4/10: 10 Things I Wish I Knew/Did Better in Medical School

Thing 4: You Can Avoid The Last Minute Rush

Some days, you're on top of everything. Other days, you're just… not.

Every semester, I would start with the same noble resolution: “I will read ahead of every lecture and make notes immediately after class.”

We were encouraged to stick to this rhythm to avoid burnout and backlogs. But I rarely kept up.

I was trying to balance a promising social life (which, to be honest, was far more vibrant than what internship later offered), and that meant constantly playing catch-up with my own deadlines and study goals.

There were also units I struggled with, and rather than tackle them head-on, I’d procrastinate until the exam period. Like clockwork, panic mode would kick in.

Despite promising myself I wouldn’t do all-nighters, I’d still end up sleeping 2–3 hours a night during exam season. If you have been following this series, you will remember that I even once pulled an all-nighter before my Pharmacology exam and nearly missed the paper. 0/10: Do not recommend.

Yes, I passed my exams but the cost was steep. My mental health took a real hit.

Looking back, there are a few things I would have done differently. And if you're in med school now, maybe they'll help you too:

1. Trade rigid goals for a clear vision and strategy

I had goals like “read ahead,” “finish notes weekly,” etc. They were admirable but unrealistic for me because they didn’t account for the other parts of my life I valued: friendships, hobbies and a healthy mental space.

What I needed was a vision for my semester (my why), a mission, clear SMART objectives and flexible strategies. I believe that doing this would have helped me plan more holistically and succeed sustainably.

2. Ask for help early and often

I didn’t ask seniors for advice because I believed that I should have things figured out (The Tyranny of the Shoulds). Truth is, I wasted time learning lessons the hard way. These were lessons that someone ahead of me could’ve shared in five minutes tops.

Someone once said, “Knowledge compresses time.” I believe that now.

3. Study like you

It took me a while to realise that I’m a visual learner. Videos, charts, diagrams and other visual learning tools worked far better for me than pages of written notes. If I’d understood and embraced that earlier, I’d have enjoyed studying more and avoided so much procrastination.

Tailor your study methods to your natural learning style. Not only is it smart; it is also necessary.

Listen. There’s no one-size-fits-all playbook for surviving medical school, but being true to who you are and asking for help never goes wrong!

I hope this helps!