Hello medicos. Starting medical school is an exciting yet scary experience. As you transition from the NEET phase to college life, you will face a very big jump in life. Everything will be new and challenging. The syllabus, the hands-on clinical experiences, the senior junior interaction, it is all a tornado of emotions.
Here’s a heads up on what to expect as a first-year medical student. I will be covering everything from academic challenges to social adjustments.
The Humongous Syllabus
You will go to buy books on the first day of college and the first thing you’ll notice is the size and number of the books. You will soon realize that there is a substantial jump in the syllabus from the pre NEET phase. NEET is surely rigorous, but it does not fully prepare you for the depth and breadth of the medical college curriculum.
You will face a lot of difficulty in keeping up with your peers. You will feel like the entire subject is written in a foreign language.
The amount of information that you have to memorize can be very overwhelming. For example, when you are studying osteology, you will realize that even just one bone has hundreds of attachments and relations. The realization of the bulk will keep hitting you throughout the year.
It is going to be a tough time dealing with this shift.
The Induction Into the Real Medicine World
Anatomy dissection hall is where you’ll encounter cadavers for the first time. This experience is very creepy for the first time.
Did I mention that the cadavers are drenched in formalin. The smell of formalin is so bad, it will hit you the moment you enter the dissection hall and won’t leave you till you are done with MBBS.
Not just the formalin, the cadaver itself is an uneasy sight. Seeing and dissecting a human body can be emotionally challenging. You have to come to terms with the gravity of your profession.
Practical Skills: The Shock
You might know about pricking to draw blood for basic tests. But did you know that the learning process requires you to prick yourself with a lancet?
You’ll practice pricking your own finger to obtain blood samples for various tests throughout the year. This might make you feel shocked, but this is not even the entire thing.
You will be asked to pee in containers and then the entire batch will examine your urine. Basically, you will come to terms with every aspect of human existence, including patient vomit, blood spillage, ear wax, poop during delivery, and what-not during your MBBS life. It is a very humbling experience.
It’s very strict
Everything from dress code to attendance rules will make you feel like you’re back in school. A minimum of 75% attendance in lectures is required to be allowed to attempt University Exams.
This might seem like a small number right now, but you will soon realize that it is not.
In the midst of all the rules and restrictions, it will become very difficult to have a good balanced life. You will feel like a big huge chunk of your energy is only being dedicated towards your study.
Missing home and fitting in
It is not easy. You’ll be lost even if you hate it at home and have been trying to get away for a long time. Thinking of moving out and actually moving out are two entirely different things.
You will feel homesick and will want to run back home. But your academic commitments will not allow you to do so often.
Making new friends can also be difficult initially. You might not find similar people and will have to spend a lot of energy in trying to make the best of the people that you have met. The goal is to stay put no matter what.
Study Pressure and Mental Health
The academic pressure in medical school is very crazy, I cannot describe it to you in words. Think about the NEET pressure, and then just double it. Constantly, throughout your MBBS life.
I’m not trying to scare you, I’m just preparing you for what’s coming.
Even the class topper gets told things like ‘You are not fit to be a doctor, you are a waste of space.’ in vivas. Vivas are a very harrowing experience. You will face all this pressure and will have to deal with it and keep studying throughout the year.
You will have so much hair fall, high cortisol levels, and even a few rounds to the Psych OPD by the time you leave.
Interaction with Seniors
Let’s just say, the first experiences are not very pleasant. Medical colleges have a hierarchy and First Year UGs are at the bottom of the chain.
You will have some strict rules in interacting with seniors in the first year. I would suggest looking out for the best seniors and sticking to them. Beyond that, do not mingle a lot.
Respect them, follow the rules and stay out of their way.
Being Asked for Directions in Hospitals
This might sound silly but this is just an emphasis on the fact that your coat holds a lot of power. You wear a coat, people will assume you are a doctor.
You will be asked directions by patients every time you are in the hospital. I would suggest going to the hospital one day, without your coats and just looking around and memorizing the OPD numbers.
Also, be prepared for a lot of relatives sending you X-rays and MRI scans and asking you for your diagnosis.
The power of the profession
See, the power of the profession will be felt most in the first year. You will realize the respect that people give you as soon as you say that you are a med student. Your family will be the center of attention in every event.
You might even get a few rishtas (matches for wedding) by the time you leave college. You will be very respected in society.
Soon, the responsibility of being a doctor will also set in. So enjoy the limelight without working, as much as you can. Because soon, you will have to pay for the respect.
Conclusion
While the academic load is very heavy, the experiences you will be gaining are invaluable. Don’t worry, you will soon get adjusted to the circus life of MBBS.
Remember to manage your time well, take care of your mental and physical health, and build a good network of supportive friends.
Welcome to the best of times, the worst of times. Welcome to the world of medicine!
