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3 Things I’d Do Differently as a Medical Student

Looking back at my med school days, I can’t help but laugh a bit at all the mistakes I made. Honestly, though, I don’t regret most of them because I learned so much along the way. But there are definitely a few things I’d do differently if I had the chance. These changes would have made my life easier back then and helped me be a better doctor now. So, if you’re in med school—or planning to be—maybe you can learn from my hindsight instead of making the same mistakes. Here are three things I’d change.


1. Stop Studying for Marks, Start Studying for Your Career



a computer with tea, toast and hard drives
the perfect set up


If I could tell my med school self one thing, it would be this: study for the doctor you want to be, not just the grades you want to get. Med school is full-on, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of cramming for exams, memorising just enough to pass, and then forgetting it all two weeks later. Sure, that strategy might get you through your next OSCE or written exam, but one day, you’re going to sit across from a real patient who needs real answers.


Here’s the thing: you need to know how to apply the knowledge, not just recite it. Think of it this way—when you’re explaining diverticulitis to a patient, you can’t just spout off the lecture slide jargon. You need to break it down into simple, everyday language they’ll actually understand. And when you’re presenting the same patient to your consultant, it’s a completely different skill: you need to organise the details, highlight the important stuff, and make it clear why this patient needs admission.


So, if you focus on building that practical understanding early—thinking about how you’d explain or apply what you’re learning in real-life situations—it makes everything click better. Trust me, your future self will thank you.


2. Build a Resource Library


This one is less glamorous but super practical: become your own librarian. The reality of medicine is that you won’t—and can’t—remember everything. What will save you is knowing where to find the answers when you need them.


Back in med school, I wish I’d started building a personal library of resources earlier. Apps, websites, books, notes—whatever works for you. For example:

  • Use apps like UpToDate or MDCalc for quick reference.

  • Bookmark websites like Life in the Fast Lane for ECGs or emergency medicine.

  • Keep a digital note-taking system (like Notion or even the Notes app on your phone) for things you look up often, like medication doses or emergency procedures.



a photo of life in the fast lane website
what the LIFTL website looks like

Here’s why this matters: imagine you’re on a 14-hour shift, exhausted, in some random corner of the hospital with no Wi-Fi. A patient is sick, needs acute medical attention and you can’t remember the exact dose of a medication or what investigations you need to order to work up this presentation to hospital. Having offline notes or a pocket guide can literally be a lifesaver—not just for the patient, but for your sanity.


So, start building that library now. Add to it every time you learn something new or come across a great resource. It’ll save you from so many “oh crap” moments down the line.


3. Treat Placements Like a Free Trial for Being a Doctor


This is the big one. If I could redo med school, I’d spend way more time on placements soaking up as much real-life experience as possible. Here’s how I think about it now: placements are like a free trial of being a doctor. You’re in the hospital, working with patients, but without the responsibility or pressure of actually being in charge. Take advantage of that.



a doctor at work
trying to leave the hospital

Here’s why it’s so valuable: textbooks and lectures can only teach you so much. You won’t truly understand what it means to manage COPD until you’ve listened to a patient’s lungs and seen how they respond to treatment. You won’t fully get “rigid abdomen” until you’ve felt it yourself and watched that patient get rushed into surgery.


The more patients you see, the more signs, symptoms, and conditions you experience firsthand, the better you’ll be when it’s your turn to make the calls. It’s like putting in the reps at the gym—quantity builds quality over time. So, show up, get involved, and treat every patient encounter as a chance to learn something you won’t forget.


If I had studied for my career, built my resource library earlier, and squeezed every drop out of my placements, my life as a junior doctor would’ve been a lot smoother. Don’t get me wrong—med school will still be tough, and you’ll still make mistakes. But if you can pick up even one of these habits now, it’ll pay off big time when you’re out there as a doctor.


At the end of the day, med school is about preparing for the long game. The more effort you put in now, the more confident and capable you’ll feel later. So, good luck—and don’t forget to enjoy the ride (even the messy parts).


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