Blueprint Med School Blog (formerly Cram Fighter & Med School Tutors)

The blog for Blueprint Medical, supporting your MedEd journey with our exam study planner, tutoring, residency consulting, and advanced boards.

7 Tips to Help You Avoid Fainting in the OR

I was very excited for my first day in an operating room, but woefully unprepared for what to expect. Part of that was not understanding the flow of an OR and worrying I would embarrass myself in the unfamiliar environment. (For a run down on what to expect, I recommend you read my last article

Nov 07, 2023

Scrub Up: Tips for Your First Time in the OR

Scrub up! If these words strike fear into your heart, you’re in good company. For most medical students, the first time they enter an operating room (OR) is during third-year clerkships. Nothing will quite prepare you for that moment, but some familiarity with the different roles, order of operations, etiquette, and expectations for medical students

Oct 05, 2023

How I Balanced My Clinical Rotations with Shelf Exam Studying

During my third year of medical school, the first half of my general surgery clerkship was spent on the hepatobiliary and transplant surgery service. One day, as we were completing the running subcuticular stitch on skin after a Whipple procedure, the fellow looked up at me and asked, “Are you interested in going on a

May 11, 2023

Transition from M2 to M3: Learning from Books to Learning from Patients

When I was preparing for USMLE Step 1, I distinctly remember my anxiety building as the exam approached. This anxiety, though unpleasant, was met and balanced by another powerful emotion: excitement. I was excited by the prospect of finally putting the exam in my rearview mirror, and by the idea that, once it was over

May 01, 2023

Clerkship Pitfalls: What Is Situational Awareness in Healthcare?

Situational awareness is defined as conscious knowledge of the immediate environment and the events that are occurring in it—or, as stated in Endsley’s situational awareness models, “the perception of the elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their status in the near

Feb 28, 2023

Which “Scrubs” Character Are You in Your Clinical Rotations?

Scrubs is consistently described as the most accurate (and fun) medical show out there. If you’re a fan of the series, then kick back and read on to find out which character you mirror the most! Dr. Cox If another medical student asks you a question, and your first reaction is unbridled rage, you might

Feb 23, 2023

3 Tips to Help You Study For Your Internal Medicine Shelf Exam

As a med student, shelf exams serve as important milestones for you to measure your learning progress and identify areas where you need improvement before Step 2. Shelf exams are often seen as a dry-run for the USMLEs and provide you with valuable experience in taking standardized exams. By evaluating your understanding of the material,

Dec 15, 2022

How to Get Standout Letters of Recommendation for Your Residency Application

The other night, I got a text from a number that I didn’t have saved: “Hey Brian, I don’t know if you remember me but I was a student who rotated with you last year. I wanted to ask some questions about anesthesia if you have a moment.” I always end my teaching assignments with

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