Nervous about Orientation

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lamptablefan

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Start med school in a little bit and had a few questions about orientation. What was it like; were you nervous? Do you just show up in a big room and are expected to talk to people? What did you talk about? Did you have to dress up formal? How did people reach out to socialize with you after?

Thanks in advance for all the help. Sorry if this is a noob question. This was just on my mind.
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I'm nervous too!! More nervous on not being able to find people I connect with. Even though I don't think I'm socially awkward, I get really anxious in large groups of people. Interview days were fine because even though it was big, it was only like max 20 people...

Whereas in orientation it will be 100+...
 
Dress up nice at least the first day and any other days administration will be giving talks. You want a good first impression with the dean since he will eventually write your letter when you graduate. Everything else depends on the school. We had "fun" get to know you activities planned by the second years during orientation. Some people will already know each other but the vast majority are in the same boat as you trying to socialize and make new friends.
 
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Consider it practice for when you actually start seeing patients. You'll get so used to having detailed conversations about extremely private topics with complete strangers, eventually these kind of social situations will feel like nothing!
 
Nice dress shirt and chinos or something like that

It's funny because I became super nervous about meeting my new co-interns for the first time as I was walking to the venue and almost turned around. They ended up being great people, had a good time. It will be awkward at first but you'll find your people.
 
Warderino92 said:
Dress up nice at least the first day and any other days administration will be giving talks. You want a good first impression with the dean since he will eventually write your letter when you graduate. Everything else depends on the school. We had "fun" get to know you activities planned by the second years during orientation. Some people will already know each other but the vast majority are in the same boat as you trying to socialize and make new friends.
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You really think the dean of the medical school has a clue who you are during orientation? And even if they did that they would remember you later? Even assuming they did, which they won't, the dean's letter is really more of a formulaic process, not something they put a lot of thought into and I would be blown away if they would let something like what you wore to orientation influence what they put in that letter and risk hurting your match results, even if you showed up in jorts and a cutoff flannel shirt.

The second part of your post is absolutely correct. OP, just ask your school's facebook page, upperclassmen, etc. Every school does things differently and we can't tell you what the expectations are at your institution. But just take a deep breath and relax. Everyone else is nervous too. You will be fine.
 
my school we all sat down, and there was lecture, and then there was some ice breaker activities that really helped.

aside from the incredibly boring parts, (like really? an hour long lecture on work/life balance? if I got out of here an hour sooner that would do more for my work/life balance! really? an hour on professional emails and not flaming people? Cut these down to 30 min each please)

it was actually really fun!!!
 
Hangry said:
You really think the dean of the medical school has a clue who you are during orientation? And even if they did that they would remember you later? Even assuming they did, which they won't, the dean's letter is really more of a formulaic process, not something they put a lot of thought into and I would be blown away if they would let something like what you wore to orientation influence what they put in that letter and risk hurting your match results, even if you showed up in jorts and a cutoff flannel shirt.

The second part of your post is absolutely correct. OP, just ask your school's facebook page, upperclassmen, etc. Every school does things differently and we can't tell you what the expectations are at your institution. But just take a deep breath and relax. Everyone else is nervous too. You will be fine.
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Disagree. First impressions matter. Most deans have been doing this a long time and have gotten quite good at face recognition for large numbers of students.

Mine was quite good about talking notes anytime they talked to a student, even during orientation.

Mine remembered meeting my SO at a mixer that was before matriculation 2 years after the fact!!!! and I didn't go to a tiny school.

But sure, tell yourself you're safe among the herd......
 
Crayola227 said:
Disagree. First impressions matter. Most deans have been doing this a long time and have gotten quite good at face recognition for large numbers of students.

Mine was quite good about talking notes anytime they talked to a student, even during orientation.

Mine remembered meeting my SO at a mixer that was before matriculation 2 years after the fact!!!! and I didn't go to a tiny school.

But sure, tell yourself you're safe among the herd......
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200 students a class, 4 years of students. Dean lectures to a faceless auditorium for an hour maybe? Guarantee they have no effing clue who I am.

Do the dean's even write the MSPEs anymore? I would be surprised if it wasn't mostly done by secretaries. And tell me, which section of the MSPE would this go under? Unique characteristics? Academic history? Schools go out of their way to make their students match as well as possible so they look good. You really think they would go out of their way to hurt you with some petty nonsense like this? They already borderline go to far hiding things that might actually matter to residencies.

Obviously you can make yourself look like a complete jack@ss at orientation, and first impressions are important, and if you aren't sure of the dress code you should overdress rather than underdress, but it is NOT because you need to be stressing about making a good first impression on the dean.
 
Hangry said:
200 students a class, 4 years of students. Dean lectures to a faceless auditorium for an hour maybe? Guarantee they have no effing clue who I am.

Do the dean's even write the MSPEs anymore? I would be surprised if it wasn't mostly done by secretaries. And tell me, which section of the MSPE would this go under? Unique characteristics? Academic history? Schools go out of their way to make their students match as well as possible so they look good. You really think they would go out of their way to hurt you with some petty nonsense like this? They already borderline go to far hiding things that might actually matter to residencies.

Obviously you can make yourself look like a complete jack@ss at orientation, and first impressions are important, and if you aren't sure of the dress code you should overdress rather than underdress, but it is NOT because you need to be stressing about making a good first impression on the dean.
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The Dean can make a big difference in your education beyond the MSPE!!! Omigosh. They can be the swing vote on whether or not you're kicked out of school, repeat a course, repeat a year, any kind of trouble that might ever befall you. And don't even tell me you can be perfect enough where your ass doesn't belong to the Dean. All it can take is a well placed complaint from anyone to get you in their office. They can decide when your parent dies how many days off you can have before you repeat your clerkship, based on "how they feel you are progressing," ie subjectivity.

But no, not saying you should freak out, just that, first impressions count, you've never been to your school's orientation so who knows what's gonna happen re: you and Dean. So just to answer people asking about what to wear, wear something that would be appropriate for an outpatient clinic. When in doubt, dress as a future doctor and professional. Now is not the time for spaghetti straps or flip flops.

I have seen people get in trouble over seemingly minor dress code infraction in the preclinical years.

Ours is a conservative profession where it is best to err on the side of caution. Starting now.
 
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Orientation week was a blast. Go to all the events/get togethers that the M2s are scheduling for you guys throughout the week (probably on your classes FB page). Have fun and try to meet as many people as you can.
 
I'm super nervous too. I'm fine talking to people in small groups, but I have a hard time being social when I'm just suddenly surrounded by a huge group of people I don't know. I have a lot of regrets from undergrad, because I didn't participate in any of the social aspects of orientation, and I still think that's why I really didn't have any friends my freshman year. I'm determined not to make the same mistake in medical school. I am going to force myself to go to every single social event if it kills me.

Actually another of the reasons I failed to make friends during orientation in college was because my parents stuck around for way too long and I kind of clung to them (even though I don't even like my parents that much). They're doing the same thing this time, driving me down a few days early and then setting up my apartment for me (can't move in till the day orientation starts so I won't have time to do it myself, apparently). Then they're staying the entire week of orientation because they don't want to make the drive twice for the white coat ceremony. Basically my plan is to ignore their existence completely while I go make myself new friends. As mean as that sounds, it's necessary. 😛
 
It should be easy to have stuff to talk about since you are all starting med school. Make sure you let everyone know you plan on being the top of the class because you are gonna be a pediatric cardiothoracic oncological surgeon, that way they know you're the alpha right away, and you'll have less competition as leader.
 
Donald Juan said:
It should be easy to have stuff to talk about since you are all starting med school. Make sure you let everyone know you plan on being the top of the class because you are gonna be a pediatric cardiothoracic oncological surgeon, that way they know you're the alpha right away, and you'll have less competition as leader.
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Excellent advice. Also be sure to talk a lot about your MCAT score (if it was high, natch) and all your other accomplishments. Make sure your classmates know who they're dealing with.

But seriously I think everybody's a little nervous. Our orientation was a week (!) of more-or-less pointless lectures and administrative stuff. There were a lot of outings to bars and whatever too. Gradually people start forming cliques. Except for me--I'm a one-man clique 😎
 
I think almost everyone is nervous. Just remember - everyone is in the same boat.
Mine was just a lot of presentations on the school, resources, financial aid, etc. for the morning/afternoon. Do make an effort to go to the social events, though. I don't drink, but I still went and had a nice time meeting people.
 
Señor S said:
Excellent advice. Also be sure to talk a lot about your MCAT score (if it was high, natch) and all your other accomplishments. Make sure your classmates know who they're dealing with.

But seriously I think everybody's a little nervous. Our orientation was a week (!) of more-or-less pointless lectures and administrative stuff. There were a lot of outings to bars and whatever too. Gradually people start forming cliques. Except for me--I'm a one-man clique 😎
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Ensure to exaggerate your MCAT score by 5 points on the old scale and 8 on the new. What are they going to do? Check your AMCAS?
 
I showed up to my orientation 45 minutes early in blue scrubs smeared with ketchup to look like I just came from a bloodbath surgery. I asked 4 of my classmates "how did you AM intro session go" and they freaked out thinking they had missed something.

I. am. legend.
 
mbeus said:
I think almost everyone is nervous. Just remember - everyone is in the same boat.
Mine was just a lot of presentations on the school, resources, financial aid, etc. for the morning/afternoon. Do make an effort to go to the social events, though. I don't drink, but I still went and had a nice time meeting people.
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I also avoid having fun as much as possible. LOL I'm jk jk, Alcohol is the devils mouthwash.
 
I'm a relatively quiet, reserved person and alcohol gives me the outgoing personality I don't have IRL. It's bad, I know lol.

@Lannister I feel exactly the same way about screwing up my freshman year of college. Like you, I'm determined not to make the same mistake twice.
 
Dress code: Just a general guy trick. (harder if you're a woman, sorry ladies). Leave the house in a suit...that way you're ready to roll no matter what anyone else is wearing. Gauge the people walking in, lose the jacket, you're still in a shirt/tie. If even THAT seems a little much, lose the tie. Now you're in perfectly acceptable bus-cas. Depending on when you arrive you should be able to scope people out from your car.
 
TheFutureFatMan said:
Dress code: Just a general guy trick. (harder if you're a woman, sorry ladies). Leave the house in a suit...that way you're ready to roll no matter what anyone else is wearing. Gauge the people walking in, lose the jacket, you're still in a shirt/tie. If even THAT seems a little much, lose the tie. Now you're in perfectly acceptable bus-cas. Depending on when you arrive you should be able to scope people out from your car.
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A suit is overkill for orientation.
 
TheFutureFatMan said:
Dress code: Just a general guy trick. (harder if you're a woman, sorry ladies). Leave the house in a suit...that way you're ready to roll no matter what anyone else is wearing. Gauge the people walking in, lose the jacket, you're still in a shirt/tie. If even THAT seems a little much, lose the tie. Now you're in perfectly acceptable bus-cas. Depending on when you arrive you should be able to scope people out from your car.
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Wow....definitely don't wear a suit or tie....at most, chinos with a tucked in button-down.
 
ShaolinMaster said:
A suit is overkill for orientation.
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I think my point got missed, lol. That was general advice that will serve you in situations where you're not sure how dressed up you have to be.

Orientation is bus-cas almost everywhere I've seen. There's some disagreement about whether bus cas means a tie. I would say no, but...if you have it, it can always be taken off. If you show up and most of the guys are in ties, you don't want to be the one that doesn't have one.
 
PathoTurnUp1865 said:
I just hope they aren't annoying or get overly excited. I'm more of a Christina yang and don't like April kepner types.
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I'm a Christina Yang who wishes she was an April Kepner but just doesn't have the energy for that. So being around the Christina Yangs makes me depressed because that's not the type of personality I like or want to have, but I'm not peppy enough to fit in with the April Kepners.
 
Lannister said:
I'm a Christina Yang who wishes she was an April Kepner but just doesn't have the energy for that. So being around the Christina Yangs makes me depressed because that's not the type of personality I like or want to have, but I'm not peppy enough to fit in with the April Kepners.
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Wtf are you talking about

Sent from my SM-N910P using SDN mobile
 
Lannister said:
I'm a Christina Yang who wishes she was an April Kepner but just doesn't have the energy for that. So being around the Christina Yangs makes me depressed because that's not the type of personality I like or want to have, but I'm not peppy enough to fit in with the April Kepners.
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Kepner = Bae.
 
lamptablefan said:
Start med school in a little bit and had a few questions about orientation. What was it like; were you nervous? Do you just show up in a big room and are expected to talk to people? What did you talk about? Did you have to dress up formal? How did people reach out to socialize with you after?

Thanks in advance for all the help. Sorry if this is a noob question. This was just on my mind.
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Just had orientation a few weeks ago. Only a small few knew each other/knew of each other on the first day. The majority of everyone is brand spanking new and just as nervous haha.

It helps to go out with a few classmates before orientation if anyone is putting that together and you're able. A few of us did a happy hour which was really cool and think some of them even did a beach day (I was out of town).

Keep in mind that I'm in a cohort of 50, other than having to introduce ourselves one at a time (which I absolutely hated), the day was pretty benign.

You'll probably use your facebook group page to start-up initial outings until you begin to form closer relationships with others. GO TO THESE OUTINGS. It's unspokenly (<--should be a word) mandatory if you want a social life outside of class.

In all, just enjoy being in awe that you're finally in medschool and they didn't make a mistake! Orientation day will be a blur a few weeks after.
 
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teeayejay said:
Just had orientation a few weeks ago. Only a small few knew each other/knew of each other on the first day. The majority of everyone is brand spanking new and just as nervous haha.

It helps to go out with a few classmates before orientation if anyone is putting that together and you're able. A few of us did a happy hour which was really cool and think some of them even did a beach day (I was out of town).

Keep in mind that I'm in a cohort of 50, other than having to introduce ourselves one at a time (which I absolutely hated), the day was pretty benign.

You'll probably use your facebook group page to start-up initial outings until you begin to form closer relationships with others. GO TO THESE OUTINGS. It's unspokenly (<--should be a word) mandatory if you want a social life outside of class.

In all, just enjoy being in awe that you're finally in medschool and they didn't make a mistake! Orientation day will be a blur a few weeks after.
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I hope we don't have to do this in classes larger than 100 :/
 
Crayola227 said:
Disagree. First impressions matter. Most deans have been doing this a long time and have gotten quite good at face recognition for large numbers of students.

Mine was quite good about talking notes anytime they talked to a student, even during orientation.

Mine remembered meeting my SO at a mixer that was before matriculation 2 years after the fact!!!! and I didn't go to a tiny school.

But sure, tell yourself you're safe among the herd......
Click to expand...

Who cares? Have you ever seen an MSPE? It's just a generic template and a compilation of your evals
 
sliceofbread136 said:
I did (thanks for the emoticon), none of those reasons seemed important either for the majority of students
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so, you can predict when you're going to either get in trouble because someone picks on you, or say a family member dies and you need time off?

OK, if you're going to be in medicine, you sort of need to change how you guys think about risk management

ANYONE is at risk of what I said. Since ANYONE is at risk, my advice applies to ALL students.

The is risk is LOW. However, once you are in the situation, you are in it 100%, and the potential outcome is MAJOR SUCK. The cost to playing orientation safe because you might make your first impression on not only the Dean but any number of professors and mentor or teaching attendings, is to forego shorts and flip flops and be a SLIGHTLY LESS COMFORTABLE wearing something preppy.

How this doesn't compute for people, I dunno.

Listen, I'm the type to wear skintight jeans and I sport major cleavage in a tank, and that was fine for me to wear in the clinical years, but even I cleaned it up a notch for orientation. Wait to bust out those ta-tas until you've gotten a feel for your institution's culture.
 
Crayola227 said:
so, you can predict when you're going to either get in trouble because someone picks on you, or say a family member dies and you need time off?

OK, if you're going to be in medicine, you sort of need to change how you guys think about risk management

ANYONE is at risk of what I said. Since ANYONE is at risk, my advice applies to ALL students.

The is risk is LOW. However, once you are in the situation, you are in it 100%, and the potential outcome is MAJOR SUCK. The cost to playing orientation safe because you might make your first impression on not only the Dean but any number of professors and mentor or teaching attendings, is to forego shorts and flip flops and be a SLIGHTLY LESS COMFORTABLE wearing something preppy.

How this doesn't compute for people, I dunno.

Listen, I'm the type to wear skintight jeans and I sport major cleavage in a tank, and that was fine for me to wear in the clinical years, but even I cleaned it up a notch for orientation. Wait to bust out those ta-tas until you've gotten a feel for your institution's culture.
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Do you drive a car? Much more risk involved in that than not trying to "impress" the dean on orientation day
 
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