Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): My favorite M1 class was probably Foundations; it was very Biochem heavy which I have always loved learning about! It was a nice switch from Anatomy and I felt like it gave me a great foundation moving forward in medical school. My favorite M2 class was either Cardio or GI; I found these the most interesting, and my knowledge from these courses has aided greatly thus far in third year!

Top Choice for Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Top Tips for Success from Hanna:

• 1. Try to go to class as much as possible! It really makes a difference to be in person.
• 2. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different studying strategies if something isn’t working.
• 3. Don’t feel pressured to do the same activities/studying strategies as your friends. You will thank yourself later for branching out and trying out different things!

Hanna's “Yearbook” Quote: “Ogres are like onions. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers.”

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neuroscience

“While it was one of the more detailed and difficult courses, once you connect all of the pathways, it was so interesting to see their effects on our sensory and motor output. Learning the outcome of different lesions was like a very intricate puzzle!" 

Top Choice for Specialty: Pediatrics 

Top Tips for Success from Brie:

• Find what works for YOU and stick with it! Collaborate with your classmates and share resources, but do not get caught up in what others are doing once you've found your routine.
• Practice questions, practice questions, practice questions. Wherever you can find them, use them!

Brie’s “Yearbook” Quote: "Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still it is never complete." - Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Cardiology

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine

Top Tips for Success from Justin:

"I think the best thing anyone can do is to be consistent. I try to study the same amount each day rather than studying all night long two days before the test. I also highly recommend doing practice questions the day before the test and treat it almost like a practice test."

Justin’s “Yearbook” Quote: "Keep on keepin' on."

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Heme/Lymph   

“I enjoyed learning about the complexities and intricacies of the various leukemias and lymphomas. I'm also fascinated by the body's various immunological processes, so it was interesting to learn about how interconnected cancer is with the immune system.” 

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine, with a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship  

Top Tips for Success from Jaewon:

• Don't get resource FOMO; find what works for you and roll with it. Don't be intimidated and feel "left out" just because you're not using the same resources that your friends might be using!

• Anking is not always king; adapt to the class! Charts and diagrams work better for some classes and Anki works better for others. Find what works for each class depending on the type of content.

• Health is wealth; Physical/mental health should never be left behind! Studying isn't everything in medical school; it's important to take care of yourself and take breaks when necessary. Sometimes it's better to rest and refresh.

Jaewon’s “Yearbook” Quote: "Insecurity is loud. Confidence is silent."

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Foundations

“Because it provided, like one would expect, a foundation for other classes and understanding of pharmacology on a basic science level.” 

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine or MedPeds

Top Tips for Success from Mardan:

• Don't be afraid to try new study techniques until you find one that works. Everyone will have such a different one so focus on what seems to work for you and refine those few techniques.
• Take time off from studying. You will have a much healthier schedule and be reset when you get back to it.
• Practice makes perfect. Don't beat yourself up for missing questions because you don't know what you don't know. Just do your best to learn and get it right the next time.

Mardan's “Yearbook” Quote: “It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Cardio 

"During the Cardio Course, I found cardiovascular physiology to be a fascinating and highly applicable topic. All of the medications discussed are highly relevant to everyday practice. These medications have mechanisms that act on specific aspects of the cardiovascular system. Learning the physiology and disease processes was challenging. But, learning the medications helped solidify these processes in my mind. The interplay between medications and their effects on physiology allow for the strengthening of learning both (a phenomenon that occurs in many of the other systems courses)."

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine

Top Tips for Success from Mason:

• Med school bootcamp has been my favorite study resource. It has great short lectures with easy-to-follow explanations. My best overall advice for medical school/studying is that consistency is key. Learning does not happen over 1 day. Learning is best achieved by consistently putting the time in over the course of several days, weeks, and months. Consistently working towards goals over a great amount of time is how students become physicians.

Mason's “Yearbook” Quote: Enjoy the process

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neuro!

“Once I (finally) learned the pathways, I liked being able localize where a lesion might be from a patient's symptoms. I’m also a visual learner, so drawing and mapping out pathways was cool! ” 

Top Choice for Specialty: Pediatrics

Top Tips for Success from Maddie:

• BALANCE! You will learn your best when you’re taking care of yourself (working out, getting enough sleep, spending time with loved ones, etc). Don’t compare yourself to what everyone else is doing!
• Practice questions really helped with my learning! Don’t worry about waiting until you’re ‘ready’… I found them to be helpful even when I was still solidifying topics.
• Use active recall (Anki works best for me) and tailor it to your own needs. Talking through topics with my classmates was something I also used in every class!

Maddie’s “Yearbook” Quote: "Be curious, not judgmental." - Ted Lasso

More from Maddie: Medical school can be really overwhelming, and sometimes you just need someone in your corner telling you 'you're doing great!' Don't hesitate to reach out for anything, we're all here to help each other!

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Foundations

“I really enjoyed the intersection between genetics, biochemistry, and medicine. The professors did a great job of giving us the building blocks that we’ll need for the rest of our time in the classroom!” 

Top Choice for Specialty: Anesthesiology

Top Tips for Success from Drew:

• Start preparing for exams early. A good method is to review material either the day of or the day after you learn it in class. The earlier you prepare, the less you will need to cram.
• Do not get too crazy with outside resources; this may overwhelm you. EVERYTHING you need to know for exams will be inside the powerpoints. Study them carefully!

Drew’s “Yearbook” Quote: “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot."

More from Drew: Find ways to enjoy life outside of medical school. Spend time with friends, go on walks, exercise, etc. I personally made it a priority to workout twice a day, and I found that really helped with any stress I had! And always ask for help from peers, professors, and those in the OME if you need it. We are all here to help you along this journey.

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Gastroenterology, I am very interested in physical health & wellness and learning how the foods we eat can impact our mental and physical health. I enjoyed the pathology and pathophysiology related to common disorders of the GI tract.

Top Choices for Specialty: Internal Medicine

Top Tips for Success from Maddie:

• Review (at least the previous day) material every day in the form of a flashcard or practice question.
• I highly recommend changing scenery, getting outside or trying to incorporate movement into your study routine. A simple change in space can provide mental clarity.

Maddie’s “Yearbook” Quote: "It always seems impossible until it is done."

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Foundations

Top Choices for Specialty: Pediatrics

Top Tips for Success from Meg:

• Find a buddy who studies similarly to you and talk through big ideas out loud one or two days before the exam.
• Brain dump when you sit down to start studying.. before opening notes, see what you can remember from memory and write on the white board... challenge yourself to reason through pieces you don't remember and don't be afraid to be wrong because getting it wrong usually makes you remember it 10000x better next time around. Check your work with your notes after.
• Try different study methods for different topics; it is okay to have 8 different ways of studying that work for you depending on what the content is. I liked the variation of having different options for studying and it made it less mundane that way for me.

Meg’s “Yearbook” Quote: "Squeeze the juice out of life"

More from Meg: I have ADHD and am comfortable talking about and sharing my experience of navigating that with others who may be curious.

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Heme/Lymph

"This was my favorite because it's the first class where I actually became confident in my study strategies and I was able to incorporate outside resources that made studying much more enjoyable and fun! I also loved being able to understand my bloodwork panels after this class!

Top Choices for Specialty: Family Medicine (OB track) or OB/GYN

Top Tips for Success from Cameron:

• When learning how to study, do not be afraid to do/try something different than those around you! Everyone studies different and is very passionate about strategies that work for them, but what works for one person may not work for you and that is okay!!
• Don't be afraid to ask for help! Having someone to check-in with for all of my random questions and concerns saved me from countless mini-freakout moments during my M1 and M2 years. Faculty, classmates, and PLMs genuinely want to support you and talk things through--you just have to take the first step and reach out!
• Focus on the material directly in front of you. Don't feel pressured to constantly review content from past classes while juggling new material. If you take the time to truly understand each topic well the first time, it's okay to set aside until it's time to study for boards -- you'll be able to recall and relearn it much more easily when the time comes.

Cameron's “Yearbook” Quote: "Comparison is the thief of joy" - Teddy Roosevelt

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): My favorite class was endo/repro because it covered women's health which is my interest!

Top Choice for Specialty: OBGYN

Top Tips for Success from Chiamaka:

• 1. Spaced repetition.
• 2. Practice questions are essential.

Chiamaka's “Yearbook” Quote: "You are capable of more than you know"

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Heme/Lymph 

"I loved learning about blood cancers and seeing the impact our oncologists make on patients and their families and thought the content was super interesting and relevant!"

Top Choice for Specialty: Peds Oncology

Top Tips for Success from Zoie:

• Find a routine that works best for YOU! Avoid comparing yourself to what others are doing and getting lost in the multitude of resources available. Don’t be afraid to switch up study methods/resources for different topics and classes.

Zoie's “Yearbook” Quote: They may forget your name, but the will never forget the way you made them feel.

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neurology "

I think the brain and nervous system is the most complicated and interesting thing on earth! So crazy and cool how much it does!"

Top Choice for Specialty: Neurology

Top Tips for Success from Brian:

• (1) Be flexible and varied in your strategies. Make sure you have multiple “tools” which you can use and be willing to try new approaches when content is more difficult. 
• (2) Save practice questions until the days leading up to the exam. Spend the majority of your time practicing review and recall of information studying.

Brian's “Yearbook” Quote: “We are what we repeatably do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neuroscience

I love reading murder mysteries, and localizing lesions with Dr. Franklin is the ultimate "who dunnit?"

Top Choice for Specialty: Med-Peds, Neurology

Top Tips for Success from Julia:

• 1. Ask questions!! It's okay not to know the answer:) Our faculty are wonderful and they are always there to help you better understand concepts
• 2. Study strategies that work for some people, may or may not be the right method for you. Don't be afraid to try a new study method, but also have confidence in the strategies that work for you!

Julia's “Yearbook” Quote: A fully saturated sponge is not a happy sponge... so make sure you wring yourself out once in a while :)

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neurology

"I found the content really engaging and interesting!

Top Choice for Specialty: I am still undecided but I have interest in Pediatrics and OBGYN

Top Tips for Success from Jenna:

• Don't be afraid to reach out if you're struggling!
• Try to stick with just a few resources that work best for you. It can be overwhelming to use everything that's available for students.

Jenna's “Yearbook” Quote: "If you see someone without a smile today, give 'em yours." - Dolly Parton

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Anatomy

Top Choice for Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery / General Surgery

Top Tips for Success from Kam:

• 1) Three pass throughs of content with spaced repetition of the information is essential 
• 2) Class isn't that bad, overcomplicating with outside resources can give you double lecture 
• 3) Slides can get noisy - find ways to boil the information down to how you conceptualize it

Kam's “Yearbook” Quote: "Hahah, you mean like, singin' and dancin'? Nah, not me man - I just surf." -Cody Maverick (Surf's Up)

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): MSK! 

"The course was very well organized and engaging."

Top Choice for Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery

Top Tips for Success from Edward:

• 1. Treat medical school like a job. By scheduling blocks of time for dedicated studying, you will stay on top of course material and still have time for things outside of medicine that you enjoy. 
• 2. Connect with M2, M3, and M4 medical students that have been in your shoes. 
• 3. Find outside resources that fit your learning style and stick to them (ex. Anki, Sketchy, Amboss).

Edward's “Yearbook” Quote: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Cardiology and Renal.

Top Choice for Specialty: TBD

Top Tips for Success from Amanda:

• Top study tips are spaced repetition, don't be afraid to try a new method to study, and sometimes writing something out helps a lot!

Amanda's “Yearbook” Quote: "You could rattle the stars- you could do anything, if only you dared" -Sarah J. Maas

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): MSK or Foundations

"I really enjoyed Foundations for its intricacy walking through concepts as a whole as well as getting into the mechanism; while MSK, I enjoyed because you could focus on clinical skills & observation to achieve a diagnosis."

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine or Pediatrics

Top Tips for Success from Reagan:

• Develop relationships and cultivate an environment that supports you to succeed. Set goals and standards for yourself, but give yourself grace. When you need perspective, remind yourself it's not about the grade, it's about your future patients.

Reagan's “Yearbook” Quote: God brought you to it, he will bring you through it!

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Foundations! 

"With my chemistry background I was very comfortable with the material and loved the problem solving (compared to straight memorization) that was required."

Top Choice for Specialty: Anesthesia

Top Tips for Success from Kate:

• 1) Find a routine and stick to it! I have a solid schedule and it keeps me on track. 
• 2) Keep up with review to say on top of the material and be prepared for the exams. 
• 3) Take time for yourself outside of school, chores, and working out. All these things are important, but it is also so important to relax and do something you truly enjoy.

Kate's “Yearbook” Quote: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, and difficulty.”

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): My favorite class thus far has been anatomy because I enjoyed learning the different muscle groups and their importance in various functions and movements of the body.

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine

Top Tips for Success from Louise:

• 1. Adapt your study strategies to your needs. Don't use a resource just because others are.
• 2. Dedicate time to studying but also dedicate time for yourself.

Louise's “Yearbook” Quote: "Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions" - Albert Einstein

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neurology

"It was super interesting to learn more about conditions that have impacted my own family."

Top Choice for Specialty: Something surgical/undecided!

Top Tips for Success from Amelia:

• AnKing
• Early practice questions!

Amelia's “Yearbook” Quote: "Work hard, play hard."

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Foundations

"I had a lot of biochemistry experience in undergrad. It was also so radically different from anatomy that I was forced to change my study strategy, and it taught me how to learn in all the rest of my classes."

Top Choice for Specialty: Family Medicine

Top Tips for Success from J.T.:

• Comparison is the thief of joy. You may study more or less than other people, and you may have radically different study strategies from your friends. Find the method and amount of studying that works for you, not for other people.
• With that being said...Don't be afraid to change your study strategy several times, even after you've found one that works for you. Different classes have different content styles, so you may not find a one-size-fits-all strategy. Experiment and find what works for you in each new situation.
• Ask for help. I've been the stubborn medical student who thinks he can figure it all out on his own, but that's never gotten me anywhere. If you're struggling, UK has lots of people that will help you succeed.

J.T.'s “Yearbook” Quote: "There is no effort without error and shortcoming." - Theodore Roosevelt

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Anatomy

"I really enjoyed learning about all the structures paired with lab time and radiology. I thought it laid a good foundation for the classes to come!"

Top Choice for Specialty: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Top Tips for Success from Chloe:

• Find what schedule works for you! Whether that is going to class everyday (which is something I try to do), or reviewing past content and watching the day's lectures later.
• I also recommend trying different study resources such as Anki, Amboss, the Google Drive, etc. However if you find one isn't working for you don't feel pressured to continue it!
• Last thing would be to make sure you take breaks and still make time to do the things you love!

Chloe's “Yearbook” Quote: "Don't be afraid to ask for help! You have accomplished so much and everyone wants to help you to succeed." 

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Anatomy

"The professors were amazing and I loved the multi-modality approach of the class!"

Top Choice for Specialty: Radiology

Top Tips for Success from Emma:

• Make your own summarized notes and annotate your own notes.
• Stay on top of your Anki (if you are an Anki person).

Emma's “Yearbook” Quote: "The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do." 

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): MSK

"I loved using the anatomy knowledge we learned in the Fall and applying it to the different diseases."

Top Choice for Specialty: Neurology

Top Tips for Success from Ethan:

• Be true to yourself and use what works for you. There are a plethora of study strategies and resources out there, but some may be more efficient and click better with you. Experiment with a few and stick to what you like.
• Talk to your classmates and PLMs for advice - we are all in this together and want to help each other out!

Ethan's “Yearbook” Quote: "Taking it one coffee fueled, anki-filled day at a time." 

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Anatomy

"It was our first intro into Med school and the human body. It was fascinating to learn about how complex our bodies are and how it all works together."

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine into Heme/Onc

Top Tips for Success from Grayson:

• Explore all the resources available to you, things like Anki, Chat GPT, Amboss, classmates resources.
• Get a study schedule and be consistent.
• Ask your classmates, especially those above you who have taken the class before.

Grayson's “Yearbook” Quote: "To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books." 

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Musculoskeletal

"I am fascinated with bones, how they function, and how they are in charge of so much of our day-to-day health!"

Top Choice for Specialty: My current top choices (although it changes often!) are either Rheumatology or Pulm/Crit.

Top Tips for Success from Abby:

• My top study tip is to create charts and/or diagrams! It helps you synthesize and memorize information, as well as creates a useful study tool for exams.
• I would also recommend using practice questions, or creating your own! They give you good practice in eliminating incorrect choices, as well as deductive reasoning skills for exams.

Abby's “Yearbook” Quote: "I am, and always will be, the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes, and the dreamer of improbable dreams." - Matthew Graham 

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neuroscience

"I was intrigued by the interconnectedness of neural pathways and how the brain communicates with the rest of the body. The complexity of the peripheral nervous systems fascinated me, particularly how localized lesions in the one part of the spinal cord can produce specific patterns of dysfunction."

Top Choice for Specialty: Internal Medicine - Endocrinology

Top Tips for Success from Slayde:

• Find a study routine which works best for YOU. At the start of M1 year, you're introduced to a flood of supplemental resources. While many of them can be helpful, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. All the pertinent material is found in the lecture slides, focus there before branching out.
• Minimizing distractions is critical: I find I'm most productive when I turn off my phone and commit to deep, focused study sessions without interruptions.
• Do not neglect your health, prioritize sleep, movement, and nutrition!

Slayde's “Yearbook” Quote: "Discipline equals Freedom" - Jacko Willinck 

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Neurology

"I enjoyed tracing lesions of the spine using my knowledge of the spinal tracts."

Top Choice for Specialty: Cardiology

Top Tips for Success from David:

• Make disease charts for all your systems courses and highlight key differences.
• Give ANKI a chance first.

David's “Yearbook” Quote: "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" 

Favorite M1/M2 Class(es): Foundations

"I love microbiology and genetics, so foundations felt like home to me."

Top Choice for Specialty: Allergy/Immunology

Top Tips for Success from Landon:

• A pass chart for keeping track of lectures is a must.
• Focus on learning objectives and break them down into a way that you understand them.

Landon's “Yearbook” Quote: "There are two ways to motivate a medical student; extra credit and free lunch."