Today I took my second block exam, which means I am 50% done with my first semester of medical school! Although I’m still getting the hang of how to study and be successful on these exams, I have learned a few things about Block Exams that I wish I had known from day one. These are:
- All classes are not treated equally, but they are. Anatomy takes up the majority of my time as it is an 8-credit hour class, but that does not mean that my Principles of Osteopathic Medicine class (only two credit hours) isn’t just as important. Make sure you are spending time on other classes, not just the ones that you get the most information in.
- Use your resources. The weekend before our anatomy lab practical, the anatomy lab is the most popular place to be. USE YOUR PEERS. There is so much information floating around. Use it to your advantage and to help your fellow peers.
- It will be okay. It’s normal to be freaked out before a Block Exam. But realize that you have put in the time and effort to be successful. Be proud of how hard you’ve worked throughout the quarter.
- Take a break (no seriously take a break!!). There’s nothing more you can do after the exam so make sure you take some to rest, catch up with family and friends, and take care of yourself. Self-care is vital throughout block, but it’s especially important during your breaks in order to prepare yourself for the next one.
If you have further questions on surviving blocks, please feel free to comment below! Good luck!
