According to research published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology, personality characteristics play a major role in determining who succeeds in medical school. The study found that extroversion was detrimental during the early years of medical school, because it seemed to interfere with students' need to stay focused on coursework. But in the later years of medical school, when interpersonal skills become more important, students who were extroverted performed better.
Making it through medical school is often as much about surviving as it is thriving. Having the right tools before the first day of class is key to knowing what to do when you start to become buried in course work.
Pamela Houghton DeVoe, a curriculum development consultant at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, published a free online guide titled "Learning Strategies for Success in Medical School." This 49-page primer for students entering medical school breaks down both survival and learning strategies. Survival strategies in the guide include recommendations to attend every class, pace yourself, establish a study routine, see your faculty adviser and find a mentor.
Other survival tactics culled from students and doctors from online communities such as Studentdoctor.net and MomMD.com include: team up with fellow classmates, read ahead when you have the time, stay positive and learn to accept the feeling of being overwhelmed as normal.
Recognizing your learning style forms the base for all educational strategies. John W. Pelley, an associate professor at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, has written a guidebook on what this means for medical students. In "Success Types for Medical Students," he describes how it is important for students to use scientific indicators such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test for determining their personal preferences for how they best process information.
Other learning strategies for medical students include approaching each course individually, using study groups for review, talking to patients, being inquisitive about every topic and using test grades to build learning skills.
The final bit of advice that nearly every successful medical school graduate and seasoned doctor gives is to maintain a healthy sense of balance in your life. Avoid cramming for tests late at night, be well-rounded, have good friends and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.