My first week of class was one for the record books. People always say medical school feels like drinking from a fire hydrant—and honestly, they’re right. The pace is intense, but it’s manageable. My first exam is at the end of this month and covers material from three classes: nine biochemistry lectures, four clinical anatomy lectures, and six structure and function lectures plus three labs. On a typical day, we go through one to two lectures per class hour. By this Friday, I’ll have covered everything that will be on that first exam.
I’m so glad I listened to the advice about building a system that let me function as a human being before classes started. Some of my classmates are still juggling studying with unpacking and chores. I already had a routine figured out, so now it’s just about finding where things are and settling into the flow. Most of my days follow the same structure, and that consistency helps keep me grounded.
Wake up @ 4:30 am
Exercise – 4:45 am to 5:15 am or 5:20 am
Shower – 5:30 to 6 am
Studying – 6:15 am to 7:55 am
Class – 8 am to Noon
Studying – 1 pm to 5:30 pm
Free time – 5:45 pm until 8 pm
Bedtime 8:30 pm or 9 pm
Some days I have class in the afternoon, which means I lose a bit of study time. Still, my routine usually stays the same. Right now, I put in about 27 to 30 hours of studying each week. Everyone’s rhythm is different, but this feels like a good balance for me at the moment. I guess the real test will be my first exam at the end of the month—that’s when I’ll find out if 27 hours is enough or if I’ll need to carve out even more time