How much worse is second year vs. first year (or not)?

[-Goose-]

...(at your school)?

We have an accelerated curriculum and we are closing in fast on second year. How much harder/easier/more interesting is second year vs. first year in your experience?

-G

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[Law2Doc]

...(at your school)?

We have an accelerated curriculum and we are closing in fast on second year. How much harder/easier/more interesting is second year vs. first year in your experience?

-G

It's more work, more memorization, but the material is frequently more interesting, more obviously clinically applicable, and you will suffer less of the anxiety of not knowing what you are doing. So depends on what you consider "worse".

 

[logos]

We are systems based.

I'd say its about the same, maybe a bit more material. We used to have 200 pages of outlines from lecture to memorize every three weeks, now we average about 250.

 

[chocolate-e]

I think 2nd year is unequivocally better. More interesting/relevant material = more motivation to study = more learning/doing better in class = enhanced sense of meaning/self-worth/getting your money's worth. Granted that it's more work, but it's so worth it.

Except for the last block before Christmas, when you're worn out and stressed out and miserable ...

 

[doctorp82]

Depends on if you're glass half empty or glass half full.

Definately more interesting, and your learning curve gets suddenly steeper as you take in tons of diseases in a very short amount of time (don't worry, if you review the physiology/biochem/etc. as you study the systems path, it helps immensely). Things definitely make more sense, and you find yourself "knowing" something as opposed to having to remember what that one medicine text or journal article said. You'll start seeing big-picture concepts. As Dr. Seusse said, "Oh the places you'll go!" You'll start learning physical exam better. You might find some doctors to start following and shadowing and have much more knowledge of what's going on and more ability to jump in and participate. You'll draw your first blood, you'll begin to get excited about doing medicine on rotations.

On the flip side, as you hit January you'll realize that you're downhill towards taking Step-1, and that's anxiety inducing for me right now. You'll realize you have that to study for as well as class, and you'll realize that all the little stuff in First Aid is definately superficial compared to what you really need to know for the test. You'll also realize that there's no real field of medicine concerned with Diagnostics, and surgery is not the most lifestyle friendly job if you want to pursue drama-filled relationships. Reading House of God may make you disillusioned too early. You'll start to learn that some classmates have started taking antidepressants, are dropping out, holding themselves back a year, etc. You'll wonder if you have a psych disease (as opposed to a terminal illness, the problem in first year). You'll start to feel as though the only thing you know is medicine and that your world consists of learning medicine and the people you see in medicine. That's a good cue to take an afternoon off and go somewhere downtown away from school without a medical book. Remember what it's like to be a human being.

 

[gaikokujin]

definitely way better life during 2nd year. You know how to study by now (hopefully) and the material is more interesting. and because there is no anatomy/histology lab every day you can come to school less.

if it weren't for that pesky step 1 looming on the horizon life would be damn near perfect.... (well as perfect as it can get for a med student).

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

It's more work, more memorization, but the material is frequently more interesting, more obviously clinically applicable, and you will suffer less of the anxiety of not knowing what you are doing. So depends on what you consider "worse".

From all the 2nd years I've talked to, this is exactly what it is at Maryland.

 

[D30417995]

...(at your school)?

We have an accelerated curriculum and we are closing in fast on second year. How much harder/easier/more interesting is second year vs. first year in your experience?

-G

hey, how long is your programme? you guys finished first year in 5 months?

 

[mules05]

...(at your school)?

We have an accelerated curriculum and we are closing in fast on second year. How much harder/easier/more interesting is second year vs. first year in your experience?

-G

More to learn, but at this point I know how to study, so it's easier for me to learn everything. Plus we do path/pharm in a systems-based course, and each system we go through brings back the related anatomy and physio, so I feel like I'm actually learning things that relate to one another, and even seeing how what I learn will apply to medicine. However, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually know, and how I'm going to have no clue what I'm doing when I start on the wards in a few months.

 

[m0nkeymanxx]

how bad is thrid and fourth year?

 

[hyperbaric]

2nd year >>>> 1st year

I'm hoping the trend continues.

 

[sendwich]

You'll start to feel as though the only thing you know is medicine and that your world consists of learning medicine and the people you see in medicine. That's a good cue to take an afternoon off and go somewhere downtown away from school without amedical book. Remember what it's like to be a human being.

somehow, this makes me sad

 

[deuist]

I would say that you have to take first year so that you get to take second year.

 

[Ypo.]

...(at your school)?

We have an accelerated curriculum and we are closing in fast on second year. How much harder/easier/more interesting is second year vs. first year in your experience?

-G

What's an accelerated system? It's hard to imagine medical school getting any more accelerated than it is already.

Second year is a ton better than 1st year because I have more free time, PLUS I know the hell of 1st year is over and I'll never have to go through it again. Sometimes I look at the first years and feel so sorry for them.

 

[-Goose-]

hey, how long is your programme? you guys finished first year in 5 months?

I should have said slightly accelerated...

First year here runs from August to March, with anatomy ending in december. Then 2nd year begins with path, pharm, etc. We started our microbiology course yesterday which is a second year class and the course director said "I now consider you 2nd year students."

 

[turkleton]

2nd year is definitely better in terms of the material- more interesting, and you finally feel like you're learning what you need to become a doctor. In terms of work load, though, 2nd year, I thought, wins big time. I liked it, but man, it was a loooooooot. Path, Pharm, Pathophys, and Psych- 4 p's for pain. And second semester of second year felt like someone kept slapping me in the face every month. But the great part of it is, once you're done with 2nd year, you take a weekend off, and then study for boards for 4-6 weeks.... sweet! I thought the Jan-mid June block in 2nd year was just brutal. Don't worry though... 4th year was invented by the collective genius of burnt out med students and man is it awesome.

 

[vtucci]

2nd year is much, much better. I would echo some of the sentiments mentioned earlier-- more work but the subject matter is not narcolepsy-inducing. After all, most of us are interested in medicine to learn about disease and memorizing 1000 terms is not my idea of a good time (do I need to say how much I hated anatomy. I am also not a big fan of pharm).

 

[78222]

I should have said slightly accelerated...

First year here runs from August to March, with anatomy ending in december. Then 2nd year begins with path, pharm, etc. We started our microbiology course yesterday which is a second year class and the course director said "I now consider you 2nd year students."

hmm, the things I would have learned if i'd gone to class.

 

[tomatoattack]

2nd year is "harder" because there is bunches more to do. Echoing what most others have said, it is infinitely more interesting - and thus more rewarding to learn. But you won't have a lot of free time to chase the booze and whatnot. I remember the lack of free time not being so bad when you are busy, but when you stop to think about it, thats when it gets you - about how little you do other things compared to your buddy who is an accountant and is going on vacation all the time - it can be kindof a bummer. But it will pass very quickly and the big bad step 1 will be nothing but a memory.

someone was asking about third year. Once you get over the "what the hell is going on?" part of the curve - which is where I and I think most others (who are 3rd years) find ourselves at this point in the second semester of the third year, then I think it is probably the easiest thing so far. You get half your grade for just showing up, how hard is that?

 

[SwissB4]

Second year is definitely more intense than first year; emotionally, mentally, and physically...Memorize, memorize, memorize...Only thing that is cool is that everything is totally clinically reverent.

 

[vtucci]

Wow, I think second year is less about memorization and more about problem-solving. First year was mindless memorization to me.

 

[8744]

First and second year, once you get over the shock of the first couple of months of medical school, are like a vacation. Third year, now that blows, especially after being on vacation from responsibility and getting up early for the previous two years.

Not only did we get weekends off in first and second year (like normal people) but we also got all of the federal and state holidays (which normal people do not) as well as two weeks around Christmas, a long Spring break, and eight weeks off between first and second year.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Second-year is WAY more material, but it is far more interesting. Personally, it's easier for me than first year because it relies more on understanding and application rather than memorization (not my forte). Anything can happen. I have friends who did not do well in MSI, but really did well in MSII and I have other friends who were doing very well in MSI because they are amazing memorizers, but they are struggling to pass this year. Bottom line: always give 100% and you will be fine.

 

[LuckyBambooGirl]

Definately more interesting, and your learning curve gets suddenly steeper as you take in tons of diseases in a very short amount of time (don't worry, if you review the physiology/biochem/etc. as you study the systems path, it helps immensely). Things definitely make more sense, and you find yourself "knowing" something as opposed to having to remember what that one medicine text or journal article said. You'll start seeing big-picture concepts. As Dr. Seusse said, "Oh the places you'll go!" You'll start learning physical exam better. You might find some doctors to start following and shadowing and have much more knowledge of what's going on and more ability to jump in and participate. You'll draw your first blood, you'll begin to get excited about doing medicine on rotations.

On the flip side, as you hit January you'll realize that you're downhill towards taking Step-1, and that's anxiety inducing for me right now. You'll realize you have that to study for as well as class, and you'll realize that all the little stuff in First Aid is definately superficial compared to what you really need to know for the test. You'll also realize that there's no real field of medicine concerned with Diagnostics, and surgery is not the most lifestyle friendly job if you want to pursue drama-filled relationships. Reading House of God may make you disillusioned too early. You'll start to learn that some classmates have started taking antidepressants, are dropping out, holding themselves back a year, etc. You'll wonder if you have a psych disease (as opposed to a terminal illness, the problem in first year). You'll start to feel as though the only thing you know is medicine and that your world consists of learning medicine and the people you see in medicine. That's a good cue to take an afternoon off and go somewhere downtown away from school without a medical book. Remember what it's like to be a human being.

DoctorP82, that is exactly what second year is like. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Right now I am excited to be almost done with classroom work, and excited about actually being on the wards next year, but at the same time I am not looking forward to step 1 at all!