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Top 7 Things You Should Know as a Medical Student

Discussion in 'Medical Students Cafe' started by Egyptian Doctor, Dec 14, 2013.

  1. Egyptian Doctor

    Egyptian Doctor Moderator Verified Doctor

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    It’s a Whole Different Smart
    There’s always the story of the best high school baseball player turning pro and falling flat on his face because the level of competition is just on a whole other level. That’s what medical school is like. You might be the brightest kid in your town growing up, best in college and then BAM! - middle of the road in medical school. It’s OK! Your competition in medical school is you. Do the best you can on your tests and board exams and you’ll do whatever you want!

    Keep Trying Different Study Habits Until You Find That Works for YOU
    Do you LOVE flash cards? They might not work in medical school because of the volume of information. Whatever your study habits were in college, they might have to change to keep up with the material now. Just keep evaluating the effectiveness of your studying and adjust as necessary.

    Learn if Your Specialty ‘Wants’ Research for Residency and Get Some Early Exposure
    If you have an idea of what residency you may want to do, go to the residency director (hopefully there is a residency for that specialty at the main teaching hospital your medical school is affiliated with) and introduce yourself early. Like early first year early. Some residencies may expect some level of research. Most teaching hospitals will have their residents doing research, so you can get involved and get to know the residents by participating in the research. Two birds with one stone!

    Take Care of You
    One of the first things we were taught at NYMC – “Eat when you can, sleep when you can, and don’t f#$% with the pancreas.” I took the first two to heart – I always say “food comes first.” You can’t do your patients any good if you are flat on your face and hypoglycemic. It’s better to be a couple minutes late to clinic with some food in your belly than it is to be on time and starving and grumpy. Exercise, diet and sleep are 3 amazing things that can keep you healthy, help you maintain information and keep you happy during medical school.

    Learn From Your Patients
    During your clinical rotations, it is kinda useless to pick up Harrison’s and study cover to cover. As a busy medical student, you’ll have plenty of exposure to disease processes from your patient encounters. Keep a journal of every patient and every day go ready about their diseases. It will help seal that information in your head and will make you look good on rounds when you can go a little more in-depth on your patients disease processes.

    The Boards
    Just the MCAT can keep you out of great medical schools, the boards can keep you out of great residencies. Step/Level 1 in particular, is the biggest door opener for residency. Crush that and you can do whatever you want. The best way to study for your first board exam – do well in your first two years of school. Learn the material – don’t just memorize it.

    Residency Application Timing
    Applications to residency are very similar to the applications for medical school – the earlier the better. Residencies only offer so many interview days and as soon as they are filled, they don’t offer any more. If you are invited for an interview, you’ll get an email and then it’s a race to secure your spot. Just because you get an email for an interview, doesn’t mean you’ll actually get an interview. If you delay, you might lose that opportunity.

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  2. Pia Mater

    Pia Mater Famous Member

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    " Eat when you can, sleep when you can, and don’t f#$% with the pancreas "
    Why pancreas in particular ? Is this something related to insulin and glucose ?
     

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  3. Egyptian Doctor

    Egyptian Doctor Moderator Verified Doctor

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    yes sure
     

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