2020 EDITION
HOW TO PREPARE
FOR AND THRIVE AT
MEDICAL SCHOOL
BY TASH THE MEDIC
ABOUT ME
Hi everyone , I am Tash (
aka Tash The Medic ) and I
am a med student at King s College London' .I am just
about to start my intercalated year in Primary
Care .
I set up my Instagram page at the end of April and I
use this platform to share tips to get into medical
School , how to thrive at medical school and
advocate about mental health .
I have made this guide to share some (hopefully ) useful info for anybody starting med
school in September or for any current med student looking for some guidance .
Please do share this booklet with your friends and let me know your feedback on it .
Please follow me on my socials :
Instagram :@ tash _themedic
YouTube : Tash The Medic
Website : .
www tashthemedic co uk . .
One final thing : this guide is 100% free and everything I do to help with
getting into medical school and the transition to medical school is and always
.
will be But if you are appreciative of this guide and want to buy me a coffee
I have included my link here to do so :
https :// . .
www buymeacoffee com tashthemedic /
Please do not feel pressurised to do so at all !
CONTENTS
Congratulations ........................................................................................... Page 1
Things to do before starting ..................................................................... Page 2
Packing list ............................................................................................. Pages 3-4
Weekly Planner ...................................................................................... Pages 5-6
Study Resources ................................................................................... Pages 7-8
Study Techniques ................................................................................Pages 9-10
Mental Health Activities .......................................................................... Page 11
Myth Busting .............................................................................................. Page 12
Societies ..................................................................................................... Page 13
Student meal ideas ................................................................................... Page 14
Must have apps for student life ............................................................. Page 15
Top 10 tips to thrive at Med School .......................................................Page 16
Final words ................................................................................................. Page 17
@ tash _ themedic
CONGRATULATIONS
First of all a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to
everybody . Getting a place to study Medicine at
university is an amazing achievement and you
should never forget that .
You have worked so hard to earn that place and
you deserve to have the best time at Medical
school and every success .
Please enjoy the rest of your summer holidays and
enjoy spending time with your friends and family
before you start uni !
@ _
tash themedic
1
THINGS TO DO BEFORE STARTING
Finances
Have you applied for student finance ?
Have you made sure that your student finance
entitlement is correct ?
Have you set up a student bank account ?
Meeting people
Have you joined your cohort facebook group /
accommodation group ?
How about a group zoom session with some of your new
peers?!
Accommodation
Have you confirmed your halls of residence ?
University
Have you enrolled on the course ?
Read Some Medical Books
This is going to hurt by Adam Kay
Your life in my hands by Rachel Clarke
When breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi
The prison doctor by Amanda Brown
War doctor by David Nott
Do no harm by Henry Marsh
Admissions by Henry Marsh
@tash _themedic
2
PACKING LIST
Bedroom
* Pillow s ()
* Duvet
* Bedding (2 sets preferably )
Mattress topper
Decorations ( /
photos posters fairy lights lamp/ / )
Mirror
Doorstop
Clothes hangers
Laundry basket bag /
Fan
Extension lead
Command hooks
Clothing
* Casual clothes ( / / /
trousers tops skirts jumpers jackets coat / / )
Underwear
/
PJs loungewear
* Shoes ( /
trainers smart shoes slippers / )
Smart clothes (
for placement part / -
time job )
Sportswear
Fancy dress
Jewellery
Bathroom
* Towel
* /
Shampoo conditioner shower gel /
* Deodorant
* Toothbrush + toothpaste
/
Shower bath mat
* Toilet roll
Sanitary products
Hair brush comb /
/
Razor shaving foam
Makeup
/
Hair dryer straighteners curlers /
Medication
Dressing gown
Flip flops (for communal showers )@ tash _
themedic
Contact lenses glasses /
*= essential
3
PACKING LIST
Kitchen
*Plate s ()
*Bowl s ()
*Cutlery
*Pot s () with lid
*Frying pan Wok /
*Baking tray
*Mug s ()
*Glass es( )
Wooden spoon
*Sharp knife
Miscellaneous
*Chopping board
*Wallet ( / /
bank cards id railcard )
Spatula
* /
Laptop tablet + charger
Tupperware containers
*Phone + charger
Oven glove
/
Earphones headphones
Recipe Book s () *Bag for uni
Speakers
Tea towel
Umbrella
Cheese grater
Weekend Bag
Colander
Water bottle
Bin bags
Washing up liquid
/
Reusable coffee not drink cup
Musical Instrument
Stationary
/
Playing cards other games
Pens + pencils
Ruler
Highlighters
Notebook
/
Diary planner
Calculator
Textbooks
Blue tack
Folders
@ _
tash themedic
*= essential
4
WEEKY PLANNER EXAMPLE
' .
This is what a typical week in my first year at King s looked like
@ tash _ themedic
5
WEEKY PLANNER TEMPLATE
STUDY RESOURCES
Websites
Khan Academy
Teach Me Series (
Anatomy , Surgery ,
Physiology , ObGyn & Paediatrics )
BMJ Best Practice
AMBOSS
Almost a Doctor
Geeky Medics
Pulse Notes
Bite Medicine
NICE Pathways
BNF
Online MedEd
Med Bullets
Simple Med
Osmosis
Online Question Banks
Brainscape (
Flash cards ) PassMedicine
Zero to finals
Quesmed
Learn surgery online
Med Bullets
Mind the bleep
BMJ On Examination
Khenhub
Pastest
Essential Anatomy 5
Apps ( )
to help you on placement
BMJ Best Practice
MDCalc
Geeky Medics
Foundation Doctor Handbook
Mersey Burns
Emergencies Handbook
@
tash _themedic
7
STUDY RESOURCES
Books (100% /
optional can take out from
library )
Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine
Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties
Essential of Kumar and Clark s Clinical ’
Medicine
Clinical Anatomy
The Anatomy Colouring Book
’
Gray s Anatomy Flash Cards
Textbook of Medical Physiology
Recorded Online Videos
Quesmed Tutorials
Osmosis
’
Acland s video atlas of human anatomy
Podmedics (YouTube )
Bite Medicine
Becoming a Doctor
Armando Hasudungan (
YouTube )
Arora Medical Education (YouTube ) Podcasts
The MedStudier (
YouTube ) Study Medicine Podcast by Medico
Sam Webster (
YouTube ) Lifestyle
Ninja Nerd Medicine (
YouTube ) Sharp Scratch by BMJ Group
Surgery 101
Second Opinion
NB Hot Topics
Zero to Finals
Mayo Clinic Talks
'
Harrison s podclass
ICU rounds
@ tash _
themedic
8
STUDY TECHNIQUES
Here are some suggestions to help you study effectively . The most important thing is
finding a method that works for you and that is sustainable throughout your time at med
school. '
Don t be afraid to mix your methods up to keep yourself motivated .
Lectures
Go over the lecture slides before attending the lecture . Make any relevant notes and
research the topic to gain a basic understanding .
Download and convert the lecture slides to a powerpoint (
there are lots of websites
to do this , )
just google it so you can jot things down that the lecturer says in the notes
section .
Use Microsoft one note / google docs / word / notability / good notes to write your
own condensed notes of the lecture afterwards using the lecture recording and any
notes you made before and during the lecture .
'
Watch a YouTube video on the topic if you don t understand anything in the lecture .
Ask your friends if you still do not understand something .
Try and do some questions on the lecture topic .
@ tash _
themedic
9
STUDY TECHNIQUES
Tutorials
Try and answer the questions first by yourself before attending the session .
/
Fill in the gaps using your notes the internet .
'
Discuss questions you re not sure on with your friends .
Attend the tutorial and ask questions .
Go over what you went wrong afterwards .
Anatomy
Look over the body system you will be covering in the dissection pro / -
section before
attending .
/
Review what you learnt afterwards using textbooks online resources /3 d anatomy
apps .
Clinical Skills
Before you attend your clinical skill session , watch a video on YouTube on the skill you
will be learning .
Attend the clinical skills session and practice as many times as possible ! '
Don t be
afraid to ask questions or for help .
Book a clinical skills lab (
which will have all the necessary equipment in it ) in your free
time with some of your friends to recap what you learnt .
@
tash _
themedic
10
KEEP YOUR MIND HEALTHY ACTIVITIES
/
Mindfulness Meditation
Headspace App
CALM App
Practise Gratitude
Write down 5 things you are grateful for when you wake up & before you sleep
Podcasts
Happy Place by Fearne Cotton
How to Fail by Elizabeth Day
Mindful in Minutes
Flourish with Frances (
our very own med student on the gram )
Exercise
Join a gym - /
uni gym pure gym the gym / (
all are cheap for students )
Join a sports team at uni
Walk to uni instead of getting public transport
Try yoga
Socialize
Grab a coffee with a friend
Study with a friend
Eat lunch with a friend
Invite a friend over to cook dinner together
Random things
Sudoku
Read a fiction book
/
If you are feeling stressed anxious write down what you can
/ /
smell see touch taste hear / /
Take time off and watch TV
-
11
Listen to relaxing music I recommend Peaceful Piano playlist on Spotify
@ _
tash themedic
MYTHS ABOUT MED SCHOOL WHICH
'
JUST AREN T TRUE IN THE SLIGHTEST
'
It s really stressful .
All med student have properly got their lives organised .
You will have no life (& friends ) outside of medicine
Other med student are competitive with each other .
You will see loads of surgery .
Consultants are scary and ask you loads of hard questions .
'
Everyone s parents are doctors .
Only confident and extroverted people do well on placement .
Nobody ever fails an exam at med school .
Everyone knows what specialty they want to go into from the
.
start
All medical students come from rich families .
'
You re required to know content from 1 2 ,3
st nd rd and 4
th year for
your final exams in 5th year .
Only the cleverest students will make the best doctors .
@ tash _themedic
12
SOCIETIES
I think one of the best things you can do at uni is to get involved with some societies .
From academic societies , to sports clubs and music groups , societies can be a great
way to meet people from other courses and other years .
'
Here are some of the societies available at King s College London . There are over
300 societies available at King s '! Of course your uni may or may not offer these but
this is just to give you an idea of the wide range you can get involved with !
Sports Groups
Basketball
Football
Netball
Climbing
Karate
Yoga & Pilates
Academic Socities
African Caribbean Medical Society
Cardiovascular Society
Emergency Medicine Society
Genetics Society
Nutritank Society
Global Health Society
Activity Societies
DJ Society
Fashion Society
Foodie Society
Music Society
Musical Theatre Society
@tash _ themedic
, !
13
And many MANY more
STUDENT MEAL IDEAS
Here is a selection of some of my favourite , quick and easy meals !
Spag Bowl (a classic and so hearty + warming )
Risotto ( surprisingly not as hard as it might seem + can literally add whatever
'
you ve got in the fridge )
Stir fry (
so quick + again can add whatever you ve got ' )
Pesto pasta ( '
if you don t eat this at least once a week , are you really a student ?)
Curry (
you guessed it , you can add whatever you ve got ' )
Vegetable + bean chilli
Veggie Sausages , potato wedges , lots of vedge + gravy
Chicken , potato + '
any veg you ve got oven bake (
literally just chop it all up , put it
in an over dish , put some oil over the top and pop it in the oven and bobs your
uncle )
My go to websites to find recipes :
BBC Food
BBC Good Food
All Recipes
@ tash _ themedic
14
STUDENT MUST HAVE APPS
Here is a selection of some of my most used apps on my phone as a medical student !
/
Anki Quizlet - there can sometimes be a lot of hanging around on placement , so
when you are not doing anything you can flick through some flash cards .
/
Deliveroo Uber Eats Just Eat / - Got to treat yourself to a takeaway every now
and again .
Monzo banking app - Great to track your spending .
Spotify + Headspace - The student deal on Spotify comes with headspace for
free.
Bubble babysitting - an amazing app that allows you to pick up individual
babysitting shifts .
Strava - /
to track runs cycles and motivate you to exercise .
Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine - a little on the expensive side but great
'
for flicking through a topic when you don t have the textbook to hand i e .. on
placement
Transport app - CityMapper or a local bus timetable app .
@ tash_ themedic
15
MY TOP 10 TIPS TO THRIVE AND NOT
JUST SURVIVE AT MED SCHOOL
1. Enjoy it ! Only do things that you properly enjoy and have fun at !
2. /
Socialise but take days nights off to chill and watch Netflix too
3. Join 2 societies : an academic one + -
a co . .
curricular one e g a
sports team or music group
4. Keep on top of lectures and do the work for the tutorial before
attending it
5. Chat and interact with patients on placement - '
don t be scared !
6. Study with friends
7. Make use of the libraries
8. Make sure to do something to keep your mind healthy each week
9. Make your living space a homely and nice environment to relax in
10. Keep in touch with your family and take some time off to go
home once in a while
@tash _themedic
16
FINAL WORDS
I hope this has been of some use to you .
Please do share it on your social media pages and with your friends if you think it would
benefit them too !
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any suggestions to add to this
resource or if you have any questions about going to medical school .
Contact me :
Instagram :@ _
tash themedic
Email : tashthemedic @
gmail com .
Website : .
www tashthemedic co uk . .
YouTube : Tash The Medic
Buy me a coffee : .
www buymeacoffee com tashthemedic . /
@tash _
themedic
17
