Do you think incoming MS1's will start online?

[Doggeronie]

At my school we're scheduled to return to rotations in the first week of August. I think that makes sense and I think it's likely to happen.

But pre-clinical years seem like a different story. I'm hoping that they will be able to start in person, as I don't want my friends who are incoming this year to be subjected to the travesty that is online medical school.

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[slowthai]

But why is it a travesty though? This is what we do everyday, lol. The only thing that truly sucks is not having gym access.

 

[Goro]

There are going to be 180+ answers for this, because the med schools are all flying solo on making a decision. HMS is 100% online this semester; my learned colleagues LizzyM and Homeskool tell me that their schools haven't decided yet.

My school is going to have a mix of online plus live, social distanced events. Still working out the details for that!

Wise @Moko, @Angus Avagadro @gyngyn , @Maimonides1 @Faha @lord999 @Med Ed can you share what's going on with your schools?

I'll bet we see a range of responses!

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Does it really matter? Other than not making friends and not getting a proper anatomy lab experience, I dont think they'll be missing out much. Most of us in pre-clinical years skip class and watch lectures at 2x speed anyway. I'd say your friends are gonna be lucky to study and do things their own way.

 

[Doggeronie]

But why is it a travesty though? This is what we do everyday, lol. The only thing that truly sucks is not having gym access.

Lack of socialization and all of the personal life aspects that go along with med school. It was really a transformative period for many of us in my class

 

[slowthai]

Lack of socialization and all of the personal life aspects that go along with med school. It was really a transformative period for many of us in my class

Hmm. Can't relate

 

[Pepe18]

My friends at a bunch of different institutions in different areas of the country are doing virtual orientation for residency now. I can see things going either way for med schools.

Don’t NY state schools also give in state tuition if you live there for a year? NY is a hotspot and all their incoming class either lives in NY or will be moving to NY anyway to save over $20,000 in tuition per year for the rest of med school. Other states allow reclassification after living instate for a year. I wonder how those schools will handle things if most of their students will be moving to the area or if those states will waive the requirement to live there for a full year

 

[sharkbyte]

SDN definitely seems to be filled with a lot of people who didn't want to make friends in med school. Seems weird to me. Even the most anti-social, never to be seen people in my class had a good friend or two

 

[Doggeronie]

SDN definitely seems to be filled with a lot of people who didn't want to make friends in med school. Seems weird to me. Even the most anti-social, never to be seen people in my class had a good friend or two

Honestly lol, people here are always talking about how no one in their class is nice or cooperative or fun to hang out with
But in our class we all get along pretty well. Sure we have different friend groups but many of them overlap and intersect and most of us get along fine.

Med school definitely provides a lot of opportunities to socialize and grow as a person. It's a huge journey all of us embark upon together in first year.

 

[slowthai]

SDN definitely seems to be filled with a lot of people who didn't want to make friends in med school. Seems weird to me. Even the most anti-social, never to be seen people in my class had a good friend or two

The problem is that a lot of us don't make friends with people in med school because it just doesn't happen for us. And the friendships that do occur are typically pretty shallow. It's unfortunate.

I imagine that residency will be better for me because it's way more intimate. You're in a much smaller class, and you're in the trenches, daily. You're constantly talking to each other and working together as a team. You've got a major shared interest (your specialty of choice). I've always heard the bonds formed during residency last a lifetime.

Opportunities to "click" with someone will abound. That's what I'm hoping for, at least.

 

[Doggeronie]

The problem is that a lot of us don't make friends with people in med school because it just doesn't happen for us. And the friendships that do occur are typically pretty shallow. It's unfortunate.

I imagine that residency will be better for me because it's way more intimate. You're in a much smaller class, and you're in the trenches, daily. You're constantly talking to each other and working together as a team. You've got a major shared interest (your specialty of choice). I've always heard the bonds formed during residency last a lifetime.

Opportunities to "click" with someone will abound. That's what I hope, at least.

That stinks bro. It didn't happen for me in undergrad either but I had a blast in med school. Hopefully it works out better for you in residency.

 

[slowthai]

That stinks bro. It didn't happen for me in undergrad either but I had a blast in med school. Hopefully it works out better for you in residency.

Thanks. The funny thing is that it actually happened for me in undergrad, like 2.5 years in (lol). A lot of it seems to just be based on chance and how conducive the environment is.

 

[Small Cell Carcinoma]

Yes to MS1s starting online. Clinicals may resume in some places this summer, but it will likely be short lived once cases spike again in the fall.

 

[Maimonides1]

There are going to be 180+ answers for this, because the med schools are all flying solo on making a decision. HMS is 100% online this semester; my learned colleagues LizzyM and Homeskool tell me that their schools haven't decided yet.

My school is going to have a mix of online plus live, social distanced events. Still working out the details for that!

Wise @Moko, @Angus Avagadro @gyngyn , @Maimonides1 @Faha @lord999 @Med Ed can you share what's going on with your schools?

I'll bet we see a range of responses!

I would like to borrow @LizzyM description in advising premed on ECs: " You have to smell patients to be clinical.."
I believe this is more true in Medical school.., even in pandemic times with little caveat to do it behind masks and respirators to engage with our valued subjects of study..!!

We are all anxious to go back to whatever considered new normal in medicine..

So far:
Graduations were virtual,
Clinicals are gearing up for Covid-19 new normal this summer,
Fall classes/ lectures are planned as usual in combination with on-line modules barring any changes in national and local health advisories!

Beside professional friendships, students learn quite a bit from a healthy dose of competition with their high achieving peers !

 

[beaglesbagles]

First year nights out are crucial for making friends.* To miss this will be a huge negative, but since everyone will be in the same boat, you can all meet up later. I'd be proactive on the class facebook groups so people know you exist when the time comes to meet up. You need friends.

*I'm 32, barely drink and went out maybe 5 times in undergrad. But believe you me I went out in med school, just to get to know my classmates. No regrets, now I have friends.

 

[Doggeronie]

First year nights out are crucial for making friends.* To miss this will be a huge negative, but since everyone will be in the same boat, you can all meet up later. I'd be proactive on the class facebook groups so people know you exist when the time comes to meet up. You need friends.

*I'm 32, barely drink and went out maybe 5 times in undergrad. But believe you me I went out in med school, just to get to know my classmates. No regrets, now I have friends.

Yeah, there's plenty of us who don't drink. And plenty of us who have fun together without drinking. It's just a great time to meet a lot of new people, and you don't get these kinds of opportunities often in life.

 

[Dr. Anonymouss]

My medical school had a virtual open house and discussion with the dean recently. He openly stated our fall semester will be "blended" with both online and in person learning. I am going to assume all lectures will be online, but anatomy labs and clinical learning will be in person.

 

[Naruhodo]

My medical school had a virtual open house and discussion with the dean recently. He openly stated our fall semester will be "blended" with both online and in person learning. I am going to assume all lectures will be online, but anatomy labs and clinical learning will be in person.

Yup, from what I've heard it sounds like recorded lectures, and online large group sessions, but in person small groups (<10 people who you do problem-based learning with). The small groups will also apply to staggered anatomy labs.

 

[Doggeronie]

Yes to MS1s starting online. Clinicals may resume in some places this summer, but it will likely be short lived once cases spike again in the fall.

Honestly I think this is more pessimistic than realistic. I don't think another series of lockdowns is going to be accepted very easily

 

[Doggeronie]

Yup, from what I've heard it sounds like recorded lectures, and online large group sessions, but in person small groups (<10 people who you do problem-based learning with). The small groups will also apply to staggered anatomy labs.

This sounds like the most likely scenario IMO. Executing this wave of lockdowns was difficult enough and people resisted it A LOT.

I don't think we're gonna see another total lockdown unless the situation gets absolutely and totally f'ed.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Honestly lol, people here are always talking about how no one in their class is nice or cooperative or fun to hang out with
But in our class we all get along pretty well. Sure we have different friend groups but many of them overlap and intersect and most of us get along fine.

Med school definitely provides a lot of opportunities to socialize and grow as a person. It's a huge journey all of us embark upon together in first year.

If everyone around you is the problem...

Given how a lot of those people act on here, it doesn’t surprise me that they don’t get along with their classmates.

 

[justaperson274939135]

with some colleges deciding to go fully remote and even those that are committed to having some level of in person instruction deciding to not have students return after thanksgiving, do you think it would look hypocritical for med schools to still be doing in person or even a hybrids at that point if some schools have backed off/ ended the in person semester early (esp with this being for the sake of public health, to flatten the curve and protect our healthcare workers)? i know that the situation for med school is not the same thing as colleges for many reasons, but most people don't and the optics could not be great.

 

[sargon2123]

SDN definitely seems to be filled with a lot of people who didn't want to make friends in med school. Seems weird to me. Even the most anti-social, never to be seen people in my class had a good friend or two

The sooner I discovered this the more sense posts here made

 

[deleted1005378]

My school’s white coat ceremony was just moved to two years from now - sometime in summer of 2022. Orientation is now hybrid - mix of in person and online. Not sure about courses yet.

 

[Amba]

The problem is that a lot of us don't make friends with people in med school because it just doesn't happen for us. And the friendships that do occur are typically pretty shallow. It's unfortunate.

I imagine that residency will be better for me because it's way more intimate. You're in a much smaller class, and you're in the trenches, daily. You're constantly talking to each other and working together as a team. You've got a major shared interest (your specialty of choice). I've always heard the bonds formed during residency last a lifetime.

Opportunities to "click" with someone will abound. That's what I'm hoping for, at least.

Counter arguments:
- much smaller group of peers in residency than med school (e.g. smaller probability of finding people you click with)
- the age when most people are in medical school is transformative; interests, hobbies, dislikes all become much less liquid and more solidified as you push towards 30 years old
- depending on location, specialty, etc.. you will likely go from ~5% of your entering medical school class being married to upwards of 40-50%; similar trends with having children
- again, depending on your specialty, drastically less free time than in medical school

I think you're lying to yourself if you think your social life will magically improve in residency. Not impossible, and I'm not trying to sound harsh, but it's unlikely. Medical school imo is the prime time in life to be social and meet new people, which has been the experience of most of my colleagues and friends as well.

 

[Cornfed101]

I'm cool with starting online as long as I can find a good place to study. I don't need my 6 y.o. and 2 y.o. interrupting me every 2 minutes.

 

[slowthai]

Counter arguments:
- much smaller group of peers in residency than med school (e.g. smaller probability of finding people you click with)
- the age when most people are in medical school is transformative; interests, hobbies, dislikes all become much less liquid and more solidified as you push towards 30 years old
- depending on location, specialty, etc.. you will likely go from ~5% of your entering medical school class being married to upwards of 40-50%; similar trends with having children
- again, depending on your specialty, drastically less free time than in medical school

I think you're lying to yourself if you think your social life will magically improve in residency. Not impossible, and I'm not trying to sound harsh, but it's unlikely. Medical school imo is the prime time in life to be social and meet new people, which has been the experience of most of my colleagues and friends as well.

I have no reason to lie to myself, lol. This is just my take on my situation. And it's not even about having a big social life, honestly. For me, it's about finding that one person that you click with. It only takes one. If it doesn't happen in med school or residency, it'll suck for sure. But it is what it is. You can't force these things.

 

[ak427]

I wouldn't say that I dislike my classmates, but I'm definitely not close to people here like I was in college, which I am totally fine with. I have friends outside of school that I enjoy hanging out with during my free weekends. Being a year or two older than a lot of my classmates, I'm not as interested in partying and going out like I used to and most of my friendships with my classmates are honestly pretty superficial. With that said, if we have to be online, I would personally not be disappointed.

 

[DadIsFat]

I'm cool with starting online as long as I can find a good place to study. I don't need my 6 y.o. and 2 y.o. interrupting me every 2 minutes.

This is my exact fear.

 

[deleted1005514]

I'm cool with starting online as long as I can find a good place to study. I don't need my 6 y.o. and 2 y.o. interrupting me every 2 minutes.

Some contingency plans for this: some medical schools may still allow you to come to the building to study in the library, as long as there are fewer than x number of people and they are properly social distancing (I know my school is, because some students don't have ideal study situations at home or reliable internet access). If not, reach out to your academic advisors/student support/SGA immediately for help advocating for what you need to be successful.

Alternatively, plan to work your schedule so you can get the hardest part of your studying or the bulk of it done before the kids get up or after they're down for the night.

I've had teens and college kids trying to transition to online classwork, do zoom classes, and my husband works from home at least two days a week. Sometimes I want to pull my hair out trying to navigate who needs a quiet space or who is hogging the bandwidth. My son practices his band instrument in our closet, because we live in an apartment complex and it's loud. You do what you gotta do.

 

[Allosteopath]

I'm cool with starting online as long as I can find a good place to study. I don't need my 6 y.o. and 2 y.o. interrupting me every 2 minutes.

This is exactly the environment which will train you for the numerous distractions that you will face while working as a physician! But I really feel ya.

 

[sargon2123]

Counter arguments:
- much smaller group of peers in residency than med school (e.g. smaller probability of finding people you click with)
- the age when most people are in medical school is transformative; interests, hobbies, dislikes all become much less liquid and more solidified as you push towards 30 years old
- depending on location, specialty, etc.. you will likely go from ~5% of your entering medical school class being married to upwards of 40-50%; similar trends with having children
- again, depending on your specialty, drastically less free time than in medical school

I think you're lying to yourself if you think your social life will magically improve in residency. Not impossible, and I'm not trying to sound harsh, but it's unlikely. Medical school imo is the prime time in life to be social and meet new people, which has been the experience of most of my colleagues and friends as well.

Yeah I feel like I’m forming my last true social circles these next 3-4 years srs

 

[CaffineDoc24]

Lack of socialization and all of the personal life aspects that go along with med school. It was really a transformative period for many of us in my class

Really worried about not making friends too. I’m moderately extroverted though, so for me socializing is a must for sanity. On top of that, If things are closed due to covid, could be hard to have a real experience in a new city. Kinda sad cuz I hear first year is when you have the most time.