How many classes have you liked in medical school?

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speeddemon

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I'm pretty sure I've hated every single class I've taken so far in medical school (clinical skills training, genetics, biochem, histo, anatomy and gross lab to some extent).

Because of this, I'm usually behind and have to struggle like crazy at the end just to barely pass.

It seems like my classmates enjoy most of these classes, and I'm beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with me.

So, how many classes did you guys genuinely like in M1 year?
 
I'm pretty sure I've hated every single class I've taken so far in medical school (clinical skills training, genetics, biochem, histo, anatomy and gross lab to some extent).

Because of this, I'm usually behind and have to struggle like crazy at the end just to barely pass.

It seems like my classmates enjoy most of these classes, and I'm beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with me.

So, how many classes did you guys genuinely like in M1 year?

M1 sucks, biochem is only good in the context of path. hang in there.
 
I enjoy learning about the majority of these fields, just not when it is taught poorly and then I am responsible for knowing it a few days later.
 
i like learning about pathology when it's dr sattar explaining things to me in a way that makes sense
i can't pay attention to path lectures in class
i liked renal, i liked cardiology. anatomy, histology, embryo were at the bottom of the list
 
I'm pretty sure I've hated every single class I've taken so far in medical school (clinical skills training, genetics, biochem, histo, anatomy and gross lab to some extent).

Because of this, I'm usually behind and have to struggle like crazy at the end just to barely pass.

It seems like my classmates enjoy most of these classes, and I'm beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with me.

So, how many classes did you guys genuinely like in M1 year?

Like, as in enjoyed the class? Or like, as in like the topic?

I hated all of my medical school classes. Something about that invisible hurdle to get over that made me despise the topics as I was learning them. Now, that I'm done with it all I actually enjoy most of the topics in medicine. Anatomy? Amazing! Pathology? How does it go so wrong? Cardiology? So that's how that works in real life!

Just get through it. Grades and understanding now have nothing to do with how good of a doctor you will be when you are done. Certainly, doing well now and knowing where to look when you need help is important. No one expects anyone to know everything. The reason medicine is split in to so many sub-specialties is to find people who love what they do for each field and bring them in when they are needed. The reason medical education is so intense and so broad, is so that you can address things that are simplistic yourself, and know when to call in the specialist.
 
I'm pretty sure I've hated every single class I've taken so far in medical school (clinical skills training, genetics, biochem, histo, anatomy and gross lab to some extent).

Because of this, I'm usually behind and have to struggle like crazy at the end just to barely pass.

It seems like my classmates enjoy most of these classes, and I'm beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with me.

So, how many classes did you guys genuinely like in M1 year?

As an above poster said, M1 sucks. I don't remember "liking" any of my classes last year. The closest I would say to me "liking" a class was anatomy, only because I thought the dissections were fun. That's about it though. Hang in there. Second year (so far) is MUCH more interesting and clinically relevant.

Edit: Can anyone tell me how to change my signature? It's been like that for over a year now, can't figure out how to change it.
 
I loved physiology because it was more understanding than memorization. If you knew the basic principles of each organ system, you would be just fine for 80-90% of the material. I enjoyed biochem but I can see why people hate it. The rest of M1 sucks. Histo/embryo/anatomy are just awful classes.

M2, I'm enjoying Micro and Path. Pharm is boring, but necessary so you get through it. Pretty sure 90%+ of this stuff will never be used again after Step 1 though. Going through the cytokine cascade has about 0% utility in the clinics.
 
It seems like my classmates enjoy most of these classes, and I'm beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with me.

Don't let it get to you. It's just a bunch of bullsh*t from people- most of which are probably not far off from your performance.
 
Winning
 
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I will admit that I am less than 5 weeks into MS1. But the only part that I have "hated" has been the PBL sessions. My school is experimenting with PBL to be seriously implemented for next year, so my class has a few practice sessions. They are poorly written, full of errors, poorly executed, and there is a pre-quiz that is included in our grade for anatomy.

The rest of it I find fascinating. I like the gross anatomy, and the lab is the best part. I like the embryology lectures because it makes the anatomy start to make sense. We have had a day of using ultrasound machines on each other. That was a lot of fun, and I hope we do more.

I even find the "how to be a doctor" class a little interesting. It is at least relevant because I have a half-day in a clinic that the attending sends me into some of the room ahead of him and has me practice what I am learning that week. Two weeks ago it was lung sounds, so I listened to a bunch of lungs. Next week are heart sounds, so I will be doing a bunch of hearts. Then I need to practice presenting my findings to him.

Maybe sometime in the next year or two I will have the newbie eagerness trained out of me and I will become as cynical and jaded as some of the rest of you. 🙂

dsoz
 
lol the worst thing about pbl is that it's mandatory
no one wants to sit in a classroom for hours early in the morning while classmates that are just as dull as you talk about things they looked up on wikipedia 20 mins before it started

i'd rather have an expert in the field tell me what i need to know using a powerpoint talk that i can watch at 2x speed in the comfort of my home with the option of pausing when i get bored or overwhelmed
 
lol the worst thing about pbl is that it's mandatory
no one wants to sit in a classroom for hours early in the morning while classmates that are just as dull as you talk about things they looked up on wikipedia 20 mins before it started

i'd rather have an expert in the field tell me what i need to know using a powerpoint talk that i can watch at 2x speed in the comfort of my home with the option of pausing when i get bored or overwhelmed

👍👍

PBL is such a crock of ****. It's pretty much inmates running the asylum.

Whatever, pre-meds (including me back in the day) are in love with it, and so is the LCME, so I'm sure it will continue to spread.

WRT OP's original question, I liked anatomy, pathophys...that's pretty much it. Most of the classes were interesting at times, but the style of medical school doesn't really allow you sit back and enjoy the fruits of each topic. Learn it, regurg it, move on.
 
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I enjoyed anatomy, neuro, and psychiatry in first year. So far second year material has been interesting, but 10000x harder than first year.

Best thing about second year: no more pbl or tbl!!!!
 
Oh man pbl is such garbage.

lol the worst thing about pbl is that it's mandatory
no one wants to sit in a classroom for hours early in the morning while classmates that are just as dull as you talk about things they looked up on wikipedia 20 mins before it started

i'd rather have an expert in the field tell me what i need to know using a powerpoint talk that i can watch at 2x speed in the comfort of my home with the option of pausing when i get bored or overwhelmed

👍👍

PBL is such a crock of ****. It's pretty much inmates running the asylum.

Whatever, pre-meds (including me back in the day) are in love with it, and so is the LCME, so I'm sure it will continue to spread.

WRT OP's original question, I liked anatomy, pathophys...that's pretty much it. Most of the classes were interesting at times, but the style of medical school doesn't really allow you sit back and enjoy the fruits of each topic. Learn it, regurg it, move on.
 
Enjoy biochem a lot.

Embryology could be likable if it were taught a little bit better.

Anatomy I don't mind.

I could write best selling books about how much I hate histology.
 
if you enjoyed m1 subjects the most:

-you are still a m1


Biochem is not handled very well by most professors at m1, biochem pathology is just gimmicks as most of those are very rare diseases that have not many management options. Ohh look this enzyme is missing interesting.
The real gold about biochem is all the parameters that will help you to manage very sick people.
 
I loved anatomy. I liked microbiology, and neuro.

I hated everything else. I wanted to end myself during cardio, biochem, and GI. I really, really, really hated those subjects.
 
Anatomy is fun, though our first practical is just around the corner so that's subject to change.

Biochem is bearable because it's mostly review from undergrad at a faster pace.

Histo would be somewhat interesting if I didn't go through it knowing that they will later test me using ****ty low res slides that don't look like what they show when they teach it.

Organ systems start soon, hopefully things will pick up then.
 
I like boichem...I dislike anatomy...I really..really...dislike anatomy. It's cool to read anatomy and see clinical relevances...but the lab is frustrating. We usually can't find half the things we need to, and can't make heads or tails of what we're seeing.

A lot of it also depends on how the courses are organized and taught, you might love a subject, but if it's badly taught, and stresses you out, you're probably not gonna like it.
 
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I love path and pharm (note: I never go to pharm lecture) this year.

I liked Biochem, neuro, and physio last year.

I found anatomy to be one of the worst academic experiences of my life, and I made it through my lecture portion with a 69.9%, but I felt like I learned the important material really well.

Just get yourself through this first year. Seriously. Pass everything, relax, and watch as much Netflix as possible. Just get through it.
 
I think I dislike it more than others because I am always behind.

We have 20 lectures for our test next Friday, and I have legit not even seen 10 of them right now.

I don't even know how I'm going to pass this time around.
 
I like all of my classes (biochemistry and anatomy), but absolutely despise histology and ETHICS! don't get me started on how pointless I believe ethics is...
 
I liked Cell Biology a lot, mostly because I liked the subject matter and our lecturer was great.

Anatomy is stupid and the lab is a waste of time. Too many minutes spent going "hurrrrr what's this artery" only to find that we got it wrong anyways at the review tomorrow.
 
Like, as in enjoyed the class? Or like, as in like the topic?
I hated all of my medical school classes. .

You're not just whistling dixie.

Just get through it. Grades and understanding now have nothing to do with how good of a doctor you will be when you are done.

The PhD Professors are the worst. They try their darndest to convince the students that if you do not do well on their exams, you are going to be a terrible doctor.

How many classes have I liked in MD school?

None.

An older classmate told me recently that everytime he drives to campus, he feels like he is going to Prison. I busted out laughing....b/c he is right!

Another classmate, also a non-trad with a near 4.0 GPA, hates our school, boycotts classes and has nothing good to say about his MD school experience. The professors hate him b/c he is doing it without them.

Apparently quite a few of us don't care for MD courses either.

I attended a medical conference recently with some former clients of mine in the industry where I worked - Oncology. The speakers were riveting, the topics kept me on the edge of my seat, the presenters were sharp as tacks, seemed balanced and witty. My friends who paid for my conference registration kept telling me they are waiting for me to join them in the field of medicine. I left the conference jazzed, psyched and pumped. The following Monday I drove to campus the next day and my heart sank. My better half is always rooting for me, cheering me on, as are my in-laws. I tell them little b/c I don't want to disillusion them. The MD education is a fraud.

At the medical conference I quizzed some of my physician friends and guests in attendance about MS1-MS2 course info. As expected, they had forgotten the details. Hell, I've forgotten the details! If I were to believe the PhD professors, I would conclude these physicians are terrible. Truth is they are specialists in their fields, and one of them was a presenter at the conference. All of the other speakers kept deferring to him b/c he had killer studies throughout his presentation. But not even he could remember metabolic pathways as we gathered around the food at the hotel conference room, and we remarked about all of the bad food being served and all of the fat doctors eating it

Certainly, doing well now and knowing where to look when you need help is important.

MD school is not helping nor is it reality. It's just a box on a list to check off.

My physician friends are where it's at. I have to check the box on my present list to get where they are.

Just get through it.

Off in search of Endorphins at the gym. Ooorraaahhh!
 
Physiology (esp pulm and cv)
Pathology
Radiology
Emergency Med
Wilderness Med

There's crappy professors at every school, some more than others. But, that's what makes the good ones so worthwhile.

At the same time, there's a reason why so many schools are switching to 1.5yr pre clinicals. There's a ton useless garbage taught in the 1st 2 yrs.
 
I thought I didn't like anatomy.

Then biochem started...

Turns out I liked anatomy.

It gets better. Biochem is the low point of ms1. Also immuno. :meanie:

I'm actually feeling similarly now though...thought I hated the heart, turns out I hate the kidney even more. Here's to hoping I won't hate the lungs quite as much...
 
My undergrad major was in exercise physiology, so I really liked a lot of the topics that's I'd spent time on with that- cardio, anatomy, MSK, even respiratory and Neuro, to some degree. Also really liked Emergency. Really did not like biochem, immuno, renal, etc. Other subjects were okay.

That was the content, though- I really was not a fan of the lectures, especially the poor presentation of material, random expectations of study focus, poorly written questions, and emphasis on non-clinical crap that wasn't even on boards and didn't really contribute to my future proficiency as a physician. Hooray for PhD's...

Our clinical skills course was also useless. A lot of standardized patients, which was nice, but it emphasized rote memorization and jumping through hoops rather than learning to perform a physical with thought and intention. Probably helpful for COMLEX PE, which I guess was the point, but less helpful for the real world.

...don't get me started on our interprofessional education course, either. XD
 
Loved/loving
Physio
Pathological Physiology
Intro to clinical med

Meh:
Anatomy
Genetics´

Hated:
Biochemistry (seriously, the amount of detail they expect us to know is ridiculous)
Embriology (would have been better if it wasn't a separate subject from anatomy, so mindnumbingly boring)


Sorry for any mistakes/typos, sent from my phone.
 
It gets better. Biochem is the low point of ms1. Also immuno. :meanie:

I'm actually feeling similarly now though...thought I hated the heart, turns out I hate the kidney even more. Here's to hoping I won't hate the lungs quite as much...

lol people talk about dyscrasias and im just like wat
 
When you guys say you don't like something...could you be more specific why you don't like it?

Even I'm a little confused about why I liked biochem and immunology. You'd think memorizing a bunch of weird little enzyme names or cytokines would just be lame but the processes to which they are tied are just really fascinating that it feels kind of empowering, no?

I get why anatomy sucks. Other than clinical anatomy, anatomy is just...ugh. Or maybe it was just very poorly taught for me. I'm not sure.
 
When you guys say you don't like something...could you be more specific why you don't like it?

Renal. Pathology. 😡

But honestly...2nd year is far, far more interesting. I prefer these classes over MS1 any day. The amount of material is just more overwhelming than last year. I'm pretty used to it by now, but fitting renal physiology, pathology, and pharmacology into 3 weeks has been a little intense. Especially when all the pathophys starts sounding the same (MGN and MPGN, I'm looking at you!!!). I would probably enjoy it more if we had more time, but such is life.

In 1st year, I didn't like biochem or immuno because I thought they were boring, plus they weren't very well organized.
 
When you guys say you don't like something...could you be more specific why you don't like it?

Even I'm a little confused about why I liked biochem and immunology. You'd think memorizing a bunch of weird little enzyme names or cytokines would just be lame but the processes to which they are tied are just really fascinating that it feels kind of empowering, no?

I get why anatomy sucks. Other than clinical anatomy, anatomy is just...ugh. Or maybe it was just very poorly taught for me. I'm not sure.

An upperclass student told me not to worry about Neuro because it's really low-yield on the Step 1. I took what he said and ran with it. I hated going to class and hated studying for it, since people said it was low-yield. However, when prepping for Step 1 I saw that this was a topic which kept on hindering my score.

Had to study for the subject from scratch which was a pita. Ended up really liking the topic. Wished I had put more effort into the class. Otherwise, I loved all my classes besides Genetics. Always had trouble with calculating the probability of a child having ::insert some disease::
 
An upperclass student told me not to worry about Neuro because it's really low-yield on the Step 1. I took what he said and ran with it. I hated going to class and hated studying for it, since people said it was low-yield. However, when prepping for Step 1 I saw that this was a topic which kept on hindering my score.

Had to study for the subject from scratch which was a pita. Ended up really liking the topic. Wished I had put more effort into the class. Otherwise, I loved all my classes besides Genetics. Always had trouble with calculating the probability of a child having ::insert some disease::

really? i've heard that there was a lot more neuroanatomy on step 1 than they expected including slices
 
really? i've heard that there was a lot more neuroanatomy on step 1 than they expected including slices

Hard to say, because each exam is different, right? However, my form asked fairly simple neuro questions, granted I got a couple wrong; and yes I had slices, CT, brainstem picture, and a question regarding Huntingtons incorporating biochem. 🙂
 
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