Something Productive to do

[David1991]

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OK, weird question here, but does anybody have ideas on ways to be more productive over the summer?

Whenever I've heard someone say "I'm bored" I would think "wow how could anyone be bored, there's so many things that could be done for entertainment and how can you not be busy with school/work/etc" but now after being off for about 6 weeks it seems to have happened to me for the first time in a long time.

I have an internship currently at Princeton Hospital which I enjoy but it's only once per week. I also have a job but the hours are really random, I don't have many at the moment, and for all I know it may become even less pretty soon. A lot of my friends are always busy too with work, girlfriends, or are just far away so I've spent way too much time playing video games (something I almost never used to do), watching TV and especially going on the computer. I exercise every day but that only takes up maybe an hour.

Basically, does anyone have ideas on good ways to be productive. I'm thinking in regards to the medical/dental field but even in general is good. I'd love to get started with orgo work for next semester but my school won't have the books for 3 weeks or so. Maybe I'll just see if Barnes and Nobles has it and I could return it later or something.

Thanks guys

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

1.xbox 360
2.hit the gym
3.12-pack of brewskis
4.sleep

you don't have to do productive stuff all the time

 

[deleted202457]

well if you like math you could study for the Putnam exam (that's what I'm doing lol).

or you could learn an instrument. i've heard that a lot of schools look favorably on commitment to learning an instrument (it takes a huge time commitment).

or learn another language (also very useful).

 

[deleted202457]

1.xbox 360
2.hit the gym
3.12-pack of brewskis
4.sleep

you don't have to do productive stuff all the time

I would have went with a case but this works too haha

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

I would have went with a case but this works too haha

i prefer specialty beers (magic hat, blue moon, sierra nevada,etc)

 

[willen101383]

i prefer specialty beers (magic hat, blue moon, sierra nevada,etc)

No offense but blue moon is very much a macro haha.

Come on step it up to rogue,stone,(insert your local brewery) 🙂

SNPA +1 though

 

[deleted202457]

i prefer specialty beers (magic hat, blue moon, sierra nevada,etc)

Well then I understand haha. I personally would just go get a fifth of George Dickel. But when I do something I go hard haha.

 

[David1991]

1.xbox 360
2.hit the gym
3.12-pack of brewskis
4.sleep

you don't have to do productive stuff all the time

lol did you read past the title? I'm already playing too many video games (already beat God of War 3, half of metal gear solid 4, Uncharted, and am currently playing Infamous....and I've never been a "gamer" lol). I workout everyday, sleep as much as I want and I'm sure not going to drink alone 😀

I know I don't have to be productive all the time but I just feel useless right now sitting around browsing forums for hours and a bunch of other crap. I think it's mainly because so many of my friends are busy/gone so socially it sucks.

well if you like math you could study for the Putnam exam (that's what I'm doing lol).

or you could learn an instrument. i've heard that a lot of schools look favorably on commitment to learning an instrument (it takes a huge time commitment).

or learn another language (also very useful).

2 good suggestions. If I had Rosetta stone or something I think I might actually try to learn spanish, but it's a few hundred dollars 😱. I used to play guitar (5 years) but got really bored with it after awhile.

 

[deleted202457]

lol did you read past the title? I'm already playing too many video games (already beat God of War 3, half of metal gear solid 4, Uncharted, and am currently playing Infamous....and I've never been a "gamer" lol). I workout everyday, sleep as much as I want and I'm sure not going to drink alone 😀

I know I don't have to be productive all the time but I just feel useless right now sitting around browsing forums for hours and a bunch of other crap. I think it's mainly because so many of my friends are busy/gone so socially it sucks.



2 good suggestions. If I had Rosetta stone or something I think I might actually try to learn spanish, but it's a few hundred dollars 😱. I used to play guitar (5 years) but got really bored with it after awhile.

Well you could just get Spanish for dummies and Intermediate Spanish for dummies to get a head start and then take some more advanced classes next year. And you could always learn another instrument (my personal favorite is piano).

And if you enjoy training you could always train for a marathon or triathalon. I hear a lot of ppl put that on apps and it's seen favorably.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

lol did you read past the title? I'm already playing too many video games (already beat God of War 3, half of metal gear solid 4, Uncharted, and am currently playing Infamous....and I've never been a "gamer" lol). I workout everyday, sleep as much as I want and I'm sure not going to drink alone 😀

I know I don't have to be productive all the time but I just feel useless right now sitting around browsing forums for hours and a bunch of other crap. I think it's mainly because so many of my friends are busy/gone so socially it sucks.



2 good suggestions. If I had Rosetta stone or something I think I might actually try to learn spanish, but it's a few hundred dollars 😱. I used to play guitar (5 years) but got really bored with it after awhile.

yeah I read the thread title, but honestly it looks like you got some interesting things to do during the summer already and might as well chill when you're free....I mean it is the summer 🙄

 

[David1991]

yeah I read the thread title, but honestly it looks like you got some interesting things to do during the summer already and might as well chill when you're free....I mean it is the summer 🙄

Yea it's crazy, the last year at college was very intense for me and I was constantly giving up opportunities to hang out with people and do things I wanted to do. Unfortunately, it really hurt my social life. And now that it's summer, and I have soo much free time, I have nothing to do! No parties, friends are gone, too ironic :/

During the school year even if I could get a little bit of free time I would be stressed, feeling like I needed to get something done. Now I'm just sitting here on my computer for hours. Not trying to complain, I just want to get something done (maybe dim the storm about to come in the fall 😀). I'll try to get the orgo book soon I guess.

 

[morning]

Volunteering is both productive (for your app) and fun if you do it at the right place. It doesn't have to be somewhere medical, it could be anywhere. Mentor kids, sling litter at the animal shelter, do shopping for little old ladies.

 

[David1991]

Well you could just get Spanish for dummies and Intermediate Spanish for dummies to get a head start and then take some more advanced classes next year. And you could always learn another instrument (my personal favorite is piano).

And if you enjoy training you could always train for a marathon or triathalon. I hear a lot of ppl put that on apps and it's seen favorably.

Well I took Spanish through high school with all A's and both semesters this past year (freshman year). So I think I would know most of the basics, but am definitely not fluent. I would consider more Spanish classes but it wouldn't fit in my schedule and I wouldn't want to screw my GPA.

As for the marathon/triathalon, I really hate running/cardio lol, more of a weight lifting type.

Volunteering is both productive (for your app) and fun if you do it at the right place. It doesn't have to be somewhere medical, it could be anywhere. Mentor kids, sling litter at the animal shelter, do shopping for little old ladies.

Well actually my internship started through the volunteer service, it just happened to be that my position counted as an unpaid internship with the hospital.

Honestly, I'm really not looking for something just to help people out. I may sound like an ass saying that, but as far as doing something like helping kids or whatever, I guess it could be rewarding, but my main issue with doing so little right now isn't just that I'm bored, but that I know I'm going to be so busy in the fall I want to get a head start. Well that's part of it anyway, which I guess I can solve once I go to Barnes and Nobles. So yea something to help the boredom, but for me 😀

Maybe I should do some more shadowing at my dentist's office

 

[Avoidthetiger]

No offense but blue moon is very much a macro haha.

Come on step it up to rogue,stone,(insert your local brewery) 🙂

How about taking up beer brewing? Lots of fun!

 

[ThaliaNox]

You seem to have a pretty shallow view of volunteering. Why not volunteer somewhere totally off the wall? A museum or park service volunteering gig were things I always wanted to pursue but never had the time. Someone else mentioned the humane society. I know that the local place here is always looking for people to walk dogs or pet cats. It isn't all kitty litter scooping.

Another option is to pursue training you've always wanted but never had the time for. How about getting life-guard trained, or taking a wilderness survival course?

Even further out there, pick up a new hobby. Schools always find unique hobbies interesting, and the only thing it requires to pursue many of them is some free time, which you aparently have. How about backpacking, photography, gardening, art, horseback riding or collecting something interesting to you.

 

[235009]

take your gpa out of your signature. that must be the douchiest thing i've seen on sdn ...and trust me there is some very stiff competition

 

[deleted202457]

take your gpa out of your signature. that must be the douchiest thing i've seen on sdn ...and trust me there is some very stiff competition

 

[David1991]

You seem to have a pretty shallow view of volunteering. Why not volunteer somewhere totally off the wall? A museum or park service volunteering gig were things I always wanted to pursue but never had the time. Someone else mentioned the humane society. I know that the local place here is always looking for people to walk dogs or pet cats. It isn't all kitty litter scooping.

Another option is to pursue training you've always wanted but never had the time for. How about getting life-guard trained, or taking a wilderness survival course?

Even further out there, pick up a new hobby. Schools always find unique hobbies interesting, and the only thing it requires to pursue many of them is some free time, which you aparently have. How about backpacking, photography, gardening, art, horseback riding or collecting something interesting to you.

Definitely some good ideas. I like the animal ideas but I've got 2 dogs that I should probably give a lot more attention before I do that lol. I'd also like something that could get me ahead in some way. Life guarding training I'm fairly sure costs a bit of money now that I'm out of high school.

Honestly for the last few years my main hobby/passion has been fitness/bodybuilding/lifting. Very consuming actually, I haven't had something else as a real hobby in a while. Used to play guitar and skateboard but got tired of both of those. I'm not really interested in any of the things you listed but there are certainly some things I'd love to try if they were even remotely close. Skydiving, wake boarding, scuba diving, rock climbing, etc. all seem really cool but it's not like I can just get up and go do those things.

take your gpa out of your signature. that must be the douchiest thing i've seen on sdn ...and trust me there is some very stiff competition

lol, I saw it being done with others so I just did it.

 

[TACMON]

what you really need to fill your time:

1. ps3
2. $$$ to buy beer
3. cable (currently without)
4. some buddies to hang with


or this could all be substituted with a gf, except you'd need even more $$$

 

[David1991]

what you really need to fill your time:

1. ps3
2. $$$ to buy beer
3. cable (currently without)
4. some buddies to hang with


or this could all be substituted with a gf, except you'd need even more $$$

Check, pass, check, changes. Normally, especially in college, I don't want a steady girlfriend but for all I know maybe that would be good right now considering the free time and almost all of my friends have one which takes up their time. In either case I don't have a steady one at the moment so it is what it is.

Man I hate my friends 😡 😀

 

[235009]

lol, I saw it being done with others so I just did it.

i definitely haven't seen it done before

having an MDapps link is different and a lot less douchy. if you feel so strongly that your self-worth is defined by your 4.0 gpa after freshman year then i feel sorry for you

i really hope you don't have your gpa in your email signature too

 

[TACMON]

Check, pass, check, changes. Normally, especially in college, I don't want a steady girlfriend but for all I know maybe that would be good right now considering the free time and almost all of my friends have one which takes up their time. In either case I don't have a steady one at the moment so it is what it is.

Man I hate my friends 😡 😀

not only do most of my friends have steady GFs most of the girls i have met at this point have BFs too...unless their just saying that so i keep away

 

[Hydrogen5040]

lol did you read past the title? I'm already playing too many video games (already beat God of War 3, half of metal gear solid 4, Uncharted, and am currently playing Infamous....and I've never been a "gamer" lol). I workout everyday, sleep as much as I want and I'm sure not going to drink alone 😀

I know I don't have to be productive all the time but I just feel useless right now sitting around browsing forums for hours and a bunch of other crap. I think it's mainly because so many of my friends are busy/gone so socially it sucks.



2 good suggestions. If I had Rosetta stone or something I think I might actually try to learn spanish, but it's a few hundred dollars 😱. I used to play guitar (5 years) but got really bored with it after awhile.

I am learning spanish with Rosetta Stone this summer! There was a really good deal on Barnes and Noble a few weeks back... not sure if it's still there, but it took a couple hundred off the price. Still expensive, but I hear it's worth it. (Mine will probably come tomorrow 😀) Also, there are free spanish podcasts and a lot of good websites with free tutorials and stuff.

 

[David1991]

not only do most of my friends have steady GFs most of the girls i have met at this point have BFs too...unless their just saying that so i keep away

Ha, that's been less of a problem for me lately, although a girl I was hanging with the other day ended up having one but whatever. I just wish everyone else had the time I do now. It's funny because I work so much harder than all of my friends when it comes to school, but as far as part time jobs some of them have 2-4 jobs or just work a lot at 1, while I'm really not trying to work much and when I'm there I'm pretty lazy lol. I guess I just feel like it's pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

I am learning spanish with Rosetta Stone this summer! There was a really good deal on Barnes and Noble a few weeks back... not sure if it's still there, but it took a couple hundred off the price. Still expensive, but I hear it's worth it. (Mine will probably come tomorrow 😀) Also, there are free spanish podcasts and a lot of good websites with free tutorials and stuff.

I feel like all the stuff with tutorials and whatnot would be a little basic at this point. That reminds me though that there's a site my prof showed me where I can talk to people. Maybe I'll do that, I bet over the summer my spanish could improve a lot that way. How much did you get the rosetta stone for and what level(s)? If you remember I'd be interested in how it goes.

 

[Ischemic]

If you're a recent HS grad, I suggest you go to your nearest Barnes and Nobles book store and get yourself a Kaplan MCAT book and start studying IMMEDIATELY!! It's never too early to get a headstart on that 45 👍

If you're in the middle of college years, I suggest picking up Lehningers Biochemistry, Grey's Anatomy, and Costanzo's physiology because you know you got the gradezzz and MCAT scorezz but you need a leg up to dominate your future classmates. Not to mention this is an amazing interview conversation. Bring it up and I cash-back-guarantee your med school admissions.

Recent college grads? Screw working and "gaining experience/money" go on a medical mission trip and show that you love helping people ... there's no better way!! Also, if you've been accepted to med school, you definitely want to hit the ground running. So get your USMLE First Aid book and start dominating those parasites and bugs by reading Robbins.

Follow these advices and you won't regret your stay here at SDN. Donations welcomed for this great advice of mine.

 

[David1991]

If you're a recent HS grad, I suggest you go to your nearest Barnes and Nobles book store and get yourself a Kaplan MCAT book and start studying IMMEDIATELY!! It's never too early to get a headstart on that 45 👍

If you're in the middle of college years, I suggest picking up Lehningers Biochemistry, Grey's Anatomy, and Costanzo's physiology because you know you got the gradezzz and MCAT scorezz but you need a leg up to dominate your future classmates. Not to mention this is an amazing interview conversation. Bring it up and I cash-back-guarantee your med school admissions.

Recent college grads? Screw working and "gaining experience/money" go on a medical mission trip and show that you love helping people ... there's no better way!! Also, if you've been accepted to med school, you definitely want to hit the ground running. So get your USMLE First Aid book and start dominating those parasites and bugs by reading Robbins.

Follow these advices and you won't regret your stay here at SDN. Donations welcomed for this great advice of mine.

I'm going to be a sophomore in the fall. Now that I think about it I actually have MCAT flash cards, I've only gone through a couple of the chem ones so far but I was happy to see I knew them all. I can tell it's some stuff I'll forget in a year though lol. Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to start going through a couple of those each day again.

 

[PremedGunner]

Definitely some good ideas. I like the animal ideas but I've got 2 dogs that I should probably give a lot more attention before I do that lol. I'd also like something that could get me ahead in some way. Life guarding training I'm fairly sure costs a bit of money now that I'm out of high school.

Honestly for the last few years my main hobby/passion has been fitness/bodybuilding/lifting. Very consuming actually, I haven't had something else as a real hobby in a while. Used to play guitar and skateboard but got tired of both of those. I'm not really interested in any of the things you listed but there are certainly some things I'd love to try if they were even remotely close. Skydiving, wake boarding, scuba diving, rock climbing, etc. all seem really cool but it's not like I can just get up and go do those things.



lol, I saw it being done with others so I just did it.

Hey,

I have been an ocean lifeguard 3 years. you don't have to pay for training, you get paid for training. will this look good on my app? would something else look better on my app? should i keep doing this? should i do something else? i'm not really volunteering, because i'm getting paid. is it important to do volunteering (and not get paid?)

 

[Evergrey]

No offense but blue moon is very much a macro haha.

Come on step it up to rogue,stone,(insert your local brewery) 🙂

SNPA +1 though

I am damn proud to say that the state I am from has the highest number of microbreweries per capita! Colorado represent! Plus, Blue Moon and Fat Tire are both from Colorado (two of the more well-known Colorado beers, besides of course Coors Yuckness).

 

[SimplySmile]

Why don't you get a job with more hours?

How do all you premeds pay for things anyways?

 

[orthomyxo]

take your gpa out of your signature. that must be the douchiest thing i've seen on sdn ...and trust me there is some very stiff competition

And judging by the "1991" part of his username, he's not a sophomore yet.

 

[David1991]

Why don't you get a job with more hours?

How do all you premeds pay for things anyways?

Did you even read the posts? I have a job.

 

[JoshuaGuit]

And judging by the "1991" part of his username, he's not a sophomore yet.

I was born in 91 and I consider myself to be a sophomore... well a rising one at least. I think you're off by a year in the grades.

 

[willen101383]

I am damn proud to say that the state I am from has the highest number of microbreweries per capita! Colorado represent! Plus, Blue Moon and Fat Tire are both from Colorado (two of the more well-known Colorado beers, besides of course Coors Yuckness).

Colorado is the **** on so many levels. I spent 2 months mountain biking around the state with an outward bound type program in highschool...loved it.

Havent really had any fat tire that left an impression. The last colorado beer ive had was breckenridge brewery vanilla porter IIRC. Halfway decent porter! I am such a beer snob....right down to the serious homebrew setup I run. Fun times! Homebrewing actually came up at a med school interview...and I put a cool "oh you have to know a lot of chemistry and microbiology" spin on it which is actually true. haha (got accepted there)

 

[Evergrey]

Colorado is the **** on so many levels. I spent 2 months mountain biking around the state with an outward bound type program in highschool...loved it.

Havent really had any fat tire that left an impression. The last colorado beer ive had was breckenridge brewery vanilla porter IIRC. Halfway decent porter! I am such a beer snob....right down to the serious homebrew setup I run. Fun times! Homebrewing actually came up at a med school interview...and I put a cool "oh you have to know a lot of chemistry and microbiology" spin on it which is actually true. haha (got accepted there)

Yes, biking here is amazing! I have not mountain biked here much, but there are some killer bike trails near my house that I ride my road bike on. Props to you for the homebrewing, that stuff is hard to do well as my brother can attest to. I have not picked it up myself (yet), I'm just sticking to consumption, as is 😉 It is most definitely a legit hobby though. As much craftsmanship goes into a good beer as any elegant organic synthesis.

How do your homebrews turn out? Have you used low-end equipment with much success?

The last beer I drank was Blue Moon, ironically, but I am working on some Stone Levitation Ale currently. I haven't had Breckenridge's vanilla porter, but it sounds delicious.