If you could do it over...

[pharm1234]

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would you do med school and go through residency? Why or Why not?
How much free time and sleep did you get during med school and residency? Did you enjoy life? Do you feel like you missed out on important things in life?

 

[Blade28]

Hell yeah. Wouldn't change a thing.

Lots of free time in 1st, 2nd and 4th year of med school. Very busy during 3rd year - worked between 40 (FP, psych) to 110 (surgery) hours a week.

Residency has been mainly very busy, as I'm a general surgery intern. Some call schedules have been brutal - Q3, no sleep during call nights, covering 50-80 patients. But I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[MedWiz]

would you do med school and go through residency? Why or Why not?

Check this one out:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=195799

HTH

 

[p54]

nope i wouldn't do it again, i'd do anything easier, i think i've burnt out

had lots of time 1st, 2nd, 4th, and even 3rd year....skipped class alot, picked easy rotations whenever i could,
slept in, went home mid day 1st and 2nd yr to take naps, went the the gym alot, watched lots of tv, hung out, just chilled....

now i'm scarred of the approaching slavery that will come july 1st b/c there is not way to slack anymore, i just keep telling myself that its going to be hell for 3 years, but atleast its better than being in prison

 

[OUsooner]

Had tons of free time 1st through 4th years and am now scared about the transitional intern year ahead of me. I hear my place isn't too bad but the stress of covering a ~300 bed hospital alone with only one other intern on call nights is scaring the he!! out of me. Sure I passed everything with ease, but maybe I should have slacked less through med school.

Not much I can do now other than booze away the remaining 6 weeks.

So to answer your question, I don't think the first four years have been too bad but ask me in the middle of intern year whether or not I'd do it again.

 

[turtle md]

Not much I can do now other than booze away the remaining 6 weeks.

The perfect way to prepare for the onslaught ...

 

[baby doc j]

I agree with the above posters that it has been fairly easy to slack over the last 4 years (with the exception of a few 3rd year rotations). I am also starting to freak out about the huge shift in responsibility that is coming next month. I literally feel like I have forgotten everything I learned in med school. I will say though that I CAN NOT WAIT to actually be useful and serve an important role. Being a med student can be so passive and that is what drove me crazy over the last 2 years. I am really looking forward to residency because I know my time spent will be needed and useful not only for my patients but for me and my career.

 

[Skrubz]

would you do med school and go through residency? Why or Why not?
How much free time and sleep did you get during med school and residency? Did you enjoy life? Do you feel like you missed out on important things in life?

Hard to say. One reason for doing it all over again is that I'm not sure what else I would be doing with my life... though some days I entertain the thought of being a struggling singer-songwriter.

There's a good amount of free time during med school, with third year being the hardest and fourth year the easiest. As a resident, the amount of free time depends on your specialty, your rotation and what your goals. I'm in the ICU right now, pulling 30+ hour q3 call with little to no sleep. Life sucks this month and my program has to learn that the MICU rotation is under-staffed from a resident perspective. During my OR rotations, I work about 60 hours a week (roughly 12 hour days) and typically have 2 full weekends off a month. I miss the OR...

 

[CANES2006]

I am also starting to freak out about the huge shift in responsibility that is coming next month. I literally feel like I have forgotten everything I learned in med school. I will say though that I CAN NOT WAIT to actually be useful and serve an important role.

Amen!

 

[DOtobe]

I agree with the above posters that it has been fairly easy to slack over the last 4 years (with the exception of a few 3rd year rotations). I am also starting to freak out about the huge shift in responsibility that is coming next month. I literally feel like I have forgotten everything I learned in med school. I will say though that I CAN NOT WAIT to actually be useful and serve an important role. Being a med student can be so passive and that is what drove me crazy over the last 2 years. I am really looking forward to residency because I know my time spent will be needed and useful not only for my patients but for me and my career.

Everyone feels like they have forgotten everything when they first start internship. However, the learning curve is HUGE in your intern year. You will be amazed at how much you learn so quickly. It's so nice once you get that pre-call nausea to finally subside because you feel comfortable enough...I was so nervous the first time I put in an order. That was what got me most - if you order it, they will do it! It's strange at first to not have to have someone approve your orders anymore.

You'll all be fine. 👍

Edit: Just realized I didn't answer the original post...I'd definitely do it again. Med school can be hard, and internship is even harder, but I am actually happy going to work every day (for the most part). I can't picture myself doing anything else.

 

[lateness]

nope i wouldn't do it again, i'd do anything easier, i think i've burnt out

had lots of time 1st, 2nd, 4th, and even 3rd year....skipped class alot, picked easy rotations whenever i could,
slept in, went home mid day 1st and 2nd yr to take naps, went the the gym alot, watched lots of tv, hung out, just chilled....

now i'm scarred of the approaching slavery that will come july 1st b/c there is not way to slack anymore, i just keep telling myself that its going to be hell for 3 years, but atleast its better than being in prison

haha, yes it is better than prison, .. i am with you, dont get me wrong its worth it if you like it, I like it alot, , But,if I could have an opp to do something else that i was very interested in, i would jump on it, thats assuming you get to be successful at what you chose, ( law, broker, writer, actor, etc..) . my friends that are my age, most have their own business or are way up in some company, and making soo much money and working 4 or 5 days a week and trying to figure out what to do with their time off, and their weekends, and not stressed, and spending time with their kids, etc. etc.. , i mean ill get there, but they would have had it years before me.. and life IS short,