If you're like most would-be physicians who worked very hard to get admitted into medical school, you might feel like everything has been leading up to this moment — the day you officially became a medical student — for a while.
The first day of medical school is a thrilling time, but it can also be terrifying. Why? Because, in some ways, it really is the "first step of a long journey," it is important to make the most of it.
This page seeks to inform you of what to anticipate on your first day of medical school.
What to Expect on the First Day of Med School
Starting medical school may be exciting and terrifying at the same time. In addition to the demanding course load, most students will also need to move to a new city or state and adjust to their new environment.
In the first few days, you will mainly be obtaining IDs, setting up email accounts, etc., doing icebreaker activities, and getting acquainted with your surroundings and the available resources.
Although the first day of actual class can be a little overwhelming, you should be aware by this point that you will be required to study a substantial amount of content in a brief period.
Unlike college, the medical institution has a set schedule created by the university, where students can choose their courses and participate in extracurricular activities. Even if it could be a relief, the program itself is challenging.
Listed below is what you could expect on the first day (or weeks) of medical school:
1. Expect to Be Overwhelmed
Starting college, leaving home, and relocating to a different country or city is tough.
However, beginning a medical degree can feel even more stressful. Along with adjusting to university life, you will acquire a whole new medical terminology language, be subjected to a barrage of lectures on professionalism and your obligations as a medical student, and be exposed to a very different learning method.
You will be clueless about where to begin, and one glance at a medical curriculum will have you doubting whether studying medicine is a good choice.
Do not worry! There is plenty of time to learn everything. It is extraordinary how much you can adapt and learn rapidly in a year. Therefore, be patient and go forward gradually.
2. Expect to Feel Foolish, But Keep in Mind That You Are Not
You may feel intimidated by how much more competent, prepared, and self-assured everyone seems to be than you are. However, know that they may share your fears and that their outward confidence could cover their anxieties and inadequacies.
Remember that while it's normal for people to want to make an excellent first impression, everyone is ultimately in the same situation and is equally capable of getting the job done.
3. Expect People Around You May Think You Are an Expert in Medicine
People (and family in particular) will expect you to know what specialty you want to specialize in, what the origin of their elbow discomfort is, and what your perspective is on their most recent GP visit as soon as you disclose that you are a medical student.
It may seem entertaining initially, but it can quickly become very frustrating. Just be patient and explain that at this point in your training, your guess is just as good as theirs.
4. Expect to Feel the Need to Make Friends Right Away
This rule applies to all students, especially medical students, because their schedules can differ significantly from those of other university students, and their courses may begin a few weeks earlier. There is constant pressure to socialize every day of the week and establish friends from your very first day. People do not often remain with the friends they select during freshmen week once a few months have passed.
To create relationships with individuals, take a step back, unwind, and take your time.
Be patient and attempt to get to know individuals slowly. Talk to students from different backgrounds. Take your time forming a friend group immediately because everyone is eager to impress during the first few weeks.
5. Expect to Feel the Need to Buy Every Medical Textbook
Refrain from buying every single medical textbook available, whether recommended to do so by senior medical students, teachers, or sponsors.
On your first days of medical school, sponsors will take advantage of you by pretending you cannot live without this book or that subscription.
Discovering your preferred method of learning should take some time. Before making any purchases, check out books from the library and read them for a few days. Also, remember that many free online resources are available that you will use repeatedly.
10 Tips for Tackling Your First Day of Medical School
Without a doubt, getting into medical school is a difficult task. You feel successful when you see your name on the list, inspiring you to work hard in the following years.
As a new medical student, you may have high expectations for yourself yet be still determining what to expect. The forthcoming academic years will differ from those just past.
Here are the best tips on your first day (or weeks) of your medical school journey.
1. Breathe in Deeply
Even though the first day of anything can be intimidating, strive to maintain your composure and enter the classroom with enthusiasm and an open mind.
Take a moment to unwind by inhaling deeply before entering the lecture hall. It will be okay.
2. Make New Friends
Make some new pals. Although it may seem obvious, the people in your life will stick with you as you travel through the following four challenging years.
They will be the ones who can sympathize with you and provide you with a lot of support.
Take time to get to know them because you could have already met some on a second-look day or during orientation. Having a support system in medical school will be essential, so start building these connections now.
3. Prioritize and Pay Attention in Class
Most students feel overwhelmed by the information offered, even on the first day of class, but this is typical. It is the first day of your most thrilling journey as a medical student, after all.
The amount of knowledge in medical school is overwhelming. Still, as you progress through your courses, you will learn to prioritize it and concentrate on the pertinent facts.
Try to follow along with the lecturer on the first day and thoroughly review the materials after class.
4. Try to Know Your Professors
Even though it is not required, getting to know your teachers can be a terrific way to get through challenging classes. Your professors genuinely want you to succeed; they can be one of your most valuable resources if you are having trouble. Visit their office hours, ask them after class, or email them if you have questions.
5. Recognize That It Will Appear to Be Impossible
In our first week of med school, we found out that we would have an exam every Monday. To keep up with the information and then master it on a weekly exam seemed unachievable.
Although the classes and the material initially appear daunting, remember that thousands of others have already completed them. You are in medical school because you completed the demanding premed program and are thus uniquely suited to succeed.
At first, it might appear impossible, but it is feasible.
6. Have a Strong Support Group
The atmosphere in the dynamic field of medicine is constantly changing and demanding. The rigors of medical school, residency, and professional practice vary yearly.
To have a personal life, succeed as a doctor, and still have time to maintain their mental and physical health, students and working physicians learn to establish balance throughout their careers.
Creating a trustworthy peer support network is one of the most essential steps to effectively transitioning to medical school.
In medical school, peers can sympathetically commiserate with one another and aid one another in mastering challenging topics. Study groups can be a terrific method to learn a subject while socializing and having fun.
7. Prioritize Your Mental Health
Make sure to carefully consider planning and scheduling time for studies and personal wellness.
Attending lectures, scheduling dissection time, engaging in wellness activities, and getting to know your classmates can be challenging. Do not feel bad if you cannot complete all these tasks at once.
Keep in mind that everything is beneficial in moderation. Spend some time recognizing your accomplishments, both small and large.
The first month of medical school is inspiring and fascinating as you assume your new job. You will succeed if you take some time to enjoy yourself and analyze everything.
8. Do Not Compare Yourself to Others
Not all medical students graduate with a Bachelor of Science. Others continued on to complete a master's degree in physiology or spent a year or two teaching anatomy.
It is okay if their background knowledge exceeds yours! Please do not compare yourself to others; remember that they are better at something because they have received more training. Work only to get better as YOU!
9. Always Start With the End in Mind
Long-term patient care will involve applying all you are learning (yes, everything). In the slightly less distant future, you will be quizzed on this knowledge on the USMLE Step 1, a crucial exam that counts toward your medical license.
A strategy to truly understand the material from your introductory science courses is the best approach to doing well on this exam, even though setting aside some focused time to study for Step 1 is vital.
10. Maximize Your Transition Classes
You will have your Transitions class for the first two weeks of medical school. This is not exactly a lesson; it is more of a technique to ease you back into study mode after your holiday.
Meet your classmates and get to know your campus at this time. The human structure will emerge quickly, nevertheless. A ton of information will be shown to you at once. However, it is pretty tolerable.
Don’t be afraid to utilize any of the many resources that are accessible to you. Most people wait until they perform poorly on an exam before asking for help, but if you start to feel behind, we strongly advise doing so.
Talk to other students about their study habits to find out what works (and perhaps what does not) for them. As a medical student, being flexible with your study habits will only help you!Additional FAQs – What to Expect on the First Day of Medical School
What Do You Learn on The First Year of Medical School?
Is First Year the Hardest in Medical School?
What is a Typical Day for a Med Student?
Additionally, block examinations usually always fall on Mondays, making the start of the week occasionally highly challenging.