So You Got Into Medical School... Now What?: A Guide to Preparing for the Next Four Years

by Daniel R. Paull

Many incoming medical students fear that they will be forced to spend all of their “free” time doing either one of two activities: studying or worrying about studying. Indeed the pace of medical school is relentless, from the sheer multitude of information and rapid pace of lectures, to the painfully long days spent on the wards. All too often the above fears will come true if a student is ill prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. Fortunately, life in medical school doesn’t have to be so harsh if one approaches it with a well thought out game plan. Written through firsthand knowledge, this book aims to guide the incoming medical student through the perils and pitfalls of medical school while providing the framework for success.
This book will enable you to:
• Learn how to study efficiently and effectively while minimizing anxiety
• Avoid common medical student pitfalls
• Experience life as a medical student vicariously through vignettes
• Apply board review strategies for the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and CS
• Discover how to navigate the clinical years spent in the hospital
• Find out how to apply to residency programs properly

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2015

Reviews

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is written in an informal, conversational manner. The logic is sound, and the advice provided is (and hopefully will be) helpful. I can't help but think that as long as the student is sociable, able to have these conversations with upperclassmen at their institution, then the book is largely superfluous.

[Mendy McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Informative

While it was a bit “wordy,” this book gives the reader a lot of information on each year and obstacle of medical school. This is a great summer read for the incoming medical student.

[Hlyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book before I started medical school (I'm a final year student now). Reading this book, I felt very much relieved that I'm not alone in having those emotions and problems I've been having in the past four years - overwhelming, stress, worries, fears, (and procrastination, cramming) etc. (I had been putting the blame on the education system of my country :D ) Although the education systems are different in certain ways, of course, from one country to another, I can relate to the stories of the students in this book because we have the same student (human) nature, the same problems and pitfalls. The advices in this book are not uniquely new, but, you know, common knowledge is not always common practice. Thank you so much, Dr. Daniel R. Paull for this book. I can recommend it to anyone who is in or about to start medical school in any country.