For those of you who have been patiently awaiting a post, I assure you that I myself, am as disappointed as you are. Allow me to make use of this post to explain some current goings on at this stage, and outline progression points for the blog and for me personally.

Final Year

So as it stands, I’m sure you’re aware that I’ve progressed into the final year of my degree programme. Herein lies the reasons for such a span of time without a post.

Throughout the degree process, there has been no effort to mask the idea that final year is considered the most difficult year of all. Now, whilst this is a known and understood fact, It’s reasonably difficult to portray the effect this has on someone until you’re there for yourself. During my placement year there were individuals who had only recently graduated from the same programme I am now on. They made a point of explaining how important it is to manage your time and stick together with a good group of friends during final year. From where I stand now, just past the halfway point in semester one, this is vital information.

The final year jump is quite the gap. Hitting the ground running is an appropriate phrase to sum up the initial days of final year. Make note of the word choice here “days”. From day one hour one, the clock starts and the lectures start, the assignments hit and the dissertation based work starts. It feels as if you’ve joined a programme mid year and the only saving grace you have is that everyone is in the same boat.

It is with complete honesty that I can say, the semester has been a blur. The weeks have simply flown by and I can feel the time I have remaining in university slowly dwindling away. Assignments and deadlines have been numerous and rapid. Allow me to elaborate by identifying the deadlines I’ve met thus far and a few I know are up and coming. Please bear in mind throughout, that all of these deadlines have been on top of undertaking modules of study as well:

For the dissertation module…

Semester 1

1. Selection of research project – Week 2
2. Critical analysis of Journal article, various submission in – Weeks, 2,3 and 4
3. Allocation of project and meeting with supervisor – Week 3
4. Submission of project plan – Week 8
5. Statistics class test (counts towards final module mark) – Week 12

Semester 2

1. Draft literature review – Week 1
2. Final literature review – Week 3
3. Draft dissertation submitted – Week 9
4. Manuscript submission – Week 9
5. Poster Presentation – Week 11
6. Final Dissertation submission – Week 12

For Clinical and Molecular Genetics…

Semester 1 Only

1. Class test (1) – Week 6
2. Bioinformatic practice sequences – Week 7
3. Bioinformatics Assignment – Week 8
4. Class test (2) – Week 12
5. Sessional Examination – January Exam period

For Pharmacology…

Semester 1 Only

1. Module learning workbooks – Weeks 3,4,5,6,7,8
2. Class test (1) – Week 6
3. Assigned Drug report – Week 8
4. Class test (2) – Week 12
5. Evidence Based Practice Assignment
6. Sessional Examination – January Exam period

For Dissertation Supervisor…

So on top of the taught modules, we meet our dissertation supervisor weekly. That being said this is highly supervisor specific and other supervisors manage their students differently. As mentioned, my group meets weekly and usually we have something to investigate or write up for each meeting. On top of which it is recommended that to get used to the literature in the field, we read a paper a week. Usually it takes around 2-3 to properly read and analyse a journal paper and they should be read at least three times to ensure you grasp all the key concepts and data.

 So…

Hopefully you’re grasping the magnitude of this task by this stage in the post. I’ve stopped measuring my weeks and days by anything other than upcoming deadlines. All this being said it sounds extremely negative but that isn’t completely true. At the end of the day,  I wouldn’t be her studying Biomedical Sciences if I didn’t enjoy the subject. Whilst the vast majority of my time is taken up by some pretty in depth science, you can rest assured that I am enjoying it where I can find the time to do so. Yes, I have a lot to do and yes, for most of the day I spend it reading or writing and then in my spare time, I think about what I will be writing or reading next. But I’m ok with that for now. Perhaps it is the experience of going from a summer break, straight into such intensive work (I wanted to say 9 to 5 work, but honestly I wish I could get away with only working between 9 and five!).

The Take Home Points

Perhaps a final section on what I think are some pertinent messages for final year student life. Some of this will serve as an insight for those of my readers who are not themselves university students. Some of it will I am sure, be reminiscent of experiences amongst those of you who are out the other side of the university system. And some will be relevant and helpful for those of you who are yet to undertake that portion of your studies.

1. Communication is key – Talk to the people around you and let them know how things are going. If they are people who surround you in daily life then it us important that they understand what you’re trying to do and what that entails. It’s fine to let people know you won’t be around so much, you’ll be very busy. But you can also give other people appropriate signs so they know what is normal and what is not. You will inevitably be sucked into the void of studying and time will pas rapidly. Before you know it, It’s been weeks without seeing anyone who you don’t attend class or study with. Speak to family and speak to friends from both in and out of university. Sometimes it is maintaining that connection with home that can really help to keep you above water.
2. Breathing room – While time  away from study can seem scarce and short, it is important to utilise it so that you don’t become overwhelmed. Student mental health is a major issue, as is mental health in general these days. So when you do see a break in your schedule coming up, make a plan. Sometimes you need to resist the urge to let that free time creep up on you and then lay on your bed doing nothing. You need to maximise the efficiency of your free time and make it actually feel like a therapeutic break. Look after yourself properly and get to see your friends and family. Go for a walk, get out to the cinema, have a coffee date, read a fiction book that you can lose yourself in. Anything that you find really takes you away from it all and sets your head straight.
3. Make the time – It’s all well and good looking for up and coming time in your schedule, but what if there is none? All your time is taken up with studying and all your timetable gaps are spent in the library. This is an easier one than you think. Make the time, force yourself to find it and get it scheduled. The thing is, It is all about efficiency. I’ve yet to hear anyone tell me about how well timed their days are and how they are getting on fine. Everybody, is always busy. The truth of the matter however, is that you always have time. The problem is, you don’t see it coming and you don’t use it effectively. I’m definitely guilty of this one and it can easily catch up on you mentally. It drains you if you let it – Look ahead and make the time. You’ll thank me later.
4. Appreciate those around you – You’re at university. The people around you are in the same boat. Use them, chat to them, make plans with them. Sometimes you need people that are on the same schedule as you to fit in with things. That’s perfectly fine to do. The people on your course are struggling too, I guarantee it. Get amongst them and not only find friends to help you, but BE THAT HELP FOR OTHERS. This isn’t an individual race, It’s a team event, and you’re not getting extra points allowing people around you to flag and fail while you succeed.
5. Enjoy it – This is your experience at university. Take some time to realise where you are and how much you have achieved. No matter what university you go to, you have done some amazing things to get there and you are there to better yourself. Don’t forget that people out there may never have this opportunity, use yours wisely. Regardless of whether you’re a straight A student and always have been, or discovered a passion later in life. You’ve done great things, and you will continue to do great things – remember that.

Hopefully, I’ve provided you with an insight as to what’s taken me so long to put a post together for the blog. It us my hope that the next one wont be so far away. Now that I’ve consciously made myself pick back up here, we should be good to go at a better pace. I can’t guarantee weekly posts, but I’m still writing!