What I Wish I Knew Before Med School

What We Wish We Knew Before Starting Medical School This conversation brings together JR Smith, Caleb, and Daniel Green Moore to talk about the biggest surprises of medical school, from schedule reality to finding study systems that actually work. The discussion also gets into networking, mentorship, and the grind of staying consistent while protecting a life outside medicine. Key topics In this episode, Caleb shares that one of the biggest shocks was realizing how much built in study time exists in medical school schedules, including academic enrichment blocks and green space time. JR Smith explains that medical school requires a different mindset than college: you are treated as a mature learner, so your education becomes your responsibility, not the school’s. Daniel Green Moore adds that his school’s structure gave more flexibility than expected, including early clinical exposure, time for family, and room for activities outside medicine. The group discusses how medical culture has shifted, with more support now for students who want identities beyond medicine, not just academic performance. A major theme is the importance of consistency over complexity. JR Smith describes moving from scattered studying across too many resources to a simpler system built around Anki, videos, and practice questions. Caleb emphasizes that discipline and scheduling matter, especially for students who want to balance research, relationships, and medical training without losing focus. The conversation highlights networking as a core career skill, especially for residency. JR Smith explains that strong connections and trusted advocates often matter as much as test scores and research. Practical networking advice includes cold emailing with genuine appreciation, meeting people at conferences, and staying in contact over time without only reaching out when you need something. Daniel shares that better mentorship often comes from people who are one stage ahead of you, because they understand your current challenges and can give more practical guidance. The group also talks about the power of saying no to distractions, overcommitment, and even short term pleasures when they conflict with long term goals. For board prep, JR Smith recommends studying in a way that matches the USMLE and NBME style early, rather than completely abandoning material after each class block ends. The episode closes on the idea that purpose has to outweigh pain. Medical school is hard, but a strong why makes the grind sustainable. Timestamps 00:00 - Event intro and what the discussion will cover 00:30 - Caleb introduces himself and his Air Force HPSP path 00:59 - Daniel Green Moore introduces himself and his medical school 01:27 - First surprise about medical school schedules and built in study time 02:15 - Academic enrichment blocks and how schedule time is actually used 03:12 - The shift from college style learning to self directed learning 04:32 - COVID era flexibility and building a personal study routine 05:28 - Daniel on green space time and early clinical exposure 06:53 - Making time for family, sports, and life outside school 08:46 - Why medical culture used to glorify overwork 10:14 - Being a medical student without letting medicine define everything 11:34 - Audience question about how long it takes to find footing 12:29 - Early struggle with trying to use every resource at once 14:16 - Moving from 12 hour study days to a more efficient system 15:16 - Why consistency matters more than intensity alone 17:07 - Running your own race instead of comparing yourself to classmates 18:33 - Asking for help before you are drowning 19:14 - Caleb on schedules, routines, and long term planning 20:41 - How Caleb built connections and got into an early acceptance program 21:29 - Why networks matter more once residency becomes the next goal 23:24 - Three practical ways to build a network and mentor circle 30:06 - How mentorship works when the relationship is based on trust, not favors 34:44 - What happens when a mentor says no to a request 40:01 - What studying looks like across medical school and training 41:28 - Athletes, excellence, and the value of extra work outside required time 44:22 - JR Smith’s simplified Anki and video based routine 45:50 - Why grind and excellence still matter in a pass fail era 46:23 - Caleb on daily discipline, study room habits, and priorities 49:28 - The power of saying no to preserve focus and protect commitments 53:47 - Preparing for boards early by aligning with USMLE style study 56:07 - Concrete study volume and the purpose behind the pain 59:17 - Closing remarks and what to expect from future events