How to Stay Organized in Medical School
Gain insights and advice from a current MD program student that will help you succeed in medical school.
Written by Justen Wilmot, SUSOM MD program student.
Hello, my name is Justen Wilmot, and I am a second-year medical student entering my 4th semester of the Basic Sciences portion of the 10-semester Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.
To give you a perspective of my background and upbringing, I was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where I also attended the University of Waterloo and received a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science with a minor in Medical Physiology. I had a passion for medicine even before starting my undergraduate studies, and that passion has continued to grow throughout my medical school journey.
But that fire and passion I have are constantly tested by the adversity and challenges that come with medical school. These challenges include extensive studying, reduced free time, numerous deadlines, strict sleep schedules and the need for a lot of discipline. Medical school is a different beast – one that can have you on the edge of your seat, ready to answer a professor’s question, or sitting on the edge of your bed, asking yourself if you still have that dawg in you. But one thing people can lose sight of is that medical school is doable. When you’re on this journey and you look around, you’ll notice your colleagues are pushing forward. And when you look up, you’ll see others wearing their white coats in hospitals.
Building the Foundation for Organization
Throughout my time in the Basic Sciences program, I have tried numerous techniques to better manage my stress and workload while maintaining efficiency. They all center around one key principle: organization. This includes structuring my day, study methods, break schedule, mealtimes and allocating time to relax, reset and sleep.
Managing and organizing your day is essential for having a smooth and consistent workflow. I organize my days in two ways.
The first is by doing a general prioritization of the classes I need to focus on during the week. For example, in Semester 3, Week 2, I gave 40% priority to Systems and Disease I, 30% to Neurology and 30% to Behavioural Science and Epidemiology.
The second way I organize my days is by planning them thoroughly two days in advance. By that time, I have a good idea of the lecture material I’ll need to go through, the notes I’ll need to review and what I need to do to get ahead or catch up. I use an agenda to keep track of what I want to cover. For example, I might jot down “review anti-epileptic drugs.” I also like to track my classes, labs and exams by adding them to my phone calendar.
Leveraging Tools and Techniques
To enhance my study efforts, I’m a huge fan of the Pomodoro Technique – studying for 50 minutes, followed by a 10 to 15-minute break. This helps me stay efficient without getting fatigued, while also taking the necessary breaks to stay fresh.
Choosing the right study methods for you is important for staying organized and reducing stress. Every subject – and every person – has different methods that work best. In my opinion, the most important aspects of studying are time management and effective reviewing. In medical school, you have to study a massive amount of material in the least amount of time, while being able to thoroughly understand and retain it.
I like making flashcards with Anki, which automatically sets up a learning and review plan. I find that subjects requiring a lot of memorization, like Anatomy and Microbiology, are perfect for Anki because it helps reinforce high-yield words, facts and short pieces of information. However, the challenge with Anki is that it’s not the best for learning material in depth or applying it to complex, multi-step concepts – especially when it comes to third-order questions.
Another method I use is simply reading slides. When there’s a lot of information that needs to be understood (rather than just memorized), going through the slides and taking brief notes really helps. The downside is that this can get boring, and you may find yourself skimming instead of truly understanding the content – especially when you get to slides 86 or 87.
My other favourite study method is writing things down. This helps me lock in the material, and I typically use this technique when creating summary charts. That said, rewriting notes is very time-consuming, so I only do it for specific topics that need extra focus.
Balancing Academics and Self-Care
When I’m not studying, it’s important that I take care of both my physical and mental health.
As mentioned before, while studying I take 10 to 15-minute breaks where I walk outside, or I’ll spend an hour at the school gym to work out. I especially enjoy working out right after classes, so I can reset my brain before diving deep into self-study.
Over the past couple of semesters, I’ve also been the President of the Athletics Club, where we host weekly and monthly events like ping pong tournaments, soccer matches and hikes. These events are a great way for students to interact, have fun and take their minds off school – even if just for a little while.
With all those key points for keeping organized in medical school, this is what my daily schedule looks like during the week:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 6:00 a.m. | Wake up, have breakfast and prepare lunch |
| 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. | Pre-read material |
| 8:00 – 11:50 a.m. | Classes |
| 11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Classes |
| 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Gym |
| 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. | Personal study (50-minute study intervals, followed by a 10 to 15-minute break) |
| 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. | Relax then sleep |
Conclusion
Finally, here’s one general study tip I have for medical students: don’t get discouraged. It takes time to learn, review and fully understand material to the point where it can be applied to different scenarios. As a reminder – we’re learning medicine. This stuff can get complicated! But remember to always adjust your study methods as needed.
You might find that creating a whole new set of flashcards the day before an exam isn’t the best use of your time. In that case, it would be more effective to review the lecture slides and your notes. If your current study method isn’t working, don’t be afraid to seek help with Student Support Services and figure out how to adjust it. Completely scrapping the method isn’t always necessary – sometimes you’re just not using it effectively, which is why you’re not retaining the information.
For example, if you’re using flashcards, you can’t just review them once and call it done. You need to review them frequently and be honest with yourself – if you get a card wrong, go back and do it again. That kind of consistent and honest review makes all the difference.
About Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM)
Founded in 1992 on the island of Saba, SUSOM has delivered rigorous medical education and training for 3,500+ MD program graduates. Our accreditor, the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). SUSOM physicians practice in the U.S., Canada and internationally.
For aspiring physicians who have completed an undergraduate degree and are now looking to change their focus to medicine, or who need to further develop their academic foundation in medical studies, there are pre-med programs available to help you achieve your goals. Explore the Pre-Med Master’s Program and Gateway Program, both offered by Medical University of the Americas, our fellow GUS Medical & Veterinary Schools institution, to learn more.
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FAQS About Staying Organized in Medical School
Choosing the appropriate number of hours to devote to study during medical school will depend on each individual, however, a typical daily study load for successful future physicians can involve 3-5 hours of dedicated personal study. This will help you ensure you’re understanding and retaining the extensive amount of instruction you receive.
While different people may choose different periods as the “hardest,” many medical students find their first semester to be the most challenging. This is because they are not yet used to the pace and demands of medical school, which requires that participants quickly get up to speed in order to succeed. Entering your first semester with a plan for managing the workload is essential, as is being flexible and willing to make adjustments as needed.
It is important to create a schedule that meets both your academic and personal needs. Carve out time for both study and relaxation in order to ensure that you’re not falling behind or approaching burnout. Once you find a daily schedule that works, be sure to stick to it!
At Saba University School of Medicine, MD program students in Basic Sciences attend classes in-person for six to seven hours each day. This means that our med students should prepare to spend a large portion of their day on-campus, as well as dedicating time to studying, attending to necessary tasks (cooking, cleaning, working out) and relaxing.
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