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Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Vet Students by Vet Studentswww.nottingham.ac.uk/vet
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsThe Veterinary course is unlike any other educationalexperience that you may have encountered before. The courseis intense and there are many new concepts and ideas that youwill be exposed to. Most students find that they cannot work theway that they did during A levels or in other previous degrees.Adapting to these new demands is challenging, and you willneed to develop new methods of learning and revising veryearly in your days as a new vet student. But the course is veryfulfilling and as outlined in this booklet, many students havemade this adaptation with great success.The following reflection from a third yearveterinary student outlines how shesuccessfully adapted to the veterinarycourse. This is followed by tips and advicefrom vet students in their own words.“In first year I chose to make all of my notes onmy computer and then copy them up by hand ata later date as part of my revision. Although thisworked it took a lot of time and I had to abandoncopying up some modules in order to get on withproper revision. I revised simply by re-reading thenotes over and over again. I realised that I did notlike revising from a computer screen but needed amethod of producing hand-written notes that tookless time. I also needed a revision method thatencouraged me to retain a larger proportionof information.In second year I decided to write my notes up byhand in the lecture itself. This worked with certainlecturers but with others I got left behind. I oftenended up with large amounts of notes to finishwriting up each evening leaving me with very littletime to relax and do other things. This often left mefeeling stressed. Again I felt that I needed to find anote taking technique that required less time.I found a better way to revise was to work throughmy notes with a friend, testing each other aboutwhat was written on each page. However, theproblem with this method was that it only workswhen somebody else is able to revise with me. Ineeded a technique that I could also use when Iwas alone.This year I have finally found a note takingtechnique that works well for me. I print offthe lecture slides in advance and simply writeadditional points the lecturer makes onto my printouts. This is a quick method that allows me to readthrough my notes without staring at a computerscreen. For revision, I intend to make myself flashcards. On one side I will write key bullet pointsfrom my notes. On the other I will write myselfprompts so that I can test my memory of what iswritten on the other side of the card. I will also beable to use the card with friends.The evolution of my note taking and revisiontechniques over the past few years shows how Ihave used my reflective abilities to make new aimsand work towards them. I have improved eachyear until I have found techniques that I am happywith. This shows the importance of reflecting onthings that I do so that I can strive to better myselfin the future.”Jenna Lamb,Year 3 Veterinary Student01
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsGet Organised!02
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsGo over each teaching session as soonas you can to check you understandthe key concepts!03
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsCondense lecture material and try tounderstand the big picture04
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsUse the learning objectives to help youidentify the important points.05
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsWork out what the key points areand learn them!06
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsConsider a variety of approaches tohelp you remember the material.What works for one person might not work for you.07
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary Students08
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsUse a variety of resources to helpyour learning.Don’t rely just on the lecture material.09
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsUse your condensed notes for yourfinal revision.10
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsConsider working with friendsor in a group11
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsLook after yourself!12
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsPace yourself throughout the year anddon’t leave all your revision until thelast few weeks!13
Veterinary Medicine and ScienceStudy Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary StudentsRemember that not everyonelearns in the same way!What works for one person may not work for another, so try anumber of apporaches until you find what works for you.And, if the worst happens?14
Other resources you may find helpfulNottingham University Academic rtforyourstudies/academicsupportNottingham University Counselling Service:www.nottingham.ac.uk/counsellingUniversity of Southampton Academic micskills Has some useful advice indownloadable PDF files.www.learnhigher.ac.ukCentre for excellence in teaching and learning contains loads of advice including ary support for studentswww.dyslexia.uk.net andwww.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk for moreinformation about these specific e for students about depression and whereto go for helpIf you require this publication in analternative format, please contact us:t 44 (0)115 951 4591e: alternativeformats@nottingham.ac.ukDesign: www.campbellrowley.com
Study Skills for Veterinary Students by Veterinary Students . Other resources you may find helpful Nottingham University Academic Support: . downloadable PDF files. www.learnhigher.ac.uk Centre for excellence in teaching and learning - contains loads of advice including videos
