Need advice from med students

[graciegreen]

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My friend is going to medical school in August and I want to get him a good congrats present. His mom got him a stethoscope already. Is there anything he'll need that I can get him? Or is some totally nonmedical thing better?
Thanks so much you guys, I know you're busy!!!

 

[braluk]

For a utility gift that he will use often: BRS Books, lifetime supply of highlighters
Given that everything he will get is something medically related from now on, it might be refreshing to get something totally unrelated to medicine 🙂

 

[Ashers]

For a utility gift that he will use often: BRS Books, lifetime supply of highlighters
Given that everything he will get is something medically related from now on, it might be refreshing to get something totally unrelated to medicine 🙂

Yep. Any normal gift is good. =)

When I left my job before going to med school, the lab all chipped in a got me pearl earrings -- non-medical and appreciated. I get the medical stuff through school as required stuff.

 

[smq123]

For a utility gift that he will use often: BRS Books, lifetime supply of highlighters

Given that everything he will get is something medically related from now on, it might be refreshing to get something totally unrelated to medicine 🙂

I actually would not give someone the BRS books. Some people really do not like them and do not find them all useful. Someone gave me the "Microbio made ridiculously simple" and I...HATE...that...book.... (Blasphemy, I know, but I really hate it.)

I agree - something unrelated to medicine is good.

Or, you can compromise, and do something tangentially related to med school. A Starbucks gift card is usually appreciated. 🙂

 

[silas2642]

You definitely can't go wrong with a Starbucks card. A gift certificate to Amazon.com isn't a bad idea either, that way he can buy the books that he wants to.

 

[Hayden2102]

That Amazon idea is a great one. Because there's so many books (including all the med textbooks you can buy) to choose from, and if he doesn't want textbooks, there's other stuff to choose from too.

 

[Johnny_one_eye]

Iserson's Getting Into a Residency: A Guide for Medical Students, 7th Edition

 

[Winged Scapula]

This is a pretty commonly asked question...I think a search would yield some interesting ideas, but most agree that something non-medical is best.

Do NOT get him an embroidered lab coat (that was a fav suggestion frm some not in medicine), any books, tools, etc.

Starbuck's cards, gift certificate to a movie or restaurant, basically anything you would get him without him going to medical school.

 

[braluk]

Personally, generally speaking, I think med students are normal regular people just attending a graduate level school. Just get them something normal that you would any other friend, I certainly wouldn't want any special treatment for gifts although the thought is certainly appreciated 🙂

What Im saying is, med students will enjoy a plane ticket to Fiji as much as any normal person would 😀

 

[Ashers]

What Im saying is, med students will enjoy a plane ticket to Fiji as much as any normal person would 😀

Or Europe... for all of the vast amounts of spare time we have. 😉

 

[Hayden2102]

LOL spare time...

 

[braluk]

Spare time would be a nice gift to have 🙂

 

[Ashers]

Spare time would be a nice gift to have 🙂

It is, but I've forgotten what to do with myself when I do have spare time and have nothing to study. =(

I'm home after boards; I visit the hospital (used to work there), and in the lab, I get taught about how to do blood typing, and I get to type my own blood. I think this is fun. I've been ruined. I used to know how to have fun and relax without even thinking of studying.

 

[braluk]

Video games has always been a good way to pass the time 🙂

 

[Rugby MD]

a friend of mine recieved an engraved reflex hammer and tuning fork. would have been a dumb present but the engraving made them really nice.

 

[Natatiap]

You definitely can't go wrong with a Starbucks card. A gift certificate to Amazon.com isn't a bad idea either, that way he can buy the books that he wants to.

I agree! I would loooooooove if I got a gift certificate to starbucks. Good gift idea

 

[BME-doc]

I would say cash...that is the one thing ANY med student can really use!!

 

[sirus_virus]

I would say cash...that is the one thing ANY med student can really use!!

Yes Op, If I were your friend, I would want some raw cash money.

 

[nabs86]

Pick something that relates to his hobbies and will help him de-stress. For example, maybe he likes to play basketball to blow off steam? Personal gifts that show that you really know someone are the best.

 

[inked_caduceus]

My mom gave me a nice leather-bound copy of the original Grey's Anatomy. Not all that useful, but it looks good next to my textbooks.

An insane amount of highlighters(at least 20)/colored pens(at least 10)/sticky notes/binders would be fun, and you'd come out on the inexpensive side.

 

[graciegreen]

Thanks so much everyone--highlighters/colored pens/index cards and something personal/totally nonmedical it is!

 

[Amy B]

Definitely Starbucks gift cards if they drink coffee. And if they dont drink coffee yet, they will more than likely start drinking it in med school😎

 

[Ashers]

Definitely Starbucks gift cards if they drink coffee. And if they dont drink coffee yet, they will more than likely start drinking it in med school😎

There's also other drinks/food at Starbucks for those of us who've survived med school thus far without a single drink of coffee. =) The cards just last a long time, but they're really handy if the person has to travel via plane, and there are starbucks in the airports.