Summer after Year 1

[coolhandluke]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey Guys,

Im going to be a MS1 in August and I was just wondering what kind of things people do during the summer after their first year of med school? More specifically, I am interested in spending a few months in Europe and was wondering if anyone had done anything clinically related over there during this time period. Thanks for your help.

-Coolhandluke

 

[MSV MD 2B]

some people do missionary work and some do research. those are only 2 options though.

 

[JM.]

I'll be at OBC for a big chunk of it. I am getting pretty fluttery butterflies about starting in the fall. Guess it is like anything new.

 

[CANES2006]

I think one should definitely travel. No one knows if you'll be able to take an extended trip again. I spent one week each at Washington, D.C. and New York this summer. I highly advise going there. It was an amazing trip!😀

 

[coolhandluke]

I guess noone really goes to Europe...I missed out on the study abroad thing in undergrad due to premed courses...I was hoping to be able to do it in some form next summer.

 

[AsianDoc]

I was planning on a vacation this summer before school started, but found out my research was going to last all summer long. So instead, I have pushed my trip to Vietnam back until next summer, after the first year is over. And instead of making it just a kick back and relax get-a-way... I'll make it an extended relax but help when and where you can kind of trip. Who else is planning on a nice vacation summer after MS1?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hmmm...if I were you, I'd just vacation and relax. It will be the last full summer you'll ever have (at least until retirement).

 

[doepug]

Originally posted by Kimberli Cox
Hmmm...if I were you, I'd just vacation and relax. It will be the last full summer you'll ever have (at least until retirement).

...unless you become a radiologist and have 12-16 weeks of paid vacation.

Taking the summer off is a great idea, but it's also a prime opportunity to get on board with a research project. I did it and it paid off in spades... not only do you get the experience and publications, but you'll get a mentor who can be there for you throughout med school. If you'd be miserable doing research, then bag it and go to France or something.

Cheers,
doepug

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

Originally posted by doepug
...unless you become a radiologist and have 12-16 weeks of paid vacation.

Taking the summer off is a great idea, but it's also a prime opportunity to get on board with a research project. I did it and it paid off in spades... not only do you get the experience and publications, but you'll get a mentor who can be there for you throughout med school. If you'd be miserable doing research, then bag it and go to France or something.

Cheers,
doepug

So is summer after first year the best time to do research? Cuz summer after second year you're studying for step 1 and summer after third year you're doing away rotations and maybe some step 2 studying as well? Shiz that only gives you a year to figure out what specialty.

 

[zbarnes]

You should do what you think you will enjoy most. There will always be research to do, and it doesnt have to be in the summer, and you really dont have as much time after this.

I am teaching Gross Anatomy to dental students but thats only two days a week, otherwise i try to just relax and do as much of nothing as possible.

I doubt youll have much more than 8 weeks and theyll fly by so dont do anything you might regret (like research instead of europe).

 

[southcom]

I'm shooting for a competitive residency, so will the research really help me out? give me some opinions thanks

 

[missMD]

I agree with doepug. Depending on what specialty you are going for, publications can help out. Not only will you be able to put it on your CV but I found that doing the research helps me to learn more. Keeping up on the latest will help out when it comes to 3rd year. Also, one cannot underestimate the importants of a mentor.
As far as relaxing goes, i think that i am more relaxed now that i'm not in class. I would never be able to sit around for 10 weeks and not do something. THats just how I am.🙂

 

[devildoc2]

I dont see how people can get publications with just one summer of research.

Maybe rarely that happens, but it seems like everybody on these forums has the attitude of "yeah just do research over the summer and get a pub"

Thats very hard to do I would guess, and I bet its nearly impossible to get a first author pub in only one summer.

Maybe I'm just totally out in left field though. What kind of research can someone get a first author pub in just one summer?

 

[Doc Ivy]

Originally posted by devildoc2
I dont see how people can get publications with just one summer of research.

Maybe rarely that happens, but it seems like everybody on these forums has the attitude of "yeah just do research over the summer and get a pub"

Thats very hard to do I would guess, and I bet its nearly impossible to get a first author pub in only one summer.

Maybe I'm just totally out in left field though. What kind of research can someone get a first author pub in just one summer?

I totally agree. I just finished my master's and have spent about 2 years in the lab. My first publication has only just been reviewed by Am J Physiol. I don't expect the second to be published for a few months to come and the research was done ages ago. A summer of research will only get you a publication if you come in a strategic time in the project and you won't be first second or even third author.

Bottom line: To first author anything of your own takes time

 

[coolhandluke]

No offense to anyone, but I personally think research blows. I was one of those kids that did it during undergrad for the application process, but I hated it. Anyone doing anything cool from strictly a clinical standpoint(during the summer)?

 

[Entei]

So, any ideas on other worthwhile ways to occupy the time between MS1 and MS2?

 

[Jaded Soul]

Go on vacation and relax. The one thing I've regretted most while being in med school is doing research between M1 and M2. If I had it to do all over again, I would have travelled instead.

 

[nuttymcpoonut]

Of the people I know researching this summer, most aren't doing bench/basic science work. A lot of people are collecting subjects for studies, analyzing data, helping to write the article to be published, etc. I agree that bench-type research does take more than 8-10 weeks to get something that can be published, but if you are doing some sort of retrospective study or any public health/clinical medicine-like projects, I'm told it's more than doable.

I am doing something that fits somewhere between bench work and clinical research (playing with lots of pig hearts), and it's much more fun than the basic science stuff I did in college. I recommend it. In addition, I'm also helping run a program introducing high school and college students to cardiothoracic surgery - just to throw out some ideas to you rising first years already thinking about next summer.

I decided not to travel or do a South America medical Spanish program, because I traveled extensively last summer. The idea of sleeping in my comfortable air-conditioned apartment sounded much better than what I was doing last summer and what a large number of my classmates are "enjoying" this summer. Maybe I'm just really lazy.

 

[kutastha]

I'm doing absolutely nothing at all, save for a trip to Cancun, then Vegas.

Hell, the only way I remember I'm in med school is the SDN on my bookmark bar.

 

[ArrogantSurgeon]

Take the proverbial advice that "this is your last free summer ever" with a grain of salt. Your summers don't somehow disappear once you become a doctor unless you allow them to. There are doctors in my family who take several weeks (if not a couple of months) completely off every year to travel to cool places around the world with their families. My uncle is a surgeon in a 6-man private practice and he takes his family on about a month long vacation every year to a different place around the world. Last year he invited me to go along with my cousins to Brazil during the summer and we all had a blast. You don't have to be chained to your job in the future if you don't want to. Just find the right working environment after residency and you can take plenty of time off to vacation.

 

[Red514LX]

I've relaxed, spent time with family and friends that I neglected in year one, and worked on my golf game. 🙂 I've also done some previewing of year 2 classes.

I've tried to balance my summer and reduce all stress to zero.

 

[doepug]

Some of the posts are a bit skeptical about publications... fact of the matter is that there's a huge difference between publishing in basic science journals and clinical journals.

I won't call my experience typical, but here goes... I started on a clinical research project after first year with a young faculty member who was sitting on 4 years of untouched data. I put it into a manageable format and have analyzed it in various ways, and 2 years later, I've gotten 14 papers published with first or second authorship, and I've given oral and poster presentations at several large meetings. No joke.

If you're in a lab, it's unlikely that you'll get a paper out of a summer. Basic science takes a long time to do.

As long as you aren't starting up a prospective trial, clinical research doesn't have the same timescale. If you're interested in research, then do your homework and find the right person to work with. Most people don't do enough of the legwork and get stuck with mediocre experiences... if you really plan your moves carefully, you can be on the gravy train.

Good luck,
doepug

 

[camjakb]

Screw research...I spent some time in Vegas and am now in the process of beating "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City."

 

[TMarkus]

Yeah, when I get there, my plan is to spend as much time as I can at Whistler, BC riding as much lift access Mt. Biking as I can in three months. I pray I don't spend any time in the ER unless I am getting paid, or shadowing a doc.

 

[miscalculated]

so far this summer I've worked in an ice cream factory, been on army camp, been to the biggest theme park in Europe and I'm gonna start working at an old peoples home here in Germany.

I've just had a look at yr 2 classes, which are:
neuroscience;
the scientific basis of disease;
head and neck anatomy;
ethics & psychology of medicine.

 

[thackl]

Originally posted by miscalculated
been to the biggest theme park in Europe

You've been to Euro Disney

 

[miscalculated]

Nope, it's called Europa-Park and is in southwestern Germany. Although for the ultimate in theme park thrills, you have to go to Alton Towers in England and ride Oblivion😀

 

[oldman]

i'm travelling, doing clinical research, shadowing specialities i'm interested in, and not getting enough sleep.

 

[MSV MD 2B]

oldman, how did you arranegd the shadow opportunities? to me that is the ideal thing to do,. i have a list of six specialties that i want to look into so maybe i'll pick the top 3 and do 2 weeks a specialty.

 

[missMD]

I'm doing some research as well as TAing for Anatomy. It's a good review.

 

[trauma_junky]

Originally posted by coolhandluke
No offense to anyone, but I personally think research blows. I was one of those kids that did it during undergrad for the application process, but I hated it. Anyone doing anything cool from strictly a clinical standpoint(during the summer)?

Amen! I'm a masters student doing research and it blows goats.

 

[oldman]

Originally posted by MSV MD 2B
oldman, how did you arranegd the shadow opportunities? to me that is the ideal thing to do,. i have a list of six specialties that i want to look into so maybe i'll pick the top 3 and do 2 weeks a specialty.

first of all, i got a mentor. that's one of the first things you should try to arrange when you start med school. i got mine through the school's alumni association. he's one of the docs i am shadowing. i also asked him for other contacts, he hooked me up. i also joined some student organizations that hook up med students with mentors.

 

[ttac]

Originally posted by coolhandluke
Hey Guys,

Im going to be a MS1 in August and I was just wondering what kind of things people do during the summer after their first year of med school? More specifically, I am interested in spending a few months in Europe and was wondering if anyone had done anything clinically related over there during this time period. Thanks for your help.

-Coolhandluke

I had to decide between research and travel, and I chose to go backpacking for 5 weeks. I've been traveling around for 4.5 weeks now, and I return to the US in 3 days.

It actually wasn't that difficult of a decision for me, but that was because:

1) I had already done basic science research for 5 years after undergrad, and I was a listed author on 6 publications

and

2) I hadn't been to Europe since I was 10 years old, and that time I went with my parents.

So far, I haven't regretted my decision at all, even when I was taking the 3rd overnight train in a row, hadn't showered in 3 days, and had people staring at me like I had come from another planet. I've had some great memories, such as:

a) the Love Parade in Berlin
b) hiking around Eigerglescher in Interlaken
c) hiking around the mountains across the river from Heidelberg castle
d) taking a boat trip through the fjords of Norway
e) taking a boat trip through the archipelagos in Stockholm
f) visiting the Viking museum (with 3 Viking ships)
g) meeting hundreds of people
h) alot of other little memories that I can't remember now, but are somewhere in the 1400+ pictures I have taken.

Anyway, I would highly recommend backpacking if possible. It's been a great experience for me, and it really made me alot more open-minded about other cultures.

ttac

 

[hookaman]

I definitely want to travel the summer after my first year (backpack europe!!), but I feel like I'll be at a big disadvantage if I don't do research that summer (if I decide to go into a competetive residency). Will I have time to get involved in research (and get published) during the first or second school year? Thanks