- Joined
- Jul 9, 2008
- Messages
- 617
- Reaction score
- 49
Off topic but that's a great lyric in your sig - Band on the Run is such an underrated album
Nice! Thank You. Clearly, you have good taste!
Off topic but that's a great lyric in your sig - Band on the Run is such an underrated album
No, M4 isn't amazing either. Can we stop this asinine use of exaggerated superlatives for describing how one unenjoyable thing is slightly less unenjoyable than another thing.
OMG it's 100000000000000x better!
It's soooooooooooooooo much more awesome!
It's leaves people that haven't reached that stage with some false hope that nirvana awaits them. The only nirvana in medical school is on your ipod.
This notion that it's either you love m1/2 or love m3/4 is straight up brainwashing. If you love either of them, you have issues. The people that love m3/4 in particular. I "get" the people that may enjoy m1/2 - your typical Asperger's fit the role nicely. But m3/4? What on EARTH is there to love about playing fake doctor and spending your days subservient to the schedule of someone that has zero respect for your time. Dancing around like a puppet on a string to every hem and haw like you're feeding grapes to an oversexed roman idol. And what's best is you get to pay for the privilege! M4 isn't so awesome when you realize it's an untirely unnecessary year, yet you pay god know's how much for the privilege of playing Daniel Son to some doctor, doing all their dirty work (for which THEY get paid). Of course there are the interviewing months which you shell out an additional 10k to go on interviews, all the while continuing to pay your school. For what exactly? 4th year of medical school is a ponzie scheme designed to enrich the coffers of med schools and pad the pockets of preceptors.
CUE the chorus of everyone talking about how amazing their preceptors are. This site needs to add a sheep emoticon.
I had very high hopes of medicine going in. I grew up fascinated with the wealth of insight into humanity that I assumed it contained, great respect for physicians for both their knowledge and gentle hand. I could go on. Basically all the BS that Hollywood delivers on a silver platter. Very soon I realized it was all a facade. A total facade. The veil was lifted from this career and I no longer look at it with admiration. Sure a couple docs here and there, but it's not medicine that I admire in them, I now realize it's just who they are as people that I admire - and it has nothing to do with their career. I've gotten to the point that I kind of curl my lip to most doctors, because the mystery is no longer there I no longer respect them for their career, and at this point, I kinda disrespect them for it. I know it sounds strange, but it's true. It's not what I thought it was - at all.
This notion that it's either you love m1/2 or love m3/4 is straight up brainwashing. If you love either of them, you have issues. The people that love m3/4 in particular. I "get" the people that may enjoy m1/2 - your typical Asperger's fit the role nicely. But m3/4? What on EARTH is there to love about playing fake doctor and spending your days subservient to the schedule of someone that has zero respect for your time. Dancing around like a puppet on a string to every hem and haw like you're feeding grapes to an oversexed roman idol. And what's best is you get to pay for the privilege! M4 isn't so awesome when you realize it's an untirely unnecessary year, yet you pay god know's how much for the privilege of playing Daniel Son to some doctor, doing all their dirty work (for which THEY get paid). Of course there are the interviewing months which you shell out an additional 10k to go on interviews, all the while continuing to pay your school. For what exactly? 4th year of medical school is a ponzie scheme designed to enrich the coffers of med schools and pad the pockets of preceptors.
CUE the chorus of everyone talking about how amazing their preceptors are. This site needs to add a sheep emoticon.
I agree that medical school is much better than a mindless clerical job, but I don't think this is a fair comparison because a person who is capable of getting into medical school doesn't have that type of job as their only other option. If you want to make a fair comparison, you should look at medicine vs other professional paths such as law, engineering, business, science, etc.
Wow. You sound like a bitter little man/woman.
4th year has been...amazing, just like I said. I do what I want, when I want = Amazing.
3rd year, heck, was actually a lot of fun and you really learn a lot...especially looking back on it....people bitch a lot about it, that its stressful, but I think that these individuals lack perspective. I've been in the "real world" and held a truly "stressful" job...what is required of a 3rd year medical student is not that
2nd year, for me personally, was great too and I thought it was a breeze outside of the pressure of killing step 1
1st year was still a great experience
Do I agree with the amount of money medical school costs (and I get in state tuition) or how it is structured throughout the 4 years or the overall length of time? Heck NO! There are so many things wrong with the system as is, but....that's not the question at hand per the OP.
You act like he speaks fact, but it's just opinion. For instance, I totally agree that med school could be condensed into 3 years, but I accepted that I was going to pay for 4 years of training when I went in. You might as well make the most of 4th year and either do rotations you're interested in, take tons of time off, or do easy rotations that give you time off. If you're stuck with someone else's scut during 4th year, you just massively failed at planning your year.Thank you for this refreshing honesty. It's what I've suspected for a while now but didn't say out loud.
I agree that medical school is much better than a mindless clerical job, but I don't think this is a fair comparison because a person who is capable of getting into medical school doesn't have that type of job as their only other option. If you want to make a fair comparison, you should look at medicine vs other professional paths such as law, engineering, business, science, etc.
You act like he speaks fact, but it's just opinion. For instance, I totally agree that med school could be condensed into 3 years, but I accepted that I was going to pay for 4 years of training when I went in. You might as well make the most of 4th year and either do rotations you're interested in, take tons of time off, or do easy rotations that give you time off. If you're stuck with someone else's scut during 4th year, you just massively failed at planning your year.
I also agree that there are plenty of attendings who plain don't give a crap about your time, but that doesn't mean you have to be their bitch constantly. You also don't have to suck up. I've gotten through med school and half of intern year without being sycophantic, and I don't plan on changing course now. For the grade grubbers out there, yes I've gotten good evaluations - excellent ones, actually - all the way through. You don't have to be a brown-nosing douche to succeed.
I'm no med school apologist, by any means, but at least accurately appraise the situation you're in and make the most of it. Cynicism isn't going to get you far when you can't change anything about the medical education system now that you're in the thick of it. Might as well make the best of it and power through. The best can be pretty damn good if you play your cards right.
You act like he speaks fact, but it's just opinion. For instance, I totally agree that med school could be condensed into 3 years, but I accepted that I was going to pay for 4 years of training when I went in. You might as well make the most of 4th year and either do rotations you're interested in, take tons of time off, or do easy rotations that give you time off. If you're stuck with someone else's scut during 4th year, you just massively failed at planning your year.
I also agree that there are plenty of attendings who plain don't give a crap about your time, but that doesn't mean you have to be their bitch constantly. You also don't have to suck up. I've gotten through med school and half of intern year without being sycophantic, and I don't plan on changing course now. For the grade grubbers out there, yes I've gotten good evaluations - excellent ones, actually - all the way through. You don't have to be a brown-nosing douche to succeed.
I'm no med school apologist, by any means, but at least accurately appraise the situation you're in and make the most of it. Cynicism isn't going to get you far when you can't change anything about the medical education system now that you're in the thick of it. Might as well make the best of it and power through. The best can be pretty damn good if you play your cards right.
Ah yes, the ad hominem attack.
You used a lot of adjectives, but said nothing of substance. Sounds like you're the typical uncreative med student that eats the slop with a grin on your face.
This notion that it's either you love m1/2 or love m3/4 is straight up brainwashing. If you love either of them, you have issues. The people that love m3/4 in particular. I "get" the people that may enjoy m1/2 - your typical Asperger's fit the role nicely. But m3/4? What on EARTH is there to love about playing fake doctor and spending your days subservient to the schedule of someone that has zero respect for your time. Dancing around like a puppet on a string to every hem and haw like you're feeding grapes to an oversexed roman idol. And what's best is you get to pay for the privilege! M4 isn't so awesome when you realize it's an untirely unnecessary year, yet you pay god know's how much for the privilege of playing Daniel Son to some doctor, doing all their dirty work (for which THEY get paid). Of course there are the interviewing months which you shell out an additional 10k to go on interviews, all the while continuing to pay your school. For what exactly? 4th year of medical school is a ponzie scheme designed to enrich the coffers of med schools and pad the pockets of preceptors.
CUE the chorus of everyone talking about how amazing their preceptors are. This site needs to add a sheep emoticon.
Nice! Thank You. Clearly, you have good taste!
Ah yes, the ad hominem attack.
You used a lot of adjectives, but said nothing of substance. Sounds like you're the typical uncreative med student that eats the slop with a grin on your face.
You act like he speaks fact, but it's just opinion. For instance, I totally agree that med school could be condensed into 3 years, but I accepted that I was going to pay for 4 years of training when I went in. You might as well make the most of 4th year and either do rotations you're interested in, take tons of time off, or do easy rotations that give you time off. If you're stuck with someone else's scut during 4th year, you just massively failed at planning your year.
I also agree that there are plenty of attendings who plain don't give a crap about your time, but that doesn't mean you have to be their bitch constantly. You also don't have to suck up. I've gotten through med school and half of intern year without being sycophantic, and I don't plan on changing course now. For the grade grubbers out there, yes I've gotten good evaluations - excellent ones, actually - all the way through. You don't have to be a brown-nosing douche to succeed.
I'm no med school apologist, by any means, but at least accurately appraise the situation you're in and make the most of it. Cynicism isn't going to get you far when you can't change anything about the medical education system now that you're in the thick of it. Might as well make the best of it and power through. The best can be pretty damn good if you play your cards right.
I agree that medical school is much better than a mindless clerical job, but I don't think this is a fair comparison because a person who is capable of getting into medical school doesn't have that type of job as their only other option. If you want to make a fair comparison, you should look at medicine vs other professional paths such as law, engineering, business, science, etc.
So, the moral of the story is this. The next time you feel like you're wasting a year of your life as an MS4, call the hospital operator, and remember that the person on the other end has probably been there answering and transferring phone calls at $25,000-$30,000 per year for 15 years. Most of the operators I worked with were middle-aged women with terrible marriages who worked at our hospital full-time and did the same thing at another hospital either part-time or full-time. They put in 60-80 hours per week doing a job I couldn't handle at 40 hours per week for a year... Give me school any day!
Sure that job might suck but you're comparing apples to oranges.
Also,
$25,000-$30,000 >>>>>> -$50,000 + interest
Except that with that -$50,000 comes a total income potential over 30 years of many millions. Those operators will earn less than $1,000,000 in their entire career. There are some MDs who earn that in a year, and many more who earn that in just two.
Except that with that -$50,000 comes a total income potential over 30 years of many millions. Those operators will earn less than $1,000,000 in their entire career. There are some MDs who earn that in a year, and many more who earn that in just two.
Earning potential doesn't argue against why 4th year is kind of a wasted year.
At any rate, you cannot compare a job to med school. You're paying for med school and med school is not like a job at all. Comparing med school to a crappy job is pointless. I could say "I hated when I got my wisdom teeth taken out, and med school is farrrr better than getting your wisdom teeth taken out, so stop complaining about med school."
my only question is...Kindasorta, have you started your zoloft treatment yet???
But a job is what you would be doing/how you would be spending your time instead of med school (most likely), not having your teeth pulled continually... so they really are comparable from that POV. From what I've heard from those who have taken breaks between undergrad and MS, and as you can see from the responses in this thread, the perspective gained is very often useful.
I full on LOLed at this, especially the bit about "playing Daniel-san"
That said, I'm currently a pre-clinical student and I'd far rather be playing Daniel-san and doing scutwork on the wards than dozing off as some psychology fellow drones on and on about their Very Important Research in the lecture theatre.
I do indeed
I always figured medicine was one of those fields where you had to REALLY want to do it, otherwise the amount of work and sacrifice would make one a bitter person. If I had thought when I was applying to medical school that I could be happy doing any other profession rather than medicine, I would've taken it. However, in my head, there was no other path that I felt I would be long-term happy in.
Clearly that is not the case with a large subset of the SDN population.
I always figured medicine was one of those fields where you had to REALLY want to do it, otherwise the amount of work and sacrifice would make one a bitter person. If I had thought when I was applying to medical school that I could be happy doing any other profession rather than medicine, I would've taken it. However, in my head, there was no other path that I felt I would be long-term happy in.
Clearly that is not the case with a large subset of the SDN population.
I always figured medicine was one of those fields where you had to REALLY want to do it, otherwise the amount of work and sacrifice would make one a bitter person. If I had thought when I was applying to medical school that I could be happy doing any other profession rather than medicine, I would've taken it. However, in my head, there was no other path that I felt I would be long-term happy in.
Clearly that is not the case with a large subset of the SDN population.
Some of us aren't too adept at fortune-telling and knowing what a profession would be like without practicing it. Actually, none of us are.
I am.
Some of us aren't too adept at fortune-telling and knowing what a profession would be like without practicing it. Actually, none of us are.
Tell that to the wife that you have yet to meet who will be blowing your pool man in 10 years.
YES!! I'm trying not to pass judgement here because I'm not in my clinical years yet and I very well could be on here next year at this time as bitter as many of you seem to be, however I've sampled my M1 and M2 years and I gotta say.... NOT a fan lol. I'm looking forward to clinical years despite the BS I hear you have to put up with because in my opinion it can't possibly get any worse than now.
I always figured medicine was one of those fields where you had to REALLY want to do it, otherwise the amount of work and sacrifice would make one a bitter person. If I had thought when I was applying to medical school that I could be happy doing any other profession rather than medicine, I would've taken it. However, in my head, there was no other path that I felt I would be long-term happy in.
Clearly that is not the case with a large subset of the SDN population.
I felt the same way too. However, the path taken to get there sucks the fun out. You can only 'sacrifice' for so long before you ultimately get fed up. I feel like there was no way to prepare us for the BS that is the medical education system and licensing process.
I do agree with others though that the clinical years were exponentially better than pre-clinical years.
There is no shortage of innovators out there who want to challenge the current monopoly.
If we can extrapolate recent successes in the undergrad education realm, with ventures like Coursera, there may be great hope in the future for medical education's costs to be slashed.
Opening up the market to competition would certainly challenge the "old school" bureaucracy to shape up or move over.
Med students could collectively be taught first two years online using advanced web technology. This would greatly free up resources to utilize on more and better clinical training.
My experience with the non-clinical years was that it was not worth the tuition to have "live interaction" (one exception: dissection lab) over what we could have self-learned from books. Streamline that process and either cut tuition or apply the saving over into the clinical years.
They should make charter medical schools. They would probably outperform 80% of the field within a few years.
99% of my med school professors are pretty terrible teachers. Same goes for my undergrad teachers. Most of them were more concerned with their research or clinical practice to care about their classes. Making the first 2 years online self study sounds pretty radical but at the same time I don't think the majority of the lectures I've had have added anything to my understanding. I think that calls for some change.Problem there is there are many jobs are lost as a result of such a change. You lose those people who get degrees to teach others...how to teach others. I think we call it 'academia'. Even though everyone ultimately just learns on their own from textbooks.
Even in college we don't really need a lot of majors/fields that are out there, but we keep them because we need need people to ultimately have jobs, and cause it brings in more money. Example: entrepreneurship classes. By taking the class (instead of reading a self-help book) am I going to become the next success story, or just another entrepreneurship professor? Same with pre-clinical subjects.
Problem there is there are many jobs are lost as a result of such a change. You lose those people who get degrees to teach others...how to teach others. I think we call it 'academia'. Even though everyone ultimately just learns on their own from textbooks.
Even in college we don't really need a lot of majors/fields that are out there, but we keep them because we need need people to ultimately have jobs, and cause it brings in more money. Example: entrepreneurship classes. By taking the class (instead of reading a self-help book) am I going to become the next success story, or just another entrepreneurship professor? Same with pre-clinical subjects.
99% of my med school professors are pretty terrible teachers. Same goes for my undergrad teachers. Most of them were more concerned with their research or clinical practice to care about their classes. Making the first 2 years online self study sounds pretty radical but at the same time I don't think the majority of the lectures I've had have added anything to my understanding. I think that calls for some change.
There is no shortage of innovators out there who want to challenge the current monopoly.
If we can extrapolate recent successes in the undergrad education realm, with ventures like Coursera, there may be great hope in the future for medical education's costs to be slashed.
Opening up the market to competition would certainly challenge the "old school" bureaucracy to shape up or move over.
Med students could collectively be taught first two years online using advanced web technology. This would greatly free up resources to utilize on more and better clinical training.
My experience with the non-clinical years was that it was not worth the tuition to have "live interaction" (one exception: dissection lab) over what we could have self-learned from books. Streamline that process and either cut tuition or apply the saving over into the clinical years.
99% of my med school professors are pretty terrible teachers. Same goes for my undergrad teachers. Most of them were more concerned with their research or clinical practice to care about their classes. Making the first 2 years online self study sounds pretty radical but at the same time I don't think the majority of the lectures I've had have added anything to my understanding. I think that calls for some change.
I feel like that is the norm in terms of effective teachers worldwide. Educators like Goljan, Sattar, or Fischer only come around so often. The schools know this too, yet they don't want to admit to it. My school should've just bought us all subscriptions to Pathoma & given us a copy of RR, and kept the rest of the money for themselves. At least my time would've at least been better utilized. I'd actually make the school look way better too, in terms of board scores and my own understanding.
As for online learning, its still looked down upon in all industries. Not just in medicine. Probably because those currently in charge and those ultimately hiring are old (read: stubborn) in their ways. Until a well known program (Harvard, Hopkins, etc) makes a change it won't gain the respect it deserves. If a lower tier program tries to innovate, its more likely to get mocked...than called innovative.