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- Oct 3, 2005
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- 18
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I have been finding it difficult, if not impossible for me to honor my classes, but several classmates and advisors have told me that general surgery is getting more competitive and I need to be near the top of my class to match. I think I can high pass everything, but just trying to honor classes usually goes well for the first test, then I get so burned out that I end up high passing. I'm worried that I will burn out completely and won't do well on the boards, which I know are far more important (I'm only on my second class and I'm already feeling a little burned out). Are there other things I can do to make up for just high passing my classes (I would end up probably in the top 1/3 of my class)?
I am a first year and have the opportunity to shadow a surgeon and hopefully get to know some of the attendings and residents. The problem is, if I want to honor the classes, I can't spend much time with them. I know this could help me with letters down the road, but I'm not sure it will make much difference. Does getting to know the surgery department early help with letters or does it mostly come down to my performance 3rd and 4th years? I also really miss being in the OR and I think it might help motivate me. This might also open the door for me to do some research with them this summer. How helpful is that for general surgery? I keep seeing "You need research" for ENT and neuro, but what about gsurg?
Do residency programs care about extracurricular activities, and if so, what kinds? I like getting involved in student organizations, particularly leadership, but that takes a lot of time. Is my time better spent preparing for the boards and getting to know my surgery department or possibly doing better in my classes?
I know that some people will say that I should try to honor the classes and do well on the boards, but I'm not sure that's a realistic goal for me. When I was an undergrad, I was always doing something (job, research, extracurriculars, studying) but the variety seemed to keep me from getting too sick of any one thing. Now all I do is study to try to get the grades and I was thinking it might be better to lower my academic goals a little (to high pass) and do other things, but if the other things won't help in getting a residency, then I have to rethink it. I know it's early to be worried about this stuff, but I really want to be a surgeon and I don't think I'll be very happy if I end up in something non-surgical in the end because I'm not competitive enough. Thanks for any advice.
I am a first year and have the opportunity to shadow a surgeon and hopefully get to know some of the attendings and residents. The problem is, if I want to honor the classes, I can't spend much time with them. I know this could help me with letters down the road, but I'm not sure it will make much difference. Does getting to know the surgery department early help with letters or does it mostly come down to my performance 3rd and 4th years? I also really miss being in the OR and I think it might help motivate me. This might also open the door for me to do some research with them this summer. How helpful is that for general surgery? I keep seeing "You need research" for ENT and neuro, but what about gsurg?
Do residency programs care about extracurricular activities, and if so, what kinds? I like getting involved in student organizations, particularly leadership, but that takes a lot of time. Is my time better spent preparing for the boards and getting to know my surgery department or possibly doing better in my classes?
I know that some people will say that I should try to honor the classes and do well on the boards, but I'm not sure that's a realistic goal for me. When I was an undergrad, I was always doing something (job, research, extracurriculars, studying) but the variety seemed to keep me from getting too sick of any one thing. Now all I do is study to try to get the grades and I was thinking it might be better to lower my academic goals a little (to high pass) and do other things, but if the other things won't help in getting a residency, then I have to rethink it. I know it's early to be worried about this stuff, but I really want to be a surgeon and I don't think I'll be very happy if I end up in something non-surgical in the end because I'm not competitive enough. Thanks for any advice.