Spring means showers (and/or snow depending not the region), but it also means that many second-year medical students are getting ready to study for their first set of board examinations. I should add though that many schools have changed their curriculum so that students take their first set of boards and their second set of boards at the same time after their third-year. I think that this topic is
- Take breaks as needed. I know that I often times took breaks but I wish that I had taken more. Breaks can be as long or short as you want them to be but use them to get your mind off of the studying so that you an go back with a fresh set of eyes!
- Make studying fun. That can be studying with friends, watching videos, or drawing out pathways. Use whatever resource that helps you make connections that will stick in your head. Merck Manuals has some helpful pages regarding various topics that can help supplement your studying.
- Trust your practice scores. There will be a time in your studying when your scores will stabilize and exceed your initial expectations. You might think that it’s a false sense of hope, but if you trust yourself on test day you might just surprise yourself with how much you have exceeded your full potential.
I hope that these tips are helpful and can help relieve some of the stress that is associated with board studying. Just know that this time will pass, it will all work out in the end, and you will be an amazing physician!
