New Med Student in need of Advice!!!

[docsurglace]

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Hello to anyone out there who will listen! 🙂 I am going to be a first year med student this coming fall 2006. I would like to know if anyone can offer up some helpful hints and tips for surviving the first year!!!! Do you have any text books, review book, websites, etc. that helped you during your first year? Any study tips you would like to share would be greatly appreciated!! Is there anything you wish you could have done differently? Anything you regret? 😱 Anything you would certainly do all over again? Thanks for all of your help! 😳

 

[Law2Doc]

Hello to anyone out there who will listen! 🙂 I am going to be a first year med student this coming fall 2006. I would like to know if anyone can offer up some helpful hints and tips for surviving the first year!!!! Do you have any text books, review book, websites, etc. that helped you during your first year? Any study tips you would like to share would be greatly appreciated!! Is there anything you wish you could have done differently? Anything you regret? 😱 Anything you would certainly do all over again? Thanks for all of your help! 😳

You are going to need to be prepared to try a number of different methods to see what works. And not every gameplan works for everyone. It depends on your memory, your attention to detail, etc. Assume that what worked in college might not be enough for med school, until tests prove otherwise. Ask upper classmen whether the tests will emphasize material in the notes, the lecture, the book, etc. and focus your time on that accordingly -- that will be the highest yield use of your time. Pretty much everyone does some form of daily review of the day's material/notes, with the goal that by the time you actually study for the test, you are seeing the material for the third or fourth time. Some people will require more and others will get by on less. Congrats.

 

[neoncandle]

This question is so general, it is hardly worth trying on. There are entire book series on surviving medical school. Congrats and good luck. Almost nobody fails out.

The review books you need will differ from school to school. You will be able to buy books from your upperclassmen much cheaper than most online sources. Get advice from people at your own school on tests, schedule, etc. as it differs wildly.

 

[nockamura]

Just wing it.

 

[Rafa]

Whatever you do, kick ass.

 

[8744]

Please visit my humble blog.

 

[deuist]

Study often and as soon as class ends. You need to know the material cold.

 

[peppy]

First of all, RELAX. I regret stressing so much about my first semester. I could have been a lot happier if I had just had more faith that I would survive and do fine. 🙂
At first it seems overwhelming, but once you adjust you'll be amazed at how much information you can absorb.
The first time I looked at my Gross Anatomy notes, there was just so much information I just didn't even know where to begin in trying to make sense of it. Now that I'm used to the routine, it has become a lot easier.

Personally, I haven't found many textbooks to be necessary yet. The only absolute must-have so far has been a good anatomy atlas. I actually had two: Rohen's photographic atlas and Netter's drawings (which came free with SOMA membership). I could have gotten by with just Netter's, but Rohen's was a good bonus to help me get a sense of what the structures look like in a real body.

I don't know about other schools, but here the exams are based on what we're told in the lectures, so studying from textbooks isn't very efficient.
Good luck.

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
The above is very good advice. One key point is what got you into medical school in the first place will get you through. If you were not capable of doing well, you would not have been accepted in the first place.

Most people who fail out of medical school (yes, people do fail out) do so because they have not put in the time that it takes to master the huge volume of material that needs to be mastered. Keep up with your classes and study on a daily basis. If you are a cram before the exam person, you may find that this will not work for you. Study daily and review often.

Make a study schedule and stick to it daily. Be prepared to make changes as you see the need. The professor who teaches the course is the best source of info about the course material so go to office hours if you have questions.

Run your own race and do not compare yourself to others. You have just as good a chance to do well as anyone else in the class so block out the folks with "pre-med syndrome" who feel the need to belittle you to make themselves feel better.

Have something to do for fun that has nothing to do with medicine or medical school. This can be something like going to the movies or playing basketball, running etc. You just need to do something as an outlet for stress.

Finally enjoy yourself. I made some great friends in medical school that are close friends today. Medical school really is a neat experience.

njbmd 🙂

 

[chef_NU]

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[Jedix123]

Panda your blog rules = )

I'm gonna have to second that. I haven't come across any other blog that can compare.

 

[txguy]

Please visit my humble blog.

Damn good blog 👍

-tx

 

[tupac_don]

Hello to anyone out there who will listen! 🙂 I am going to be a first year med student this coming fall 2006. I would like to know if anyone can offer up some helpful hints and tips for surviving the first year!!!! Do you have any text books, review book, websites, etc. that helped you during your first year? Any study tips you would like to share would be greatly appreciated!! Is there anything you wish you could have done differently? Anything you regret? 😱 Anything you would certainly do all over again? Thanks for all of your help! 😳

Are you a pharmacist, or pharmacy student?

 

[neovenom]

that blog was a most excellent read. i hope i can come back to it in a few years (for the clinical stuff).

 

[Rafa]

Run your own race and do not compare yourself to others.

Bingo.

 

[docsurglace]

Are you a pharmacist, or pharmacy student?

No, I'll be a first year medical student this fall, but thanks anyway. 🙂

 

[docsurglace]

Thanks so much for the advice. You made a lot of good points, especially about running your own race. It's so important to keep that in mind. Thanks, again! 🙂