is it just a myth?

[Chaphigh]

---

Members do not see this ad.

You might be tempted to disregard this message right off the bat, but remember that you were once in the same position as myself.

I'm still in school (Horace Greeley) in Chappaqua, NY, and am trying to learn more about career opportunities that I may pursue. Medicine seems to be like a likely field, though I have two questions that countless hours of perusing these boards have not helped resolve.

First, I have always been told that premeds don't live the "normal" college life of partying and such and instead spend much more of their time studying. I don't really understand how this could be true. From what I have read, it seems that I could become a philosophy major and take the prereqs for med school, and be in an excellent position come application time. It also seems that I am taking almost the exact same workload as a prospective lawyer who decided to major in philosophy and take a few extra classes on the side. What's the deal?

Second, this is a question that will truly forfeit my naivete. I have taken Bio and AP Bio in high school and have thought that they were interesting. I have done well in English and Physics as well, though not particularly in Chemistry (I got a 3.5, but I didn't enjoy the class). My question is whether or not I should treat this as an indicator that medicine might not be for me. I'm not so sure, especially since I feel that the chemistry that I learned in high school is so different from the chemistry I'd be learning in medical school that disliking one has no correlation with the other. Any advice?

Thank's for reading this, and I'd appreciate any advice and/or websites that you might have that would help.

Dima

 

[Jonkst]

For the first one, you're right, a lot of pre-meds don't live the "normal" college life, and its really a shame. They get all caught up in doing everything for medical school. That does not mean that its true for everyone. I know I certainly manage to go out and party several (perhaps too many) nights a week. Its just a matter of staying on top of your work when you need to. That also does not mean you have to be a philosophy major to have a good time either, it just means you have to be able to let go and not worry all the time.

 

[kilroth]

Majoring in a difficult science field will help you prepare for the rigors of medical school. Don't take the easy way out.

 

[Paws]

Hi Chaphigh,

I think there is a certain amount of diversity among premed students. While alot are just as you describe, there is a certain percentage who are older, have worked or who did not study the sciences but maybe were musicians or athletes.

The nice thing about medicine - I think - is that it is the kind of intellectual field that is able to absorb and appreciate this diversity among people. In the end, we will all bring the same - and some different - skills to our daily work. The 'different' skills come from these extra experiences.

Keep an open mind and enjoy the process - and if you didn't like chemistry, there's more to the subject than just the general chemistry of high school. At a more advanced level, chemistry becomes more like physics and then the limits seem pretty endless ...

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Chaphigh--

Your social life depends on you. Some pre-meds do feel as though they need to study all the time (and this varies from school to school). I studied hard, but I still went out, was heavily involved in theatre and student media, and worked part-time. I know more pre-meds who had a normal college life than who locked themselves in the library. So the question is, how hard do YOU need to study to get the material?

As far as chemistry goes, I would recommend taking biochem. I studied far more for biochem than I ever did for chem (it's lots more memorization) but I didn't mind it, as I thought the material was interesting. There are a number of other bio courses you can take to see whether the material grabs you, like anatomy & physiology, embryology, genetics, etc.

What's more important, however, is not whether you will enjoy the classes you will take in med school, as many people find that they are so detailed as to removed much of the joy from the material, but whether you want to be a doctor. Volunteer in a clinical setting where you can help/watch doctors function, and do as much shadowing in as many different types of specialties and settings (private clinic, ED, academic, surgical, primary care, etc.) as you can. Ask as many questions as you can.

Good luck!

 

[Chaphigh]

All of what you have said makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate your time.

For kilroth, I wasn't trying to take the easy way out. Almost all of the posts that I have read concerning the topic of some majors being more "helpful" than others the general consensus is that do whatever you like, because that's what you'll do well in. Majoring in something like philosophy (an interest of mine) also seems to make sense because if I find that I don't like medicine as much as I think I do right now, I can do something completely unrelated.

As for living the ?normal? college life, I?m still a little confused. I come from a family of college professors (Cornell, Michigan) and my parents were both Yale Law School graduates. I?ve always been motivated academically, and feel that no matter what I will pursue in college I will remain so. With this said, wouldn?t not living the ?normal? college life apply to all people who push themselves like myself regardless of major? If this is so, it seems logical that whether or not you live the ?normal? life depends on how quickly you can absorb the material. Do people just say premeds don?t get to live the normal life because they are often the most obsessed with getting good grades due to the competitive nature of med schools, or what?

 

[umass rower]

I personally don't have a "normal" social life in college, but it has nothing to do with being pre-med. I'm on an athletic team here that competes at a very high level, and so doing a lot of partying is really not a great idea. We have about 35 hours of practice each week, plus races and fundraisers most weekends, some of which occupy the entire weekend, from Friday night to Sunday night. In spite of this and other activities, I am still able to spend a lot of time with friends, and during the off-season I probably party only a little less than the average college student (just a personal preference).

Don't choose your major just because it will be easier. If you find biology to be really interesting, study biology. If you decide that something else is more to your liking, go with that. Just remember that you have to take at a minimum the core sciences for the MCAT- bio, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. And med schools will be able to see your science-specific GPA in addition to your overall. If you go into philosophy and have a 4.0 in those classes but a 2.5 in all your science classes, you're probably not going to get in.

You will need to know general chemistry for medical school, but nobody says you have to like it. It is applicable, and definitely very important, because it will be the foundation for learning organic chemistry and is used in the medical field by itself. However, if you just don't like general chemistry, you can still enjoy medicine in general and be successful at it.

Good luck in your college admissions!

 

[noy]

Your college 'life' is what you make of it. Do you think engineers or Division 1A athletes get any of the party scene? No way...

Major in what you love - it will make your college experience much better. Don't be a pre-med, it is a useless designation. Your 4 years should be more than preparing for the next step in life. Learn how to think, meet interesting people, and mature. That's what its for. For many of the folks who already know they want to be physicians, biology is their interest, and so they follow it. For me, it was engineering, for you it might be philosophy. If you choose to go into medicine it will keep you busier, but you should still have the time to be a college student.

Remember, with a phil. major you will have plenty of time to take courses from other fields - do all the prereqs and at least 3 or 4 advanced classes, to prove that you know the science.

Medicine as it is practiced and learned today is VERY different than freshman physics or chemistry - don't be discouraged by those. Remember, not everyone is medical school does amazingly well on their boards, but they all must pass the clinical component.

 

[thackl]

I took freshman chem in HS and sucked at it too. Now it seems easy. For me it was part lack of effort and part not really understanding the material. I've had a number of prof's, including chmists, tell me they did not truely understand chemistry until later in the undergrad years?

Bottom line, don't worry about it.

 

[Chaphigh]

From what I've read, I'm getting the feeling that where I'm at right now in my education it's too hard to get a feel for whether or not I like medicine. After all, it makes a lot of sense that learning general chemistry doesn't have too much to do with practicing medicine.

With the same token, I have friends that have gone to hospitals and volunteered to see just how interested in medicine they are. Most have reported that their duties have involved little more than helping patients get from floor to floor. Is there any more beneficial way of being in the field as a high school student?

 

[Jonkst]

Originally posted by noy
Your college 'life' is what you make of it. Do you think engineers or Division 1A athletes get any of the party scene? No way...

I'm engineering, as are a number of my friends, and we definitely get out several times a week. Athletes have a tough time because they're in training, but as for academics, if you balance your time, let yourself relax once and while, and work hard when you're working.

Oh, and for the original poster, its tough to get any really good experience in medicine, or any career really till you have some education under your belt. Even in college, good medical experiences are tough. I don't know how old you are though, but if you're 18 or going to be any time soon, you can do EMT training, and then work on an ambulance. Its not being a doctor, but its a hell of a good experience.

 

[Grumpy Bear]

Chaphigh, try shadowing a doctor... personal contacts work best for this, but your school's alumni association may be able to hook you up with someone. Alternatively, you can try the somewhat more frustrating route of contacting drs on your own. Shadowing has been, in my experience, the easiest way to get an idea of what practicing medicine is like. You get to see their daily routine, and hopefully pester the dr with questions as well 😀

It's still early in your journey, so take some of the science classes you need, and see how they go. While gen chem is definitely not a big part of any practicing physician's day, basic sciences are a necessary hurdle, which will be more easily overcome if you like your classes. but I definitely agree that you should major in whatever you like, since it's your college experience, and it can be incomparably fun if you let it be.

Have fun, stay motivated, and with an open mind, you'll figure out what you want to do.

 

[carrigallen]

Originally posted by VienneseWaltz

What's more important, however, is not whether you will enjoy the classes you will take in med school, as many people find that they are so detailed as to removed much of the joy from the material, but whether you want to be a doctor. Volunteer in a clinical setting where you can help/watch doctors function, and do as much shadowing in as many different types of specialties and settings (private clinic, ED, academic, surgical, primary care, etc.) as you can. Ask as many questions as you can.

Good luck!

Exactly what I wanted to say, eloquently phrased by VW. Get involved in medicine, especially be sure to look at hospital wards...this is the world where you will spend a lot of your time, not the classroom.

 

[Anka]

It sounds like you're already getting a lot of good advice from everyone else, but I'll add my two cents. I actually decided not to be a pre-med as an undergraduate, largely because they were just a little too wonky for my tastes. Not that I thought they were studying too hard, I probably studied just as hard or harder, but rather... well, the pre-meds are anal where I went to school. They just sit there and memorize, and wind up understanding the material less than someone who sat down to learn the concepts, and didn't feel the need to memorize every single last thing on the page. So, if you decide to be a pre-med, keep track of what's interesting and exciting, and do that. Also recognize that a lot of the pre-med requirements are just hoops to be jumped through, so jump through them and don't sit there obsessing about whether this two points you lost because you dropped a lone pair means you won't make a very good doctor.

 

[Anka]

It sounds like you're already getting a lot of good advice from everyone else, but I'll add my two cents. I actually decided not to be a pre-med as an undergraduate, largely because they were just a little too wonky for my tastes. Not that I thought they were studying too hard, I probably studied just as hard or harder, but rather... well, the pre-meds are anal where I went to school. They just sit there and memorize, and wind up understanding the material less than someone who sat down to learn the concepts, and didn't feel the need to memorize every single last thing on the page. So, if you decide to be a pre-med, keep track of what's interesting and exciting, and do that. Also recognize that a lot of the pre-med requirements are just hoops to be jumped through, so jump through them and don't sit there obsessing about whether this two points you lost because you dropped a lone pair means you won't make a very good doctor.

 

[DrArsenic]

Well the reason a pre-med might study harder while having the same major as someone else is because they are also preparing for the MCATs. Some average person who plans on entering the working world with a bachlors degree has to do enough to get by. A pre-med major has to worry about really learning the subjects that they just took and not just gettting by. Also its very competitive getting into medical school. Good grades are very important. Another reason I would say that pre-med study more is because becoming a doctor is their ultimate goal. Other careers wont do it for them. Thats why they make sure they dont get off track and lose focus on their goal.

Personally I spend a lot of time studying because medical school is my only option. I dont think i am interested in entering any other field.

 

[28129]

You strike me as an immature, shallow individual. If your major concern for college is whether or not you'll get in enough partying, then medicine is not for you. Furthermore, if you're approaching things with such a pessimistic attitude from day 1, I don't think you'll be able to hack it a single semester as a pre-med.

I'm sorry if that's harsh, but your post pisses me off because I have relatives in India who would love to college but they can't because they can't afford. You seem to view college as something that intrudes into your partying schedule. Sickening. Absolutely sickening.

Go into investment banking or the like. I hear most of their deals are settled over booze at strip clubs. That will be more suited to your liking.

 

[zinjanthropus]

medical education will take up a huge portion of your life as a young person. there is absolutely nothing wrong with considering how the decision might impact your quality of life. it is very silly to bash the OP for their concern and I would be more worried about someone who doesn't consider aspects of their life outside of academics when making education decisions.

 

[28129]

People do mature, but by the time you enter college you pretty much are who you're going to be. I've known many frat boys who went to medical school, but they had their priorities straight, and none of them had the kind of attitude this kid does.

If you're bitching about the stress and "workload" of premed classes, wait until they're working you 80 hours a week, and making you answer calls in the middle of the night when you're "free". LOL.

 

[peterockduke]

ShantanuThakur ... maybe you should evaluate where your priorities are. If your family members in India are dying to go, this must mean there is a lot of pressure for YOU to go. Maybe you don't like this guy b/c he has the freedom to choose and you don't. Stand up to your parents. I don't know you, it's not fair for me to say that now is it? Stop throwing crap this guys way.


I knew of one frat boy in my major who had a 3.9+ gpa and a 36+ MCAT. He always partied his friggin head off and showed up to multiple medical school interviews hungover. I guess this is what happens when you know you've already gotten accepted to Hopkins. I've seen premeds who lock themselves in libraries for weeks and others that seem to just get down to business when the situation calls. It's what you do with your time... you know your work habits better than anyone else.

And definitely go shadow a doc.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Originally posted by ShantanuThakur
People do mature, but by the time you enter college you pretty much are who you're going to be.

Dude, you are so off there.

As for the rest of your posts, the OP actually did not say that he was concerned about getting enough partying in, although concern for one's social wellbeing is well-founded. The OP was puzzled because the stereotype of the library-bound pre-med did not seem to add up when he actually looked at the requirements for med school. He asked for clarification, indicating an interest in additional intellectual pursuits (an attractive trait to adcoms).

The med students I know who led the so-called "normal" pre-med undergrad life and went straight to med school without a break are miserable. They would have done well to have had more fun in college and pursued intellectual development beyond medicine.

Chill out.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Originally posted by Chaphigh
With the same token, I have friends that have gone to hospitals and volunteered to see just how interested in medicine they are. Most have reported that their duties have involved little more than helping patients get from floor to floor. Is there any more beneficial way of being in the field as a high school student?

Mmm. Probably not as a high school student. I candy-striped, too, and it was pretty lame. But you have more than enough time for meaningful volunteer work and shadowing in undergrad, and it will be easier to get experience once you are in college. If you have a pre-med office, they can help you out there. As someone else suggested, you can get an EMT license at 18 (at least in my state), which is fascinating part-time work in college, and if you know docs (friends of the family, etc.), you can ask to shadow them.

 

[Echinoidea]

I have relatives in India who would love to college

First time I've seen college used as a verb....

Shantanu, I think you're looking for the Pre-proctology forum. SDN hasn't brought that online yet.

To the OP: kudos to you for taking the time to honestly and thoughtfully investigate your options in college. Don't let toolboxes like this turn you off.

 

[onlyme]

what is "normal" for a college student to "party"?

maybe some people get wasted every night, but i think most students only drink one or two nights per week.

i always find it humorous that when people enter college, they feel the need to drink and party every night. why is that? sheltered home life? i really am curious. does partying signify "coolness"?

i look forward to hearing some responses and some flaming on this. later. 😀

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

Originally posted by ShantanuThakur
You strike me as an immature, shallow individual. If your major concern for college is whether or not you'll get in enough partying, then medicine is not for you. Furthermore, if you're approaching things with such a pessimistic attitude from day 1, I don't think you'll be able to hack it a single semester as a pre-med.

I'm sorry if that's harsh, but your post pisses me off because I have relatives in India who would love to college but they can't because they can't afford. You seem to view college as something that intrudes into your partying schedule. Sickening. Absolutely sickening.

Go into investment banking or the like. I hear most of their deals are settled over booze at strip clubs. That will be more suited to your liking.

Well, that post basically provides evidence for ShantanuThakur's Cornell education. No offense, but you really are embarrassing yourself here and the only person who seems immature is you for trying to bash the OP for daring to ask if (s)he can actually experience college outside of the walls of the library at his undergraduate school. As another poster pointed out, "college" cannot be used as a verb...that word is something we call a "noun." Secondly, you said..."I'm sorry if that's harsh, but your post pisses me off because I have relatives in India who would love to college but they can't because they can't afford." Don't you mean that they can't afford it**? If you're going to bash someone, at least try to formulate some clear, coherent sentences that demonstrate that you know the difference between a noun and a verb. Your post basically illustrates the benefits...or...well...detriments* of a Cornell education.



"If you win, they will stand."----Ted Scutti (former National Debate Champion)

 

[DrHuang]

First, I have always been told that premeds don't live the "normal" college life of partying and such and instead spend much more of their time studying.

Well, that depends...if you are one of them academic gunners who do everything in their power to set the curve, keep your notes to yourself and only care about your grades then yes, you will have no life.

at the same time, even if you are not like that, what sucks up alot of your time is extracurriculars

but i wouldnt say that all premeds have no life

 

[flyingillini]

High school sucks.

College is where its at!

 

[fusionid]

Originally posted by ShantanuThakur
You strike me as an immature, shallow individual. If your major concern for college is whether or not you'll get in enough partying, then medicine is not for you. Furthermore, if you're approaching things with such a pessimistic attitude from day 1, I don't think you'll be able to hack it a single semester as a pre-med.

I'm sorry if that's harsh, but your post pisses me off because I have relatives in India who would love to college but they can't because they can't afford. You seem to view college as something that intrudes into your partying schedule. Sickening. Absolutely sickening.

Go into investment banking or the like. I hear most of their deals are settled over booze at strip clubs. That will be more suited to your liking.

Your comments are completely out of line here.

To the original post, everything you sould know has already been said. My advice, work hard and party hard. Enjoy college, it is time to hook up and party. After those preciuos 4 years getting laid will become exponantionally more difficult

 

[Chaphigh]

For Thakur, I don't really know what your intentions were but just to clarify I don't feel that partying overrides education and clearly if I did I wouldn't have taken the time to seek out a website like this, register, and then post a meaningful question.

As for everyone else, thank's for all the great help. If anyone is still looking into these posts, I'm just wondering why one of my questions has been overlooked. Wouldn't it seem logical that any premed who's working a lot and thus not living the "normal" college life is in the same position that a lawyer-to-be that is working to get good grades is in?

Thanks again

 

[Zweihander]

Originally posted by Chaphigh
Wouldn't it seem logical that any premed who's working a lot and thus not living the "normal" college life is in the same position that a lawyer-to-be that is working to get good grades is in?

Thanks again

I think the idea is that if you're interested in something like law school, yeah you gotta crank it to make a top 25, but there are definitely some law schools that are significantly easier than others. Same with anything else -- you want a Bio PhD at Yale, it'll take doing.

But there is NO med school that is "easy" to get into, although some may be more selective than others. Hence the idea that *all* premeds have it rough, 'cause you don't have the choice of applying to a fall-back school.

That said, I definitely don't think it's true that premed = buried in books, nor do I think it should be.


-Z

 

[Dr. Xavier]

Yes

 

[sgilani]

to the OP you've gotten a lot of good advice here (ignore shantanu). personally tho, i would recommend majoring in something you like, even if it's a non science. i majored in political science, minored in history, spanish and math. and, i'm planning to continue taking a spanish class each semester during medical school. i definitely recommend taking science courses in addition to the basic premed reqs ie. biochemistry and a course in anatomy. however, don't feel that you HAVE to major in a science. adcoms read thousands of apps from bio majors. make yours stand out.
and don't worry, you'll have plenty of time for a life. just don't let yourself get sucked into the rut. yeah there were times where i had to tell my friends "i have to study" as opposed to going out. but i've had my share of partying and i have no intentions of stopping.
good luck