2nd year Med Student - AMA

[jd989898]

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SDN has helped me a lot over the years so I'd like to give back by doing an AMA. Ask away!

(I am a 2nd year US MD student)

 

[NeuroSoph75]

Not sure why, but I've always wondered if students from different classes within the same medical school socialize. As an M1, did you primarily know people within your own class or is there exposure to the student body as a whole? Also, what is one thing you wish you had considered when choosing a medical school that did not occur to you as an applicant?

 

[Suture_Self]

How easy/hard is it to make friends and meet people in your class at med school? If theres an undergrad attached, how much interaction do you have with the undergrad students?

 

[deleted804295]

How many hours on average do you study daily?

 

[mydogmolly]

Do you have any inkling as to what field you want to go into? And if so, what are you doing to pursue it in your preclinical time?

 

[STcmOCSD]

@jd989898 did you disappear?

Also, did you use any step 1 resources from the beginning of school, or wish you did? I’m talking like Pathoma, Anki, FA, Sketchy, etc.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Since OP died, I'll hijack this (also an M2)

Not sure why, but I've always wondered if students from different classes within the same medical school socialize. As an M1, did you primarily know people within your own class or is there exposure to the student body as a whole? Also, what is one thing you wish you had considered when choosing a medical school that did not occur to you as an applicant?

Short answer, yes. At least as ours we have lots of people in different classes who live together. I feel like there are apartments that have been rented by our students for the last decade. We also have informal events that bring together the M1-2s. However, the overwhelming majority of interactions in and out of school is with your class.

I can't say there is anything I would have considered differently.

How easy/hard is it to make friends and meet people in your class at med school? If theres an undergrad attached, how much interaction do you have with the undergrad students?

Not hard at all. Between labs, small groups, PBL sessions, etc you interact with most of your class weekly just from mandatories. Our program is also very social and we have class events and parties typically after each exam.

How many hours on average do you study daily?

Depending on the course and block, between 4-8. For instance, our M1 schedule is between 3-4 classes taken concurrently during a block, but you have 3-4 weeks between exams. But right now I'm in a class that started Nov 6th and we have an exam on the 22nd. There are 20 lectures worth of material, but we only have actual class 3 days a week. Right now I've been studying 9am-7pm daily.

Do you have any inkling as to what field you want to go into? And if so, what are you doing to pursue it in your preclinical time?

Yes. I'm EM all the way. I run our student interest group. I've done two research projects and am presenting one at conference. I'm a member of both ACEP and SAEM and have developed relationships with attendings at the 3 residency programs in town.

@jd989898 did you disappear?
Also, did you use any step 1 resources from the beginning of school, or wish you did? I’m talking like Pathoma, Anki, FA, Sketchy, etc.

I think they did. Hope my answers suffice.
Our curriculum is heavy on foundational concepts (biochem, histo, basic pharm, immuno, physio) through Feb of first year so Pathoma, FA, and Sketchy aren't really applicable. But once we started systems, I started using all those. I used Anki in those early classes, but now I use USMLE Rx Flash Facts.

 

[TheBiologist]

is amount of time spent on school (classes, study etc.) <40 hours per week?

 

[mariposas905]

Since OP died, I'll hijack this (also an M2)

Not hard at all. Between labs, small groups, PBL sessions, etc you interact with most of your class weekly just from mandatories. Our program is also very social and we have class events and parties typically after each exam.

Does this apply to both trads and non-trads? Do they tend to hang out together or within their own groups?

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Does this apply to both trads and non-trads? Do they tend to hang out together or within their own groups?

I honestly couldn't tell you who in my class is a trad or non-trad. The average age in our class is like 24-25 I think.

 

[deleted804295]

@CyrilFiggis

Thank you for filling the void and answering our questions!

You mentioned your class having parties after exams. Are these your typical college kegger parties or are they more sophisticated and controlled when it comes to alcohol?

I ask because I've made the personal decision to not drink alcohol and I don't want to feel like I'm missing out.

I guess it also depends on school as well.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

@CyrilFiggis

Thank you for filling the void and answering our questions!

You mentioned your class having parties after exams. Are these your typical college kegger parties or are they more sophisticated and controlled when it comes to alcohol?

I ask because I've made the personal decision to not drink alcohol and I don't want to feel like I'm missing out.

I guess it also depends on school as well.

Yes to both. We will typically reserve a bar space. Some people drink like there's no tomorrow others just socialize. But nothing out of hand. No one is going to ostracize you because you aren't drinking.

 

[mydogmolly]

Yes. I'm EM all the way. I run our student interest group. I've done two research projects and am presenting one at conference. I'm a member of both ACEP and SAEM and have developed relationships with attendings at the 3 residency programs in town.

you're a boss, boss. Congrats on all your accomplishments.

 

[Mr. Saigon]

Since OP died, I'll hijack this (also an M2)

Short answer, yes. At least as ours we have lots of people in different classes who live together. I feel like there are apartments that have been rented by our students for the last decade. We also have informal events that bring together the M1-2s. However, the overwhelming majority of interactions in and out of school is with your class.

I can't say there is anything I would have considered differently.
Not hard at all. Between labs, small groups, PBL sessions, etc you interact with most of your class weekly just from mandatories. Our program is also very social and we have class events and parties typically after each exam.
Depending on the course and block, between 4-8. For instance, our M1 schedule is between 3-4 classes taken concurrently during a block, but you have 3-4 weeks between exams. But right now I'm in a class that started Nov 6th and we have an exam on the 22nd. There are 20 lectures worth of material, but we only have actual class 3 days a week. Right now I've been studying 9am-7pm daily.
Yes. I'm EM all the way. I run our student interest group. I've done two research projects and am presenting one at conference. I'm a member of both ACEP and SAEM and have developed relationships with attendings at the 3 residency programs in town.
I think they did. Hope my answers suffice.
Our curriculum is heavy on foundational concepts (biochem, histo, basic pharm, immuno, physio) through Feb of first year so Pathoma, FA, and Sketchy aren't really applicable. But once we started systems, I started using all those. I used Anki in those early classes, but now I use USMLE Rx Flash Facts.

Did you already come in with prior research experience and what is/was your time commitment to your research projects? Any advice for someone interested in EM trying to hop on a project with no prior research experience?

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Did you already come in with prior research experience and what is/was your time commitment to your research projects? Any advice for someone interested in EM trying to hop on a project with no prior research experience?

So i did come in with research from my post-bacc. That was HemOnc bench research though. I don't really think this had any impact on getting the projects I mentioned.

My time commitment was primarily during the summer between M1-M2. I was doing meta-analysis and chart review so I was able to work from home and remotely. Honestly, besides one lunch, all my interactions with my PI have been Google Hangouts, email or Slack.

EM research is interesting because EM in general is very multidisciplinary. There is a heavy public health and epi component, but there is also broad based procedural research. The paper I'm presenting is actually through the urology department of one of our affiliate hospitals. I'm presenting at an EM conference because it's on kidney stones and they are highly diagnosed and treated in EDs. But honestly, you can do any clinical research, present at that group's conference and do just fine. EM programs don't need you to have 5 pubs, they just want to see that you've engaged in the process.

If you have no exposure, I would just find a topic you enjoy, look at the clinical staff doing research and contact them. You've already been vetted simply by getting accepted. If you work hard you should have no problem.

 

[djtallahassee]

I'm interested in EM as well and know it is getting more competitive, but that it also cycles frequently. How competitive do you estimate it will be when you apply for residence? How about for the class of 22 (mine)?

 

[bananafish94]

Also an M2.

Not sure why, but I've always wondered if students from different classes within the same medical school socialize. As an M1, did you primarily know people within your own class or is there exposure to the student body as a whole? Also, what is one thing you wish you had considered when choosing a medical school that did not occur to you as an applicant?

You meet a handful of people from other classes through interest groups, research, etc. but the overwhelming majority of people I know are in my class. I've probably met less than 5% of the other three classes.

How easy/hard is it to make friends and meet people in your class at med school? If theres an undergrad attached, how much interaction do you have with the undergrad students?

I think if you're personable and normal, you will easily make a lot of friends through your small groups and whatnot.

How many hours on average do you study daily?

A lot. I'm not one of those people that can treat it as an 8-5 job and be successful. I wish I was.

Do you have any inkling as to what field you want to go into? And if so, what are you doing to pursue it in your preclinical time?

If I had to choose right now, it would be pediatrics or a pediatric subspecialty, specifically neonatology. I have been involved in a few research projects that I will hopefully be able to publish or present. Besides that, not much.

 

[JMilo]

How are roomates/housing? Was this a big factor in deciding your school?

 

[NotASerialKiller]

I'm interested in EM as well and know it is getting more competitive, but that it also cycles frequently. How competitive do you estimate it will be when you apply for residence? How about for the class of 22 (mine)?

It's very hard to forecast this, and you definitely don't want a Med-2 attempting a prediction.

The best thing you can do when asking questions of anyone above you is to ask things that they can answer first-hand. Ask job market questions of newly hired attendings, ask residency competitiveness questions of residents who just matched, and ask questions about studying/med-school life of a med student in pre-clinical years. Often people will attempt to answer questions based on second/third-hand info and it can get unreliable real fast (Med-1s lecturing pre-meds on what rotations are like).

Not trying to be a jerk or anything, I've just seen people get some really terrible advice because of that issue. I'm a Med-2 as well, and I know enough to know that it would be a bad idea for me to try to answer a question about how competitive a particular specialty is/will be.

 

[deleted804295]

Do you have time to hang out every Friday like undergrads do?

 

[CyrilFiggis]

I'm interested in EM as well and know it is getting more competitive, but that it also cycles frequently. How competitive do you estimate it will be when you apply for residence? How about for the class of 22 (mine)?

@NotASerialKiller is right. I only have info from current interns and 4th years. I will say that EM is currently different than other ACGME programs since they are piloting the standardized video interview. On to of all the other components of your application, clerkship grades, Step 1, 2, etc. this adds a new level of comparison to the mix that I'm not sure how residency directors will weigh in their decision

Do you have time to hang out every Friday like undergrads do?

Every Friday? No. Enough Fridays. Yep. In fact I'm just finishing up some studying before going out with a handful of people.

How are roomates/housing? Was this a big factor in deciding your school?

I'm married so I have a pretty good roommate. About 85% of our class rented apartments first year and the other 15% live in our dorm. I'd say that's around 95/5 now. I don't really see this being a factor.

 

[863168]

@NotASerialKiller @CyrilFiggis Have you ever hit a "wall" during your time as a medical student? And if so, how did you overcome it? If you had to describe how your preclinical studies in M1 and M2 varied from your four years of premedical studies, what are some things that you feel students ought to know if they are expecting the two to be identical experiences.

 

[NotASerialKiller]

@NotASerialKiller @CyrilFiggis Have you ever hit a "wall" during your time as a medical student? And if so, how did you overcome it? If you had to describe how your preclinical studies in M1 and M2 varied from your four years of premedical studies, what are some things that you feel students ought to know if they are expecting the two to be identical experiences.

No walls really, but I go to a relaxed P/F school which helps a lot. In undergrad it was about memorizing everything in a course to ace it, and now there's much more material but I only work hard enough to pass comfortably. Net result is that for me it wasn't that different.

The main piece of advice I give incoming students is to study the same way you did in undergrad. You worked hard to get in, so don't reinvent the wheel because you think med students have to do things differently. If you don't go to a P/F school you'll likely be working harder than in undergrad, but the study techniques that got you a good enough GPA to get accepted will serve you just as well in med school. You may have to adjust the number of hours etc., but don't try to force yourself to use flashcards if you've never used them before just because an upper year med student said they're super awesome.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

@NotASerialKiller @CyrilFiggis Have you ever hit a "wall" during your time as a medical student? And if so, how did you overcome it? If you had to describe how your preclinical studies in M1 and M2 varied from your four years of premedical studies, what are some things that you feel students ought to know if they are expecting the two to be identical experiences.

Also an M2 so my 0.02$...I think med school is more regular. You do your 10 hours a day and you'll be fine. I go to a ranked and graded Med school so we're a bit more high strung, but still very happy.

In undergrad I'd always be pivoting between classes, trying to catch up in one while neglecting the others and visa versa. In med school you throw yourself at one thing at a time, which makes it easier IMO. If you can manage your time and set priorities it's all very manageable.

A wise 4th your once told me to expect to devote 80 hrs/week to "school". If you go in with that mindset it's pretty manageable

 

[mscandy]

Many thanks to the Med-2s in this thread!!
What preparations do you think that premeds can do to have a smooth transition (academically, physically, and emotionally) into med school? Would it ever be a good idea to start reviewing undergrad sciences/previewing med school materials?
Now if you look back to over a year ago, what do you think are, or should have been, the important factors for premeds to consider before choosing which school they want to attend?
Thanks and I appreciate the insights! 🙂

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Many thanks to the Med-2s in this thread!!
What preparations do you think that premeds can do to have a smooth transition (academically, physically, and emotionally) into med school? Would it ever be a good idea to start reviewing undergrad sciences/previewing med school materials?

Do not review your undergrad sciences, they really, really won't do you any good.

In terms of prep the only thing to do is be mentally ready for the task. Don't go in thinking you'll be the superstar you were in undergrad. Be prepared to struggle and be ok with that.

In my experience med school involves constantly evaluating your study methods and tweaking/refining them to best fit the current block. People I know who refuse to modify their study habits (when they clearly aren't working) are often those who struggle despite putting in the hours.

Now if you look back to over a year ago, what do you think are, or should have been, the important factors for premeds to consider before choosing which school they want to attend?
Thanks and I appreciate the insights! 🙂

Pick a school with good clinical training. I can't tell you how nice it is to have the resources of a giant hospital at your disposal.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Now if you look back to over a year ago, what do you think are, or should have been, the important factors for premeds to consider before choosing which school they want to attend?

Personally, I think choosing a program that is P/F during preclinical years is the most important. There have been multiple studies showing the benefits to student health and wellness with zero impact on residency placement and Step scores. Throughout M2, our class average on the 4 systems we've done so far has been around 86-89% and I have been at or within 1-2 of it. That means there are around 100 people who have done better in my class. But I don't view them as competition. Two of my closest friends are also EM focused and I don't view them as competition, but we also don't ask any grade questions other than "did you pass?"

What preparations do you think that premeds can do to have a smooth transition (academically, physically, and emotionally) into med school? Would it ever be a good idea to start reviewing undergrad sciences/previewing med school materials?

Academically, you're already doing it. Getting into med school should be your first indication that you're prepared. Look, I'd be lying if I wasn't reteaching myself some concepts I'd forgotten from premed. Hell, I'm currently re-remembering concepts from M1 as I've started prepping for Step. It's a ton of info and to expect yourself to remember it all without consistent repetition is silly.

Physically and emotionally, just realize that you'll have stressful weeks and relaxing weeks and to not lose yourself in school. You'll figure out in the first few weeks what your routine will be and how to tweak it. I was never a morning person, but I forced myself to get up at 5:30 every morning so I could workout, have a good breakfast and an easy commute. That way, I have the entire afternoon to focus on studying, research, ECs and still be home in time to have dinner with my wife, watch Jeopardy and have a sense of normalcy. It's all about balance.

Like @NotASerialKiller said, if you've developed good habits in UG, bring the same approach to med school.