Things to do before medical school starts?

Started by unsung
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unsung

unsung

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Okay guys & gals who have been accepted... what do you plan to do between now and the start of medical school?

Mine starts in August, and right now I'm still working at the hospital. Pondering when would be a good time to quit though... as the rotating shift work is really pretty tiring and I don't want to start school all tired. Really don't know when I should quit as I am tempted to earn a bit more $$ before school starts... would it be silly to quit in April and give myself a long vacation? Also would like to travel/take a trip, but am undecided as to where at the moment.

Want to possibly read some books to "prepare" for med school... not textbooks or anything, more like novels/memoirs or guides/advice for students about the med school exp. Any recs?
 
I dont know if this helps you, but i decided to pick up a new hobbie, i started a scuba diving class. i am from florida and we have beutiful sites to dive and never new they were in my backyard. On the traveling side, i guess it will depend on how much u have. I guess u cant go wrong in going to europe and see museums if thats wut u like.
 
I will keep working basically until I leave for school (early August). Other plans include doing some traveling to visit relatives, since I won't have time to for a few years.

As far as reading, I've decided to pick up Daniel Goleman's books Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence. I've seen a few things about adcomms using Emotional Intelligence as a guideline for evaluating applicants, so I thought it would be a good read.

I may also read "On Doctoring," which is a collection of short stories/poems.

As far as quitting early, you're going to have to take out loans anyway. You might as well enjoy yourself before you get bogged down in schoolwork, especially for a negligible amount of money loss.
 
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I'm quitting my job within a month and plan to spend my time taking art classes, reading all the books I've missed, and...who knows? I considered whether it would be too early to quit, but this opportunity of having ~4 whole months to try to improve myself somehow is something that will probably never come up again until retirement, and I don't want to miss it.
 
I'm out of school so I'm just working. I plan to quit late May/early June and travel a bit before school starts, but that's dependent on what school I choose.

As far as books, there's one where the author reflects on anatomy lab, but I can't think of the name right now - I'll get back to you 🙂
 
This is your opportunity to RELAX and pursue whatever you want, because you will be ridiculously busy soon enough! I need to continue working, but I would like to go to Israel with my friend if I can get into Birthright (which, like everyone else, is experiencing financial woes)

Silverhorse, let me just say that I LOVE your picture. That was my favorite movie as a kid and I could probably quote large parts of it verbatim even now 🙂
 
unsung said:
Okay guys & gals who have been accepted... what do you plan to do between now and the start of medical school?

Mine starts in August, and right now I'm still working at the hospital. Pondering when would be a good time to quit though... as the rotating shift work is really pretty tiring and I don't want to start school all tired. Really don't know when I should quit as I am tempted to earn a bit more $$ before school starts... would it be silly to quit in April and give myself a long vacation? Also would like to travel/take a trip, but am undecided as to where at the moment.

Want to possibly read some books to "prepare" for med school... not textbooks or anything, more like novels/memoirs or guides/advice for students about the med school exp. Any recs?
Click to expand...

1. Get those darn health forms done.
2. Graduate (darn senioritis is making this challenging.)
3. Have as much fun as possible (I'm a 10 min metro ride away from D.C so this is an easy one.)
4. Do as little school work as possible (well this one sort of counter acts with number 2.)
5. Quit the job (well I did this right after I got the full scholarship offer at SUNY :laugh:.)
 
Imagine you only have six months left to live. What would you want to do with that time? Now go do those things.
 
unsung said:
Want to possibly read some books to "prepare" for med school... not textbooks or anything, more like novels/memoirs or guides/advice for students about the med school exp. Any recs?
Click to expand...

I just read "Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science" by Atul Gawande. That book is amazing, he poetically and beautifully accentuates the uncertainty in Medicine. I might even read it again, you should read it.
 
I'm going to florida for 2 weeks (in july, family condo) and europe for 1 (in may, with family). quitting the job at the end of june. basically, sleeping and relaxing.
 
A) this thread is awesome

B) I am going to work until the end of June to save up as much money as possible. Then do a Eurotrip with my girlfriend (London, Paris, Vienna, Frankfurt, etc.) and then an extended road trip from Cali to Boston for school. Hopefully I can arrive in Boston early so that I can see the city and its historical sites before school starts.
 
Black Surgeon said:
1. Get those darn health forms done.
2. Graduate (darn senioritis is making this challenging.)
3. Have as much fun as possible (I'm a 10 min metro ride away from D.C so this is an easy one.)
4. Do as little school work as possible (well this one sort of counter acts with number 2.)
5. Quit the job (well I did this right after I got the full scholarship offer at SUNY :laugh:.)
Click to expand...

those r my problems too, i didnt realize how hard is to care when u no longer care about grades
 
I'm out of school so right now I work. In my off time I have read a lot of books. Right now I'm on glass castle by jeanette walls. I also decided to start this monster 2000 piece puzzle (bad idea) but I'm almost finished. I think I'm going to quit my job in late May & travel in June & July
 
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1) Finish internship requirements that have been paying for the degree I need to finish.
2) Finish masters program, even if I'm suddenly much, much less interested.
3) DISNEYLAND!

Atul Gawande IS quite good (Complications, and Better). I liked a couple of other books like those: Something for the Pain, Bedside Manners, On Call, How Doctors Think, The Uncertain Art. Another good one is Stiff. It's basically everything a lay person sort-of wants to know about cadavers. Pretty entertaining.
 
I'm quitting my job at the end of June and doing fun things from July to whenever school starts in August. Part of July will be spent visiting family in the midwest, and hopefully the other part will be spent traveling (if I can find the money to do so). Luckily I live in beautiful Southern California, so even if I don't travel, i can still sit on the beach every day and get a tan before locking myself in some basement lab to cut up dead bodies.

Oh man, I just got really excited for medical school.
 
EpiMan said:
1) Finish internship requirements that have been paying for the degree I need to finish.
2) Finish masters program, even if I'm suddenly much, much less interested.
3) DISNEYLAND!

Atul Gawande IS quite good (Complications, and Better). I liked a couple of other books like those: Something for the Pain, Bedside Manners, On Call, How Doctors Think, The Uncertain Art. Another good one is Stiff. It's basically everything a lay person sort-of wants to know about cadavers. Pretty entertaining.
Click to expand...

Nice! I'm going to Disney World in a few weeks. Every time someone asks me what I'm doing now that I'm accepted I say "I'm going to Disney!" 😀
 
If you must absolutely study something, learn Spanish if you don't know it already 🙂
 
I only have two goals:

1. Have sex with as many girls as possible.
2. Do not contract the herp.
 
I am quitting my jobs (both of them) at the end of June and taking an extended road trip (NY to California) with a bunch of my closest friends.
 
Currently planning a trip to Southeast Asia to go scuba diving and snorkeling.

Not as exciting as robing a bank I guess...but it works for me.
 
1. finishing school
2. graduating early
3. going to australia/samoa/tonga for a couple days
4. making money and 3 week tramping trip in new zealand, staying there for like 2 months, also learning how to surf
5. working/traveling around europe with a couple friends
6. then asia!
 
DrWookie said:
Currently planning a trip to Southeast Asia to go scuba diving and snorkeling.

Not as exciting as robing a bank I guess...but it works for me.
Click to expand...


NICE!!!
I might take an advace cource in the summer so i can be certified to dive at deeper places
 
unsung said:
Okay guys & gals who have been accepted... what do you plan to do between now and the start of medical school?

Mine starts in August, and right now I'm still working at the hospital. Pondering when would be a good time to quit though... as the rotating shift work is really pretty tiring and I don't want to start school all tired. Really don't know when I should quit as I am tempted to earn a bit more $$ before school starts... would it be silly to quit in April and give myself a long vacation? Also would like to travel/take a trip, but am undecided as to where at the moment.

Want to possibly read some books to "prepare" for med school... not textbooks or anything, more like novels/memoirs or guides/advice for students about the med school exp. Any recs?
Click to expand...

😴 <--
 
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chemolupusMD said:
NICE!!!
I might take an advace cource in the summer so i can be certified to dive at deeper places
Click to expand...

for those of you guys who are into scuba diving/snorkeling you should check out the great barrier reef off the coast of australia if you have some time!
 
I'm quitting my job in July and then taking a trip to the outer belt planets. First I'll be landing on Planet X where I will be wondering why I didn't choose to visit the inner belt planets, then I'll stop by Uranus as I hear it is a great time before rock climbing in the asteroid belt. I anticipate this trip to be out-of-this-world! And when I get back I'm going to visit my family in the midwest.
 
quiting job ~2 months b4 school and waisting all the money i made on a eurotrip... i decided graduating med school with 290,000 loans rather than 300,000 isnt worth missing out on the last time in my life (while im still able bodied) ill be able to take 2 months off to travel
 
I am trying to get cast in this professional show here (it's one of my favorite shows). If that happens then I'll probably quit my job when the show opens in June, do the show until August 9th (the day the run ends) and then move to wherever I go to school.
 
bluesmd said:
for those of you guys who are into scuba diving/snorkeling you should check out the great barrier reef off the coast of australia if you have some time!
Click to expand...

THat is an obvious place to go! I like the idea of more out of the way places...there are some great islands off the coast of Southern Thailand and Malaysia. Borneo also has some great spots.
 
Im a little late in joining this convo, but I figured I would throw out my plans. I'm a post-bac that has been accepted so I'm free to get a early start, so next week I leave for central america. I'll spend 5 weeks between Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica using buses as my main method of transportation. Then from Costa Rica, I will fly to Ecuador where I will begin another 1.5 months exploring Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and a small part of Argentina. I will try to use trains for intra-country travel and buses for inter-country travel. Unfortunately, the trains in SA leave something to be desired. From there, I will be spending 2-3 months in Asia. I will be flying to Bangkok (Thailand) and I will take the train through Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and finally cross into China via the Hanoi/Beijing international train. I plan to stop regularly along all the rails at points of interest. Then the final doozie is the reverse trans-siberian train from Beijing through Mongolia and Siberia with a final destination of Moscow. I'll then flly back to the east coast from Moscow ending a good 5-6 months of solo-traveling, relfecting on life, making new friends along the way, and capturing a lifetime of stories and experiences to keep me happy during the next four long years of medical school. Hopefully, I meet a bunch of people along the way with whom I can share parts of the journey. If my last solo journey was any indication of how this one will be, I'll most certainly be a very different person when I return.
 
Drunk+Little+Kids+_fake_.jpg
 
Live4Life said:
Im a little late in joining this convo, but I figured I would throw out my plans. I'm a post-bac that has been accepted so I'm free to get a early start, so next week I leave for central america. I'll spend 5 weeks between Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica using buses as my main method of transportation. Then from Costa Rica, I will fly to Ecuador where I will begin another 1.5 months exploring Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and a small part of Argentina. I will try to use trains for intra-country travel and buses for inter-country travel. Unfortunately, the trains in SA leave something to be desired. From there, I will be spending 2-3 months in Asia. I will be flying to Bangkok (Thailand) and I will take the train through Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and finally cross into China via the Hanoi/Beijing international train. I plan to stop regularly along all the rails at points of interest. Then the final doozie is the reverse trans-siberian train from Beijing through Mongolia and Siberia with a final destination of Moscow. I'll then flly back to the east coast from Moscow ending a good 5-6 months of solo-traveling, relfecting on life, making new friends along the way, and capturing a lifetime of stories and experiences to keep me happy during the next four long years of medical school. Hopefully, I meet a bunch of people along the way with whom I can share parts of the journey. If my last solo journey was any indication of how this one will be, I'll most certainly be a very different person when I return.
Click to expand...

Wow...that is quite the journey. How are you financing something like that? I would love to do it but I could never come up with the money.

I did book my tickets a week ago for my trip...though it is far less interesting. I'm spending 3+ weeks in Bali, Indonesia on the beach surfing/snorkelling/diving/dolphin watching/being lazy
 
Live4Life said:
Im a little late in joining this convo, but I figured I would throw out my plans. I'm a post-bac that has been accepted so I'm free to get a early start, so next week I leave for central america. I'll spend 5 weeks between Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica using buses as my main method of transportation. Then from Costa Rica, I will fly to Ecuador where I will begin another 1.5 months exploring Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and a small part of Argentina. I will try to use trains for intra-country travel and buses for inter-country travel. Unfortunately, the trains in SA leave something to be desired. From there, I will be spending 2-3 months in Asia. I will be flying to Bangkok (Thailand) and I will take the train through Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and finally cross into China via the Hanoi/Beijing international train. I plan to stop regularly along all the rails at points of interest. Then the final doozie is the reverse trans-siberian train from Beijing through Mongolia and Siberia with a final destination of Moscow. I'll then flly back to the east coast from Moscow ending a good 5-6 months of solo-traveling, relfecting on life, making new friends along the way, and capturing a lifetime of stories and experiences to keep me happy during the next four long years of medical school. Hopefully, I meet a bunch of people along the way with whom I can share parts of the journey. If my last solo journey was any indication of how this one will be, I'll most certainly be a very different person when I return.
Click to expand...

this sounds wicked, it makes me want to add places to my trip ...
 
Live4Life said:
Im a little late in joining this convo, but I figured I would throw out my plans. I'm a post-bac that has been accepted so I'm free to get a early start, so next week I leave for central america. I'll spend 5 weeks between Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica using buses as my main method of transportation. Then from Costa Rica, I will fly to Ecuador where I will begin another 1.5 months exploring Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and a small part of Argentina. I will try to use trains for intra-country travel and buses for inter-country travel. Unfortunately, the trains in SA leave something to be desired. From there, I will be spending 2-3 months in Asia. I will be flying to Bangkok (Thailand) and I will take the train through Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and finally cross into China via the Hanoi/Beijing international train. I plan to stop regularly along all the rails at points of interest. Then the final doozie is the reverse trans-siberian train from Beijing through Mongolia and Siberia with a final destination of Moscow. I'll then flly back to the east coast from Moscow ending a good 5-6 months of solo-traveling, relfecting on life, making new friends along the way, and capturing a lifetime of stories and experiences to keep me happy during the next four long years of medical school. Hopefully, I meet a bunch of people along the way with whom I can share parts of the journey. If my last solo journey was any indication of how this one will be, I'll most certainly be a very different person when I return.
Click to expand...

Dang, that sounds wicked fun. I'd esp love to do that trans-siberian trip. I agree with you solo traveling is a pretty unique exp. When I visited a Middle Eastern country 2 yrs ago by myself it was just amazing how many ppl I was able to meet and really connect with. The ppl who were there in large groups seemed to intimidate the locals wherever they went and it just kind of broadcasted their presence. I'd love to do another solo trip... perhaps this time to Europe. I've always wanted to go to France or Northern Europe. Otoh, Europe is pretty dang expensive... perhaps my $ will go further in Middle East/Asia. How big's your budget for the trip? I might have a couple thousand saved by the time I quit my job.
 
DrWookie said:
Wow...that is quite the journey. How are you financing something like that? I would love to do it but I could never come up with the money.

I did book my tickets a week ago for my trip...though it is far less interesting. I'm spending 3+ weeks in Bali, Indonesia on the beach surfing/snorkelling/diving/dolphin watching/being lazy
Click to expand...

I'm someone who was in a post-bacc programs, so I'm older and I've been working and saving money for several years. Thanks to my job, I have a ton of frequent flyer miles (about 250,000) spread between two airlines so that has made my airfares free (except for the taxes part). As for accommodations, I've done a lot of international traveling so I can scout out pretty cheap but nice accommodations. I'll primarily be staying in hostels for $10-15/night. However, in certain countries in which I have traveled before I have made good friends with locals so they are letting me stay at their house. As for food, most hostels have kitchens, so I'll go to the local markets, test my bartering skills, and buy things I can cook to save money.

There will be nights or days when I splurge and stay at a nice hotel or go to a fancy restaurant so that will add to the cost, but there will also be many nights when I am in Asia that I will sleep on the train. Choosing overnight routes that let you sleep on the train is one of the best ways to save on accommodation/food costs. Almost all Asian trains that have "soft sleeper" cabins have hot water spouts, so I can bring ramen noodles and eat those for dirt cheap when I can't buy food from street vendors. Just make sure if you buy from street vendors that you watch them cook it so you know its fresh. Overall, I've come to realize that seeing the sites, meeting unique people along the way, and interacting with the local population (even if you dont speak the language), is much more important than doing "it up in style" wherever you go. If you want any advice on doing it on a "backpackers budget", feel free to send me a pm.
 
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I'm gonna try to make my thesis into a book.. I'm actually really excited about it.
 
unsung said:
Dang, that sounds wicked fun. I'd esp love to do that trans-siberian trip. I agree with you solo traveling is a pretty unique exp. When I visited a Middle Eastern country 2 yrs ago by myself it was just amazing how many ppl I was able to meet and really connect with. The ppl who were there in large groups seemed to intimidate the locals wherever they went and it just kind of broadcasted their presence. I'd love to do another solo trip... perhaps this time to Europe. I've always wanted to go to France or Northern Europe. Otoh, Europe is pretty dang expensive... perhaps my $ will go further in Middle East/Asia. How big's your budget for the trip? I might have a couple thousand saved by the time I quit my job.
Click to expand...

Flights = Free due to frequent flyer miles

Hotels = 180 days * $20/night (more expensive cost allows for more cheap nights at hotels and some nights at nicer hotels) = $3600

Food = 6 months * $250/month (since cooking can save money, and I love going to the markets and eating from street vendors, $250 should be plenty)
= $1500

Transportation (Buses/Trains) = $1500-2000

Incidentals = $2000 (Might not necessarily spend this, buy I'm bringing it in case I find some things I want to buy to remember the trip)

Gifts = $100-150 (these are for the families that I will be staying with)

I'm probably forgetting about stuff, but with this trip, I haven't tried to worry about the cost because I've been saving for it for several years. It's a lot to spend, but I won't have another opportunity to do this for a really long time. And the way I look at it is, I know people who have spent $10k for a 14 days safari adventure in Africa, if I spend $10k for a 6 months adventure then that is just about the cost of living here in the US for 6 months.
 
virusgirl said:
This is your opportunity to RELAX and pursue whatever you want, because you will be ridiculously busy soon enough! I need to continue working, but I would like to go to Israel with my friend if I can get into Birthright (which, like everyone else, is experiencing financial woes)

Silverhorse, let me just say that I LOVE your picture. That was my favorite movie as a kid and I could probably quote large parts of it verbatim even now 🙂
Click to expand...

I'm not applying until next year, but Birthright is AWESOME. Check out Aish HaTorah. I've talked to people who went in other groups, and they didn't have as cool an experience.
 
Live4Life said:
Im a little late in joining this convo, but I figured I would throw out my plans. I'm a post-bac that has been accepted so I'm free to get a early start, so next week I leave for central america. I'll spend 5 weeks between Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica using buses as my main method of transportation. Then from Costa Rica, I will fly to Ecuador where I will begin another 1.5 months exploring Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and a small part of Argentina. I will try to use trains for intra-country travel and buses for inter-country travel. Unfortunately, the trains in SA leave something to be desired. From there, I will be spending 2-3 months in Asia. I will be flying to Bangkok (Thailand) and I will take the train through Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and finally cross into China via the Hanoi/Beijing international train. I plan to stop regularly along all the rails at points of interest. Then the final doozie is the reverse trans-siberian train from Beijing through Mongolia and Siberia with a final destination of Moscow. I'll then flly back to the east coast from Moscow ending a good 5-6 months of solo-traveling, relfecting on life, making new friends along the way, and capturing a lifetime of stories and experiences to keep me happy during the next four long years of medical school. Hopefully, I meet a bunch of people along the way with whom I can share parts of the journey. If my last solo journey was any indication of how this one will be, I'll most certainly be a very different person when I return.
Click to expand...

Live4Life said:
Flights = Free due to frequent flyer miles

Hotels = 180 days * $20/night (more expensive cost allows for more cheap nights at hotels and some nights at nicer hotels) = $3600

Food = 6 months * $250/month (since cooking can save money, and I love going to the markets and eating from street vendors, $250 should be plenty)
= $1500

Transportation (Buses/Trains) = $1500-2000

Incidentals = $2000 (Might not necessarily spend this, buy I'm bringing it in case I find some things I want to buy to remember the trip)

Gifts = $100-150 (these are for the families that I will be staying with)

I'm probably forgetting about stuff, but with this trip, I haven't tried to worry about the cost because I've been saving for it for several years. It's a lot to spend, but I won't have another opportunity to do this for a really long time. And the way I look at it is, I know people who have spent $10k for a 14 days safari adventure in Africa, if I spend $10k for a 6 months adventure then that is just about the cost of living here in the US for 6 months.
Click to expand...

holy crap! dude, that's amazing... I love how you've thought so much of it through. I hope I can do something like that someday😳
 
Live4Life said:
Flights = Free due to frequent flyer miles

Hotels = 180 days * $20/night (more expensive cost allows for more cheap nights at hotels and some nights at nicer hotels) = $3600

Food = 6 months * $250/month (since cooking can save money, and I love going to the markets and eating from street vendors, $250 should be plenty)
= $1500

Transportation (Buses/Trains) = $1500-2000

Incidentals = $2000 (Might not necessarily spend this, buy I'm bringing it in case I find some things I want to buy to remember the trip)

Gifts = $100-150 (these are for the families that I will be staying with)

I'm probably forgetting about stuff, but with this trip, I haven't tried to worry about the cost because I've been saving for it for several years. It's a lot to spend, but I won't have another opportunity to do this for a really long time. And the way I look at it is, I know people who have spent $10k for a 14 days safari adventure in Africa, if I spend $10k for a 6 months adventure then that is just about the cost of living here in the US for 6 months.
Click to expand...

I've done quite a bit of backpacking as well...I was just curious how you had the initial savings to do it...but it sounds like it is something you have planned for for a long time, which always helps.

Like your budget shows, even staying in hostels/eating in local markets still adds up over 180 days...so no matter how cheaply you live you still need several thousand dollars.

The one nice thing about your trip is a lot of the places you are going are relative cheap compared to the US...Central/South America is a lot less expensive, as is a lot of southeast Asia (Thailand and the like). You have 8 dollars a day budgeted for food, which will be PLENTY even if you don't cook in a lot of cases. (In thailand you can get a street meal for around 1 US dollar).

Sounds like you are well planned...that is going to be an amazing trip. I've done something like that over a shorter period of time (2 months) and it was amazing...though I got pretty tired by the end of it (constantly moving around and the like). That is why the current trip i'm planning consists of one small island for 3 weeks...I'll be traveling for sure, but just on local buses so I can check out different beaches/dive sites.


Oh and nice work getting free airfare, that is great 🙂

EDIT:

Oh and I totally agree about the 10k in 6 months vs 10k in 14 days. I know people who go on this super fancy expensive trip that are like 20,000 dollars for like a 16 day cruise...it's crazy. They hardly get out off the cruise so really the only people they talk to are other people blowing 20,000 dollars...no cultural experiences.
 
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