Starting medical school can be an intimidating time. The one thing you can be certain of is that you are going to be facing a whole host of new challenges. You are not, however, the first to face those challenges, so you do not have to face them alone.
There is plenty of guidance available for new medical students from people who have been there. If you are looking for ways to make things just a little bit easier, here is just some advice that you may want to follow.
1. Focus
When push comes to shove, you will never learn all you need if you do not focus. Stop checking your emails and social media and sit down with your study materials. The world is full of distractions and one important lesson is how to resist them.
2. Use Previous Exams
There are only so many questions you can ask about a certain topic. Whether the question is about a specific medical procedure or how to store medical materials in pharmacy fridges such as those from https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/medical-refrigeration/pharmacy-fridges, it has probably appeared before. Looking at previous exam papers will give you a good idea of what you are facing and how tests are likely to be formatted. It means you can practise until you have every possible answer perfected.
3. But Don’t Cram
If you spend too much time studying and focusing on exams, you will overload. As long as you understand the basic principles behind your work, you should be able to figure out the rest. With proper planning and preparation, you should not need to cram everything into intense study sessions.
4. No Study Groups
Some people find it beneficial to work with others when studying, but study groups can be a distraction. Different people work at different rates and ask different questions, which could pull you away from your own subject. All it takes it one person to ask what you watched at the weekend and study-related discussion is left behind.
5. Don’t Be Discouraged
It is impossible for anyone to be perfect all the time. At some point, you will experience disappointing results. When this happens, do not panic. Take a breath, ignore the people who did better than you and move on to the next test. One bad result is not going to stop you graduating.
