When it comes to surviving medical school, the right accessories can make all the difference. During the 2025 AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference in Washington, AMA member medical students offered insight on the essentials they swear by.
If you’re looking to upgrade your setup—or wondering what you are missing—the list below has you covered.
The AMA Succeeding in Medical School series offers tips and other guidance on a wide range of critical topics, including preparing for the USMLE and COMLEX exams, navigating clinical rotations, publishing scientific research, and maintaining optimal health and wellness.
The revered remote
The most popular pick among medical students discussing the key contraptions to help one thrive was the Anki remote. The small, programmable remote control is designed to help students efficiently navigate Anki, a popular spaced-repetition flash-card app.
“It’s a $20 remote that just makes doing flash cards on Anki so much easier,” said AMA member Adam ElSayed, a first-year medical student attending school in Pennsylvania. “I’d 100 percent recommend it if you’re an Anki flashcard user.”
Brianna Ma is a medical student doing a research year between her third and fourth years of medical school in California. She found the app to be helpful for board-exam prep.
“It allows you to multitask,” said Ma, an AMA member. “When I was studying, I would cast Anki onto my TV and walk on my walking pad. With my remote in hand, I was able to walk and go through the flash cards at the same time.”
A good desk setup
Having the right setup for studying at home can be key to maintaining focus and maximizing efficiency during marathon study sessions.
“You can’t go to a coffee shop every day,” said AMA member Reagan Amason, a third-year medical student training in Oklahoma. “Either at home or at school, you need to have a good desk setup. I believe that how you set up your study space matters.
“I have a standing desk at home and a treadmill under it. It’s a really helpful setup to keep your mind fresh while you’re studying.”
Another key to a good desk setup is that it keeps you from studying in bed. To foster an environment that allows for the right sleep-time state of mind, research indicates that a bed should be associated with sleep, not studying.
Dive deeper:
- 7 timeless tips for USMLE Step 1 study time
- When picking study resources, go with what works
- Advice for a med student's must-have—a sound night's sleep
- The 15 skills medical schools expect from students on day one
An app for organization
Life as a medical student can be hectic, so an app to help organize your days can make things more manageable. One medical student recommendation was the Notion app, which offer free and paid options. Other apps in that mold include Evernote, Agenda and Obsidian.
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Medical students tout these apps because they have utility across several use cases. They can work as a calendar, a hub for keeping and organizing notes, and as a task-tracker. Some of the apps, including Notion, offer a free version and charge for upgraded features. The cost may be worthwhile depending on your needs.
The right shoes for the setting
For clinical rotations that keep you on your feet, a comfortable pair of shoes with good and supportive cushioning is a must-have. When trying to find the best shoes for rotations, Ma consulted her mother, who is a nurse.
“A good pair of shoes with thick soles that make you feel taller is going to be good for rotations when you are on your feet,” Ma said. “Running shoes aren’t always the best because they don’t have that much support, but some sort of gym shoe is generally going to work.”
Ma added that the type of shoe that has the most utility is going to depend on the rotation. If you are in the clinic, business casual is often the requirement. In the operating room, crocs or clogs that you can easily wipe down often have the most utility.
Dive deeper:
- 4 things to know before you start clinical rotations
- Med students don’t forget these professionalism do’s and don’ts
- How to prep for a competitive physician specialty in preclinical training
- Key tips to find enriching medical student leadership opportunities
A multipurpose charger
A versatile charger that can power multiple devices can ensure that a medical student has all the necessary electronic tools at their disposal. AMA member Kimberly Ibarra uses her multipurpose charger to keep her laptop, tablets and cellphone.
“I can’t live without a multipurpose charger and charging cord,” said Ibarra, a fourth-year medical student training in Texas. “I’ve bought several of them.”
“I have a tablet and even a secondary tablet—you can never have too many tools, apparently—and this charges both of those, my iPad, my cellphone and my laptop.”
Registration is now open for the next AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference, taking place March 5–6, 2026. Early bird registration rates of $30 are valid through June 6, 2025.
