Things I wish I’d known before starting med school, from a final-year Leicester medic

LeicesterFrankie

3

I’m a final year medical student and it’s only really hit me recently how so much of what stressed me out about starting medical school was completely unnecessary 😅

So, I thought I’d start a thread sharing a few things I really wish someone had told me before I started med school, and I’m happy to answer questions as well.

A few off the top of my head:

1. You don’t need to understand everything first time
I remember panicking that if a lecture didn’t “click” immediately, I would fall behind and would never be able to catch up. Looking back, that’s completely normal. Concepts get revisited a lot, and things make way more sense once you see them clinically.

2. Most people feel behind and struggle with imposter syndrome, even the people who look very on it
There will always be someone who seems to know more, work harder, or revise better. What I didn’t realise early on is that most people feel like they’re just about keeping their head above water.

3. You don’t need a perfect revision system from day one
I wasted so much time stressing about Anki vs notes vs Brainscape etc. You’ll naturally figure out what works for you, and it will probably change year to year anyway. I still make physical paper flashcards - a lot of my friends think I'm crazy, but it works for me!

4. Starting placements is scary, but also way more motivating
I was really anxious before clinical placements, but actually seeing patients made medicine feel real in a way lectures never did. Confidence builds gradually, and no one expects you to be amazing at the start. On the whole, clinicians are keen to support you and see you develop.

5. Med school is intense, but it doesn’t have to be your entire personality
This took me a while to learn. Having hobbies, friends outside medicine, and a life away from uni genuinely helps with burnout and makes you a better student in the long run. I also think it helps you relate to your patients better and therefore be a better doctor.

I study medicine at Leicester, so I can answer questions about that specifically, but I’d also love to hear from other med students:
What do you wish you’d known before starting? Hopefully we can help out some Year 12s or offer-holders who might be feeling apprehensive about medicine.

And if you’re an applicant, offer-holder or just starting to think about medicine and have questions (about workload, placements, exams, or just med school in general), feel free to ask 🙂

(edited 2 weeks ago)

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

11

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