5 Tips For Surviving Medical School
While medicine is an incredibly fulfilling career path, the road to becoming a doctor isn’t easy. Trying to balance research, thousands of hours of studying, and high levels of stress all while preparing for residency can make your time in medical school some of the most challenging years you’ll ever experience.
However, with a few simple strategies, you can not only survive medical school, but thrive while doing it. Here are 5 tried and true medical school tips to help you succeed:
CHOOSE COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION
It’s easy to feel like you’re competing against your classmates, especially if your medical school has class ranking. However, choosing to view your classmates as teammates rather than competitors will help you form good relationships that can provide support throughout your medical school years. For many medical school students, their classmates become their closest friends.
PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST
For many students, adjusting to life in medical school can be overwhelming, and it’s easy for your health to take a backseat. However, prioritizing your physical and mental wellness is one of the best ways to thrive in medical school.
Make time for exercise, self-care, eating healthy foods, and any other activities you need to be mentally and physically healthy. Though it may seem counterintuitive, setting aside time for your health will actually help you give more to your studies.
FIND A MENTOR
As most medical school graduates will tell you, a good mentor is integral to your success in medical school. Mentors can help you form connections in the medical world that lead to important opportunities, such as research labs, away rotations, and even residency programs. They can also provide advice, encouragement, and glowing letters of recommendation. Identifying your mentor early will help you jumpstart your career in medicine.
It’s important to remember that your relationship with your mentor will be most successful when both of you benefit. Show a genuine interest in your mentor’s work, and go out of your way to be a good mentee. Small gestures like this can really go a long way in helping you form a solid relationship.
NAIL DOWN YOUR STUDY STRATEGY
Trying to learn everything you need to know in medical school is like drinking out of a firehose–and your success is dependent on your ability to learn as quickly and efficiently as possible. That’s why it’s essential that you nail down your study style quickly. Figure out how you learn best and come up with a strategy that plays to your strengths.
For example, if you study best alone, don’t waste your time in study groups. If memory tools like Anki and Sketchy help you retain information better than your own notes do, use them. The most important key for success is to take an active role in your learning and dedicate your time to the resources that are most helpful to you.
AVOID IMPOSTER SYNDROME
Everyone in medical school has demonstrated that they’re intelligent, hardworking, and successful, and that includes you. However, a bad test grade, high levels of stress, and comparing yourself to others can easily make you feel like you don’t measure up. There will undoubtedly be times when you wonder if you’re really good enough.
In times like these, it’s important to remember that it’s normal to feel like this sometimes. Don’t forget that there’s a reason you were accepted into medical school–you are smart, capable, and hardworking, and you deserve to be there just as much as everyone else.
Final Thoughts
While medical school is extremely challenging, it can also be an incredibly rewarding four years. With the right strategies in place, you can learn not only how to survive, but thrive in medical school.
And above all, it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone–there are many people and resources in place to help you succeed in your journey towards becoming a doctor.
