MD & DO How much time do you spend at your apartment first year in medical school?

[Robin-jay]

I believe most, if not all, of my courses are non-mandatory to attend. Therefore, I'm not sure how much time I will actually spend in my apartment. Will it be a lot, a little, or what? i have no idea what to expect.

The reason I ask this is because I want to have an apartment with one roommate because I was thinking I would be on campus 10 hours a day anyway. But if I'm actually at my apartment a lot, then I may go for a singles where I can study most of my time in peace.

Also, I may only get a roommate if its a another medical student...are other medical students usually ok to live with?

What are you thoughts?

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[trobinsonmd]

I didn't attend lecture 90% of the time, but I'm in a very busy part of Manhattan (I guess everywhere in Manhattan is busy actually) and it was just way too loud to study, so most of my time was spent in the library. Probably 7-8 hours a day. If your apartment complex is quiet and conducive to studying, I'd say 7-8 hours is a good number, apart from the hours you are asleep of course. I think it also depends on who your roommate is... if they are another medical student and are the more studious type, its easy to co-exist and study at home, if they aren't a med student, forget about studying at home or get a single lol

 

[Robin-jay]

I didn't attend lecture 90% of the time, but I'm in a very busy part of Manhattan (I guess everywhere in Manhattan is busy actually) and it was just way too loud to study, so most of my time was spent in the library. Probably 7-8 hours a day.

The school will be around the Midwest, most likely.

The whole area seems quiet.

Probably 7-8 hours a day. If your apartment complex is quiet and conducive to studying, I'd say 7-8 hours is a good number, apart from the hours you are asleep of course.

I guess if my roommate is really bad, then I would stay at our science building to study...problem with the library idea is that our main campus is 40 minutes away from the science building. So if I don't have the apartment to study, I may not have a library.

 

[trobinsonmd]

The school will be around the Midwest, most likely.

The whole area seems quiet.



I guess if my roommate is really bad, then I would stay at our science building to study...problem with the library idea is that our main campus is 40 minutes away from the science building. So if I don't have the apartment to study, I may not have a library.

Hmm.. maybe there is a local community library that you could study at? Or a quiet local coffee shop. Not sure how your schools housing works... if you are allowed to kind of vet and pick your roommate, it could work out, if you get assigned randomly, it's a big gamble since you may not have access to a local library... I think if you have the extra cash to spend on a single, it might be the play, assuming your roommate assignment is random.

 

[Robin-jay]

Hmm.. maybe there is a local community library that you could study at? Or a quiet local coffee shop. Not sure how your schools housing works... if you are allowed to kind of vet and pick your roommate, it could work out, if you get assigned randomly, it's a big gamble since you may not have access to a local library... I think if you have the extra cash to spend on a single, it might be the play, assuming your roommate assignment is random.

I'll join our facebook group, see if the apartment complex or university have a list of other med. students, and if they do, get a roommate that way.

If its random assignment, i'll spend the extra money on a single I guess. It would cost about 4500 more for a single throughout the year.

 

[themoonman2]

chances are you'll spend a lot of time studying at home

 

[Dox4lyfe]

Invest in some solid ANC headphones and you'll be good to go.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Personally very rarely study at home. I’m always on campus.

 

[Robin-jay]

Personally very rarely study at home. I’m always on campus.

Do you do a lot of research on campus (to make yous stay for long periods)? I personally believe they talked to me about research and really want me to participate in that because of my background.

 

[WiseOne]

I spent an average of 3-4 hours on campus per day and we had non-mandatory classes. Depends on the type of person you are, but first year I think you might want to live with another medical student.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Do you do a lot of research on campus (to make yous stay for long periods)? I personally believe they talked to me about research and really want me to participate in that because of my background.

Yes I do research, but that’s not why I was on campus first year. I personally get distracted at home so I never study there.

 

[sleepyhead22]

After the first few months, I studied almost exclusively from home and found my scores were just as good or better. I was happy to have extra space and a quiet apartment (no roommate).

 

[sunshinefl]

I study at home and was in my apartment alllll the time (just finished first year). Only went to campus to study one time and it was because the internet had an outage at home.

 

[allantois]

If you not in a high cost of living area, just make this easy on yourself and get your own apartment.

 

[ciestar]

I never study at school. And with non-mandatory things, i could go weeks without going over there.

 

[intubesteak]

I planned on studying at school but my school did not have good quiet study spaces, so I studied at home. Its hard to predict what you are going to want/need.

 

[tinyllamas]

Tbh it probably depends on your personal study style. How did you study best in college when you were stressed or hardcore exam prepping? If you never studied at home, that probably won't change drastically. I have always had a hard time studying in my apartment (waay too many distractions even without a roomie) so I usually hang out at coffee shops or my school library.

 

[honey0102]

I did almost all my studying at home. The only exception was if I had a random block in the middle of the day but had to be back at school after it. I personally preferred studying at home because I had the comfort of home-coffee literally right there, and if I needed a quick power nap I could do that too, and I was less stressed out at home. But it varies, a lot of people like to study at school, depends on personal preference

 

[Aerus]

I almost exclusively study on campus. I am more focused and less likely to binge on unhealthy snacks (fridge being right there). The gym is also on campus too, so it's all very convenient. With great wifi and nice AC/heating, why wouldn't I just go to campus? I'm only at home to hang out with my roommate/friends or to sleep.

 

[Robin-jay]

After the first few months, I studied almost exclusively from home and found my scores were just as good or better. I was happy to have extra space and a quiet apartment (no roommate).

If you not in a high cost of living area, just make this easy on yourself and get your own apartment.

I never study at school. And with non-mandatory things, i could go weeks without going over there.

Tbh it probably depends on your personal study style. How did you study best in college when you were stressed or hardcore exam prepping? If you never studied at home, that probably won't change drastically. I have always had a hard time studying in my apartment (waay too many distractions even without a roomie) so I usually hang out at coffee shops or my school library.

I did almost all my studying at home. The only exception was if I had a random block in the middle of the day but had to be back at school after it. I personally preferred studying at home because I had the comfort of home-coffee literally right there, and if I needed a quick power nap I could do that too, and I was less stressed out at home. But it varies, a lot of people like to study at school, depends on personal preference

I almost exclusively study on campus. I am more focused and less likely to binge on unhealthy snacks (fridge being right there). The gym is also on campus too, so it's all very convenient. With great wifi and nice AC/heating, why wouldn't I just go to campus? I'm only at home to hang out with my roommate/friends or to sleep.

I think I study better at home, but I could be wrong. I mostly studied when I would look over things to teach my uni. chem. students.

Courses at the chem 600 level, I did much of it alongside my colleagues because there was hardly any rote memorization. It was mostly equation solving/analytical solving.

If its rote memorization (looks like my first year will be with anatomy/tissue courses, etc.), then I will think about studying at home. I just have to make sure I don't play around too much on forum sites if I do that.

 

[ciestar]

I think I study better at home, but I could be wrong. I mostly studied when I would look over things to teach my uni. chem. students.

Courses at the chem 600 level, I did much of it alongside my colleagues because there was hardly any rote memorization. It was mostly equation solving/analytical solving.

If its rote memorization (looks like my first year will be with anatomy/tissue courses, etc.), then I will think about studying at home. I just have to make sure I don't play around too much on forum sites if I do that.

You won’t truly know until you give it a try. You’ll figure it out quickly if you cant while at home.

Anatomy and histo for sure more memorization. Biochem to an extent. I found immuno more conceptual. Physio is completely conceptual.

 

[Robin-jay]

You won’t truly know until you give it a try. You’ll figure it out quickly if you cant while at home.

Anatomy and histo for sure more memorization. Biochem to an extent. I found immuno more conceptual. Physio is completely conceptual.

Would you say saving 4500 in a year is worth having a roommate or nah? I'm starting to really think i shouldn't have a roommate based on the feedback I'm getting. I really do want to study all the time and be the top of my class.

 

[seekere]

Would you say saving 4500 in a year is worth having a roommate or nah? I'm starting to really think i shouldn't have a roommate based on the feedback I'm getting. I really do want to study all the time and be the top of my class.

IMO 4500 is a drop in the bucket considering how much you are paying for tuition and the importance of medical school. Having a roommate is an X factor which does carry risks. This was my logic, and I think it’s sound. Medical school isn’t a time to be super frugal if it could impact your performance

 

[You shall know the Truth]

I believe most, if not all, of my courses are non-mandatory to attend. Therefore, I'm not sure how much time I will actually spend in my apartment. Will it be a lot, a little, or what? i have no idea what to expect.

The reason I ask this is because I want to have an apartment with one roommate because I was thinking I would be on campus 10 hours a day anyway. But if I'm actually at my apartment a lot, then I may go for a singles where I can study most of my time in peace.

Also, I may only get a roommate if its a another medical student...are other medical students usually ok to live with?

What are you thoughts?

I go to campus and study, I see it as my job and I go there to work then go home. I don’t get much done at home (I like to separate work and home life). I live with a dental student and a researcher at a local medical school. I like both of them.

 

[GoCubsGo20]

I avoid going to campus so spend a ton of time at home. My classmates stress me out way too much.

 

[MSTPlease]

Really depends on where you like to study. I was a library studier and joked that I shouldn't have bothered having an apartment and should have just slept in the student lounge at school because outside of being asleep I spent 1, maybe 2hrs/day in my apartment.

 

[Shotapp]

I'm not a medical student yet, but I vote on no roommate/get your own apartment.

 

[WiseOne]

I'd say the best time to test having a roommate is M1 year. Of course you should screen them out a bit/check their social media to make sure they're not super party types but my experience was good. Lived with roommates all 4 years.