Now that I’ve finished medical school, been awarded my M.D. and landed a spot in my number one choice for residency I will be sharing some advice for what personally helped me succeed throughout all 4 years.
The first two years of Medical School are the ‘Basic Science’ years. They consist of courses in Anatomy, Histology and Cell Biology, Medical Biochemistry, Bioethics, Medical Immunology & Genetics, Neuroscience, Physiology, Community & Preventative Medicine, Behavioral Science, Pathology, Medical Nutrition, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and some sort of Clinical Reasoning. Different medical schools may have different names for the courses and various ways of teaching/testing understanding of the course concepts but overall the main idea is the same. Below are basic tips for approaching your basic science years. How to swim not sink.
1. Identify the course’s main topics for each module or block.
2. Get organized – schedule in class time, block off study time daily to review new concepts and practice old concepts. Remember: every day you are learning something new is the opportunity to forget something you once mastered so practice, practice, practice. Stick to the time you allot yourself to study. For example: if I gave myself 30 minutes to review Biochem’s lecture notes, once the 30 minutes is up I moved on to the next subject. The following day I would review the content of the previous day’s lecture briefly because repetition is key, not dwelling on one point for too long. Don’t forget to schedule in time to relax, unwind and catch up with friends and family. Because I had a schedule I stuck to, I was able to Netflix, go to the gym daily and have weekly Skype sessions with my loved ones all while averaging about 7-8 hours of sleep nightly.
3. Practice questions are key to studying for medical school. Ask an upper level student for good resources for practice questions for the course, if that’s not possible – ask the professor. My professors provided practice questions before exams as well as during class, I made sure I did them and reviewed the definition and possibility of the other answer choices as well.
4. Figure out what kind of learner you are- Do you like study groups? Do you like to study alone? Do you like audio vs. video? Whatever it is, own it and don’t get distracted by what others around you are doing.
5. Minimize the amount of study resources. Less is more and all the books have the same information. Choose one or two sources that read well, is concise and helps you grasp the information. Books I liked were the BRS series for Physiology. My classmates swore by Netter’s Anatomy, but I barely touched it, spending more time in the Anatomy lab was all I needed. Key – Find what works for you and stick to it.
6. When should you start studying for USMLE Step 1? – You will encounter some classmates swearing that they are conquering flash cards to prepare for Step 1 from the day they began medical school. I am telling you that is unnecessary and *whispers* highly unlikely they are doing that. Medical school is a marathon and it is exhausting. You are being waterboarded with new information in large quantities daily. Your job is to take in the information as best you can and understand it so major concepts will be retained as long-term memory. A good turning point to integrate Step 1 studying would be in the second half of your second year of medical school.
7. Step 1 studying resources are UWORLD, First Aid for Step 1 and Pathoma. You can begin integrating those resources slowly while still taking your basic science courses. However, a true step 1 dedicated study period is needed. This will come after you finish our second year of medical school before you begin your third year. The general blueprint for preparing for this exam is to complete all the UWORLD questions at least once with review of the answers, review the First Aid for Step 1 book at least once and memorize the portions that are just fact. There are also practice exams offered by the testing company that makes the USMLE, they are called NBMEs. It is highly suggested that you complete these forms in conditions similar to test day to gauge your progress in preparation for the exam. They give you a score as a prediction as to what you would score on exam day so you know whether or not you should continue or tweak your study plan.
8. Make time to do extra-curricular activities, get involved in research, stay physically active. Not only will these things bring you joy but they also keep you a well-rounded candidate for residency applications when the time comes during your fourth year of medical school.
9. Make goals for yourself and reassess them quarterly. I had letter grade goals for myself at the beginning of every term and wrote out a plan for achieving those goals. When feeling discouraged to study I would look at the goals I wrote out and it would give me the strength to push on. If you need extra motivation, think of it this way – you want to be a well-informed future physician who understands deeply what they are doing, what you study today is a stepping stone for that.
10. Enjoy the process. Nourish your friendship with your classmates. The journey feels long and arduous, but it’ll be over before you know it and you will soon come to realize that you have joined a field that not many understand what it feels like unless they’ve been through it their selves. Rest when it is time to rest and study when it is time to study. Whatever you are feeling whether it is accomplishment, joy, stress or the feeling that you don’t belong are all valid feelings- just remember that you are not alone and just as many have come before you and succeeded, so will you!
