Lifestyle and balancing family life and med school seem to be on everyone's mind... I just saw a video (link below) on youtube where a MD student discussed lifestyle in med school. It made me feel much better and I think you all should watch that too. The guy is 3rd or 4th year student and he said he wakes up every morning around 10, goes to gym, eats, and starts studying around noon. Studies for 5-6 hours and then maybe a couple of extra hours in the evening (class attendance not mandatory and he advices NOT to go to class). He just got his step 1 score back and he scored 257 so he's no dummy.
As a woman, I have my fears too when it comes to having children and becoming a doctor. I've never understood the mindset that you have to choose having kids versus med school. To me, it's all about time management and ability to study efficiently. I have a 3.9 undergrad GPA and I have so much free time even after my ECs that it's ridiculous. At the same time, there are people who say their undergrad years were the worst because in order to maintain a 3.9, they had no life. Now someone's gonna come and say that the other undergrad institution might have really tough grading etc. That's not my point. I guarantee you there are people who can have both, good undergrad GPA and life, or medical career and life, without having to give up half of your heart and/or become depressed/bitter due to their career choice. Also, some MD students I've met (some here on SDN too) say that med school is easier than undergrad, because you're studying what you love and the material isn't more difficult, there's just more of it. That statement supports my point that having a good family life while being a MD student is all about time management and study skills.
I'm not a MD student so obviously I don't have personal experience on this. I just wanted to give my 2 cents because there seems to be so many people (all of them online, of course...) who say that it is impossible to have a family while studying to become a doctor. I replied to a thread a while ago about mom doctors, and my point is still very much valid. I told how the surgeons I've known (for a few years now in my hospital's surgery department) - even the lady surgeons - definitely can balance family life and work. None of the surgeons (again, including ladies) have ever said that they don't feel like they know their children or that they work their life away. Naturally, you'll miss some events but missing your cousin's wedding is not the same thing as missing every single wedding, funeral, birthday, graduation etc...
Here's the video I was talking about: