Despair at Orientation

[Member 870]

---

Members don't see this ad.

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

 

[177983]

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

I think you're probably experiencing general nervousness at starting med school. It seems like it's been a hard road to get there, and I'm guessing your nervous about handling the work load. Give yourself a few weeks to see how you're doing.

If you still feel the same way in a few weeks to a few months, you're still not sunk. Just aim for some of those specialties that don't require much more than the standard 40. EM and hospitalist come to mind. I'm sure there are others. And I know for a fact that some docs work part-time. It's maybe not as easy to find, and you'll take pay cut, but the jobs are out there. Don't do anything rash.

 

[sendwich]

I think a lot of us were in your shoes at one point (though with varying degrees). You could be having cold feet about one of the biggest life decisions you're/'ll be making. To put it shortly, you CAN have a family and do all the things you've mentioned but it's going take more effort than the average Joe (or Jane). prioritzing what's important and being well organized is going to be key. Im' older than the typical student (late 20s) becauase of the reasons you've stated. There are many physicians who are successful in what they do, while still managing to have a family and a "life" outside of medicine. I suggest that you talk to as many people to nto only get a clear sense of what being a medstudent/physician means but also to find that it's all possible.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want.

Not to pile on, but you should know that working 48 hours a week is a light workload in medicine.

 

[75969]

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

You can be a physician and work less than 48hrs/wk. There are a lot of specialties in which you can work as part time (or split a practice between multiple people if you dont want hospital based work). I know a few peds doctors that have split the hours of 1 physician between the 2 of them--so they would have time for a family. You will have to study-a lot. However, even during medical school you will have time for a life. I dont care what anyone says, it is not THAT bad...I have struggled in classes, but still have time to stay sane in medical school. You have to decide what is best for you. Do you want to be an orthopod or are you ok with doing less competitive specialties? If you are willing to be any of the 90% of less competitive things, you can find a way to stay balanced. Everyone gets a little freaked out from time to time and just because you are a little hesitant, that doesnt mean you should give up your dreams just yet. Take a deep breath. Try to relax. If you change your mind after starting classes, you can always still go into research or other non-medical careers. Good Luck 😍

 

[Steiner]

search around this site, there are plenty of people who are examples of balancing medicine and a life successfully. My 3rd child was just born in May and I start second year in 5 days and I'm doing fine in class and I'm not resented at home. Like others have said, it's doable and possible to succeed at both at the same time. Budget your time, set your priorities and it'll be over before you know it.

 

[mjl1717]

Not to pile on, but you should know that working 48 hours a week is a light workload in medicine.

This is true but also funny!

Once again, there will ALWAYS be someone saying its not that hard, or its a piece of cake.. {Its is total sacrifice as you said, endurance, and "burning the mid night oil"} I latter on found out that saying things like its a "piece of cake" is kind of like an unofficial initiation right said by the unconscientious..

The way some of these guys talk you'd think they were the "William Osler of the medical field"-Not true, many are just managing there own weight!!!

You ARE allowed to cry for one night.. After that suck it up, fight and focus like you never did before! You will see the light!! The balanced thing for them to say would be its doable or its bearable 👍

 

[smq123]

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

First off, I'm sorry that you're having such a hard time during orientation. 🙁

Second of all, I'm especially sorry that you had this epiphany/bout of second thoughts during orientation...and that you didn't have it sooner. Particularly because this should be the best time in your life - you finally got in after so many tries.

To be honest, I'm not really sure what to tell you.

Most of the people who have chirpily responded "It'll be okay! You can have a 40 hour work week when you're a physician!" are either have yet to start MS-1, or are about to start MS-2. They have yet to hit the REALLY time-consuming parts of med school!

I'm not going to lie...it's a LONG, time-consuming road. Yes, there are specialties where you can work 40 hours a week or less, but you WILL have to pay the price for them.

Emergency med is getting increasingly competitive, so who knows what will happen by the time you get ready to apply? Plus, it requires interacting with everyone who walks in through your hospital doors (which doesn't appeal to everyone), and a lot of night shift work as well. Rads is already very competitive, and it is difficult for DO applicants to get in. Same goes for ophtho. Path and PM&R are NOT competitive, and many DO applicants get in to those specialties, but they require a certain amount of baseline interest in the material.

This is all forgetting about the many years of residency, and the 80+ hour work weeks that you will have as a third year (trauma call sucks!) and fourth year.

All that aside, though....

If you stick through it, work hard, and just keep ploughing ahead, you might find that this IS the right career for you.

Even as a med student, there's a huge feeling of joy and accomplishment when you see show a couple their first baby. (And then hand the new father a few tissues, because he won't stop bawling. 😀) Or watching someone walk out of the hospital, knowing that the surgeons were able to help cut out their tumor and cure their cancer. Or realizing how much people trust you with their problems and lives...because they know that you'll be able to help them.

There ARE going to be the rough weeks. Weeks where you get 4 hours of sleep a night. Weeks where you won't see your significant other very often, except for maybe a half an hour at night. Weeks when you're going to be convinced that this WAS the biggest mistake of your life.

The demands are hard, but that's often because the rewards can be big. And it's up to you to figure out NOW (before you get in any deeper) whether or not you think that you can measure up to those demands.

Good luck.

 

[mjl1717]

Yes smq123 and L2D are probably some of the more valuable posters...
And a lot of times read and write my thoughts!!!

 

[AZhopeful]

Don't despair.

I remember my orientation just under a year ago. I'm not sure how yours was executed, but the theme of mine just seemed to be how hard everything was going to be and how we really really needed to be prepared. After a while I think the orientation ended up making me more stressed than I originally had been.

Give yourself a few weeks. Let yourself adapt- I think many people have a very great range of adaptability that they don't appreciate when looking at a difficult time. Many people are in your boat, and many have made it through.

 

[njbmd]

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

Good idea to seek some counseling. Sometimes after the process of "getting in" some medical students find that they do not want to "stay in". Medicine is not the career for everyone. In hindsight, many find that "anticipation" is a great deal more fun than "having".

Some other things to think about:

Every career takes time and sacrifice. In today's world, most people are sacrificing time with family and loved ones to pursue something. It's just part of living in this economy.

My guess is that since you are out of the workforce, you are not likely to find many careers where you will work less than 48 hours a week. Medicine has long hours and will continue to have long hours. It is demanding and difficult even under the best of circumstances. Again, in today's economy and world, you have to be willing to work to get ahead and keep ahead. If you are independently wealthy disregard the above comments.

Only you know your motives and personal desires for pursuing any career. Before you "burn any bridges" behind yourself, examine your motives for entering medicine. You need to be as realistic and as mature as possible because you don't get many "second chances" in this field. If it is not what you want, then don't look back and move into what you DO want.

 

[Member 870]

Thanks for the above posts. I see a counselor at 3pm. My parents come in at 5pm for the white coat ceremony tonight. I have so much else going on as well, emotionally. Long distance relationship, regret over not choosing a certain school. I'm a mess.

 

[RisingSun]

Anything can be done if you set your mind to it. You'll probably find that med school isn't as demanding as you imagined, at least first year, and that there are lots of examples out there of people who are going to medical school and not putting the rest of their life on hold.

I have three children, my third child born on the first day of finals week winter quarter, and I've done just fine so far. I also personally know an OB who was in her early thirties when she started med school and had a kid during third year and another during intern year of her OB/Gyn residency. She made it through and is loving life right now. You'll be okay, too.

If family time and lifestyle are important to you, suss out what specialties will allow you to have the lifestyle that you want and start working NOW to get them - Rads and other competitive specialties come to mind. Don't also forget about lesser known fields like pathology, preventive medicine, or nuclear medicine as well. Don't forget that you can tailor your practice in whatever way you see fit once you are through with residency.

Best of luck, and try to enjoy the year. Trust me, it won't be as bad as you think.👍

 

[Member 870]

Anyone have any thoughts on dropping out before I owe any tuition, or at least convincing them to defer me a year (they can replace me with an alternate up until 12 noon tomorrow).

I don't mean to sound flighty, but PA school seems so much more appealing now.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Anyone have any thoughts on dropping out before I owe any tuition, or at least convincing them to defer me a year (they can replace me with an alternate up until 12 noon tomorrow).

I don't mean to sound flighty, but PA school seems so much more appealing now.

Go for it.

 

[mjl1717]

Anyone have any thoughts on dropping out before I owe any tuition, or at least convincing them to defer me a year (they can replace me with an alternate up until 12 noon tomorrow).

I don't mean to sound flighty, but PA school seems so much more appealing now.

In all seriousness:

If you really have cold feet and dont want to go thru with this type of hell.. Or just "cant' take it!" Get the deferment and investigate PA school..

Be aware..
Sometimes its nice being the PA ( more time, dont have to make real big decisions, less pressure) sometimes its nice being MD ( more rank, 3 or 4 times the pressure, less time for yourself, incresed responsibility and big decision making, more percs)

Good luck.

 

[sprinkibrio]

Thanks for the above posts. I see a counselor at 3pm. My parents come in at 5pm for the white coat ceremony tonight. I have so much else going on as well, emotionally. Long distance relationship, regret over not choosing a certain school. I'm a mess.

I'm wondering what they told you during orientation!!! You haven't even started classes yet, correct? First year is very, very hard in terms of adjustment. Eventually you WILL be able to handle all the aspects of life that you choose to include, although probably not right now. You will change as a person as you go throughout school. Please trust the process... you will be able to have a manageable life. I'm wondering if your significant other and maybe the "career path" you chose over living closer to this guy/girl is the main issue. I made that decision as well, and it has been the BEST thing for me.

Give it some time. I'm sure that's what your counselor will tell you. Losing some money if you decide in three months that it's not for you at least leaves you with a more solid understanding of what you left behind and relief from regretting the decision.

 

[cleothecat]

😍Could have finished at my medical office at 1600 hours, to see my MD wife who takes thursdays off, but decided to answer your thread instead.

Every achievement in life takes some upfront investment. You will work very hard in medical school, and depending on your residency, maybe also as a resident. But as a career which will give you satisfaction, independence, great hours if you choose, a stellar lifestyle if that is important, and many more job options or opportunities than other fields, medicine cannot be beat.

Work hard now, but be courageous to choose your lifestyle and priorities later on. You will have tough decisions to make later like $$$ vs life, $$$$ vs kids, $$$$ vs hours, etc. But your decision will reflect on your priorities, not on medicine itself.

My wife and I have independence, several great kids, great careers, personal time, and more than enough $$$$$$$$$$ and would not hesitate to do the same again.

Would I work at my current profession for free? Well I am considering some overseas volunteer opportunities...........................................

 

[LADoc00]

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

Im going to have seriously ROFL at 48hrs a week. Maybe when you are on vacation or something.

I spent at least 3 rotations in my 3rd year as a century plus (100+hrs/wk) student....and that was a complete and utter cakewalk compared to internship. During my internship I actually blissfully dreamt about going back to my surgical subI and getting only chewed out by the lowly residents.

Medicine IS your family life. Didnt someone get that memo to you?

Besides, Ive never EVER heard of despair at orientation, isnt that just showing you where your locker and desk are? I thought that was supposed to be fun...

 

[saidel273]

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

In this day and age, if you want to make a living you must be willing to work hard especially early in your career. This is true to all professional careers. People who start in engineering, finance, law... work more than 50hrs in order to advance their careers. Even people who don't work in professional environments end up working 2-3 jobs (meaning more than 50hrs week) to make ends meet.

Keep in mind, there are so many people competing for the same job and the winner tends to be the one who works the hardest. This is how our global economy works.

 

[MrBurns10]

Medicine IS your family life. Didnt someone get that memo to you?

yeah, uhh...not everyone is going to be a surgeon.

 

[Law2Doc]

yeah, uhh...not everyone is going to be a surgeon.

No, but he's right that the average physician works 60 hours a week, not something in the 40s. You won't be working that low unless you are doing EM (where shiftwork is limited by the specialty, but may mean you are working mostly nights when starting out), or unless you are working part time (which in professions often means 40 hours/week, and even still, these jobs are harder to get these days).

But OP, seriously talk to a counselor because it seems awfully odd that someone will have spent three years trying to get into med school without ever realizing what it was all going to involve. I mean, doctor's hours aren't exactly a national secret. Nobody's orientation week is so bad that it sends folks running for the hills, so I imagine something else is going on (perhaps relating to your LDR?). Work this out and get on with your life. You will never be happy being a PA if you bailed on med school to do it. If you are going to leave, do it for the right reasons -- that you decided you want to do something else totally different with your life.

 

[MrBurns10]

No, but he's right that the average physician works 60 hours a week, not something in the 40s. You won't be working that low unless you are doing EM (where shiftwork is limited by the specialty, but may mean you are working mostly nights when starting out), or unless you are working part time (which in professions often means 40 hours/week, and even still, these jobs are harder to get these days).

His doom and gloom message to the OP is far more exaggerated than it needed to be, in my opinion. And honestly, you can work less than 60 hours in far more fields than I think you make it seem. You can work less than 60 hours in rads, anesthesia, path, FM, EM, hospitalist (averaged over the weeks they get off), psychiatry, etc etc. You can even work less than 60 hours doing some of the surg subspecialties (uro, ENT). I'm not saying you can work 40 hours, but I don't think the 40-hour work week is that common anymore anyway. I think we get a skewed perception of things because we're at busy academic centers. Either way, my original point was that you can definitely be in the medical field and have a family outside of your job, which is what the poster I was responding to implied was impossible.

 

[Law2Doc]

His doom and gloom message to the OP is far more exaggerated than it needed to be, in my opinion. And honestly, you can work less than 60 hours in far more fields than I think you make it seem. You can work less than 60 hours in rads, anesthesia, path, FM, EM, hospitalist (averaged over the weeks they get off), psychiatry, etc etc. You can even work less than 60 hours doing some of the surg subspecialties (uro, ENT). I'm not saying you can work 40 hours, but I don't think the 40-hour work week is that common anymore anyway. I think we get a skewed perception of things because we're at busy academic centers. Either way, my original point was that you can definitely be in the medical field and have a family outside of your job, which is what the poster I was responding to implied was impossible.

Average hours in rads, uro, ENT and gas these days are actually all above 60. Sure there are exceptions in any field, but you can never bet on being the exception, and given the lifestyle oriented crowd graduating these days, the cushier family friendly slots are all going to be hot commodities and hard to get. FM hours tend to increase each year as reimbursements get cut -- many of them are running on all cylinders just to earn what they made last year. Anyone who knows a family doc knows their hours aren't cushy, despite being paid as if they are working part time.

You can be in medicine and have a family, but it's always a precarious balance. You will miss events. You will disappoint people on both sides of the commute. It's the price you pay for being so ambitious. You can't have it all, but you can certainly have some of each. That's what doctors do these days.

 

[Taurus]

Even if you get into one of the better lifestyle fields like rads, derm, path, psych, it's going to be long 7-9 years of long hours of studying or at the hospital before you can set your own hours. Think about it hard before you set down on a road you will later regret. Personally, I regret not taking a harder look at dentistry.

 

[MrBurns10]

Average hours in rads, uro, ENT and gas these days are actually all above 60. Sure there are exceptions in any field, but you can never bet on being the exception, and given the lifestyle oriented crowd graduating these days, the cushier family friendly slots are all going to be hot commodities and hard to get. FM hours tend to increase each year as reimbursements get cut -- many of them are running on all cylinders just to earn what they made last year. Anyone who knows a family doc knows their hours aren't cushy, despite being paid as if they are working part time.

You can be in medicine and have a family, but it's always a precarious balance. You will miss events. You will disappoint people on both sides of the commute. It's the price you pay for being so ambitious. You can't have it all, but you can certainly have some of each. That's what doctors do these days.

I agree with a lot of what you said, but like I said, the poster I was responding to was hyperbolic in his "medicine is your family" business. Granted this is from 2003, but this article from JAMA has the average hours of many fields that range from the mid-40s to the low-60s:

http://www.medfriends.org/specialty_hours_worked.htm

And there are always options. Go into anesthesia...OB has a ton of hours, outpt pain management is 40-45. Go into ob/gyn...gyn onc sucks, uro-gyn or REI are in the 40s/low 50s. And at least what I've encountered is that part-time is more popular than people think (but that just may have been my experience so far).

 

[Law2Doc]

http://www.medfriends.org/specialty_hours_worked.htm

And there are always options. Go into anesthesia...OB has a ton of hours, outpt pain management is 40-45. Go into ob/gyn...gyn onc sucks, uro-gyn or REI are in the 40s/low 50s. And at least what I've encountered is that part-time is more popular than people think (but that just may have been my experience so far).

Even in that 2003 table you linked, gas is an OVER 60 hrs per week specialty. As for part-time being more popular than people think, that was my point. People in our lifestyle oriented generation are fighting for these spots. But at the same time these spots make less and less sense for employers, because the way overhead works, it is more profitable to have one employee work 70 hours than two working 35. So expect part time to be a much harder option to find in the short term.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Do well in med school and go into dermatology. Problem solved.

 

[MrBurns10]

Even in that 2003 table you linked, gas is an OVER 60 hrs per week specialty. As for part-time being more popular than people think, that was my point. People in our lifestyle oriented generation are fighting for these spots. But at the same time these spots make less and less sense for employers, because the way overhead works, it is more profitable to have one employee work 70 hours than two working 35. So expect part time to be a much harder option to find in the short term.

haha ok, it's 61.0 hours, but if you're going to nitpick than I'll say ENT is 53.5 not above 60 as you stated. If you want to work 70+ hours in anesthesia or rads, you're going to make quite a bit. You dont HAVE to do this. Like I said, you can go into pain management and work 45 hours a week. Anyway, we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't mean to pretend that I know about all fields (especially anesthesia), but after talking to many people and reading up on the issue, I know at least that it's very possible to work normal hours in rads and that this is actually quite common. Partners of their own private practices can easily work 70+...but they're also making about $800k (not my statistic, the residents' I've spoken with...and of course, depending on location).

I'd be interested in revisiting this argument in 10-15 years and see where we're both at. It would be amusingly ironic if I'm stuck working 70 hours and you're making bank working 40 🙂

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

It's nice to see most of the posts are supportive of the OP, but one question keeps lingering -

OP, what did you expect from med school?

And hopefully there are pre-meds reading this thread that get a more realistic expectation of medical school.

Good luck, OP!

 

[Samoa]

After three years and two attempts, I'm finally about to start medical school. I've shadowed, done research, studied, MCATed and thought seriously about what it takes to be a physician. I thought I was ready.

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician. I want to have a family life. Working 48hrs. a week isn't what I want. Yet I don't know what else I can do. I've never considered another career. I'm going to see a campus counselor today.

The counselor is a great idea.

I think, in general, that the more you've experienced of life, the harder a transition it is to start med school. And I've been in very similar shoes, myself. Maybe not quite as bad, but certainly bad enough.

When I started med school, I had left a comfortable job, working with people I liked in a mostly great environment, living in a sweet high rise apartment downtown, making enough money to enjoy my life.

For most of my first year, I thought I'd made a huge mistake....wasted years of my life to get in, so I could then waste many more in school and residency. The price just felt too high. I felt out of step with my classmates, and the coursework was just not what I expected. I don't know what I WAS expecting, but certainly not what it was. On top of that, I had a very uncomfortable living situation, and was struggling to make it on a fraction of the income I was used to.

I think it was the contrast that made it hard, as much as anything else.

But over time, I got used to life in med school. I got involved in a few things, and spent some time exploring all the clinical opportunities before me. I made some friends. I figured out where I liked to study, and what study methods worked for me.

Things got better. Slowly but surely.

And now, looking back from the other side of med school (though with many years of training still before me), I think it was not a mistake. The intrinsic rewards of medicine tend to balance out the sacrifices required. It's hard to explain, but at some point, hopefully you'll understand.

--Don't get me wrong, if someone magically took my degree away today, I wouldn't do it again. I don't have it in me to do it twice. But I am glad to have done it once, and that I didn't give up when things looked so dark, and the light at the end of the tunnel was too far away to see.

 

[Orthodoc40]

Anyone have any thoughts on dropping out before I owe any tuition, or at least convincing them to defer me a year (they can replace me with an alternate up until 12 noon tomorrow).

I don't mean to sound flighty, but PA school seems so much more appealing now.

Hey OP - it sounds like orientation was torture for you!! I was there, a year ago, for sure. Every time we had a lunch break, I was ready to run for it.

People are saying, "What did you expect?" but I really do believe that a majority of people have no idea what they are REALLY signing on for when they start med school. Everyone knows it is 'a LOT of work' but there wasn't a single person in my class who didn't wear a look of complete shock, if not near panic after our first week of classes. And then everyone starts adjusting, for the most part.

My first response is that the most you should consider right now is deferring - do not simply drop out. You've worked too hard to give up just after a few days of orientation!! Talk to the counselor, do some more thinking, but see how it goes while giving it the best effort you can right now.

Put behind your choice of schools. Lamenting over that decision is energy you simply don't have to spend right now. And yah, I had to do that, too. What's done is done, where that decision is concerned. Maybe it was right, maybe it was wrong. Maybe there is a reason you don't know yet as to why you chose the school you chose.

 

[Concordia]

Orientation started Tuesday. I've been crying myself to sleep since then. It's finally hitting me how much time and sacrifice it will take to become a physician.

I feel you. Well, actually I have really been too exhausted w/ the moving and the orientation stuff to slow down and really think it through (it's been a week since I've been on SDN ). But I figure once you get into the grove of things, it gets better, right?

 

[Mr hawkings]

It's nice to see most of the posts are supportive of the OP, but one question keeps lingering -

OP, what did you expect from med school?

And hopefully there are pre-meds reading this thread that get a more realistic expectation of medical school.

Good luck, OP!

I dont know ifs its been mentioned but arent we forgetting the 80-hour a week residency period?
Do derm residents have the same hours as dermatologists?

 

[8744]

Once you get the hang of it, first and second year are like a long vacation from the real world. You get weekends off, every federal and state holiday, Spring Break, Christmas break, and even a long summer break between first and second year. It doesn't start to suck until third year and by then it is too late.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

haha ok, it's 61.0 hours, but if you're going to nitpick than I'll say ENT is 53.5 not above 60 as you stated. If you want to work 70+ hours in anesthesia or rads, you're going to make quite a bit. You dont HAVE to do this. Like I said, you can go into pain management and work 45 hours a week. Anyway, we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't mean to pretend that I know about all fields (especially anesthesia), but after talking to many people and reading up on the issue, I know at least that it's very possible to work normal hours in rads and that this is actually quite common. Partners of their own private practices can easily work 70+...but they're also making about $800k (not my statistic, the residents' I've spoken with...and of course, depending on location).

I'd be interested in revisiting this argument in 10-15 years and see where we're both at. It would be amusingly ironic if I'm stuck working 70 hours and you're making bank working 40 🙂

Going to med school with the goal of working 30 hours a week is like expecting to make bank working at McDonald's. Yeah it can happen, and yeah you've got more options in medicine than fries/front counter/drivethru, but really now, medicine is volume and volume is time. It sounds like the OP had his/her share of difficulties even getting into medical school. Not to put anybody down, but in general I think this type of student might have a more difficult time flipping some heretofore hidden academic superstar switch and winding up in derm, ENT, or one of the other 'only' 53-hour-a-week lifestyle specialties.

S/he is having cold feet and also realistically considering, maybe for the first time, what this occupation demands. All well and good and perfectly normal. What would be a huge mistake, I think, is to base your career choice on what the other member of this LDR wants or what your emotions are screaming on any given week. You've got to think about the other 2,000 weeks you've got coming up, so cool down and talk it out with a professional counselor as well as your family before making any hasty decisions. Hope things work out.

 

[GreenShirt]

Thanks for the above posts. I see a counselor at 3pm. My parents come in at 5pm for the white coat ceremony tonight. I have so much else going on as well, emotionally. Long distance relationship, regret over not choosing a certain school. I'm a mess.

Hang in there OP! I had exactly the same thoughts as you did last year. About a month into classes I went to my adviser and told her that I wanted to drop out. I too, was in a long distance relationship. I would sit on the floor and cry when I got home from the airport after visiting him, realizing that this would be the case for years to come. I regretted not choosing another school and wanted to transfer or reapply. There were a lot of tears the first few months.

I ended up muddling my way through first year somehow and learned many lessons the hard way. Hopefully, I'll be able to apply them to MS-2 with better results. The long distance gets easier over time. You may want to consider seeing each other more often even if it burns into your loan money. Considering another school is just wishful thinking that things would be different elsewhere, which they wouldn't. Try to stay balanced between work and play, you don't want to push yourself into the abyss of first year.

Try to give MS-1 a shot. You may get into the grove of things and it won't be so bad. However, it may turn out that you are no longer interested in medicine and it may be best to get out before year 2. As pre-meds, achieving the goal becomes more important than the reality of living it.

Just know that you're not alone in your situation. Many med students than you would expect have gone through the same thing as you have. Hang in there!

 

[Law2Doc]

haha ok, it's 61.0 hours, but if you're going to nitpick than I'll say ENT is 53.5 not above 60 as you stated.

I don't think that the hours are quite accurate today. The post residency hours went up as residents hours got capped and as reimbursement billing created greater incentives to do more procedures per week to keep pace. But I only pointed out the 61 hours from the site you linked because you keep suggesting gas as a lifestyle field, and it kind of isn't. You perhaps don't work particularly hard most of the day, but the day itself tends to be long.

 

[Law2Doc]

Going to med school with the goal of working 30 hours a week is like expecting to make bank working at McDonald's.

I think this sums up the whole concept nicely.

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

Going to med school with the goal of working 30 hours a week is like expecting to make bank working at McDonald's. Yeah it can happen, and yeah you've got more options in medicine than fries/front counter/drivethru, but really now, medicine is volume and volume is time. .

Good point, but also remember there are always anecdotal evidences to be found. Like the guy that went to high school with my dad in the 60's who worked at McD's through high school and college, got a degree in business, and ended up running the Asian market for Mickey D's. 😛

(that was one of those stories I heard over and over growing up about work ethic 🙄)

 

[NeurosurgeryGal]

Don't worry. No matter how horrible this job is, it's still better than saying "you want fries with that?"

 

[ZagDoc]

search around this site, there are plenty of people who are examples of balancing medicine and a life successfully. My 3rd child was just born in May and I start second year in 5 days and I'm doing fine in class and I'm not resented at home. Like others have said, it's doable and possible to succeed at both at the same time. Budget your time, set your priorities and it'll be over before you know it.

Quoted for truth.

I would consider my life in medical school quite balanced.

 

[montessori2md]

I've been reading this trying to decide on an alternative career for the OP and can't really think of one -how do you feel about dental? The students over there seem to have the lifestyle thing figured out.

I know I've seen stats on % of mds who worked part time at some point in their career, and was surprised at how high that % was, given the hit you take in malpractice.

Have your family come and visit you at the office/hospital on holidays, it'll be fine 😀

As a person who is currently working 45 hours a week, I think that family time is overrated. Most middleclass americans get their "family time" eating doritos while watching american idol -seriously, you want to miss out on that? To go save lives? Get a housekeeper and someone to do the landscaping. Don't plan on baking homemade bread or souffle. Don't have a tv in your house. Block out the kids' ballgames on your work schedule. You'll have plenty of time.

 

[michaelrack]

There's always psychiatry. There are a lot of 35-40 hr/wk psych jobs out there that pay in the range of $125-150 K per year, plus benefits.

However, during psych residency, you have to be prepared to work 50 hrs/wk.

 

[michaelrack]

Once you get the hang of it, first and second year are like a long vacation from the real world. You get weekends off, every federal and state holiday, Spring Break, Christmas break, and even a long summer break between first and second year. It doesn't start to suck until third year and by then it is too late.

👍

The first 2 years of medical school were great. I thought that the 3rd year of med school was bad, but then came residency, which was even worse.

 

[Orthodoc40]

I've been reading this trying to decide on an alternative career for the OP and can't really think of one -how do you feel about dental? The students over there seem to have the lifestyle thing figured out.

Them, and podiatrists. If you can stand being around feet that much, it is actually a really good lifestyle, with excellent pay.

 

[Orthodoc40]

But I only pointed out the 61 hours from the site you linked because you keep suggesting gas as a lifestyle field, and it kind of isn't. You perhaps don't work particularly hard most of the day, but the day itself tends to be long.

Isn't this one of the driving forces behind the trend for more applicants in anesthesia? (That people consider it a 'lifestyle' field?) That is what everyone I know who is aiming for it says, anyway. Boy are they all in for a big surprise!

 

[donkeyboy]

Thanks for the above posts. I see a counselor at 3pm. My parents come in at 5pm for the white coat ceremony tonight. I have so much else going on as well, emotionally. Long distance relationship, regret over not choosing a certain school. I'm a mess.

i feel your pain, i regret not choosing the school where my gf lives, this long dist thing is really taxing my mind. and im stressed out over not just struggles i will have to go thru for the next four years, but also im not really looking forward to orientation because its so annoying how everyone is so desperate to meet everyone else and put on a happy and fun attitude, that's so not my personality and i feel it'll be torture for me next week. OP i wish the best to you, i say give it try cuz you tried so hard to get here, if it's not for you, you'll know soon enough and then you wont live with the regret that you never gave it a fair shake.

 

[myry]

It's easy to get overwhelmed in the beginning since it is all new. I remember a second year telling me that the worst day is the first day and then it gets better from there. You need a support system, though, so it's especially hard without family and friends nearby. Just remember you've been given an amazing opportunity and take it one day at a time 🙂

 

[NonTradMed]

To the OP, given that you had spent and effort to get into medical school, give it a shot. You probably have cold feet right now. Please don't do anything rash like quit at the first sign of trouble---you will have a lot of trouble getting back into medical school should you change your mind. Remember that med school isn't like college where you can drop out at your leisure.

You should also keep in mind that medicine has alot of variety. Do some research and you will probably find your niche within it. It is one of the reasons why I choose not to do one of the other healthcare fields.

Also, keep in mind:

Get a housekeeper and someone to do the landscaping. Don't plan on baking homemade bread or souffle. Don't have a tv in your house. Block out the kids' ballgames on your work schedule. You'll have plenty of time.

That's the one thing I think people sometimes forgets....how people with regular jobs can't afford the housekeeper and landscaper. I plan on spending more time at the office than my parents, but I also expect to have someone do stuff around the house. Right now, my parents work 8-10 hours/day (typical corporate hours) but then come home and have to cook and clean and do yardwork. I figure, why not find a job that you like, and work hard at it so you can make enough money to pay others to do the stuff I don't like to do (cooking/cleaning/etc)? Medicine allows me to make enough money to get extra help should I want it.