The journey begins: How incoming first year students across Canada are feeling as they start medical school

By Vaidehee Lanke and Jakob Philipchuk - October 13, 2024

From USask to Western, we are excited, nervous, overwhelmed and undecided on backpack colour.

The plethora of colourful backpacks across Canadian campuses signals the start of another school year, and for hundreds of medical students, the start of the long journey to becoming physicians. As two first-year students ourselves, we know exactly what diving into the world of medicine entails: the excitement, the nerves, and the awe. To kick off our journeys and that of the CMSP, a new online platform for medical students to express their opinions, reflect on and share their experiences, we wanted to capture this special moment. 

To help us out, we surveyed fellow first-years from across Canada to gather their thoughts, take us back to that special acceptance moment, and reflect on the year ahead. We received 78 responses from seven institutions including the University of Saskatchewan, Western University, University of British Columbia, University of Manitoba, McGill University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, and Queen's University. 

That moment… you all know what we are talking about 

No doubt, one of the most memorable moments on this journey will be the moment when we got our ‘yes’. After months of tests, applications and interviews, in various hours and places, we found ourselves with an acceptance letter that turned our worlds upside down. 

When we asked the 78 students surveyed what their initial reaction was like, about 28% of us were in disbelief — asking ourselves, did this really happen? The excitement was closely followed with deep sighs, with about 27% of us relieved and thinking, “Thank goodness.” Another 24% of us were ecstatic; think squealing, fist pumping and tons of “OMGs”!  Around 18% of us kept re-reading the letter just to make sure and about 3% rightly thought, “It’s 3am, I’m going back to sleep.”

Beyond the numbers, there are so many stories full of family, friends, tears, hugs and joy. Stories of refreshing the decision portal for days, only to find an acceptance letter and collapsing to the ground in sobs. Stories of finding out at home, in cafes and parks, at conferences and on vacations. Stories of getting waitlisted and then getting our acceptances. Stories of sharing that initial acceptance with our loved ones, from family to partners to friends and of course, getting them to re-read the letter for us to make sure we were reading the words right. 

While we may have all got our ‘yes’ in different places and times, our stories share similar threads of joy, gratitude, disbelief, relief and excitement. As we navigate the next four years and no doubt face many challenges, hopefully we can hold on to the warm feeling and excitement of that initial moment to guide us through it all and remember that we truly are in this together. 

What we really think of the backpack 

As we have quickly learnt, medicine is a journey of many traditions. One of the firsts was being gifted, as medical students before us have for the past 25 years, the iconic backpack from the Canadian Medical Association. 

Core to the backpack tradition is the anticipation over the unique colour of the backpack.  

The Class of 2028 has been graced with a bright, neon yellow — some would say Shrek green — and we are split on how we feel about our colour.  From the 78 students we surveyed, about 30% of us like it and around 28% of us have come to accept that we will tolerate it. About 17% proudly declare we love the bag and an equal 17% have no thoughts. A small minority of us, 9%, politely say we will bring our own bag. 

@usaskmed via Instagram

But one must note, no matter our varied thoughts on the colour, the backpack is impressive. 

Unlike most bags, it takes heavy duty seriously. It’s the rare kind of bag you can put your stethoscope, a few binders, lunch, dinner, snacks, clothing for all kinds of weather and plenty of other nick-nacks in and it won’t break. It doubly serves as a weight to lift, so you can squeeze in a bit of a workout during the day just by hauling it around. Not to mention, it is the one of the best identifiers out there — the neon yellow pinpoints first-year medical students from a mile away. 

First year musings, thoughts and everything in between  

As medical students, we are not just preparing for a tough year of rigorous exams, sleepless nights, and carrying the weight of textbooks that seem to get heavier with each chapter. We are also preparing for the countless life-changing opportunities and profound experiences on this journey to becoming physicians. Better yet, we get to do it alongside our classmates, many of whom have become life-long friends since we began classes just a few weeks ago. 

From hands-on clinical experiences where theory meets practice to exciting social events and study breaks with peers, here is what students from across Canada look forward to — or possibly fear — as they begin their first year of medical school.

The incoming class is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to get their hands dirty and dive into real-world experiences. An astonishing 75% of respondents are looking forward to shadowing established professionals in all areas of medicine, reflecting their commitment to medical education and readiness to encounter real clinical scenarios.

While many of us are excited to learn from our future colleagues, a notable amount of students are approaching their first year with slightly more caution. Approximately 60% of us are looking forward to clinical experiences and the content of medical school — learning about the art and science of medicine. 

Medical school is undoubtedly challenging, and 58% of respondents are worried about the breadth of content covered and the fast pace of their medical training. Let this be a gentle reminder that it is important to take time for yourself and to always look out for your peers.

Many of us — 49% to be exact — are already aware of this cardinal rule and are particularly excited about the social events planned throughout the year, which will offer a much-needed break from our demanding academic schedules and an opportunity to bond with each other outside of the classroom.

From nervousness and excitement to gratitude and perhaps some disbelief, the Class of 2028 is ready — with a questionably coloured backpack in tow — to begin their first year of medical school. 

@usaskmedregina via Instagram

Specialty search: Where we think we are headed (for now) 

Despite just beginning, most of us have already started to think about what specialty we might consider going into. From surgery to dermatology, the responses are relatively split, which bodes well because the CaRMS process is like a game of musical chairs, and we all know how that ends!

Many of us are interested in forming long-term relationships with our patients in a community setting, with 36% of respondents interested in a career in family medicine. Others would rather be in the operating room, with 26% reaching for the blade and scalpel, and another 17% interested in remaining behind the OR curtains as anesthesiologists.  

The incoming class also contains a few thrill-seekers, with about 22% of us wanting to diagnose and treat patients in the high-stakes environment of the emergency room. 

An additional 28% of respondents are interested in pediatrics, 11% in psychiatry, and 5% in pathology, while 8% have their sights set on ophthalmology. Unfortunately, zero respondents expressed an interest in urology — perhaps they’re still holding it in.

Beyond these specialties, 28% of respondents are ready to hit the wards with an exciting career in internal medicine, reflecting an interest in attaining a broad scope of practice and solving complex clinical challenges. 

Although we have just begun medical school, and many of us may be undecided on our future specialty, the Class of 2028 is decidedly not just embarking on a challenging journey but embracing it with open arms. 

Here's to a year full of learning, growth, and all the incredible experiences that lie ahead.