Is Studentdoctor.net irrelevant?

[Rudy Guliani]

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Hey people, so I have been losing interest in this here web page lately, it doesn't seem like studentdoctor.net has much relevant, current info to offer...there are usually 9-20 people looking at any one section at any one time, and they are usually the same people over and over again...seems to me that studentdoctor.net is not worthwhile as a source for medical information anymore...it's sad because it was once a useful source...now it's more of a site for premeds to vent their insecurities than a site for useful info for all medical fields....

 

[jc237]

Hey people, so I have been losing interest in this here web page lately, it doesn't seem like studentdoctor.net has much relevant, current info to offer...there are usually 9-20 people looking at any one section at any one time, and they are usually the same people over and over again...seems to me that studentdoctor.net is not worthwhile as a source for medical information anymore...it's sad because it was once a useful source...now it's more of a site for premeds to vent their insecurities than a site for useful info for all medical fields....

I think webmd.com got lots of medical information. You should go there.

 

[robotsonic]

I think webmd.com got lots of medical information. You should go there.

Uptodate.com is also a really good source.

To the OP: Seriously, when did this SDN that you describe exist? I remember coming here four years ago (registered under a different name), when I was applying for med school, and it was pretty much the same. I actually think it has improved, since trolls and irrelevant posts are taken care of much more quickly now (or so it seems, compared with my memory of the site 4 years ago).

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

I've been a member of SDN since the late 90's and joined sometime in 2000. This site has gone through some dramatic transformations. Believe me, things are much better now. It seems like there are trolls, but that's b/c there are exponentially more people on SDN these days than like 5 years ago.

I love this site. I've learned so much and continue to learn everytime I log in, everyday. 😍

 

[dodobird]

I just told my husband the other day, "if it weren't for SDN and reading of others' horrible experiences with rotations, etc., I'd think I had major depressive disorder and maybe quit med school." Thank GOD for SDN for keeping me sane!!! Go elsewhere!

 

[fedor]

I particularly feel indebted to a number of posters on this site who have been helpful and patient answering my many questions. If I can't somehow repay the favor to them personally, I hope that eventually I'll be able to return the favor vicariously by helping the younger students coming after me.

This site and its posters are really a tremendous resource.

 

[chicamedica]

yeah actually, dont many of the forums on here say this is NOT a site for medical advice? SDN is the way it's supposed to be. This is a forum for premeds, med students, residents, and even attendings to vent their frustrations, give each other advice (about medical education and practice, and just about LIFE in general), and just kick back and joke, fool around, discuss current events, etc.

I too would have gone insane by now without it, especially that my school doesn't really offer great guidance (their guidance is like formulaic--same recipe for everyone)

 

[mosche]

I echo the last two posts. I think that , as we move forward in our medical professions, much of the information on SDN will seem irrelevant TO US. However, we must remember that there are students behind us who will benefit from SDN on their journey. I have made a vow to myself that I will continue to visit SDN, so that I can answer questions for them. If there is one thing that I wish that we would have had, it was more M.D. participation--I plan to do that for the future. BTW, for those of you who are M.D.s: "Thank you for all the very helpful advice and insights"

 

[Casey James]

I too would have gone insane by now without it, especially that my school doesn't really offer great guidance (their guidance is like formulaic--same recipe for everyone)

My sentiment exactly, chica. 👍 🙂

 

[drusso]

Give back! I think what makes SDN so valuable is the array of people at different stages of their training. Remember, many of the issues that seem trivial to you now, you once sweated bullets over. I think it also helps aspiring pre-meds to hear about how different paths got people to esssentially the same goal.

 

[Sugar72]

Yes, I agree that I have gained lots of knowledge from SDN...not book smarts but more of a cultural capital about how the process works - whether it is boards, clinical rotations, opinions of programs and of course how in the world the match really works! It has made all of the transition periods along my path a lot less stressfull. The best and most relevant thing is its great use as a study break and procrastination tool!

 

[docB]

I couldn’t disagree more. I think that SDN is very valuable. The way that it’s structured is excellent. The boundaries work well. E.g. the premeds bounce stuff around in their forums and don’t usually post MCAT questions in the residency forums. There are plenty of good mods to nip problems in the bud and tip everyone off when someone has posted something really off base. The info is really good by internet standards and the discussions usually stay civil (except when the dreaded MD vs. DO thing pops up). It can’t be all things to all people at all times but what can?

 

[turtle md]

Where else could I complain about off service, Internal Medicine rounds and all that goes along with IM that I so very much dislike? Of course I could complain to my fellow colleauges in the ED, my wife, my kid, my dog, and anyone else who happens to be around, but SDN gives me a much larger audience to whom I can vent my frustrations. Not to mention the advice, humor, and connections made ... I vote to keep it going 👍

 

[cytoborg]

I used to come around SDN a bit when applying for med school (under a different username) but learned to avoid it for the same reasons I avoided hanging out with other premeds in college. 🙄 But I found SDN extremely helpful in going through the residency application process. People seemed more seasoned and chill and were giving some really good advice. It's nice to be able to bounce ideas off someone else who is applying in the same specialty, and make sure you're on track. Now that I'm a resident I come back to hopefully help people coming after me, and of course vent about residency.

 

[8744]

You kind of go through phases with SDN. Obviously when you are a pre-med you hang out at the pre-med forum, then you jump over to the allopathic forum for a while and gradually stop caring about pre-med issues. Ultimately you spend a lot of time on the residency forums until you match and then you just sort of fade away.

I have been posting since my first year of medical school in 2001. I usually post over on the Everyone forum but that has gotten pretty lame as the opinions and topics are the same (including my own) and are esentially recycled every few years with a fresh batch of indignant and righteous posters who believe that what they have to say about the Palestinians (as an example) is fresh, new, and original.

SDN is probably the best resource for prospective medical students. If you sift through a little bit of the chaff you will find very good advice, practical information, and motivation on almost any topic.

The only drawback is that SDN is slightly slanted torwards the "super student" and might give an average student the idea that everybody, before medical school, published, ran the a hospital in Zaire, has a 4.9 GPA, and shines with a golden light of medical suitability.

 

[8744]

Oh, and DOs suck.






























Just kidding.