Nothing makes going to medical school real like attending medical school orientation. During the studying, pre-med classes, MCAT, interviews, etc. it all seems a little surreal. But stepping on campus for the first time, and getting talked to by lots of faculty and staff, marks the beginning of this journey.
Meeting your classmates and professors and advisors that will play a great role in your life over the next four years, is a feeling you will never forget. Unfortunately, in between all the welcome speeches, and tours, I only got to experience a fraction of orientation. I was Zoom oriented to medical school.
Due to COVID-19 (YAY COVID 🙃) most of the beginning of my medical school experience will hybrid. That means a mix of in-person and online sessions. My entire orientation was a week long, and only two days of that was spent on campus, for two hours. Plus, we were broken up into our learning communities (small groups that we will spend the majority of our time with) so I didn’t even get to meet the rest of my classmates.
Regardless, it was still an unforgettable experience of starting the rest of my life. So I would like to give you a small glimpse into my medical school orientation so you can have an idea of what to expect!
1. During medical school orientation, you will learn a lot of really important information.
Talk about information overload. The only two days where my school didn’t throw a bunch of information at me, were the days when we went up there for a tour of the labs. However, the other three days were nothing but 8-4 Zoom meetings with an hour lunch break in the middle. Sometimes were were lucky, and got out early. However, most times, we were there for a very long time.
There are so many campus resources that they want you to learn about. Even though it may seem overwhelming, and your brain may be tapped out, it’s really important that you learn these resources. Medical school orientation may be one of the few times that they even present this information. Take a few notes and keep your eyes open for some really good information that you will definitely need later in the year!
2. Some of the information is not so exciting
I would be lying if I told you that every single solitary piece of information that presenters told you during medical school information was important. Some of it, is information that you may never revisit during your four years. It will be really easy to tune out, especially during a Zoom session.
However, you have no idea which information will be relevant, and which won’t until you graduate. Therefore, technically, it’s all important until it’s not. I know it sounds like the most blah piece of advice ever, but at least try to pull out the important things in each session. Every presenter has lots of information about their area of specialty. They are going to give you lots of information that you don’t need, but that they are really passionate about. Find the key takeaways, write some numbers/emails down, and get going!
3. You get to meet a lot of staff
If you are overwhelmed by anything during medical school orientation, it will be the amount of staff that you meet. From advisors, to faculty, to directors of this, that, and the other, you will meet so many Dr. and Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so’s. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed.
Relax. You don’t have to learn everyone’s names right away. You may want to go and right down everyone’s names and what they are the professor of. But the truth of the matter is, that each of your classes, will have multiple professors. This isn’t undergrad where you have one professor per class. You will have so many professors, each with their own specialties, that you will have a lot of names to learn.
But everyone is really good about introducing themselves over, and over again. You will not have to come out of medical student orientation with everyone’s names down pat.
4. During medical student orientation, you will get to meet your classmates
I know it may seem really daunting, going into medical school with all of these really competitive classmates. However, at the end of the day, everyone is just as nervous as you. The ones who are especially overconfident are the ones that feel like they have the most to prove. Don’t let anyone’s coolness fool you.
You don’t have to make your best friends during medical school orientation, but don’t be closed off to them either. I am lucky enough to go to a pretty small school, so it’s a lot easier to meet everyone. If your class has hundreds of students in it, it will be a lot harder to meet tons of people before the week is over. Take your time meeting people, participate in social events, and find some time to laugh with them before school starts. Trust me, these people may be your biggest resources when you are going through a hard time because they are going through the same troubles as you!
4. Zoom school is really hard
Nothing loses my attention like staring at a computer screen. There’s something about being at my home, staring at a computer screen. I need to be in the mix. So COVID-19 has really challenged me in this aspect. It is hard to sit there and listen to people drone on for hours without being able to actively participate in what they are talking about.
I plan on doing a blog post about surviving Zoom school, but here are a couple of things you should know:
- Turn your camera on – it makes you be accountable for listening and nodding your head because you think someone can see you
- Dress professional from the waist up, AT LEAST – in theory, no one can really see you that well. However, you should make it a point to make sure that you look decent on top.
- Be on time – You will have different sessions that you must be on time to. You don’t want to be like me, struggling to get to the first day on time. Plan it out so you can arrive early, that way you make a good impression and aren’t stressed out about being late.
- Everyone is struggling – nobody likes zoom school. It’s one of the more unfortunate consequences of Zoom school. Make sure to take laps when you are given breaks, stretch your legs.
5. Regardless of your medical school orientation, remember the moment
Zoom orientation, wearing masks, and not getting to be with everybody all at once should not stain your moment. This is a really exciting time in your life. Regardless what the state of the world is in, you are starting medical school, and on your way to becoming a physician.
It’s going to be a long week, and it will exhaust you. The overwhelming amount of information may lead to some early worries. You’ll figure out medical school when you get there. It’s not going to be a walk in the park, and driving yourself into a tizzy during orientation isn’t going to do anything productive. Live in orientation, and do the fun things that they have planned for you. It may be corny, but it is worth it. You will never get another week like that again where you start medical school, but don’t have the responsibilities of actually being in medical school. You’ve got this and you gotta bask in it!
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