MedicalSchoolsInUSA.com has a few tips to help students transition successfully from their previous college life to the new world of medical school.
(PRWEB) August 06, 2015
The road to medical school is not a smooth ride for most prospective students. Yet once all the appropriate paperwork is filed, the school has been chosen, the living arrangements have been made, and it is time to embark on the first year of medical school, the real journey begins. MedicalSchoolsInUSA.com has a few tips to help students transition successfully from their previous college life to the new world of medical school.
“We know the first year of medical school is sometimes called the ‘hell year’ because of the difficulty in coursework,” says Stephan Trumball, MedicalSchoolsInUSA.com spokesperson. “Depending on how their last year of undergraduate studies was, the first year of medical school can be a shock to some students. The amount of lectures, studying, and assignments greatly increases.”
In order to be prepared for a grueling study schedule, Trumball recommends that all students have a calendar or planner where they track everything. “It may seem like a good idea to keep your social calendar, work calendar, and school calendar separate but combining them gives you a good idea of what you have ahead of you. You can quickly see if you have enough time to study for an exam or if you need to postpone a social outing,” adds Trumball.
While there are some students who are great at organization, color coding and labelling everything, others may not have learned this skill quite yet. MedicalSchoolsInUSA.com suggests that every student, organized or not, have a weekly routine to check in on any outstanding assignments and to look ahead and what the next week will be like. Even if the papers and files are out of order, stopping to take inventory of where they are in the journey will help every student stay on top of their education.
Another way to ensure the first year of medical school runs smoothly is to ask for help. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Whether it’s financial help from family, tutoring help from the school, or even asking for time off from work to rest,” says Trumball. “The worst thing any first year medical student can think is they need to do this on their own. Use your resources to help you get through it.”
One last tip is to create a strong relationship with the program advisor. College advisors have a wealth of knowledge, tips, and networking resources to help students through almost any situation. For those students who chose to fast track through medical school, all these tips become that much more useful. From keeping track of a schedule to asking for help when needed, first year medical students should use every available opportunity to streamline their studies and support their journey.
To view information on medical schools in the U.S., visit MedicalSchoolsInUSA.com.