Typical day/week for a med-student?

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Paulz

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Hey, I was just wondering what a typical day or week for you guys is like.

How much time do you spend intense studying(directly focused on the material)? How much time do you spend studying doing other things(computer on, TV on, ect.)? How much time do you take for yourself? How much time do you spend exercising? How much time eating/preparing meals? How much sleep? How do you manage your time in between classes?

I just want to get an idea on what different people do.
 
Paulz said:
Hey, I was just wondering what a typical day or week for you guys is like.

How much time do you spend intense studying(directly focused on the material)? How much time do you spend studying doing other things(computer on, TV on, ect.)? How much time do you take for yourself? How much time do you spend exercising? How much time eating/preparing meals? How much sleep? How do you manage your time in between classes?

I just want to get an idea on what different people do.
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Actually I get up around 10 in the morning (anatomy and biochem are pretty easy to get on your own) Between classes I study like a madman with my flashcards and notes, every minutes is valuable.

You always need your downtime, so I try to schedule at least 4 hours / day for recreation, either with my gf, watching "Deal or No Deal" (best show ever!,) or hitting the links.

I also try to workout 1/2 hour a day, pumping iron or practicing for the marathon.

Proper nutrition is very important, so I prepare my own meals and bring them from home (the cafe is terrible). The most successful students I know also avoid alcohol altogether during medical school.

I generally get 8-9 hours of sleep, more if there is a test the next day.
 
Paulz said:
Hey, I was just wondering what a typical day or week for you guys is like.

How much time do you spend intense studying(directly focused on the material)? How much time do you spend studying doing other things(computer on, TV on, ect.)? How much time do you take for yourself? How much time do you spend exercising? How much time eating/preparing meals? How much sleep? How do you manage your time in between classes?

I just want to get an idea on what different people do.
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I have class from 8 till noon every day, that I usually attend. I take an hour long lunch break which I spend eating the lunch i prepared that morning and watching Sports Center in the student lounge haha. Then I usually go straight to the library and study anywhere from four to 10 hours depending on if we have a test coming up. That may sound like a lot of studying, but I tend to do a lot less on the weekends (sometimes not studying at all on the weekends if I don't have a test the following week). I have enough time to go to the on-campus gym for about an hour/day right after I get done studying - and I usually schedule that hour during a TV show that I want to watch while doing cardio haha. I have probably 4 hours of "me time" per day after all is said and done that I spend with friends or g/f or wasting time on the internet like right now 🙂 I only sleep like 5-6 hours/night, but I'm going to try to increase that next semester
 
wanabdoc said:
You always need your downtime, so I try to schedule at least 4 hours / day for recreation, either with my gf, watching "Deal or No Deal" (best show ever!,) or hitting the links.
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How the hell? 4 hours? Dang, our school only gives us 4 hours a day for STUDYING after class.
 
Just curious. A lot of you say you spend excessive amount of time studying in the library. I spent a lot of time studying/working/HW too. However, unless my roomate is with a bunch of people in the room or playing music, I usually study in my room. I've gone to the library maybe three - four times this semester and got 4's in all my main classes. Is it just a personal thing or concentration or what? Because A LOT of people say they go to the library and was curious. Might sound dumb, but I wonder.
 
I think it's easier to concentrate if I don't have any distractions around (ie. computer, tv, cell phone, friends, etc) to get in my way. Perhaps that is just me, though. I have to be in a very focused environment to get any work done. Everyone has different study habits and styles, though.
 
Paulz said:
Just curious. A lot of you say you spend excessive amount of time studying in the library. I spent a lot of time studying/working/HW too. However, unless my roomate is with a bunch of people in the room or playing music, I usually study in my room. I've gone to the library maybe three - four times this semester and got 4's in all my main classes. Is it just a personal thing or concentration or what? Because A LOT of people say they go to the library and was curious. Might sound dumb, but I wonder.
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One reason to study in the library vs. home alone is that if you have questions, you usually have someone there to help you figure it out. I had to learn the hard way this semester, medical school isn't something you can do on your own!!
 
Go to class from 8:30 am to ~3 pm, then sit around doing nothing, playing video games, or going to the gym. I'll study 1-2 hours/day if I'm ambitious (I usually reserve studying for the ~week before the exam). We only have midterms and finals so that doesn't happen too often.
 
Mr. Tee said:
Go to class from 8:30 am to ~3 pm, then sit around doing nothing, playing video games, or going to the gym. I'll study 1-2 hours/day if I'm ambitious (I usually reserve studying for the ~week before the exam). We only have midterms and finals so that doesn't happen too often.
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Tee! Are you serious?

You're a freak genuis 🙂
 
megboo said:
Tee! Are you serious?

You're a freak genuis 🙂
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Its not really unheard of. I was kind of surprised at the amount of studying my peers do. I'm not acing anything, but I'm not failing either:

Class 8-4, usually every day. After class, there's either a meeting for a club/group or I go the gym. Eat a solid dinner and then relax, hang out with friends, and then sleep (roughly 6-7hrs a night for me).

About 2weeks before the exam, I will casually read over notes for an hour or so each day. Then, 3-4 days before the exam I head to group study sessions, quiet study in library etc to consolidate. I am always up until 3-4am the night before an exam (bad undergrad habit).
I do pay a lot of attention in lecture though and try to learn things right then so I have to study less later on.
 
Paulz said:
Hey, I was just wondering what a typical day or week for you guys is like.

How much time do you spend intense studying(directly focused on the material)? How much time do you spend studying doing other things(computer on, TV on, ect.)? How much time do you take for yourself? How much time do you spend exercising? How much time eating/preparing meals? How much sleep? How do you manage your time in between classes?

I just want to get an idea on what different people do.
Click to expand...

Are you only interested in what goes on during 1st and 2nd year?
 
degoo_ said:
Its not really unheard of. I was kind of surprised at the amount of studying my peers do. I'm not acing anything, but I'm not failing either:

Class 8-4, usually every day. After class, there's either a meeting for a club/group or I go the gym. Eat a solid dinner and then relax, hang out with friends, and then sleep (roughly 6-7hrs a night for me).

About 2weeks before the exam, I will casually read over notes for an hour or so each day. Then, 3-4 days before the exam I head to group study sessions, quiet study in library etc to consolidate. I am always up until 3-4am the night before an exam (bad undergrad habit).
I do pay a lot of attention in lecture though and try to learn things right then so I have to study less later on.
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Nice to see that one of my favorite undergrad habits lives on in medical school and allows a life like what you're describing.
 
exi said:
Nice to see that one of my favorite undergrad habits lives on in medical school and allows a life like what you're describing.
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Ya, I think it is very much reflective of your undergrad habits. I'm studying a bit more than I did in undergrad, but I think I need to work harder/smarter.
 
I find that I spend a lot less time studying in medical school than I did in undergrad. The sheer volume of information gave me a reason to change my study skills though. I mostly try to pre-read my lectures for the next day and pay close attention in lecture. Then, I skim my notes for about 30 min after class. I was never as effective in undergrad because I used to hear the info for the first time in lecture. Our days are long - they usually go from 9-3 or 9-4.
 
I am mostly just replying because i have no clue what i actually did all semester. unlike most of these really smart people here, i studied quite a bit. then again, we have a quiz just about every week. our quizzes cover all classes, which, in the fall, was only cell bio/biochem and anatomy, but in the spring will be several more classes. if we don't have a quiz, then we most likely have an exam coming up. we were busy from about 8 to 4 on lab days. i worked out an hour almost every day, more on the weekends. i live in a house where we take turns cooking dinner, so that is usually done for me. then i study from about 6 to 1030. later if test or exam coming up. don't even ask about the weekends if we had exams the next monday. 😀 this was not helpful for anyone, i know, but i thought i would like to hear myself say it.
 
I study not to pass courses but to obtain a firm foundation for my future patients, that being said.

I usually have about 6hrs of classes/labs a day from 8-4pm, with study breaks in b/w to review for the upcoming lecture.
I usually spend my evenings from 4-12 studying in the library, periodically meeting up with my study groups to reinforce my weak area. Note a couple times a week I'll usually take a couple hours off to meet up with friends in the city for coffee in a cafe or a happy hour drink.

Weekends I usually catch up on sleep and house chores. Start studying at about 1pm-12. When exams aren't approaching I usually spend one of the days out.

About a weeks before exams I start intensively reviewing with my study group of 2 other students and usually ramp up my studying time to all the time, without the usual coffee break or happy hour breaks.
 
I get up around 6 get ready and watch GMA until I go to class. Class starts at 8:20 which is usually 2 lectures of biochem, followed by a break from 1000-1. I would use that time to study. The we have anatomy at 1 till about 3 or so followed by lab which usually lasts till 5. Then, I would usually study until my taekwondo class started (530-730). After taekwondo, I would go home and study and eat dinner and go to bed by 1030. That would be my longest day of class usually except for wednesdays in which they had lectures in the morning. Next semester will be different though.
 
Allerian1004 said:
I get up around 6 get ready and watch GMA until I go to class. Class starts at 8:20 which is usually 2 lectures of biochem, followed by a break from 1000-1. I would use that time to study. The we have anatomy at 1 till about 3 or so followed by lab which usually lasts till 5. Then, I would usually study until my taekwondo class started (530-730). After taekwondo, I would go home and study and eat dinner and go to bed by 1030. That would be my longest day of class usually except for wednesdays in which they had lectures in the morning. Next semester will be different though.
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Are you in med school? 'cause your profile has you as a pre-med 😳
 
Shaolin80 said:
I study not to pass courses but to obtain a firm foundation for my future patients, that being said.

I usually have about 6hrs of classes/labs a day from 8-4pm, with study breaks in b/w to review for the upcoming lecture.
I usually spend my evenings from 4-12 studying in the library, periodically meeting up with my study groups to reinforce my weak area. Note a couple times a week I'll usually take a couple hours off to meet up with friends in the city for coffee in a cafe or a happy hour drink.

Weekends I usually catch up on sleep and house chores. Start studying at about 1pm-12. When exams aren't approaching I usually spend one of the days out.

About a weeks before exams I start intensively reviewing with my study group of 2 other students and usually ramp up my studying time to all the time, without the usual coffee break or happy hour breaks.
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God. I'm so sorry. 16 hours of study a day? And like 11 hours a day on the weekends? I would be on massive anti depressants on that schedule.
 
Class 8-12, with afternoon classes until ~4pm on 2 days of the week.

Usually at least one test per week (volume of material for each test is ~approximate to that of an undergraduate final).

Try to hit the gym about 4 times/week.
 
Here's a typical third year schedule, around my medicine rotation (some, like surgery, require more time. Others, like family practice, less.)


7:00: Arrive at the hospital. Begin rounding on patients. I usually got out of bed around 6:00 (I'm low maintenence and I live close the hospital.)

8:00-8:30: Rounding usually done, barring any emergencies or unforseen tasks. Discuss with intern if he/she is arround and not busy. Attempt to read on new conditions, lab tests, drugs in anticipation of pimping.

9:00: Meet with attending, begin rounds.

11:30: Rounds finished by this point. If we get done early, we to discuss a topic, which may be on the fly or discuss the previous day. Wrap up quick lose ends, grab food.

12:00-1:00 or 2:00: Conferences, case reports, and lectures depending on the day.

Rest of the afternoon is spent either working with the resident on admissions, discharges, requesting/reading consults, futher orders and tests, or studying depending on what's more pressing that day.

4:00: Discharge to nightfloat team, out of the hospital by 5:00.
 
PeepshowJohnny said:
Here's a typical third year schedule, around my medicine rotation (some, like surgery, require more time. Others, like family practice, less.)
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Ooohh..I hope my medicine rotation is like that.

Surgery:
4:15 - wake up, roll into some scrubs and white coat.

4:45 - Get to hospital, print out new patient lists, look over labs/overnight trends.

5:00 - Start rounding on patients

6:15 - Walk rounds with chief resident; run the list with the team

7:15 - meet patient in holding area

7:30 - get ready for OR (eat a granola bar; go to the bathroom)

7:45 - help prep patient in the OR

8:00 - first case of day in OR

3:00 - escort patient to PACU/SICU (depending on attending)

3:30 - grab something to eat, go to the bathroom

4:00 - take care of post-surgical patients who were on floor or in SICU

8:00 - leave hospital

8:30 - eat dinner; try to read for an hour

10:00 - prepare presentations (I did 4 during my rotation; other people were unlucky and had to do 6); pre-read for next day's surgeries

12:30 - take a shower

1:00 - go to sleep

Some days were lighter than others, but overall, it was kind of brutal. One day we had a case that went from 7:45 AM to 5:15 PM. And we were on call q4-q5.
 
5-7 first year, 8-10 second year. 2-3/day as 3rd year shelf's approached, and now... 0 bc there aren't any tests left in 4th year 🙂.
 
I'm a non-traditional (= old) medical student, so last year when I was in undergraduate working on my prereqs, I made an excel study log for myself. I wanted to be able to quantify my study time so that I could set numerical goals for myself and know objectively whether or not I was studying as much as I promised myself I would.

I promise I'm not as nerdy as that sounds.

Anyway, I averaged 5hrs 45 minutes a day, seven days a week during my first semester of my M1 year. That includes days that I did not crack a book all the way up to cramming for finals before Christmas.

The longest I've ever studied in one day is 15 hours. That was not common. Usually, even before a big exam, I wouldn't study more than 10-12 hours in one day on a weekend. On a weekday, I probably studied 4-5 hours on the average day (and I went to class too).

Is that specific enough for you?
 
Right before exams, I was studying about 12-15 hours per day for about almost two weeks straight. That was hell.
 
During exam week: 9-10 hours/day (my brain stops working after that point)
Non exam week: 6-8 hours/day of studying (however, I do not attend class)
 
you guys study 10+ hours a day? DAYM!!! How do you guys do that?
 
sendwich said:
you guys study 10+ hours a day? DAYM!!! How do you guys do that?
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I go to a school that has lecture 9-5 most days. If I studied that much, I would be in class/studying 100+ hours a week! Then again, I'm presuming that some of you don't go to class or are specifically talking about the time period before exams.
 
Gabujabu said:
I go to a school that has lecture 9-5 most days. If I studied that much, I would be in class/studying 100+ hours a week! Then again, I'm presuming that some of you don't go to class or are specifically talking about the time period before exams.
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Still, even during exam time....10 (or more) hours a day is.. a lot. the most I can handle is 5-6 hours, even during exam time.
 
I typically study perhaps 5 hours per week if an exam isn't looming, and maybe 5 hours per day on the weekend before a "short" exam. At the end of a section (we're on system based blocks) we have a written final, path practical, anatomy practical, and sometimes a clinical skills test. I'm usually studying around 8 hours a day for three or four days leading up to and during that week.

But I also spend two to three hours a day on board review, which I won't take until May/June.
 
The weekend before an exam I probably study 8-10 hours.

Then again I like to keep up with the material as I go along so the last weekend isn't hell. Spend a few hours every day and it pays dividends.
 
I think you missed the part where I said I periodically, take study breaks for a few hours to chill and have fun.
 
smq123 said:
Ooohh..I hope my medicine rotation is like that.

Surgery:
4:15 - wake up, roll into some scrubs and white coat.

4:45 - Get to hospital, print out new patient lists, look over labs/overnight trends.

5:00 - Start rounding on patients

6:15 - Walk rounds with chief resident; run the list with the team

7:15 - meet patient in holding area

7:30 - get ready for OR (eat a granola bar; go to the bathroom)

7:45 - help prep patient in the OR

8:00 - first case of day in OR

3:00 - escort patient to PACU/SICU (depending on attending)

3:30 - grab something to eat, go to the bathroom

4:00 - take care of post-surgical patients who were on floor or in SICU

8:00 - leave hospital

8:30 - eat dinner; try to read for an hour

10:00 - prepare presentations (I did 4 during my rotation; other people were unlucky and had to do 6); pre-read for next day's surgeries

12:30 - take a shower

1:00 - go to sleep

Some days were lighter than others, but overall, it was kind of brutal. One day we had a case that went from 7:45 AM to 5:15 PM. And we were on call q4-q5.
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So you got 3 hours of sleep a night for 8 weeks?
 
megboo said:
So you got 3 hours of sleep a night for 8 weeks?
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Some days, like I said, were lighter than others. Some days, I didn't have to prepare presentations (which was great). Some days, sadly, I didn't have time to read or study, so I'd just skip it.

So, on an average night, I'd say I got 5 hours of sleep a night. But there were consecutive nights (actually a bunch of consecutive nights) where I'd get 3 hours of sleep a night. The worst week, I got 3 hours of sleep for 4 evenings straight.

There were a few nights where I got 5 hours of disjointed sleep - i.e. sleep for 2 hours, wake up for an open appy, go back to sleep for half an hour, wake up and see a consult, go back to sleep, etc.

Not all surgery rotations are that bad. But if you think that you'd like to go into surgery or something surgical, you should pick the worst, most brutal rotation that your school offers, so that you don't accidentally delude yourself into thinking that surgery "won't be so bad."
 
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