feeling the "rush" of med school pace...

[Quik]

I'm taking two 3 credit bio courses (190, 191) condensed into a five week summer session, concurrently at the moment. Now, I know the depth and difficulty of the material cannot compare, but I can't help but think that at least the pace is comparable to that of med school. The good news, is that while it's kicking my ass and one day ill-spent leads to chaos and a potential disaster, the pressure and pace feel great. I'm able to find rhythm studying all day and still enjoy it. Anyway, while it definitely interrupts having fun on weekends, and undoubtedly my fourth of July weekend plans, as I'm returning to 5, yes 5, exams in the following week including the two finals... I do have a point to this, and that is, if you want to experience a learning pace unlike any other that I had never experienced in undergrad or even grad school, take a few condensed summer courses concurrently. You might like it.

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[sazerac]

I'm taking two 3 credit bio courses (190, 191) condensed into a five week summer session, concurrently at the moment. Now, I know the depth and difficulty of the material cannot compare, but I can't help but think that at least the pace is comparable to that of med school. The good news, is that while it's kicking my ass and one day ill-spent leads to chaos and a potential disaster, the pressure and pace feel great. I'm able to find rhythm studying all day and still enjoy it. Anyway, while it definitely interrupts having fun on weekends, and undoubtedly my fourth of July weekend plans, as I'm returning to 5, yes 5, exams in the following week including the two finals... I do have a point to this, and that is, if you want to experience a learning pace unlike any other that I had never experienced in undergrad or even grad school, take a few condensed summer courses concurrently. You might like it.

They say that pre-clinical medical school is akin to 36 credit-hours per year. So taking 6 credits in a month might even exceed the med school load.

 

[Goro]

Sounds about right

They say that pre-clinical medical school is akin to 36 credit-hours per year. So taking 6 credits in a month might even exceed the med school load.

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm taking two 3 credit bio courses (190, 191) condensed into a five week summer session, concurrently at the moment. Now, I know the depth and difficulty of the material cannot compare, but I can't help but think that at least the pace is comparable to that of med school. The good news, is that while it's kicking my ass and one day ill-spent leads to chaos and a potential disaster, the pressure and pace feel great. I'm able to find rhythm studying all day and still enjoy it. Anyway, while it definitely interrupts having fun on weekends, and undoubtedly my fourth of July weekend plans, as I'm returning to 5, yes 5, exams in the following week including the two finals... I do have a point to this, and that is, if you want to experience a learning pace unlike any other that I had never experienced in undergrad or even grad school, take a few condensed summer courses concurrently. You might like it.

To be honest I wouldn't have a goal of trying to simulate the pace of med school. Med school is more like jumping out of a car heading for a cliff -- you hope you can do it when you need to but sure wouldn't want to practice it ahead of time.

At many stages of my premed career i was told that the heavy load I was taking should be somewhat similar to that of med school. It wasn't. You just go about things very differently in med school, and the struggle is much more the volume than the information and more importantly the level of detail expected of you compared to college courses. So IMHO you really can't usefully simulate it without first experiencing it. Just take things at whatever pace will let you get A's -- that will better serve you than practice St high volume.

 

[alpinism]

Possibly. Although IMO its much harder to maintain a pace like that for 2+ years compared to 5 weeks.

When I studied tropical medicine at Bloomberg, we had 16 credits crammed into 1 month during the summer. Lecture and lab from 8am-5pm M-F then exams every Friday from 3-5pm. Probably one of the most intense classroom schedules I've ever had.

 

[ejw5075]

I'm taking two 3 credit bio courses (190, 191) condensed into a five week summer session, concurrently at the moment. Now, I know the depth and difficulty of the material cannot compare, but I can't help but think that at least the pace is comparable to that of med school. The good news, is that while it's kicking my ass and one day ill-spent leads to chaos and a potential disaster, the pressure and pace feel great. I'm able to find rhythm studying all day and still enjoy it. Anyway, while it definitely interrupts having fun on weekends, and undoubtedly my fourth of July weekend plans, as I'm returning to 5, yes 5, exams in the following week including the two finals... I do have a point to this, and that is, if you want to experience a learning pace unlike any other that I had never experienced in undergrad or even grad school, take a few condensed summer courses concurrently. You might like it.

Goodness this sounds like much more work than medical school. Also, most people will tell you the content of what you learn in medical school is not difficult, it's how much you have to retain and learning how to apply it for patient care.

My husband is in undergrad right now doing the summer school thing and taking 3 classes and he puts in far more time than my classmates and I did the first two years. All the assignments and exams and...

 

[el_duderino]

How do you have five exams in one week with just two courses??

 

[Quik]

How do you have five exams in one week with just two courses??

Each course is segmented into units, with an exam for each unit. I have two exams Monday of next week, finishing a unit for each class. Then I finish another unit on Thursday, then take both comprehensive finals Friday... 2, 3, 5!

To be honest I wouldn't have a goal of trying to simulate the pace of med school. So IMHO you really can't usefully simulate it without first experiencing it. Just take things at whatever pace will let you get A's -- that will better serve you than practice St high volume.

I really didn't look into this with any kind of expectation to match the pace of MS, just after experiencing it, likened it to my perception of what that pace is. Finding out that at least for 5 weeks, I can do it and still enjoy doing it is reassuring (something all of us need at times); having that dose of ass kicking, while kicking ass is a gratifying and useful experience.

I definitely see your point, and while I agree that one should proceed at the pace that assures them A's, there's a flipside in that there is no controlling the pace in Med School and if you haven't tested your own resolve to excel under a heavy load, then there's bound to be a bit of self doubt on your ability to handle the "firehose," and very likely a big adjustment in maximizing your learning efficiency.

 

[amberlynnp13]

I'm taking two 3 credit bio courses (190, 191) condensed into a five week summer session, concurrently at the moment. Now, I know the depth and difficulty of the material cannot compare, but I can't help but think that at least the pace is comparable to that of med school. The good news, is that while it's kicking my ass and one day ill-spent leads to chaos and a potential disaster, the pressure and pace feel great. I'm able to find rhythm studying all day and still enjoy it. Anyway, while it definitely interrupts having fun on weekends, and undoubtedly my fourth of July weekend plans, as I'm returning to 5, yes 5, exams in the following week including the two finals... I do have a point to this, and that is, if you want to experience a learning pace unlike any other that I had never experienced in undergrad or even grad school, take a few condensed summer courses concurrently. You might like it.

Right now I'm in my second week of chem1 it is five weeks long. . Once that is up I'm taking an algebra/ trig class and chem2 at the same time and both are five weeks long as we'll!! Busy busy!

 

[Law2Doc]

... there's a flipside in that there is no controlling the pace in Med School and if you haven't tested your own resolve to excel under a heavy load, then there's bound to be a bit of self doubt on your ability to handle the "firehose," and very likely a big adjustment in maximizing your learning efficiency.

You will still have self doubt and a big adjustment though. (and you should, it's normal). It's like eating an apple and saying you know what to expect (or have some advantage) from eating an orange.