your chances of acquiring a respectable internship. While many medical
students excelled during their undergraduate careers, the intensity
and workload of medical school can come as a surprise to some of them.
By being proactive toward your studying and the reputation that you
build, you can prepare for the difficult road to becoming a doctor.
Make a Study Plan
Studying during medical school is typically much more important and
time-consuming than it is during your undergraduate career. Plan to
study every day for at least a few hours each day. Use a calendar or
electronic tool to block out time that is specifically for studying,
and do not compromise your plan. Reassess your needs periodically to
determine if your plan is working or if you need to adjust it.
Be Organized
Use an online or paper calendar to write down the dates for all of
your tests, clinics and medical lectures. Keep all of your notes and
handouts in a separate folder for each course so that you don't get
confused or leave items behind when you go to class. Write a list of
tasks that you need to complete for each class and the timeline in
which you must have them completed.
Establish Good Study Habits
Studying is a critical component to succeeding in medical school, and
if you don't do it correctly, you can waste valuable time. Study in a
quiet area where there are limited distractions. Do not study with
your laptop if you will be tempted to email or check your social media
accounts. Attend your classes so that you do not get behind, and
review all handouts on a regular basis.
Diversify Your Studying
Some studying you probably want to do on your own, such as reviewing
your notes from medical lectures or taking practice tests. However,
some studying may be better accomplished in a group, such as reviewing
flashcards regarding medical terms and remedies for ailments. Mix
solitary studying with group studying for the best results.
Review Old Exams
While old exams can help undergraduate students, they are even more
helpful for medical students. Because your pre-clinical classes can be
taught by several faculty members, reviewing old exams will let you
see the type of style and complexity of questions that can be asked on
future exams. Read through the exam and practice answering the
questions before looking at the correct answer to gauge your
understanding. Swapping test answers with a fellow student can also
help you look at the questions from another perspective.
Take and Get Notes
After you leave a medical lecture or course, often the only thing that
you have to remember the content with is the notes that you wrote.
Take notes for every course and lecture. Rewrite notes after your
course to clean them up and to phrase terms in a way that you
understand. Get notes from a student who had the same courses last
year. Make updated outlines to condense the notes into an easier to
read format. Don't get behind on your notes, or you may not be able to
catch up.
Be Ethical
Medical students come in contact with people with confidential medical
issues and must discuss very private topics. Keep this information
confidential to avoid making an ethical violation that could
negatively impact your status as a student.
Take Care of Yourself
It's difficult to be a good student if you don't pay attention to your
health. Eat a healthy diet, regularly exercise and get enough sleep so
that you have the physical capability of absorbing everything in
medical school. Try to take an occasional break and have a social life
to maintain balance in your life.
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