I Wish I Knew Before Starting Clinical Rotations…
Written by Lindsay Henry, MD
Congratulations, you have conquered the preclinical years of medical school! The days of staring at a PowerPoint presentation for hours are (mostly) over. You likely have at least one long and scary exam under your belt (USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1).
Starting your third-year rotations can be scary, but it is an exciting time to have new experiences. There are guides with tips on how to excel on rotations with specific expectations for medical students (such as this awesome one!). Something that I did not consider was how to manage my expectations and the changes that were coming. Here are three things I wish I knew before starting the third-year clinical rotations that would have better prepared me:
Get creative and change your study plan as necessary: When you begin rotations, you will quickly realize that juggling your rotation schedule and a study schedule can be difficult, especially on weeks when you are working 12+ hours daily. You may feel guilty if you do not study every day, but be reassured that it is OK not to study daily. In general, your studying may look different. Consider podcasts and videos for your commutes, or determine a different time of day to complete your question bank (and maybe only do a few questions on your extra busy days). Don’t be afraid to ditch things that may have worked for you before but aren’t working now, as it is a different format of learning.
Embrace making new friends: You may be on rotation with people in your class you did not know during the preclinical years. You may have the same rotation schedule as your best friend, but may never see them. During rotations, try to build and strengthen new relationships - because you can build camaraderie when you have to take a trauma call with your classmates! However, you may have to be intentional about finding time for your friends from preclinical years with periodic check-ins or hangouts. Just know that everyone is experiencing this shift in their friend groups, and don’t let this hold you back from enjoying your rotations and the people you work with.
Have an open mind and be pleasantly surprised: You have heard this before - have an open mind as you explore all specialties. There are different skills to learn from each field and you should have fun learning from them. If you have a genuine interest, it is OK to tell your preceptor and residents, but just remember to enjoy and learn from your least favorite fields. Your preceptor and residents can also make your experiences more worthwhile based on your interests. Just be enthusiastic and try your best to enjoy your rotations because you will learn so much more.
It’s quite an exciting time - be ready to take what you have been learning and apply it to your patients! You are competent and prepared. Good luck!
