Congratulations, all of you have made it to the starting blocks – M1 year! This new journey may seem like a daunting one, but don’t worry, you have everything you need to succeed at UKCOM at your fingertips (you just might not know it yet). During my first year of medical school, I knew I could be successful, but it was not always clear how to reach my goals. We all had our tried-and-true study methods in undergrad, some good and some, well let’s face it, not so good. While those study habits might work for some medical students, the reality is that many of us had to adapt to be successful our M1 year. There are countless resources out there that will help you excel at UKCOM academically, socially, and personally. The immense quantity of resources and opportunities can be overwhelming, so my advice to you is this; try everything once. If you like it, run with it. And if it doesn’t work for you, kick it to the curb.

If I had to guess, this is probably the topic on the forefront of most of your minds. I know that was certainly the case for me. As many of you know, Anki is a spaced-repetition flashcard-like program that countless medical students use daily. It’s like Quizlet but better (if you ask me). You can make your own cards or use pre-made decks (or a combination of the two). Coming into M1 year, I had heard tons of chatter about Anki, and I was certain I wasn’t going to use it. However, I was convinced to give it a try and boy am I glad I did. This is one of those resources I tried once and ran with. Sketchy is another popular resource. There are videos covering nearly every topic you could think of: microbiology, pharmacology, pathology, etc. These videos use quirky stories and graphics to help you remember high-yield info. Try making charts to compare various diseases quickly and easily. Give it a go with medications, too! And here’s a hot topic that everyone wants to know about; should I go to lecture in-person or watch online? My advice, start in-person. If going to campus and being present in the lecture hall works for you, stick with it. But if you find that option isn’t optimal, there’s no problem with switching it up. Keep an open mind, try new things, and stick with what works for you.

While the main goal at UKCOM is to focus on education and become exceptional physicians, the importance of social engagement and finding a sense of community cannot be overstated. Get involved in anything that sounds interesting. Striking a balance between academia and social involvement is key to thriving in the program. Sign up for interest groups and see which ones you enjoy. The school also has fun events such as Caduceus Ball and Casino Night. These are great opportunities to dress up, have fun, and meet people in the program providing the social network that is so important to overall success in medical school. Embrace your House Learning Community, you might just find your closest friends there. Invest time in yourself, friendships, and family.

While academics and social events are important, so is taking care of yourself. Self-care is easy to overlook as a new medical student, but it’s just as important as the rest. Find time each day to do things that make you happy. Exercise, video games, playing with your dog, trivia night with friends -whatever it is, don’t give up on it. Draw boundaries between school and your personal life. Set a daily goal for what time you’ll finish studying. You might not be able to stick to that every day, but it always helps to have an objective. Find a schedule that works for you. If past habits haven’t worked, try something new. Try getting in bed earlier and waking up earlier to exercise or study, thus starting your day on the right foot. When it comes to our personal lives, we are now tasked with marrying our future goals to our daily happiness. Finding the balance between the two is possible, but you must be willing to do what works best for you in both categories. Your first year of medical school may feel overwhelming and maybe even stressful too but following the recommendations above will help you thrive and finish strong.

What it all boils down to is finding what works for you. There is not one strategy that fits all. Experiment with new things and hold on to the ones that work. Invest in academics, social and personal life. The beauty of UKCOM is that we have all the support and resources we need to be successful. When in doubt, ask for help and you will certainly find it. Congratulations on making it to the starting blocks. Now the real fun begins!