The healthcare system is ripe with opportunity and excitement! You get to mix clinical work with science classes. Yes! It’s no gainsaying that Medical school is an adventure that you will love. However, it’s not all fun and games.
Medical schools are filled with hundreds of new students every year, some of whom will make mistakes and end up failing their rotations or getting kicked out entirely.
It’s easy to make mistakes that can set you back in your journey to becoming a doctor. To help you avoid making some of them, I’ll iterate on some of the most common mistakes that I see today’s medical students make:
Not taking Anatomy seriously. Not all subjects are the same, and some classes require more study time than others. In medical school, anatomy and physiology are typically considered the hardest classes to take. These classes can be very difficult because there’s an incredible amount of material to cover in a short period. Many students find these classes overwhelming and struggle to complete their coursework within the allotted time.
If you experience difficulty with Anatomy or physiology, make sure you communicate this to your professor as early as possible. In this way, you can receive help before the situation gets worse. Sometimes a little bit of extra help can make a huge difference. So, don’t be afraid to ask your instructor for extra assistance if you feel like you need it.
Not seeking help when needed. Many students try to push through their courses without seeking help because they do not want to feel as though they are failing or unable to keep up. Licensed Mental Health Counselor Jamie Molnar says that often students feel pressured to complete their degree in a certain time, but in her experience, this can make things worse, “Students are afraid to ask for help, and this can lead to anxiety and depression,” she said. Students should try to reach out for help whenever they feel overwhelmed or stressed by their schoolwork, instead of struggling through it on their own.
Forgetting to sleep and exercise. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of medical school and forget to make time for healthy self-care practices like sleep and exercise. Medical students often don’t sleep enough. They stay up late studying and work long hours at the hospital. They hardly take care of themselves.
Sleep is essential for keeping our minds sharp and our energy levels high. If you don’t get enough sleep, it can be difficult to focus in class and perform your best on exams. Taking care of your mental health and physical health is equally important. To maintain a healthy balance in your life, be sure to make time for sleep, exercise, and relaxation every day. You’ll feel better and your brain will work better!
Procrastinating is next on the list. One of the best ways to avoid feeling overwhelmed during med school is to plan your days carefully and take breaks when you need them. Prioritizing the right things at the right time will save you a lot of stress, and it will also allow you to get things done faster. This is especially true if we talk about getting started with studying. If you want to succeed in medical school, you must get used to studying early. This will ensure that you do not miss out on any of your classes or assignments. The earlier you start studying, the more time you have for preparation and revision, which makes it easier for you to do well during exams. Although this doesn’t mean that you should never take a break from studying, it does mean that you should only break when it is truly necessary.
Another possible mistake students make is failing to set up study groups with other students who have similar schedules as yours. This is so that you can help each other out with studying more efficiently. You can’t always be in your best mood. Your morale to read won’t always be high! For these reasons you need to surround yourself with like-minded mates who can lift your spirits when they are down. Having a good support system in medical school cannot be over-emphasized. The more you surround yourself with people who will help you succeed, the better! In conclusion, I’d like to remind you that you are not alone in this process. Med Mentor is here to support you every step of the way. As a medical student, you will experience many ups and downs.
We want you to know that you can count on us to be there with you as we share our knowledge and expertise. You are not alone on this journey!
We remain, Yours sincerely,
Med Mentor
