How to Do Well in Med School

You have an undergraduate degree under your belt and you've been accepted into med school. Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment, because the real work is just beginning. Now, more than ever, you will have to do well if you are to reach your goal of becoming a doctor. There are a number of important things to keep in mind if you want to graduate at the top of your class.

Things You'll Need

• Dedication
• Solid work ethic
• Ability to survive on little sleep

Instructions

1. Attend all your classes every day even if you have a job and other responsibilities. There is an inspiring story of a working mom who balances med school with the rest of her life at Mom MD (see Resources below).

2. Pay attention in class, take notes, participate in the discussion, and ask questions.

3. Study as much as you can to enrich your classroom instruction. This includes reading textbooks, researching additional information, and supplementing assignments with real-world clinical or hospital work.

4. Read as much as possible about what you are studying even if it is outside of the syllabus. You will do well by enriching yourself with additional knowledge.

5. Schedule time with your professors and advisors to ask questions and seek their advice on how to do well during the semester with them. The Princeton Review offers study suggestions like these on their website (see Resources below).

6. Supplement your class time with extracurricular activities or volunteer work at a local clinic or hospital. Seeing what goes on in the real world will help you better apply what you are learning.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep up with your reading and homework. The workload in med school can be overwhelming so it is best to stay current with assignments.

• Start your assignments, projects, and papers early so that you do not rush to complete them at the last minute. The quality of your work will be reflected in how much time you take.

• Do not cheat. You are learning about how to take care of and diagnose other people, so you are hurting others as well as yourself if you get passing grades without learning the material.

• Do not waste your money. If you do not have the commitment and drive to stay the course, med school may not be for you, so it is best to give up your spot to someone who is committed.

Resources

• Study suggestions from The Princeton Review
• Tips for moms in med school at Mom MD