your Essential Freshers` Survival Guide

Welcometo…
EDINBURGH!
YourEssential
SurvivalGuide
BYTHEROYALMEDICALSOCIETY
MeetyourRMSCouncil,Unihintsandtips,Edinburghdayand
nightlife,books,andsomuchmore!
Firstofall…
CONGRATULATIONSonmakingittoEdinburgh–thedoorisopen
toendlessopportunities,people,funandindependence.
MovingtoUniversity–whetheryou’vecomefromabroad,orlivein
Edinburgh–canbedaunting.Itisthefirsttimeyouarefendingfor
yourself,budgeting,meetingnewpeopleandbalancingmedicineon
top of everything else. DO NOT WORRY. This guide is written by
current Edinburgh Medical Students to prepare you for the most
amazing5yearsahead!
Lots of Love,
The RMS
CONTENTS…




WhatistheRoyalMedicalSociety
MeetyourCommittee
Unilife–hintsandtips
WelcomeWeek
WishtocontacttheRMS?
www.royalmedical.co.uk
01316502672
WhoAreWe?
We aren’t just any normal MedSoc. We are the Royal Medical Society –
establishedin1737,wearetheonlystudentsocietyinBritainwithaRoyal
Charter. We are BIG DEAL and we’ve got some pretty big name past
memberstoo!
TheRMSisrunbyagroupofstudents(thecouncil)andourtwowonderful
(andbeautiful)secretaries–ElizabethandEnid.Wehostavarietyofevents
throughouttheyearincludingtalks,tutorialsandaNationalConference,as
well as many socials such as the White Coat Pub Crawl (during Welcome
Week),BurnsSupperandourAnnualDinner.
WearealivelyandapproachableCouncil,socometousifyouhaveanything
toaskortellus–wearealwayslookingforwaystoimprove.
JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP: Edinburgh Medicine Freshers 2015 MeetYourCouncil!
Chris
Ellie
Doug
Michael
SENIORPRESIDENT
Year3
Loves:Travelling,sports,foodanddarkhumour
Hates:Mosthorrorfilmsandmess
NotetoFresherSelf:Makemore‘metime’
Best Moment in Edinburgh: Fending off Professor Maxwell to
claim‘bestlecturer’
FavouriteSociety:MedicsFootball
10Years’Time:NoIdea…theworldismyoyster
JUNIORPRESIDENT
Year3
Loves:Iloveanyopportunitytogetoutside.Running,cycling,
walkingandyogaaremyfavourites.Ialsolovefood–everything
aboutit–especiallygoodbread.Also,OrangeistheNewBlackand
HouseofCardsarecurrentlythebestshowsonNetflix.TRAVEL.
Hates:Beinginsideandthedark
NotetoFresherSelf:Tryeverythingthatinterestsyou–don’tbe
scared!
BestMomentinEdinburgh:I<3Edinburgh
FavouriteSociety:YOGA–Iurgeeveryonetogiveitago!
10Years’Time:inabeautifulforeignlandwithmyveryowndog
JUNIORPRESIDENT
Year3
Loves:Scubadiving,golf,watchingfilms,eatingout,travellingand
goingtothegymwithMichael
Hates:Rain
NotetoFresherSelf:Makeasmanynewfriendsasyoucaninthe
firstweek
Best Moment in Edinburgh: That’s a hard question. I can’t pick a
singlemoment–allmytimeinEdinburghhasbeengreatsofar.
FavouriteSociety:athleticsandtheRMS(ofcourse)
10Years’Time:savinglivesofcourse…andbeingJamesBond
JUNIORPRESIDENT
IntercalatinginReproductiveBiology
Loves:HendricksGin,goingtothegymwithDoug,beingtanned,life
drawing,spontaneousnightsout,makingEdinburghSnapchatLive
Hates:Tequila,9amlectures,baggyjeans
NotetoFresherSelf:Don’tstressaboutworktoomuchinthefirst
fewweeks–youareatuniversityandyoushouldmakethemostof
socialisingandgoingout.Meetnewpeopleandjoinclubs.
BestMomentinEdinburgh:TheMysteryBustourinfirstyearand
endingupinNewcastle.AnddidImentionIwasontheEdinburgh
SnapchatLive?
FavouriteSocieties:AthleticsClub
10Years’Time:Savingchildren’slivesatGreatOrmondStreetand
sellingartformillions.
Marie
Alisha
Aparna
Hannah
SENIORSECRETARY
IntercalatinginPhysiology
Loves:Tennis,BigCheeseandtheChristmasMarket
Hates:Hangovers
NotetoFresherSelf:Don’tbuyeverybookrecommended,findout
whatyoulikeandACTUALLYUSEotherwiseyouendupindebtwith
abookshelfofunusedbooks
Best Moment in Edinburgh: Ice Skating at the Christmas Market
afterexams
JUNIORSECRETARY
IntercalatinginNeuroscience
Loves:Coffee,puppiesandpainting
Hates:Peas,insectsandexams
BestClub:CAV
Note to Fresher Self: Join every society you can! You don’t know
whoyouwillmeet!
BestMomentinEdinburgh:Picnicsonthemeadowsinsummer
FavouriteSocieties:ArtintheCommunity,TeddyBearHospitaland
KickboxingClub
10 Years’ Time: practicing medicine back in Asia and hopefully
travellingtheworld
BUSINESS
Year2
Loves:PROW‐ing,tea,baking,paintinganddrawing
Hates:9ams,lecturersusingcomicsans…
Note to Fresher Self: Time flies but memories stay! Be organised
andmakesureyoukeepyourselfbusywithavarietyofthings.Also
takeachancetoexploreEdinburgh,trynewthingsandgettoknow
lotsoflovelypeople.
FavouriteSociety:TeddyBearHospital
10Years’Time:Idon’tevenknowwhatI’mgoingtohaveforlunch
tomorrow….hopefullyhappyandwithagoodcareer
ENTERTAINMENTS
Year2
Loves:Dogs,Skiing,ProfessorJamieDavies
Hates: HES, Sambuca, accidentally hospitalising one of your best
friends
Note to Fresher Self: As much as I love medics it is nice to have
friends who do other subjects so join uni clubs and get chatting to
peopleinyourhalls
Best Moment in Edinburgh: Watching the sunset up Crags at the
endoffirstyear
FavouriteSociety:athletics
10Years’time:hopefullygraduatedwithatleast2dogs
Emma
Mathew
Jason
PUBLICITY
Year2
Loves:Dancing,singing,P‐rowing
Hates:Writingessays,vodkashotsand9ams
Note to Fresher Self: It’s not the things you do, but the things you
don’tdothatyouwillregret,sogetinvolved!
BestMomentinEdinburgh:Watchingsurgeryforthefirsttime!
Favourite Society: Modern dance society and Edinburgh Uni a
capella
10Years’Time:Trainingforthespecialtyofmydreamsandknowing
somuchmedicaljargonthatI’mpracticallybilingual.
COMPUTERS
Year2
Loves:Tea,Edinburgh,SpicyDoritos
Hates:HES,beinga“responsibleadult”andcheesyDoritos
NotetoFresherSelf:DoEVERYTHING,gooutmore,theassessment
you’reworriedaboutcountsforwaylessthanyouthink
Best Moment in Edinburgh: Paul Mill’s Freshers’ Address, White
CoatPubCrawlandsummerBBQsonthemeadows
Favourite Society: RMS, Edinburgh Students Surgical Society and
PaediatricSociety
10Years’Time:hopefullyfinisheduni(it’sonlybeen8yearssofar)
andhopefullynotquestioningwhyIgotmyselfintothis
TUTORIALS
IntercalatinginImmunology
Loves:BenandJerrys
Hates:MushyPeas
Note to Fresher Self: Don’t rush into buying textbooks in the first
week!Trythemoutinthelibraryfirst.Alsomentallyprepareforthe
crazinessofACFAMS(AcademicFamiliesnightout)
Best Moment in Edinburgh: Watching the sunrise on Arthur’s Seat
afterourfirstyearpostexamsnightout
FavouriteSociety:RMSofcourse!
10Years’Time:beinganexpeditionmedicgoingaroundtheworld
LIBRARIAN
Year3
Loves:Sunshine,coffee,cooking,andtheoutdoors
Hates:Rain
NotetoFresherSelf:GetALLtheloyaltycardsavailable
BestMomentinEdinburgh:AllRMSBallsandCeilidhs!
FavouriteSociety:Coppafeelfortheamazingworktheydo!
10Years’Time:Idon’tknowbuthopefullydoingsomethingIenjoy
whateverthatmaybe
Philippa
Sophia
Ian
Jacqueline
LIBRARIAN
Year2
Loves:CoffeeShops,thewidearrayofdogsinthemeadowsandThe
BigCheese
Hates:Spiders,goingtothedentistandbeingforcedtoplay“never
everhaveIever”
Note to Fresher Self: Don’t worry about making friends – the best
and most permanent relationships take time. You’ll meet great
people in curious places. With that in mind, visit as many curious
placesaspossible
BestMomentinEdinburgh:ClimbingupArthur’sSeattowatchthe
sunrise
Favourite Society: The Boat Club (I started novice rowing then
changedtorecreational).It’sagreatwaytomeetpeople!
10 Years’ Time: Qualified and owner of a Labrador and maybe
slightlybetteratdrinkinginmoderation
HOUSEKEEPER
Year4
Loves:Nerdystuff,cheesymusic,theoccasionalginandtonic
Hates:earlymornings,fancydress,cats(apartfromthefunnyones
doingsillythingsontheinternet)
BestClub:Bigcheeseishardtobeat
NotetoFresherSelf:Tequilatastesevenworseonthewaybackup
Best Moment in Edinburgh: that’s a tough one… too many to
choose from. Probably hosting the RMS Annual Dinner at the Royal
CollegeofSurgeonslastyear.Itwasgreattoseemonthsofplanning
andhardworkcometofruition,andtobeabletospendafantastic
nightwithfriendsandfamilyenjoyinggreatfoodanddrinkinsucha
prestigiousvenue
ANNUALDINNER
Year2
Loves: Prow (The Big Cheese), singing, a capella, ice‐cream and
tennis
Hates:TheP‐rowqueue,alsoIdespisetheneverendingHESessays
NotetoFresherSelf:InFresher’sWeekit’sgreattomeetandtalkto
asmanypeopleaspossible,youneverknowwhomightturnoutto
be your closest friends in the future (although reality you probably
won’tspeaktothemajorityofthesepeopleeveragain).Alsoalotof
peoplewillbenervousaboutstartinguniandhavingtomakingnew
friends,sodon’tignoreanybodyandinvolveeveryone!
BestMomentinEdinburgh:Ihavelovedseeingthemedicspullout
allthestopsforsomeamazingacademicproposalsthisyear!
FavouriteSocieties:EdinburghUniversityAcappella(Sound
Dynamics)
10Years’Time:HopefullysuccessfullygraduatedfromMedSchool
onthewaytosavinglives
WELCOMEWEEKRMSTIMETABLE!
MONDAY
MedicalSportsandSocietiesFair
12pmand2.45pm
RMSRooms(abovePotterrow)
GETYOURWHITECOATSHERE!!!!!!!!
TUESDAY
WhiteCoatPubCrawl
7pm.MeetinRMSRooms
WEDNESDAY
MedicalSocietiesFair
1pm
Chancellor’sBuilding,RIE
BOOKSBOOKSBOOKS!
ThefirstpieceofadviceaboutbooksistoNOTPANICaboutbuyingallrecommended
texts.Plentyofcopiesofallrecommendedbooksareinthelibraryforyoutoborrow.
Before you think about buying, research the different books and see which you think
willworkbestforyou!Hereisabriefreviewoftheoneswhicharemostimportant.
1.Davidson’sPrinciplesandPracticeofMedicine–notneededmuchin
first semester but can be more useful which you start studying body
systems during second semester. Gets more and more useful as you
progress.
2. Medical Sciences – VERY useful from the very start and is the most
usefulbookforthefirstcoupleyearsofstudy.
3.PsychologyandSociologyasAppliedtoMedicine–thisbook
saves lives during the Health, Ethics and Society Module. The
lecturesfollowthisbook.
4. At a Glance Series – there is a book on every system so
definitelywouldnotadvisebuyingthemall,howevertheyareveryuseful
togetoutoflibraryduringrevisiontimes.
5. Rang and Dales Pharmacology – Professor Maxwell’s pharmacology
lectures are BRILLIANT so not many students feel the need for a
pharmacologytextbook,butifyoudothenthisisthebestoutthere.
UNIHacks! SomeUnmissableOffersfromBlackwells! Iknowthisgreatlittleplace…
Clubs
1. WhyNotClub– thefirstofthe‘GeorgeStreet’Clubs,WhyNotistheplacetogoonaMondaynight.
Featuring four cocktail bars, a large central dancefloor with on‐looking booths, a huge outdoor
courtyardandLEDlightroom.Itisalwaysbuzzingwithstudents.
2. Opal Lounge – another George Street Club, Opal recently added another student night to its week
and so currently has 3 student nights from Tuesday to Thursday. Tuesday is Milk, Wednesday is
MansionandThursdayisthepopularSugarClub.
3. CAV‐ifyoulikepopulartunes,andcheesytunesfromthelasttwodecades,thenCAVistheplacefor
you. Student nights are Friday and Sunday. Situated in Tollcross, CAV is one of the larger clubs in
Edinburgh, and boasts a multi‐coloured dancefloor, for all those cheesy tunes and a larger
undergrounddancefloor.
4. Silk – Silk is situated on King’s Stable Road and has its main Student night on a Thursday night,
calledTemple.Silkisalwayspopular andofferssomeofthebestdrinksdealsofalltheEdinburgh
clubs.Silkhasmultiplefloorssoplentyofchoiceofmusicstyles.
5. HIVE–SituatedjustoffCowgate,HIVEisfreeentryformostnightsoftheweek(notweekends),and
so is attractive when the funds are running low. Drinks are also very cheap in HIVE and being
situatedinCowgatemakesitwalkingdistanceformostfirstyearhalls.
6. Cabaret Voltaire (Cab Vol) – another Cowgate club, Cab Vol is famous for its ‘Hector’s House’
TuesdayswhichofferadifferentclubscenetothemainstreamGeorgeStreetclubs.WellknownDJs
oftendosetsinCabVol,andwithitsvarietyofroomsalwaysoffersagreatnight.
7. TheBongoClub– thisCowgateclubisbigonaTuesdaynightandcelebrateshiphopmusic,from
classicstonewandup‐and‐comingartists.
8. The Liquid Rooms – a large venue, where many DJs and artists have come to perform, including
ItchyFeetandKYGO. Iknowthisgreatlittleplace…
Thingstodo
1. NationalMuseumofScotland–museumwhichsharesthehistoryofScotland,ofnatureandworld
cultures.Free(donation)entryandfreetours.Opendaily10am‐5pmonChambersStreet.
2. National Gallery – Situated in the Princes Street gardens, the National Gallery houses permanent
collectionsaswellasticketedexhibitions.Freeentrytomostofthepermanentcollections.Always
worthalook.
3. Arthur’s Seat – the extinct volcano is a nice walk on a pleasant day, taking no longer than 30
minutestogetup,itgivesapanoramicviewofthewholeofEdinburgh.ThisisaMUSTdoespecially
asitisrightnexttoPollockHalls.
4. EdinburghZoo–takethebusfromPrincesStreetorthenewlyopenedtramstotheZoojustoutside
ofEdinburghCityCentre.Seethefamedpandasandtakepartinthepenguinparade.Noshameno
matterwhatyourage.
5. Blackford Hill – another smallish hill which provides panoramic views of Edinburgh. Situated
behindMarchmontitisashorterwalkupthanArthur’sSeat,andyou’llgetaviewofArthur’sseat
itselfaswellasthecastle.
6. Edinburgh Dungeons – open most days (please check), and a discounted offer of £10.80 for
students, this is a must for anyone new to Edinburgh. Be prepared to be frightened. Located on
MarketStreet.
7. EdinburghCastle–ExploretheoldestbuildinginEdinburgh.Openuntil6pminsummerand5pm
inwinter.Discounted£13.20entryforstudents.
8. GhostWalks–learnsome ofthehistoryofEdinburghduringoneoftheseevening/nighttours of
Edinburgh. Visit of some of the spookiest places and hear the stories that these places hold. More
infoonthecityofthedead.comwebsite.
9. Camera Obscura – situated at the top of the Royal Mile next to the castle, Camera Obscura is a
multi‐story museum of Optical Illusions. Approximately £10 entrance fee but totally worth the
money:youcouldspendawholeafternoonthere.
10. Shopping!–Edinburghisfullofhiddengemsandyourmainhighstreetbrands.PrincesStreetand
GeorgeStreethavethemorecommonbrandsbutanywhereyougotherewillbelittleone‐of‐a‐kind
shops.
11. Beaches!–Hardtobelievethatacapitalcitycanhavebeachessoclose!Portobelloisaseasidetown
justa20minutecycle/busridearoundArthur’sSeaandCramondbeachisabitfurtheron.Greatfor
daytripsthroughouttheyear,andnotjustsummer.
PlacestoEat!
1. BlackMedicine–2NicholsonStreet.Apleasantrusticcoffee/snackshoptograbaquickbite,orsit
andworkoveracupofcoffee.Theirbagelsandsmoothiesaretodiefor.
2. Teviot – the oldest Students’ Union in the UK, situated in Bristo Square, it serves quality food at
studentprices.Thenachosarefamous.Goon,youknowyouwantto!
3. SNAXCafé–BuccleuchStreet.Thisprovidestheperfect,postPotterrowfryupbreakfastorlunch.A
‘doeswhatitsaysonthetin’typeofplace.Small,cosyandquick.
4. The Mosque Kitchen – Nicholson Square. Freshly prepared, cheap, Indian cuisine a very short
distancefromtheuniversitycampus.
5. TingThaiCaravan–aformerpopuprestaurantforthefestivalthatnowhaspermanentresidence
onTeviotPlaceoppositetheMedicalSchoolandMcEwanHall.Maincoursesfor£5‐7.
Welookforwardtoseeingyousoon!
Eventstolookoutfor!
NOVEMBER
Presidents’AnnualDinner
JANUARY
BurnsNightSupperandCeilidh
MARCH
RMSNationalConference
OurGenerousSponsors