How to stay positive in medical school?

[Sphincter of Oddi]

I love learning medicine. There's absolutely nothing in this world I would rather be doing right now - without a doubt.

But here I am. A cranky, tired OMS-II with coffee-stained teeth and a sunken, joyless face. Surfing SDN, finding myself hating medical school. The insane scheduling of lectures/exams obviously created by a sadomasochist. The horrid, eager stench of gunners. The poorly written exams slewed with errors, repeat questions, etc. The subjectivity of OMM grading. The compassion-deficient, money hungry administration/faculty. The way school consumes so much of my life that I have no idea what is going on around me or what's happening in the news - but if you want to talk to me about the different types of emphysema, I am totally down to chat!

I don't want to hate medical school. I see those people in my class enjoying their time here in prison - what is the secret? Fake it till you make it? Am I alone out there? Any advice?

Thanks.

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[D4C]

Find another negative...that should clear things right up!

 

[Silent Cool]

I love learning medicine. There's absolutely nothing in this world I would rather be doing right now - without a doubt.

But here I am. A cranky, tired OMS-II with coffee-stained teeth and a sunken, joyless face. Surfing SDN, finding myself hating medical school. The insane scheduling of lectures/exams obviously created by a sadomasochist. The horrid, eager stench of gunners. The poorly written exams slewed with errors, repeat questions, etc. The subjectivity of OMM grading. The compassion-deficient, money hungry administration/faculty. The way school consumes so much of my life that I have no idea what is going on around me or what's happening in the news - but if you want to talk to me about the different types of emphysema, I am totally down to chat!

I don't want to hate medical school. I see those people in my class enjoying their time here in prison - what is the secret? Fake it till you make it? Am I alone out there? Any advice?

Thanks.

Welcome to medical school.

Man, I agree with everything you said. Ugh.

 

[radkat101]

Does your school have required attendance?

 

[Sphincter of Oddi]

Does your school have required attendance?

Yes.

 

[costales]

 

[Silent Cool]

Yes.

Oh, God. That's the worst.

 

[Mehd School]

Oh, God. That's the worst.

Yep.

I hate medical school, but I thank my lucky stars every day that I go to a school with no attendance policy. I woke up at 10 today, and was caught up with my class-going-colleagues by noon. If I had to do it again, I don't even think I'd apply to a school with mandatory attendance.

 

[Silent Cool]

Even apples poop?!?
Man, I'm outta the loop.

 

[UTsksk]

I know I'm only a 1st year, but I find myself definitely missing football season. In undergrad, I could literally watch the noon game, the 3:00 game, and sunday night football and be fine. Now I'm lucky if I can watch a full game w/out worrying about my exam. Decided to take a break and watch the cowboys game and my pulmo exam grade definitely reflected it.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I know I'm only a 1st year, but I find myself definitely missing football season. In undergrad, I could literally watch the noon game, the 3:00 game, and sunday night football and be fine. Now I'm lucky if I can watch a full game w/out worrying about my exam. Decided to take a break and watch the cowboys game and my pulmo exam grade definitely reflected it.

Moral of the story? Don't watch the Cowboys.

 

[UTsksk]

Moral of the story? Don't watch the Cowboys.

Don't think I can resist. It's an addiction I have. We don't learn treatments until 2nd year so I'm screwed for now.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Don't think I can resist. It's an addiction I have. We don't learn treatments until 2nd year so I'm screwed for now.

I would have thought watching them get beat by a third string QB would have solved that. I guess you really are sick.

 

[PIacebo]

I miss going to the football and basketball games when I was in undergrad. Great times. My school associated with my med school doesn't really have either team on a large scale or anything.

 

[Apoplexy__]

I have no idea what is going on around me or what's happening in the news - but if you want to talk to me about the different types of emphysema, I am totally down to chat!

Oh man, so damn true. Don't worry OP, I feel your pain.

Attitude is something you can change when all other circumstances around you stay poor. The biggest thing that improved my quality of life in med school was taking the fear out of studying -- changing studying from a negative reinforcement to a positive reinforcement. After MS1, I went into MS2 insisting upon thinking of studying as something that I could do if I wanted to excel, instead of something I had to do in order to not fail. When you think about it, both are true; it's just a matter of which you want to believe. Of course, getting good grades really helps, as your grades play a role in determining whether you enter a negative feedback cycle or a positive feedback cycle.

Also focus more on the future. It sounds like you have a significantly greater passion for medicine than me, so keeping your eyes on the prize should really be a big step in getting you through each day. Picture a patient in front of you for everything you learn. It'll help you both care about the material and remember it.

Finally, stop caring so much. There will always be significant annoyances and inconveniences in your medical career. The testing never ends, and it only gets more subjective and probably just as poorly written in future years. Make a choice to not let it get you down. If you constantly compare your life to what it could be, or to what your non-medical peers have, then you'll be doing that for the rest of your life. Focus on what you do have -- a guarantee (if you don't fail) that you will enter one of the most rewarding, financially stable careers there is.

 

[bajastapler]

you live in a 1st world country. you poop in a toilet. you drink clean water. you can watch porn when you mast-rbate. you don't have to kill your own food. you aren't a drug addict. you aren't deciding between paying off a late utility bill or feeding your family.

dramatic? yes.
But whenever I'm upset - and trust me i get annoyed as eff all the time - i try to take a step back and realize how fortunate i am.

 

[apr27]

Lift.

 

[ToldYouSo]

I know I'm only a 1st year, but I find myself definitely missing football season. In undergrad, I could literally watch the noon game, the 3:00 game, and sunday night football and be fine. Now I'm lucky if I can watch a full game w/out worrying about my exam. Decided to take a break and watch the cowboys game and my pulmo exam grade definitely reflected it.

I don't see how watching 1 game would've lowered your grade that much unless you weren't studying at all before or put it off.


Def need to second how awesome non-mandatory attendance is. I only go in twice a week so I have more functionally free time than I did in undergrad. It's all about sleep for me; I can study and review much much better well rested than if I had to drag myself to an 9 am lecture.

 

[shibby1111]

I love learning medicine. There's absolutely nothing in this world I would rather be doing right now - without a doubt.

But here I am. A cranky, tired OMS-II with coffee-stained teeth and a sunken, joyless face. Surfing SDN, finding myself hating medical school. The insane scheduling of lectures/exams obviously created by a sadomasochist. The horrid, eager stench of gunners. The poorly written exams slewed with errors, repeat questions, etc. The subjectivity of OMM grading. The compassion-deficient, money hungry administration/faculty. The way school consumes so much of my life that I have no idea what is going on around me or what's happening in the news - but if you want to talk to me about the different types of emphysema, I am totally down to chat!

I don't want to hate medical school. I see those people in my class enjoying their time here in prison - what is the secret? Fake it till you make it? Am I alone out there? Any advice?

Thanks.

you're not alone, dude. i just left my campus and wanted to punch one of my class mates in the face for being a douche bag. we have to learn a very important topic by next week; the professor for that topic blows at teaching and writes questions specific to his blowing presentations, so I'm studying the topic from the book knowing I'll learn the topic very well, yet fail his section on the exam. and i'll probably have to sit next to the same douche bag at the exam and still want to punch him in the face.

 

[UTsksk]

I don't see how watching 1 game would've lowered your grade that much unless you weren't studying at all before or put it off.


Def need to second how awesome non-mandatory attendance is. I only go in twice a week so I have more functionally free time than I did in undergrad. It's all about sleep for me; I can study and review much much better well rested than if I had to drag myself to an 9 am lecture.

Ok it didn't really lower it all that bad. I'm still happy w/ my grade, but of course maybe I could've gotten a few more correct with that time spent.

 

[radkat101]

I don't see how watching 1 game would've lowered your grade that much unless you weren't studying at all before or put it off.


Def need to second how awesome non-mandatory attendance is. I only go in twice a week so I have more functionally free time than I did in undergrad. It's all about sleep for me; I can study and review much much better well rested than if I had to drag myself to an 9 am lecture.

Same here. I step foot on campus around 2 times a week (in the afternoon) and spend the rest of my time sleeping in late and studying at my own pace. Without having to do all the BS pre-med hoops I have more free time than in undergrad, and I'm doing fine in my classes. It's weird though, because even though we don't have mandatory attendance, I hear that about 90% of everyone else goes to class.

 

[Moose A Moose]

Find time to hit the gym at least three days a week. Srs.

 

[Jnet389]

Same here. I step foot on campus around 2 times a week (in the afternoon) and spend the rest of my time sleeping in late and studying at my own pace. Without having to do all the BS pre-med hoops I have more free time than in undergrad, and I'm doing fine in my classes. It's weird though, because even though we don't have mandatory attendance, I hear that about 90% of everyone else goes to class.

This has been my experience as well. Balancing studying with life is an art

 

[padfoot777]

the gym and whiskey keep me pretty happy

 

[Seth Joo]

I love learning medicine. There's absolutely nothing in this world I would rather be doing right now - without a doubt.

But here I am. A cranky, tired OMS-II with coffee-stained teeth and a sunken, joyless face. Surfing SDN, finding myself hating medical school. The insane scheduling of lectures/exams obviously created by a sadomasochist. The horrid, eager stench of gunners. The poorly written exams slewed with errors, repeat questions, etc. The subjectivity of OMM grading. The compassion-deficient, money hungry administration/faculty. The way school consumes so much of my life that I have no idea what is going on around me or what's happening in the news - but if you want to talk to me about the different types of emphysema, I am totally down to chat!

I don't want to hate medical school. I see those people in my class enjoying their time here in prison - what is the secret? Fake it till you make it? Am I alone out there? Any advice?

Thanks.

You probably should have taken a vacation between year 1 and 2, its the largest block of free time you will ever get as a student.

If your school does not require attendance at lecture, study on your own if that makes you more comfortable.

Also if you think OMM grading is subjective wait until you go on your rotations, I have heard of preceptors giving students hell because of personality clashes and other issues. Most preceptors have little incentive to be your friend because they are volunteering their time to teach you.

 

[MackandBlues]

Go workout - best antidepressant ever. Also go shadow a specialty you are interested in to help you keep your eye on the prize.

 

[group_theory]

This video will cheer you up (or scare you) ... but the take home message is in the very last line - "I'll take it over 2nd year any day'