Understanding that you need a tutor in medical school can be one of the most beneficial revelations. However, it can also be one of the most challenging to realize, as needing a tutor can come with negative feelings like shame or embarrassment. Medical school is challenging, and having any extra help does not make you a bad medical student. Knowing what you don’t know is the self-awareness it takes to be an effective physician.
Throughout medical school, I did not have access to peer tutors as we were the inaugural class. However, I spent a lot of time in my professors’ offices trying to understand confusing topics. Even before medical school, I employed the use of tutors in challenging science classes, and even while preparing for the MCAT. There is no shame in needing extra help, and the sooner you realize you need that support, the sooner you can begin improving. Continue reading for 5 signs that you need a tutor in medical school.
You spend a lot of time on a few topics
In medical school, efficiency is the name of the game. The better you become at learning new material and reviewing old material, the more you can accomplish. However, if you find yourself spending a lot of time learning topics, you won’t have enough time. This may be a sign that you need a tutor in medical school.
Learning is an active process. You will be taking in new material daily and synthesizing it with old material. This is constant and never-ending. The learning process in the beginning is often slow. However, it should become faster as you gain context and understanding of science and clinical information.
If this process is not happening, then a tutor may help you become more efficient. They can identify the type of learner you are and provide you with resources that match. They also, normally, have learning tricks to help with memorization and understanding.
You consistently perform poorly or borderline on assessments
Quizzes and exams are important in medical school. They assess your learning and understanding of topics. After the first year, there are major exams that have important implications for your future. Therefore, becoming comfortable and performing far above the pass cutoff is important. If you are consistently failing assessments, or barely passing, that could be a sign you need a tutor in medical school.
Taking exams in medical school can be intimidating. Knowing the information is essential, but not all that is required to pass exams. Test-taking strategies, confidence, and decision-making are all important and contribute to your testing performance. Test anxiety is a real issue that can make even the most knowledgable of students struggle.
Tutors can recognize all the areas in which you struggle and address each one. If you struggle with content, they can help you learn it and answer questions. If you struggle with timing or confidence, then they can give you good test-taking strategies. The earlier you learn how to take exams, the earlier you can begin building your confidence and feel comfortable facing any exam.
You are falling behind the pack
There are some topics that are just difficult and everyone struggles with them. However, if you notice that you are falling behind on school and national averages, then that may be a sign you need a tutor in medical school. Most exams or online test-prep sources give metrics that compare your performance with others. This tactic is meant to give you an idea of where you are compared to others.
Although seeing this value can be intimidating, it can also help you see where you lie. Those at the very top often perform very well on important licensing exams. High performances help them stand out in residency applications. Those in the middle also do well, but have room for improvement. Those that are below average may have a harder time attaining interviews and matches at their preferred programs.
Tutors will help you identify your weakness and give you skills to address them. Tutors are normally students who are at the top of the pack, and understand what it takes to score in those top percentiles. Their experience, skills, and advice can help you move up, too.
You are frustrated by a lack of understanding
Medical school induces many tears. It can be frustrating to put in so many hours an feel like you just still are not getting it. There are so many detailed nuances that you must master. It almost feels like your brain isn’t big enough to store all of that information. If you have felt frustrated for a really long time about your inability to learn, that may be a sign that you need a tutor in medical school.
Trying to learn all that you need to learn on your own is a tough job. If you can get help and do not have to do it alone, the take advantage of that. Your own frustration will get in the way of learning. It may even contribute to burnout, imposter syndrome, and an influx of mental health disturbances that further interrupt your learning.
Tutors are not only a source of academic support, but also an empathetic ear. They can validate your feelings and help you understand that you are not alone. Medical school is hard and the material is dense. They are equipped with the skills to make it much more palatable to hopefully decrease your frustration.
You lack confidence in your abilities
Even if you know all the material, you may still have doubt that you are capable of performing well. This lack of confidence can cause you to second-guess yourself, change right answers to wrong ones, and refrain from participating in activities. Students who are confident in themselves often put themselves out there for opportunities that can bolster one’s career. Therefore, it’s important to have confidence in your knowledge and abilities. If you struggle with self-doubt, aside from seeing a faculty advisor, this may also be a sign that you need a tutor in medical school.
Tutors can validate what you know and give you many opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge. Through practice questions, they can test what you know and help booster your confidence. They can also have you teach them, as a way to reinforce your learning. Building your confidence can only be done through repeated opportunities to show what you know. Tutoring sessions can provide you exactly with that.
Key Takeaways
Medical school can be very overwhelming. Similar to raising children, it takes a village. Needing the extra support that a tutor can provide you with is nothing to have negative feelings about. In fact, it’s a testament to how much you value your time and energy. If you have experienced any of the above signs, or still feel like you’re struggling in ways that were not mentioned here, then look into the tutoring resources offered by your school. Take advantage of any resources that are there for you to become the best student and physician that you can be.