Creating a Study Plan for Clinical Rotations: A Guide from a Core Clerkship Lead

Clinical rotations are a very important part of your medical school experience; the hands-on learning that you are exposed to is pivotal to creating a well-rounded approach to your clinical practice. However, rotations bring a unique challenge: balancing shelf exam preparation with the long hours required at the hospital or in clinic. As an Internal Medicine Core Clerkship lead myself, I have seen students thrive when utilizing the right strategies. This blog will focus on those strategies and how to set yourself up for success during this challenging period.

Where Should You Start?

Before you begin creating a study plan or timeline, it is important to map out your rotation expectations as well as goal endpoints:

• Rotation length and hours: how long will you spend in each specialty? What is the breakdown of inpatient and outpatient medicine and how do those hours differ? Are you doing any weekend or overnight call? Is this a rotation where you need letters of recommendation and elongated hours to make a good impression? 
• Shelf exam dates: are your shelf exams at the end of each rotation or are they all at once at the end of all of your rotations? Do you have a fixed period to schedule them in? Do you have any days off before your shelf exam?
• Extracurriculars or commitments: do you have any commitments that take time away from studying? Do you have any travel plans or unavoidable events that you have to take time away from rotations/studying for? 

What Resources Should You Use?

Each rotation requires different resources for studying. 

There are a few general resources that are shared across all rotations:

• • NBME practice exams: you should take a baseline assessment before you start dedicated studying to identify knowledge gaps; your studying should be targeted towards these areas while also maintaining a global approach. 
  • Practice questions: UWorld! You should plan to do at least 40-80 questions per day, time permitting. These blocks should be done in mixed, timed, untutored mode. 
  • White Coat Companion: this book is the counterpart of the Boards and Beyond video resource, and covers all shelf exam content as well as Step 2. Just like other text resources, it provides a framework and should be annotated with supplemental information. However, it is a central place to study all shelf exam content and is very thorough. 
  • Online MedEd: this is a great video resource that covers high-yield and relevant material that you will see on the wards as well as on your shelf exams. 

• Anki: the Anking Step 2 deck has tags specifically for each shelf exam, so using these to prepare for the shelf exams is a great way to get fast facts down. 

• Elite Medical Prep’s clinical rotation cheat sheets: These high-yield cheat sheets are packed with must-use resources, key diagnoses, and practical tips for rounds. They’re a great way to stay organized and prepared for each rotation, helping you streamline your learning and impress your team. Download the cheat sheets here to keep everything you need at your fingertips.

After you’ve picked which resources to use, you can incorporate them into a study planner like the example below.  For more structured guidance, Elite Medical Prep has downloadable study guides for each shelf exam with curated resource lists and step-by-step guidance. 

How Much Time Should You Dedicate to Studying for Shelf Exams?

Since you have limited time on each rotation for dedicated studying, consistency is key. 

Creating a daily study schedule will be the best way to hold yourself accountable during rotations with busy hours and schedules. Every day, you should be setting aside 1-2 hours for studying, focusing on doing Uworld practice questions and reviewing. Weekends should be used for more dedicated study time, focusing on comprehensive review and weaker topics. 

You should also take into consideration the varying number of hours you’ll have to study per rotation. Generally, rotations such as Surgery will occupy more of your time than a clinic rotation in Family Medicine, but it’s important to take stock of your schedule. 

The Elite Medical Prep study planners outline manageable approaches for demanding schedules: 

How Can You Balance Rotations with Studying?

Balancing rotations with studying requires meticulous planning. 

• Leverage your downtime: use moments that you’re not actively seeing patients or working with a resident/attending to review. You can listen to review podcasts during your commute to the hospital, do Anki flashcards while you’re waiting for afternoon rounds, or do a quick review session with your co-medical students on high yield topics during lunch! Develop the habit of using your free time efficiently and effectively. 
• Integrate learning: apply studying concepts that you’ve come across while studying for shelf exams to your clinical encounters and patients. This will reinforce concepts and allow you to retain the knowledge better.
• Set realistic goals: break your study plan into manageable tidbits every day and have a structured, digestible plan for yourself. If you have a set plan throughout the week, and notice that you’re never able to complete it day-to-day, look for places that can be cut without compromising your review process. Our elite medical prep tutors are great at helping create a manageable plan for students! 

How Do I Know When to Ask for Help?

Don’t hesitate to seek help if you’re struggling to keep up or notice that you don’t know how to fill the gaps in your knowledge. Here’s when to reach out:

• Falling behind on study goals: consider consulting a tutor to adjust your plan and do a deep-dive on your Uworld performance to better understand where your gaps are! 
• Low practice scores: use feedback to refocus on weak areas and track your progress across multiple NBMEs. It’s important to stay consistent with taking practice NBMEs and making sure that your weaker areas are improving. If they’re not, that’s when more help and direction can be beneficial! 
• Burnout signs: incorporate self-care and seek guidance on balancing responsibilities. Every free waking moment should not be used on studying and reviewing; burnout is a big reason why students do not progress forward and make meaningful progress. Taking time for yourself is important! If you have trouble balancing self-care and studying, asking for help in time management is going to benefit you. 

Elite Medical Prep offers personalized tutoring for medical students. Click here to get connected to a tutor and find out more information about our services. 

Final Thoughts

Success during clinical rotations comes down to preparation, consistency, and adaptability. By using a structured plan and trusted resources, you’ll not only excel on your shelf exams but also develop a solid foundation for residency and for Step 2 and 3.

If you’re looking for ready-to-use study schedules, download Elite Medical Prep’s study planners to jump-start your preparation and streamline your studying.