We thought we could give you a few schedules just to show you how everyone does med school differently in terms of time spent studying, when to wake up, etc. Below are the daily schedules of some medical students.
Sury Rawat:
This is my rough schedule or goal schedule at least haha. I always make room for any breaks that I need mentally or just space for adjustments when meetings, interest groups, or fun events pop up! 🙂
- M/W/F (PBL days)
- 7:00-7:45 AM – wake up, breakfast, look over presentation (W/F)
- 7:45-8:00 AM – drive to school
- 8:00 AM-12:00 PM – PBL
- 12:30-1:00 PM – lunch & relax
- 1:00-5:00 PM – work on PBL presentation, go to IPC (if applicable)
- 5:00-7:00 PM – relax & eat dinner
- 7:00-10:00 PM – catch-up on lectures, utilize study materials (videos, flashcards), finish PBL presentation
- 10:00-11:00 PM – relax
- *** except Friday afternoon/evening I take COMPLETELY off 🙂
- T/Th (anatomy or lecture days)
- 7:00-7:45 AM – wake up, breakfast
- 8:00 AM-12:00 PM – anatomy & working out (order dependent on anatomy schedule)
- 12:00-1:00 PM – shower, lunch, relax
- 1:00-5:00 PM – any catch-up work (presentation, lectures, study), go to IPC (if applicable)
- 5:00-7:00 PM – relax & eat dinner
- 7:00-10:00 PM – catch-up on lectures, utilize study materials (videos, flashcards), finish PBL presentation
- 10:00-11:00 PM – relax
- Weekend
- Honestly nothing set in schedule and just general catch up on lectures and other study videos
- I try to review some cases as well!
Matthew Atwood:
- M/W
- 7:00 AM-8:00 AM – wake up, get ready, drive to campus, drink a protein shake
- 8:00 AM-9:00 AM – Work on Anki or go to lecture depending on the block
- 9:00 AM-12:00 PM – PBL
- 12:00 PM-1:00 PM – lunch/study break
- 1:00 PM– 4:00 PM – Work on objectives (this time is variable and depends on how long the objective takes)
- 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM – Study supers/objectives, work on Anki, work on practice questions
- 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM – Eat dinner and spend time with my wife
- 8:00 PM- 10:00PM – Study or relax depending on the day and how busy I am. I also use this time to work on side projects like research, MedZou, and other things
- T/Th
- 7:00 AM-8:00 AM – wake up, get ready, drive to campus (if there’s lecture or anatomy lab), drink a protein shake
- 8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Attend lecture (depending on the block) or do anatomy lab if it’s scheduled on that day
- 12:00 PM– 1:00 PM – lunch/study break
- 1:00 PM– 4:00 PM – Study supers/objectives, work on Anki, work on practice questions, attend IPC group if applicable
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Work on any projects
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Eat dinner and spend time with my wife
- 8:00 PM- 10:00 PM – Study or relax depending on the day and how busy I am. I also use this time to work on side projects like research, MedZou, and other things. Clean/cook/do other chores as needed
- Fri
- 7:00 AM-8:00 AM – wake up, get ready, drive to campus (if there’s lecture or anatomy lab), drink a protein shake
- 8:00 AM- 11:00 AM – PBL
- 11:00 AM- 12:00 PM – Case wrapup
- 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Relax
- 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Work on projects, make supers for the week, watch any relevant lectures, review anki
- 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Eat dinner with my wife, relax, have a game night with friends or go out for a date night. Depends on the week. Clean/cook/do other chores as needed
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM- 10:00 AM – wake up
- 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM – Study, anki, practice questions, etc
- 3:00 PM- 10:00 PM – Study a little, rest otherwise, later in the block I spend more of this time studying. Clean/cook/do other chores as needed.
- Sunday
- 9:30 AM- 1:00 PM – Wake up, go to church, eat lunch with my wife
- 1:00 PM- 5:00 PM – Study, run errands, cook,
- 5:00 PM- 10:00 PM – Rest, study lightly, enjoy the rest of the weekend while I still can. Clean/cook/do other chores as needed.
Pranav Suri:
*Disclaimer: this schedule is super idealized and there is usually way more nuance/lack of discipline than this
- M/W
- 4:30-5:00 AM – wake up
- 5:00-7:00 AM – Anki review cards, tea, respond to emails
- 7:00-7:30 AM – get ready, eat breakfast
- 7:30-8:00 AM – pack up and travel to school
- 8:00-12:00 PM – Lecture (attend in-person) and PBL
- 12:00-1:00 PM – lunch break and youtube
- 1:00-5:00 PM – Make Anki cards, make study guide for PBL objective, do new Anki cards, B&B, etc.
- 5:00-6:00 PM – workout
- 6:00-6:30 PM – dinner
- 6:30-8:00 PM – New Anki cards, more work on PBL objective
- 8:00-9:00 PM – relax and call mom
- 9:00-9:30 PM – get ready for bed, light reading, and bedtime!
- T/Th
- 4:30-5:00 AM – wake up
- 5:00-7:00 AM – Anki review cards, study for anatomy lab
- 7:00-7:30 AM – get ready, eat breakfast
- 7:30-8:00 AM – pack up and travel to school (depending on when anatomy lab or lecture starts)
- 8:00-12:00 AM – anatomy lab, workout (depending on when anatomy lab is), Zoom in to lecture, miscellaneous study time
- 12:00-1:00 PM – lunch break
- 1:00-5:00 PM – finish study guide, make presentation for PBL, make/do Anki cards, ACE (if scheduled)
- 5:00-6:00 PM – workout
- 6:00-6:30 PM – dinner
- 6:30-8:00 PM – New Anki cards, finish presentation, etc.
- 8:00-9:00 PM – relax and call mom
- 9:00-9:30 PM – get ready for bed, light reading, and bedtime!
- Fri
- 4:30-5:00 AM – wake up
- 5:00-7:00 AM – Anki review cards, tea, respond to emails
- 7:00-7:30 AM – get ready, eat breakfast
- 7:30-8:00 AM – pack up and travel to school
- 8:00-11:00 PM – PBL
- 11:00-12:00 PM – Case wrap up
- 12:00 PM and after – take the rest of the day off to hang out and relax
- Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM – wake up and get ready
- Rest of the day used to make Anki cards, do new cards from this week’s objectives, watch B&B videos, read supers, and review content otherwise
- Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM – wake up and get ready
- 7:00 AM-12:00 PM – Anki reviews and study
- Rest of the day used for chores (laundry, cleaning the house, etc.), grocery shopping, and meal prep.
John Israel (non-traditional student with a family)
Monday through Friday in general is about the same. However, PBL, IPC lectures, IPC small group, and anatomy lab mandatory times adjust my schedule a bit.
5:30 am – awake, pray, and work-out.
6:45 am – get ready
7:00 am – breakfast with the family
7:25 am – commute to the school
7:45 am – prepare for the day at the PCCLC
8:00 am – 12:00 pm – Lecture and/or PBL
12:00 pm -1:00 pm – Lunch Hour (eat, clear my mind, socialize)
1:00 pm – 5:30 pm– IPC lecture on Monday, Study Group, Work on Objectives, Anki, 3rd party study sources
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Go home for family time. Dinner, bike rides, playgrounds, movies, Legos, reading books, feeding babies.
8:00 pm – 10:30 – Study more as needed. Otherwise, relax with my wife.
11:00 pm – You should be in bed by now. At least 6 hours of sleep is MANDATORY.
Saturday
7:30 am – awake and start the day with family and breakfast.
8:30 am – time with my family in our small group with church.
12:00 pm – 16:00 pm ish – study group or independent study.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Go home for family time. Dinner, bike rides, playgrounds, movies, Legos, reading books, feeding babies.
8:00 pm – 10:30 – Study more as needed. Otherwise, relax with my wife.
11:00 pm – You should be in bed by now. At least 6 hours of sleep is MANDATORY.
Sunday
Sabbath. Seriously, take a day to just rest and be a person. Yes, you gotta work hard. Yes, you gotta study. Though for just one day put it down. Your identity is a person who happens to be student, and not the other way around