Incoming MS1. Med school is basically all online until at least late-December

[Spetzler-Martin]

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[Goro]

Tons of med schools, including mine, are using this model this fall. So you're not alone.

One of the dangers we're worried about with near 100% e-learning is that the lack of human contact will hurt students both psychologically and well as academically.

Thus, stay in contact with your fellow students constantly. Reach out to your Faculty if you have any difficulty with the material...it's our job to help.

You'll get your white ceremony at some point.

Your school will hopefully be organizing some sort of non-academic online stuff, to keep you all in touch with each other. If not, try organizing these yourself.

Oh, and read this:

• Goro's Guide to Success in Medical School (2018 edition)
• Good luck!!!

 

[deleted1005514]

I for one hope it brings to light some of “mandatory” stuff that’s actually not necessary, and shows that learning at home can be a viable option for more introverted students. Learning specialists are often heavy handed with pressure to attend every class lest you fail out, which isn’t the best learning strategy for every student.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I’m finishing M1, and I’m glad we’re doing mostly distance learning. Cuts out a lot of the mandatory stuff that is useless and will hopefully show people that maybe we don’t need all that stuff.

 

[Skarl]

100% sympathize with your feelings.

Practically speaking, I don't think having anatomy or even most of M1 instruction online will harm our competency as future physicians/surgeons. But as you mentioned, not having the traditional "rites of passage" and social contact with classmates/faculty feels emotionally and psychologically defeating. I didn't care about having my college graduation canceled, but having white coat ceremony canceled and celebration with friends/family members taken away by something outside of our control is frustrating.

I think this is difficult for current M1+'s to fully understand, seeing as they had all of these experiences even if they do not care for them in retrospect. I do sympathize with their own frustrations (canceled clerkships, canceled post-match celebrations, eternal dedicated), though.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I think this is difficult for current M1+'s to fully understand, seeing as they had all of these experiences even if they did not care for them in retrospect

Not all of us. My school does white coat at the end of first year. It got postponed and now we don’t have any idea what it’s going to be like.

And your feelings are valid and legitimate. But personally I’d rather lose white coat than have half my rotations canceled or have my match day and graduation canceled.

 

[Skarl]

Not all of us. My school does white coat at the end of first year. It got postponed and now we don’t have any idea what it’s going to be like.

And your feelings are valid and legitimate. But personally I’d rather lose white coat than have half my rotations canceled or have my match day and graduation canceled.

Yeah apologies if I came off as apathetic. I added an edit as I do sympathize with the struggles that other med students are facing right now. No one really wins in this situation

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Yeah apologies if I came off as apathetic. I added an edit as I do sympathize with the struggles that other med students are facing right now. No one really wins in this situation

Yeah, I wasn’t trying to downplay your experience and feelings. Just saying all of us are losing out on stuff.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

What will rotations be like for incoming M3s? Are some rotations cancelled?

My school is a little more flexible. We have a 1.5 year preclerkship curriculum and start rotations in January of M2. So I think some of their elective time might get shortened but we have a lot of leeway to make up core rotations.

 

[ak14]

Very much in the same boat as you OP. As I have also been out of school for two years, and I was excited to meet new people and make new friends while we are all on the same ride. Over the past few weeks though I have come to terms with it. I've told myself that this first semester I will still try and be active socially and make these new friends through distance, but it will mainly be used for figuring out how to study efficiently without any distractions. We'll be fine and I'm sure most schools will find ways to make up these group events in the semesters following. Med school is going to be a wild ride no matter what and I don't think this will have any long lasting effects on us, especially having a delayed white coat ceremony. I'm very glad we aren't in rotations right now and sympathize with those rising M3s and M4s. No one wins for sure.

 

[ciestar]

Not all of us. My school does white coat at the end of first year. It got postponed and now we don’t have any idea what it’s going to be like.

And your feelings are valid and legitimate. But personally I’d rather lose white coat than have half my rotations canceled or have my match day and graduation canceled.

I lost match day and graduation and i would have gladly given up the white coat ceremony. You dont have to have white coat during M1 anyway. I believe WVU does it at end of M2.

 

[M&L]

I am sorry you guys will go through that. It is Rough. That being said, just keep reminding yourself that it is for a REASON. they dont want you to kill someone accidentally or getting sick yourself.
As a rising M2, i can say that the last 2 months of spring semester (after we went online) were the BEST. it cuts out a lot of extra stuff. My grades reached all time high.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I lost match day and graduation and i would have gladly given up the white coat ceremony. You dont have to have white coat during M1 anyway. I believe WVU does it at end of M2.

Exactly. We’re doing it during M2 now.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I lost match day and graduation and i would have gladly given up the white coat ceremony. You dont have to have white coat during M1 anyway. I believe WVU does it at end of M2.

I skipped Match Day and would gladly have skipped graduation if my mother didn't have her heart set on the damned thing.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I skipped Match Day and would gladly have skipped graduation if my mother didn't have her heart set on the damned thing.

I’ve definitely seen people say they don’t care about any of that. Some people do, so it sucks that they don’t even have the choice of attending. I’m personally not one for big ceremonies, but I know my parents really like that stuff because it lets them be a part of it.

 

[pBar]

I've been more and more worried about this as my school has remained vague about what curriculum will look like moving into the fall... I'll be moving across the country to a school in an area I don't have any personal connections and am worried that the total lack of in-person events may make it even more difficult to establish a support system. Compounded with the fact that my school is on a 1-year pre-clinical curriculum, I worry that by the time things start regressing to any state of normalcy, my classmates and I will be shunted off into clerkships without even meeting one-another. I understand the precautions that need to be taken right now, it's just a disappointing reality.

 

[altblue]

I’m finishing M1, and I’m glad we’re doing mostly distance learning. Cuts out a lot of the mandatory stuff that is useless and will hopefully show people that maybe we don’t need all that stuff.

It's different when you're an established student. Imagine trying to make friends through social media and learning how to study for med school essentially by yourself.

Hell I'm bummed that I might not meet the incoming class for some time.

 

[ak14]

Luckily my school has been really supportive and communicative about the way they plan on handling the semester. We're doing lots of things via zoom of course, but still doing community outreach and service events where we will be able to meet each other. I think this is something you could do without your school setting it up also. At least it is a way to see your classmates in person.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

It's different when you're an established student. Imagine trying to make friends through social media and learning how to study for med school essentially by yourself.

Hell I'm bummed that I might not meet the incoming class for some time.

Yeah, you're just going to have to get creative unfortunately. Going into the fall, you can probably have interest group meetings outside or in large halls depending on where you go to school. I'm not sure what your curriculum is like, but we have a small group of 4 people we are with for the entire pre-clerkship period. We have a group text and talk a lot. Lots of us are doing socially distanced hangouts. We have to clean up our cadaver space on Tuesday, and after we are going to get take out and go eat somewhere outside. There are still ways to socialize, and when you all start, it'll be easier than it has been for the last few months I think.

It's definitely going to be weird for you guys, but you can do it if you think outside the box. That's where your upper levels will come in handy. They have been doing this for months now, so they can give you some tips on how to do it distance style.

As far as learning how to study for med school goes, I did it myself anyway. I've actually found the best way to study is to adjust my study style to the specific module we're in. What I'm doing now isn't quite what I did last module, but that's because we have different module directors who focus on different things.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I've been more and more worried about this as my school has remained vague about what curriculum will look like moving into the fall... I'll be moving across the country to a school in an area I don't have any personal connections and am worried that the total lack of in-person events may make it even more difficult to establish a support system. Compounded with the fact that my school is on a 1-year pre-clinical curriculum, I worry that by the time things start regressing to any state of normalcy, my classmates and I will be shunted off into clerkships without even meeting one-another. I understand the precautions that need to be taken right now, it's just a disappointing reality.

There are ways around it. You'll be able to socialize and meet your classmates. You might just have to put in more effort than we had to.

 

[Green_Goose]

It sucks that you have to go through this OP. Is your school in a covid hotspot? I'm curious since there are some schools resuming in-person instruction.

 

[ciestar]

I skipped Match Day and would gladly have skipped graduation if my mother didn't have her heart set on the damned thing.

Yeah graduation is more of a “family” thing that i never wanted to participate in the three times I had to do it.

 

[M&L]

Somewhat. My plan is to just reach out to faculty and residents for research and develop my own circle.

I wish these schools were a little less hasty in deciding the format in June. They should assess on a month by month basis.

they literally cannot NOT do it in June. School starts in August, they need to make the curriculum, organize professors, make the plan, finalize budget, etc. They need to get all those changes approved (governing board of school, or whoever the higher authority is). They also need to make sure it complies with all the new guidelines. There is so much that goes into planning a school semester.. You have no idea.

 

[altblue]

Somewhat. My plan is to just reach out to faculty and residents for research and develop my own circle.

I wish these schools were a little less hasty in deciding the format in June. They should assess on a month by month basis.

I mean if we're being honest with ourselves there's going to be a second wave one way or another.

Hybrid or online programs are the best for the broader community.

 

[ciestar]

they literally cannot NOT do it in June. School starts in August, they need to make the curriculum, organize professors, make the plan, finalize budget, etc. They need to get all those changes approved (governing board of school, or whoever the higher authority is). They also need to make sure it complies with all the new guidelines. There is so much that goes into planning a school semester.. You have no idea.

And nobody can predict what will happen next. These protests likely set so many places back when it comes to cases, so it’s hard to even say August will be “safe”.

 

[M&L]

And nobody can predict what will happen next. These protests likely set so many places back when it comes to cases, so it’s hard to even say August will be “safe”.

exactly. and medical schools are in impossible situation now, trying to figure out now to provide quality medical education under the current circumstances. It is so hard.

 

[altblue]

exactly. and medical schools are in impossible situation now, trying to figure out now to provide quality medical education under the current circumstances. It is so hard.

it's school dependent for sure, but I'm wondering how incoming M1's and M2's will make up for the missed clinical skills sessions. I mean I don't want to cram basic physical exams right before clinical rotations lol

 

[M&L]

it's school dependent for sure, but I'm wondering how incoming M1's and M2's will make up for the missed clinical skills sessions. I mean I don't want to cram basic physical exams right before clinical rotations lol

yeah in my school we only missed liver ultrasound (and GI physical exam stuff) during spring semester. My school frontloads the rest of the physical things at the beginning of the year. Next year during M2 we are supposed to do OB/GYN exam, prostate exam, etc. These are important. I am sure they will figure it out though. I really love how our school organizes things, - i trust them. I know that a lot of places are doing telemedicine thing to at least practice interviewing pts, and such.

 

[deleted1005514]

it's school dependent for sure, but I'm wondering how incoming M1's and M2's will make up for the missed clinical skills sessions. I mean I don't want to cram basic physical exams right before clinical rotations lol

My school does clinical skills classes in small groups of 8 with a clinical preceptor, so theoretically we could still do them, they might just have to stagger the timing so 160+ people wouldn't be in the building/hallways at once.

 

[~Soñadora~]

I think the most significant impact will be the socialization aspect, since you won't get to know your peers as well, form friendships as well, have study groups as well, etc. Nothing else really matters all that much. Most of my learning for the first two years was online by choice, because my school recorded almost all lectures and I chose not to attend and just watch the recordings at home. Things that are typically done in small groups were mandatory and those were the only things I attended, but I think you could still do those online and do them even more effectively than other things since a chat with 8 people is probably better than one with your entire class. Anatomy would be the most affected, but perhaps your school try to make up for it in the spring semester.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I think the most significant impact will be the socialization aspect, since you won't get to know your peers as well, form friendships as well, have study groups as well, etc. Nothing else really matters all that much. Most of my learning for the first two years was online by choice, because my school recorded almost all lectures and I chose not to attend and just watch the recordings at home. Things that are typically done in small groups were mandatory and those were the only things I attended, but I think you could still do those online and do them even more effectively than other things since a chat with 8 people is probably better than one with your entire class. Anatomy would be the most affected, but perhaps your school try to make up for it in the spring semester.

I have study groups every week. It’s over hangouts but we still see each other’s faces and socialize a bit while we study. I have had multiple meetings this week where I got to talk to people. Is it ideal? No, but it is completely possible to still have study groups and socialize. Like you said, I think it’s actually better on a small call than with a whole huge group.

I don’t do this, but people in my class are studying in person in groups. They are just doing it with only a couple people and they are sitting far apart, some doing it outside.

 

[Amba]

I have study groups every week. It’s over hangouts but we still see each other’s faces and socialize a bit while we study. I have had multiple meetings this week where I got to talk to people. Is it ideal? No, but it is completely possible to still have study groups and socialize. Like you said, I think it’s actually better on a small call than with a whole huge group.

I don’t do this, but people in my class are studying in person in groups. They are just doing it with only a couple people and they are sitting far apart, some doing it outside.

I don't know why you have to repeatedly bring everything back to you; that poster was clearly discussing the OP's questions/concerns, and being a rising M1 is very very different socially than a rising M2 such as yourself. A lot of friendships are formed early in medical school, and I cannot imagine entering med school 100% online and not actually meeting people. I cannot imagine doing a Zoom group study with a bunch of people I've never met. I'm sure people will adapt and it will be fine in the end, but the experience is going to be very different than what the rest of us experienced in med school.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I don't know why you have to repeatedly bring everything back to you; that poster was clearly discussing the OP's questions/concerns, and being a rising M1 is very very different socially than a rising M2 such as yourself. A lot of friendships are formed early in medical school, and I cannot imagine entering med school 100% online and not actually meeting people. I cannot imagine doing a Zoom group study with a bunch of people I've never met. I'm sure people will adapt and it will be fine in the end, but the experience is going to be very different than what the rest of us experienced in med school.

Maybe if you actually read my posts, they are all suggestions for ways to get around the concerns of not being able to do things the way they normally are done based on actual experience doing them and not just speculation.

If you can’t imagine doing a zoom call with people you’ve never met and don’t want to adapt and try to do things differently than you expected, that’s fine. But OP might actually want to hear that there are ways around it.

When your upper year med students give you suggestions based on their experiences, are you going to tell them it’s not about them and they don’t understand? We’re all in this together and just because established students aren’t staring med school online, we have had our entire education turned upside down and have had to figure things out completely anew.

We are just trying to support you by giving our own experiences so you can maybe take something from it and use it.

 

[Amba]

When your upper year med students give you suggestions based on their experiences, are you going to tell them it’s not about them and they don’t understand?

Lol I'm a resident.

You're missing the entire point. Saying, "Oh we just have zoom study sessions/small groups and it's fine and we socialize during that" while completely forgetting that you already had 9 months of regular med school to establish those relationships is so naive. What works when you have established social groups does not necessarily work when you don't, so you're just offering an orange when they need an apple.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Lol I'm a resident.

You're missing the entire point. Saying, "Oh we just have zoom study sessions/small groups and it's fine and we socialize during that" while completely forgetting that you already had 9 months of regular med school to establish those relationships is so naive. What works when you have established social groups does not necessarily work when you don't, so you're just offering an orange when they need an apple.

Maybe read the whole thread. I posted several suggestions for ways to deal with going into school not getting to meet your classmates in person in the traditional way while acknowledging that it will be more difficult than it was for us. You’re arguing against a single post based on a premise that doesn’t exist because I wasn’t just saying “oh just have a zoom meeting its easy lulz”

 

[Yhwach]

My school is going hybrid so I am not in the worst spot bit still, having limited interactions from other students will make it hard.

Being inside all day with no gym, restaurants, bars or anywhere else to go makes school 100% all work. There's no release valve. I'm already in a fog staying inside all day with no school, imagine that feeling starting fresh as a med student.

Also zoom just isn't the same, it just isn't.