How to handle the stress

[crgirl]

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Hi all,

As I'm sure many of you have experienced or are experiencing, I'm dealing with the fear of not getting into medical school. It is May and I am on 3 waitlists and feeling hopeless and noticing every mistake I made along the way and feeling more sad every day about this. From my research, it looks like I won't be getting any news any time soon, unless there's a miracle this summer. I was honestly depressed the last 3-4 years as I prepared for this process and it is truly eating at me not knowing if I will make it to medical school. As someone who already struggles with anxiety, this time has taken a huge toll on me. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to cope with this? My friends try to give me pep talks which just annoy me. I need a distraction because I am constantly feeling sad and afraid. I know I may sound dramatic, but I have never been good at handling uncertainty especially when I (and many others) invested so much into my studies and activities. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks all 🙂

CR Girl

 

[ciucia53]

Hi crgirl -- I have also been dealing with a lot of anxiety this past cycle and as I'm sure you know, it freaking sucks. I also tend to get frustrated with pep talks from friends, so what worked for me was finding a way to take my mind off stuff. When I feel the anxiety starting up, I know I have to get up and DO SOMETHING, because if I just sit there it will get worse. I started doing a lot of sudoku and nonograms to keep my brain focused on the puzzle and not med school apps. I started taking walks with my family, but I think running would also be helpful. When there was a particular thing that was bothering me, I also found a lot of help after talking to someone -- for me that was my mom and a priest.

 

[crgirl]

Hi crgirl -- I have also been dealing with a lot of anxiety this past cycle and as I'm sure you know, it freaking sucks. I also tend to get frustrated with pep talks from friends, so what worked for me was finding a way to take my mind off stuff. When I feel the anxiety starting up, I know I have to get up and DO SOMETHING, because if I just sit there it will get worse. I started doing a lot of sudoku and nonograms to keep my brain focused on the puzzle and not med school apps. I started taking walks with my family, but I think running would also be helpful. When there was a particular thing that was bothering me, I also found a lot of help after talking to someone -- for me that was my mom and a priest.

Wow how are we so similar? I've been an avid puzzler for years. I got so excited when I saw you mentioned nonograms and sudokus. I highly recommend Ken kens 😉

 

[crgirl]

Rule 1: Take A Breath.

Just under half of all matriculating first year medical students receive a single offer of acceptance. They will be pulling from wait lists until the day before orientation and perhaps even a few days more. And no one will care in school, or at residency selections, or in practice, whether you had 10 acceptances in October or a single one in July, you will be a doctor. As the old saying goes, "The system isnt finalized until the corpulent Wagnerian Brunnhilde waxes Soprano" or something like that

The issue is not "when" I'll hear but "if" I'll ever hear 🙁

 

[P0ke]

If you're on 3 waitlists, that's a good sign. Stay busy and improve your application and target your biggest weaknesses. If you don't get in this time, the fact that you were on 3 waitlists means that you were almost there, and can probably get in with a year of improvements. Reapplying with no improvements or significant changes can be detrimental. Don't give up hope, but don't give up either.

 

[crgirl]

Thanks to everyone. I'm glad we have this community 🙂

 

[ciucia53]

Wow how are we so similar? I've been an avid puzzler for years. I got so excited when I saw you mentioned nonograms and sudokus. I highly recommend Ken kens 😉

Oooh, thanks! I will check them out. I also just like doing jigsaw puzzles. Good luck with your waitlists, I hope it works out.