I miss studying... isn't that sick?

[funklab]

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I really do though... something is definitely wrong with me.

I Just finished up my last semester of undergrad and got my MD acceptance. Now for the past month or so I haven't done anything even remotely study like.

When I dug out my MCAT books to sell, I felt some pangs of nostalgia over the hours I poured into studying for the MCAT or Biochemistry, or Organic. Does that make me a bad person?😳

Maybe I just don't know how to turn it off. Studying wasn't particularly fun for me, it was just something that had to be done. But now that I don't spend any time studying, I feel like I am missing something. Like I am wasting my time (well I probably am, but that is something else all together).

For a moment I even considered trying to buy a book and study up for the beginning of med school, but I promptly realized what a waste of time that would be thanks to SDN.

I need something to fill my study void... copious amounts of alcohol seems reasonable... or maybe I just need a life.😛

 

[obscurehero]

A life would be nice.

Try these things they call...hobbies. 😱

I totally understand what you're saying. Felt it before. I, however, also had the pangs of guilt over the countless hours of time I poured into something that let me get into medical school...

For both of us, we have the final calm before the storm. Let's enjoy it, eh?
🙂

 

[Geneticist]

I feel your pain. This winter break I didn't accomplish anything and I felt like I was abusing my time off by not doing something constructive...

 

[Barcu]

Enjoy the time off.

Studying will resume soon enough.

 

[Perrotfish]

A month is about the limit that most people can spend doing nothing before it goes from relaxing to depressing, and it sounds like you're there. I'm not saying study for medical school (in fact I am expressly telling you not to study for medical school) but doing something with your time other than drink yourself stupid wouldn't be out of order. Can you learn a language? Pick up a few new hobbies? Get a job that doesn't involve a paper hat? Travel across America? Or Europe? Get involved with politics? Or a volunteer organization? Or just get really into fitness? The prospect of going from January to the start of medical school with nothing but beer an Xbox would make even the laziest of us a little stir crazy.

 

[oldyogurt]

I had my last undergrad semester in December. I am cherishing this free time so, so much. I have 7 months left to work on personal projects before school starts in the Fall, and it isn't enough. Next thing you know it school starts, you work on your career, and you get married and have a kid and boom! free time gone (until your kids go to college).

 

[slatermd]

I know I might get flamed for this, but if you want to study some med school stuff, there are some things you can do that wouldn't be a waste of your time.

I'm not saying pick up textbooks for cell bio, genetics, and micro and read them all cover-to-cover.

Anatomy, however, is a subject that you can start studying ahead of time if you have some basic objectives. Again, you don't want to pick up a clunky text and read it cover-to-cover.

If you want do lite prep, pick up Netter's anatomy flash cards and start studying the ones for major structures (esp. bones). You could learn the 206 bones and their important landmarks pretty easily before med school, and you'll be able to hit the ground running when gross starts. Don't bother with the 26 flashcards for different muscles of the larynx. I made up that number, but there are several cards for the larynx and other pretty obscure things you don't need to bother with before med school. These flash cards also come with an online Student Consult where every single flash card is online, and there are sweet multiple choice quizzes pretty similar to some of the stuff you'll get pimped on as a third year med student.

If you want to spend even more time, get the Board Review Series (BRS) gross anatomy book and Netter's Atlas of human anatomy. These will help you in med school, and IMO there isn't much downside to owning them 8 months early, unless they put out new editions in that time. Chung's anatomy text is designed to be read through (unlike Gray's Anatomy for Students or Moore's Clinical). The pictures suck, which is why you'll want Netter's atlas. The atlas has amazing pictures, but each one has about 7000 structures labeled on it, so without Chung's text you won't know what's important.

That is the main problem with self-directed study before med school. You don't know what's important, and you'll tend to spend too much time on things that won't even be mentioned once you get to med school. So it can be a waste of time and energy. However, if you WANT to study, and you have some direction, there is no real harm in this.

You will need to know all of the bones in the body. You'll also realize that 206 isn't that many, especially with paired bones (2 parietal, 2 temporal, 2 zygomatic, 2 lacrimal, 2 femurs, 2 scapulae) and the vertebrae which require no actual memorization (C1, C2, C3, etc.)

You will need to know the 12 cranial nerves, what foramina or other openings each one uses to exit the skull, and what they innervate. This stuff is bread and butter.

You will need to know all of the major blood vessels and how they supply organs and limbs. Ie, the brachial artery is the main supply in the arm, and is a branch of what? What artery supplies the spleen? When the descending aorta bifurcates, name the branches that go to the leg. What artery branches off the aorta to supply the pelvis?

I think that stuff is fun to learn, and I think there is pretty minimal risk of burnout since you're not taking any other classes right now. Just keep it focused...don't go to broad.

 

[StudyShy]

I get the same way. 🙂

 

[HBSlim]

I'm right there with you OP. I graduated in Dec. of 09 and thought I'd take 1.5 year off before starting med school. Unfortunately, 50 hours a week in a mind-numbing job (damn job market) is how I'm spending my time until August now. I'd definitely recommend getting on a regular workout schedule and learning how to cook (if you don't already know). I figure if I'm already in a routine of working out 5+ days a week and cooking healthy meals before I start school it'll be easier to keep it up once I start. Good luck!

 

[Mbeas]

I know I might get flamed for this, but if you want to study some med school stuff, there are some things you can do that wouldn't be a waste of your time.
.......

 

[2050vlsb]

I feel ya .. kind of. I don't know if I miss studying as much as school in general. At least for me, being in school gave me a sense of purpose and accomplishment that, as intellectually exciting as my research job is, I don't have right now. Nevertheless, I do appreciate not coming home and being stressed to the point of nausea over my grades and classes haha

 

[addo]

A month is about the limit that most people can spend doing nothing before it goes from relaxing to depressing, and it sounds like you're there. I'm not saying study for medical school (in fact I am expressly telling you not to study for medical school) but doing something with your time other than drink yourself stupid wouldn't be out of order. Can you learn a language? Pick up a few new hobbies? Get a job that doesn't involve a paper hat? Travel across America? Or Europe? Get involved with politics? Or a volunteer organization? Or just get really into fitness? The prospect of going from January to the start of medical school with nothing but beer an Xbox would make even the laziest of us a little stir crazy.

True... after a month I got sick of down time. My new hobby/goal is to get in the best shape I will ever be in. its keeping it me busy. And I also have a nice trip coming up in a couple of months.

 

[typicalindian]

start playing runescape 😛

 

[funklab]

I know I might get flamed for this, but if you want to study some med school stuff, there are some things you can do that wouldn't be a waste of your time.

I'm not saying pick up textbooks for cell bio, genetics, and micro and read them all cover-to-cover.

Anatomy, however, is a subject that you can start studying ahead of time if you have some basic objectives. Again, you don't want to pick up a clunky text and read it cover-to-cover.

If you want do lite prep, pick up Netter's anatomy flash cards and start studying the ones for major structures (esp. bones). You could learn the 206 bones and their important landmarks pretty easily before med school, and you'll be able to hit the ground running when gross starts. Don't bother with the 26 flashcards for different muscles of the larynx. I made up that number, but there are several cards for the larynx and other pretty obscure things you don't need to bother with before med school. These flash cards also come with an online Student Consult where every single flash card is online, and there are sweet multiple choice quizzes pretty similar to some of the stuff you'll get pimped on as a third year med student.

If you want to spend even more time, get the Board Review Series (BRS) gross anatomy book and Netter's Atlas of human anatomy. These will help you in med school, and IMO there isn't much downside to owning them 8 months early, unless they put out new editions in that time. Chung's anatomy text is designed to be read through (unlike Gray's Anatomy for Students or Moore's Clinical). The pictures suck, which is why you'll want Netter's atlas. The atlas has amazing pictures, but each one has about 7000 structures labeled on it, so without Chung's text you won't know what's important.

That is the main problem with self-directed study before med school. You don't know what's important, and you'll tend to spend too much time on things that won't even be mentioned once you get to med school. So it can be a waste of time and energy. However, if you WANT to study, and you have some direction, there is no real harm in this.

You will need to know all of the bones in the body. You'll also realize that 206 isn't that many, especially with paired bones (2 parietal, 2 temporal, 2 zygomatic, 2 lacrimal, 2 femurs, 2 scapulae) and the vertebrae which require no actual memorization (C1, C2, C3, etc.)

You will need to know the 12 cranial nerves, what foramina or other openings each one uses to exit the skull, and what they innervate. This stuff is bread and butter.

You will need to know all of the major blood vessels and how they supply organs and limbs. Ie, the brachial artery is the main supply in the arm, and is a branch of what? What artery supplies the spleen? When the descending aorta bifurcates, name the branches that go to the leg. What artery branches off the aorta to supply the pelvis?

I think that stuff is fun to learn, and I think there is pretty minimal risk of burnout since you're not taking any other classes right now. Just keep it focused...don't go to broad.

Thanks for the pointers... no really, I am not being sarcastic. You had my brain spinning for a moment again, but I think I will hold off. Not much difference in me learning it now or learning it in seven months, so I will carry on procrastinating as I have been known to do.

start playing runescape 😛

Runescape, eh?

Hmmm............ .... .. .. .. . . ..

 

[Etzio]

Wow you guys are ****ing insane. I understand that after going through 4 years of UG and MCAT and finally getting into med school with nothing to do may seem to bore you and that it maybe different. Seriously, you guys need to learn how to take a break.

Get some friends, get some hobbies, and live your life. Its ok not to study every waking hour of your life. I really hope I don't end up like you guys because this is just scary .

 

[Geneticist]

Wow you guys are ****ing insane. I understand that after going through 4 years of UG and MCAT and finally getting into med school with nothing to do may seem to bore you and that it maybe different. Seriously, you guys need to learn how to take a break.

Get some friends, get some hobbies, and live your life. Its ok not to study every waking hour of your life. I really hope I don't end up like you guys because this is just scary .

Personally, I enjoy learning/studying. I don't know about you, but science is actually interesting to some of us pre-meds...

 

[Etzio]

Personally, I enjoy learning/studying. I don't know about you, but science is actually interesting to some of us pre-meds...

The argument isn't whether or not science is interesting. It is very interesting and I enjoy its intricacies and details myself.

The argument is about having whats called a life. Its things you do when you don't study like talk to people, get to know them, be friends, go out, eat, poop, have sex, have a hobby (means something else that you like not related to academics) etc.

A doctor that reads 24/7 isn't much help to anyone, especially to his/her patient.

 

[Geneticist]

I agree. But people who enjoy studying are not necessarily lifeless drones helplessly mulling around libraries all day every day. I enjoy learning/studying AND hanging out with friends. Despite contrary belief, it IS actually possible to do.

 

[Etzio]

I agree. But people who enjoy studying are not necessarily lifeless drones helplessly mulling around libraries all day every day. I enjoy learning/studying AND hanging out with friends. Despite contrary belief, it IS actually possible to do.

And my point is that based off of these posts, it doesn't really seem like it, but hey what do I know, I clearly don't enjoy studying as much as you anyway. The library can be a fun place, just do quick shots in the reference section, no one goes there anyway.

 

[Geneticist]

I'm just saying I wouldn't go about judging others just because they aren't used to studying for once in their life. It'd be like tying your shoes every single day for hours a day then all of a sudden not having any shoes on your feet to tie...

Sort of...

 

[Etzio]

I'm just saying I wouldn't go about judging others just because they aren't used to studying for once in their life. It'd be like tying your shoes every single day for hours a day then all of a sudden not having any shoes on your feet to tie...

Sort of...

There is nothing wrong with insane amounts of studying. Ive been studying like crazy this week as well. It only becomes crazy when you would be unhappy hanging out with people, or doing other things and prefer to study 24/7.

If you don't have that issue then good for you I guess.

 

[yankeesmed]

When I dug out my MCAT books to sell,

Where did you manage to sell them? I would like to do this.

I miss studying, too. Can't wait to start again. There's something cozy about being cooped up in the library late at night during finals week with strong coffee, loads of books, and your laptop. It beats work.

 

[crixx]

You guys scare me. Bunch of masochists, eh?

Go drink a beer 👍

 

[marecupi]

I just graduated in Dec too and have until July until med school starts. For me it was just getting used to the fact that I could do whatever I wanted without that nagging feeling that I had studying or homework to do when I got home. I find that being able to spend more time with my friends is SO much more enjoyable now that I don't worry about all the work I have to do. Spend the time catching up on things you didn't get to do in school, like sleeping, reading for fun, working out. I got a job waiting tables to fill the extra time -- it's only part time so I still have plenty of time to do other things. Don't get me wrong, it's nothing special and I love science, but the job is a nice break from it, and I get to work with some great people.

I know it feels weird breaking the routine you set up for yourself in school, but give it a try (and give yourself a break)! Your hard work is not going to waste.

 

[oar2386]

The argument isn't whether or not science is interesting. It is very interesting and I enjoy its intricacies and details myself.

The argument is about having whats called a life. Its things you do when you don't study like talk to people, get to know them, be friends, go out, eat, poop, have sex, have a hobby (means something else that you like not related to academics) etc.

A doctor that reads 24/7 isn't much help to anyone, especially to his/her patient.

👍

 

[ha87]

Learn/practice meditation. Great for you and also challenging.

 

[Ursa]

I get the same way. 🙂

+1

I know I might get flamed for this

 

[curlytop]

Just had a very hearty laugh, haven't seen this one before!

 

[addo]

Go drink a beer 👍

Learn/practice meditation. Great for you and also challenging.

Jeez, now I dont know what to do 😕