Tip #1: Make friends, not rivals
So you’ve quickly realized that everyone is smart in medical school. Everyone had excellent grades, everyone graduated at the top of their class. You may start to feel less like the hot shot that you were in your previous university. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone, so don’t freak out.
Just turn to your new classmate and say ‘hi.’ Chances are you each have something to learn from one another. Look at this as an opportunity to strengthen your weaknesses and make a friend or two in the process.
Tip #2: try different ways of learning
Your brain is a muscle. The more you train it, the stronger it gets. In fact, you can condition your brain to retain all the medical information you are taught in any given course. The best way to condition your brain, like any muscle, is by using a variety of methods and techniques. Here are a few tips for conditioning your brain with every study session:
Study in 30-40 minute intervals for several days before the test, instead of pulling an all-nighter the day before.
Stretch your retention by testing yourself with flashcards.
Strengthen your memory by testing yourself a day after you learn something. Test again after a week, two weeks, a month, and so on.
Stimulate your brain by changing up your study method. Switch from electronic devices to pen and paper, to reading, to listening.
Tip #3: Think like a PRO
Being a medical student means you’re a doctor in training – ‘doctor’ being the operative word here. You’re already set on the path to becoming a doctor, so why not start behaving like one? While you probably shouldn’t take yourself too seriously, putting yourself in the mindset of thinking like a doctor will help you to become a doctor. Here are a few ways to try it out:
Caring for yourself allows you to care for others. Make time for your physical health & mental wellbeing.
Doctors work in teams. You can start with a study group. Finding your tribe in medical school is the best way to survive.
Learn something everyday. Doctors never stop learning, neither should you.
Start using professional tools. ClinicalKey for example. Professionals use it to access the latest medical knowledge, and you can use ClinicalKey to pass your exams and boost your grades.
Tip #4: Go Digital
Let’s face it, most of your time, as a firstyear medical student will be spent learning, studying and testing. Digital tools, such as ClinicalKey, are designed to make the most out of those precious hours outside of the classroom. By assessing your strengths and weaknesses in each focus area, and providing you with tools tailored for your improvement, this interactive platform supports your quest for academic and career success.
Tip #5: Stock up on the essentials
Books are fundamental to education. But having the right books are essential for a promising medical education. As a medical student, Elsevier offers you a carefully curated selection of definitive textbooks for getting your first year off to the best possible start. Filled with the latest evidence-backed content, these state-of-the-art publications will equip you with all the medical information you need for the right start to a successful career.
Tip #6: Mind your mind
Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to specialize in. Part of what is so fun about medical school is that you get to try a bunch of different things. The best problem to have is liking most of your rotations. I found it very helpful to start shadowing early and often. This helped me establish relationships with mentors early on, and it helped me understand what I liked and didn’t like about different experiences.
The learning curve is steep at first. Even if the first few weeks feel overwhelming, it will get better. Figuring out how you study best can be difficult, but you need to be willing to try out different strategies until you land on the one that is right for you.
Remember to keep doing the things you love outside of school. Your hobbies make you the interesting person that you are, and they are likely part of what got you into medical school in the first place. These things will continue to help your mental health even if you don’t realize it at first.
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