Longest time willing to spend in school?

[Occams Razor]

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I've been looking into several options during my medical school stay, such as taking an extra year to study for Step 1, going on an alternate (slower) track for school, doing a PSF, or possibly a PhD or MS degree program (it may be too late for that now, though...i'm already almost through year 1).

I was wondering what you would consider the maximum amount of time you would be willing to stay in medical school before starting residency. The usual 4 years? 5 years? 6 years? 7 years? 10 years?

As I realize that all people are individuals, and I shouldn't base any decisions off this, I just wondered what opinions are out there.

 

[j-weezy]

I've been looking into several options during my medical school stay, such as taking an extra year to study for Step 1, going on an alternate (slower) track for school, doing a PSF, or possibly a PhD or MS degree program (it may be too late for that now, though...i'm already almost through year 1).

I was wondering what you would consider the maximum amount of time you would be willing to stay in medical school before starting residency. The usual 4 years? 5 years? 6 years? 7 years? 10 years?

As I realize that all people are individuals, and I shouldn't base any decisions off this, I just wondered what opinions are out there.

MSTP - 8 years? Although I wouldn't die if it was 9...hoping for 7 though!

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Pff, I got a year and half left and I'm ready to quit (on a four year track). Not so much that I hate school, but man do I need to make some money (any money.)

 

[Lshapley]

4 years. I'm 33, so I can't be waiting around forever!

 

[arsenewenger]

4 years. I'm 33, so I can't be waiting around forever![/quote




Well, no one stays in school forever.

 

[HarryRosenMD]

Hi...

The time you spend learning/ practicing what you have a passion for is awesome. Don't limit yourself by the calendar. An extra year or 2 or 3 mean nothing in the grand scheme. The main limiting factor that rightfully comes into play is starting a family. This is not to say you can't continue your studies by any means... but it does make you more keenly aware of the pull on your time.

 

[Reimat]

I was wondering what you would consider the maximum amount of time you would be willing to stay in medical school before starting residency. The usual 4 years? 5 years? 6 years? 7 years? 10 years?

I think it totally depends on how old you are when you start school. I started right out of undergrad - so I'm actually looking forward to taking a year off for research or to pursue an MPH. If I had done 2 years of work/research before starting med school, I'd be less tempted to take additional time to get through school.

 

[Lshapley]

Well, no one stays in school forever.

I know some Phd candidates that might disagree with you on this point

 

[Occams Razor]

Thanks for your input...i'm not planning on starting a family at any point, but i'm anxious to start working in the field i want to go into...don't want to prolong the evaluation and testing--looking forward to being useful in a great scale.

 

[la petite mort]

The system here is different. Med school is four years and then only a one-year internship in order to get your license.

I'll be 25 by then and after my internship I'll definitely take a hiatus to have a baby. I know it sounds stupid to most of you, but I really want to be a young mom.

After that, probably a pediatrics specialty and a Master's in some Public Health related field, probably epidemiology.