MBBS Myths Busted: What Medical School Is Really Like
The process of becoming a doctor is perhaps one of the most revered—and misunderstood—trips around. From the time you say, “I am going to pursue MBBS,” you’re being bombarded by every type of opinion, advise, and let’s face facts, an absolute load of myth. Be it that there’s just endless amounts of studying involved, there can’t possibly be a social life, or making millions overnight, medical school myths are as omnipresent as they are untrue.
In this blog, we’re lifting the curtain and showing you what medical school is actually like. Whether you’re a student looking to study MBBS, a parent of a future doctor, or simply interested, we’re debunking the most popular myths—one by one.
Myth 1: MBBS Students Study 24/7 and Have No Life
Reality: Yes, MBBS is intensively academic. But no, students aren’t robots.
One of the most prevalent (and daunting) myths regarding medical school is that the students never put down their books. Although it is true that MBBS does entail commitment and constant effort, it is also true that students are taught to manage their time. Medical students attend sporting activities, cultural activities, hang out with friends, or watch Netflix binges—just like students in any other profession.
The key is time management. Medical students become pros at juggling study sessions with leisure, friendships, and extracurriculars. You’ll find MBBS students performing in college fests, traveling during breaks, or even running Instagram meme pages about med school life!
Bottom line: It’s not “no life,” it’s “learning to live with structure.”
Myth 2: Only the Top Rankers Can Survive MBBS
Reality: Admission can be competitive, but survival is not about marks, but attitude.
Admission to medical school does need a good NEET score, but after you get in, the scenario changes. The game is no longer about rankings, but learning and adjusting. Some students who were not school toppers perform well in MBBS because they are interested in the subject matter and can relate to it. Others who got in with top marks may not do well if they depend on cramming.
MBBS tests your persistence, not brilliance. It celebrates curiosity, tenacity, and diligence. Success here is more about how you evolve and learn to adapt rather than how you began.
Tip: Be receptive to unlearning and relearning. Medicine is all about developing.
Myth 3: MBBS is All About Memorizing Facts
Reality: Memorization is involved, but the understanding of concepts is paramount.
There is no denying anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology are full of content. But memorization won’t take you far in medical school. You’ll have to know systems, relate causes to symptoms, and think critically. As you progress to clinical years, problem-solving trumps reciting facts.
A good physician isn’t merely someone who can recall all the textbook material—they’re someone who can apply it in real-life scenarios.
Fun fact: The most powerful learners make use of pictures, mnemonics, narration, and real life patient scenarios in order to remember things. It’s not simply mugging up, it’s about productive learning.
Myth 4: There’s No Space for Imagination in MBBS
Reality: Medicine is as much an art as a science.
Contrary to popular opinion, MBBS does not kill creativity—it tends to enhance it. From diagnostic reasoning (which is akin to cracking a medical mystery) to how you interact with patients, there’s more creative thinking than one might expect.
Lots of doctors end up being medical illustrators, researchers, content creators, or entrepreneurs. Others apply their artistic side to patient care through empathy, storytelling, and innovation in treatment modalities.
Takeaway: If you’re a creative soul with a scientific mind, MBBS can be a great fit.
Myth 5: Medical Students Can’t Have Relationships or a Social Life
Reality: Relationships in medical school are common—and sometimes even end in marriage!
The “no relationships” myth likely stems from the idea that MBBS students are too busy to form emotional connections. In reality, friendships, bonds, and romantic relationships often blossom in medical school. After all, you’re spending long hours with your batchmates, sharing stressful exams, emotional patient cases, and late-night study sessions.
Most students meet their lifetime friends or spouses during MBBS years. Naturally, relationships (like studies) need effort, communication, and equilibrium.
Tip: If you’re joining MBBS, be willing to make meaningful connections—they could become your biggest support system.
Myth 6: You’ll Begin Earning Big Immediately After MBBS
Reality: The money comes later—after internships, post-graduation, and specialization.
Another common myth is that MBBS graduates begin earning six-figure incomes the moment they receive their degree. Sadly, that’s not the case. The majority of MBBS graduates serve a mandatory internship year, which pays a minimal stipend. Then there’s the struggle for postgraduate seats (MD/MS), which entails additional exams and additional years of study.
Even after specialization, salary hinges on where you are working, how experienced you are, and how skilled you are. Private hospitals and clinics can pay better, but they also have long working hours and duty.
Reality check: Medicine is a long-term investment. Payback comes with experience, effort, and time—not overnight.
Myth 7: You Need to Specialize or You’re a Failure
Reality: MBBS in itself is a full degree—and general practitioners are essential.
There is a cultural fixation on specialization. But the reality is that MBBS graduates are complete doctors. Many become general physicians, particularly in rural or underserved regions where they are badly needed.
Not everyone needs or wishes to pursue MD/MS. Some pursue careers in public health, research, hospital administration, medical writing, or even mix medicine with other professions such as law or business.
Point to remember: Specialization is a path—not a requirement. MBBS opens many doors, not merely one.
Myth 8: Medical School Is Emotionally Cold and Competitive
Reality: Medical students experience emotional ups and downs—and they support one another through it.
There is this idea that medical students are perpetually in a rat race, fixated on grades and rankings. Competition is present, but most of the students form friendship bonds through shared experiences. There is something special about pulling all-nighters on exam nights, cadaver dissections, or fraught patient interactions.
Medical school has its emotional difficulties too—exposure to pain, handling bereavement, or coping with imposter syndrome. Yet all these build up students as caring, emotionally sound professionals.
Counseling does help: More and more colleges today have counseling and mental health facilities available. Peer groups end up serving as emotional support lifelines.
Myth 9: MBBS Abroad Is Less Stressful and Easier
Reality: Pursuing MBBS abroad is not without advantages, but it’s not an easy ride.
A few students choose to pursue MBBS in Russia, Georgia, the Philippines, or Ukraine, believing it would be easier. Although these courses may have lower entry barriers, the study is as rigorous. Then there is the additional burden of adapting to a new culture, studying a new language, and sitting for exams such as FMGE to be able to practice in India.
Overseas study can be a wonderful solution, provided you do your homework and select an NMC-recognized university—but it is not an “easy way out.”
Tip: Opt for MBBS abroad for the right reasons, not as a way to avoid competition.
Myth 10: Life Is Settled Once You’re a Doctor
Reality: Becoming a doctor is just the first step on a lifelong learning road, not a destination.
Most students think that after MBBS, they’ll have a settled, secure life. The reality? Medicine is an evolving field. New ailments are discovered, treatments are modified, and physicians need to learn continuously.
Also, the psychological burden of being answerable for human lives never dissipates. The job is rewarding, but it requires dedication, development, and humility—every day.
Final truth: Medicine isn’t a job—it’s a vocation. You’ll never stop learning, developing, and caring.
MBBS is not simple—but it’s not the soulless drudgery it’s made out to be, either. It’s a journey of learning, laughter, tears, change, and incredible personal development. By debunking these myths, we hope you can enter medicine with more realistic expectations and fresh enthusiasm.
If you’re thinking about doing MBBS or already on that journey, let this be a reminder: it’s alright to feel lost, to doubt yourself, and to mess up. What’s important is that you continue to show up—with wonder, kindness, and bravery.
For more information pertaining to MBBS contact Zen Educational Consultancy!
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