8 Tips On Surviving Your First Year Of Dental School

Video How to survive in dental schoolIt wasn’t until I started dental school that one morning I surprised my mother by asking if she could put me on the coffee list. She asked me, “When did you start drinking coffee?” Reading: how to survive dental school “Since the first week of dental school,” I replied, with a shy smile on my face. Read more: how to change default font in google sheet Congratulations to all dental freshmen. You all worked so hard to get to this point and must continue to do so to earn your degree. Starting dental school not only marks the beginning of an important chapter in your professional career, but also the beginning of many new lifestyle options. During this transitional yet very important time in your dental education, I would like to share some tips to help you survive your first year:

The most important lesson I learned in my first year was time management. This is very important to maintain your academic performance, balance participation in extracurricular activities and still maintain your personal life.

Being organized is a key element of success. Be strategic, always plan ahead, and always be mindful of your schedule for the following week. Make sure to put all the important dates on your calendar like exams, quizzes, and when assignments are due.

Consider taking time for yourself. Personally, I almost always spend Friday evenings after school enjoying activities outside of dentistry, such as watching movies or having dinner with friends. This has helped me recharge and be ready to work for the next week.

Maximize your time by studying effectively. Try changing the way you learn based on the class and its materials. For example, drawing is the best way for me to learn head and neck anatomy, but charting and bulleting is more helpful for studying biochemistry. However, what works for one person may not work for you, remember to focus on strategies that cater to your individual learning style.

Be professional at all times. As a future healthcare provider, your professional network starts here. You really never know how important the relationships you create now will become difficult later, so always try to make a good impression.

Keep your body healthy by getting enough sleep. While this may not always be possible, doing so, especially before important exams, is essential for recharging your mind and being productive.

Ask for help early if you feel the need. Don’t be shy or afraid to ask for help from your peers, professors, or school administrators. Everyone wants to help – all you have to do is ask!

Make the most of your time in dental school by participating. Enhance your leadership and teamwork through extracurricular activities. For example, joining ASDA at the end of my first year opened my eyes to how I can grow both as a healthcare professional and as a leader outside of the classroom. Looking back, this was the best decision I made in dental school to date. You can get as involved as you want, whether that means helping out your favorite ASDA event, or getting more involved as president, liaison or executive member. Your experience is what you make of it.