Hectic Term

I've found it hard to keep updating this as I have sooo much work! I've now been back for 4 weeks and we have already learnt about around 100 different viruses/insects/protozoa! In the next 4 weeks we'll be learning about 100 worms and lots of bacteria! I had a horse handling exam on Wednesday which was ok although there were a few things I didn't know how to do. It involved tieing up and putting a rug on a VERY large horse, trotting a horse up and down, picking out a horse's hoof and putting on a stable bandage. Fairly simple for those who have known horses all their life but I have very little experience with them. Hopefully I have passed.
On Monday the whole of my year participated in a protest against the college campaigning for safe, cheap travel to college. It was good fun and very peaceful but didn't have much effect. For more information, click here.
Watching Supervets on Thursday was really strange as I now know the campus fairly well and also recognise some members of staff and students. I also understand a lot more of the cases!

Third year

I had a fantastic summer and returned to the RVC feeling refreshed and ready for the new year. We are currently learning about microbiology and parasites and I am finding it a lot more interesting than I anticipated! There are so many people in the year now that our practicals are not as hands-on as they would have been in the past. We spend a lot of time just looking at specimens and pictures which were prepared a few years ago. It is still fairly interesting though. The facilities at Hawkshead are amazing, particularly the Clinical Skills centre which is the only one of its kind in the UK. At my first session on Tuesday we learnt to suture, tie knots, prepare blood smears and take a packed cell volume measurement on a blood sample. We are allowed to go in there whenever we have free time (not that often!) and practise whatever we need to.

Summer School

I have just returned from the Hawkshead campus of the RVC where I have spent a week helping to lead a summer school for Year 11 students who wish to become vets. It was a great week with lots of activities. We spent some time at the Camden Campus doing dissection and looking at the live animals before going on the London Eye in the evening. We went to the Clinical Skills centre where the students learnt how to bandage, gown and suture which gave me a sneak preview of what I will be doing next year! We had lectures from an army vet and a vet doing research, showing the different careers that are open to veterinary graduates. All the students enjoyed themselves a great deal. Unfortunately, due to funding difficulties, this summer school will probably not happen next year, but for more information, please visit the RVC website.

Second year results

I got my results today. To my great relief, I passed! I'm so happy because I can now relax for the rest of the summer. Many of my friends are doing work experience on farms but I have already completed the 12 weeks required by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons so I will use my summer to try and earn some money, something I will be unable to do for another 3 years if I do not now!

Welcome

Welcome to my diary. I am a vet student at the Royal Veterinary College and have just finished my second year. The first two years at the RVC take place in Camden where you learn all about the 'normal' animal. We learn through lectures, directed learning sessions (problem-solving in groups), dissections and laboratory practicals. I have found it all very interesting and are really looking forward to applying my knowledge more next year when we learn more about the diseased animal. I get my results this week so will find out then whether I need to resit my exams in September. Hopefully, it'll all be ok! For more information about becoming a vet student, please click here.