Be prepared for the challenges of medical school
Learn more about the challenges you may face in medical school, in our comprehensive guide.
Becoming a medical professional is becoming an increasingly popular career choice in the USA, Canada and Europe. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data shows a 25% increase in the number of medical applications in the last 10 years.
However, getting admission into medical school is the first step of a relatively arduous journey. Completing medical school can take years of hard work, patience, persistence and resilience. Becoming an established doctor can sometimes take more than six or seven years if you include residency and additional training. Therefore, many students can face a lack of motivation to pursue the necessary training.
This doesn’t mean the entire duration of medical school will be spent with your head in a book. Medical studies also involve practical training and real-life case studies which allow you to learn from with a hands-on approach. You’ll also come across enough compelling cases in your clinical rotations and residency to keep you hooked. Medical students often have the opportunity to meet and interact with new people and explore new cultures, especially if you are studying abroad.
This blog can help you have a fair idea of the challenges you might face during your time in medical school. Being prepared for these challenges can help in preparing you to overcome these hurdles and become an excellent doctor in the future.
What are the challenges you face in medical school?
Here are a few common challenges you might face during your time in medical school.
1. Rigorous curriculums
Most medical school prerequisites, and tests like the MCAT ensure that students who are accepted into medical school are prepared for the academic rigors of medical school.
While obtaining your medical degree will require long hours of study you will find that having a successful medical practice is worth the time and effort.
You may be wondering; how do students deal with pressures of studying? By anticipating the workload in advance and preparing for it. For example, you can take up many medical subjects in your pre-med college work to familiarize yourself with the technical terms. You can also prepare realistic timetables in medical school to help you cater time for all subjects.
2. Increased workloads
In addition to a rigorous curriculum, there is a relatively large amount of technical knowledge which needs to be memorized and retained during your medical training. Since an MD is an advanced degree, medical school can involve a significant amount of work as compared to your undergraduate degree.
In order to get ahead of your studies, it can be helpful to talk to your seniors to learn from their experiences and understand how they managed their workload. You can also join group study sessions and online discussion forums to find more practical advice on learning.
Searching for a medical school setup provides the facilities and support to help you on your journey to becoming a doctor? Saba University School of Medicine, located on Saba Island in the Caribbean is the ideal study destination.
Saba is known for its academic excellence, and is accredited by the Netherlands’ medical school accreditation body – the NVAO – also held to the highand its high European medical standards. through an additional accreditation.. Saba also has a USMLE Step 1 pass rate of 99% between 2015 and 2020.
Saba employs distinguished faculty all with advanced degrees and doctorates and offers small class sizes so students can make the most of their medical training. The Basic Sciences curriculum at Saba focuses on case-based learning and clinical skills development for a better academic experience.
Learn more about the MD program at Saba University School of Medicine.
3. Less Downtime
It is possible to feel overwhelmed at times during your medical studies but you can take plenty of measures that can let you avoid a state of overdrive. Factor time into your schedule to talk to your friends and family regularly. It’s also easy to make new friends on the campus, especially if you are studying abroad. Studying from a Caribbean medical school can even let you experience the tropical beauty of the region and mingle with the friendly locals.
Make sure to schedule breaks between your study sessions to go out for fresh air and exercise. You should also take some time out for recreational activities like watching a movie or eating out.
While completing your medical studies can take a lot of time and effort, it is an extremely rewarding experience and will provide you with an incredibly impressive qualification too! Instead of viewing your medical degree as an end goal, see your time in medical school as a journey and enjoy it. Invest in a good MD program that gives you the best support in your journey to becoming a good doctor.
For prospective students
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