Optimistic thread: in what way is medical school better than undergrad?

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

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We always hear about the way that med school is harder or worse than undergrad. But in what way is it better? I mean there have to be some things that are better.

 

[absolutelynot]

We always hear about the way that med school is harder or worse than undergrad. But in what way is it better? I mean there have to be some things that are better.

Personally, I think medical school will be MUCH better than undergrad. I won't have to work a job to make ends meet. I will actually be learning material I'm interested in - things that will be relevant to my career goals. I'll be in a P/F unranked preclinical which means less (but still not totally absent) stress. I will be in a community of intelligent people that I can learn from and discuss career aspirations with. I'll have excellent access to almost any area of medicine I wish to shadow. I could probably come up with a few more if I gave it a little effort.

Be optimistic! Life is going to be fun.

 

[HarryPotterLostInNarnia]

You won't have to constantly worry about whether you'll get into med school or not.

 

[NicksMD]

You know what you're learning will be used to save lives.

 

[quietninja72]

You won't have to constantly worry about whether you'll get into med school or not.

Yeah, all you have to worry about is board scores and getting into a residency in the program you want...

But seriously, med school is better in the sense that even though you may not like all topics and some days are just brutal in terms of workload, you're finally doing something you want to do (hopefully). Even though you'll definitely still bitch and moan to all your friends (literally 90% of what I do), studying doesn't feel as much like work anymore cause it's actually interesting and engaging. At least that's how I felt. Plus you still definitely have free time.


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[Jalby]

1. You are 30-40% more attractive then you were in undergrad.
2. Med students are MUCH better human beings than pre-meds.
3. A lot more of a support system exists. Everybody is taking the same tests at the same time so there is more structure.
4. I felt like there was less competition in medical school than undergrad.

 

[Catalystik]

You no longer have to prove you're the best academically, which takes off a lot of the pressure. You can "settle" for learning less than 100% of the material, and you'll still be fine. If you can give yourself "permission" to take this approach, you'll be psychologically healthier.

 

[efle]

P/F

 

[bananafish94]

I wouldn't say either undergrad or medical school is "better" than the other, but they are both good in different ways. Things that I love about medical school, in no particular order:
-You're surrounded by extremely smart, interesting people all the time.
-The material is all interesting, even if it's overwhelming at times.
-By and large, there's considerably less hoops you have to jump through. It's just about learning.
-You are given orders of magnitude more respect as a medical student. You will never have problems shadowing a doctor, and PIs will respond to your email and meet with you if you send them an inquiry about research.
-As another posted alluded to, there is no longer any stress about whether or not you will become a doctor. At this point, several things would have to go spectacularly wrong for you to be at risk of not graduating medical school.

 

[Vitani]

You have a much greater chance of actually going into the field you are studying.
Undergraduates rarely actually go straight into the field they have the degree in (hence the jokes about getting a degree in underwater basket weaving). Med students almost always go into some form of medicine when they graduate.

Med school is way more interesting. No more history classes or physics!

Med school professors (for the most part) WANT to see you succeed. There aren't weed out classes designed to fail 3/4 of the class.

 

[21Rush12]

I can't think of a way it isn't better, to be completely honest. It's all about perspective.


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[Vain Brother]

pro - almost no homework
con - you have to study way more

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I know that undergrad can be very unnecessarily stressful at times. So I hope that this thread gives hope to the undergrads like me that have to deal with certain types of stress that won't be in med school 🙂

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

For the first two years, you have way more control of your own schedule than you do in undergrad. Also, no BS term papers, lab reports, and other busy work homework assignments. All multiple choice tests instead of essay/short answer format. Makes life a lot more enjoyable.