So, you have finally received the confirmation call that you have been accepted to one of the best medical schools in the Caribbean. Now, what’s next?
Many medical students are unaware of the study strategies they need to begin their medical education. How to prepare for medical school classes, what are the best books they need to read before starting their medical school journey. What are the most important activities they need to do before medical school?
For many medical students, the transition from premedical to medical school is a challenge. They are not fully prepared to deal with the rigors of medical school life which will eventually lead to medical school stress. However, preparing for the journey ahead after receiving medical school acceptance, is a sensible approach to become a successful medical school student.
If you are about to begin your medical school journey and excel as a medical student, it is advised to perform these activities that will better prepare you for medical school.
-
Learn Time Management Strategies
It’s no secret that succeeding in medical school is no easy feat. The amount of course material you need to study in a short amount of time sounds intimidating. Medical students are required to learn complex anatomical terminologies, pharmacological mechanisms and pathophysiology concepts along with completing lab work.
Learning how to manage your time in medical school is the key to improve your academic performance and maintain your physical and mental health. Building a study schedule is the most important time management strategy every medical student should follow to stay on top of academic and on-campus activities. List all the important tasks such as review course material, complete lab work, prepare for class quiz. Figure out how much time you should set aside for each academic activity. This way you can determine how much free time you have for non-academic activities, and personal hobbies.
-
Create a Dedicated Study Area
Before starting your medical school journey, it is advised to create a perfect study space where you can get your assignments done, revise your lectures, improve your concepts and learn medical terminologies. Creating a space dedicated to your academics is one of the most important study strategies for medical students that help them stay focused while studying.
It is strongly advised to create a study space that is distraction free, comfortable, highly organized, well-lit, and motivates you to get your tasks done on time. Creating a dedicated study environment is one of the most important things for medical students who want to earn a good GPA in medical school and become a successful medical student.
-
Shadowing Physicians to Explore Medical Specialties
In medical school, you will learn about various medical specialties and gain clinical experience in different medical fields. Gaining some hands-on experience in various medical specialties help you identify your interests. Whether you are a premed student, or a successful medical school candidate, exploring medical specialties and subspecialties is a smart approach to prepare yourself for a rewarding medical career. If you get the opportunity of physician shadowing before starting medical school, make the most out of it and gain some clinical exposure in a particular medical field. Observing physicians allows you to understand how to deal with patients, prescribe medicines, take patient’s history, and order diagnostic tests.
Volunteering in different hospital settings is also a great idea to get broad exposure to different medical specialties. Many hospitals offer training programs for premed and medical students in which they gain clinical experience in inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. By taking volunteering opportunities, you will gain a better picture of how each medical specialty functions.
-
Search for Learning Resources
Besides gaining clinical experience, improving your theoretical concepts is also important before starting your medical school journey. Thanks to different online resources and YouTube channels that have made it easier for premed and medical students to study and memorize important information. Whether you want to learn anatomy, physiology, hematology, pharmacology, or cardiology, you will find helpful videos on almost every topic.
Watching video tutorials gives you a better understanding of the complex topics you will learn in medical school. Besides strengthening your concepts, videos can help you absorb important information and store it in your long-term memory. This strategy works best when preparing for medical school exams and helps you score a good GPA in medical school.
Are You Ready to Start Your Medical School Journey?
After getting an acceptance letter and before joining a medical school, you should prepare yourself for this challenging journey. You need to master your time management skills, gain some clinical experience, explore medical specialties, watch video tutorials to strengthen your theoretical knowledge and any other activity that prepares you for medical education. Hopefully, following these simple strategies will help you become a better student and a competent physician.
