Advice for first year medical students
Advice for first year medical students
UCSF medical student survey
1. Thank you for filling out this questionnaire. Now that you’ve completed the first year of medical school, what advice would you give the incoming MS1s who are about to start this year? You can fill out this survey as many times as you wish, so come back often to share your piece of advice!
STUDY! you are used to having to work for good grades, and most of you are used to being at the top of your class… you will soon find that it gets easier to slack off because your grades no longer matter, and you’ll find that lecture is optional… however, be aware that there are consequences, but you wont realize it until you start to study for boards and you don’t know the information as well or as deeply as you should… so even if you think you can pass the exams without a problem, keep it in the back of your head that you are going to have to remember this information for the boards…
2. What is your Myers-Briggs personality type? Extroverted vs Introverted Sensing vs Intuitive Thinking vs Feeling Judging vs Perceiving Ex. ENFP
EITP
3. What equipment did you purchase? Eg. stethoscope, sphygmamometer, tuning fork, etc.
stethoscope, tuning fork and reflex hammer
4. What do you wish someone had told you when you first started your first year? What would you do differently if you could do it all over again?
to get involved early on, to keep my life balanced, to keep my notes/studying organized to make it easier when it came time for boards, begin boards prep earlier than the school tells you… go to student well being if you are getting frustrated or down or just need someone to talk to…
5. Please comment on each topic below:
Scholarships you applied to – none
Whom to go to if you need help – find a teacher you connnect with or a student in the class above you
Managing extracurricular activities and academics – you need to find time to have fun or you’ll go crazy! don’t neglect the people in your life outside of school
Research in medical school – sucks, but you are going to need to do it, so think of something early on so you have plenty of time to work on it
Summer activities – do something you’ll enjoy, you only get one summer so make it a good one, travel, research, study, relax… just be sure you do something that when you look back you are glad you did it
6. How did you study for small group? What’s the best way to prepare for small group and to do well in small group?
be prepared, its easy to go in without any preparation, but you will get more out of it if you have been to the lecture and done the reading and at least read through the questions… the best way to survive is to be willing to talk, even if you are wrong or not sure… it will help you when you are on the wards and asked questions or have to give presentations… this is a safe place to start learning those skills
7. What resources (books, websites, etc) did you use for:
Anatomy – got netters and never opened it, just went to the lab
Physiology – used syllabus and a boards review book
Pathology – went to lab
Histology – went to lab
Biochemistry – syllabus
Pharmacology – syllabus
Neurology – syllabus, borrowed the text book from the library
Respiratory system – syllabus
Cardiovascular system – syllabus
Gastrointestinal system – syllabus
Muskuloskeletal system – syllabus
Advice for first year medical students
Categorised as: Anatomy lab, Boards Preparation, Class Attendance, ENTP, Equipment, Extracurricular Activities, Getting Help, Grades, Note Taking, Preparation, Procrastination, Research, Small Group, Staying organized, Study Skills, Studying Anatomy, Studying Biochemistry, Studying Cardiovascular System, Studying Gastrointestinal System, Studying Histology, Studying Musculoskeletal System, Studying Neurology, Studying Pathology, Studying Pharmacology, Studying Physiology, Studying Respiratory System, Summer Activities