Tips for Freshers to Survive and Thrive the first semester
Start as you mean to go on
Set yourself up with good habits early on so they don’t seem like a chore further down the line. Get a good routine going - change your bedsheets on a Sunday, make your lunch for the following day before you go to bed, drink a glass of water when you wake up, whatever rituals work for you.
Study little and often
As exciting as extra-curricular activities are, don’t forget that you’re primarily here to get a degree! You don’t need to chain yourself to your desk in the library 24/7 but try and regularly set aside study time throughout the semester. This will make it easier as exams and deadlines approach, as things won’t be a last minute rush the night before!
Look after yourself
Don’t underestimate the impact and importance of self-care! Make sure you eat healthily, sleep well, exercise, have some quiet time to yourself, and see a doctor if you need to. Contrary to popular belief, it's not a competition to see who can function on the least healthy lifestyle. Keep yourself in tip-top condition to get the most enjoyment out of your first semester (and the rest of first year)!
Make friends
Introduce yourself to your flatmates, make conversation with the scary stranger who sat themselves down next to you in your lecture, go for coffee with your PBL group after your first session. You’re all in the same boat - all missing home, all completely new at this, all wishing you had the confidence to talk to all 300 strangers of your new year group. Be the one who makes the first move, because everyone else is wishing they could!
Make more friends
Labouring this point because it’s important to remember - you might not meet your new best friend on your very first day (what are the chances…) and that’s okay! Think about how different everybody here is. If you don’t meet anyone straight away who’s your kind of person, keep trying because you’ll find them!
Find extra-curricular activities
Joining a student group is a great way to meet new people and enjoy your university experience! There are countless student groups you can join, from volunteering groups, to sports clubs, to societies and student media. If there’s one you like at Mile End that’s not on offer here, you can join those too, or start a BL student group yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support if you need it
Make sure you know how to access support services here if you need them - the Student Support Office in Garrod Building is a fantastic source of advice. There are other support services at QM, like DDS (the Disability and Dyslexia Service), and Advice and Counselling. You wouldn't be the first student to access these services, and certainly wouldn’t be the last, so don’t be shy or embarrassed about it.
Keep in touch with everyone back at home
If you’re feeling homesick, give home a call. There’s nothing wrong with missing home, and nothing weak about struggling with the massive adjustment of beginning a whole new life here in London. If you don’t live too far from London, try and plan a weekend trip back home, or invite friends and family to visit you in London instead!
Don’t compare yourself academically to your classmates
This might seem counterintuitive as the medical schools insists on constant comparisons and rankings, but really don’t worry about how you compare to others. If you want to see how they study and take inspiration from their revision techniques then great, but don’t obsess over the difference between your exam scores. Work hard and make sure you’re happy with your results intrinsically, rather than determining your success relative to others.
Be proud of yourself
Think about why you’re here and how hard you’ve worked to get to this point. This is a fantastic achievement in its own right so never doubt yourself - you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t good enough. Keep pushing forward, keep your head up high, and you can achieve anything.
