Tip #6: Mind your mind

Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to specialize in. Part of what is so fun about medical school is that you get to try a bunch of different things. The best problem to have is liking most of your rotations. I found it very helpful to start shadowing early and often. This helped me establish relationships with mentors early on, and it helped me understand what I liked and didn’t like about different experiences. 

The learning curve is steep at first. Even if the first few weeks feel overwhelming, it will get better. Figuring out how you study best can be difficult, but you need to be willing to try out different strategies until you land on the one that is right for you.

Remember to keep doing the things you love outside of school. Your hobbies make you the interesting person that you are, and they are likely part of what got you into medical school in the first place. These things will continue to help your mental health even if you don’t realize it at first.