Monique

In a typical day, I have lectures in the morning and a lab or workshop in the afternoon. My favourite part is definitely the lectures. The lectures usually provide pre-reading or extra materials if you are interested in particular topics. Often, the lectures are interactive. Questions are asked during the lecture and you can answer anonymously on your phone or laptop. I find this makes the lectures more interesting and keeps me engaged in the content. I enjoy the learning and the theory behind biology and while the labs are a good way of putting the theory into practice, they require you to be very precise and I find it frustrating if my results are not as expected.

Sometimes I have a bit of downtime between classes where I am able to go and study. Usually, I like to go to the James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) because it’s quieter than the Nucleus Building or if I can, I go to the Central Area and study at Old College. The change in scenery helps me focus. 

I have joined many societies during my time at university, I was involved in the Tandem Language Exchange Society to keep up with my languages and I joined the Soup Society to meet new people and bond over a shared lunch. I also managed to get a part-time job as a private tutor. This could be quite intensive to manage alongside my studies but I learnt to manage my time and plan my own schedule.

I live in a flat with two friends quite close to Central Area. It is a nice location because it is right in the heart of Edinburgh and there is lots going on. I am able to walk to the Meadows if I need a quick study break and I am close to the bus and train station if I want to travel further afield.

I’m sure everyone has heard this before but get into the habit of attending lectures. It is very easy to miss a few lectures here and there but that will snowball if you are not careful. It’s a good habit to start in first year because the subsequent years are more intense and you will be glad you are already in the routine of getting up early to attend classes.