Med One Survival Guide
Written by Nour El Bizri@studywithnouri
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,2024-2025 Med One Survival Guide
Introduction
Hello! My name is Nour El Bizri and I am a current second-year medical student at Saint
George University of Beirut – SGUB.
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Lebanese American University
– LAU. During my undergrad years, I served on the Premed Club committee two years,
one of which as the president. I dedicated a lot of time to help premeds navigate this
medical journey and created countless resources such as the MCAT registration guide
(during my year when it didn’t get cancelled).
This has motivated me to keep on this role and continue helping soon- to-be medical
students and future medical students. With my experienceas the president and the lessons
I learned during my first year of medical school, hopefully this guide will ensure a smooth
transition into your medical years.
Nevertheless, congratulations on making it to medical school! This is a start of an
endlessly long journey that will challenge you in ways you never imagined, but will also
reward you with so much growth, insight, and knowledge, and most importantly, the
ability to make a differencein the life of others, no matter how small.
The first year of medical school is often the steepest learning curve, andI know how much
excitement and uncertainty it can hold. Don’t worry though, I got you!
This guide reflects my own ideas and opinions solely, and what worked for me might not
work for you and vice versa. Experiment with different techniques and see which are the
ones you like best.
Good luck on your journey and don’t hesitate to reach out to me for further assistance!
- Ex Presidente, Nour
PS: check out my Instagram account @studywithnouri for study tips,motivational
content, and insights from my journey in medical school!
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, 2024-2025 Med One Survival Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................2
I. Preparing for Medical School ..................................................................................................................6
Busting Common Myths .................................................................................................................................6
Myth 1: Medical School is Purely Academic .....................................................................................6
Myth 2: You’ll Have No Social Life ........................................................................................................6
Myth 3: Only the Top Students Succeed.............................................................................................6
Myth 4: You Must Have Your Specialty Chosen Early On...........................................................7
Mindset...................................................................................................................................................................7
Goals ........................................................................................................................................................................7
Romanticize It .....................................................................................................................................................8
What Medical School Will Actually Teach You Besides the Medicine.......................................9
Adaptability and Flexibility......................................................................................................................9
Attention to Detail ........................................................................................................................................9
Interprofessional Collaboration ......................................................................................................... 10
Prioritization................................................................................................................................................ 10
Self-Directed Learning............................................................................................................................. 10
Cognitive Load Management ................................................................................................................ 11
What to Get ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
Books ............................................................................................................................................................... 11
Stethoscope................................................................................................................................................... 11
Technology.................................................................................................................................................... 11
Study Aids ...................................................................................................................................................... 12
Others .............................................................................................................................................................. 12
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them .......................................................................................... 12
Procrastination ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Overcommitment ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Neglecting Yourself ................................................................................................................................... 13
Isolating Yourself ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Premeds: This Is for You ............................................................................................................................. 13
II. The Academics............................................................................................................................................. 14
General Tips ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
Resources ........................................................................................................................................................... 14
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