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Come on now, be honest! If I see a whole list of 10s and 10+'s , I'm pulling my application and sitting behind a computer the rest of my life. :wink:
On a scale of 1 to 10 - how hard has 1st year been?
- Thread starter Future_Doc
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Future_Doc,
Don't let people scare you. I think first year was the hardest year of school I've ever had. I probably studied about twice as long as in undergrad. However, I had plenty of time to go out and party, work out, etc. So did all of my friends. I don't think I did any studying on weekends except the weekend before our exams. This is highly dependent on the person and the school. Our school was great because of our block system. We would have 4 weeks of class followed by all 3-4 exams in one week. What this meant for me and to many in my class was that we could take 2-3 weeks off from studying and still do well.
So, to answer your question, I would rate it a 7 / 10, with undergrad (3.6 GPA) being a 4/10.
Don't let people scare you. I think first year was the hardest year of school I've ever had. I probably studied about twice as long as in undergrad. However, I had plenty of time to go out and party, work out, etc. So did all of my friends. I don't think I did any studying on weekends except the weekend before our exams. This is highly dependent on the person and the school. Our school was great because of our block system. We would have 4 weeks of class followed by all 3-4 exams in one week. What this meant for me and to many in my class was that we could take 2-3 weeks off from studying and still do well.
So, to answer your question, I would rate it a 7 / 10, with undergrad (3.6 GPA) being a 4/10.
N
neilc
i thought it was not nearly as bad academically as i had thought, but mentally i was very worked up and stressed out. the bottom line is that it is not that huge of an academic challenge, as we are all capable students...the challenge is to realize that you can do it, and do it in a healthy, well rounded way. i did not succeed at that first year, but if you get a game plan and stick to it, i think it can be a fun year...
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by Future_Doc:
•Come on now, be honest! If I see a whole list of 10s and 10+'s , I'm pulling my application and sitting behind a computer the rest of my life. :wink: •••••I have to say that I don't think that asking how "hard" the year can be draws out the full details of what you want to know. For example, I thought 4th semester calculus was "hard" because I just didn't get it. I don't think there's anything particularly hard about the first year of medical school (or for that matter, any year of medical school); however, there were certain classes that were more time consuming. Why they were time consuming is up for speculation (or more appropriately, even, why certain classes were less time consuming is equally interesting).
Nevertheless, I found certain classes like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry more time consuming because of bulk of material and amount of memorization required. I found classes like histology, genetics, and immunology less time consuming. As I said, none of these classes were "hard."
The same goes for the second year, although it seems to me that almost all the classes were more time consuming 😡
•Come on now, be honest! If I see a whole list of 10s and 10+'s , I'm pulling my application and sitting behind a computer the rest of my life. :wink: •••••I have to say that I don't think that asking how "hard" the year can be draws out the full details of what you want to know. For example, I thought 4th semester calculus was "hard" because I just didn't get it. I don't think there's anything particularly hard about the first year of medical school (or for that matter, any year of medical school); however, there were certain classes that were more time consuming. Why they were time consuming is up for speculation (or more appropriately, even, why certain classes were less time consuming is equally interesting).
Nevertheless, I found certain classes like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry more time consuming because of bulk of material and amount of memorization required. I found classes like histology, genetics, and immunology less time consuming. As I said, none of these classes were "hard."
The same goes for the second year, although it seems to me that almost all the classes were more time consuming 😡
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by neutropeniaboy:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Future_Doc:
•Come on now, be honest! If I see a whole list of 10s and 10+'s , I'm pulling my application and sitting behind a computer the rest of my life. :wink: •••••I have to say that I don't think that asking how "hard" the year can be draws out the full details of what you want to know. For example, I thought 4th semester calculus was "hard" because I just didn't get it. I don't think there's anything particularly hard about the first year of medical school (or for that matter, any year of medical school); however, there were certain classes that were more time consuming. Why they were time consuming is up for speculation (or more appropriately, even, why certain classes were less time consuming is equally interesting).
Nevertheless, I found certain classes like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry more time consuming because of bulk of material and amount of memorization required. I found classes like histology, genetics, and immunology less time consuming. As I said, none of these classes were "hard."
The same goes for the second year, although it seems to me that almost all the classes were more time consuming 😡 •••••I know there aren't really any classes that you would consider "hard" or difficult. Taken individually they probably aren't difficult at all. I guess my point was, taking everything into perspective: the stress from day-to-day, the massive amount of material given, the exam styles, the family changes. Rank it based on the big picture . . . not by individual classes.
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Future_Doc:
•Come on now, be honest! If I see a whole list of 10s and 10+'s , I'm pulling my application and sitting behind a computer the rest of my life. :wink: •••••I have to say that I don't think that asking how "hard" the year can be draws out the full details of what you want to know. For example, I thought 4th semester calculus was "hard" because I just didn't get it. I don't think there's anything particularly hard about the first year of medical school (or for that matter, any year of medical school); however, there were certain classes that were more time consuming. Why they were time consuming is up for speculation (or more appropriately, even, why certain classes were less time consuming is equally interesting).
Nevertheless, I found certain classes like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry more time consuming because of bulk of material and amount of memorization required. I found classes like histology, genetics, and immunology less time consuming. As I said, none of these classes were "hard."
The same goes for the second year, although it seems to me that almost all the classes were more time consuming 😡 •••••I know there aren't really any classes that you would consider "hard" or difficult. Taken individually they probably aren't difficult at all. I guess my point was, taking everything into perspective: the stress from day-to-day, the massive amount of material given, the exam styles, the family changes. Rank it based on the big picture . . . not by individual classes.
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Im a second year student, academically everyone will tell you is gonna be hard, and it is, its hard because its the first time in your life you are gonna encounter stuyding so much, thats why i felt 2nd year was easier than 1st, i knew what was coming my way and knew how to deal with it. I think that the most difficult part is who to study medicine and try and keep a social life. thats why i think stress out most of the people, you are not gonna be able to go out as much as in university, if you have a partner, you are gonna have to cut time with them, its pretty difficult, you are gonna have friends that are gonna go out friday and saturday and they would ask you to go along and you would have to say no, and its pretty difficult, even time with family goes down and for me that was the most difficult thing, having to give away things I like, hobbies, going out, in order to study.
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My first year of med school was just like my senior year of college...plenty of partying and time to relax. I'd rate it at about a 4/10...second year picked up to about 6/10 and third year to an 8/10...enjoy your first year...you'll look back on it fondly. 🙂
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Im going to rate it by blocks, cause it changes every block (at least, for me...)
college: 3/10
Gross anatomy and radiology: 5/10
molecules, cells and tissues: 4/10
pathobiology and host defenses: 4/10
Neurosciences and human behavior: 8/10
Star
college: 3/10
Gross anatomy and radiology: 5/10
molecules, cells and tissues: 4/10
pathobiology and host defenses: 4/10
Neurosciences and human behavior: 8/10
Star
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I'm honestly surprised that people would even compare med school to undergrad. I hardly had to do any studying at all in college. I went over things the night before an exam and that was plenty. I did very well.
We've covered an insane amount of material this year. I had a lot of trouble adjusting initially and got myself into some trouble academically. I had no idea how to study and how to deal with that volume of material. I'm doing better now, but this is still by far the most challenging year of my life academically. If college was 1/10 in difficulty, M1 might be 8/10 or 9/10 for me.
Edited to add: I went to a top 5 liberal arts college. I'm attending Northwestern as an M1 right now. We don't spend much time in class, but there's still a lot to learn.
We've covered an insane amount of material this year. I had a lot of trouble adjusting initially and got myself into some trouble academically. I had no idea how to study and how to deal with that volume of material. I'm doing better now, but this is still by far the most challenging year of my life academically. If college was 1/10 in difficulty, M1 might be 8/10 or 9/10 for me.
Edited to add: I went to a top 5 liberal arts college. I'm attending Northwestern as an M1 right now. We don't spend much time in class, but there's still a lot to learn.
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by focker:
•I'm honestly surprised that people would even compare med school to undergrad. I hardly had to do any studying at all in college. I went over things the night before an exam and that was plenty. I did very well.
We've covered an insane amount of material this year. I had a lot of trouble adjusting initially and got myself into some trouble academically. I had no idea how to study and how to dael with that volume of material. I'm doing better now, but this is still by far the most challenging year of my life academically. If college was 1/10 in difficulty, M1 might be 8/10 or 9/10 for me.•••••I guess you had it easy during undergrad then. I will enter med school next year but don't think it'll be too much worse because for the past 3.5 years I've had 4-5 hours of sleep per night. This is the first semester, senior spring, that I can get enough sleep each night. Feel quite ready for med school. 🙂
•I'm honestly surprised that people would even compare med school to undergrad. I hardly had to do any studying at all in college. I went over things the night before an exam and that was plenty. I did very well.
We've covered an insane amount of material this year. I had a lot of trouble adjusting initially and got myself into some trouble academically. I had no idea how to study and how to dael with that volume of material. I'm doing better now, but this is still by far the most challenging year of my life academically. If college was 1/10 in difficulty, M1 might be 8/10 or 9/10 for me.•••••I guess you had it easy during undergrad then. I will enter med school next year but don't think it'll be too much worse because for the past 3.5 years I've had 4-5 hours of sleep per night. This is the first semester, senior spring, that I can get enough sleep each night. Feel quite ready for med school. 🙂
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by A little elf:
•My first year of med school was just like my senior year of college...plenty of partying and time to relax. I'd rate it at about a 4/10.... 🙂 •••••WoW...what med school did you go to?
😕 😛
•My first year of med school was just like my senior year of college...plenty of partying and time to relax. I'd rate it at about a 4/10.... 🙂 •••••WoW...what med school did you go to?
😕 😛
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I'll do mine in blocks too.
Undergrad (Biochem major)--2/10
M1--7/10 overall 9/10 first 15 weeks
M2--5/10 overall 8/10 studying for Step 1
M3--8/10
M4--3/10 Residency Interviews/Waiting for Match--8/10
Undergrad (Biochem major)--2/10
M1--7/10 overall 9/10 first 15 weeks
M2--5/10 overall 8/10 studying for Step 1
M3--8/10
M4--3/10 Residency Interviews/Waiting for Match--8/10
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You thought year 3 was tougher than year 2? Did you feel the preclinical years at your school prepared you for the clinic?
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Jim Picotte:
•I'll do mine in blocks too.
Undergrad (Biochem major)--2/10
M1--7/10 overall 9/10 first 15 weeks
M2--5/10 overall 8/10 studying for Step 1
M3--8/10
M4--3/10 Residency Interviews/Waiting for Match--8/10•••••
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Jim Picotte:
•I'll do mine in blocks too.
Undergrad (Biochem major)--2/10
M1--7/10 overall 9/10 first 15 weeks
M2--5/10 overall 8/10 studying for Step 1
M3--8/10
M4--3/10 Residency Interviews/Waiting for Match--8/10•••••
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by focker:
•I'm honestly surprised that people would even compare med school to undergrad. I hardly had to do any studying at all in college. I went over things the night before an exam and that was plenty. I did very well.
We've covered an insane amount of material this year. I had a lot of trouble adjusting initially and got myself into some trouble academically. I had no idea how to study and how to dael with that volume of material. I'm doing better now, but this is still by far the most challenging year of my life academically. If college was 1/10 in difficulty, M1 might be 8/10 or 9/10 for me.•••••Yes Yes Yes. It's the volume that really is draining me. Three to four weeks of med school is one undergraduate course. I'm passing and all but not nearly doing as well as I'd like.
•I'm honestly surprised that people would even compare med school to undergrad. I hardly had to do any studying at all in college. I went over things the night before an exam and that was plenty. I did very well.
We've covered an insane amount of material this year. I had a lot of trouble adjusting initially and got myself into some trouble academically. I had no idea how to study and how to dael with that volume of material. I'm doing better now, but this is still by far the most challenging year of my life academically. If college was 1/10 in difficulty, M1 might be 8/10 or 9/10 for me.•••••Yes Yes Yes. It's the volume that really is draining me. Three to four weeks of med school is one undergraduate course. I'm passing and all but not nearly doing as well as I'd like.
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Year three was very difficult because of all the hours and call. q3 in surgery, q4 in medicine and shelf exams, being pimped constantly. I had a good knowledge base, did very well on Step I, but there's just so much to learn 3rd year, with the exhaustion and trying to maintain a good relationship with my fiance, was draining. I learned more my 3rd year than any other year, but it was the hardest for me at least. I just wasn't trained to stay up 36 hours straight every few days.
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College 0.5/10
M1 - 7/10
M2 - 6/10
M3 - 8.5/10
M4 (1st part with sub-I's and interviews) 7/10
M4 (last part lots of easy stuff/vacation) 1/10
3rd year is by far (at least for me) the most time demanding, mentally exhausting (with a pimp question right around the corner, or a shelf exam, or constantly being judged by the residents/attendings), and physically demanding year of med school.
Luckily, they put 4th year right after 3rd year (funny how that works) and 4th year is AWESOME, except for waiting for the match.
M1 - 7/10
M2 - 6/10
M3 - 8.5/10
M4 (1st part with sub-I's and interviews) 7/10
M4 (last part lots of easy stuff/vacation) 1/10
3rd year is by far (at least for me) the most time demanding, mentally exhausting (with a pimp question right around the corner, or a shelf exam, or constantly being judged by the residents/attendings), and physically demanding year of med school.
Luckily, they put 4th year right after 3rd year (funny how that works) and 4th year is AWESOME, except for waiting for the match.
K
Katie
undergrad: 2/10
first semester at tufts: .5/10
second semester at tufts: 9.5/10 (but getting easier as you get used to it).
first semester at tufts: .5/10
second semester at tufts: 9.5/10 (but getting easier as you get used to it).
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this is a good thread, but could you guys post your undergrad institutions and medical schools as well?
thanks!
dukegirlie :wink:
thanks!
dukegirlie :wink:
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Maybe a 4/10. Defintely less stressful and less work than all but my senior year of undergrad at Northwestern and I'm doing better in medical school than I did in most of undergrad. I'm at MCPHU now.
More fully, I do much less reading; as a history major/pre-med at NU I was used to reading 800 pgs a week. I also find the tests easier because in the IFM curriculum all the tests are multiple choice. NU prepared me well for medical school in terms of study and time managment skills, even if it didn't help me get in (an unrelated story). I even found the time to actually be a real help to my fiance in planning our wedding and to buy and redo a condo. So I think moving from a relatively tough environment to an easier one made this year not so bad. We'll see what the next few years hold.
Tony
More fully, I do much less reading; as a history major/pre-med at NU I was used to reading 800 pgs a week. I also find the tests easier because in the IFM curriculum all the tests are multiple choice. NU prepared me well for medical school in terms of study and time managment skills, even if it didn't help me get in (an unrelated story). I even found the time to actually be a real help to my fiance in planning our wedding and to buy and redo a condo. So I think moving from a relatively tough environment to an easier one made this year not so bad. We'll see what the next few years hold.
Tony
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this is sounding like a pain scale.
what's your pain level at?
anyway, thanks for all the posts, it's very informative.
what's your pain level at?
anyway, thanks for all the posts, it's very informative.
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Classes were hard the way memorizing 100 numbers in random order is hard. It is just a lot to remember and little time to do it. It wasn't hard conceptually like a calculus. Still, like someone else said, we have exams every 4 weeks and you could put everything off till the last week and do average. What makes it seem hard, is that you can also bust your ass and study all the time and still not be in the top of your class. As premed, it was relatively easy to get in the top of class, and practically guaranteed if you worked really hard. Not so any more. If you don't mind being average in your class, I give it a 2/10, if you can't settle for average, i give it a 10/10.
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No doubt about it.. 1st year was the toughest of all the years. 🙄 .It was a whole lot of memorising and jeeezz all those muscle origins, insertions, blood supply, actions. 😀 Its gonna be tough but no matter what it's gonna pass by and you would be sittin right here writing about how your first year was.Make your own notes for the tables in biochem and it'll be a piece a cake in the end to review them.
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I thought second year was harder but maybe this is just the way my curriculum was set up. As for the scale...about a 6/10 first year, 8-9/10 for second year. Medical school stuff is not complicated...just a lot of memorization, which takes up a huge amount of time. Personally, I prefer something like physics where I just need to memorize 10 formulas and then rock the exam. But medical school...if you don't get to that one miniscure sentence...you are screwed on the test. Most of the time, its not necessarily how smart you are...its how much time you are willing to sit on your butt memorizing random facts.
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Granted I am graduating in june, but I honestly thought my M1 year was awful, hell I was sick every 6-8 weeks (at the same time of tests). Each school is different, but mine felt like the military early on!
M1 9.5/10
M2 7/10
M3 6/10 (depending on rotations)
M4 5/10
Our school of course had not only letter grades, but also the +/- system which in turn affected your class rank...so the competition to get a few points sucked. I think that if the grading system would have changed to something different, then pressures would have been lessened.
M1 9.5/10
M2 7/10
M3 6/10 (depending on rotations)
M4 5/10
Our school of course had not only letter grades, but also the +/- system which in turn affected your class rank...so the competition to get a few points sucked. I think that if the grading system would have changed to something different, then pressures would have been lessened.
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