[Question] Sometimes Medical School Appears a Little Undergrd-like and a Little Superficial...Anyone Else?

[Cadbery]

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I've visited some medical schools that I got accepted into and I've noticed a trend. A lot of drinking. A lot of, I don't know what else to call it, bro culture? I haven't been asked "that's not water is it?! Better not be water!" at a party since first or second year of undergrad. To be clear, I do drink, but I've been in the working world for some years and I'm not interested in drinking like an undergrad anymore. All power to those that do so no judgement, but I don't find that enjoyable personally.

I bring this up because I've also been feeling an uneasy sense of superficiality among some medical students. Not that they themselves are superficial, but that my conversations and relationships with them seem shallow-ish. Not just on my visit days, but with many med students that I know in my local area. I am very good friends with a few medical students for sure, but their descriptions of medical school have actually reinforced my image of superficiality. (Also, spoiler, most of my friends in undergrad were not premeds).

I don't mean to generalize and I don't mean to disparage medical students (I'm going to become one lol). I just feel uneasy over the gut impressions that I've been gathering over time. I felt quite lonely during my visit days and I've seen posts by some medical students reflecting similar feelings. This may be for me all the more because my interests in medical school are non-traditional and it sucks to not have others around sharing the same interests as me.

Anyone else feel as I described and, or has some insightful related comments about their time in medical school? Obviously medical students aren't all like I described, I'm just airing some general impressions that I've gotten.

 

[yazmataz]

Med school seems like such a mixed bag. I've had a different experience where I have felt like everyone I've encountered at visit days and in my incoming class is either married or moving in with a significant other. I guess we won't know until we go! But you shouldn't feel nervous about the superficiality you might see because not everyone will be like that and at the end of the day you will find some people you truly click with 🙂

 

[Woe_is_me23]

I definitely got this vibe at 2/3 med schools that I visited. LOTS of drinking, super loud music. Luckily I had a buddy. We huddled in the corner behind the beer pong table and talked about how it felt exactly like college.

(Like you, I drink, but I’m over being an undergrad/drinking like one.)

The good news is... you are not alone. You will find your tribe.

 

[puahate]

I hope medical school is like this. I would like to throw down at least once or twice a month after studying for weeks and months for an exam. I am actively avoiding schools with a "family-oriented" vide.

Med school seems like such a mixed bag. I've had a different experience where I have felt like everyone I've encountered at visit days and in my incoming class is either married or moving in with a significant other.

This is what i DONT WANT in my future medical school.

 

[Cadbery]

I hope medical school is like this. I would like to throw down at least once or twice a month after studying for weeks and months for an exam. I am actively avoiding schools with a "family-oriented" vide.



This is what i DONT WANT in my future medical school.

Haha and that's fine! I know that I'm not speaking for everyone. I agree with you for the second part though. I want to meet the one before I'm flipping 35 yrs old DX

 

[puahate]

Haha and that's fine! I know that I'm not speaking for everyone. I agree with you for the second part though. I want to meet the one before I'm flipping 35 yrs old DX

In my research program there are people before 30 that are getting married or are married.

Definitely not the look for me right now.

 

[Dwan]

I've visited some medical schools that I got accepted into and I've noticed a trend. A lot of drinking. A lot of, I don't know what else to call it, bro culture? I haven't been asked "that's not water is it?! Better not be water!" at a party since first or second year of undergrad. To be clear, I do drink, but I've been in the working world for some years and I'm not interested in drinking like an undergrad anymore. All power to those that do so no judgement, but I don't find that enjoyable personally.

I bring this up because I've also been feeling an uneasy sense of superficiality among some medical students. Not that they themselves are superficial, but that my conversations and relationships with them seem shallow-ish. Not just on my visit days, but with many med students that I know in my local area. I am very good friends with a few medical students for sure, but their descriptions of medical school have actually reinforced my image of superficiality. (Also, spoiler, most of my friends in undergrad were not premeds).

I don't mean to generalize and I don't mean to disparage medical students (I'm going to become one lol). I just feel uneasy over the gut impressions that I've been gathering over time. I felt quite lonely during my visit days and I've seen posts by some medical students reflecting similar feelings. This may be for me all the more because my interests in medical school are non-traditional and it sucks to not have others around sharing the same interests as me.

Anyone else feel as I described and, or has some insightful related comments about their time in medical school? Obviously medical students aren't all like I described, I'm just airing some general impressions that I've gotten.

You'll find a good mix of people once you're an actual student. The ones you met at second look are self-selected outgoing types that volunteered for those events. Also, a lot of people will act differently in the first month to try to make friends, but that will dissipate soon.

 

[PA_dud3]

The Culture of Alcoholism is one thing I hate about undergrad. I don't touch the stuff ever but you get looked upon as if you are an outcast unless you drink, drink, drink. I hope medical school is not like that.

 

[deleted480308]

I've visited some medical schools that I got accepted into and I've noticed a trend. A lot of drinking. A lot of, I don't know what else to call it, bro culture? I haven't been asked "that's not water is it?! Better not be water!" at a party since first or second year of undergrad. To be clear, I do drink, but I've been in the working world for some years and I'm not interested in drinking like an undergrad anymore. All power to those that do so no judgement, but I don't find that enjoyable personally.

I bring this up because I've also been feeling an uneasy sense of superficiality among some medical students. Not that they themselves are superficial, but that my conversations and relationships with them seem shallow-ish. Not just on my visit days, but with many med students that I know in my local area. I am very good friends with a few medical students for sure, but their descriptions of medical school have actually reinforced my image of superficiality. (Also, spoiler, most of my friends in undergrad were not premeds).

I don't mean to generalize and I don't mean to disparage medical students (I'm going to become one lol). I just feel uneasy over the gut impressions that I've been gathering over time. I felt quite lonely during my visit days and I've seen posts by some medical students reflecting similar feelings. This may be for me all the more because my interests in medical school are non-traditional and it sucks to not have others around sharing the same interests as me.

Anyone else feel as I described and, or has some insightful related comments about their time in medical school? Obviously medical students aren't all like I described, I'm just airing some general impressions that I've gotten.

You are overthinking this.

 

[siliso]

I noticed that among some of my classmates too. Mostly people straight out of undergrad frats, a lot of whom went to same undergrad together and continued the same drunkard lifestyle. At least for the first couple years. As an older person I found this a little distasteful, not my thing, and in some cases risky (like in terms of catching a public intox charge). But there are plenty of different kinds of people in a med school class - at least in a large one where I went. You’ll find your people - probably other nontrads or people with similar interests/at a similar life stage to yourself. You’re maybe not meeting them at mixers because they’re home with their spouse and/or kids, but you’ll meet them at school.

 

[Isoval]

Yup. We drink. A lot.

 

[ciestar]

Med school seems like such a mixed bag. I've had a different experience where I have felt like everyone I've encountered at visit days and in my incoming class is either married or moving in with a significant other. I guess we won't know until we go! But you shouldn't feel nervous about the superficiality you might see because not everyone will be like that and at the end of the day you will find some people you truly click with 🙂

We have peer groups and when we started, I was the only one of 10 who was married. Now, five of us are. So many more in my class are engaged and getting married. This tends to happen in the non-trads, though.

Anyway, OP, my class is cliquey. It drives me nuts so it has more of a high school feel in that regard. However, we do have a LOT of socials. A lot of people go to parties to let off steam. Hell, school events serve alcohol.

You find your niche eventually. Not everyone wants to drink like they’re still in undergrad.

 

[Hirro]

As someone who stopped drinking as much as I did in my early 20's, I also noticed this during some of my interviews.

Honestly, I think it's good to step away and realize this is a niche of people who wanted to introduce new students to the school. I had the chance to talk to other students who weren't part of second look events or interview days who pretty much reaffirmed there's two sides to that coin. Also, as I'm sure you noticed when you were working, plenty of people retain those habits into adulthood.

 

[deleted895369]

Or just go to Loma Linda so you don't have to worry about it at all...

 

[907914]

In my research program there are people before 30 that are getting married or are married.

Definitely not the look for me right now.

And here I am, by the time I am 30 my oldest will be 11

 

[907914]

And here I am, by the time I am 30 my oldest will be 11

Just keep in mind everyone, tequila is not a great birth control

 

[Mooseforkicks]

The kind of people who choose go to those kind of social events are probably more likely to fit into that culture.

During my second look days, I didn’t notice too much of that culture. But that’s because I didn’t go to those kinds of social events. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just not my idea of a good time. Instead I tended to spend time with “lower key” students and we just hung out, went to dinner, played games, watched movies, etc. Some people were drinking, but no one came to drink.

You’ll find your group. But if you aren’t interested in that kind of culture/drinking, your group is less likely to be at the party/bar.