've revised a fair amount and seen patients in real life you shouldn't have any trouble identifying the pathology etc. 

To prepare I would say look through your workbooks for each individual block as these can act as a backbone to your learning and are especially useful in guiding your learning. The teaching offered by the university is also a priority. You can then supplement your learning with external resources such as Pass Medicine (finals edition), Zero to Finals and the 'Teach Me' series. Using these all in conjunction over time should have you ready and prepped for any of the written exams. 

In terms of OSCE it is important to speak to as many patients as you can so you can begin to create your own style of history taking and examinations. Over time this will become a lot more natural to you and you'll develop systems to help with presentations, differentials, investigations and management plans etc. when faced with a real life scenario. You can also practice history taking and examinations with your colleagues using mark schemes from Geeky Medics or OSCE Stop to see if you're missing anything. 

Best of luck with 3rd year! :)

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question through the form or here - [email protected] if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards,
Uncle Kalil :)

Q » "Hi, when should you start preparing for the SJT? Is year 4 too early? Many thanks"

Hi and thank you for your question,

I am currently in my fifth year and have not started yet preparing for my SJT exam. We have been recommended 4-5 weeks before the exam to begin preparation by the educational staff. This is due to shifting our mindset into 'SJT mode'. If we study far beyond this time period it may cause us to overthink questions. Not studying enough will make it difficult to understand and recognise what a question might be asking from us. So I would say the best time to prepare would be in 5th year 4-5 weeks before the actual exam. You can always have a look through various ethical principles and GMC guidelines though as this is useful to know as a doctor and to apply in your learning as a medical student. This would then also help with the SJT. 

As for actual preparation for the exam it has been recommended to use the official SJT exams found on the UKFPO website. To go through these several times and review the answers and rationale to have a feel for how the questions should be answered. Best of luck!

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question through the form or here - [email protected] if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards,
Uncle Kalil :)

Q » "Tips for placement - what to do. And living (Leicester and Northampton)"

Hi and thank you for your question,

​The step-up/transition from Phase I to II can sometimes be difficult. The comfort of a rigid timetable and familiar lecturers to almost being thrown into the deep end of clinical practice is sure to shake almost anyone. But that's okay, change is quite normal in life, I am sure you remember the anxieties from the shift of your school into university, so you will have the skills to get through this too. I'll give you some pointers on how to structure your revision specifically, but feel free to ask any more questions you may have about Phase II.

It's a good idea to continue to use similar methods for revision that have worked for you thus far. With active recall objectively being the best method e.g. flash cards and creating your own SBA's/SAQ's. In terms of what content to learn, blocks still give guidance through providing several lectures and slides, learning objectives in workbooks as well as teaching within the blocks (very important to attend), use this to guide your own learning. Lots of resources online can be used as supplements » Pass Medicine (finals edition), TeachMe series, Zero to Finals, Capsule, Medisense. There is more than enough content to help you meet the demands of the learning objectives!

Ward-based learning » get to grips with things you can only learn through experience, by shadowing doctors, nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team as well as gaining a little independence as your confidence rises.

Clinical skills » you can use the clinical skills unit at the Robert Kilpatrick building, just book your own sessions when they're running to refresh your mind with skills and then practising on wards under supervision or by yourself if you feel you are confident and safe to do so.

OSCE » practice taking histories and doing examinations on patients, ask clinicians to observe and give feedback, there will also be bedside teaching built into your block but it’s never a bad thing to get in more practice. You can also just practice with your clinical group or friends if talking to patient's still feels daunting. Experience and exposure will help with overcoming this.

Finally, before you go into placement days have a think about what you would like to get out of that day, is it to take a history or perform an examination? Would you like to go through content with a clinician or get some skills signed off, doing this can help combat days seeming to slip by and utilising the time you have.

In terms of living:

Leicester » you will live in the accommodation you are currently staying in, and will have to visit any one of the three UHL hospitals.

Northampton » similar to student accommodation (provided by the medical school) in close proximity to the hospital you are assigned to. It will be a flat shared between 16 people with two kitchens and all rooms with en suite, there are also laundry services available.  For more information access the outblock information on BlackBoard, it will have information on all sites and will be in more depth.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question through the form or here - [email protected] if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

Q » "Do you have to buy freshers tickets for the med freshers?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

If you are a fresher (oncoming new medical student) and want to take part in the med freshers events you need an INTROweek membership (can purchase on the Leicester Union website under LUSUMA), you will then get a wristband from us. If you are in the older years (2nd onwards) then as long as you have a LUSUMA membership you will be able to get into all the events as long as you show your student ID at the clubs etc.

If you do not have the INTROweek membership you are only able to attend the 'Meet the Parents' event.

Hope that helps, feel free to ask another question if you need anything clearing up,
Uncle Kalil :)

Q » "Is there anything year 2's can do to prepare for Phase II, during the summer between?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

I would suggest enjoying your time off and reconnecting with friends, doing old hobbies - basically anything you enjoy or may have potentially missed out on during your year at med school/exam time. 

Outside of the above I would suggest thinking about how you'll prioritise your time, so you can do the work that needs to be done as well as enjoy yourself too - this will help prevent burnout. There are several useful websites online you can use if you want to start looking at content for example - Zero to Finals, Pass Medicine (finals edition, I believe it is worth the price). You can brush up on examinations as you'll be doing them fairly often during placement - use resources like OSCE stop, Geeky medics and YouTube videos. 

That should be enough to get you going, feel free to ask about anything else,
Uncle Kalil :)

Q » "Hi I've heard if you leave medicine after third year you leave with a medical science degree, is this true?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

I have heard about this being the case, but I am unsure what the specifics around it are, I have asked other members on LUSUMA and they are not sure either. I would suggest sending an email to Phase II ([email protected]) for more information about this.

Hope that helps,
Uncle Kalil :)

Q » "What's repeating a year like? I'm scared I won't be able to socialise with the friends I have made and will have to start socialising again which was a struggle. There's an element of inferiority I feel at the thought of repeating."

Hi and thank you for your question,

I have not repeated a year before so I cannot fully appreciate what this might be like but I can give some pointers towards it. 

As you have rightly mentioned the social aspect of it can be worrying, suddenly you're no longer in regular contact with your friends as your timetables are now different. However, outside of these work hours you can still make time to meet although it does become more difficult. This tends to happen further on in the course regardless. For example in Phase II you could be in different cities from your close friends for extended periods of time (up to 11/12 weeks!) but you can still make time to give time to your relationships. 

However the positives are that you can meet a whole new bunch of people and make some more friends. You get to decide who you give your time to, be it old friends or new friends. I can see it must have been a struggle but you were able to do it before so I am sure you can do it again if the need arises. And I am sure your friends now in the above year will still be in contact with you, medical students are usually bound to one another because of the length and difficulty of the course!

I can appreciate that you may feel inferior to others due to repeating the year but I can assure you the majority won't see you as such, it must take courage to go through the year again which I give you my respect for. Setbacks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and at different points in time for everyone. But don't let it ever define you. You're doing great :). 

If you ever need to have a chat or a vent feel free to message me here - [email protected], alternatively you can ask any other question or concern that you may have through the form,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Hi, I am going into 3rd year in September and feeling excited but also quite anxious. I don't quite know what to expect and am dreading the mean consultants. I don't want to impose myself on staff if they're too busy too. They haven't told us what to wear or how many days a week we'll be expected to come in and the timing too. Please can you provide me with some guidance on this? Thank you."

Hi and thank you for your question,

You are very right the transition from Phase I to II is an  exciting time, you get to practice what you've been learning this whole time but as you have mentioned the uncertainty and changes involved can be quite worrying and anxiety-inducing. I will try to clear up some of the things you've mentioned. Feel free to ask any other questions too.

I am sure you have heard several stories about consultants who may be mean/standoffish or the like to your predecessors and likewise. But know this is the exception rather than the rule. Most consultants and staff in my experience have been quite welcoming and friendly. If you don't experience this and believe the behaviour to be unprofessional please contact your undergraduate coordinator and avoid the consultant where you can. 

It is very common to fall into the imposter syndrome trap especially in a taxing and demanding course like medicine. But know you have worked hard to be where you now are. Therefore, don't worry about imposing on other staff, being there is part of your training. You need to get involved with the rest of the team because you're in it. Together. If staff look like they're in the middle of something you can wait to see them afterwards. Or politely ask them whatever you need to ask. The clinical years are important to figure out the system, learn and understand what all members of the MDT do and are responsible for so get stuck in where you can. 

I typically wear scrubs to hospital during placements as do most of my friends and other medical students. I am not too sure where you can get them nowadays, the medical school should have information on how to get a hold of them. You can also wear other clinically appropriate attire, for example what you might've worn to your hospital placements during the first two years. 

In terms of how many days you're required to go in and specifically what time - you will receive a timetable before your placement begins which will outline all of this for you. 

​I hope that clears things up for you, if you need me to elaborate further feel free to send another question or email me here - [email protected],
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked  "Any advice for resits (Year 2), in particular written? I’ve failed both the winter and spring exams. I thought I’d learnt from my mistakes but still scored quite low (failed by a small margin). One failure I can get over, but two makes me question my abilities. I know it’s not the end of the world but I feel I have disappointed myself and those who are rooting for me."
Hi,
I understand this can be stressful time for you. But it’s great to see that you’re reaching out for help and support!
For the SAQ I find that reading through the explanations that are given for the SBA Examplify quizzes are really useful, as it often comes up again in the exam. You can also quiz yourself when doing the SBA quizzes by asking yourself why it isn’t the other false options.

For the SBA, try answer the question before seeing the available options. Websites like passmedicine.com are also useful as they offer in depth explanations to their answers. It is also free for pre clinical years!
Finally, when revising I like to do “brain dumps”. This is where I write down everything I remember from a topic. I can then add any missing information in a different colour, this highlights the areas i need to focus on.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the academic support unit, LUSUMA committee or the PSU if you need further assistance or if you just want a chat! We are more than happy to help :)
Best of luck,
Kiana
VPAWS

Anonymous asked "Hello, if you resit a year do you get to do the resit exams of that year because I am hearing different things"
Hi,
I’m afraid I’m not too sure on what the university’s policy is. It might be best to contact the academic support unit as they can then provide the most up to date information.
Kind regards,
Kiana
VPAWS

Anonymous asked "I’ve just failed my resit year exams as well and now have to drop out from the course. While everyone’s been quite supportive, it’s the same advice over and over again which helped mentally but isn’t really helping me make a decision about my next step on what to do. To make matters worse, I’m an international student so only have 2 months to pack up everything and leave UK officially. Everyone I’ve sought help from has been telling me to think of what I like doing best but ever since I moved to UK and started med school, I feel like I’ve lost my entire personality in these last 2 years and don’t have any hobbies or things I like to do anymore. What do you think I should do?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

It sounds like the last two years have been an incredibly difficult time for you. I hope you have been able to make the time and effort to look after yourself, even though I imagine it must be hard to. 

In terms of next steps, are you able to take the resit exams that will come again soon? Or have you decided not to take them, or is it not possible for you to take them? In terms of academic support and options for the future it may be worthwhile contacting the ASU (email » [email protected]). It can be frustrating hearing the same advice over and over again but ultimately no-one else but you can make this decision. Would you want someone else to make such important calls that will have significant impact on your life, for you? If you were to move out of UK do you have support where home is? For example family and friends of other support networks? Do you want to leave the UK within the next two months or are you hoping to stay here for longer? If so contacting the university support services for help with a Visa might be beneficial.

You mention you feel like you've lost your personality. What do you mean by this? What has changed, and what do you think caused it? Which hobbies did you enjoy beforehand? What did you enjoy before starting university, did you have other subject areas of interest out of medicine? Is medicine something you'd still like to pursue? And to err on the side of caution it might be useful to rule out anything more sinister, so I would suggest getting in contact with the PSU (email » [email protected]) who can help sign-post you. If you would like me to message the PSU or ASU on your behalf please let me know and I can do this for you. 

With little information it is difficult to offer any other specific suggestions, you can email me if you want to discuss this further » [email protected]. Everything is kept confidential and I will help you to the best of my ability.

I hope the above helps, feel free to contact me again at any time with any questions or queries,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "I failed Year 1. I worked really hard for these exams and feel like the hard work did not pay off. The thought of having to resit while everyone is enjoying their summer is also a bit upsetting too. I didn’t pass ESA1 either and really wanted to prove myself this time around. Any tips for resits would be really appreciated!" + "Hi, I’ve just had my exam results for year 1 and unfortunately I’m going to have to sit the resits. I worked a lot harder this semester but sadly it wasn’t enough and I’m wondering how I can improve with limited exam questions and resources available. I was also wondering if the resits will consist a ton of semester one content too considering the SBA is 120 questions rather than 60?"

Hi and thank you for your questions,

I can understand this must be a very difficult time for you after pouring in such effort towards exams and receiving a negative result. It is upsetting that you will have to miss out on some of your summer break and face further anxiety from an exam and subsequent results but this is the reality for now, you have another opportunity now with your resit exams, so let's talk about what we can do to help ace these. 

I grouped these two questions together as they are asking for similar advice. These similar questions should help also find solace in the fact that you are not alone in this. There will be other's resitting too. And in no way does this mean you are incompetent, maybe your technique might need to be adjusted or what you're prioritising when revising. 

First I would recommend emailing the PSU service ([email protected]) to talk through any difficult emotions or situations if needed. And also the ASU ([email protected]) to see what revision techniques and strategies might be useful in the lead up to your resits. LUSUMA also provides the QualiBuddy tutoring system where you will be matched with a medical student in a higher year to help with revision and provide their own teaching. There are also LUSUMA resources available that you can access e.g. flashcards and lecture notes. LUSUMA will also be providing their own revision lecture series so keep an eye out for when these become available. 

To answer your question about whether there'll be emphasis on semester one content is that there will be. As it is essentially a resit exam of the whole of first year. So make sure you revise that content too!

Finally, this result does not define who you are, it is a snapshot in time and a difficult time that I am sure you must be going through. If you want to have a chat about it please message me at [email protected] or alternatively anyone on the lusuma committee, we'd be glad to lend an ear or help out with any questions you may have. 

Best of luck in your resits. 

I hope the above helps,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Hi, what type of services do ASU and PSU offer? Thank you."

Hi and thank you for your question,

ASU provides the following » can suggest exam and revision strategies to help with exams along other study skills.

PSU » can talk about worries that you may have in an informal setting, they can also sign-post to you other services after having a chat with you.

Feel free to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

I hope that helps,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Hi, I'm about to go to year 2. I will be enjoying my summer break but I thought of studying a little during the break as well. How do you suppose I go about doing this?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

I would suggest making the most of your summer break and spending the time you get off doing activities you enjoy and pursuing any interests you have. If you plan on studying a little here and there though it may be useful to revise content you've already learned to make sure your foundations are good going into second year.

In terms of second year content, especially semester 3, the best way to prepare would be by looking into the systems that will be taught. For example Head and Neck, Reproductive system, Urinary system, Respiratory system and GI system. Learning will be a lot easier when the academic staff give their lectures as well as tutorials and group-work sessions. But if you plan to do your own work maybe look into those above systems. How they arise (embryology) and things that can commonly go wrong within those systems, looking through with a clinical perspective (e.g. presentation, signs/symptoms, management etc).

But to re-iterate my first point, please enjoy your summer! And if you really do want to look at things before second year starts, revise what you have learned and start building blocks for the systems that you will encounter in second year.

Feel free to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

I hope that helps,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "If you pass ESA3 but fail ESA4, do you have to retake both?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

If you pass the year overall with your written exam scores combined then you'll be fine and won't have to resit any of the exams. However, if you fail the overall year then you'll essentially be taking a combined ESA3 and ESA4 exam in a large written exam including both SBA's and SAQ's. If you pass individual components then they will not need to be retaken e.g. if you pass IUPA and OSCE then these wouldn't have to be retaken if you were to fail your written exams.

Feel free to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

I hope that helps,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Do you have any tips for staying calm and confident for OSCEs for 2nd years about to do their first OSCEs? I’m really nervous and I’m worried I’m just going to go blank and forget everything."

Hi and thank you for your question,

If these are your first OSCEs it would be good just to make sure you know what to expect, for example what history stations and what examinations are going to be tested. Confidence is predominantly built on practice, if you rehearse the examinations and history taking it will help to build a structure within your own mind on how to tackle any unique scenario. It acts as a foundation which will then be built upon with years of clinical experience.

To familiarise yourself you can watch history-taking, examination videos or guides on YouTube (Geeky Medics is great for history-taking structures and examinations!). You can then practise with friends to build confidence, giving each other feedback on what went well and how to improve for next time. You can also look back at the various skills you would have picked up from your CHDD sessions. 

On your final point about the fear of going blank, this can be generally avoided with the reading time you're given before your stations. Take this time to prepare yourself before going in as well as having a general idea about what questions you think will be important to ask. As well as the structure of your history or examination. Take a few deep breaths and then enter the station.

As this is your first time doing an OSCE it will certainly be nerve-wracking, but this is very normal and most of your colleagues will be feeling the same way. Do what you can to prepare and then believe in yourself and the effort you have put in. If on the day you feel as though you have made errors use these as learning points for your future OSCEs/exams. 

Here are some other resources for OSCE prep that you can have a look at » https://www.qpercom.com/preparing-for-an-osce-5-tips-to-help-you-face-your-fears/ + https://geekymedics.com/top-tips-for-osces/

Feel free to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Hi, if you fail the SAQ but pass the SBA do you have to retake both?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

You can fail one aspect, for example the SAQ, of the written exam while still passing overall if you reach the required written exam pass mark. But if you do not reach the pass mark, all components will have to be retaken. 

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)


Anonymous asked "Exam season has me feeling so burnt out and lacking motivation. I am overwhelmed by it all but also annoyed at myself for being unproductive due to being overwhelmed. Any tips?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

Feeling overwhelmed before exams is a very common feeling, almost everyone will feel the same way. So feel reassured that what you feel is shared by others. Feeling burned out is usually as a result of reducing the activities of which you enjoy. It does not necessarily have to do with the amount of work you do in my own opinion. So make sure you still have times in the day where you do pursue what you like to do, even during exam period. For example, going gym, cooking your favourite foods, journalling, meeting up with friends, watching a movie etc. Always make time for yourself unapologetically. 

You also mention feeling annoyed at yourself for being unproductive. It is common to be critical of ourselves, especially in a demanding field such as medicine. But maybe take a step back and use more positive self-talk. If you are feeling overwhelmed maybe look at what is causing that, respond to yourself with compassion and search to see what you need in that moment. For example, you might find that you just need a short break and a walk in the currently sunny weather. Finally, look at what being productive means to you, how much work can you give yourself to do in a day while still having time to look after your mental and physical health. A slip in either of these can add to feelings of being overwhelmed and general negativities.

I hope the above helps, but if not feel free to ask me another question :). 

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Do you have any tips for year 2's IUPA exam? There's not much resources online and it was cancelled for the last two years so no one around me really knows what to expect. Is this exam easier than our written ones?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

Unfortunately I never had an IUPA exam either as it was cancelled in my year due to the pandemic. There are some resources the Medical School provided which can be found on BlackBoard in the assessment folders. These points are useful in knowing what to expect in the exam. When I did prepare for them before being told they were cancelled I practiced active recall type questions e.g. creating my own questions and flash cards then answering them out loud while giving explanations etc. You can also do this with a friend if they're up for it. Essentially it is important you know the why behind the answer you give and just practicing saying this out loud to improve with confidence and having systematic answers. 

It is difficult to say whether this is easier than written exams as again I never experienced it so I can't reveal any of my experiences. And it's also quite subjective, some people may find it easier, some may find it harder. But at the end of the day it's still an exam so make sure you prepare for it the best you can. 

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "I have quite a question about the IUPA - specifically for the IUPA I’m struggling to interpret ECGs in a structured and systematic way and I’m not sure who I can ask to help me with this? My personal tutor is absent until after exams. Do you know who the best person is to go for advice on this or if possible would you be able to help with this? I really struggle to know who the best people to go to for informal academic advice."

Hi and thank you for your question,

I would recommend speaking to our Lusuma Academic Officer, Harriet ([email protected]) if you have any queries regarding interpreting ECG's. Alternatively there are many useful resources available online that can also be accessed e.g. https://geekymedics.com/category/osce/data-interpretation/ecg/ is quite helpful in understanding and interpreting ECG's in a systematic and effective way. Practice using these techniques if you still have time. You can also message me if you need any further informal academic advice, we could do it over a call or email ([email protected]).

If you have difficulties in the future or need some more advice when it comes to exams, techniques and general tips it is worth emailing the Academic Support Unit (ASU) on [email protected]. It is unlikely they will respond in time for your upcoming IUPA, but it is useful for future reference.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Hi, I’ve gotten 38% on my ESA1 and I’m trying my best to make sure I get a much higher score for my ESA2 so I can pass this year. I have worked so hard this month, yet I feel as if I know nothing. I’m getting a lot of practice questions wrong and am seeing little progress. I’ve talked to academic support previously and pastoral support because I have depression but even then, everything feels so overwhelming. I’ve fallen so behind this semester and I barely can catch up with last semesters work too. I don’t want to get kicked out of med school because I devoted my life to getting in and have gone through so much to get accepted. I could really do with repeating first year as it would help me tremendously because now, I know how to make sure I don’t fall behind (it’s too late now). I don’t know whether they will let me. I’m so scared and stressed I’ve barely been getting any sleep which is affecting my mental well-being and my revision. Any advice?"

Hi and thank you for your question,

I can appreciate that it must be very difficult for you at the moment. It is great to hear that even through this you are still working hard towards your exams, have faith in the work you have put in to this point. 

You mention you are getting a lot of your questions wrong, have you found patterns as to why this may be? Do you understand the concepts or content behind the question? Or are you confused by the questions themselves? It’s more than okay to make mistakes in questions before exams, as this is the time to make them. Try and learn from the mistakes you make to take into the next sets of questions you do. If you're struggling with learning the content itself you made need to look further into your methods of revision and learning, to help make it easier for yourself, with active recall being the objectively best method. 

Are you receiving support for your depression? Are you able to effectively cope? Or do you need specific help? If so, it might be worth contacting PSU ([email protected]) again or the welfare services the university themselves offer ([email protected])

If you truly believe in the worst-case scenario that you will fail the upcoming exam be reassured that there will be resits held at a later date, for which there is plenty of support available » the Academic Support Unit who can suggest exam and revision strategies, a tutor buddy from an above year who has had to go through a resit who will help guide you and also offer revision sessions, as well as LUSUMA who will organise their own revision lectures. I’d suggest taking some time out of your day to look after both your mental and physical health, examples of this can be meditating, doing some exercise, eating well and sleeping well (sleep hygiene tips can help with this » https://www.headspace.com/sleep/sleep-hygiene). Feel free to email me if you want to talk about anything further » [email protected].

​If things ever get so difficult that you need immediate mental health support please contact the Central Access Point.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "Any last-minute tips for the ESA exams? I'm terrified of having to resit."

Hi and thank you for asking your question,

Well first of all good luck for your exams. It’s very normal to feel so anxious before an exam, especially with the width and breadth medical school exams ask for. Try looking through the learning objectives you have been given and see if you have gone through and learned them, look for gaps in your knowledge so you can cover your back here and ensure you haven’t neglected large parts of content. Finally, test yourself on content through active recall methods (preferably exam-style questions) if you haven't already to mentally prepare yourself for the exam and what it will be like on the day. 

But most importantly make sure you look after your physical and mental health. Eat and drink well, sleep enough hours, utilise some downtime or exercise to make sure you aren’t completely burned out before your exams and as a way to help relieve stress and anxiety if at all possible, it will be helpful to you in the short- and long-term. Be confident in the work you have put in and how far you have already come, it’s important to rest and eat well before your exam so you are on your A-game.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,

Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "How to revise in phase 2? From an anxious 2nd year."

Hi and thank you for asking your question,

The step-up/transition from Phase I to II can sometimes be difficult. The comfort of a rigid timetable and familiar lecturers to almost being thrown into the deep end of clinical practice is sure to shake almost anyone. But that's okay, change is quite normal in life, I am sure you remember the anxieties from the shift of your school into university, so you will have the skills to get through this too. I'll give you some pointers on how to structure your revision specifically, but feel free to ask any more questions you may have about Phase II.

It's a good idea to continue to use similar methods for revision that have worked for you thus far. With active recall objectively being the best method e.g. flash cards and creating your own SBA's/SAQ's. In terms of what content to learn, blocks still give guidance through providing several lectures and slides, learning objectives in workbooks as well as teaching within the blocks (very important to attend), use this to guide your own learning. Lots of resources online can be used as supplements » Pass Medicine, TeachMe series, Zero to Finals, Capsule, Medisense. There is more than enough content to help you meet the demands of the learning objectives!

Ward-based learning » get to grips with things you can only learn through experience, by shadowing doctors, nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team as well as gaining a little independence as your confidence rises.

Clinical skills » you can use the clinical skills unit at the Robert Kilpatrick building, just book your own sessions when they're running to refresh your mind with skills and then practising on wards under supervision or by yourself if you feel you are confident and safe to do so.

OSCE » practice taking histories and doing examinations on patients, ask clinicians to observe and give feedback, there will also be bedside teaching built into your block but it’s never a bad thing to get in more practice. You can also just practice with your clinical group or friends if talking to patient's still feels daunting. Experience and exposure will help with overcoming this.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,

Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked "I’m in first year and haven’t made any proper friends yet. I do try but it’s hard, especially when people have formed their “groups” already"

Hi and thank you for asking your question,

As being social is essentially the core of being human I can see it must be hard to not have made any proper friends yet. However, it's more common than you think, thoughts can sometimes enter our heads and make us feel insecure in our relationships, be it friendship or romantic, being seen as acceptable by 'the group' has been a worry of humans for generations and it will continue to be as well as the feelings of loneliness that this may bring along. There are certainly people within your year and above who undoubtedly feel the same way. It's good to hear that you have also been trying your best to make friends too. I will mention a few things that you might find helpful. 

It can be difficult to form friendships in medical school as cliques form fairly soon, added with the decrease in overall social activities due to covid and the fact that most people are trying to find a place where they feel they belong especially when shifting from school to university. But remember life isn't always a race so it's okay if it takes some time.

I usually like to question myself when thinking about such things as usually I can find some sort of answer inside. This may not always be the case, but it can be good practice and helpful to know what I really think and how I feel. For example, have you always found it difficult to make friends? What are you finding particularly hard? What to you is a proper friend, and this friend you imagine, are you like this? And this may sound silly but for what reasons do you want close friends? Try to ask yourself some other questions too. This can help find roots to problems and if it cannot it might be worth speaking to a counsellor or therapist (through the university or private if you’re able to). The PSU ([email protected]) is also available if you want to have a chat about this. 

If you are just finding it difficult to get on with the people around you it might be a good idea to further delve into what your own likes, dislikes, values and interests are, this can take some alone time to figure out, but once you have you can try sticking to these, go out and enjoy your hobbies and see who else is out there who share these same ideals, it’s likely you will connect over this. You don’t need to limit yourself to the medical school either, if you have particular interests that the university offers you can join such societies and again meet people who enjoy what you enjoy. Finally, try not to take yourself too seriously, generally the friendships that really matter are made over time, and although this may be cliché, you’ll be surrounded by close friends soon and wonder how it all happened.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

 Anonymous asked "What do you do when your family is suffocating you, but you don't want to dislike them or be angry at them?"

Hi and thank you for asking your question,

It's unfortunate you are in such a situation where you feel like your family is suffocating you. It sounds like this must be a very difficult time for you. First of all I can tell you it is very natural to feel dislike or anger at people who are suffocating you. It might be helpful to take some time to reflect on the following questions: In what way are they suffocating you? What are they preventing you from doing? And a more difficult question to answer is why you accept whatever these behaviours or actions are, I do not mean this in a trivial way as I do not know what you are specifically going through, but sometimes creating personal boundaries can help protect yourself from feeling overextended or as if you are being controlled or told to live a specific way, after all you may be feeling suffocated as you are not living the way you want to. When this freedom is threatened it can cause resentment or anger as you mentioned towards the causative party. There is of course the factor that we inherently love our families and what they do for us or to us is good for us. But this may not always be the case and sometimes it's okay to recognise that. Everyone is fallible, be it a stranger, a friend or a family member. 

​The above questions and thoughts I have added may help with reflecting on what is happening but will not be enough to really help you in this difficult situation as I would only ever be able to assume and speculate how you may be feeling from the question you posed. Therefore, I would personally suggest speaking to the PSU ([email protected]) about this or the Leicester University student wellbeing service ([email protected]), they can help you work through any difficult thoughts, feelings or emotions in more detail and can sign-post you to therapy/counselling services that can help with such feelings and situations in a completely confidential manner. 

​If things ever get so difficult that you need immediate mental health support please contact the Central Access Point.

Please do not hesitate to ask me another question or message the Welfare Officer (or anyone in LUSUMA committee) if there is anything else you would like to talk about, ask or require support in.

Kind regards and best of luck,
Uncle Kalil :)

Anonymous asked 'Hi, I’m in first year atm and just feel so incredibly stupid. Everyone is so smart around me and they ask such smart questions and then there’s me. I just feel like I don’t deserve to be where I am and I am not clever enough to be here, and I have such low confidence during group work that I don’t ask any questions. I’m really tired of being stupid and being too scared to ask or answer anything. I’m just finding it so hard to cope. Thanks'

Hi there, 

I'm sorry to hear your feeling this way, and can relate to all of what you're feeling. I remember spending a lot of first year questioning whether I really deserved to be on the course, because in myself I didn't feel like I was as worthy as the others around me. I think this was because I spent a lot of first year behind on work, and it meant that I felt a little insecure about how much I could contribute to group work - it's a typical medical student thing of second guessing every bit of info. your contribution, for fear of it being wrong. However, now into 3rd year, I can say that group work is the place to make mistakes, to be make contributions that may or may not be wrong but to give it a stab anyway. I imagine you're feeling this way because you have fallen into the dreaded trap of comparing yourself to your peers, and whilst it's normal to fall into this trap, you must not let it consume you. Remember, you're in a cohort of students, who like yourself have gone through the rigorous process of Medical School applications, and you've been chosen because there's something special about you, so you absolutely deserve to be here. As for low self-confidence during group work I can't tell you how much I relate; I spent a lot of first year being the quietest member of my study group, I'd be worried to contribute for fear of it being wrong or stepping on my other group members' toes (this was all on my own accord, they had done nothing to suggest these things, it was something in my head that was causing me to be like this).

Moving into 2nd year, I kind of grew tired of being the quietest member and just went for it and spoke up more, contributed to discussions that bit more, and immersed myself more. It took guts, but I can't tell you how very worth it it was. If I'd say anything it's don't wait till 2nd year to make the leap; there is never a bad time to just be that bit more gutsy in speaking up. If it's still a struggle, maybe pull a member of your group for a chat to tell them how you're feeling to get it off your chest, but at the end of the day it has to come from within. Equally, you can always talk to your Personal tutor about this, in case they have anything constructive to add. If you're still struggling drop me an email directly and I'm happy to have a chat with you, because I relate to a lot of what you're feeling, and I hope you know that I've come out of the other end unscathed, and you most definitely can too. 

Best wishes, 

Aunt Shirlz xox

Anonymous asked 'Tips for ESA4 revision?'

Hi there, 

Great question. I found Semester 4 modules a little tricksier than Sem 3, mainly because CPTT and Neuro, are quite bulky modules. My biggest tip would be pace yourself. ESA4 will assess both Sem 3 and Sem 4 content, with the potential for some Year 1 module content to be sprinkled in. At this point I'd recommend also making use of PASSMED (an online question bank) - it's free for Medical students in Years 1-3, and has a good selection of SBAs covering all your modules - the pharmacology qs are particularly handy! Like I've mentioned previously SAQ practice is kinda hard, but go through the workbook cases because the multi-step approach to approaching a patient, and then having to diagnose and manage their condition is the structure that the exam takes, so you could download the workbooks and from memory try and complete the cases. As for learning the info. make use of any academic/revision lectures run by LUSUMA sub-socs for Phase 1, they're super useful and run by students who've themselves done the exams so they know what common themes come up. Equally, just continue to actively recall content if that's by making flashcards or 'blurting' topics from memory, give it a go. CPTT is quite boring to learn, so maybe make some cute posters or flashcards/tables to summary the content into easy to learn chunks. Hope that's been a helpful little nutshell!

Best wishes, 

Shirlz xoxo
​
Anonymous asked 'I’ve tried changing the way I revise for ESAs since I didn’t do well in first year but I’ve got my results for the latest exam and I still haven’t done as well as I hoped. Any tips for revision? (I currently do flashcards and any quizzes available)'

Hi there,

I think first and foremost you've said you haven't done as well as you would've hoped, which suggests you're working towards your own personal goal; I think goal setting is really good - it helps motivate you and gives you something to strive for. In the same vein, it's also normal to fall short of goals sometimes, especially in the early stages of Medical School when you're still adapting to the craziness of the course and everything outside that comes with that.

As for revision tips, it's important to first establish why you didn't do as well as you hoped; was this due to not being able to recall the knowledge as well as was expected, or struggling to apply said knowledge to a clinically based SBA/SAQ. You've said you do flashcards as a means of learning the content, which I know Ali Abdaal (resident Youtube medic guru) would approve of, as it allows the whole active recall spaced repetition method of learning chunky content. I did flashcards in Phase 1, and wasn't able to get the most out of them as I spent too long making them, and not enough time learning them, if this was something you did it could be something to tweak for the next set of exams. If you struggled with applying the knowledge, it might be worth trying an online MCQ study bank to hone in your medicine knowledge; PASSMED is free for years 1-3 and is handy (it has both clinical mcqs, but also a knowledge tutor feature which allows you to learn quick roll of the tongue facts so definitely one to try). As for prepping for SAQs, there's not much online to help so I'd suggest re-downloading the workbooks for each module, and going through the cases if you have enough time, doing them close-book and assessing how much you know and what areas you need to work on, as they are very similar to what comes up in the exams. I hope this has been somewhat useful, if you need further clarity or have any more questions do reach out to our lovely VPAWs (Ray Kee) and Academic Officer Kiana, who'd be more than happy to help.

Best wishes, 

Aunt Shirlz xoxo

Anonymous asked 'I’ve failed ESA3, will this mean I am unlikely to pass the year'

Hi there, 

Sorry to hear about ESA3, just know it's actually one of the toughest Phase 1 exams which a lot of people struggle with, so don't feel too disheartened with that in mind. As for going forward, I do believe that even if you fail ESA3 you are able to pass the year, provided you pass your ESA4. Now to what degree you need to achieve in your ESA4 I can't comment, so I think it would be best to email the assessment team to clarify this. What I will say is that, Sem 4 content is a little bit tricksier than Sem 3 content in my opinion - the neuroscience  and pharmacology modules are bulky, and so when it comes to prepping for ESA4 it's important to start early with these 2 modules in particular. The main thing is, failure is a theme that isn't overly discussed during Medical School, and because of this it makes you think it never happens which couldn't be further from the truth! I think Medics forget we're also human too, and not these crazy machines that work non-stop, so saying that it's normal to have a bad day at the office, it's just how you pick yourself up and dust yourself off to come away from these situations that's important.

Best wishes, 

Aunt Shirlz xoxo

Anonymous asked 'Does decile 1 (honours) have an impact on future employability?'

Hi there,

From my knowledge, the deciles we get during Years 1-4 contribute to a score called an EPM. Each year has a different weighting towards the EPM, with years 3-4 contributing much more. The EPM is used for when you apply to your Foundation programme when you leave Medical School for FY1. I understand that the higher your EPM, the greater the likelihood you'll be allocated your first choice Medical deanery (region of work) when you rank them in order of preference. I'd recommend checking this out: foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/faqs/educational-performance-measure-epm-faqs/ 

Best wishes, 

Aunt Shirlz xoxo

Anonymous asked 'I’ve narrowly passed my exams in year one and just had my first fail with ESA3. I know failing is part of the journey but can’t seem to brush off the idea that I won’t be a competent doctor. '

Hi there, 

I can't emphasise how much what you're feeling is commonplace amongst Medics, and in particular with regards to ESA3 which I'd argue is one of the hardest exams of Phase 1, not just because of the exam itself, but it's positioning straight after Sem 3, which is crazy busy. I'm sorry to hear about your ESA3 results, but it's really important to not get disheartened by this, and to use it to motivate you even more towards revising for your ESA4 exams. I think failure is something that's tip-toed around a lot during Medical School, and because of this it's not discussed openly and leaves us feeling like it's not normal, and that it will somehow hinder our ability to become good clinicians when it comes to it. The thing is, failure is something we will likely come across even after Medical School, and it's testament to how you bounce back from it that really matters. Each failure serves as an opportunity to learn, improve and ultimately grow. I also think perspective really helps - you're still very early into Medical School, and are ultimately a student. More than ever, this is the time to be making your mistakes and learning from them, as you're not yet having to make patient centred decisions. More times than not, if you talk to any clinicians in the hospital there'll be those who are perfectly competent and have failed an exam or two during Medical School - I think the big thing that holds us Medics back is out attitude to failure, and the fact that we jump too quickly in thinking it will affect our competency as clinicians in the future, which couldn't be further from the truth. I'd highly recommend reading this article that discusses the topic in more depth, and tackles the stigma behind failure much more profoundly: blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/03/30/the-f-word-talking-about-failure-in-medicine/ 

Best wishes, 

Aunt Shirlz xoxo

Anonymous asked 'Hi Aunt Shirley, There's no fun in medicine anymore. Thoughts?'

Hi there, 

Sorry to hear you're feeling this way about the course. What's making you feel this way? - I think identifying the source of this will be key in allowing you to move forward. I find that when you're behind on work or not fully understanding concepts, you don't tend to enjoy the course for it's full worth, so if that's the case then it's worth reaching out to friends, peers, Medic parents , our trusty Academic Officer, Kiana to ask if they can help you out in explaining any tricksy concepts in a really easy to understand way. If it's the fact that the course feels like a constant load of content being thrown your way, which at times is overwhelming, then I hear you! The constant non-stop flow of content can be incredibly overwhelming at times, and mean you just can't enjoy the course fully because you're always thinking about how much there is or what's yet to come. That said, medicine albeit overwhelming at times, and very vast, is incredibly interesting when broken down into manageable chunks. Take each day as it comes and start off w/ learning the small concepts, and you'll find that the course works to build on them by re-introducing them but in more depth as the course goes along. Hopefully I'm still making some sense at this point, but if it's still really troubling you, reach out to PSU, ASU or drop me a private message again and we can reassess together. Medicine is a long course, and the last thing we'd want is you to not to be enjoying yourself, so reach out if it's still a problem and we, at LUSUMA would be more than happy to support you!

Best wishes, 

Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'Hi aunt Shirley, I’m 1st year med struggling with time management and motivation. I haven’t been very social before but I am now and feel like I’m not working as hard as I should but at the same time I don’t want to miss out because I still haven’t found my “group”. Also I do work but feel like it’s all passive and nothings going in. I’m worried about formatives and ESA1 , especially SAQs I feel like idk how to revise anymore.'

Hi there,

I was in the same position as you in semester 1 where I also felt like nothing was  going in. It’s understandable for this to worry you, especially since you haven’t sat a med school exam yet. However, it’s great that you’re becoming more social- having time off from study will help you mentally and academically.

In terms of revising, I’d start off by creating a timetable. First fill it in with all the times you know you’d be busy (Include time for exercise and hobbies), then add the topics you’d like to go over. You might find that adding a time to it (eg. Going over embryology at 10-11am) will make you stick to your schedule better.

The formatives are mainly there for you to know how the medical school run exams,  this should help alleviate stress when it comes to ESA1. For our year we also marked the SAQ question ourselves, so it really doesn’t matter how well/bad you do!!

I’m really sorry to hear that you’re stressing about ESA1 and SAQs too, towards the end of the semester revision societies and some unit leads release mock papers. Hopefully, going through these will relieve some stress! Moreover your medic parents, personal tutor, PSU ([email protected])  ASU and LUSUMA committee will be happy to support you. It’s also important to remember that the ESA1 will only make a small percentage of your overall decile. It also will not reflect how well of a doctor you will be!

LUSUMA academic will be holding a session on preparing for the ESA1 in December. We hope that this will also help with any concerns you may have.

Best wishes,

Kiana (LUSUMA Academic Officer)
​
Anonymous asked 'Where should I go for help with self-harm?'

Hi there, 

You've done the right thing in reaching out, and I've got a wealth of support services you can reach out to, as understandably this is very serious. As with everything, it's always a good shout to reach out to PSU, they're here to support you, and will always be more than happy to give you the time of day to listen to anything you're struggling with and help you with your next steps. If not that, your Personal tutor is someone who is always on hand for a chat. If you're feeling like you want to talk to someone away from the Medical School, do click on the 'Useful Services and external links' region of the Welfare section of this website which categorises the support services depending on what you're struggling with e.g. there's the 24/7 Samaritan helpline, Headspace on campus, BMA and counselling 24/7 helpline, campus services and more, so pick what you feel works best for you. Furthermore, if you feel like you may be a danger to yourself, then please please please reach out to either the crises services or the Medical School. No problem is ever insignificant; we're human, we struggle sometimes and that's okay. All that matters is you've got a huddle of support around you, including myself so please utilise us!

Regardless of which support service you choose, they are all private, confidential services, so everything that is said will remain between you and the respective service, unless there are any other concerns.

I'm sorry to hear this is something you're struggling with, and I'm always on hand for a chat if you do want to reach out to me. Clinical years are some next level stuff, and the adjustment I've found has been tricksy. However, like you, I'm in 3rd year, so if you need a vent, or someone to relate to about the course, drop me a message - always here to help. 

Best wishes, 

Shirlz 

Anonymous asked 'Hi I am a first year med student. I literally feel like a robot, I don’t feel like I am absorbing any of the knowledge, I haven’t made any proper friends and I get left out with any group I stay with. I just feel like I don’t belong there and being alone is great sometimes but most of the time it’s lonely, especially seeing everyone around you in their friendship groups.'

Hi there, 

Apologies for the delay in replying to this message. That's a shame you're feeling that way, but understandably so. The jump from A-levels to degree level is a big one, so it will take some time to get the hang of things, but just keep at it, and reach out to ASU (the academic support unit),  if you're feeling like you need a helping hand with planning out revision/work. Likewise, utilise your Medic parents, and members of the LUSUMA committee - namely Kiana (Academic Officer) and Ray Kee (VPAWs) if you want a chat on anything academically related, since they've been through the system, like the rest of committee so know the ropes a bit better. 

As for the friends aspect, trust me it can feel so daunting sometimes. I distinctly remember in first year feeling like everyone had found their friendship group within the first 1-2 days, but I quickly found that what seems like a 'formed friendship group', is not always the case - it might just be a huddle of people, like you just trying to make some friends. It's all about putting yourself out there - talking to people, and joining societies to bump into new faces - even utilising your Belbin, planning a meal or a social activity to bond with them. We talk about making friends quite a bit on LUSUMA's welfare podcast 'Inside Medic' which is available on Spotify, so definitely check that out if you want some more reassurance that what you're feeling can be related to by other students. If you're feeling like the group of people your hanging out with right now aren't for you, maybe float about a bit, and get introduced to the people who your Belbin members know - it could just be asking them if they have any plans you can tag along to, or suggesting something you could do with them, being proactive really helps. I found myself drifting around different groups of people in my first year, and even into my 2nd year. I think it's an unrealistic pressure that most Freshers, including myself felt/feel that you're going to rock up to Medical School and instantaneously meet your 'friends for life' per say, but most of the time that isn't the case, and it takes some time and graft to meet people, make plans and then continue to maintain friendships, so don't give up. Like you've said, being alone is great to recuperate, but it's nice to have people around you to do things with, else Medical School would become very lonely.

It will get better, so don't give up hope - Medical School is quite the rollercoaster, so even if it feels a bit rubbish sometimes, it's not permanent, there will be many good times to have, it's just about finding the right support when you are struggling. If you're still struggling, do message me privately again, and I'd be happy to have a chat with you in person about this, because I want you to have the best Med skwl experience possibly, so will do my best to help you accordingly. 

Best wishes, 

Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'Hi Aunt Shirley, I am really stressed out about Year 2 content and being behind in terms of content and knowledge and application. Despite being told not to, I find myself constantly comparing myself to my peers. I feel so inadequate in comparison.'

Hi there, 

Sorry to hear you're feeling that way, but let me reassure you in saying the jump from 1st to 2nd year is a big one, so cut yourself some slack because having gone through 2nd year I can agree in saying it's easy to fall behind on work and get overwhelmed. I found 2nd year to be a massive test of my time-management skills, because each day there would be a different module, which would mean I'd be covering a whole load of content by the end of the week, to then have to consolidate over the weekend. In light of that, breaking down the content really helped me - the learning objectives are a great guide for allowing you to know what you should focus on learning, and what isn't necessary to know. Likewise, the workbooks are amazing - the case-based approach to identifying a condition, knowing it's pathophysiology, presentation, investigations and management help really hone in the key features of each clinical condition, which inevitably will be something you'll be tested on in the ESAs. It might help, to try making flashcards or mindmaps for the clinical conditions so you can refer back to them, or equally keep reading through the group work you've done and covering your written answers and testing yourself on what you've written (this was something I adopted in exam season and it worked for me!). 

As for comparing yourself to others, as a Medic this is the bane of our existences, and something we have all done more than once. What I've found is that comparing yourself to others is a slippery slope, and you end up feeling really demotivated, and that you're not as good enough as your peers, which is the last thing you want to feel. To combat this, adopting a growth mindset is always something to try - medicine is so vast, you're never going to know everything and coming to terms with that is not only refreshing and helps ease the burden of inadequacy of not knowing something at any one point. Equally, accepting that you're different to your peers in so many great ways, and that you'll have strengths and weaknesses in different areas does help massively too. The main takeaway is that 2nd year is a step up, it'll be challenging, but keep up w/ the self-affirmations, you've got this (I believe in you!) and help is only a call away so reach out if you're continuing to struggle, whether to PSU or anyone on committee. 

Best wishes, 

Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'Hello, I'm worried about the price for the LUSUMA membership and I would like to know if all the societies the university offers have a cost or is it free. Also, can I still do well if I don't have the LUSUMA flashcards/revision notes, will the work covered in lectures/group work be enough?'

Hi there, 

Regardless of if you're a Fresher or currently in a little further in the degree, you can still purchase the LUSUMA membership and gain access to LUSUMA socials, welfare, sports and academic resources/sub-socs! Though, the price of the LUSUMA membership does appear hefty, if you buy it during Freshers' it will be a one off purchase that will last for the entirety of your Medical School career, so well-worth it! If you're wanting to purchase the membership checkout: www.leicesterunion.com/opportunities/societies/findasociety/teamlusumakit/ 

If you experience any issues with purchasing membership do reach out to Sharon (LUSUMA Webmaster), as he's the most tech savvy when it comes to resolving any issues.

I can't speak for all the main University societies, but from my knowledge a lot of them do have a small membership fee e.g. £4 for the entire year, that will go towards events/socials/refreshments, but for more information, do checkout Leicester's SU website and browse through the different societies, each of which will make clear their membership fee if there is one. 

LUSUMA Brainscape flashcards are purely a tool to support your learning, and shouldn't be used as a sole means of revision. In light of that, if you choose not to purchase the membership, and therefore not have access to the flashcards, focusing on principles covered in lectures and group work should also equally sufficient in supporting your learning. Students find the flashcards useful as they're pre-made by older years who've gone through the same exams, so they're a convenient tool for getting nifty facts into your head, particularly when you're pushed for time and can't make your own flashcards. 

Best wishes, 

Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'What is one word of advice you would give to a stressed med student?

Hi there, 
​
Simply put: Reach out. I cannot stress how important it is if you're feeling swamped with work, stressed about something at home or generally just overwhelmed to reach out to talk to someone about this. This could be a friend, a Personal tutor, your family/sibling or a member of staff at PSU. Talking about it really does help to lift some weight off your shoulders, and be able to assess what your next steps are. It's refreshing to hear someone else's take on the situation, and how they think you can best manage it. Equally, I’d also say it’s important to ensure you aren’t too hard on yourself; Medical School isn’t easy, and reminding yourself of regardless of how competitive and difficult the journey was to getting onto the course, that you made it, and have the capability and resilience to overcome anything that comes your way, even if that means you might need a little extra helping hand on the way.

Best wishes, 

Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'I am worried about the transition to Year 2 with live lectures. I enjoyed the pre-recorded lectures during Year 1 as it allowed me to be organised and structure my week. I do not know how I am going to cope with live lectures - do I take notes during the lecture? What if I miss something?

Hi there, 

It's totally understandable to feel worried about the transition, as it’s quite the change. From my own experience with pre-recorded lectures, I can agree in saying I enjoyed the convenience it allowed of doing the lectures at a time that suited me, and being able to rewind/pause at my own comfort. That said, live lectures in Year 2 will still be incredibly important for your learning, so it’s important you attend them and try and make the most out of them. From my own experience, sometimes it’s worth jotting down any key bits of information onto the slides that isn’t already on them e.g. a handy abbreviation to remember a concept etc. However, on the most part I found the slides in Year 2, alongside the workbook contents to be fully comprehensive in my learning. Head and Neck in Semester 3 and Neuroscience in Semester 4 were the modules I made the most annotations for, and it really helped since it involved a lot of diagrams/anatomical images, but it’s about playing it by ear and knowing what to write down that is relevant, and what to just listen to and not jot down (this is something that comes with time!). I’d recommend reaching out to ASU (the Medical School Academic Support Unit - [email protected]) too to see if they’ve got any further helpful tips/tricks, as they’re the professionals when it comes to all things academia!
 
Best wishes,
 
Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'What do you think of relationships during medical school Aunt Shirley?

Hi there,

Great question. I’d say relationships during Medical School are absolutely fine, whether it be with another Medical student or otherwise! It’s only natural when you join University to meet lots of new people from all walks of life, and find that you might just click with someone in a particular way. Having spoken to friends who are in relationships, I’d say it’s important not to feel pressured into getting into anything – it should be your choice, and one you make when you feel ready to do so. Likewise, it’s important to ensure that you are always respectful of your colleagues, and continue to maintain professional boundaries with your seniors and teachers regardless of whether you enter a relationship or not. It has to be said that time management is an important component of maintaining a relationship during Medical School – it’s all about making time to not only study and spend time with your significant other, but also make time to do the things you enjoy doing, and allowing your significant other to equally have the time to do the things they enjoy too. Hope this has been helpful!
 
Best wishes,
 
Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'Aunt Shirley, what happens if you fail ESA3? Do you have to resit or is it possible to redeem yourself in ESA4?'

Hi there,
 
From my own knowledge, I believe ESA4 has a slightly higher weighting towards your end of Year 2 exam results, so with that in mind I’d have thought it should be possible to fail ESA3, but then go on to pass the year, providing you’ve successfully passed your ESA4. However, as with everything, exam results and their effect on whether you progress to the next academic year can be circumstantial, so I’d strongly recommend you run this past your Personal Tutor for some concrete guidance, or the Medical School Assessment team whose email is [email protected].
 
Best wishes,
 
Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'Hi Aunt Shirley, do you have any tips for 2nd year medics?'

Hi there, 

That’s quite the question! 2nd year like 1st year will have the same teaching format of group work + lectures, with some PKB, DR and CHDD sprinkled into the mix. The difference comes with the amount of content and its nature. I can only speak from my own experience, but I found 2nd year content markedly more interesting than any of the 1st year content (though there was a lot more of it!). Semester 3 and Semester 4 are 2 different ball games in my opinion; in Semester 3 you will cover 5 modules (each day of the week will have a module dedicated to it), whilst in Semester 4 you will cover fewer modules, but their complexity is greater. I’d say the workbooks you use in group work are your best friends when it comes to your learning – they are based on clinical scenarios, and the way the questions lead you into not only identifying the presentation of a condition, but differentials and its management are so helpful, as these are the things you’ll definitely need to know for the exams.  
 
A tricky thing I found when it came to 2nd year, was finding the time to squeeze in revising some of the Year 1 content, that is still assessed in your Year 2 examinations. From my experience, I ended up being really choosy with the Year 1 content I went over; I ended up prioritising learning common clinical correlates and any topics I really struggled with i.e. ECGs (the bane of my existence!).
 
Other than Year 2 being more clinical than Year 1, it really is a case of continuing to balance your time well, ensuring that you not only study, but take time to rest up and de-stress. When you get to Semester 4, you might find the Pharmacology module a bit tricksy (not to worry, it’s something all students struggle with!), but our resident VPAWs, Ray has put together a table with all the drugs and their information summarised, so drop him a message closer to the time should you need it!  Hope that’s been helpful.

Best wishes,

Shirlz

Anonymous asked 'What happens if I don't pass the 1st year resits? Am I able to retake the year?'

Hi there, 

I hope you're having a restful summer break, and making the most of the free time after your resit exams. Though I can't say for certain, since resit examinations tend to be circumstantial and unique to each student, to my knowledge, if you do not pass your resit examinations you are required to resit the year. Whilst this can be daunting to think about, it's something well worth discussing with your Personal tutor should this be the case. Saying that, it might be worth holding fire and waiting till your results come through, so you're in a better position to assess your options. If these worries persist,  because quite rightly they are completely valid, it might be worth reaching out to ASU (the Academic Support Unit), as well as your Personal tutor, as they'll be best placed to give you some concrete guidance. The Medical School want you to succeed, and want to support you in your journey to becoming not only a competent, but a well-rounded doctor by the end of your Medical School career. I feel confident in saying that no students' Medical School journey is the same as the others - whether it be filled with highs, lows and in-betweens, all these experiences shape us, and make us who we are. You've done incredibly well in revising throughout the summer for these exams, and I've got my fingers crossed in the meantime that they go your way. If you feel you need another chat do reach out via this anonymous platform or directly to [email protected]. 

​Best wishes, 

Shirlz

Anonymous asked "It’s looking like I’m going to fail first year. What would happen if I do? I made lots of mistakes this year revision wise"

Hi there,
 
You’ve done the right thing in reaching out! Firstly let me reassure you in saying that it’s completely normal to realise you’ve made some mistakes in an exam once you’ve come out of it – it happens to the best of us! Exams are a high pressure, stressful situation and so you've really done well to get through them in such difficult, unpredictable times. Since ESA2 has a higher weighting towards your end of Year 1 mark than ESA1, if you were to fail ESA2 (assuming you’ve had no extenuating circumstances etc.), you’d be required to attend the resit examination. Dates for the resit examinations vary between different years, and will consist of both a SBA and a SAQ paper. There are Provisional Assessment Resit dates on Blackboard under ‘Assessment’, ‘Administrative documentation’ and then ‘Student Assessment Timetable Apr-Sept 2021’, that says the SAQ  Year 1 resit is on the 2nd August and the SBA one is on the 3rd August. For now, I think it would be best to hold fire and wait till your results come through before taking any further steps. I know that the wait for results can be terrifying, but sometimes it’s very difficult to read how an exam has gone/your performance, so until you get your results I wouldn’t want you to have any undue worry. If your worries do persist, I’d recommend raising your concerns with your Personal Tutor too, as they’ll be best suited to responding to such concerns due to their extensive experience with students who have been in similar situations. I hope this has been useful and any more queries/concerns do make another submission, or drop me an email at [email protected]
 
Best wishes,
 
Shirlz 

Anonymous asked "Hey Aunt Shirley. I saw a conversation on Facebook about how Anastomose has been marketing quite aggressively on official LUSUMA channels. I, and many others, agree, but we do not want to out ourselves publicly through public likes and comments, since there is a worryingly cliquey atmosphere with regards to this project. In the feedback from both LUSUMA officially and from Ray, the owner of Anastomose (and one who stands to profit from it as a private business venture), they consistently mention that they have received only positive feedback. My question is whether it would be possible for us to have an anonymous feedback system for LUSUMA projects? It is very daunting to have to give feedback to the owner of Anastomose directly that may be negative - especially since he holds a position of power in the society that is supposedly trialling Anastomose. Many of my friends and colleagues who wish to give their feedback about Anastomose, particularly the aspects of it that are unhealthy or worrying, do not feel like they have a voice due to the core committee position of the owner - it creates a difficult dilemma with such conflicts of interest. Your opinion on the matter and idea would be welcome. Many thanks!"

Hi there!

Shirley here! Thanks for getting in touch about this. We appreciate that the conflict that panned out over on the Official LUSUMA group on Facebook wasn’t ideal, and was a potential source of upset for some individuals due to the nature of it occurring on a public forum as opposed to in a private exchange.
​
I very much appreciate that you preferred to remain anonymous in your submission regarding this issue, but any issues/queries/whatnot in the future feel free to reach out to myself or any other member of committee and we’d be all ears to help you out and hear your thoughts. From LUSUMA’s point of view we are proud of Ray as an individual for building a successful platform from scratch. That said, LUSUMA has no contract/endorsement with Anastomose, so we are not obligated to use it, instead trialling it at the moment. Alex made her comments on Facebook regarding Ray, as we knew that some of the comments upset some people, including those involved in the comments. The last thing we want is anyone to be upset or feel that they aren’t able to air their concerns/feedback, so let me reassure you in saying that there will be an opportunity for students to give feedback for the social media changes. However, this won’t be for a couple of months, as we’re in the process of trialling the new SU mailing lists so I apologise for this delay. The main purpose of the Anastomose posts was to highlight the ongoing events available for Leicester Medical students that might prove useful to you, but hopefully a reduction in them will somewhat ease your concerns. In the upcoming future, Emma, our Media Officer will summarise the upcoming sub-society events as opposed to the Anastomose ones previously uploaded to social media by Ray, so be sure to look out for those! I hope I’ve answered your question, but if not please do reach out to me directly on [email protected] or you can contact another member of committee too.
 
Best wishes, 

Shirlz


Anonymous asked "Hi Aunt Shirley. How would you suggest learning all the drugs and mechanisms for CPT Sem 4, I've tried lots and just seem to get overwhelmed by them"

Hey there! 

Trust me when I tell you I hear you! All the drugs have so many overlapping DDIS, ADRs, indications and so on, that sometimes it makes my brain hurt too. As for their names, that's a whole other story! What I will say though, is that Dr Bice's 'drug of the day' is a real game-changer, purely due to the fact that it allows you to focus on one drug for one day, and really nail it down and hone in all its components. Personally, I've found CPT can't be done all in one sitting; the drugs have so much to them that it most definitely can get overwhelming and confusing. My suggestion is try making some tables/posters and sticking them on your wall, ensuring you re-visit them daily or as and when you can too. Equally some simple flash cards for off the cuff must know components of each drug should prove useful, so that you get all the nitty gritty important facts nailed. It's a tricky one for sure, but tweaking the format of revision a little bit more may help. Equally, if it's something you're really struggling, it might be worth reaching out to ASU (academic support unit - [email protected]) for further guidance. Hope that's proved somewhat useful, but let me reassure you and tell you this is a worry felt by many. 

Best wishes, 

Shirlz


Anonymous asked, "Hi Aunt Shirley, I failed both my first year Medical exams, and wasn't able to sit ESA3 as I caught COVID. I'm struggling to work out the best way to revise and keep focus so wanted your advice, in anticipation for my exam in the August resit. I'm also really sad that I have to sacrifice my summer for the resit, so wanted to hear your thoughts."

Hey there! 

Sorry to hear you're feeling this way, but let me first reassure you and say you've done the right thing in reaching out and airing your concerns.  It's absolutely normal for you to feel frustrated with having to work over the summer months for your exam, but do remember it's through no fault of your own that you couldn't sit ESA3 and have been put in this position. That aside, focusing on the run up to your exam,  it's important to ensure you have an adequate study space set-up. I'm aware that the David Wilson library is currently open, but only for limited hours, which may be difficult if you are a student residing in Leicester who works well in the library. However, if possible try and find a quiet space in your house, away from the distraction of your family/noise/temptation e.g. TV/phone, and make a list of all you want to get done during the exam season. One thing I find comforting is knowing that it's never possible to cover absolutely everything for the exam, since with medicine the scope is so broad that setting such a task would be impossible! Instead prioritise your learning, ensuring you set aside adequate time for topics you struggle with in particular. From personal experience avoiding the difficult topics and hoping they won't come up in the exam hardly ever works, so it might be best to make a start on them and nail them while you can. Moreover, try and split your day up into 'workable' chunks e.g. set yourself specific times in the day dedicated just for studying, and ensure you incorporate periods of relaxation e.g. physical activity/netflix bingeing too, so you have a balance. I've always found getting the 'balance' particularly tricky, but have found it's incredibly important in working sustainably during exam season, otherwise you risk tiring quickly. I find working using the Pomodoro technique helpful (these timers are available if you search them up on google), or you could download 'Forest', which is a popular app that allows you to complete scheduled tasks and grow plants to reward yourself (seems like a silly concept but something to try for sure). If you're keen to live the proper student life though, I suggest using 'Flora' instead which is free and just about gives you the same level of satisfaction. 

Hopefully these tips are a good starting point. I'm very much prepared to continue writing realms and realms however, so if you need any further help do let me know. Stay well, look after yourself, and more importantly realise that despite the circumstances being tricksy, you're very much capable of achieving what you put your mind to, so just start by breaking things down into small doable tasks and ease your way into the revision. 

P.S. All advice has been taken from my own personal experience, so bear in mind that what has worked for me might not necessarily work for you. I also highly recommend you check out the 'Hippocampus podcast' on Spotify, which has been created by our very own Dr Lisa Quinn (ASU tutor) alongside current Leicester Medical students. The episodes centre around academia, with episodes dedicated to how to tackle anatomy, SBAs, SAQs and much more! If you are still struggling with creating a revision plan, it might be worth reaching out to ASU (academic support unit - [email protected]) when you get the chance. Due to COVID, they are taking appointments over the phone/virtually, so be sure to include your contact number in the email. Finally, I recommend checking out our 'Appeals and Resits' welfare page too for testimonials from previous students - they're incredibly detailed, and further serve to emphasise that daunting as they may seem, you're not alone when it comes to having to resit an exam :) 

Yours,
​Shirlz
---------------------------------------------------------------New Aunt Shirley takeover -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous asked,"I know we’ve only just gone back home because of the Coronavirus but I’m already dreading going back in September. I get very depressed and upset when I’m at uni. I really don’t know how to change my mindset because I can’t figure out why I hate it so much. Do you have any advice on how I can hate it all less?"

Hello Anon,


This sounds really tough, sorry to hear you  feel this way.Thank you for reaching out.I would suggest considering few resources for support in and outside the university.A lot of people find the transition from home to university life challenging. It can take time and the use of support networks can help facilitate that adjustment. Contact the Medical School Pastoral support unit. Local supports such as Let’s talk wellbeing Leicester  and Leicester nightline have self referral systems. I have attached the links for both supports below.
lets-talk-wellbeing-leicester-leicestershire-rutland
http://leicester.nightline.ac.uk
The Student union also provides various supports to help you settle in University.Check their A-Z Welfare issues.
Try being in contact with your family and friends more. Keep them updated with your life so that you feel less separted from them.Perhaps try talking to your friends at university for more support, only if you feel comfortable enough.Hope this helps!


Yours,Shirely
​

Anonymous asked, "Hi Aunt Shirley, my friend is worried because they didn't do so well on ESA1 and now they think they will fail ESA2. Do you have any advise for them?"

Hello Anon,

First I would recommend reflecting on your ESA 1 exam and try thinking how you could improve your study/exam techniques. Sometimes even with stellar exam preparations ,we fail to deliver during the exam. Email the medical school academic support so that they can help you figure out your shortcomings. 


Moreover, there is more time to revise for ESA2 due to the lockdown. Try to use this time efficiently. Remember to revise semester 1 content as well.Use all the resources available - LUSUMA flashcards, revision sub societies contents such as the questions from LMSRS and Doc to Doc, Blackboard formative quizzes for self evaluation. Ask older years/Medic parents for revision advices. But remember, that different people retain knowledge in different ways so all the advices you get might not be useful to you. In that case, try all the different methods and try to figure out what works best for you. Hope this helps!
​
Yours, Shirely

Anonymous asked, "I feel really lonely and like I haven’t made any good friends at uni, everyone seems to have found their friendship groups which makes it harder to make new friends."

Hello Anon, 

Firstly I’d like to say that there is no better time to make friends than the present. You might feel from afar that everyone is already well settled within their groups and they wouldn’t be welcoming to a new member. You’d be surprised how different reality might be. I’d recommend you try talking to as many people as possible .Don’t hesitate to put yourself out there and try spending more time with your friends.


Try joining different sports team/societies so that you have more opportunities to socialise. As they say ,the more time you spend with people with similar interests, the better chance you have of forming stronger bonds.I think all of us are used to being friends with only certain group of people, very much like our school days.But try to remember that in university  you are around so many people ,it’s only fair that you are friends with different people based on different interests. So don’t feel bad if you are not part of one specific friendship group only. Hope this helps!

​Yours,Shirely

Anonymous asked: "Any tips for remaining focused during Coronavirus period? :(( I’m finding it hard to focus due to the constant bombardment from the media. It’s also hard to find motivation as we have no idea how long we’re going to be in this situation for. Any advice would be much appreciated - thank you, a troubled 1st year."

Hi Anon,

 I understand how frustrating this situation is and firstly, I'd recommend you to make a routine. Treat the weekdays like workdays, and take breaks during the weekends. Perhaps try mimicking your normal routine as much as you can (with a proper timetable and breaks in between). There is this app called “Flora”, it's free on the app store, it allows you to go on focused time blocks, so that you don't get distracted by constant bombardment of notifications(this app also allows you to grow a virtual garden in the process, and you can compete with your friends to keep yourself motivated, if that floats your boat).

As for motivation,it's important for us to remember our end goals. We are training to become doctors, and we have to focus on studying to consolidate our further learning. That being said, it is okay if you have drawbacks some days, just focus on adapting to this new lifestyle for now and take it easy.

​Also I'd recommend that you refrain yourself from looking at news updates constantly, and do it on a set timetable. Try watching the news at night, so that you won't get upset first thing in the morning and carry on with your day as normally as possible. Perhaps establish a rule among your family and friends to not talk about Covid 19 all day long.Hope this helps!

Yours, Shirley

Anonymous asked: “I’m terrified that I’m going to fail ESA1 and have to drop out”

Hi Anon,

First of all I’d recommend taking a deep breath! Failing one exam does not mean you will be ‘kicked out’ - if that was the case we’d have far less doctors. If you get an unsatisfactory result in ESA1 all that will happen is a meeting with educational support to see how they can help you for ESA2. It may be that the way you learned/revised for A-Levels isn’t the most efficient for learning medicine - they can help you to go through your papers and identify areas to improve. This is not in any way ‘disciplinary’, it is about helping you to do the best that you can.

This is your first proper medical school exam so no one is expecting you to get all the answers right - it’s meant to be a learning opportunity so you can gauge what detail is needed, what kind of questions are asked, and how much time you have to answer them. The actual exam is only worth 28% of your first year and you have much more time to revise for ESA2 to make up the rest. Your final first year result is worth the least out of your five years in terms of percentage for a reason - first year is about easing in to medical school, and more importantly university life.

The fear of being ‘kicked out’ is very common, especially amongst newer students. But please be reassured that the number of students who may end up leaving the course is extremely small, and no one will be asked to leave for failing just one exam. There are several chances to improve your results (e.g. resits), as well as many different support networks (e.g. Qualihelp and QualiBuddies in semester 2) - both peer and tutor lead that will be available to you if you need them. You can also contact our Academic Officer (Gaurika) and Welfare Officer (Immy) for more sign posting and advice.

Dealing with failure is extremely important in medicine. The word ‘reflection’ is used all the time because that’s how good doctors practice - they reflect as often as they can on their performance, they identify areas for improvement, and then they apply these. Everyone wants to do well first time but that puts a lot of internal pressure on yourself to perform - which can ultimately sabotage your actual performance. In all likelihood at some point in your medical career (undergraduate and postgraduate) you will fail an exam - we sit more than most people do in their lifetime! So view failure as a chance to grow - it’s not something to be scared of.

The best doctors have made mistakes.

Yours, Shirley

---

Anonymous asked: “I want to join a society, but I’m worried about having enough time for revision. Is it possible to juggle both?”

Hi Anon,

This is a very common worry - especially amongst first year students - so thank you for raising it. The short answer? Yes!

Societies are a fantastic way of making sure you have a balanced time at medical school. It is all too easy to let studying consume every day, but this won’t be good for your health...and can even impact your academic performance. Remember quality over quantity; taking a breather to do something non-medical can mean you return to work feeling refreshed, and have a different perspective. Plus societies are a great opportunity to make new friends across different years and degrees!

The majority of the cohort are part of one if not more societies, and it is very possible to juggle work and fun. A lot of the LUSUMA sub-societies are low commitment as they understand workload demands, so maybe start with one of these and branch out? You can put as much or as little into it as you like. University is the time in your life to experiment and try all these opportunities on your door step - you want to be a well rounded doctor (and person) by the end!

Yours, Shirley

---

Anonymous asked: “Shirley I’m really not getting on with my clinical partner, and it’s affecting me lots on placement. What should I do?”

Hi Anon,

Clinical partnerships have their ups and downs - working with your best friend may seem like a great idea..until you’re on placement together! First you need to assess what’s not working, is it a lack of communication? Is it conflicting work attitudes? Or is it open hostility i.e. you and said person are really not getting on in/outside of placement?

If it’s either of the former two options, then there is a chance this can be resolved. Try and talk to your partner at a neutral location, and tell them how you’re feeling. It may be that you’ve rubbed each other the wrong way accidentally, and assumptions have been made that are false along the way. Placement is a high pressure environment and people can annoy each other without realising most of the time, e.g. are you always first to volunteer to scrub in theatre? That’s a brilliant attitude, but you might be jumping in and stopping other people who are more shy from taking that opportunity. Listen to your partner and try to see it from their perspective, without being defensive. Usually these are simple things that have a simple fix.

If it’s the latter (total hostility), and you feel you are not in any way compatible with them, you need to talk to Phase II staff. Contact your CAT tutor or head of year, and let them know what’s going on. It’s rare that people switch partners mid-block but it may be possible in extenuating circumstances. Even if you cannot switch partners, they may be able to help you cope in other ways e.g. switching around your timetables to limit contact between you two. You don’t know what’s possible until you get in contact and ask. Consider talking to the Pastoral Support Unit or LUSUMA Welfare Officer (Immy) too if it’s getting you down.

Yours, Shirley

---

Anonymous asked: “I made out with someone from my Belbin while drunk...this is going to make the next two years awkward. Any tips?”

Hi Anon,

That sounds like a sticky situation, but don’t worry more people have been there than you think! First year is where you’re meant to make mistakes, just remember that this awkward situation will be a brilliant story in a few years. For now try and just be yourself, the more you think/worry about it the more of a ‘thing’ it becomes. Try to remember the other person probably feels the same way - if it’s still really awkward during groupwork, best to address it head on. Bring it up and make light of it - laughter is the best medicine after all!

Yours, Shirley

Anonymous asked: “Everyone is so stressed about ESA1, and it’s getting to me. What do you suggest Shirley?”

Hi Anon,

The pre-exam period can be one of the worst parts of medical school. Everyone is nervous and this can spread across the entire year very quickly, so it’s easy to absorb other peoples’ stress on top of your own. You’ve already done the first step which is realising what’s making you stressed - it seems simple, but this is key to working out how to de-escalate your anxiety. Is it when people compare revision? Is it when you receive the official emails on exam hall etiquette? Is it when you’re lining up and people are still inhaling textbooks? Is it once the exam finishes and people start to discuss questions?

For most people, it’s all of the above. You need to develop a strategy to mitigate each source of stress as they come.

Revision comparing is far too common and not useful for anyone as we all learn in different ways. It’s fine to ask your friends if they have any tips for learning something specific e.g. the brachial plexus, but copying someone else’s revision timetable won’t help you. There’s also a lot of one-upmanship with students bragging about how many hours they’ve been putting in; this is nonsense, you know that it’s quality over quantity as everyone learns at different paces. Set some boundaries if your friends persist in comparison - ask them to discuss revision when you’re not there, or not on the main group chat for example.

The official emails can seem scary at first, but essentially they’re the same every time - see it as a positive step, in that now you can be more organised for the day. Put the time in your calendar and check your equipment well in advance to stop those last minute jitters! Tell a friend or family member so they can send you some support on that day, and think ahead to when you want to come back to uni. I always recommend coming back the day before the exam, so that minimises time to absorb other people’s stress, but it’s up to you.

The last minute line-up can make anyone nervous - for some reading notes and chatting about questions is their way of staying calm. For others this is their worst nightmare as they just want to block everyone out and get on with it. I’m the latter, so I tend to bring headphones and listen to some calm music before heading in. Avoid people who you know want to be quizzed and don’t be afraid to take a bit of space for yourself.

Leaving the exam hall again can polarise groups - some want nothing more than to recount the entire paper and reassure themselves on their thinking. Others want to forget everything that just happened and go calm down - if you’re one of these people, tell your friends before the exam that you’ll meet them at home, and head out as soon as the exam is done to avoid the buzz. It’s not selfish to tell people what you need, if you’d rather them not discuss questions in front of you then tell them so. You know what you need.

It’s normal to be a bit nervous before exams as this means you care about the outcome, and a little bit of adrenaline can help you to focus in that exam hall. However being too nervous can really affect your performance - if you’re still really worried, please contact the Pastoral Support Unit or the Welfare Officer (Suvarna) to talk about it.


Yours, Shirley

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Anonymous asked: “My friends keep making fun of me for being single, and it’s really getting me down. How can I find the man of my dreams and get my friends off my back?”

Hi Anon,

Being the only single member of your friendship group can really affect your self confidence, and often friends’ comments hinder rather than help the situation. What’s important is to address the issue - tell your friends to lay off the jokes for a while, and ask yourself what’s upsetting you about it. Is it that they’ve highlighted an insecurity? Is it that you feel left out when their partners are there? Speak to your friends openly and honestly, maybe arrange a girls/boys’ night where you can catch up without having their partners involved. Communication is key; if they don’t know they’re upsetting you, they won’t change their behaviour.

Jumping into a relationship is not really the solution, you need to be in a place where you’re confident and independent being you, before adding someone else into the equation. If you skip this step, relationships tend to break down quickly as you don’t have a firm grasp of who you are, and what you want in a partnership. I’d recommend practicing some good self-care - spend time on the things that make you happy, try something new - in Uni (societies) or outside. This will build your confidence, which in turn makes you more attractive to those around you. The right person(s) will come along when you’re not looking for them, so in the interim focus on ‘dating yourself’ for a little while. That way you’ll know how you deserve to be treated when you meet that person.

Yours, Shirley

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Anonymous asked: “Have any advice on how to cope when you’re stuck in a meeting? I’m dying of boredom!”

Hi Anon,

Meetings can drag and it’s tricky to keep morale up, especially if there’s a lot to cover. Having a clear agenda at the start with a restricted number of points helps. For example, in committee meetings I like to have a maximum of 10 key points to cover in order of priority. That way if you’re running out of time, you haven’t left the most important thing until last. I’m also a firm believer that no meeting should exceed 2 hours - it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep it moving, don’t be afraid to time each point and cut people off if need be.

Pro tip: having snacks e.g. pizza is a big incentive to attend meetings and will boost morale. BUT...once the snacks have been opened, concentration levels will decrease significantly for the next 20 minutes. So don’t discuss your most important/complex point over the pizza! Make sure to schedule in a 5 minute break every hour so people can refresh themselves and return to the meeting more focused on the task at hand.

Yours, Shirley

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Anonymous asked: “I really fancy the Friday Club DJ, but don’t know how to approach them. I’m just another face in the crowd, what do I do?”

Hi Anon,

Having a crush on someone who doesn’t know you exist is something I think everyone can relate to. DJs can be especially hard to get attention from, as during their set they’re so focused on what’s going on, they miss what’s right in front of them. Try to catch their eye from behind the barrier or offer them a drink during their set break. Remember that boundaries are important though - if they’re sat in a private area, that’s a signal that approaching them may be inappropriate.

What’s important is to be yourself. There’s no point having your crush fall for you, if you’re being someone you’re not. I’m sure if you remain true to you, the right person will find you in the crowd...DJ or otherwise! Often the right person comes along when you’re not looking, so in the meantime remember to have fun with your friends and enjoy the set.

Yours, Shirley

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Anonymous asked: “My friends all mock me for having a younger boyfriend, and call me a ‘cougar’. What should I do Shirley?”

Hi Anon,

Age gap relationships can often attract the wrong kind of attention unfortunately. As with most things, if anything is considered ‘different’ t the norm, then it becomes the punchline for a joke. What’s important to remember is that these are your friends; it’s likely that they haven’t realised their humour has been upsetting you. You should feel comfortable taking them aside, and letting them know that the cougar jokes have gone too far recently. If they’re good friends they should respect your wishes and lay of the jokes for now.

It can be difficult to tell your friends when they’ve upset you - unintentionally or not - but remember that these are people who care about you. Ultimately they wouldn’t want to hurt you. I’d recommend doing it in a non-confrontational manner, to stop the situation from escalating to a disagreement. Pick a neutral ground e.g. a cafe or the kitchen space if you’re in halls, and tell them how you feel. Try not to use accusatory language, as this will make them defensive so they won’t listen to your point of view. Top tip: make a round of drinks before beginning - its a kind gesture to set the tone of the meeting, and almost all conversations tend to go better with a mug in hand!

Yours, Shirley

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Anonymous asked: “Are all medicine lectures recorded and put on Blackboard? I prefer to listen to the lecture again whilst consolidating notes.”

Hi Anon!

Yes the majority of all Phase I lectures are recorded and put on Blackboard so you can review them whenever you’d like. That said, it can often be a few days before they are put on and there are some lectures that aren’t recorded. These tend to be from external speakers (but not always), and it can be because the speaker used real patient images or that they haven’t given the university permission to have a copy of their work. Lecturers are also human and sometimes forget to press record before they start!

If taking notes after rewatching lectures is how you like to work, then that’s absolutely fine - just make sure you pay attention during the actual lecture too in case it’s not recorded after all. You can always ask the speaker before they start if their PowerPoint will be available after the session.

Yours, Shirley

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Anonymous asked: “Roughly how many hours per week do people spend going over lectures/revising in 1st year (aside from exam periods?”

Hi there Anon!

That’s a common question lots of people ask, so thank you for being the first person to submit! The amount of time people spend studying varies considerably, as people learn in different ways. What’s important to consider is quality over quantity; it’s far more valuable to spend a focused hour consolidating your understanding, than 3 hours of not achieving much just for the sake of it. Spending a long time on a task can be reassuring , but is not necessarily that beneficial to your learning if you’re ignoring other subjects to do so. Medicine is a huge topic and during Phase I your focus should be on understanding the breadth of the content, rather than the depth!

During Phase I, the main forms of teaching are lectures and group work sessions - this is different to the classroom environment you may be used to. It’s important to try different learning methods to see what works for you; some students prefer to just listen during lectures, some take notes and some fall asleep (can’t say I reccommend the latter but Letsdisko gets the better of you sometimes!). During your first few weeks you’ll still be settling in, and this is the perfect time to try new methods of learning. Throughout the term make the most of the resources available to you on Blackboard when lecturers signpost them, such as Examplify quizzes to test your understanding. Your peers and older years can offer advice and support throughout the course also.

In short, there is no numerical answer to your question, as everyone is different. That said, first year is meant to be a gentle introduction to the course, so make the most of your free time and experience university life in other ways e.g. societies, apart from studying. Balance is key - as long as you engage with the curriculum and are enthusiastic, you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Yours, Shirley

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Anonymous asked: “How on earth do I revise in Phase II? There’s no break before exams to revise, I don’t know how much Phase I content I need to know, or how much detail I need for conditions?”

Hey Anon,

Thank you for getting in touch - this is a common concern amongst new third years. Firstly I would recommend looking at the ‘How to make notes in Phase II” section of your Phase II booklet - it has some handy tips on what information to focus on for each condition. In terms of which conditions you need to know, it’s impossible to remember every single one. Make sure you know the ones included in your workbooks at a bare minimum. Personally, I like to revise in priority order:
1) Life threatening - red flags you don’t want to miss e.g. cauda equina
2) Common things are common - e.g. I would cover appendicitis long before Budd Chiari!
3) Everything else

Try and make links between these conditions and Phase I content. Remember every exam question will have a clinical stem/context - it’s unlikely you’ll have 10 marks on bioavailability, but you may get 10 marks on pre-op management with 2 marks on route of administration for VTE prophylaxis.

Secondly, practise makes perfect. Use all the resources available to you to recall and apply your knowledge. Online question banks e.g. Capsule and PassMedicine are good examples. Workbooks can be a pain, but good for getting an idea of what style of question will be asked.

Not having a large gap before exams is stressful but learning on the wards is the best method. Practise OSCE examinations, history taking, and clinical skills on real patients with real signs. Look through patient notes, interpret investigations e.g. x-rays, ABGs and ECGs. Present cases to the doctors, seek feedback whenever you can. Focus on knowing basic key concepts e.g. fluid balance inside out. The less passive you are in your learning on placement, the more prepared you’ll be in the summer.

Yours, Shirley

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