As a new batch of future physicians prepares for the rigors of training and the rewards of a career in medicine, many incoming first-year medical students may wonder: What does it take to succeed?
In speaking with AMA member medical students who just went through the process—rising second-year students—the answers are individualized. Here’s what five medical students said about navigating those first months of medical school effectively.
Academics above other pursuits
The expectations placed upon medical students are hefty. In your first year, the transition academically is daunting enough. It’s best to make that your focus and leave some of your other pursuits until you really find your rhythm.
“It's really easy to get super wrapped up in all the things that we have to do: research, volunteering and wanting to be with your patients,” said AMA member Alysia Martinez, a rising second-year medical student training in Chicago. “School, your coursework and studies really do need to come first. Remember that.”
Keep a hobby
If academics come first, the consensus among medical students is that your wellness routine should be a close second. That should include good sleep, exercise and a nutritious diet.
A rising second-year medical student training in Wisconsin, David Chrisbaum said the first-year routine should include some hobby unrelated to medical school. For Chrisbaum, keeping up a regular game of Dungeons & Dragons was helpful.
"Find one or two non-med school related things that fill your cup and try and prioritize them,” he said. “It could be going to the gym, going on walks with friends, or playing video games. Have something that is outside of medical school that you can bring back to ground yourself."
Don’t lose sight of ambitions
While the vision you have for your career in medicine is likely to evolve, your personal and clinical passions should remain top of mind, according to Yash Raka. He also is an AMA member and is a rising second-year medical student training in Pittsburgh.
“Clinical medicine is something that could take over your life if you let it,” he said. “People enter school as M1s with diverse interests and habits and likes and passions. I would just make a very active effort during your first two years to not let those go away. Meet those desires and feed those passions because honestly, anything can be integrated with medicine. And following those passions is a way to move medicine forward.”
Believe in yourself
For the vast majority, medical school is considerably harder than any other academic path that medical students have traveled before. That often comes with disappointing results on tests and coursework. For some students, that is a new experience.
“Remember to believe in yourself,” said AMA member Max Molot, a rising second-year medical student training in Wisconsin. “I looked at classmates—they’ve had so many successes. Just getting into medical school is a huge success on top of research and all the other work you did to get there. You can lose sight of that [if you have a bad result] and people can be really hard on themselves. But you have proven by getting here that you are pretty amazing.”
When disappointments do arise, it’s important to “take time to be introspective,” Molot added. “Take a walk, breathe deep and maybe have a cup of tea.”
Do it your way
When it comes to mastering the material early in medical school, everyone is going to have their own methodology. What works for others might not be best for you, said AMA member Maria Charles, a rising second-year medical student training in Wisconsin.
“When you start out in your preclinical years there is a lot of studying and you need to find your own workflow,” she said. “You are going to be surrounded by people who come from a diverse set of backgrounds who are using wildly different study strategies. Focus on yourself and by that I mean do the things that work for you and your learning style.”
