how much do you really use material studied for MCAT/ in undergrad as a med student?

[premedprepa]

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is it really all that helpful knowing the different laws of physics and mechanisms of bromination, for example, during med school? is med school more of this material or is it actually interesting?

 

[ciestar]

Physics stuff was briefly gone over for cardio in physiology.

But other than biochem, no, not a ton. Obviously this stuff is occurring, but you’re not tested on this stuff explicitly.

 

[Moko]

is it really all that helpful knowing the different laws of physics and mechanisms of bromination, for example, during med school? is med school more of this material or is it actually interesting?

Depends on why someone pursued medicine. For most folks, the material in med school will be more interesting because of its greater relevance, though certainly there are still many topics that won't seem practical unless you're in a particular specialty.

Much of biology (not surprisingly) will be applicable to medicine. I haven't found much use for chemistry. A fundamental grasp of physics will help understand certain biologic phenomenon and surgical techniques, though most of this is just brought up in passing as part of academic acrobatics that often occur on rounds.

For example, in medicine, every so often someone will invoke Poiseuille's law, and/or re-imagine the body as a closed circuit. Physics can also help explain much of the pulmonary mechanics, in addition to why hypertension eventually leads to ventricular dilation and then heart failure, etc. In surgery, I was pimped on how the body is just a system of levers, and that each stitch/wound closure used principles such as tension, pulleys, etc. Again, cool facts, but in practice, hardly necessary to know explicitly.

 

[efle]

is it really all that helpful knowing the different laws of physics and mechanisms of bromination, for example, during med school? is med school more of this material or is it actually interesting?

You'll never use any of that stuff in med school

You'll also have to keep learning a lot of useless stuff in med school that you'll never use in the clinic

 

[ciestar]

You'll never use any of that stuff in med school

You'll also have to keep learning a lot of useless stuff in med school that you'll never use in the clinic

Or be heavily tested on disorders that are super rare and that you’ll never see

 

[993444]

Or be heavily tested on disorders that are super rare and that you’ll never see

Until you do...

 

[907914]

Until you do...

Just recognize that we are not hunting for zebras lol

 

[ciestar]

Until you do...

Pheos are a board favorite. Most doctors have never seen it

 

[ciestar]

Just recognize that we are not hunting for zebras lol

Exactly this lol
On the boards.. sure. But in actual clinical practice? You need to be realistic with your ddx and rule the more common stuff out first

 

[LizzyM]

Pheos are a board favorite. Most doctors have never seen it

I used to sit in on case conferences. If a certain senior faculty member was sitting in the front row the odds were 50-50 that the patient had a pheochromocytoma.

 

[DrAveryMD]

is med school more of this material or is it actually interesting?

It's actually interesting!

I also wasn't particularly fond of pre-med material... so dry and boring. Med school stuff has direct relevance to patient care. It's a whole new game and it's awesome.

 

[Med Ed]

Pheos are a board favorite. Most doctors have never seen it

Seen it!