Current M4 at US MD program: Ask Me Anything!

[DrDummyAccount]

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Had some free time, thought I’d help out some young blood. AMA!

 

[DrDummyAccount]

What was your favorite part about medical school?

I honestly like most things about medical school. I love learning and truly enjoy attending class and all the various activities. I think it would be easier to answer what I DISLIKED about medical school, which would have to be the exams, their frequency, and how some MDs/phds have no business writing their own test questions. A lot of them write stuff that doesn’t make sense, has lots of room for different interpretations, multiple answers that could be correct, etc. Also how much weight exams have on your GPA/step scores and ultimately, your residency app. I am so much better than my scores reflect.

I’ll try to answer your question too. I really liked anatomy lab, studying the anatomy more than the actual process of dissecting. It was a nice change of pace from traditional textbook/PowerPoint studying. I also really liked learning to use the ultrasound, and clinic rotations in M3 and M4; these things made me really start to feel like a doctor.

 

[charactercomic2]

Would you say that your stress levels are higher in medical school or when you were trying to get in?

 

[DrDummyAccount]

Would you say that your stress levels are higher in medical school or when you were trying to get in?

I can’t remember what my stress levels were like when I was trying to get in… but I did cry while studying for both Step 1 and Step 2…

stress in medical school is inevitable. Definitely use the schools resources available. I went to counseling even when my classes were going great. Learned a lot of great techniques.

 

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How did you go about deciding on your desired specialty? What factors weighed heavily in this decision?

 

[DrDummyAccount]

How did you go about deciding on your desired specialty? What factors weighed heavily in this decision?

I didn’t know what specialty I wanted to do until I was doing my third year rotations. What I thought I wanted to do, I ended up disliking when I actually got on service. The specialty I ended up applying to (OBGYN), I had never considered until I was on the clerkship. This will sound cliche, but it was just the over-all feeling I had. I felt like, “this is what I think it means to be a doctor”. I could see myself going to work every day and really making a difference, despite the paperwork/billing/insurance etc.

 

[DrDummyAccount]

I know you haven't matched yet, but how important is research and publications? When did you start this type of activity and how much did you do within your first three years?

It depends on the specialty. In general, most just want to see that you have research experience and are aware of the research process. Not sure how that will change since step 1 is pass/fail now.

I started research between M1 and M2, ended up with 4 projects by the time applications came around.