How often do med students go out?

[uclaussr]

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I am a pretty social person, love hanging out with friends and meeting new people. In undergrad i am used to going out 4-5 nights a week. Now i understand that i will not be able to go out this much in med school. But will i at least be able to go out 1-2 times a week?
How often do you and your classmates go out?
Also, do med students form study groups a lot? I think this would be another great way to stay sane!

 

[Mr hawkings]

I am a pretty social person, love hanging out with friends and meeting new people. In undergrad i am used to going out 4-5 nights a week. Now i understand that i will not be able to go out this much in med school. But will i at least be able to go out 1-2 times a week?
How often do you and your classmates go out?
Also, do med students form study groups a lot? I think this would be another great way to stay sane!

I dont see why you wouldnt be able to go out at least once or twice a week. 4-5 may be asking for trouble though.
Study groups are NOT the way to stay sane. Making friends outside of med school is. You'll find that when youhang out with your med school friends, eventually the conversation comes back to school-related stuff (not necesarily academic) no matter how much you try not to.

 

[DrYoda]

But will i at least be able to go out 1-2 times a week?

Yes.

Also, do med students form study groups a lot? I think this would be another great way to stay sane!

Not so sure about that...

 

[GoodmanBrown]

Yes.


Not so sure about that...

+1 to everything said.

Yeah, it's totally fine to go out 1-2 times a week. I do and all my friends do. People who are studying Friday night in the library either have a test Monday (which only happens occassionally), are gunning for rad onc, or probably have some sort of social problem that's not med school-related.

Re: study groups. I'm not so sure. Med school learning is all about maximum efficiency. I can't imagine a study group that doesn't break for chatting all the time and get hung up on points where only one person is confused and everyone else wants to zoom ahead. I study alone, and I think most of my classmates do the same.

 

[switcheroo]

I stil find the time to go out. Maybe not during the couple weeks before an exam (we only have 3 exams [well, 3 exam groups of 3 exams over 2 days each] per year, so there's a lot to know). But otherwise, it's fine.

As for study groups... I wouldn't really say we do study groups per se at my school, but I study with my friends all the time. We'll study together, each working on our own material, and it's nice to have people around to ask questions or have dinner with. Definitely does help keep me sane, as you say.

 

[DoctwoB]

Weeks without tests we're out about 3-4 nights a week. Weeks with tests its 0-1.

*Caveat, when I say "out" it doesn't mean got hammered and partied till four in the morning. Activities might include happy hour+dinner at a wine bar, poker night, etc.

Oh and agree 100% with study groups for the loss. True its more fun then studying on your own but it is far less efficient, and you need to be efficient.

 

[njslex16]

do any of yall have post test parties after each exam?

 

[DrYoda]

do any of yall have post test parties after each exam?

Always.

 

[dr zaius]

do any of yall have post test parties after each exam?

The post test parties are ridiculous. Taking advantage of having no material that needs to be learned hanging over your head is key.

People in my class go out pretty often on non test weeks. If I didn't grab a beer or five a couple of times a week I would go stir crazy. I'm lucky to be part of a very social class.

 

[2012mdc]

The post test parties are ridiculous. Taking advantage of having no material that needs to be learned hanging over your head is key.

People in my class go out pretty often on non test weeks. If I didn't grab a beer or five a couple of times a week I would go stir crazy. I'm lucky to be part of a very social class.

1st year we went out every weekend except before a Monday test. Post-test parties were insane and half the class would miss morning lecture the next day.

The 1st half of 2nd year we went out about the same amount, 2nd half of the year it cut down quite a bit. We usually didn't go out in between test blocks but we would catch a game or a movie or play some videogames or do something to relieve stress. We just didn't want to be out until 5AM knowing we have to study a lot the next day.

3rd year it all depends on the rotation and call schedule. On Surg I was too tired to go out usually, maybe went out once or twice. FM was wonderful and went out every weekend. IM falls somewhere in the middle

 

[mvenus929]

Our school has a weekly bar night. We also have a lot of big activities in various sized groups. For instance, our class has an exam this weekend (I think the third years had their shelf exams today as well), so most of us are studying now, but tomorrow night, a good portion of us will be going to our school's formal.

We have athletic events, potlucks, hiking trips, trivia nights, movie nights, etc. So if you go to a school anything like mine, you will have no issue getting out a couple times a week.

 

[Belleza156]

+1 to everything said.

Yeah, it's totally fine to go out 1-2 times a week. I do and all my friends do. People who are studying Friday night in the library either have a test Monday (which only happens occassionally), are gunning for rad onc, or probably have some sort of social problem that's not med school-related.

Re: study groups. I'm not so sure. Med school learning is all about maximum efficiency. I can't imagine a study group that doesn't break for chatting all the time and get hung up on points where only one person is confused and everyone else wants to zoom ahead. I study alone, and I think most of my classmates do the same.

Hey why do you say tests on Mondays are rare? I have a Monday test every other week!! It really kills weekend nightlife. If I go out I do it in the middle of the week, but I wouldn't say I go out and get drunk even 1-2 times a week. More like once every two weeks. But it depends on how you structure your time. I go work out and do yoga, so that takes time out of my day I could be socializing or shopping. As long as you don't waste time, you have ample time to go out and be social.

 

[Therecanbeonlyo]

I didn't read it all, but most of what was said looked good.

I studied in a small group of 3 people, they did help me "stay sane" and it was nice to have someone else suffering through the exact thing you were, at the same time, etc.

Also, friends outside of med school are nice to have...it's nice not to talk shop all the time, but then again, you're doing it so much it's really all you can offer to the table...

You can go out as frequently or not as frequently as you want. The work is hard...and it should definitely come first, this is going to be your career after all, but at least 1 time a week without question is completely reasonable. It also depends on what you mean by going out...if you go out and get so wasted that the day after you are a usless human being and 2 days after you can tolerate solid foods again...then no, you probably shouldn't go out... 😉

 

[nomad357]

Yes. Apply to Tulane, they kind of make sure you like to go out and drink and enjoy life before they let you in.

 

[ArcGurren]

Yes, we do still go out, but definitely not 4-5 times a week (how do you even have the money to do that? wow). I'd say first year I "went out" and did stuff 1-2 times every couple of weeks and almost always after exams. I do know people who still go out 4-5 times a week (mostly because they're filthy rich) and still somehow do well, but I wouldn't risk that by any means...

Second year it's toned down a lot - people have their own social groups and after exams people generally want to rest more than go out and get drunk. We still do go out, but rarely as a class, though it's still a whole lot of fun when we do. And generally it's only after exams, though you tend to get more comfortable with the idea of it being only a week before an exam and it doesn't bother you nearly as much.

Third year from what I've heard it's even rarer but still not so bad. Either way at this point your focus should be on solidifying your career, learning, and doing well.

Fourth year from what I hear is, aside from the first half with aways, research, application, and interviews, a total party once you're done.

 

[CarlATHF]

do any of yall have post test parties after each exam?

If you don't, I'm sorry, because you are missing out. They are quite fun.

 

[J ROD]

Moderation is key in life....in drink or study

I am not a study group person. I learn best at home by myself.

I also am not one much on going to class.

 

[DrNosik]

WEll honestly as long as your not getting smashed drunk with hangovers you could easily go out 3-4 times a week if not more assuming you study and work hard in class.

 

[peacefulchaos]

WEll honestly as long as your not getting smashed drunk with hangovers you could easily go out 3-4 times a week if not more assuming you study and work hard in class.

reponding to a thread one year too late...classic Andre, aka she-dre, aka dr. nodick. I wish we could pick up screen names off of a waiver wire, I'd totally steal yours.