Is it common to go on vacation after 1st year?

[zurned]

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Is the summer of first year mostly spent on enjoying the free time you have (ie: vacation) or do students conduct extra research or work in clinical settings for more experience?

 

[Hard24Get]

Is the summer of first year mostly spent on enjoying the free time you have (ie: vacation) or do students conduct extra research or work in clinical settings for more experience?

At my school, it is common for people to do research or paid medical internships. The best combo between having enriching experiences and relaxing is going to a "Doctors without Borders" type program - generally they pay for you to fly to an exotic country and get clinical experience, all while helping people who really need you! 🙂

 

[erin682]

Is the summer of first year mostly spent on enjoying the free time you have (ie: vacation) or do students conduct extra research or work in clinical settings for more experience?

I most certainly did, but you will get the whole range of opinions on this. I would do what you think will be best for you. If you want to do research or are interested in doing something clinical then go for it. Also if you are considering one of the most competitie specialties, derm etc, then it is a good idea to have research at some point whether that is in the m1-m2 summer break is up to you. If have some cool vacation that you want to do then go for that. You can also split your time and do some of each.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Is the summer of first year mostly spent on enjoying the free time you have (ie: vacation) or do students conduct extra research or work in clinical settings for more experience?

Most people go on vacation:

Some people work:

A few do research:

 

[Brickhouse]

I agree with the person who said do what feels right to you - ultimately the 2+ months you get off won't make a huge difference on your resume overall, and this is pretty much your last summer of true freedom so I would just ask yourself "Self, what do I want to do with the precious time" and you shall know your answer!

I bought a playstation and beat God of War - that was my summer.

 

[Brainsucker]

A very common thing to do is to find something that looks like it's clinical, but is really a vacation somewhere. One of my classmates is doing a thing in Hawaii that only takes a day or two a week. Pretty sweet.

 

[PreMedAdAG]

WE only have six weeks off so this is what I'm doing

Moving
Chicago for the Madonna Concert (1 week)
Lake Tahoe for fourth of july (1 week)
Fellowship: whenever I can schedule it
Research paper writing: finishing up my old research from before medical school
Jamaica: (1 week)

Not being a medical student.... for aproximately 80% of the time 🙂

 

[jennyboo]

I did nothing (i.e. had vacation).

 

[lorelei]

I'm going to be doing research, with a week or so at each end to just relax and a week vacation to the Bahamas in the middle. I'm excited; the last time I had this much time off, except last year when I was completely stressed with moving, was like 6 years ago.

 

[Blake]

I bought a playstation and beat God of War - that was my summer.

👍 Take a look at Heavenly Swords.

at the research pic (did it last year, and will do it this summer too 😉 )

 

[Rafa]

So when do future physicians stop having summers off? I was under the impression that all four summers were available during med school - but this thread suggests otherwise...

 

[Law2Doc]

So when do future physicians stop having summers off? I was under the impression that all four summers were available during med school - but this thread suggests otherwise...

At least the bulk of your second summer you will be studying for and taking step 1. Basically the summer after your first year is the only one that is truly "free" and relatively lengthy.

 

[Brainsucker]

At least the bulk of your second summer you will be studying for and taking step 1. Basically the summer after your first year is the only one that is truly "free" and relatively lengthy.

You should see how worked up the 2nd years got when telling all about how we shouldn't waste the "last summer of the rest of our lives." Apparently, the Earth stops revolving around the Sun. I knew I was kind of a big deal.

 

[Rafa]

At least the bulk of your second summer you will be studying for and taking step 1. Basically the summer after your first year is the only one that is truly "free" and relatively lengthy.

I thought step 1 was right at the end of year 2. When is it typically taken? And at at any rate, what about the third and fourth summers?

 

[Law2Doc]

I thought step 1 was right at the end of year 2. When is it typically taken? And at at any rate, what about the third and fourth summers?

Step 1 is in the summer after your second year, and you will use up most of your break studying for it. Your post-first-year summer will be the last formal full summer vacation for a while. Use it well.

 

[OSUdoc08]

So when do future physicians stop having summers off? I was under the impression that all four summers were available during med school - but this thread suggests otherwise...

Summer after 1st year = off.

Summer after 2nd year = Studying for Boards + Boards + Clinicals (begin in June or July for most schools).

Summer after 3rd year = Clinicals all summer.

 

[Norizan]

A very common thing to do is to find something that looks like it's clinical, but is really a vacation somewhere. One of my classmates is doing a thing in Hawaii that only takes a day or two a week. Pretty sweet.

Can you tell me what is this thing that she is doing so I can look it up?

 

[argonana]

Summer after 1st year = off.

Summer after 2nd year = Studying for Boards + Boards + Clinicals (begin in June or July for most schools).

Summer after 3rd year = Clinicals all summer.

What about summer after 4th year? Do people get time off before residency?

 

[OSUdoc08]

What about summer after 4th year? Do people get time off before residency?

A month or less.

 

[bluehighlighter]

Most people go on vacation:

Some people work:

A few do research:

Luv the pictures...hehe

 

[nockamura]

We get over 12 weeks so I think we're supposed to do something useful, but all I'm doing is going on vacations and generally sitting around. I have started reviewing Lippincott's Biochem though and once a week I'll be working in a clinic, but mainly I'm not being very productive. Oh well.

 

[njbmd]

Is the summer of first year mostly spent on enjoying the free time you have (ie: vacation) or do students conduct extra research or work in clinical settings for more experience?

Hi there,
The summer after your first year is actually your last long vacation period until fourth year. Most students take the vacation but some do research, tutor, work, do makeup work for classes failed or conditionally passed etc. The things that you need to look at are: 1. Are you interested in a very competitive specialty and have been a marginal student during first year? 2. Is there a wonderful opportunity to do research or make extra money available to you?

If you answer "yes" to either of the two questions, then use some of your vacation time to further your career. If not, then take a vacation and recharge yourself for second year. If you have studied hard, done well, you probably can afford to take a summer vacation even if you are interested in a competitive specialty. If not, use the summer to get your academic skills in order but take a vacation anyway.

Most medical students should use the summer after first year for vacation and can afford to do so.

njbmd 🙂