There are a lot of great healthcare jobs that don’t require a degree. However, none compare to being a doctor.
Are you interested in becoming a doctor? You might worry that the rigors of medical school will be too much. The good news is that at least 82% of medical school students graduate. However, the process of actually getting into medical school is tougher.
As a medical student, you are about to enter a highly challenging part of your academic life. Learning any part of the medical industry is a massive undertaking. There is a lot of work and effort to educate yourself in this particular field of study. It’s no wonder then that, if you are like many other people, you might find the experience daunting.
To help you find the best route to progress, we have a simple plan for preparing for medical school. So, what are some of the best ways that you can prepare yourself for this crucial part of your education?
How to prepare for medical school properly
Buy the essential items
Every medical student will have a small collection of items that they likely need to get through medical school. So, we recommend that you look to buy all of the main things you would need for medical school. If your school does not provide the essentials like a stethoscope and lab coat, you should make sure that you go out and buy one for yourself immediately.
You should also look to make sure you have essential study aides. For example, a working laptop – or even a tablet with a keyboard if you are short on money – could be a good investment. This can make studying, planning your study sessions, and looking up useful information much easier.
Always speak with your lecturers to be and find out what they recommend you bring to the first day of class. Now, you can avoid making a poor first impression.
Find out what textbooks you need
One of the premium costs of medical school is textbooks. Many students land themselves in huge debt because they buy every book that they think they might need. The best thing to do is to speak with your lecturers and find out what textbooks they recommend you use to educate yourself. They can usually recommend that you buy a certain series of books.
Then, you can avoid wasting valuable resources on buying books you might never actually need. Instead, focus on buying the books that actually will benefit your specialist pathway.
Find a study strategy that works
Everyone is different, so you should not look to find a one-size-fits-all study planning guide. Instead, studying is something that you need to think about closely. You have reached medical school, so you are obviously an intelligent person. Think back to what kind of study sessions you planned out for your school examinations. Could you follow that same kind of study process at medical school? Would it be enough?
Suppose you are specifically preparing for the ABSITE exam (American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination). In that case, it’s important to tailor your study approach to the content and format of the exam. The ABSITE exam assesses a surgeon’s knowledge in various surgical specialties, covering anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical decision-making.
To excel in this exam, consider incorporating targeted resources and practice questions aligned with the ABSITE curriculum. By utilizing study platforms and materials specifically designed for the ABSITE, you can maximize your preparation and increase your chances of achieving favorable results.
Look into the kind of study platforms that work best for you. Some get the most out of regurgitating information, and others work best in group-study sessions. Again, there is no right or wrong answer, but simply what works for you.
Take on test preparation
As part of even getting into medical school, you’ll need to prepare yourself for the challenge of medical entry exams. A common choice for many aspiring medical students is to look into the GAMSAT exam that is used as part of the medical entry process in Australia and the UK. If you can master this, then you can ensure you give yourself a good shot of getting into medical school and set yourself up well for the critical and logical reasoning skills required as a future medical student and health profession.
Getting used to essay writing, managing multiple-choice questions, etc., is a good way to get you ready for the various entry exams. If you want a better idea of how to study for the GAMSAT, be sure to check out study aides like this. They can really help amplify your results.
Find the right balance
As a student, your main challenge is going to be working out the right balance between work and personal time. You should look to make friends and expand your social circle. At the same time, you should be responsible for how much time you actually commit. Finding that correct balance is going to be one of the best things you can do.
Some students get caught up in the academia of it all and burn themselves out in their first semesters through information overload. Others forget to return to study sessions after social satisfaction. Find the balance that works for you and, crucially, make sure that you stick to it. That balance will be essential to making sure you can manage the huge load of information that comes as part and parcel of being a medical student today.
Get to know your lecturers
The people who are teaching you medicine are going to be some of the most important people you ever meet. If you intend to work in medicine, then you need to take in every bit of information, little or large, that you can. So, make sure that you get to know the lecturers that you will be working with.
This will make it much easier for you to get to know the people you will be learning from. It also makes asking them questions a little bit easier.
Find a non-medical hobby
Lastly, to make sure you can keep yourself from potential burnout, find a non-medical hobby that you enjoy. This could be something like art, music, writing, or some form of interactive entertainment. Medical education is a huge load on the brain, and you can soon find yourself a little stressed out if you allow it to keep going.
So, make sure you look to find a hobby that can take you away from medicine. After a long study session or before, it can be good to relax the mind before you dive in with both feet!
Your time in medical school will, hopefully, be one of the best parts of your life as a student. With that in mind, we highly recommend that you look to use all of the above to your advantage. Keep these factors in mind, and you should find it easier to come through the medical school challenges from academic and social perspectives.