Medical students will readily admit that their schooling was anything but easy. Most medical programs are known for their rigorous curriculums that demand perfection from students, even at the cost of little sleep and zero social life. However, for most students, this grueling endeavor is worth it. While each student might face his or her own battles while going through medical school, there are three hurdles that impact just about every student. Consider these three obstacles and how to handle them.

1. Comparing yourself with other students
Pretty much everyone knows that medical school is competitive. With that idea in mind, students tend to constantly compare themselves with each other. This isn't good and can slowly derail some students, preventing them from reaching the best of their abilities. However, it's becoming more and more common. Aside from that internal competition, many students worry about competing for a residency spot at a prestigious hospital, and there are far fewer spots available than students who are seeking them. However, students who do not give in to comparisons will be the ones to survive the four years successfully, and land a good spot in a residency program. If students are so worried and stressed about how they measure up against the competition, they can completely forget about the goal ahead: graduating.

2. Burnout
At some point, almost every medical student faces a burnout of some kind. It might be because the constant workload becomes too stressful, or the worry of evaluations in the third year pushes students to their absolute limit. Regardless of what causes it, burnout happens. People might be overwhelmed with emotion, exhausted, and simply lose the desire to push forward. This becomes even more prevalent if the student faces pressure both at home and in the classroom, and they succumb to it. During these tough times, it's important for students to take a step back and look at the overall goal. Why did they want to become a doctor? Realizing this purpose can help make all the grueling work, lack of sleep and stress worth it.

3. Medical terms
Throughout school, medical students will consistently be asked to learn medical terminology. It's the student's responsibility to not only learn these terms but understand them as well. While this can be overwhelming, consistently reading and reviewing the terms with flashcards can help students remember them.

By Monique Smith