Your first year of medical school might be the most challenging year of your entire academic career. You will likely get hit mentally, emotionally, financially, and physically. It’s like drinking out of a fire hydrant! With so many things coming at you at once, how do you handle it all? There will be new environments, new faces, and new material that you must adapt to while restructuring old relationships habits. Making the transition from being a premedical to medical student isn’t always easy. You need to plan ahead and make sure you are prepared. Here are a few areas of change and transition that you should prepare for.

Environment:  Finding a new place to call home for medical school can be tough. Many premeds sneak in a few weekends to visit the campus and view real-estate. Some buy their first home, rent apartments/condos, or move in with family or friends. You will need to look into factors such as distance from campus, nearby distractions, cost, and safety. Many medical student and housestaff vehicles were targeted in my apartment parking lot because their white coats were left out on the seats. This always caught the attention of the local addicts searching for prescription pads or those ignorant to the fact that med students are broke. You want to choose a safe location where you feel comfortable driving or walking to at odd hours of the day. The last thing you want to worry about while in medical school is getting robbed! Research your environment very well since many hospitals tend to have a few rough areas in the vicinity.

Relationships:  Medical school will affect every relationship you have. Plain and simple, your friends, significant other, and family will likely not understand the dedication medical school demands of you. The hard truth is that many relationships will not survive due to distance and lack of quality time needed for growth. This may actually be a good thing for some but may also be very painful. I have witnessed a number of friends call it quits with their long-time girl/boyfriends but I have also seen others leave medical school because it hindered their relationships. And then there are those who came into medical school somewhat prepared for the challenge. They continuously informed their loved ones about what to expect, set their priorities, and actually grew stronger with them through the journey. At the end of the day, many students come to realize that it was better for them to break some bonds and strengthen others through the process. That’s just a part of life.

Class Demographics:  The medical school body may not look exactly the way you expected. It certainly wasn’t the student body I was prepared to meet. My class was a very diverse group of students mainly in their early to mid-20s. Most surprising to me was how socially adept the majority of the class was. This wasn’t the studious crowd I was used to seeing in the library at odd times but rather they were the intramural athletes, student organization leaders, and fraternity/sorority members. Be prepared for a lot of partying in medical school. These people will share a special bond with you. You’ll be surprised just how much you will like your classmates and how many lifelong friendships you will develop.

Studying:  Attempting to drink water nonstop from a fire hose…that’s what learning in medical school is like. You will quickly learn that premedical studies were child’s play compared to medical school studies and begin wishing there were more hours in the day. Learning the best way to study so much material will be a challenge initially but be careful not to stress over it. With time, you’ll figure out what works best for you! Also, it is important to filter all the advice you get. Everyone seems to have the “best” strategy for your studies. Many first-year medical students fall into the trap of buying nearly every book in the book store simply because someone else recommends it. It is very easy to spend more time researching which books to buy and how to study that you do actually reading the book itself. These books aren’t cheap by the way. By the end of the year, hopefully you will have begun to develop concrete study habits that work well for you.

These transitions might be tough, but they are definitely doable. What you want to avoid is med school shock. Go in knowing what to expect and things will be much better for you!

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Premeds don’t acquire information the same way they did 10-20 years ago. Just think about it, how many times have you actually gotten up and gone to the library to get information about medical school? With the advent of YouTube, Facebook, and various other social media platforms, the ability to obtain information is easier now than ever. That’s a wonderful thing…well, it’s wonderful assuming you know how to vet the information. In this day and age, how can the 21st century premedical student know what’s reliable on the internet? The truth is, you may never know if everything you read is solid, but there are some things you can do to make sure you’re on the right track.

1) Know the basics! As a premedical student, there are certain basic things that you must know. For example, what is the average grade point average of a medical school applicant? What is the average gpa of a medical school matriculant? What are the prerequisite courses necessary to apply to medical school? Do these courses vary from school to school? These are some fundamental bits of knowledge that all premedical students should research on their own, directly from the sources that produce the primary data. For allopathic medical schools, you need to find this information at the AAMC website. For osteopathic, this information will be on AACOM’s website.

2) Know the credentials of the people providing the information. All of your information does not need to come directly from a doctor, admission committee member, or premed advisor, but you should have an idea of who the people communicating with you are. Knowing the credentials of these individuals allows you to ask the right questions to the right people. For example, there’s only one group of people you’d want to ask the question, “What is it really like to be a doctor?” Yes, you can ask anyone and they can tell you what they’ve heard or read, but only doctors can give you an answer based on actual experience.

3) Confirm with a trusted source. Every premedical student needs to have at least one mentor who is a trusted resource. This person should have a proven track record of navigating the premedical journey (either as an advisor, medical student, or doctor). Anytime you come across something you are not certain about, ask your trusted source. There’s too much on the line for you to accept bad advice!

In this day and age of the internet, there is a lot of inaccurate information circulating in the premed world. You can’t avoid it, but you can be wise and protect yourself from bad advice. Remember, it’s your responsibility to fact check everything. Not using online forums to acquire information would probably be a very bad choice in the 21st century. Take advantage of your access to information, but be sure to do so wisely!

Image credit: Pixabay

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In speaking with premeds struggling in school or simply wanting to optimize their grades I have come to realize there are many causes that can hinder their performance. One area I always address is their behavior in the classroom. I believe in order to have made it to the college level nearly all students ae capable of doing very well. There are simply factors that some students capitalize on better than others. Below are the 5 tips I think are important to optimize one’s performance in the classroom.

1. Show up to Class  Nowadays in this technological age there are many tools that one can use which sometimes makes it seem as though physically being in class is unnecessary. I believe going to class can be very beneficial for a couple of reasons. First, you will pick up material that you cannot obtain any other way. Getting to class early enough you can often times interact with other students as well as the professor. These students tend to be ambitious ones who can potentially supplement your knowledge. Make friends or at least develop acquaintances from this group. You will likely see them again in other classes or in medical school. This was the case for me. Being in class also lets the professor know who you are and this may be handy when you need that letter of recommendation.

    

2. Strategically Choose Your Seat  There are many studies out there on classroom position and each has mixed results. It is hard to account for the confounding variables. I advise students to select a seat which is as far away from distractors as possible. It may not be wise to sit next to the exit or in an aisle seat where people will constantly walk by. Sitting at the back can be distracting due to movement and noises. If your neighbors are talkative then it would be best to pick up and leave that spot. Studies have shown that students who sit closer to the front and in the center tend to engage more in class. Be honest with yourself and try different locations to see what works best for you.

    

3. Turn off or put Aside your Gadgets  It is important to remove anything that will disturb your focus in class. As hard as it may be, your GPA will thank you later. The average attention span for the average college student is about 10 minutes so the temptation to surf the web or check your email will be too great.

    

4. Read Ahead of Time  Having familiarity with the subject will certainly make the classroom experience smoother. We tend to appreciate things more when we have a preview of what is to come. This is why movies have trailers. Likewise, books have preface and table of contents to give you an idea of what you are getting into. Going into a lecture blind can hinder the learning experience since there will be terms used that you may need time to look into. If you are prepared by reading ahead then you will know which areas you will need to pay a little better attention to. My recommendation is not to spend a lot of time pre-reading but simply get the main points down. Consider reading the chapter objectives or summaries to at least familiarize yourself on the topic. Or you may listen to an audio lesson while getting ready for class in the morning.

    

5. Ask Good Questions  Before, during and after class is your opportunity to soak up as much knowledge as possible. Professors love to give out little joules to those students who show interest in the subject enough to come to class early and stay late. Often times, the questions one asks speak volumes about their understanding of the material. Do not be afraid to speak up and ask a question because other students are also wondering the same thing. This will also give the professor a clue as to how he or she is communicating the message. Although I encourage asking questions I do believe you should put some thought into the question. I personally believe there is such a thing as a “dumb” question and I think many professors (sometimes subconsciously) also agree. This again goes back to the previously mentioned areas. Doing the above will allow you to be prepared, engaged and focused enough to ask proper questions. Failing to follow them may lead to one of those “dumb” questions. These would include questions that were already asked or ones that 99% of the class already knows the answer to. A question should address a topic which will efficiently add to your knowledge in that particular setting. There are some questions that may be better answered by a book or a classmate rather than having the professor spend 10 minutes answering in front of everyone. Some questions may be better answered at a different time such as after class or during the professor’s office hours.

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Weekends….everybody loves them! For the premedical student, they are like gold. When you become a doctor, they’re even more precious and can be thought of as diamonds! During the week, you spend your time in class, studying, playing sports, attending meetings, conducting research, and for some of you working. With so much to do, how do you decide the best way to spend your weekends? Here are some basic concepts that will help you make the most of your premed weekends.

Rest on the 7th Day. There are two type of premedical students. The first is the student that works all day everyday. This student is always going 110% percent with the firm belief that the person who works the hardest always wins. The second type of premed is the one that thinks he or she will simply be able to get into medical school because they have declared the premedical route. “As long as I complete the courses, I’ll become a doctor.” Both of these are the wrong attitudes to have. The key to success is working smarter, not harder. Going 110% is great, however, you have to take a break at some point in time, and when you do, you want it to be a real break. Taking off one full day each week, simply to relax and re-energize will do you more good than you could ever imagine. Also, please do remember that you need to earn this day off. In order to take off the 7th day, be sure you’ve worked hard the prior six days!

Reflect and Plan. Each week should end with a reflection of your performance the prior seven days and a plan for the next. In reflecting, you should ask yourself: (1) Did I use my time wisely this week? (2) Are there any topics covered in class that I don’t fully understand and need to revisit? (3) Did I put my passion to work this week (whatever it is that you are most passionate about in life, you should find a way to use it every week! In planning for the upcoming week, ask yourself: (1) How do I need to restructure my schedule to get the most out of this upcoming week, (2) Who do I need to connect with this week (strengthening your network should always be a part of your weekly plan) (3) How will I put my passion to work this week. These may seem like very basic questions, but the impact will be tremendous!

Hang out! Yes this is okay to do! It’s really just another way to network. In the section above, this concept is eluded to but not detailed. Networking is of extreme importance no matter what career you pursue. In the medical field, the lives of your patients, in some instances, may be affected by the strength of your network. For the college student, growing your network is done in large part by hanging out with friends and attending events. When considering the first concept above, “Rest on the 7th Day”, one could argue that hanging out isn’t necessarily resting. In doing so, you are building your social capital which will prove to be beneficial over the years to come. Take caution however not to do anything that will ruin your chances of getting into medical school. As an example, drunken fights at the frat party are a quick way to weed yourself out of the applicant pool.

Weekends can be used in an infinite number of ways. In the end, the key is simply that you are intentional with your time and pay mind to use it wisely. These simple concepts certainly won’t guarantee that you will become a doctor, but they will provide you with a framework to move one step closer by maximizing your weekends.

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A common area that pre-medical students fall short is gaining adequate clinical experience. Many of you will have excellent grades, excellent extracurricular activities, and excellent confidence, yet for various reasons, your exposure to the field is very limited. This is understandable because, it seems there are more and more barriers being put in place which prevent students from shadowing. Ultimately, this leads to confusion and frustration for premeds. So, here’s the BIG question that I’m always asked; “How do I find a doctor to shadow?”

The solution to your problem is that you must get to the doctor and ask him or her yourself. When I was a pre-medical student there was a time that I couldn’t even find a way to volunteer my time in a hospital. I was willing to do anything; mop the floor, wash the windows, walk patients to their rooms…whatever it took! I just wanted to be in the environment of physicians but kept being met with NO’s. It took some time before I realized why there were so many NO’s! It was because I was not asking the physicians themselves directly. Going through volunteer offices and various other levels of administration was extremely ineffective for me. While they meant good, they didn’t have the direct authority to giveaway a doctor’s time. When I began connecting with the physicians themselves, I had more success (not enough for a premed, but it helped in medical school). I ultimately got my shadowing experience from a summer program and a research mentor who was an MD.
Here are a few suggestions to help you accomplish this:

1) Go to a private community clinic. Perhaps the easiest way to find a doctor to shadow is to go to a local private clinic. Here the buffer between you and the doctor is usually only one or two people. Family medicine doctors and usually given the accolade of being some of the most accommodating doctors. Physicians remember what it was like to being premed. We understand that shadowing is tough to come by and very important. Most of us are more than happy to take a premed under our wings.

2) Attend Medical School Lectures. A second rather simple way to find a doctor is to attend a medical school lecture (not one for students, but a lecture were doctors are presenting to other doctors such as Grand Rounds). These rooms are full of physicians, many of whom are committed to helping students succeed. The key here is that you must network and introduce yourself to these doctors. Immediately you’ll go on their “good premed list” because this is not typical of premeds. When you connect with a doctor, ask for his or her email. One day after the lecture, email him or her saying you enjoyed the lecture and plan to attend again next week (or whenever you can make it back). At the next lecture, try to sit next to him or her and afterwards, pop the big question…. “Will you let me shadow you?” Of course you wouldn’t use those exact words, but very politely ask if there would ever be a good time that you could come by a spend a couple of hours with him or her (don’t ask to shadow for more than 2 hours because it can become cumbersome for a doctor to have someone following them for a half or full day).

3) Become a Scribe. When I was a pre-medical student, scribing wasn’t a very big deal. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I knew what it was until I became a doctor. Now, it’s a fairly popular concept. Scribes are paid individuals (often premeds) who take notes for the physician while he or she is seeing a patient. This is a wonderful opportunity because you not only get paid, you get to be right in the middle of the action and form great relationships with doctors!

BONUS: Here’s an extra thought for you. If you can’t find a doctor to shadow, then find a Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, Clinical Pharmacist, Radiology Technician, Nurse, just anybody who is in that environment. This will provide you with exposure to the field and by being in the environment, you can find doctors to connect with and set up future shadowing opportunities.

Shadowing is VERY important, not just because it looks good on you application, but because it gives you a strong sense of what physicians do. Don’t believe the TV dramas; it’s not really like that. Being a doctor isn’t an easy breezy walk in the park. The road to get there is long and stressful. You need to have an idea of what it is like before you start medical school. If you’ve had trouble finding a doctor to shadow, try some of the tips above and I’m guessing you’ll find success. Just be persistent and don’t give up!

Have you tried any of these techniques?  If so, how did they work for you?    Do you have any other tricks to score a shadowing opportunity?

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