Reddit’s slogan, “The heart of the internet,” didn’t come out of thin air. As a massive user-driven forum and content aggregation website, it should come as no surprise that medical school Reddit (r/MedicalSchool) boasts more than 300,000 members!
Thankfully, while the site is huge, its organization is pretty straightforward. Posts are “flaired” to help users sort them into categories, including “Vents,” “Preclinical,” “Step 1 & 2,” “Research,” and even “Memes.”
Many students first learn about medical school Reddit during their premed days, often when they’re comparing reviews of MCAT study resources or reading about other people’s application cycle results and experiences.
However, since many students continue using the site after the white coat ceremony, we’ll review some guidance on how to navigate medical school Reddit, what potential benefits there are to scrolling, and some pitfalls to watch out for.
In case you’ve never been to the site, let’s start with the basics.
How does medical school Reddit work?
Reddit works as a free forum with moderation by select users that are unique to each page, or “subreddit.” The moderators’ responsibility is to screen all posts that are submitted, ensure that they follow the rules of the subreddit (see below) and approve them to be visible to all members.
There are a few abbreviations commonly used on Reddit that new users may not be familiar with. These include OP (“original poster”), AMA (“ask me anything,” basically Q&As in comments), and TL;DR (“too long; didn’t read,” usually preceding a summary of content).
How can Reddit help me during medical school?
There’s a well-known proverb that says, “To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.” This is good advice! It’s always a good idea to network with more senior students, residents, and even attendings for guidance. But online forums certainly can supplement information you glean from them.
Preclinical Years
Starting in the preclinical years, users can get advice on third-party study resources for the USMLE Step exams, useful YouTube channels to supplement class lectures, and even tech support on Anki. Students can also get feedback on their studying methods.
Clinical Years
After starting clerkships, students may be interested in the clinical flair, where many posts ask about away rotations, choosing rotation sites, when to register for Step 2, and advice for studying for the NBME shelf exams amid a busy clinical schedule.
Some posts are targeted towards debunking misinformation, addressing things like “Is it true derm programs don’t care about clinical grades?” There are also dedicated flairs for research, such as, “Do I need to do research in the specialty I plan to apply for?”
Residency Apps
For those applying to residency, when ERAS opens in the summer, medical school Reddit starts a mega-thread where any user can ask questions and hopefully receive a quick, relevant answer from a different user. This can be very helpful for small questions or clarifications that come up on the fly.
What’s one of the best things about medical school Reddit?
Arguably one of the biggest benefits of perusing Reddit, though, is inherent to it as a platform.
When I’ve scrolled through it in the past, regardless of my original question, I often came out of it thinking that very few of my struggles were unique. Chances are, dozens of other students have had a similar experience. This implies that dozens of them have found a way to work with the problem and move forward with their education and lives.
It’s comforting to know that a community like this exists based on the shared experience of attending medical school. And that users join not just to get their personal questions answered, but also because they have a genuine interest in paying it forward to other students.
How can I maximize the benefits of medical school Reddit while avoiding common pitfalls?
1. Be skeptical of what you read.
First and foremost, students should always keep in mind that all content on medical school Reddit is user-generated and submitted. While we’d all like to believe that people on the site are always putting forth their best effort to be clear and honest, that’s unlikely to be realistic.
It’s best to approach content on medical school Reddit in a critical manner, the way you would a novel research article. Does the anecdote you’re reading sound reasonable? Have other users reported similar experiences, or does this particular post sound like an outlier? If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Remember comparison is the thief of joy.
Another common trap is comparison. Hearing about somebody’s 270+ Step 2 score, dozens of publications, or getting a lot of interviews for a competitive specialty can quickly create a spiral of negativity and self-doubt.
Keep in mind, even if these anecdotes are true (and there’s no guarantee they are), they represent outliers and not the majority’s experience. Selection bias is of course a factor. Those who have extremely positive or extremely negative experiences are much more likely to post on the forum and generate clicks than those who are closer to average. Just remind yourself: if it wasn’t newsworthy, it wouldn’t have made the news.
3. Don’t share too much information.
While most people select anonymous usernames on Reddit, for better or for worse, true online anonymity is difficult to maintain. Never post identifying information about yourself, your classmates, or faculty at your institution. You never know who might read it!
4. Stay professional.
Finally, make sure to practice proper internet etiquette and follow the subreddit rules. If you don’t, your post will be removed, and repeated offenses may even result in being banned. Most medical schools emphasize the importance of professionalism to their students, and such standards apply to the internet as well.
The Bottom Line
In the end, every student’s journey through medical school is unique, and advice can come from a myriad of places. Using medical school Reddit is just one way to help mitigate disappointments and struggles, explain misconceptions, get a sense of fulfillment, and be part of a wider community. View it as a way to supplement what you’re learning from peers and mentors along the way.
Remember, to know the road ahead, ask those coming back!
Looking for more personalized support than medical school Reddit can provide? Schedule a FREE consultation with a med school tutor! Our expert tutors can help you prep for USMLE/COMLEX exams, shelf exams, med school coursework, and more. 💙
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