I've just finished an enthralling three-hour forelimb anatomy stint and I’m feeling fairly positive about the exams. After revision this morning I’ve finally finished going through everything once (quite a close call though as exams start the day after tomorrow).
Reproductive physiology took me about 15hours over the past couple of days, but least it’s done, and will mean that it won’t need to give it much attention tomorrow or Thursday morning before the exam.
The rest of today I’m going to try and read through hind-limb anatomy and then all of exotic anatomy (fish, birds, rodents, reptiles) so I’ll have gone through everything again for Friday’s Anatomy exam.
Then next Tuesday it’s Animal Health and Husbandry computer based and written exams. This involves genetics, nutrition, behaviour, epidemiology and statistics, so quite a beast! Then the day after is parasitology, followed by anatomy on Thursday and Histology on Friday.
Next Friday night is going to require a well deserved break and very drunk state to unlearn all the stupidly long parasite names that will hopefully be floating around in my head.
It’s not all doom and gloom though; I went home Friday night so I could join my parents celebrating their silver wedding anniversary. It was great to be home for a night and see all the family including my grandparents. This was the first time I’ve been home all term.
Right back to, just another two and half hours to go of Anatomy and then dinner.
Probably won’t speak again till after the exams, as I’m fairly sure I’ll be constantly revising over the next week…
Wish me luck!!
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Firstly I’d like to apologise for the complete lack of blogs over the past week, I just haven’t had a chance as revision is taking up nearly all of my time. I can’t remember having to work as hard as this last year, but then I don’t think I left it so late last year. First year nerves and worries got me motivated slightly earlier I think. Also, I blame it on IDSE, if it wasn’t for that being three weeks long I’d have started a bit earlier. It was only 2 weeks for the now 3rd years, which I doubt in any way reflected on the work they produced. To be fair I reckon they could give us a week and we’d still come up with the same stuff.
Well, anyway, revision isn’t going too bad, I had a manic day yesterday of Histology (sort of like anatomy at a cellular level). I managed to get through the entire 2nd Yr Histology course in a day, which was quite an achievement, and now means that I’m back on course with my revision timetable.
Every year I write myself out a timetable, everyone has there own revision method and mine is writing down everything in the timetable and religiously sticking to it. However for the last week I’ve been about half a day behind everyday till yesterday, so the exam stress has slacked a little now.
I’ve spent all my time over revision at either Hayley’s house or in the medical library, I was able to use one of Hayley’s friend’s rooms for about a week as she went home to revise, like a lot of people do. Though now she’s back and I’m stuck revising in the medical library, which is good as far as revision quantity is concerned but not as far as temperature. Its like a bloody green house, and a lot of students tend to get a bit slack as far as personal hygiene is concerned during revision i.e. The medical school smells of sweaty feet (unless it’s me and the smell just follows?!)
Today I’ve revised special sensors physiology and then written notes on bird and fish physiology, which leaves me forelimb muscles, blood vessels and innervation to do tonight, if I’m to stick to the timetable.
Well if any one is still reading after that revision rant there has been some fun stuff over the past couple of weeks.
The vet barn dance was a great night as it was last year. I reckon it’s because everyone is working that people just go on a mission to get themselves absolutely smashed! Tamsin got sent home in a taxi early, Mat couldn’t remember the 3women he pulled, John got tonsillitis, Hayley had a water fight a then almost got into a fight and my vet dad Gabe (3rd Yr) woke up with a bust lip, concussion and a cut arm. Thankfully my brother and his mates Tom, Ally and Stu managed to escape unharmed from the night, and even managed to acquire a watering can and a new potted plant for my house…how very generous?!…(In-case Rich reads this, I’ve got some very funny photos of all of us playing “touch the other side of the deer pen” game)
Couple of nights ago (can’t give any dates as I don’t know what day it is today) Hayley and I went out for a very socialable meal and drink. Hayley’s choice, so we went to Beijing Bistro. Very tasty and reasonably prices (sounds like an advert), definitely will have to go again sometime, the crispy seaweed starter was great. Also, I learnt how to use chopsticks, so I’m not going to look like a complete uncultured westerner in Tokyo in September.
On Friday I’m off home for a day. It’s my parent’s silver wedding anniversary so the whole family is going out for lunch on the Saturday, then I’m coming back to Bristol in the evening.
That’s about all I can think of for now (unless I write some more work-orientated stuff, but they’ll be plenty of that after each exam… The first one of which is next Thursday (Physiology) then Anatomy on the Friday after).
Tonight I’m off to Sainsburys to get supplies.
Well, anyway, revision isn’t going too bad, I had a manic day yesterday of Histology (sort of like anatomy at a cellular level). I managed to get through the entire 2nd Yr Histology course in a day, which was quite an achievement, and now means that I’m back on course with my revision timetable.
Every year I write myself out a timetable, everyone has there own revision method and mine is writing down everything in the timetable and religiously sticking to it. However for the last week I’ve been about half a day behind everyday till yesterday, so the exam stress has slacked a little now.
I’ve spent all my time over revision at either Hayley’s house or in the medical library, I was able to use one of Hayley’s friend’s rooms for about a week as she went home to revise, like a lot of people do. Though now she’s back and I’m stuck revising in the medical library, which is good as far as revision quantity is concerned but not as far as temperature. Its like a bloody green house, and a lot of students tend to get a bit slack as far as personal hygiene is concerned during revision i.e. The medical school smells of sweaty feet (unless it’s me and the smell just follows?!)
Today I’ve revised special sensors physiology and then written notes on bird and fish physiology, which leaves me forelimb muscles, blood vessels and innervation to do tonight, if I’m to stick to the timetable.
Well if any one is still reading after that revision rant there has been some fun stuff over the past couple of weeks.
The vet barn dance was a great night as it was last year. I reckon it’s because everyone is working that people just go on a mission to get themselves absolutely smashed! Tamsin got sent home in a taxi early, Mat couldn’t remember the 3women he pulled, John got tonsillitis, Hayley had a water fight a then almost got into a fight and my vet dad Gabe (3rd Yr) woke up with a bust lip, concussion and a cut arm. Thankfully my brother and his mates Tom, Ally and Stu managed to escape unharmed from the night, and even managed to acquire a watering can and a new potted plant for my house…how very generous?!…(In-case Rich reads this, I’ve got some very funny photos of all of us playing “touch the other side of the deer pen” game)
Couple of nights ago (can’t give any dates as I don’t know what day it is today) Hayley and I went out for a very socialable meal and drink. Hayley’s choice, so we went to Beijing Bistro. Very tasty and reasonably prices (sounds like an advert), definitely will have to go again sometime, the crispy seaweed starter was great. Also, I learnt how to use chopsticks, so I’m not going to look like a complete uncultured westerner in Tokyo in September.
On Friday I’m off home for a day. It’s my parent’s silver wedding anniversary so the whole family is going out for lunch on the Saturday, then I’m coming back to Bristol in the evening.
That’s about all I can think of for now (unless I write some more work-orientated stuff, but they’ll be plenty of that after each exam… The first one of which is next Thursday (Physiology) then Anatomy on the Friday after).
Tonight I’m off to Sainsburys to get supplies.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
It came as quite a surprise to me when I found an e-mail from Kieran asking me to carry on my blog for the last term. To be honest this term is the worst time of the year every year and apart from exams there isn’t really much going on, but I’ll let people know exactly what great/interesting/mind numbing subjects I’ve been revising any how.
The term started out great with a pharmacology exam. The best part of this exam is that the result does not contribute to this year, so if the mark is bad it’s only the pharmacology course next year that will suffer.
The exam went ok I think, I only answered 2/3 of the multiple choice questions as they were negatively marked and guessing can be lethal. The short answer question was alright to.
Over the last couple of weeks of this term timetable has just been IDSE (intergraded directed self education). This involves our DSE groups getting a topic and having to produce essays and talks on it. Mat, Hayley, Claire, Ian, Hugo and I have got “The Bovine Udder” as our large topic, and then each of us has got a separate sub-topic to write a 3000 word essay on. The whole point is that between the essays we’ll cover all of pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, parastiology and animal health and husbandry in respect to the bovine mammary gland. My little topic is Bovine Somatotropin, a hormone that can be injected to massively increase milk production, which I found quite interesting. My essay is finished but I’ve still got to sort out a five minute talk on the topic, which I’ll do later today.
It hasn’t however been all work so far this term; I’ve been able to afford a couple of evenings of merriment. We had a big group kill bill volume one DVD watching session the other night and then I went off to see volume two with Hayley. An absolutely awesome film, must see!
Couple of nights ago 8 of us went round for a meal at Hugo’s house, it was meant to be just a quite one, but even so John still got sent to get more wine and left his car at hugo’s. I never understand why any of my friends drive to any gatherings we have, as it doesn’t save them any time. Yes they arrive with minimal effort, but then have to walk home after drinking and walk back the next day to retrieve the car, why not just walk in the first place.
I suppose you’re wondering what is so bad about this term… Bloody exams. Every year since GCSE this time of year gets harder and harder with the ever increasing work load. I’m starting revision tomorrow and it ain’t gonna be pretty. Four weeks till the first exam and massive amounts to learn, so don’t expect any interesting blogs off me!
The exams I’ve got are physiology, anatomy, parasitology and animal health and husbandry written, then a histology practical, an anatomy viva or two and an anatomy spot test.
However there are things to look forward to and the big picture is always essential to remember at this time of year. There’s the barn dance next week, which my brother and three of his mates are coming down from Derby to go to, and then there’s the summer and my multitude of holidays!! As long as all goes well with exams I’m going to go to Australia and Tokyo with John and I’ve also got a three night break to Barcelona booked with Hayley. This was a mega bargin, as we managed to get return flights, parking in Gatwick and 3 nights hostel accommodation for £110!!
Well think that’s enough for now, will let you know next week how amazingly well the revision better be going.
The term started out great with a pharmacology exam. The best part of this exam is that the result does not contribute to this year, so if the mark is bad it’s only the pharmacology course next year that will suffer.
The exam went ok I think, I only answered 2/3 of the multiple choice questions as they were negatively marked and guessing can be lethal. The short answer question was alright to.
Over the last couple of weeks of this term timetable has just been IDSE (intergraded directed self education). This involves our DSE groups getting a topic and having to produce essays and talks on it. Mat, Hayley, Claire, Ian, Hugo and I have got “The Bovine Udder” as our large topic, and then each of us has got a separate sub-topic to write a 3000 word essay on. The whole point is that between the essays we’ll cover all of pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, parastiology and animal health and husbandry in respect to the bovine mammary gland. My little topic is Bovine Somatotropin, a hormone that can be injected to massively increase milk production, which I found quite interesting. My essay is finished but I’ve still got to sort out a five minute talk on the topic, which I’ll do later today.
It hasn’t however been all work so far this term; I’ve been able to afford a couple of evenings of merriment. We had a big group kill bill volume one DVD watching session the other night and then I went off to see volume two with Hayley. An absolutely awesome film, must see!
Couple of nights ago 8 of us went round for a meal at Hugo’s house, it was meant to be just a quite one, but even so John still got sent to get more wine and left his car at hugo’s. I never understand why any of my friends drive to any gatherings we have, as it doesn’t save them any time. Yes they arrive with minimal effort, but then have to walk home after drinking and walk back the next day to retrieve the car, why not just walk in the first place.
I suppose you’re wondering what is so bad about this term… Bloody exams. Every year since GCSE this time of year gets harder and harder with the ever increasing work load. I’m starting revision tomorrow and it ain’t gonna be pretty. Four weeks till the first exam and massive amounts to learn, so don’t expect any interesting blogs off me!
The exams I’ve got are physiology, anatomy, parasitology and animal health and husbandry written, then a histology practical, an anatomy viva or two and an anatomy spot test.
However there are things to look forward to and the big picture is always essential to remember at this time of year. There’s the barn dance next week, which my brother and three of his mates are coming down from Derby to go to, and then there’s the summer and my multitude of holidays!! As long as all goes well with exams I’m going to go to Australia and Tokyo with John and I’ve also got a three night break to Barcelona booked with Hayley. This was a mega bargin, as we managed to get return flights, parking in Gatwick and 3 nights hostel accommodation for £110!!
Well think that’s enough for now, will let you know next week how amazingly well the revision better be going.
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