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Anatomy

1.    Before lecture and lab, know the anatomy. Use Netter's along with the DoctorsInTraining.com Gross Anatomy and Radiology study guide and/or your lab dissector to identify structures you should know.

2.    If you cannot identify the anatomy in Netter's, then you will not be able to identify it in lab.

3.    Takes notes in your Netter's during lecture. Simply highlighting a structure you should know is much quicker than trying to write it down. Additionally, when you go over your lecture notes you won't have to keep switching back-and-forth from your notes to your atlas.

4.    Review your DoctorsInTraining.com Gross Anatomy and Radiology study guide before your anatomy exams for quick memory jogs on high-yield clinical and radiological correlations.

On Building Your CV

This is probably the last thing you want to think about right now, but it is important. You are probably thinking that since you finally made it to medical school, you can relax a little on the resume building. Well, unfortunately everyone else is going to be building their resume, and you need for yours to look good also. Here is a list of categories that you will have to address on your residency application:

- AOA status

- Grades and scores
- Work Experience
- Volunteer Experience
- Research Experience
- Publications
- Honors and Awards
- Hobbies

Now is the time to start or continue building your CV in each of these categories.  If you have an interest in research, contact your school’s research director and start seeking research opportunities now.  If your school is limited in opportunities, then seek out public options or opportunities at other medical schools.  The more competitive your career path of choice, the greater the emphasis should be on your CV!

What Should I Do During the Summer Between Year 1 and 2?

In the summer after first year, you could choose to relax, volunteer, work, travel, shadow a physician in an area of interest, research—or do some combination of these.  If your CV needs some bulking up, now is a good time to focus on at least one area.

What is AOA?

Alpha Omega Alpha is a medical honor society.  Students are elected into this honor society in their 3rd and 4th years of medical school based on academic standing (at least top 25% of class), strength of CV, and peer evaluations.  You need to know about this honor society because many competitive residency programs won't even look at you unless you are a member!  For more information, check out the AOA website.

If you are a medical student and have additional information that you think 1^st year medical students would find helpful or questions about success in medical school, please send your comments/questions to support@doctorsintraining.com

What About Second Year?

1.    Keep up the hard work—do not become lazy now! 

2.    Continue to work on your CV—you might have discovered a new interest over the summer that carries into 2^nd year. 

3.    Join a club that grants you access to a clinical experience (even if it’s just observing or volunteering)—you will be glad to have had some patient exposure prior to 3^rd year.  No shaky hands on your first patient encounter! 

4.    If you haven’t already, buy the current edition of First Aid for Step 1 and read it along with your classes.  Read more of it in your spare time.  Take notes directly into the book.  Make this book a part of you.

5.    If you want to boost your USMLE or COMLEX score, then check out the Doctors In Training Step 1 Review Course.

6.    If you need help with a study plan—a plan that fits your specific study style and study timeline—then contact the DoctorsInTraining.com student advisors.

Things to Consider When Scheduling Third Year Courses:

Before you know it, it will be time to schedule your 3^rd year clinical rotations.  Some important things to keep in mind:

1.    The hardest courses (from most demanding to least demanding) are Surgery > Internal Medicine > ObGyn > Pedi. Don't schedule these courses when you need free time (e.g., for moving, wedding planning, family stuff).  Some people like to get harder courses out of the way, space them out, or to delay them. Choose whatever suits you best.

2.    Your first rotation should NOT be in a field that you know you will be interested in. Transitioning into 3^rd year can be quite a shock, and you won't look very adept your first rotation.

3.    You should rotate through the field you are most interested in before winter break.  This gives you time before 4^th year to evaluate your decision.

4.    Know that Pediatrics is more demanding in the winter months because more children are sick during this time than any other time of year.  If you are interested in Pedi, maybe you want to do this rotation in the winter.  If you are not interested in Pedi, you may want to avoid a Pedi winter rotation.

5.    Taking Internal Medicine soon after taking Step 1 will help your Internal Medicine grade.  But taking Internal Medicine as your last 3^rd year rotation will help your Step 2 score.

6.    Taking Internal Medicine before Surgery will boost your score on the Surgery shelf exam.

7.    Psych and Family Medicine tend to be easier courses. Schedule these courses when you need more time for other things.

If you are a medical student and have additional information that you think 2nd year medical students would find helpful or questions about success in medical school, please send your comments/questions to support@doctorsintraining.com.