So what are YOU doing before Med School?

[Semicolon]

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Since plenty of us are looking forward to starting med school this coming fall, I figured we could talk about what we're planning to do the spring/summer before we "take the dive", or make suggestions/give ideas about how to best spend the time we have left.

As for me (very briefly), I'm going to finish my last semester at college and graduate in May/June. Then I'm making my summer easy; I'll take a nice Eastern Caribbean cruise with my girlfriend and try not to think about how much med school will kick my @$$. 😎

So what are YOU doing before med school?

 

[Dissected]

Great thread topic.

Relaxing, spending all of my savings vacationing, clearing my head. 🙂

 

[ChandutheMagici]

I'm trying to find a job. Oh...and leveling a WoW character, haha

Josh

 

[spicedmanna]

Whatever you do, make it relaxing, easy, and fun. Those should be your major criteria.

 

[meganmarie]

I am planning on taking a trip to Vegas!

 

[Spooner13]

Going on a trip with two friends to watch some MLB games. We're going to go to New York, Chicago, Philly, and Boston. Well, that's the plan at least. We have to get the money first.

 

[Tuckermans]

Sleep as much as possible. Hopefully eventually annoy my parents enough that they offer to help me pay for my apartment as long as its far away from home...🙂

 

[CBoJackson16]

I am probably going to go down to Peru and do some volunteer work and keep up my espanol. I am researching possible projects now. I could go to Vietnam and Thailand to visit my friend... but that would just be irresponsible now wouldn't it? 😉

 

[Semicolon]

Great thread topic.

Relaxing, spending all of my savings vacationing, clearing my head. 🙂

My parents thought I was crazy to want to spend much of my savings on vacationing...until I explained that it's not like I'm going to use those few thousand to pay for med school (or the debt after).

To current med students: with the financial aid you receive (depending on your school's COA), do you usually get more than enough aid to pay for everything you need/want to?

I'm trying to find a job. Oh...and leveling a WoW character, haha

Josh

I quit WoW last summer after realizing that I was a bit TOO into it (had a lvl 70 character) and wanted to make sure I would focus on my classes more. It's always been tempting to return, and I'm fighting the urge to every few months. 😛

Whatever you do, make it relaxing, easy, and fun. Those should be your major criteria.

Absolutely agree. That's what I decided to follow. 🙂

 

[spicedmanna]

To current med students: with the financial aid you receive (depending on your school's COA), do you usually get more than enough aid to pay for everything you need/want to?

I'm on an HPSP scholarship now, but when I was receiving FA last year, money was awfully tight. I found that I did not have enough to pay for everything I wanted, but if I was careful, I had enough for what I needed. But, yeah, there were times where I was eating Ramen noodles or things out of boxes that I'd never eat because I was low on the cash flow. Also, the way FA works at my school, sometimes you don't get paid for a while and you are down to negative numbers before you get your cash replenished. Still, though, I went out occasionally and whatnot. I just had to compensate for it and be pennywise.

 

[spicedmanna]

My parents thought I was crazy to want to spend much of my savings on vacationing...until I explained that it's not like I'm going to use those few thousand to pay for med school (or the debt after).

Yeah, I'd say go ahead and spend money on a good vacation. It's so worth it in the long run. A few grand isn't going to make or break you during medical school. You can never get that carefree time you have now back ever again; it's almost priceless. Use it wisely and definitely aspire to have a good time, because when the conveyor belt starts, it basically never stops and you just hold onto your hat as you race forward.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

SpicedManna~! you are doing a HPSP???
I am considering that...but oh so scared about what I keep hearing from people who regretted taking it. My family is pushing me to go for a scholarship though cuz they think id do great in the military and its a great way to pay for school.

anyhow, this is what im doing with my time before school starts: working as a non-destructive examination technician. I get to travel all over the world to do jobs. I was just in Indonesia in December and will be going to Kuwait in less than two weeks. Then it's off to Trinidad & Tobago...and Holland, and some other yet to be named locales.

 

[deleted172531]

Travel. Probably Egypt.😀

 

[spicedmanna]

SpicedManna~! you are doing a HPSP???

Indeed, I am: USAF HPSP. I accepted the scholarship and was commissioned last summer.

I am considering that...but oh so scared about what I keep hearing from people who regretted taking it. My family is pushing me to go for a scholarship though cuz they think id do great in the military and its a great way to pay for school.

Yeah, don't let anyone push you into it; think through it carefully. Doing HPSP is a serious decision and it's quite a commitment to take on. I did a lot of soul searching and talked with many people before making my choice. I have friends who are military physicians and even did a few short preceptorships/shadowing at a military medical center. This helped quite a bit as I was able to place the good, the bad, and the ugly all together. At the end, I decided that I could be happy as a military physician. However, only time will tell. If you have any questions, send me a PM and I'll do my best to answer honestly, at least based on my own experiences.

 

[engineeredout]

Gonna finish up and graduate in May. I don't really know what to do during the summer. Work would be nice but no idea what job I'd get for like 2-3 months, and I don't feel like sticking it out at my current job all this time.

Caribbean cruise with a girlfriend sounds awesome. I went on one with my family over winter break, not quite the same.

 

[DannMann99]

Gonna finish up and graduate in May. I don't really know what to do during the summer. Work would be nice but no idea what job I'd get for like 2-3 months, and I don't feel like sticking it out at my current job all this time.

Caribbean cruise with a girlfriend sounds awesome. I went on one with my family over winter break, not quite the same.

you know i always thought you were a girl because of your 'pre-medstrual' gig

 

[Semicolon]

Gonna finish up and graduate in May. I don't really know what to do during the summer. Work would be nice but no idea what job I'd get for like 2-3 months, and I don't feel like sticking it out at my current job all this time.

Caribbean cruise with a girlfriend sounds awesome. I went on one with my family over winter break, not quite the same.

You'd probably feel better if you just relaxed this summer rather than found work to do; look at your budget and see if you can afford any "awesome" vacations. The cruise I'm going on is ~870/person including all fees (8-night leaving from NYC).

There's always roadtrips. 👍

 

[aterry]

I am getting married and going to Nicaragua. Then, I plan on moving down to Ft. Lauderdale a bit early so we have time to get the house put together and go to the beautiful beach before and the craziness breaks loose!!

 

[CD2]

I'm graduating, getting married, and going on a 2 week honeymoon. Can't wait

 

[nevinleiby]

Biochem 2, Psych, Embryology, and shadowing as many different types of docs as possible.

Fixing up our farm, which I will be leaving when I go, so its easier for my wife to take care of when I'm away,

Moving to said program's closest apt,

Visiting friends and family and explaining that I have not been kidnapped officially, but they probably won't see me for a year or two =)

I'm hoping to squeeze a trip in there, but my wife doesn't graduate nursing school until July 24 or something....not exactly good for the ol' med school orientation/unofficial start of school.

 

[211519]

I'm working for The Princeton Review pretty much constantly, and I'm saving money.

Don't worry, I shop a little (for med school appropriate clothes), but I can't take a vacation. I don't have any financial support to get me from move-in to my loans kicking in, so it's all me and what I manage to save.

😳

If I could take a vacation, I would go to London. Does wishful thinking count?

 

[rajaholick]

trip to india in april/may, trip to alaska in may
working in a lab and health clinic to save up money for those trips until the end of march/early april

 

[Kishkinde]

Currently working as a coordinator for an afterschool tutoring program. It ends in April, than going to Britney bitch with my friends!..hehe Taking a trip to India in May. Than flying down to Peru in June...Machu Pichuuuu here I come. HACE-LO!

Egypt..is a blast! I highly recommend traveling there! Do the dinner cruise, Cairo and Luxor!! I went in September of last year, and it was pretty decent weather!

 

[engineeredout]

you know i always thought you were a girl because of your 'pre-medstrual' gig

**Note to self: Never attempt to use humor around pre-meds again**

 

[nevinleiby]

**Note to self: Never attempt to use humor around pre-meds again**

Sorry eng...I also thought the opposite. Its funny how the avatar suggests so much about you as a person. For instance, I am a small fuzzy rodent-doctor.... (Scrubs day-dreaming segue )

 

[Nanon]

Selling my house, having a baby, moving my family to... ??? And I'm working right up until May 31st. But that 3 - 4 weeks before I have the baby? I'll be asleep. Lol!

 

[justh0ang]

I am currently tutoring K-12 students in math and english. Then I will be going to Peru for a volunteer trip for a month. Returning in June! Hopefully I'll have a place to move into by July.

 

[Semicolon]

I am getting married and going to Nicaragua. Then, I plan on moving down to Ft. Lauderdale a bit early so we have time to get the house put together and go to the beautiful beach before and the craziness breaks loose!!

I'm graduating, getting married, and going on a 2 week honeymoon. Can't wait

Congratulations to you both! 👍 Enjoy.

I'm working for The Princeton Review pretty much constantly, and I'm saving money.

Don't worry, I shop a little (for med school appropriate clothes), but I can't take a vacation. I don't have any financial support to get me from move-in to my loans kicking in, so it's all me and what I manage to save.

😳

If I could take a vacation, I would go to London. Does wishful thinking count?

Wishful thinking counts. If you don't go today, you'll go someday. 🙂

Personally, I've never been off the North American continent (I know, I suck), and if traveling to Europe wasn't so damn expensive nowadays, I'd definitely do it!

 

[engineeredout]

Sorry eng...I also thought the opposite. Its funny how the avatar suggests so much about you as a person. For instance, I am a small fuzzy rodent-doctor.... (Scrubs day-dreaming segue )

My dog is a dude too!!



How many people really thought I was a chick?



Too bad the mods didn't think I was a girl. I'd probably get away with more and not get banned every couple of weeks.

 

[Deepa100]

Selling/renting the house, moving, finding day care and hoping to do some travel before July.

 

[Vita]

I'm going to sleep as much as possible.

 

[Semicolon]

My dog is a dude too!!



How many people really thought I was a chick?



Too bad the mods didn't think I was a girl. I'd probably get away with more and not get banned every couple of weeks.

That's why I thought you were a guy.

 

[RySerr21]

engineered, i think its the mopy dog that gives off the feminine e-presence. i dunno why.

 

[Crelal]

Sell the house, work two jobs, pack up husband/kids, and move! 😉

Somewhat nerve racking to not have a job to move to, but it should all work out, right? 🙄

Besides, I am looking forward to sleeping for a few weeks before classes start. 😴

 

[Chocolate Bear]

engineered, i think its the mopy dog that gives off the feminine e-presence. i dunno why.

I couldn't disagree more. The mopey dog just makes me take every one of your comments and attach an overwhelming air of cynicism to them. It makes your dry humor that much drier.

If you thought you'd get some mod favoritism for being a chick, you probably shouldn't have posted your picture a while back. 🙄

 

[nevinleiby]

I couldn't disagree more. The mopey dog just makes me take every one of your comments and attach an overwhelming air of cynicism to them. It makes your dry humor that much drier.

If you thought you'd get some mod favoritism for being a chick, you probably shouldn't have posted your picture a while back. 🙄

Almost everyone that I met up with @ interviews who follows sdn would be psyched to meet you and confirm that Donald Faison was not considering leaving Scrubs to become the new moderator of the pre-osteo forum =)

 

[Chocolate Bear]

almost everyone that i met up with @ interviews who follows sdn would be psyched to meet you and confirm that donald faison was not considering leaving scrubs to become the new moderator of the pre-osteo forum =)

lol!

 

[bkz]

SpicedManna~! you are doing a HPSP???
I am considering that...but oh so scared about what I keep hearing from people who regretted taking it. My family is pushing me to go for a scholarship though cuz they think id do great in the military and its a great way to pay for school.

Just so you know, current military are technically prohibited from speaking candidly about their experiences..at least until they are discharged. If you are considering HPSP I'd recommend you read the stickies at the top of the MilMed forum THOROUGHLY. If you want to ask a milmed doc questions you should also seek opinions from those who are not current military. Basically military med is a great choice for some people, but definitely not for everyone. You might be happy in milmed if you have a strong desire to serve, that is, if you would do if for free. The money factor is NOT a good reason to join, and if you're motivated purely by financial concerns, you might end up pretty miserable.. and even more in debt than your non-military med school peers--attending mil docs' salary is not always the same as a private practice salary.

If anything this thread shows that you can't put a price on the time you call your own. Again everyone's experiences are different and I highly recommend you read the Milmed FAQs completely. Good luck making your decision.

Everyone's travel plans sound fantastic 👍

 

[DrMattOglesby]

Just so you know, current military are technically prohibited from speaking candidly about their experiences..at least until they are discharged. If you are considering HPSP I'd recommend you read the stickies at the top of the MilMed forum THOROUGHLY. If you want to ask a milmed doc questions you should also seek opinions from those who are not current military. Basically military med is a great choice for some people, but definitely not for everyone. You might be happy in milmed if you have a strong desire to serve, that is, if you would do if for free. The money factor is NOT a good reason to join, and if you're motivated purely by financial concerns, you might end up pretty miserable.. and even more in debt than your non-military med school peers--attending mil docs' salary is not always the same as a private practice salary.

If anything this thread shows that you can't put a price on the time you call your own. Again everyone's experiences are different and I highly recommend you read the Milmed FAQs completely. Good luck making your decision.

Everyone's travel plans sound fantastic 👍

Thanks for the heads up, Batteries.
I've been reading the millitary madness for a good six months now. And talked with my step father about his time serving as a military physician. My grandma didnt seem to mind being a military nurse either. Annnnd...my father said he wishes he went for a career in the military~ ...so I guess there might be some legacy issues I have to work through. I feel fairly informed about what it entails...I'm just nervous about making any big decisions right now. I think I will probably end up going without any scholarship for the first year, just to have more time to think about it.

 

[spicedmanna]

Just so you know, current military are technically prohibited from speaking candidly about their experiences..at least until they are discharged.

There are perhaps ways to circumvent this issue. For example, if you were able to shadow or work with a milmed doc closely for a bit and you happened to experience first hand what he or she was experiencing everyday, perhaps that would speak louder than anything they could tell you, as long as you were moderately observant. You then make your own judgments based on what you observed.

If you are considering HPSP I'd recommend you read the stickies at the top of the MilMed forum THOROUGHLY. If you want to ask a milmed doc questions you should also seek opinions from those who are not current military. Basically military med is a great choice for some people, but definitely not for everyone. You might be happy in milmed if you have a strong desire to serve, that is, if you would do if for free. The money factor is NOT a good reason to join, and if you're motivated purely by financial concerns, you might end up pretty miserable.. and even more in debt than your non-military med school peers--attending mil docs' salary is not always the same as a private practice salary.

If anything this thread shows that you can't put a price on the time you call your own. Again everyone's experiences are different and I highly recommend you read the Milmed FAQs completely. Good luck making your decision.

Agree with all of the above.

 

[spicedmanna]

I think I will probably end up going without any scholarship for the first year, just to have more time to think about it.

If that is what feels right to you, then I support you in doing that. There's no point in rushing this decision, since it's such a huge one. I didn't choose to apply to the HPSP until I was well into my 1st year.

 

[RySerr21]

I couldn't disagree more. The mopey dog just makes me take every one of your comments and attach an overwhelming air of cynicism to them. It makes your dry humor that much drier.

If you thought you'd get some mod favoritism for being a chick, you probably shouldn't have posted your picture a while back. 🙄

No one asked you bear.


In a pretty recent development, I am going to be applying to participate in this program this summer! It allows graduated/undergraduate students study buddhism while living as a monastic in a buddhist temple in Taiwan. Seems pretty awesome! ps i'm taking a course on buddhist thought right now, which is where my interest arose and how i heard of the opportunity.

 

[LilSDClimber]

Whoa, Ryserr, that sounds sweet! For reals??

I'm gonna see two of my best friends get married back in MI.

Then, I'm going to Boot Camp Lite aka OIS this summer...
<----Future Navy physician!

 

[BabyKangaroo]

And talked with my step father about his time serving as a military physician.

Yeah, I agree with batteries. Read the MilMed forums thoroughly. Your stepfather, was he a recent military physician? I spoke with some current military physicians, and all of them say that it isn't what it used to be at all, and that they want out. I am not a military hater, but I do think that one should wait while they go through medical school. There is something the recruiters didn't tell me about, and it's called the "FAP" in the military. The "Financial Assistance Program." They repay your loans (albeit not ALL of your loans, but a hefty chunk) if you commission at the end of year four. Then you can finish your civ. residency and you will have an idea of what the military has molded itself into over the four years you were waiting it out, plus with the new commander in chief taking office. This is with the AF at least.

Just so you know, current military are technically prohibited from speaking candidly about their experiences..at least until they are discharged. If you are considering HPSP I'd recommend you read the stickies at the top of the MilMed forum THOROUGHLY. If you want to ask a milmed doc questions you should also seek opinions from those who are not current military. Basically military med is a great choice for some people, but definitely not for everyone. You might be happy in milmed if you have a strong desire to serve, that is, if you would do if for free. The money factor is NOT a good reason to join, and if you're motivated purely by financial concerns, you might end up pretty miserable.. and even more in debt than your non-military med school peers--attending mil docs' salary is not always the same as a private practice salary.

If anything this thread shows that you can't put a price on the time you call your own. Again everyone's experiences are different and I highly recommend you read the Milmed FAQs completely. Good luck making your decision.

+1 👍

And before medical school I am snowboarding and skiing as much as I can (I work four shifts on, four off at my work... very conducive to packing up and leaving for a few days 🙂. I will also visit my brothers in Seattle, hike/camp around the Northwest (using www.nwhiker.com as a guide! Check it out.) to clear my head, and go to Kenya and/or Nicaragua on a mission. Still awaiting the decision from my church! And probably go to Europe (I am very ambitious, and will probably end up doing half of all of this, except for the mission, I am doing that for sure!)

 

[melv55]

working until late may, going to aruba with my boyfriend in june, and then sleeping a lotttt until school starts!! 😀

 

[tourniquet1963]

also working till the end of may. then 2 months in europe --> 15 countries! 😀 back by august to move and start school

 

[Semicolon]

No one asked you bear.


In a pretty recent development, I am going to be applying to participate in this program this summer! It allows graduated/undergraduate students study buddhism while living as a monastic in a buddhist temple in Taiwan. Seems pretty awesome! ps i'm taking a course on buddhist thought right now, which is where my interest arose and how i heard of the opportunity.

Wow, that sounds very...unique. Also very calming. 👍

also working till the end of may. then 2 months in europe --> 15 countries! 😀 back by august to move and start school

I'm jealous! Any specific region of Europe? And how the heck are you paying for all this?!

 

[tourniquet1963]

I'm jealous! Any specific region of Europe? And how the heck are you paying for all this?!

I'm starting in Israel for the birthright trip and working my way west back to NY. And about the cost, i've been saving for the past 15 years lol, so i have a nice chunk of change saved up, (some might say its wiser to buy a car or pay for my 1st semester of med school, but that would be too boring)!! My limiting factor will be my bf b/c he's poor, so i wont be traveling extravagantly 😎

 

[engineeredout]

You know what I've always wanted to do and am gonna try to do before med school? Skydiving. I've been looking around, and the skydiving services around here are 200-225$ for your first jump (With an instructor attached).

Pricey but its always been something I've thought sounded awesome.

 

[EyeDR_oo]

You know what I've always wanted to do and am gonna try to do before med school? Skydiving. I've been looking around, and the skydiving services around here are 200-225$ for your first jump (With an instructor attached).

Pricey but its always been something I've thought sounded awesome.

Hey eng, if you want you can jump out of my plane, I am constantly flying out of republic airport on south shore LI. All you gotta do is find a parachute 👍

I also hear doing it off the coast of LI is amazing for the views.