How to Prepare for Your First Year of Medical School

If you clicked on this, chances are you’ve been looking at applying to medical schools, or you’ve already been accepted into one (Congratulations!). Well, now you have some time to prepare for your 1st year, but where do you even start?

This medical school survival guide covers mindset, study strategies, budgeting, time management, and everything you must set up before day 1.

Key takeaways in this blog include:

• Your 1st year of med school is all about consistency, not perfection
• Strong time management and active study techniques matter more than long study hours
• Preparing your logistics early prevents burnout once classes begin
• Having a support system and maintaining real-life balance will keep you mentally stable through the workload

What to Expect in Your Medical School First Year

The 1st year of med school kicks off with all the core sciences including introductions to anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and pathology.

Every medical school structures things a bit differently, so in some universities, you also start getting a taste of the clinical side sooner than you’d expect. Most programmes include a “doctoring” or clinical-skills course where you learn how to take a patient’s history, do basic exams, communicate properly, and understand the professional side of being a doctor.

Some medical schools' 1st year have a heavy anatomy focus with hands-on practicals, manikin work, simulation-based learning and cadaver dissections. 

However, what can make the pre-clinical years challenging isn’t that any single topic is impossible, but that there’s a lot of reading to be done. Expect to spend about 30 hours per week in independent study, in addition to 20-30 hours of lectures and labs.

Academic Preparation Tips for New Medical Students

Many students ignore proper academic preparation, making their 1st year rougher than it needs to be. The good news is that all you need is to plan your approach to organising study sessions throughout your years of study:

The Right Mindset for Med School Success

The most critical answer to “how to succeed in your first year of med school” is not overworking yourself, getting quality sleep, eating actual meals, and doing any form of physical exercise, to keep your brain from frying.

• Pick a daily study cutoff and stick to it. You’ll absorb more when you’re not forcing yourself to work 12-hour days.
• Be mindful. Talking to someone or doing 5 minutes of breathing/meditation stops stress from piling up.
• Take real breaks like walks, music, cooking, or anything not related to studying medicine. Your brain needs spaces where it’s not “on.”

Reviewing for Foundational & First-Year Med School Curriculum

Even if you’ve applied to medical schools with no entrance exams, review the basic scientific subjects like Biology and Chemistry. Dust off those old notes and refresh the basics to start off your studies as ready as you could be.

Don’t Look for Perfectionism

Instead, treat studying medicine like a marathon. Stay consistent without falling behind, focus on passing, and protect your energy. Burning out early is the number 1 mistake students regret later.

Medical School Study Strategies 

Everyone learns differently. Some people need to see a visual representation so it sticks, others have to hear it, and many need a hands-on approach. If you’re not sure which studying approach works for you, try a learning-style quiz like VARK. It’ll show you if you’re visual, auditory, read/write, or kinesthetic. Once you know, you can set up your study habits to match how your brain actually works. Makes things a lot easier down the line.

You can also use high-volume study techniques like active recall and spaced repetition, especially when you’re preparing for your med school’s entrance exam or pre-reading for your 1st few classes.

Leverage Tools for Medical School Study

You will quickly realise that relying solely on lecture slides is not enough. Successful medical students use 3rd party tools to help them sketch, create flashcards, and organise their files from day 1. 

A good example of these tools is Anki, which creates personalised flashcards covering a wide range of medical topics.

Building a Support Network

Being isolated in med school can set you back. It’s important to prepare socially and build a support network before the academic pressure hits. This network provides emotional support, academic clarity, and future career guidance. Both Medlink Students and many medical schools offer exactly this type of support

Older students (Y2, Y3, and Y4) are the most valuable in this case, as they can immediately tell you which resources can help with your school's exams. Establishing early relationships with your peers and seniors can also help you with finding out about research opportunities, while getting specific advice on speciality selection later in your journey.

Medlink Students helps you connect with older students and faculty at your school, while also giving you personalised advice from our own network of doctors and experienced academic advisors.

Finally, do not let the intense environment cut you off from the outside world. Keep in touch with family and friends for some emotional and work-life balance.

Time Management For Medical School

This gets its own section in the blog because building your time management skills is 1 of the most crucial soft skills you NEED during your medical studies. With the very high study volumes, cramming simply doesn't work. Time management is how you ensure consistency and prevent burnout. Some must-do planning techniques include:

Time-Blocking

Time blocking is the secret sauce here. Set specific, non-negotiable blocks for different activities:

• Focus Blocks (2-3 hours) for deep learning and mastery of complex concepts.
• Review Blocks (1-2 hours) to reinforce content using spaced repetition.
• Administrative Blocks (30-60 minutes) for emails, planning, and organising notes.
• Wellness Blocks for exercise, cooking, and sleep. These are non-negotiable.

Follow the Eisenhower Matrix

You can’t do everything at once, so this helps you sort your day out. Just split your tasks into 4 boxes:

• Urgent + important: do these 1st, like an exam that’s literally tomorrow
• Important but not urgent: schedule these for later, like doing some research or reading
• Urgent but not important: either pass it on or knock it out fast (like replying to group messages).
• Not urgent + not important: cut them out or keep them for your “okay I’m done” time for unwinding.

The Pomodoro Technique

Your brain needs structured breaks, especially for studying high-volume medical content. Try working on a single subject for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute quick break. After 4 sessions (120 minutes), take a longer 15-30 minute recharge break. This maintains your focus and decreases the chances of early onset of burnout.

Adopt the "Study Today's Material First" Rule

If you get behind, never try to catch up on yesterday's lecture before tackling today's content. Always prioritise the newest material to prevent the work from snowballing. Use small pockets of free time later to catch up on the backlog.

Sort Out Your Logistics Before Classes Begin

If you’re studying medicine, the last thing you want is other sources of stress, especially when it comes to finances and living. These are steps you must settle before classes start.

Financial Planning for Medical Students

Med school is a long-term investment, so ensure you join a medical school whose tuition is within your budget.

Additionally, you HAVE to make sure you have all your living expenses set straight based on your med school’s location. Look for accommodation prices, food, leisure, and transportation. It’s a good idea to also become familiar with budget management tools and applications; they can save you in the long run.

Have you not found a medical school that fits your needs yet? Book a free consultation with 1 of our expert advisors, and we’ll help you secure a spot at a top-ranked medical school in Europe, or check out our blog for 7 Affordable Medical Universities in Europe.

Choosing Safe and Affordable Accommodation

Where you stay affects everything - your headspace, how well you study, and how your whole uni life feels. Choosing the right accommodation basically sets the tone for an easier, smoother med school run. 
Additionally, watch out for scams or sketchy landlords. According to a European Students’ Union survey, 25% of international students experienced housing scams, 49% were hit with large deposits, and 41% said they weren’t given clear information about the place they were renting.

Book a free consultation with 1 of our expert academic advisors today, and we will go through your exact situation, so we can give you a solid, tailored plan to help you succeed, all while ensuring you've chosen the best destination for YOU.

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