What to do the summer before medical school

academic advice medical school

Congratulations, you did it! You got into medical school - but what do you do now?  

Now that I’m almost finished with my second year of medical school, I want to share a list of things I wish I had done and a list of things I would do again the summer before medical school. 

What I wish I had done before medical school: 

Establish care with a healthcare provider  


While this may seem obvious (you are going to school to be a doctor after all), it important to find a healthcare provider near your medical school. It is too easy to put your own health on the back-burner when you become busy. During my first year, I didn’t go to the doctor when I needed to. I had felt too overwhelmed to find a provider in a new city, I ended up letting a minor medical issue progress into something more serious. Thankfully, the little knowledge I had acquired at that point in medical school told me something was dangerously wrong when I developed unilateral flank pain. I immediately went to urgent care and got antibiotics. I was almost septic, but I was lucky enough to avoid being hospitalized. So, please seek help when you need it - you deserve to prioritize your health.  

Work and save money 


Medical school is expensive, and there are many expenses that are not always mentioned upfront. For example, I didn’t know that it costs $670 to take Step 1 until well into my second year. Saving money and working before medical school will help when you need a little extra spending money. It is unlikely that you will have time for a part-time job during the first few years, especially during your clerkship year. You will probably be spending your spare time studying, volunteering, and/or conducting unpaid research. I didn’t work the summer before because I expected to work during the school year, as I always had before. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had saved up some money before I got too busy.  

Study the basics 


If you have been accepted into medical school, then I am 99% sure that you have thought about studying before classes start. Most people will tell you that you shouldn’t study because you should take this time to relax; you have the rest of your career to study. This is a completely valid perspective; however, if you are unsatisfied with the idea of not studying before starting medical school, I suggest that you study the topics that require pure memorization, such as anatomy, microbiology, and the names and classes of commonly used antibiotics. I know I would have benefitted from this because I continue to struggle with these topics. But save learning the more nuanced and complicated topics for when you have the necessary guidance of your preceptors. 

What I'm glad I did before medical school: 

Spend quality time with friends and family 


I’m attending medical school 3000 miles away from where I grew up. I went to undergrad far away from home as well, but I always had a summer break to spend with my friends and family. Every medical school is different, but I knew the summer before I started medical school would be my last full summer with them. I encourage you to cherish the people you love. They will be the people who will support you when you need it most.   

Pursue hobbies 


When I started medical school, I realized that my classmates are extremely talented, not just in science, but also in the arts, humanities, athletics, languages, and more. I learned that it is important to have hobbies to fall back on when things get stressful. If you don’t already have a hobby or if you want a new one, now is a good time to find one. Think of something that you have always wanted to do and go for it!  

Enhance your wardrobe 


After I got into medical school, my dad told me that I needed new clothes because mine were old and faded. He wanted me to look professional. It’s okay to wear street clothes to the classroom, so I held onto my favorite outfits. However, I needed business casual clothes for the clinic. That being said, you don’t have to look fancy or expensive. I simply raided my mom’s closet, and now I have some killer dress slacks from the 90s – seriously, I get so many compliments.  

Be proud of yourself 


Take this time to build your confidence in yourself. Many students start medical school with “imposter syndrome,” so if you feel overwhelmed and out-of-place, you are not alone. However, you deserve to be here, and it will help you in the long run to recognize this sooner rather than later. Your preceptors will notice your confidence and give you more freedom. But most importantly, your patients will also notice it and trust you.  

This summer is your time, so make the most of it. And get excited for the next chapter of your life to start! 

Stephanie graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame. She is now pursuing her MD at Harvard Medical School.

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