Is travelling before med school a MUST?

[lunalight]

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to travel as if it is some kind of requirement before starting medical school. Am I the only one that doesn't want to spend the money because I know I'm going to need it?

Considering my life for the last 3 years, sitting on my rear end for a week is enough of a vacation for me. 😀

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[JourneyAgent]

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to travel as if it is some kind of requirement before starting medical school. Am I the only one that doesn't want to spend the money because I know I'm going to need it?

Considering my life for the last 3 years, sitting on my rear end for a week is enough of a vacation for me.

The facebooks of your fabulous colleagues will be littered with globe trotting adventures. Most of your medical class will come from wealthy social sets, where "worldly experience" is the European backpacking thing or something like this.

Firstly, Facebook can get buggered by mutant gorillas. Zuckerberg must've been some lesser demon who blow jobbed his way to the top in hell to be sent among us to spread the everyday nonsense of the why/how-do-I-know-yous to the set of our perpetual public reality show that we somehow get convinced is normal to try to be the star of. If Jesus is real. Not this Christ guy, but the real mf'er who kicks over the moneychangers's tables. Then justice will be dispensed with fiery righteous fury onto the zuckerbergs and their creepy schemes.

Secondly. Do whatever satisfies you within your means that you have this lovely time to do.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to travel as if it is some kind of requirement before starting medical school. Am I the only one that doesn't want to spend the money because I know I'm going to need it?

Considering my life for the last 3 years, sitting on my rear end for a week is enough of a vacation for me. 😀

The school of thought is that you will be so neck deep in work and obligations that you will not have the freedom to do so, once you start. I would do it personally, if I could. I've traveled before and it is one of my most pleasant lifetime memories.

Secondly. Do whatever satisfies you within your means that you have this lovely time to do.

In the end this trumps all. agree with this.

 

[lunalight]

The facebooks of your fabulous colleagues will be littered with globe trotting adventures. Most of your medical class will come from wealthy social sets, where "worldly experience" is the European backpacking thing or something like this.

Firstly, Facebook can get buggered by mutant gorillas. Zuckerberg must've been some lesser demon who blow jobbed his way to the top in hell to be sent among us to spread the everyday nonsense of the why/how-do-I-know-yous to the set of our perpetual public reality show that we somehow get convinced is normal to try to be the star of. If Jesus is real. Not this Christ guy, but the real mf'er who kicks over the moneychangers's tables. Then justice will be dispensed with fiery righteous fury onto the zuckerbergs and their creepy schemes.

Not sure about this?😕

Secondly. Do whatever satisfies you within your means that you have this lovely time to do.

I would do it personally, if I could.

Agree with both. Just somewhat frustrated by the idea that if one doesn't travel prior to medical school, he or she is totally lame/missing out.

 

[MSTPlease]

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to travel as if it is some kind of requirement before starting medical school. Am I the only one that doesn't want to spend the money because I know I'm going to need it?

Considering my life for the last 3 years, sitting on my rear end for a week is enough of a vacation for me. 😀

I didn't travel. I was working the year before I started so I ended my job one month before school started. I got my wisdom teeth out which killed a weekend and made my food choices interesting for a week and otherwise just hung out/bummed around for the month.

 

[gyngyn]

I never traveled until after I was a professor. I've seen the world many times over and loved every minute. Live the timing that is right for you.

 

[JourneyAgent]

Not sure about this?😕





Agree with both. Just somewhat frustrated by the idea that if one doesn't travel prior to medical school, he or she is totally lame/missing out.

Sure. I'm amusing myself amidst an Ann Landers format. Disregard whatever of me is strange.

As to lameness....I'm sure I'm pretty lame compared to George Clooney. Ok I wish I was George Clooney....except that dude really doesn't have a funk bone in is body...you ever see him dance....?....I can f'n get down. So who's lame. George Clooney wishes he had leg stanky as mine. And....like that.... Who cares what's somebody else's lame.

I chilled like a big dog. Did lot's of yoga. And hung out with my best buddy after work as often as I could.

Is getting stoned and blowing bubbles with his baby son and him in the park lame? No red carpet then...? Who gives a f@ck.

 

[yossarian444]

You'll find youself asking the same exact question about travel near the end of your M4 year. Just replace "medical school" with residency. Sometimes if felt like I was the only one not going anywhere M4 year.

Regarding the lack of freedom to travel later...well...yeah, you'll never have time to travel again...until the summer after your M1 year...and then again during that week between M2 and M3 year...and then again during the last 4 months of M4 year...and then again during each of your 3-4 weeks of vacation per year during residency...and then again right after residency.

There is plenty of opportunity for travel - there is no need to think you have to get it all in now. Some people in medicine are fortunate to come from wealth and are able to travel during all these times throughout school and residency. Many of us can't and we just stay at home relaxing - such is life - no need to fret.

Personally, if you're at all concerned about money, I'd save your money now and skip traveling. You never know what bumps you are going to hit during medical school that a few thousand bucks might solve (eg, car breaks down or perhaps you decide to apply to a competitive specialty and TY and have to spend >$5,000 on applications to 80+ programs/TY's including all the $$ on residency interview flights/hotels) If you have surplus funds come 4 years from now, join your classmates for a week on some exotic beech for a week or two.

 

[lunalight]

Sure. I'm amusing myself amidst an Ann Landers format. Disregard whatever of me is strange.

As to lameness....I'm sure I'm pretty lame compared to George Clooney. Ok I wish I was George Clooney....except that dude really doesn't have a funk bone in is body...you ever see him dance....?....I can f'n get down. So who's lame. George Clooney wishes he had leg stanky as mine. And....like that.... Who cares what's somebody else's lame.

I chilled like a big dog. Did lot's of yoga. And hung out with my best buddy after work as often as I could.

Is getting stoned and blowing bubbles with his baby son and him in the park lame? No red carpet then...? Who gives a f@ck.

Good point.

I'm looking forward to wasting whole days sleeping and finally getting a chance to read for fun again.

 

[lunalight]

You'll find youself asking the same exact question about travel near the end of your M4 year. Just replace "medical school" with residency. Sometimes if felt like I was the only one not going anywhere M4 year.

Regarding the lack of freedom to travel later...well...yeah, you'll never have time to travel again...until the summer after your M1 year...and then again during that week between M2 and M3 year...and then again during the last 4 months of M4 year...and then again during each of your 3-4 weeks of vacation per year during residency...and then again right after residency.

There is plenty of opportunity for travel - there is no need to think you have to get it all in now. Some people in medicine are fortunate to come from wealth and are able to travel during all these times throughout school and residency. Many of us can't and we just stay at home relaxing - such is life - no need to fret.

Personally, if you're at all concerned about money, I'd save your money now and skip traveling. You never know what bumps you are going to hit during medical school that a few thousand bucks might solve (eg, car breaks down or perhaps you decide to apply to a competitive specialty and TY and have to spend >$5,000 on applications to 80+ programs/TY's including all the $$ on residency interview flights/hotels) If you have surplus funds come 4 years from now, join your classmates for a week on some exotic beech for a week or two.

Thanks! This is absolutely how I see it. I know I'll be kicking myself in a year or two when I can't afford to replace a dead computer or I'm trying to make ramen and nachos last until loan disbursement day because I already spent that money.

Plus, at this point, the idea of not having to be anywhere or do anything sort of beats any kind of trip I can think of.

 

[squat]

I'm planning on a 3-week road trip with my kids this summer. That ought to make med school feel pretty low-key by comparison 🙂

 

[MedPR]

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to travel as if it is some kind of requirement before starting medical school. Am I the only one that doesn't want to spend the money because I know I'm going to need it?

Considering my life for the last 3 years, sitting on my rear end for a week is enough of a vacation for me. 😀

I don't particularly enjoy traveling so, like you, I'd rather save the money to splurge on stuff that makes me happy while I'm miserable during M1.

 

[MedWonk]

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to travel as if it is some kind of requirement before starting medical school. Am I the only one that doesn't want to spend the money because I know I'm going to need it?

Considering my life for the last 3 years, sitting on my rear end for a week is enough of a vacation for me. 😀

Not a requirement. You'll have lots of opportunity to travel later on down the line if you really want to. Just do what you like to do.

 

[BuddyTheElf]

Thanks! This is absolutely how I see it. I know I'll be kicking myself in a year or two when I can't afford to replace a dead computer or I'm trying to make ramen and nachos last until loan disbursement day because I already spent that money.

Plus, at this point, the idea of not having to be anywhere or do anything sort of beats any kind of trip I can think of.

This is my exact dilemma right now. I'm quitting my job about a month before school starts. Trying to decide between a 10 day trip to some Caribbean island, drink and lay on the beach the whole time. Or save the $$$ and just do a road trip somewhere in the states.. or cheaper yet: just sleep, read books, watch movies, and do whatever pleases me that day.
Just want to enjoy my last few weeks of stress-free freedom! 😎

OP: Personally, I think it doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it for those last few weeks/months. 😀

 

[ErrantWhatever]

Have you ever done the backpacking across Europe thing? Gone diving at the Great Barrier Reef? If not, and you have the desire, then this summer might be a fantastic opportunity. If you don't have a burning need to satisfy the itch...or have a mortgage...then why do it? If I were 22 and had been utterly focused on getting into medical school for the past 4 years, I probably would need to get nuts and go on a wild (and potentially dangerous) adventure. But since I have a few of those experiences under my belt, I'm pretty happy just working and being around family for the duration (though a short-but-sweet Vegas trip with a buddy may be called for here in the spring).

Also, like others have said, I know plenty of current and former med students who not only vacationed in med school but found it very relaxing to do so at that time.

 

[Patassa]

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to travel as if it is some kind of requirement before starting medical school. Am I the only one that doesn't want to spend the money because I know I'm going to need it?

Considering my life for the last 3 years, sitting on my rear end for a week is enough of a vacation for me. 😀

Question is, have you travelled?

I hate to sound cliché but international travels can really give you some perspective, especially if you get off the beaten path a bit. My post undergrad traveling I split time between the typical Europe deal and the near/middle east. Nothing has influenced my thinking on people, politics, religion, history, culture, and current events like spending a couple of months in the middle east. I recently returned from a month in Kenya doing some medical missions and children's center work, also incredibly formational in some of my views and thinking. Far east asia is next on the hit list.

Some people have nice things, drive nice cars, buy nice clothes, eat at nice restaurants, have large apartments, etc. My wife and I prefer to spend our money on traveling. It's certainly not for everyone, but I think everyone should at least try it.

I don't regret a single dime I've ever spent getting to the other side of the world. The tricks are: do your homework before you go, don't look for things to do/eat/see/listen to that are familiar, budget wisely, journal/take lots of pictures, and only travel with people you love. (Hemingway)

 

[lunalight]

I don't particularly enjoy traveling so, like you, I'd rather save the money to splurge on stuff that makes me happy while I'm miserable during M1.

👍

This is my exact dilemma right now. I'm quitting my job about a month before school starts. Trying to decide between a 10 day trip to some Caribbean island, drink and lay on the beach the whole time. Or save the $$$ and just do a road trip somewhere in the states.. or cheaper yet: just sleep, read books, watch movies, and do whatever pleases me that day.
Just want to enjoy my last few weeks of stress-free freedom! 😎

OP: Personally, I think it doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it for those last few weeks/months. 😀

This is exactly what I'm going to do! Quit working about a month before school starts and then veg out.

Question is, have you travelled?

I hate to sound cliché but international travels can really give you some perspective, especially if you get off the beaten path a bit. My post undergrad traveling I split time between the typical Europe deal and the near/middle east. Nothing has influenced my thinking on people, politics, religion, history, culture, and current events like spending a couple of months in the middle east. I recently returned from a month in Kenya doing some medical missions and children's center work, also incredibly formational in some of my views and thinking. Far east asia is next on the hit list.

Some people have nice things, drive nice cars, buy nice clothes, eat at nice restaurants, have large apartments, etc. My wife and I prefer to spend our money on traveling. It's certainly not for everyone, but I think everyone should at least try it.

I don't regret a single dime I've ever spent getting to the other side of the world. The tricks are: do your homework before you go, don't look for things to do/eat/see/listen to that are familiar, budget wisely, journal/take lots of pictures, and only travel with people you love. (Hemingway)

I've definitely travelled. Domestically, of course, and then also to many places in Central and South America. I would absolutely classify it as off the beaten path. I actually wrote about this in some of my secondary application essays. You're absolutely right about perspective!

 

[QofQuimica]

You don't need to go abroad to find things worth doing and places worth seeing. There are plenty of museums, parks, historic attractions, etc. within a day's driving distance of just about any location in this entire country. Here's what I suggest: buy a travel guide for your state and/or surrounding states. Go on day trips (or maybe overnight trips) to some of the tourist attractions in your area that you've somehow never bothered making time to go see in all the years you've been living there.

On my last vacation, I went home to FL to see my folks. We were thinking about where to go, and it was between Vegas vs. the Caribbean. Finally we came to our senses, because FL is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the whole country, especially this time of year. How stupid is it to pay money to go sit on the beach in the Caribbean when we have so many prime beaches of our own right there? Plus the Everglades, and St. Augustine, and Cape Canaveral, and the Keys, and various national parks, and....and....needless to say, we couldn't begin to go everywhere in the state that was interesting to see. And we have a decent sized list to continue from the next time I make it down. 🙂

 

[augeremt]

Some people in medicine are fortunate to come from wealth and are able to travel during all these times throughout school and residency. Many of us can't and we just stay at home relaxing - such is life - no need to fret.

For the record, you don't have to be wealthy to travel. Cheap airlines, unpopular travel dates, hostels and campgrounds have made travel much more affordable than before. In stereotypical post-college fashion, I backpacked across Europe for 9 months. All of it was financed by me alone, either from savings from my college job, working abroad, or working for food and housing abroad. This was five years ago, so not too long ago. You won't be able to stay at fancy hotels if you travel this way, but you will get an incredible experience nonetheless.

Obviously this doesn't apply if you have a family, which I know a lot of people on this forum do. It's a bit more expensive with kids, but still doable just for shorter periods of time. My friends have managed to have ridiculously cheap family vacations and I admire them for it.

Yes, traveling is more expensive than not traveling, but it is not as much out of reach as most people think, especially if you stay away from Western and Central Europe. Everywhere else (like South America or SE Asia) is ridiculously cheap. It's even cheaper if you get a great deal on airfare...that seems to be the greatest expense.

All of this is not to say that you need to travel during your time before medical school. I plan on sitting in my hammock a lot and riding my bike some more.

Relax whatever way works for you. But don't think that you can't travel just because you're not wealthy.

 

[cabinbuilder]

The facebooks of your fabulous colleagues will be littered with globe trotting adventures. Most of your medical class will come from wealthy social sets, where "worldly experience" is the European backpacking thing or something like this.

Firstly, Facebook can get buggered by mutant gorillas. Zuckerberg must've been some lesser demon who blow jobbed his way to the top in hell to be sent among us to spread the everyday nonsense of the why/how-do-I-know-yous to the set of our perpetual public reality show that we somehow get convinced is normal to try to be the star of. If Jesus is real. Not this Christ guy, but the real mf'er who kicks over the moneychangers's tables. Then justice will be dispensed with fiery righteous fury onto the zuckerbergs and their creepy schemes.

Secondly. Do whatever satisfies you within your means that you have this lovely time to do.

This has got to be the greatest statement I have read in a really long time.
👍