To the Class of 2023

It’s now August! That means my cousin and the rest of the class of 2023 are about to begin their medical education. I couldn’t be more excited for them. My medical school will welcome the class of 2023 in a few short days and I can’t wait for campus to be full of energy again. I remember when I first arrived in medical school, my classmates and I had many questions like: How do I study? How do I choose a specialty? How do I balance school and life and not lose myself in the mix? No one has all of the answers. That would be impossible. There are many lessons I learned along the way that I wish I would have known earlier, so I thought I would jot down some thoughts and advice with the help of #MedTwitter. I hope you find them helpful!

1. Social media, when used wisely, can be a powerful tool that can help you put forward the professional image you wish to convey. The #MedTwitter community is very active and is a great place to network and connect with individuals with similar interest. People are quick to share stories, advice, information and funny memes. Even if you don’t feel you have something to contribute, give it a try! I know I stayed away, thinking I didn’t have anything meaningful to bring to the table. Somewhere along the way I ended up starting this blog, so either my mind changed or I just don’t care anymore. Jury’s still out on that one.
2. Medical school is an adjustment and that’s okay. You’ve made it this far. You deserve to be here. Give yourself some slack and communicate with your loved ones so they know to give you some grace as well. Know yourself well enough to know when you can’t juggle more commitments and need to prioritize. That shows maturity and will save you much angst in the long run. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is always okay to ask for help. Reach out to your academic counselors, professors, and friends. Have a low threshold to work with a tutor. People are happy to give you a hand. No one will know how to help if you don’t ask.
3. Start studying early. Break up the topics into chunks and go over a little every day. That will make things seem less overwhelming and allow you to get more passes through the material before the exam. Though you may tweak your study strategies somewhat throughout medical school, chances are that some of the strategies that helped you in the past will continue to serve you well. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. There are many review sources that are useful supplements to your lectures. Try the free trials of them to see what works for you and then stick to using those. It doesn’t help to be bogged down with resources.
4. Don’t be afraid to say yes to opportunities. You never know where they might lead. That research project you were offered may turn into a neat poster that you can present at a conference. The people that you meet at that conference might end up being your future bosses or colleagues. Keep that CV up to date. You never know when you might need it and time flies by. A few years down the line, it can be difficult to remember all of the cool things you’ve been doing.
5. In the end, we are all on the same team, working together to provide the best care we can to our patients. Attend lecture, get to know your professors and classmates. Befriend those you meet working in the hospital. The connections you make will last a lifetime. Enjoy every moment! You’re about to get that white coat for the first time, but before you know it you’ll be at Match Day wondering where the last four years have gone. Welcome to the club! We are glad to have you and I wish you all of the best.