Orientation Week, or "O Week", is a series of activities and events designed to help students settle into university life. Held the week before the first semester, it’s the first step into a world of academics, new friendships, and life-changing opportunities. But with so much happening all at once, how do you make the most of O Week?
Dr Nina Su told the Medworld Institute "I think a lot of people take their time in medical school for granted . . . on reflection those people really missed opportunities. Medical school is your opportunity to try and learn as much as you can."
In this article, we spoke to six experienced medical students from the University of Otago to share their top tips for navigating Med O Week, from building connections to finding balance. Whether you’re looking to make friends, prepare for your studies, or simply thrive in the chaos, these insights from students who have been there before could help.
What should new students do to prepare for O Week and medical school?
"Be ready to meet LOTS of people. Some you’ll stay in touch with, some will be your best friends, and some you’ll never see again until Hauora Maori week."
"Bring an enthusiastic attitude and positivity, and admire how far you have come."
"Attempt a consistent sleeping schedule."
"Meet and greet! These may be your future colleagues, so get out and enjoy meeting new people."
"Just keep updated with what’s happening in med through the Facebook page. Don’t stress too much, especially since the beginning can be quite scary."
"Come prepared to meet all your new classmates and a busy year of study! It is very important to try and maintain balance in medical school amongst your studies, so use O Week as a kickstart to gaining new friendships which will help you in your journey."
How can students balance the social and academic aspects of O Week and Medical School?
"Keep a routine that includes your academic goals as well as having time for yourself and fun social things. Don’t beat yourself up for missing assignment work because there will always be more work to do - focus on chasing opportunities that come only a few times during the year."
"There are no academic aspects to Med O Week as this occurs before content is truly taught. I brought a journal/notebook to those lectures just in case. The essence of Med O Week is to be open-minded and outgoing. This is a great opportunity to meet people and make friends."
"Finish the assignment on time and then lock in time to have fun fully."
"Make a plan of your academic commitments and social activities, and see how they match up - and make allowances for these both."
"Organise and prioritise things that are important whilst maintaining things that do not revolve around medicine."
What’s your advice for meeting new people and building friendships during O Week?
"Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there - be the first to say hello."
"Be yourself, kind, and understand that medicine is collaborative, not competitive."
"Don’t stand in the corner during the social, like I did."
"Listen to people's stories!"
"Be open to new connections. Know that most of these people will be with you for the next couple of years, so make yourself comfortable."
"Don't be shy—put yourself out there, even if it is out of your comfort zone! it will really help you in the future even if you know the names of a few classmates."
What’s the best way to familiarise yourself with the campus and resources during O Week?
"Talk to your student association, as we are the bridge between the cohort and staff."
"You’ll probably just get thrown in the deep end, so just go with the flow."
"Familiarise yourself with Moodle and just go on missions if you have spare time."
"Have a look on MedMoodle (or whatever course management platform your university uses)."
Keep updated with events, and if there are any questions, reach out to OUMSA (or your relevant student association). I highly recommend walking around campus to become familiar with the space.
"Talk to other students, talk to older students, talk to the professors, use any help where it is available!"
What challenges did you face during Med O Week, and how did you overcome them?
"Sometimes, I would just stick to the people I knew so next time I'd try go out of my way to include others."
"Remembering names was really overwhelming as there were around 300 of us, but you see and hang out with each other all week and year, so you pick them up fast."
"I had no friends. I overcame it, by joining societies that had similarly minded people ie, MED REVUE."
"Organising myself! I was couch-surfing all week last year, lol."
"I think it can be scary meeting a large amount of new people but I think realising we were all going through the same thing made it seem less scary."
The main challenge for me personally was keeping up my social battery because I'm a naturally introverted person! However, just push yourself a little and it all works out in the end. academically, navigating the structure of our course was a bit daunting. However, I knew some friends in the year above me in medical school and got them to explain the structure and how to study for the different subjects, which really helped
What’s your advice for staying organised and making the most of the opportunities during O Week and Medical School?
"Not much for O Week, but for everything after, build a routine and go to your labs/tutorials with a mindset to learn otherwise you’ll loathe going to school."
"TDLs (to-do lists), priorities, and having a solid group that keeps you accountable."
"Always have a plan in place for the day e.g., a to-do list or a Google calendar with a timetable. this will really help you organise when to study, sleep, relax, etc., and you can make the most of your time daily. In medical school, time management is definitely the key to both success academically and getting a balanced life!"
"Take the hit head-on cause it hurts twice as much during exams. Stay consistent during the year, and the exams won’t treat you badly."
"Being open to new opportunities and being willing to give things a go."
"Just be efficient with your time and reach out to others, such as students or tutors, when you encounter challenges."
