As I enjoy my summer as a rising MS2, I wanted to compile a summary of my first year of medical school.

Did I enjoy it? Yes. Was it hard? Absolutely.

I think one of the most important things you can have in medical school is a strong support system. I’m so lucky to have a great group of friends who supported me throughout my first year. We had movie nights, attended a conference in San Francisco, and studied together. They truly made this year much more bearable.

We had five blocks, each with one midterm and one final exam. We also had anatomy practicals sprinkled throughout the year.

Despite what other students were doing, I stuck with the study methods that I knew worked for me. This is one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give. You will receive countless advice, but it is up to you to decide which ones to actually apply.

Some of the study habits that worked well for me included:

• Making my own Anki decks
• Creating my own practice questions
• Sticking to a consistent study routine instead of constantly switching methods

Academically, I performed right where I was aiming to with my exams and quizzes, and I believe that staying consistent with my study methods played a huge role in that.

Now for extracurriculars.

I serve on the Student Executive Committee, co-lead several Student Interest Groups, and volunteer as a student physician at our Student Outreach Clinic.

Do you need to do a ton of extracurriculars? No.

Instead, apply for positions that genuinely interest you. Not only will you enjoy them more, but they will also help you develop a more authentic personal story when it comes time to apply for residency.

Remember to keep in mind what you want to get out of medical school. Having a clear goal will help you decide which opportunities to pursue and how many extracurriculars you want to commit to.

Until next time!