Being a pre-med student is the best and worst thing all at the same time. The classes are hard, and you will want to pull your hair out every time you walk into Organic Chemistry because you don’t know what’s going on. The people you meet are some of the most intelligent and helpful people around. Trust me, you will spend a lot of time at study groups, going to review sessions, reviewing old exams, and crying together as you question if this is what you truly want. However, your hard work will pay off when you get that acceptance letter. There is so much to know as a pre-med student but of all things I have learned, this is what everyone can relate to.

1. Time Management skills are how you survive.

Between managing your classes, working, school activities, review sessions, and studying, you need to have a set schedule to get you through the week. Use a planner to keep track of everything and make sure you do your best to work on yourself. It’s important to have a balance. Make time for sleep and for working out when you can. Make sure to eat healthy, especially when you are always on the go. If you are going to be working in the healthcare field, you might as well represent what healthy looks like.

2. Organic Chemistry will make you question if this is really worth it.

I'm not kidding you, I literally cry over ochem. You have no clue how many people end up dropping pre-med during the semester of ochem. I remember calling my dad after my exams and saying how I cannot do it, but he reminded me that it is only a few more weeks and that I can tough it out. If being a doctor is what you really want, then you can make it through a semester of ochem.

3. Volunteering and school clubs are important for your applications.

Medical schools look for students who are well rounded. It doesn’t matter if you are the smartest person and can recite everything you learned in college. If you don’t know how to have empathy and how to interact with people, then good luck getting into medical school.

4. Direct patient care hours are life.

Getting experience is one of the most important things about being pre-med. By doing direct patient care hours you can figure out if working in health care is what you really want, plus you will develop good bedside manners and you will know the basics about working with patients.

5. Say goodbye to your social life.

If you have time for a social life while being pre-med, I give you major props. Between managing school, work, activities, and shadowing, you have no time for social life. You sometimes don’t even have time to eat or sleep.

6. Utilize review sessions, office hours, old tests, everything.

The classes you take are difficult and you are going to want to pull your hair out all the time. But in order to do well in these classes you are going to have to work for it. To do well, you will have to use review sessions, create study groups, and definitely get to know your professors. They will help you understand the material, and they can potentially write you letters of recommendation when it comes to applying for med school.

7. Shadow. Shadow. Shadow.

This is how you will be able to figure out if going to med school is really what you want. Seeing what doctors do from a first hand aids in your decision. The TV shows and the movies don’t always portray what being a doctor is really all about.

8. Sleep is for the weak.

I cannot remember the last time I got a solid 8 hours of sleep. Between studying and all of my student organizations, I hardly sleep. I cannot wait for winter break to just stay in my bed and never leave it until break is over.

9. You will think you know everything after watching Grey’s Anatomy.

I think after watching Grey’s Anatomy that we all feel like we can preform any surgery they throw at us. But trust me, you will not be able to. The human body is such a complex organism that there is so much to know before you get to that point. Even though Grey’s made you feel this way, please, I’m begging you, don’t try anything.

10. Coffee is how you will get through the day.

If there was an IV bag with coffee in it, I would need that. I cannot function without coffee. Every time I walk into class, I need coffee or I will hardly stay awake. Trust me, you will need it too.

Being a pre-med student is never going to be easy. But if it's what you truly want, it’ll be worth it. Honestly, you’re going to have to work hard, but eventually your hard work will pay off. The strong survive!