Guide to Surviving First Year in Medical School

There are two types of students in Bangladesh, ones who are complete and utter disappointments to their parents, and others who study engineering or medicine. 

Medical students feel a lot more strongly about their newbie experiences than others, and I thought their stories of pain and suffering should be documented with the gravitas they deserve. So after quite a bit of research and some lectures from my doctor parents who are perpetually disappointed in me for not choosing this line of study, I bring to you the guide for surviving first year in medical school.

1.     Your life = exams. Look, I understand that you must dedicate a large amount of time to your studies no matter where you go. But you will not have to sit for exams every day anywhere else. There's a whole hierarchy of examinations that range from items to cards, terms, and profs. The exams never stop, and some day you will get used to it; although it's better not to get too comfortable. Don't lose your focus.

2.     Your death = exams. There's a social sense of superiority surrounding med students, with everyone thinking that just because they got accepted into a medical school, they've got their lives figured out. Those are all lies. The new curriculum, paired with a shortage of time and the teachers' relentless efforts to pressurise the students to the point of madness causes severe trauma. Despite sacrificing their social lives, even the best of students can fail. However, it's better not to commit suicide, because things get better.

3.     Don't faint. Dissecting dead bodies is not as glamorous a job as many cop shows would have you believe, and idiotic feats like taking selfies with cadavers will not make things easier. Most teachers don't allow the use of gloves (unless you can sneak those in), so be prepared to endure the stink coming from your hands for weeks. And unless you have someone to hand-feed you, you should also prepare to starve.

4.     Bond with your fellow future lifesavers. Don't be that med student who has zero friends because they want to be insufferable witless nerds whose only friend is Dutta's anatomy book. Besides, I hear med schools are the best place to find love. If it weren't, I wouldn't even exist to be the major disappointment that I am.

5.     The world is your oyster. A common misconception about medical students is that they don't have any scope for ECAs. But you could always make time for national/international competitions designed specifically for students in medicine, or join any clubs in your institution. No clubs to join? Establish one; it's that easy. 

After hearing the tales of what medical students have to deal with in their first year and what a huge shock it is to them after spending 12 years in the safety of their schools, I did not regret forsaking this subject at all. However, they do seem to be surviving this endless stream of traumatic experiences quite well, once they got the hang of it. It is the promise of a future in saving lives that keeps them going, they say. And what a beautiful, rewarding profession it is – saving lives. 

Aanila Kishwar Tarannum started hating on everything the moment she realised why her parents put so many As in her name: because they knew her transcript would be devoid of any vowels. Find out about her relentless rants on facebook.com/Aanial