Explore…Life Changes

Whether you are leaving school to go to university, or leaving work to return to full time education, you can be sure that you will encounter a number of changes over the coming weeks and months.   The changes you face will vary from person to person.   Some of you will have to become accustomed to doing your own laundry and cooking your own food as well as acquiring a new batch of learning techniques.   Some of you will be used to looking after yourselves but will have to reacquaint yourselves with note taking, writing essays and research.   Above all it’s important that you remember there are people available to help you through any adjustments you need to make.

Those of you arriving at Keele from school or college may find a big change in what is expected from you.   You are probably used to being reminded about deadlines and submission dates.   At university you are more likely to be given the submission dates at the start of semester and then it’s up to you to remember which assignments are due in at any given time.   The student handbook you receive on arrival will help you with this.   

You will also find that you are expected to do more work outside of lectures.  Lecturers will introduce you to the principal topics in any given subject area and then direct you to further reading.   This helps you to fill in the details and allows you to gain a deeper understanding of that area of study.   We’re here to provide you with the resources and guidance you will need to help you on your way…if you choose to accept that help.  

If you do choose to accept the help available, you will find a team of tireless staff ready to assist you, whether that’s the lecturers who lead your academic learning, the technical staff who make sure the relevant equipment functions correctly or the support staff who arrange your placements, return work to you and collate the assessment marks.  

For those of you returning to education from full time work, all of the same support will be available within the School of Pharmacy.   You may encounter some of the same problems, with regard to study habits and work load.   You’ll also experience some different problems, how to make time for your family or ensure there’s enough money to finance everything for example.

There are many sources of help, both inside and outside the School of Pharmacy.   You can see your Personal Tutor, Year Yutor, Course Director or any other member of staff you feel comfortable approaching.   In addition you can find further help on campus at Student Support and Development Services (SSDS).   Just a few of the areas in which SSDS can help are with personal issues, homesickness, counselling, stress, study skills and a range of disabilities.  

Those of you who are mature students may be worried about alternative problems such as how to engage with the other students on the course or how to make sure you are involved in ‘student’ activities.   You may find you have different priorities from the younger students, different ways of approaching your scheduled work and even that you have acquired different skills.   This diversity is what helps to pull the School of Pharmacy together and ensure a cooperative atmosphere.

For those of you who live on campus you will find that your Halls of Residence is probably your first close contact with other students.   For those of you who choose to live off-campus your first close contact may be when you arrive for your first morning in the School of Pharmacy.   If you find you are nervous about this just remember that every other first year student is in the same position.

As you study on the MPharm course you will find that you spend a significant amount of time with the other students on the course.   You will all have similar schedules and be experiencing the same workload.   These shared experiences provide a commonality that creates a bond between all MPharm students.   Furthermore, you will be working in a mixture of group sizes, right from the beginning on the course enabling you to quickly meet all of your peers.

In addition the Keele Association of Pharmacy Students (KAPS) can be relied upon to organise a number of social activities to which you will be invited. Outside the School of Pharmacy you will find a vast number of different societies and clubs exist which you can sign up to during Fresher’s Week.   There is something to suit almost everyone whether your social ideal lies in sport, music, religion, politics, drama or our very own KUBE radio.

 

Remember, University might be hard work but it should be enjoyable too, it’s up to you to find the right balance.