What I wish I Knew Before Starting First Year

Why am I writing this blog?

Starting medical school is huge milestone and having the right mindset can make the transition so much smoother. Here are my top 5 things I wish I knew before starting first year. These are some bits of advice I wish someone told me before I started medical school. Though some may be generic and you may have heard before, I do believe that these will help you get settled into first year!

 1) Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

Everyone that enters medical school has a similar academic background, and so sometimes you may find yourself questioning your competence. You may see some of your peers ahead in revision, some ahead of lectures, but as long as you find a learning timetable that works for you, there is no need to match their pace. Entering medical school was a challenge with many hurdles however at the end of the day, everyone who received a place deserves to be there. Including yourself.

2) Work Smarter Not Harder

There is an overflowing amount of content right from the first year of medicine thus, it is important to prioritise topics to revise. I struggled a lot in the first term as I tried to remember every point mentioned in a lecture. I felt that missing one of these points would affect my performance in my exam massively. However, I learnt it is best to cover a few main points in each lecture to allow you to grasp a range of concepts. That being said, you should not rush covering lecture material as you may get into the habit of memorising facts, instead of understanding the actual concept.

 3) Join Societies, Both Medicine and Non-Medicine

First-year is the perfect opportunity to explore and try out new hobbies. A lot of medical schools will have societies of their own and these could be speciality specific. This is a great chance to learn about specialities before starting clinical placements and to meet medical students from other years. You also don’t necessarily need to join a medicine-related society. It’s good to have something that can help take your mind off medicine and engage in a society that offers a hobby you enjoy.

4) Your Revision Technique May Change

The way you revised may change as back in A-Level, there was the convenience of past papers to prepare for exams. In Medical school, there are some question banks available online but before testing yourself, it is essential that you understand the content first. Make the most of the three terms by being open to trying out different revision techniques. I know some students like to study in one place and it works for them. But sometimes when you are studying in the same place, especially during exam season, it may seem as if the routine is becoming repetitive. In that case, a different environment can act as a refresh button. Perfect opportunity to discover study spots in the city you’re studying in!

5) It Is Okay Not To Study Every Day

At a glance, it seems like with the workload, the number of lectures, seminars and tutorials, you think the first thing you should do after coming back from uni is to do more work. Though people recommend recapping a topic on the same day, it may sometimes be unfeasible. Especially after an exhausting day, when a well-rested break is much needed. Give yourself time to recharge so that you can gain back the energy to effectively revise later on.

Do the things you love. In medical school, you will come to appreciate the support system you have. This could be by surrounding yourself with other medics making it easier to comfort each other as you all are in the same situation.

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