Keep in mind that the material is not conceptually more difficult than college material. There's only more of it.
Your most basic reference is a good medical dictionary. Purchase one early and use it!
Time management is very important. If you are in control of your time, you will be able to take advantage of opportunities that pop up out of the blue. You will also be less affected by life's little crises when they hit.
There are a lot of circumstances in medical school which require you to work with a group of people. It is very important to know how to be a team player.
Find people to study with. Other points of view are usually helpful when you are trying to interpret a large amount of information. Another person's perspective on a topic will also ensure that you have not missed the boat on a key concept.
Many of your teachers will go out of their way to help you. Don't hesitate to ask.
Get plenty of sleep on exam week, or you may be too tired for the last test of the week.
Don't just study more; find methods that let you study more efficiently. Take advantage of the free help sessions given by the faculty and teaching assistants.
Try to keep up. It is very difficult to catch up when you fall behind in medical school,
Keeping a positive attitude in medical school is very important.
Getting needed help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.
You would not have been accepted to this medical school if they did not feel that you could do the work. So, put things into the proper perspective.
View and treat other medical students as colleagues rather than competitors.
Medical school is not a competition; it is a time to get the best training you can, and to perform at your own optimal level.
Remember that you can still have a life outside of medical school. Medical school can be fun. It is a matter of setting priorities.
Don't believe everything that people tell you.
If you fall behind, learn the new material before catching up or else you might play catch up all phase.
Everything in life is temporary. No matter how hard things seem at any given point in time, it will not last.
And remember ... do not take every piece of advice that you are given. An approach that works for one person may not work for you.
Some of these helpful hints were taken from The Successful Medical Student by John Thornborough and Hilary Schmidt (1993). We also recommend the following books as resources for the beginning medical student:
A Student-to-Student Guide to Medical School: Study Strategies, Mnemonics, Personal Growth by William Betcher, MD (1985)
The Medical Student's Survival Guide by Steven Polk, MD (1995) |
