Preparing for the USMLE Step 1 and CBSE exams can feel overwhelming. These exams test not just what you know, but how well you can integrate and apply that knowledge under pressure. Having gone through both — and passing Step 1 just days after my CBSE — I learned that the key isn’t perfection; it’s…
One of the big messages in Atomic Habits is to create systems to help you get things done. That way, when you’re not motivated or don’t have much time, your system can still help you be productive. And this sounds like a great idea. But for the longest time I couldn’t figure out where to…
Immunology was a major topic covered in my most recent term (term 3). So here are some guiding tips on how to study immunology along with some great study resources. 1. When do we start studying immunology? At SGU, we start learning the fundamentals of immunology in term 3. We have almost one lecture every…
Now that I’m done term 3, I can share what that experience was like. Plus some tips on how to study microbiology and helpful resources. How long is term 3? Term 3 is a strange term at SGU because it’s only 6 weeks long. But it’s an important 6 weeks that lay the foundation for…
One of the nice things about 2nd year is that we don’t have anatomy lab anymore. As someone who probably won’t be going into a surgical specialty, that makes me very happy. It’s one less mandatory class on the schedule. However, the school offers an optional Dissection Selective in 2nd year, which provides students with…
To wrap up first year of med school, I had 4 exams over 7 days. One final exam to wrap up the neuro block, one lab exam, an OSPE exam, and a cumulative exam for first year. Here are some tips on how to prepare for final exams in med school, particularly the OSPE and…
It’s been a few weeks since my first neuro exam (almost time for the next). It was challenging but it went very well. Here are some tips on how to study for neuro that worked well for me. 1. Find resources to study neuro The first tip on how to study for neuro is to…
I don’t find lectures particularly helpful or effective. Just not my cup of tea. Which means I need to learn the material on my own. Fortunately, the ever growing School of YouTube has a video for almost everything. There are several amazing content creators that provide high quality lecture material. They’ve been a game changer…
I recently completed 5 weeks of the DM (digestion and metabolism) module and did extremely well. The last time I got this score was during the MSK block aka my COVID exam. You can read about those fun times in how I survived a med school exam with COVID. Luckily, this time I was completely…
Medical school is challenging. There’s a lot to do in a very limited time. Plus, it’s a long journey. We need to perform at a high level over a long period, which is taxing on our mind and body. So having a sustainable study routine is key. Here are 3 simple tips to avoid burnout…