I Cried on Day 1 of Med School: An Unfiltered Account of the MBBS Journey
- Ankit Sharma
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Series: Department of Podcast
Episode: 04
Subject: MBBS First Year
Guest: Abhay Singh Dalal
Host: Dr. Ankit Sharma
1.0 Introduction: The Dream vs. The Reality
For years, it’s been the singular goal: crack the exam, secure a top rank, and walk through the gates of a prestigious medical college. The dream is one of triumph, the culmination of relentless hard work, and the first step toward wearing the coveted white coat. It’s a moment romanticized by family, friends, and your own imagination as the start of a brilliant, linear ascent.
But what happens after you walk through those gates? For many, the dream collides with a reality that is far more jarring, complex, and emotionally taxing than anyone could have prepared them for. The idealized vision of college life quickly gives way to a grueling grind that tests the very definition of success.
This article pulls back the curtain on that challenging transition. Based on the unfiltered account of a first-year MBBS student, here are five surprising truths about the reality of medical school that nobody tells you about.
2.0 5 Surprising Truths About Your First Year of Medical School
1. You'll Go from Topper to Barely Passing, and It's a Shock to the System
Imagine this: You’ve spent your entire academic life at the top. You scored 95% in your 12th-grade exams, achieved a perfect 100% in biology, and were ranked in the top 0.1% of all ISC students. You’re the male rank opener for your college, the celebrated "topper." The dream is that your academic brilliance will continue to shine.
Perhaps the first and most brutal reality check comes not in the dissection hall, but on your first-grade sheet. Suddenly, you’re failing a subject. This isn’t an anomaly; one student estimates that "98% of students here are barely passing" the 50% criteria. The struggle isn't due to a lack of intelligence—these are the "cream" of the country—but to a "humongous" syllabus that is five to six times larger than anything you’ve ever faced. The dream of academic glory is the first casualty, replaced by the humbling reality of survival. This creates a painful disconnect with family, who can’t fathom the change.
Your parents will never understand that this child is failing... He used to be such a topper, such an academic overachiever, and now he's failing here. They will never understand.
2. Initial Disappointment Can Lead to Unexpected Happiness
The dream often involves a specific college, a name you’ve held in your mind for years. For one student who scored an impressive 701 on the NEET, that dream was AIIMS Rishikesh. The reality? After expecting to get his third or fourth choice, he landed at his eighth: KGMU. He was, in his own words, "utterly disappointed."
His first impression of the college confirmed his worst fears. Seeing what he perceived as "disappointment" and "depression" on the seniors' faces, he felt his "life was over." On the day of his admission, he went back to his hotel and cried for two hours. Yet, looking back, this forced path led to a place of profound contentment, proving that the dream you chase isn't always the one meant for you.
It was God’s plan, and I don’t think I could have been any happier than I am here.
3. Senior Interaction is Intense, But It Can Evolve into a Powerful Support System
New students dream of a welcoming environment, but the reality of senior interaction is far more complicated. One student hesitates to use the "aggressive word" ragging, describing the initial period as seniors "guiding you the way you have to behave here." While some approaches feel "toxic," this intensity occurs within a controlled environment. For the first three months, juniors are in a "lockdown," not allowed to leave the hostel after 8 PM—an institutional measure designed to protect them during this sensitive transition.
What’s truly surprising is how this period evolves. Many colleges have a "system of adoption" where juniors are "adopted" by seniors, becoming their "medico mother" and "medico father" and creating an entire "family tree." This system forges a powerful support network where seniors treat their juniors like "brothers or even sons" and, as a common gesture, pay for them whenever they go out together.
4. The Workload Isn't Just Hard, It's Relentless
Every aspiring doctor dreams of the intellectual challenge, but no one can truly prepare for the sheer, soul-crushing volume of work. The first-year schedule is a relentless marathon: classes from 9 AM to 5 PM, followed immediately by self-study from 5 PM until midnight. As one student puts it, there is "not a single day when you can rest."
This pace is compounded by mandatory exams "almost every week," which students must pass to avoid failing the year. The psychological burnout doesn't just come from the long hours; it comes from the crushing realization that you're working twice as hard as you ever have in your life just to stay afloat. The dream is of mastering medicine; the reality is a desperate fight to simply not drown in it, which leads many students to get "burned out very quickly."
5. You Must Choose the Hostel, Even If It's Not Perfect
The dream is of a modern, comfortable launchpad for your career; the reality is often the charming grit of a century-old institution. For any undergraduate, the advice is unequivocal: living in the hostel is non-negotiable. To skip it is to be "missing a life."
This essential experience comes with its own surprises. Contrary to the stereotype of "trash" mess food, one student was shocked to find it "decently good," making him "feel as if you are at home." This is balanced by the less glamorous truths: buildings that are 80-100 years old, a lack of customization options, and the necessity of shared common washrooms. In the end, the reality teaches a valuable lesson: the "fun," the "nightlife," and the deep camaraderie forged within those old walls are far more important than physical comfort.
3.0 Final Thoughts
The first year of medical school is a trial by fire. It’s designed to break down the dream you arrived with and forge you in the reality of what’s required. It reshapes your expectations about success, friendship, and personal limits. This process isn’t an ordeal to be survived; it’s the very crucible that transforms a high-achieving student into a resilient, empathetic, and competent doctor—someone forged by reality, not just defined by a dream.
Knowing these realities, what does it truly mean to be prepared for the journey of becoming a doctor?
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