Reviewing before Med School

Started by doctadude
Tags Tags
review summer before medical school
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
doctadude

doctadude

Full Member
5+ Year Member
I'll be starting med school next fall. By the time I start, I will have had two years since undergrad. A lot of that undergrad knowledge is a bit fuzzy at this point. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with review material prior to starting med school so I don't feel behind when we begin. Any and all advice is welcome.
 
@doctadude Congratulations on your admittance! Some recommended reading I would suggest during this interim period is "On Becoming a Person" by Carl Rogers and "Feeling Good" by Doctor Burns which are books that highlight both psychoanalytic and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques in dealing with potentially stressful situations in the future.
 
Don’t. It’s a very bad idea. Unless your school offers a pre-med school boot camp then just relax and prepare yourself emotionally/spiritually/mentally for med school. Reviewing material is a bad idea.
 
It won't make a difference. If anything, maybe go over some basic genetics if you don't have a full grasp. But again, don't do it.
 
I guess one thing that I’ve never had the ability to figure out was Anki which a lot of Med students love. I hate it but I think it’s because I don’t know how to use it properly.
Maybe take some time to figure out all its features if you like flashcards

But no need to study beforehand.
 
I'll have been out of undergrad for 6 years by the time I start, and I'm not cracking a single book open lol

The only thing that I think I'll put some time into is reviewing Spanish. I used to be able to speak it at a pretty advanced level, but I've fallen out of practice, and I want to be able to use it in my career. If you know a foreign language, this might not be a bad time to brush up on it.
 
doctadude said:
I'll be starting med school next fall. By the time I start, I will have had two years since undergrad. A lot of that undergrad knowledge is a bit fuzzy at this point. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with review material prior to starting med school so I don't feel behind when we begin. Any and all advice is welcome.
Click to expand...

Classes exist for a reason. They provide structure, guidance, and accountability - three things you will be lacking if you attempt to pre-study. Your time will be better spent in other endeavors.
 
If you're solid on the basic sciences then I'd just relax. There is really no amount of preparation you can do before hand that would give you an advantage in med school. I understand where you're coming from though; the gunner in me wanted to prep before starting as well but its really not gonna help.
 
Focus on finding apartment, checking out neighborhoods, learning to use an InstantPot, searching Pinterest for recipes and adjusting (or starting your workout). MS3 (non science major) here. Don't study.Treat this year as adulting 2.0. Find a dentist, get a new hairdresser. These things really matter when you need them an limited time. As someone who moved to her school within two weeks after getting off the waitlist, these are all the things that made it difficult. Seriously, get a new dentist, or schedule an appointment for Christmas break
 
I was someone who had two years off between undergrad and med school. I read posts like these after I heard suggestions from family to prestudy. I agree, don't. I spent my time instead figuring out new easy and convenient recipes (although got a new Instant Pot for xmas, so this will help so much), hang out with friends and family, especially if you are moving hours away, and find a hobby to give you a study break in the future. Practice scheduling laundry day and cleaning your place day (because otherwise you will forget until you are low on clean clothing or dishes). Prestudying will just lead to burnout and the whole process is stressful enough. Practice wellness habits now so they don't seem like a chore later. Your overall wellness is more important than a 4.0/all A's.

Sent from my SM-G892A using SDN mobile
 
You must log in or register to reply here.