Surviving Medicine & Dentistry: A Real Guide

Getting into Medical/Dental school might feel like the biggest achievement—in a way yes it is but trust me—it’s just the start. Don’t let that stress you out; it's just about learning how to handle what’s next. 1. The Entrance Exam: It’s Just the Basics Here’s the deal: the entrance exam is mainly just basic material. Yeah, it’s intense, but this foundation is what you’ll keep coming back to in Med/Dent school. Get a good grasp on this now, and the first year will be way easier. It’s challenging, but manageable because it’s all fundamentals. 2. Time Management: Procrastination Isn’t Your Friend Look, no hate on taking breaks (I’m a serial procrastinator myself) but you need to get serious about time management if you want to survive med school. Going with the flow might sound fun, but that won’t cut it here. Learn to LOCK IN when you need to. You can still have time to relax, snack, binge-watch Netflix—whatever—but set time aside to actually work. Balance is key. 3. Is Preparatory Year a Waste? Not If You Need It Some people think prep year is a waste, but if the transition from high school or wherever to uni feels like too much or if the basics are tripping you up, pre-med can make all the difference. I needed that extra prep, and if you feel the same, there’s no shame in it. It’s better to get a solid foundation now than to struggle later. 4. Making Friends: It’s Easier Than You Think “I won’t make any friends”... be fr, you totally will. There’s literally someone for everyone, and Med/Dent school is full of all kinds of people. Not super social? – No problem. Join some Societies or study group chats; there are tons out there, trust me. Finding “your” people will make the whole experience way easier and even help with homesickness. 5. Study Methods: Find What Works for You A solid study method is key. Experiment until you find a way that clicks with how you learn. Here are some options: Active Recall: This is just testing yourself regularly. Requires a lot of talking to yourself. No, it’s not weird, and yes, it works. Spaced Repetition: Go back over topics in intervals so they actually stick. “One size fits all,” there is no such thing so play around until you find something that works for you. To be honest you’re in luck, you don't need to go around searching for notes, here on ACE MED [ wink wink ] we have reliable notes for multiple subjects that highlight all the information you need to get through Med/Dent school.  6. Do You Need to Be a Genius? Nah, Just Put in the Work You don’t need to be a genius to succeed in med school. It’s really about putting in the effort and staying consistent. Work = Progress. Getting into Med/Dent school might be just the beginning, but with good habits, focus, and a solid support system, you can make it work.