How to be a good medical student

How to Be a Good Medical Student
by Admin on February 9, 2013 in Medical students
Make a Study Plan
Studying during medical school is typically much more important and time-consuming than it is
during your undergraduate career. Plan to study every day for at least a few hours each day. Use a
calendar or electronic tool to block out time that is specifically for studying, and do not compromise
your plan. Reassess your needs periodically to determine if your plan is working or if you need to
adjust it.
Be Organized
Use an online or paper calendar to write down the dates for all of your tests, clinics and medical
lectures. Keep all of your notes and handouts in a separate folder for each course so that you don’t
get confused or leave items behind when you go to class. Write a list of tasks that you need to
complete for each class and the timeline in which you must have them completed.
Establish Good Study Habits
Studying is a critical component to succeeding in medical school, and if you don’t do it correctly, you
can waste valuable time. Study in a quiet area where there are limited distractions. Do not study with
your laptop if you will be tempted to email or check your social media accounts. Attend your classes
so that you do not get behind, and review all handouts on a regular basis.
Diversify Your Studying
Some studying you probably want to do on your own, such as reviewing your notes from medical
lectures or taking practice tests. However, some studying may be better accomplished in a group,
such as reviewing flashcards regarding medical terms and remedies for ailments. Mix solitary
studying with group studying for the best results.
Review Old Exams
While old exams can help undergraduate students, they are even more helpful for medical students.
Because your pre-clinical classes can be taught by several faculty members, reviewing old exams
will let you see the type of style and complexity of questions that can be asked on future exams.
Read through the exam and practice answering the questions before looking at the correct answer to
gauge your understanding. Swapping test answers with a fellow student can also help you look at
the questions from another perspective.
Take and Get Notes

After you leave a medical lecture or course, often the only thing that you have to remember the
content with is the notes that you wrote. Take notes for every course and lecture. Rewrite notes after
your course to clean them up and to phrase terms in a way that you understand. Get notes from a
student who had the same courses last year. Make updated outlines to condense the notes into an
easier to read format. Don’t get behind on your notes, or you may not be able to catch up.
Be Ethical
Medical students come in contact with people with confidential medical issues and must discuss very
private topics. Keep this information confidential to avoid making an ethical violation that could
negatively impact your status as a student.
Take Care of Yourself
It’s difficult to be a good student if you don’t pay attention to your health. Eat a healthy diet, regularly
exercise and get enough sleep so that you have the physical capability of absorbing everything in
medical school. Try to take an occasional break and have a social life to maintain balance in your
life.