Hiya guys, I am Seonhu, and I am currently in my 2nd year on the 5-year BVM&S course. Today I would like to talk to you guys about how I find 2nd year so far.
Thinking about it I found my first year quite tough, mainly because of the amount of content that had to be learnt at a limited time and adapting to new ways of learning. But I realized all the hard work you put in your first year makes your second year much more manageable! All the basic anatomy, histology and cell biology would all make much more sense in 2nd year as we are now learning about comparative anatomy which compares the anatomical structures of horses, cows, and dogs mainly. So, it is easier to grasp and understand anatomical concepts. Also, my study method has slightly changed. In my first year, I used to make notes and go over them during my exam season, but I realized I was going through the notes passively rather than actively reinstating the concepts. What I do know is making good use of Quizlet which is a website that allows you to make flash
cards. Asking questions to myself helps me to actively think and makes it easier to come up with the answers in an actual exam. Some people use the same study method that they used since high school and others try other ways to figure out what is the best for them. And what I can say for sure is that you will find the most effective method while you are studying for your exam and would recommend sticking with it if it seems to work for you.
Outside of vet school, I have been trying to do different things than last year. I have been more involved with societies or roles I can take in vet school. For instance, I am now involved in VETPAL where senior students give advice & tips to the junior years on how to approach different assessments or exams. Since I personally like to help people who wish to get more advice, working as a VETPAL leader is very rewarding. Also, as I finished all my EMS in my 1st year, I am trying to travel as much as possible! Writing about travelling, we have a society called IVSA which is a society in vet school, and we do exchanges between different vet schools around the world. Recently I have been to Lublin, Poland, and I really enjoyed my time there. So, please keep an eye out on our society if you would like to get involved with us 😊
Vet school can be tough, and it is not easy, but we always find ways to tackle with problems that are given to us and learn to find work & life balance. I have grown a lot as a person after finishing 1st year of vet school and can’t wait to see a better version of myself after I graduate. Thanks for reading and see you in my future blogs!
