Hi all!
Many of you don't know me (wouldn't expect you to), but I used to post in the premed forums wwaaaaay back when I was applying, and I think I made a little personal statement thread that the mods have left as a sticky (**Thanks guys!**)
So I'm now an ER resident, just finished a month in the ICU (and switching over from nights to days). Last week I was reminiscing how 6 years ago I had the dream of going to med school and so forth. Now I get to live it. Don't get me wrong, its exhausting, and the system itself makes one easy to burn out. Patient care is great, but all of the administrative stuff makes you want to quit it all sometimes.
Thank you all who have helped me get to where I am now.
But, one thing I advise you all as you begin this journey...
Don't just look out for yourself. Give back. And thank those who have helped you get to where you are.
The reason why I say this is that as I'm a rising senior resident, I still mentor premeds and medstudents alike, and a lot of people talk about how "this generation sucks" because nobody is professional, everyone is entitled, and etc. Truth is, I sometimes feel that way too. Sometimes I get really upset because after working 14-15 hours straight, and a med student or premed tells me that they're too busy, basically implying that I need to "work on their schedule". Or sometimes when people just show up late when they wanted to meet up with me to get coffee. Or when professors and attendings alike complain about how a student was unprofessional and still wanted to get a letter of recommendation. All I wanna say is, just take some of these parts of life seriously. Some of you haven't had to do grown-up things yet, but it doesn't mean that it's an excuse to not be professional.
My other hints that I want to share:
-Thank your letter writers. They helped you get to where you are today, and where you're going tomorrow. Why is it so hard to thank someone? Faculty get a lot of satisfaction from this, and helps them continue what they're doing. You've asked them to spend at LEAST an hour or two out of their time (when they could've spent time with family, do a hobby, whatever), on a person they hardly know, just to help them on their 'personal quest' to become a physician (for whatever noble or non-noble reason). How would you like it if someone asked you to do something nice for them and it took up hours of your day, but they never even bothered to say thanks? Nobody gets an extra bonus check for writing your LOR. So be appreciative, (NO GIFTS plz) and tell them where you end up! Its the least you can do.
-Show up on time, and try to be flexible with your scheduling. Being assertive is great, and reaching out to people for advice, to meet up for coffee/tea is fine. But show up on time. You'd be surprised how for a majority of physicians, residents, and med students, are ALL very busy. Myself and others are sometimes skeptical how truly busy some people are...or...they're just too busy going to some party/function and don't want to skip out on it. Trust me, if you're willing to miss out something for your professional advancement for a party/social function...I just feel really sad to tell you that a majority of residents feel a sense of "missing out"...and if you as a premed feel that is non-negotiable...well, I don't know is medicine is the right specialty for you. While you might have a choice now, you won't later. (because you'll be buried in 250K in debt...)
-When you ask for an LOR, get all of your stuff together. CVs/Resumes, personal statements, transcripts. Make it look like you prepared. No mispellings, no haphazard crap. Why? Because nobody is pointing a gun to your head saying that if you don't apply now or this year, you will die. If you're not ready, then don't apply that year! A way I like to think of this is: Nobody sends their patient to the OR to be operated on if they're medically unfit for surgery (unless its trauma). You're only increasing their risk for a bad outcome. So, Mr./Ms. Premed-to-be-doctor, you're telling me you're gonna be the surgeon who cuts on an unstable patient? If the patient isn't ready for surgery, don't operate. If you're not ready to apply or ask for a letter, don't ask/apply. DO IT ONCE, DO IT RIGHT.
-Give back. Remember, you're here because other people 'volunteered' to help you get here, and the same will be once you go to med school and residency. I find it so paradoxical that so many premeds say they want to "help people" during their interviews yet they hardly ever take time to help others get to med school (especially since they JUST went through the process and are 'experts' in it!) once they get into med school. Sounds like a ridiculous hypocrisy, juss sayin.
Anyway, those are my two cents. If you guys wanna ask any questions about premed life, med school life, residency, whatever, PM me or just reply below. Best of luck to you all, I've been in your shoes once before. Its quite a journey! And still more to come.
Cheers,
Many of you don't know me (wouldn't expect you to), but I used to post in the premed forums wwaaaaay back when I was applying, and I think I made a little personal statement thread that the mods have left as a sticky (**Thanks guys!**)
So I'm now an ER resident, just finished a month in the ICU (and switching over from nights to days). Last week I was reminiscing how 6 years ago I had the dream of going to med school and so forth. Now I get to live it. Don't get me wrong, its exhausting, and the system itself makes one easy to burn out. Patient care is great, but all of the administrative stuff makes you want to quit it all sometimes.
Thank you all who have helped me get to where I am now.
But, one thing I advise you all as you begin this journey...
Don't just look out for yourself. Give back. And thank those who have helped you get to where you are.
The reason why I say this is that as I'm a rising senior resident, I still mentor premeds and medstudents alike, and a lot of people talk about how "this generation sucks" because nobody is professional, everyone is entitled, and etc. Truth is, I sometimes feel that way too. Sometimes I get really upset because after working 14-15 hours straight, and a med student or premed tells me that they're too busy, basically implying that I need to "work on their schedule". Or sometimes when people just show up late when they wanted to meet up with me to get coffee. Or when professors and attendings alike complain about how a student was unprofessional and still wanted to get a letter of recommendation. All I wanna say is, just take some of these parts of life seriously. Some of you haven't had to do grown-up things yet, but it doesn't mean that it's an excuse to not be professional.
My other hints that I want to share:
-Thank your letter writers. They helped you get to where you are today, and where you're going tomorrow. Why is it so hard to thank someone? Faculty get a lot of satisfaction from this, and helps them continue what they're doing. You've asked them to spend at LEAST an hour or two out of their time (when they could've spent time with family, do a hobby, whatever), on a person they hardly know, just to help them on their 'personal quest' to become a physician (for whatever noble or non-noble reason). How would you like it if someone asked you to do something nice for them and it took up hours of your day, but they never even bothered to say thanks? Nobody gets an extra bonus check for writing your LOR. So be appreciative, (NO GIFTS plz) and tell them where you end up! Its the least you can do.
-Show up on time, and try to be flexible with your scheduling. Being assertive is great, and reaching out to people for advice, to meet up for coffee/tea is fine. But show up on time. You'd be surprised how for a majority of physicians, residents, and med students, are ALL very busy. Myself and others are sometimes skeptical how truly busy some people are...or...they're just too busy going to some party/function and don't want to skip out on it. Trust me, if you're willing to miss out something for your professional advancement for a party/social function...I just feel really sad to tell you that a majority of residents feel a sense of "missing out"...and if you as a premed feel that is non-negotiable...well, I don't know is medicine is the right specialty for you. While you might have a choice now, you won't later. (because you'll be buried in 250K in debt...)
-When you ask for an LOR, get all of your stuff together. CVs/Resumes, personal statements, transcripts. Make it look like you prepared. No mispellings, no haphazard crap. Why? Because nobody is pointing a gun to your head saying that if you don't apply now or this year, you will die. If you're not ready, then don't apply that year! A way I like to think of this is: Nobody sends their patient to the OR to be operated on if they're medically unfit for surgery (unless its trauma). You're only increasing their risk for a bad outcome. So, Mr./Ms. Premed-to-be-doctor, you're telling me you're gonna be the surgeon who cuts on an unstable patient? If the patient isn't ready for surgery, don't operate. If you're not ready to apply or ask for a letter, don't ask/apply. DO IT ONCE, DO IT RIGHT.
-Give back. Remember, you're here because other people 'volunteered' to help you get here, and the same will be once you go to med school and residency. I find it so paradoxical that so many premeds say they want to "help people" during their interviews yet they hardly ever take time to help others get to med school (especially since they JUST went through the process and are 'experts' in it!) once they get into med school. Sounds like a ridiculous hypocrisy, juss sayin.
Anyway, those are my two cents. If you guys wanna ask any questions about premed life, med school life, residency, whatever, PM me or just reply below. Best of luck to you all, I've been in your shoes once before. Its quite a journey! And still more to come.
Cheers,
