How do you academically survive in med school?

[garrettp]

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I recently got off a waitlist, so I'm an incoming OMS-1 who'll be starting school in a month. I'll be moving across the country to a new area that I have no connection to. I've never been a top-notch student in the sciences (took a lot of my pre-reqs in CC and a low-ranked state school), and I'm honestly not feeling super confident about my preparation for med school. I wasn't a rockstar applicant by any stretch of the imagination.

I've read many horror stories on SDN and Reddit about medical students being dismissed for academic underperformance, and I've become very intimidated. What contributes to academic failure in medical school, and how can one avoid becoming one of the people who gets kicked out?

 

[Sardonix]

I was in a very similar boat to you going into year 1. Had gotten off a waitlist, was super nervous about not doing well, and wanted any advice I could get about "how not to fail." Truth is there isn't a single solid answer. Everyone is different. Some people are great students and they collapse in the first year. Some people were terrible/mediocre in college and they become the top percentile.

The only really good advice I can give you is enter your first semester with no expectations. Don't assume you're gonna be the best, and for goodness sake do NOT assume you will be the worst or are predestined to fail--your frame of mind is more important than you know so on that note stop asking how you can "avoid failing" and frame it in your head as "how can I best succeed." That may sound like some lame woo-woo motivational pep talk, but you can't do medical school expecting to fail at every turn.

You're also going to get a lot of advice, solicited and unsolicited, online and from your classmates. Take it all with a grain of salt. Some people tell you they are getting straight As without trying--but actually they're failing. Some people will tell you how they're acing classes and doing 1000 anki cards a day and are already on their 2nd pass of board materials by Christmas of first year. Some of those people actually are doing that because they're amazing.

As a whole, I tried to ignore all that. The most important thing about the first semester and first year is finding out what WORKS for you. I had some success in some areas, less success in others (aka did well in some classes, did terrible in some others). Eventually I started to discover what worked for me to get decent grades and to best curb my anxiety. I think you will too. But good lord, do not stress yourself out by saying you're the only who is struggling. If something does not work for you, be willing to change how you study/handle things, but remember that you are not alone. No one else in your class has gone through medical school either.

Rant aside:
-Don't expect perfection, but don't expect failure
-Do everything to prepare yourself for uncertainty in the first 1-2 semesters
-Find some good ways to handle stress (friends, exercise)
-Get plenty of sleep on a regular basis (though pulling a late night cram session is okay)
-If you're struggling, reach out for help and be able to change things up

 

[Goro]

I recently got off a waitlist, so I'm an incoming OMS-1 who'll be starting school in a month. I'll be moving across the country to a new area that I have no connection to. I've never been a top-notch student in the sciences (took a lot of my pre-reqs in CC and a low-ranked state school), and I'm honestly not feeling super confident about my preparation for med school. I wasn't a rockstar applicant by any stretch of the imagination.

I've read many horror stories on SDN and Reddit about medical students being dismissed for academic underperformance, and I've become very intimidated. What contributes to academic failure in medical school, and how can one avoid becoming one of the people who gets kicked out?

Read this:

• Goro’s guide to success in medical school

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Put in the time every day and you'll most likely do perfectly fine. Find what works for you, don't be afraid to try new study techniques if what you are doing isn't working.

 

[Ho0v-man]

The fact that you care now is actually a good thing. I never met someone lacking in talent in school. The ones who struggle are the ones who don’t think they should be worried.

 

[deleted480308]

Just don’t get behind. Do the work everyday

 

[Feelgood MD]

You're also going to get a lot of advice, solicited and unsolicited, online and from your classmates. Take it all with a grain of salt. Some people tell you they are getting straight As without trying--but actually they're failing. Some people will tell you how they're acing classes and doing 1000 anki cards a day and are already on their 2nd pass of board materials by Christmas of first year. Some of those people actually are doing that because they're amazing.

Is this not a colossal waste of time?

 

[deleted610572]

First off congrats! It’s a big accomplishment. I was in a similar situation a few years ago, CC for 2 years then a small state school that sends MAAYYYBBEEE 1-2 med students per year. As long as you are diligent in your studies and always self reflecting in your situation then you probably will not be one of those students. It’s a small percentage of students that are repeated years and even smaller dismissed. From my experience it’s mostly the ones that are not proactive. They wait until they are sinking to reach out. The fact you are scared is a positive sign. Also, since you are reaching out on sdn to avoid pitfalls is another positive sign. Good luck and hit the ground running, giving it all you’ve got starting day 1.

 

[Sardonix]

Is this not a colossal waste of time?

Never did it so can't say for sure, but listening to them talk about it endlessly sure was.

 

[garrettp]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement, guys. I’m gonna give it my all, and hopefully things will work out for me in the end.

 

[hungrydoc710]

Study every day and make sure you are living a balanced life.

I fear you are going into this is bit scared, which is normal, but you need to attack med school with force and sense.
We have lost multiple people this year every block, becuase they didn't confront issues and had to remediate a class.

Be bold.

 

[Jungkookie]

Always try your best to be on top of things and don't fall behind - put aside time here and there for breaks so you don't over stress. Plan early, and make a timely schedule to follow so you'll know what to do, etc. Good luck and you'll do great!

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

If I can give any advice as an incoming OMS student, get any mental health issues taken care of before you start. I was extremely hesitant to do so, because I assumed only “the crazies” went to see a psychiatrist/psychologist. Boy, was I wrong.

Long story short, I found out I had a few small underlying issues and one big issue that would have caused a lot of problems in med school. I’ve never felt more level headed in my life and I am still afraid of med school, but confident that I will learn my groove eventually.

Oh... I attended two years at a CC and a questionable University. OP, you’re gonna rock this.

 

[Cheeni17]

Don’t join dumb clubs full of virtue signalers

 

[hungrydoc710]

Don’t join dumb clubs full of virtue signalers

Joining clubs is a positive

 

[wonko]

Joining clubs is a positive

Only if you join the club of club dislikers. 95% of these clubs are a ginormous waste of time. I did however always show up in for the free lunches.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Joining clubs is a positive

I mean I guess if you're including the free lunches and swag, because other than that clubs are a massive waste of time and don't do anything for you.

 

[wonko]

I mean I guess if you're including the free lunches and swag, because other than that clubs are a massive waste of time and don't do anything for you.

But but the CV and we can demonstrate commitment to ortho even in year one and the connections and the possibility to get your nose browner than just sitting front row in lectures in M1-M2

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

But but the CV and we can demonstrate commitment to ortho even in year one and the connections and the possibility to get your nose browner than just sitting front row in lectures in M1-M2

It always kills me when I see this mentality. The single best way anyone has networked at my school is through research. If they know you from a club meeting you're just another brown nosing medical student, and trust me the PDs of competitive specialties see right through it, but if you help them land a publication then they look at you very differently.

 

[Marrowist]

It always kills me when I see this mentality. The single best way anyone has networked at my school is through research. If they know you from a club meeting you're just another brown nosing medical student, and trust me the PDs of competitive specialties see right through it, but if you help them land a publication then they look at you very differently.

You need your CRI checked.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You need your CRI checked.

I'm in a bad place, very boggy.

 

[Cheeni17]

Joining clubs is a positive

Program directors either don’t care or can think you are maybe slightly dumber if you are too active in clubs. Unless you can show for certain your club does useful things. Which none of them do

 

[wonko]

I'm in a bad place, very boggy.

Sending some doplphin energy your way. Hope that helps. Cash or credit?

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

Our school has something called Ambassadors. They help out around the college when they have open house, interviews, etc. Would that be beneficial at all? I was the president of ambassadors for my university in undergrad and it seems like something I would enjoy.

If it is going to waste my time, I will probably just try and find research or make more time for working out/boards.

 

[deleted610572]

I joined the clubs that had little to no time commitments. And i can't stress none enough. Don't do club leadership positions. Let the suckers do that.

 

[Aslanim]

I recently got off a waitlist, so I'm an incoming OMS-1 who'll be starting school in a month.
What contributes to academic failure in medical school, and how can one avoid becoming one of the people who gets kicked out?

3 words: Razor-Sharp Focus

 

[Neopolymath]

If you aren't going to be a top 10% student ( you already know this before you even go one day) don't join clubs like a *******.

 

[Cheeni17]

I joined the clubs that had little to no time commitments. And i can't stress none enough. Don't do club leadership positions. Let the suckers do that.

I just ninjad food like other sane people

 

[SLC]

I recently got off a waitlist, so I'm an incoming OMS-1 who'll be starting school in a month. I'll be moving across the country to a new area that I have no connection to. I've never been a top-notch student in the sciences (took a lot of my pre-reqs in CC and a low-ranked state school), and I'm honestly not feeling super confident about my preparation for med school. I wasn't a rockstar applicant by any stretch of the imagination.

I've read many horror stories on SDN and Reddit about medical students being dismissed for academic underperformance, and I've become very intimidated. What contributes to academic failure in medical school, and how can one avoid becoming one of the people who gets kicked out?

Use your fear to your advantage. Let it motivate you to prepare thoroughly. When you study, aim for mastery of the subject matter, don’t settle or aim for rote memorization.

Things are hardest at first, until you find your groove. Then as you settle in, it kinda becomes an auto-pilot type situation. Much of the material is based on the same overarching concepts so if you aim for comprehension and mastery, study gets more efficient.

Above all, don’t let your nerves get the best of you. If you put in the work, you’ll almost certainly pass. Trust the process, and learn to enjoy it.

This is the big leagues; learning this stuff well really matters now! You can do it.

 

[Hippocrates II]

I mean I guess if you're including the free lunches and swag, because other than that clubs are a massive waste of time and don't do anything for you.

Bro, how else am I going to signal to all of my 1st-year peers that I'm going into ortho if not for the club shirts?

 

[Cheeni17]

Bro, how else am I going to signal to all of my 1st-year peers that I'm going into ortho if not for the club shirts?

I used to tutor in med school I remmeber half or more of the tutorees listed all their club positions as if the high heavens gave a hoot

 

[Norwood-Sano]

Do any of you recommend getting into research immediately? Of focus more on Step 1 and save research for after during rotations?

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Do any of you recommend getting into research immediately? Of focus more on Step 1 and save research for after during rotations?

Based on what you have said you want to do you should not wait until rotations. Towards the end of your first semester after you've gotten the hang of school then start hunting opportunities. I did this and have multiple pubs to show for it and many of my classmates are scrambling simply to schedule a one month research elective trying to get anything they can put on their CV.

 

[Norwood-Sano]

Based on what you have said you want to do you should not wait until rotations. Towards the end of your first semester after you've gotten the hang of school then start hunting opportunities. I did this and have multiple pubs to show for it and many of my classmates are scrambling simply to schedule a one month research elective trying to get anything they can put on their CV.

Sorry if these are some basic noob questions, what’s the best way to find/hunt opportunities if not at one of the public DO schools? I’m not thinking research in OMM is going to turn any heads in the MD world.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Sorry if these are some basic noob questions, what’s the best way to find/hunt opportunities if not at one of the public DO schools? I’m not thinking research in OMM is going to turn any heads in the MD world.

Depends on the school. You can try and get one of the summer fellowships where you travel somewhere, find a doctor in the area that is doing research, local MD school maybe (kind of a long shot). Sometimes you have to get creative but people do it every year.

 

[docbsb2015]

Our school has something called Ambassadors. They help out around the college when they have open house, interviews, etc. Would that be beneficial at all? I was the president of ambassadors for my university in undergrad and it seems like something I would enjoy.

If it is going to waste my time, I will probably just try and find research or make more time for working out/boards.

I was an ambassador at my med school and also a student interviewer. It was actually brought up a few times in interviews (mostly the student interviewer part). It doesn't swing a program one way or the other but its a cool thing to talk about during interviews. Also, the time commitment for this was maybe 4 hours every ~2 months so it didn't put any stress on me at all. If its something you enjoy, go for it.