1. There will be ups and there will be downs: The first thing to realize as pre-med students is that we, even as young college undergraduates, are already taking the first steps towards devoting a great part of our lives to helping sick people and possibly even saving lives; and that is an amazing thing! So while sometimes (actually, oftentimes) it may seem as if your science classes are just too hard and too much to handle, find a way to refuel your inspiration and motivation. Take a moment to recall all the reasons why you chose to be pre-med and why you want to become a doctor. Realize that in the end, all your hard work will pay off and you’ll know it was all worth it.Â
2. You don’t have to know your specialty right now: “Neurosurgery seems pretty cool but isn’t that the longest residency? Well, what about pediatrics? Won’t I get sick of kids though?” We’ve thought about it plenty of times over and over again, but still haven’t totally decided on a specialty just yet. And that’s okay! In fact, it’s probably better that way. Having an open mind, especially in medical school, will make it much easier for you to identify what you do and don’t like in regards to medical specialties.
3. Balance is key: Any pre-med student knows that with school on top of your job/internship and the rest of your extracurricular activities, life can become overwhelming at times. With that being said, it’s important to take the time to realize how much you’re actually taking on. If you’re constantly feeling swamped with schoolwork and things to do (aka having mental breakdowns nearly every day), maybe you should consider taking fewer credits or cutting down on the extracurriculars. Since we’re overachievers and cutting down can be hard for us to do, just remember that in doing this you’ll save yourself a lot of unwanted stress and anxiety in the long run.
4. Time management is also key: Managing your time wisely is seriously so important, especially for us. We’ve got so much going on all the time that the only way we’ll be able to function (successfully and with grace) is to allocate our time in the most efficient way possible. Invest in a good planner and use it to make schedules, to do lists, and to note important dates. People make fun of me all the time for how planner obsessive I am but really, I can’t stress how helpful it is to have one!
5. Your health is important: Oh, the irony. As pre-med students, we are used to those long, sleepless nights, frequent coffee runs, and “grab something quick and go” meals. While school is definitely a priority for us, it’s equally as important to make sure we are taking care of our own bodies. Eating right and finding the time to sleep is vital (duh, we know this). So apply what you learn as a pre-med student to your own life and be health conscious!
6. Taking advantage of all the resources available to you is essential: Be sure to seek help and advice from your peers, professors, and even professionals in the medical field. Your fellow pre-med peers understand the struggles you are going through, especially the upperclassmen. If you have questions concerning a particular science class or about finding an internship, ask them! Most likely, they will have already taken that class or gone through that process so they would be the best people to talk to. As far as what it’s like to be a so and so doctor, it would be extremely beneficial to talk to a professor or professional in that field. They could tell you the pros and cons of the job as well as give you a sort of “day in the life” overview.Â