It’s good that you are thinking about IT.

We’ve made a special section of Flying Start just for questions about IT.  You can find this here…

The School of Medicine orientation begins at 9.00am on Monday of Orientation week with a welcome from the Dean of Medicine, the Director of Teaching and 1st year Module Controllers. This will be delivered online and recorded for those unable to attend. This will be immediately followed by an introduction to the Medical Support Team in the School of Medicine who will guide you through important resources and actions you may need to take early in the semester. The full programme can be found on this page in the medhandbook, linked under ‘Orientation Week’.

The School will be running in-person induction events during orientation week, including some academic events.

Tours of the School of Medicine for parents/families will be available on the Sunday before Orientation Week commences.

There’s a range of support available to help transition your study skills from school to University. The University offers academic and study skills training and resources to all students via the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI). This includes one-on-one study skill appointments, skills workshops and online resources. IELLI work closely with Medicine and deliver a study skills session to you in Orientation Week, which can be accessed throughout all years of study with us. Throughout the semester, the School will provide hints and tips to help you approach your studies effectively. We will also provide practice opportunities to help familiarise you with the exam formats.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who will meet with you periodically to discuss your progress. Your tutor will also help you identify and reflect on the support you may need to balance your studies with the other opportunities available to you as a student of our University.

The School also supports the student-led Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) who can provide support to you as a new student. The welcome message below from their current lead coordinator outlines many of the ways they’ll help you adjust to studying at University.

Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS)

Welcome to PALS at St Andrews!
(@pals_st.andrews on Instagram)

Hey! My name is Kelsey Wilson and I have the role of PALS President for the upcoming Academic Year! I’m so excited for all of the fun and useful events we have planned for you all this upcoming academic year, and we can’t wait to support you in your transition into medical school! PALS is a mentoring scheme run by students, for students of the MBChB Phase 1 (including the BSc (Hons) Medicine programme), to provide peer assisted support within the medical school. We know the jump from high school to medicine can be huge and we’re here to help you manage that transition by providing extra help regarding study skills and advice from those who have experienced it already. We hope that we can support you through your time at St Andrews by being friendly faces who are more than happy to answer any questions you have (the more questions the better)! I absolutely cannot wait to get all of our exciting plans up and running for you!

Hey everyone! My name is Jayne Pornteparaks, and I’m excited to introduce myself as your PALS Vice President for the upcoming academic year. Alongside Kelsey, I feel incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to support and guide you through the start of your journey in Medicine! Starting medical school can definitely feel overwhelming – we’ve all been there – but that’s exactly what PALS is here for. We’ve planned a range of engaging workshops, study skills sessions, and helpful resources like practice booklets to ease your transition and help you build confidence as a future medic. We can’t wait to meet you and be a part of your journey!

Keep reading to see how we can support you…

Mentor-Mentee Scheme: We run the Mentor-Mentee Scheme, which connects first-year students with experienced second and third-year mentors. Sign-ups will be available at the Medic Freshers’ Fayre Stall, with mentee registration starting in September. This also leads us into our first event…

Mentor-Mentee Mixer: We’re excited to host our Mentor-Mentee Mixer in the medical school café and courtyard during Week 2. This networking session will be a fantastic opportunity to meet your mentors, fellow freshers, and enjoy a little bite to eat. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get to know others and make new friends! You’ll also have a Welcome talk from your School of Medicine President, me and Jayne. It’s a perfect chance to get to know your President and to meet the rest of the PALS committee, make sure to attend so you can chat and get to know the people behind PALS!

Study Skills: Last year’s Study Skills event was a success, and we’re planning another one to introduce effective study strategies tailored for medical school. We’ll cover flashcard apps, study methods, and advice on balancing activities with studies, with a range of speakers. We’ll guide you through all your revision options, especially if flashcards aren’t your thing and you would like to know other methods to revise!

Clinical Skills and Content Revision: We’re thrilled to announce a series of dynamic and interactive revision sessions focused on clinical skills and lecture content throughout the year. These sessions are designed to enhance your understanding of and confidence in essential medical skills. Led by our dedicated staff and experienced fellow students, each session will provide hands-on practice and real-world applications. Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates, session schedules, and sign-up details.

Mock APE and Mock OSCE at PALS: We organise comprehensive Mock Anatomy Practical Exams (APEs) and Mock Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) to help you prepare for practical exams. These sessions are designed to mimic actual exam conditions, providing a realistic, pressure-free practice environment. Our mock exams are helpful for boosting students’ confidence, offering personalised feedback to identify improvement areas. Previous mock exam stations have actually appeared in the final exams, so do not miss these essential preparation opportunities – they can be a game changer!

Newsletter: We’re excited to continue our PALS Newsletter that was introduced last year! By signing up, you’ll receive the latest updates and resources. Each edition includes practice questions and expert revision tips. This is more than just a newsletter – it’s your go-to guide for staying informed and inspired throughout your medical school journey. Stay tuned!

President: Kelsey Wilson

Vice President: Jayne Pornteparaks

Secretaries: Emily Stribling and Paula Solano Bernal

Academic Coordinators: Harry Beckett, Lucy Anderson, Walada Ramram and Kimberley Liu

Clinical Coordinators: Zahra Ali and Rebecca Watson

2nd Year Representative: Emily Walker

3rd Year Representative: Christie Cook

Social Media Managers: Katie Mitchell and Diana Dovgy

Event Managers: Shanessa Mak and Hei Yu Siu (Hailey)

Charity and Careers Lead: Ishani Badala

Yes. During orientation week there will be a full programme of in-person introductory classes specifically organised by the School of Medicine for new medical students – where possible these will be recorded for those who are unable to attend due from the beginning of the week due to logistical issues. Your attendance at these classes is essential since they will help you to find your feet in the early stages of your medical course, and we would encourage you to ensure you watch the recording of any session you miss during the week as soon as possible.

Useful tips and advice from your School President

• Get to know the folks on your course and engage with the Orientation Programme. The facilities in the Med School are brilliant and worth getting familiar with! Explore the tutorial rooms, different floors and study areas with fellow first years.

• Be open to different study methods. Med school differs from high school. It’s worth looking into different study methods and giving yourself time to find out which suits you best!  Top tip: don’t be afraid if a study method doesn’t work out for you; trial and error is part of the process!

• Get comfortable asking questions. While the modules are designed to support you in your learning, they might still leave gaps in your knowledge. And that’s okay. No one expects you to know everything after listening to one lecture. Channel this curiosity in the right direction; ask staff, send emails, and be inquisitive. The faculty are always more than happy to help.

• Learn how to make a realistic plan. Planning is easy to do but being realistic takes practice. Set goals, be aware of your timeline and prioritise.

• Approach med students in other years too. Don’t be afraid! We love to yap about our experiences and hurdles, so feel free to ask. You might just find your academic family…

• Balance studying and well-being. Being a med student requires discipline…. and sometimes that means knowing when to log off! Enjoy spending time with friends, exploring St Andrews, and taking care of yourself. This also means getting plenty of sleep.

• Get involved in student societies. There is a society out there for everyone, so find it! Societies host socials and give you the chances to meet up and chat to new folks. It’s worth having a look around and picking a few that you would like to keep up with – even if that means signing up to a weekly newsletter!

Some advice other students shared with me…
• Help each other as you are all in the same boat
• Be prepared to change your study technique! Look into evidence-based study techniques such as spaced repetition and active recall before starting university
• Remember to take breaks and have a life out with medical school e.g. hobbies and socials
• Learn the importance of organisation and being able to adapt to different and unfamiliar situations
• Try and relate what you are learning in the lectures to that in clinical skills, dissection, communication skills, and placement – remember the bigger picture
• A career in medicine is a life of continued learning- stay curious!
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help in any aspect of university life – there are so many areas of support out there
• Remember to have some fun along the way!