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Sup Pre-Meds,
So you've decided to become a doctor and go to medical school. Good for you!
Now let's get real. As oblivious pre-meds you may not know these key facts that you probably should before dedicating all those years, monies, hairs, and stress to this profession.
Before going further, just know that I'm a medical student in the midst of second year, so forgive me if I'm extra blunt/apathetic towards life (Life ain't that great during 2nd year). These are the things I've learned so far...
1) Medical school is a business, regardless of school. They follow a program (curriculum) and produce untrained physicians. (Residency is the real training from what I hear) This is a major fact that pre-meds ignore or forget and end up making terrible decisions with school choice, e.g. caribbean medical school. Yeah it's competitive, but never forget your self-worth when choosing schools people! I've learned this fact myself when my school sent us an email saying "We are proud to announce an increase in tuition by 4% which is better than the usual 5%." Are you kidding me? Medical school is legal robbery of helpless students but that is the price to pay if you want to play.
2) You will need thick skin! Holy crap this is important. I've been personally been called out by classmates, professors, and even the dean on one occasion and I'm only in second year! People will talk ****, snitch, degrade you, and **** you over given the chance. Take it like a champ, understand why they say/do it, drop em from your head and move on. The medical profession doesn't take kindly to snowflakes!
3) If you are a privileged student, keep it to yourself! This means, coming from money, excell through school, full scholarship, eidetic memory, or anything that puts you above your classmates. You'd be surprised how many of your classmates and even "friends" dislike seeing you succeed. "Real G's move in silence like lasagna".
4) If you have never worked a day in your life, you're going to have a bad time. Med school is hard work sure, but didatics (usually) ends with second year. What lies beyond is basically a job and not an easy one at that. There is a reason ADCOMs like seeing real work experience along with volunteering. It teaches discipline, time management, teamwork, punctuality, and respect that books will never be able to teach.
5) Med school will push you to your limits, be prepared to push through them. I'll give a personal example; I've never really been smart, I've managed to work hard and get by with good, not great grades. These didactic years have been chipping away at my resolve, confidence, and well being but, I'm pushing through as will some of you. If it's not during didatics, it will be rotations and/or residency when your attendings will lay it on you HARD.
6) If you have doubts, think hard before committing to medical school. I can't even count the number of times that I've considered dropping out, pursuing something different, or something of that nature. I've even found things that I'm better at than medicine in medical school! It's critical in times like these to go back to your "true and innocent" selves and remember why you began this **** in the first place. This is a 6+ year long path AFTER COLLEGE that will cost 250k at the very least. Damn it make sure this is for you!
7) Have good reasons for pursuing medicine. The state of healthcare in the US is extremely precarious and no one really knows where it'll be in 10-20 years. If you're going in because of money, don't do it. There are easier and faster ways of making money. Job security is an OK reason, but with NP's on the rise who knows. Parental expectations is not a good reason. Your parents just want to see you succeed in life. Some of best reasons are usually deeply personal and it's what gives us our uniqueness and flaws.
8) Google the sunk cost fallacy and learn it. If you're not in medical school, it's not too late to switch career ideas if you want to. I know it might be hard to wrap your head around but it's better doing it in undergrad that during medical school after you've already sunk time and money in.
9) FOCUS ON YOURSELF > EVERYONE ELSE. No one will understand what you are personally going through, not your family, not your friends, not even your classmates. This means you need to learn to deal with your problems. Get help from faculty, meditation, or whatever helps you. I have a buddy who outlets through sex. Personally I workout when I can and/or bitch to my girlfriend. Find your outlet, you'll need it. There will be times when you need to zone out from the world to focus on your studies and it won't be easy because the world is typically pretty loud.
10) Be real with yourself, your expectations, and reality. This means choosing the right people you associate yourself with, learning your strengths and weaknesses, and being pragmatic with your choices. Your friends in and out medical school will get you through the dark and tough times, make sure they're real (easier said than done). You will fail exams, you will score poorly, you will struggle. These are eventualities and how you deal with them is more important than anything else. That being said, be rational with study habits and career choices. If you don't have the scores to do derm, maybe it's time for Plan B.
I can go on but I need to study. Feel free to shoot questions, comment, or criticize.
So you've decided to become a doctor and go to medical school. Good for you!
Now let's get real. As oblivious pre-meds you may not know these key facts that you probably should before dedicating all those years, monies, hairs, and stress to this profession.
Before going further, just know that I'm a medical student in the midst of second year, so forgive me if I'm extra blunt/apathetic towards life (Life ain't that great during 2nd year). These are the things I've learned so far...
1) Medical school is a business, regardless of school. They follow a program (curriculum) and produce untrained physicians. (Residency is the real training from what I hear) This is a major fact that pre-meds ignore or forget and end up making terrible decisions with school choice, e.g. caribbean medical school. Yeah it's competitive, but never forget your self-worth when choosing schools people! I've learned this fact myself when my school sent us an email saying "We are proud to announce an increase in tuition by 4% which is better than the usual 5%." Are you kidding me? Medical school is legal robbery of helpless students but that is the price to pay if you want to play.
2) You will need thick skin! Holy crap this is important. I've been personally been called out by classmates, professors, and even the dean on one occasion and I'm only in second year! People will talk ****, snitch, degrade you, and **** you over given the chance. Take it like a champ, understand why they say/do it, drop em from your head and move on. The medical profession doesn't take kindly to snowflakes!
3) If you are a privileged student, keep it to yourself! This means, coming from money, excell through school, full scholarship, eidetic memory, or anything that puts you above your classmates. You'd be surprised how many of your classmates and even "friends" dislike seeing you succeed. "Real G's move in silence like lasagna".
4) If you have never worked a day in your life, you're going to have a bad time. Med school is hard work sure, but didatics (usually) ends with second year. What lies beyond is basically a job and not an easy one at that. There is a reason ADCOMs like seeing real work experience along with volunteering. It teaches discipline, time management, teamwork, punctuality, and respect that books will never be able to teach.
5) Med school will push you to your limits, be prepared to push through them. I'll give a personal example; I've never really been smart, I've managed to work hard and get by with good, not great grades. These didactic years have been chipping away at my resolve, confidence, and well being but, I'm pushing through as will some of you. If it's not during didatics, it will be rotations and/or residency when your attendings will lay it on you HARD.
6) If you have doubts, think hard before committing to medical school. I can't even count the number of times that I've considered dropping out, pursuing something different, or something of that nature. I've even found things that I'm better at than medicine in medical school! It's critical in times like these to go back to your "true and innocent" selves and remember why you began this **** in the first place. This is a 6+ year long path AFTER COLLEGE that will cost 250k at the very least. Damn it make sure this is for you!
7) Have good reasons for pursuing medicine. The state of healthcare in the US is extremely precarious and no one really knows where it'll be in 10-20 years. If you're going in because of money, don't do it. There are easier and faster ways of making money. Job security is an OK reason, but with NP's on the rise who knows. Parental expectations is not a good reason. Your parents just want to see you succeed in life. Some of best reasons are usually deeply personal and it's what gives us our uniqueness and flaws.
8) Google the sunk cost fallacy and learn it. If you're not in medical school, it's not too late to switch career ideas if you want to. I know it might be hard to wrap your head around but it's better doing it in undergrad that during medical school after you've already sunk time and money in.
9) FOCUS ON YOURSELF > EVERYONE ELSE. No one will understand what you are personally going through, not your family, not your friends, not even your classmates. This means you need to learn to deal with your problems. Get help from faculty, meditation, or whatever helps you. I have a buddy who outlets through sex. Personally I workout when I can and/or bitch to my girlfriend. Find your outlet, you'll need it. There will be times when you need to zone out from the world to focus on your studies and it won't be easy because the world is typically pretty loud.
10) Be real with yourself, your expectations, and reality. This means choosing the right people you associate yourself with, learning your strengths and weaknesses, and being pragmatic with your choices. Your friends in and out medical school will get you through the dark and tough times, make sure they're real (easier said than done). You will fail exams, you will score poorly, you will struggle. These are eventualities and how you deal with them is more important than anything else. That being said, be rational with study habits and career choices. If you don't have the scores to do derm, maybe it's time for Plan B.
I can go on but I need to study. Feel free to shoot questions, comment, or criticize.
