Thoughts on playing division 1 football during M1?

[chlorocruorin]

---

Members don't see this ad.

In that case I would suggest balancing your time between med school, research, and perhaps playing a club sport (most schools have club rugby if you’re willing to consider an alternative 😉).

You can quit a club sport no problem. But quitting a D1 sport is very messy.

Yeah that probably sounds like the best route, although I am too soft for rugby

 

[beekle]

I say go for it.
I'm a former D1 Athlete who went on to med school and I'll tell you it is 100% doable in the pre-clinical years. When it comes time to apply for residency, the time-management skills, leadership, and performance under pressure that you learn will be invaluable. You'll also set yourself apart from 90% of applicants who spend their entire med school experience in the library. This is an opportunity to distinguish yourself in a way almost none of your med school peers will be able to. Residency program directors value diversity - they don't want automatons. Set yourself apart. Go for it. It can be done. It has been done. You can do it. Don't listen to the naysayers who have never been in your shoes.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Try to defer

Can one defer med school for a year while going to school elsewhere during that year? He’d had to be a grad student while playing since he already has a BA/BS.

Either way, this is a crazy idea.

 

[enalli]

Also, those who haven't played wouldn't understand the lessons learned form football goes beyond that of a game. I believe it would help me in my career in my work ethic and teamwork as a physician.

When it comes time to apply for residency, the time-management skills, leadership, and performance under pressure that you learn will be invaluable.

OP has been playing D1 football for three years, but this upcoming year is when he will finally learn all these unique lessons on discipline, leadership, and team work, huh? What has he been doing the last three years, then? Or is it that the lessons you learn disappear as soon as you stop playing?

 

[SpicyMayo]

College football is not some unique sporting tradition that only football players can understand lol. Do you think you're going to have time for workouts, practice, film, and the other obligations that come with D1 football and medical school? Off season might be doable but in season? Lol. I'll tell you right now you won't be able to play a season of football and simultaneously attend medical school. And yes I've done both, albeit separately, because simultaneously is laughable. Imagine this daily schedule: 6:30 am: conditioning/lift. Med school classes 8-12. Labs/ mandatory med school activities 1-4. Practice 4-6. Then studying 7-12. Rinse and repeat. But like I said it's not possible. Medical school is like a full time 8-5 job. It's time to move on from the college football player mindset and move onto future physician mindset. You can stay fit and in shape and focused without football guiding you along. Volunteer as a team student Doctor, get involved in activities that don't involve you bashing your body and head around.

 

[965978]

College football is not some unique sporting tradition that only football players can understand lol. Do you think you're going to have time for workouts, practice, film, and the other obligations that come with D1 football and medical school? Off season might be doable but in season? Lol. I'll tell you right now you won't be able to play a season of football and simultaneously attend medical school. And yes I've done both, albeit separately, because simultaneously is laughable. Imagine this daily schedule: 6:30 am: conditioning/lift. Med school classes 8-12. Labs/ mandatory med school activities 1-4. Practice 4-6. Then studying 7-12. Rinse and repeat. But like I said it's not possible. Medical school is like a full time 8-5 job. It's time to move on from the college football player mindset and move onto future physician mindset. You can stay fit and in shape and focused without football guiding you along. Volunteer as a team student Doctor, get involved in activities that don't involve you bashing your body and head around.

A big problem would likely also be traveling. I don’t see medical schools constantly postponing and making accommodations for labs and exams in order to allow the student to spend half the week traveling across the country to play a football game.

I guess you could just skip the games that coincide with your testing and lab schedule but then what’s the point of even being on the team if you can’t put your soul into it?

 

[JustaDO]

Classic SDN:

1. Ask for yes / no for XYZ activity / action
2. Told no by several experienced posters
3. Proceed to argue why yes would work anyway

 

[965978]

Classic SDN:

1. Ask for yes / no for XYZ activity / action
2. Told no by several experienced posters
3. Proceed to argue why yes would work anyway

Playing football means a lot to him. He’s probably done it his whole life. Giving up a sport is really hard.

But hopefully whatever decision he makes works out for him.

Gotta have some empathy man 🙂

 

[JustaDO]

Playing football means a lot to him. He’s probably done it his whole life. Giving up a sport is really hard.

I'm glad that you are able to tell us how much this means to him, and how giving up a sport is very hard to do. Very insightful indeed.

Gotta have some empathy man 🙂

Have you started medical school? Seeing that you are making posts such as "What kind of academic skills do you wish you knew better going into medical school", I think the answer is no.

Medical school is difficult, and if there are school administrators, residents and attendings all saying no, there must be a reason. I'm sure there will be lots of empathy if he was to fail out.

 

[965978]

I'm glad that you are able to tell us how much this means to him, and how giving up a sport is very hard to do. Very insightful indeed.



Have you started medical school? Seeing that you are making posts such as "What kind of academic skills do you wish you knew better going into medical school", I think the answer is no.

Medical school is difficult, and if there are school administrators, residents and attendings all saying no, there must be a reason. I'm sure there will be lots of empathy if he was to fail out.

I never said that he should play D1 during med school. If you look at my posts in this thread I even gave objective facts and reasons why it’s not a good idea.

What I am saying, however, is that your attitude isn’t every helpful. And you need to have empathy when trying to convey your points.

 

[JustaDO]

What I am saying, however, is that your attitude isn’t every helpful. And you need to have empathy when trying to convey your points.

If you only want to hear the answer you want, that's what mirrors are for. SDN is a valuable resource for advice from people who have done it. However, thank you for teaching me that empathy is needed in a online forum, make sure to include that in your medical school application accomplishments.

 

[Goro]

I have one year of eligibility left and the medical schools that have accepted me do have spots available for a grad student. I was wondering what current med students and ADCOMS think of this. (I know the first thought will be you're crazy, but hear me out).

I truly succeed better academically while playing football as I did it while playing in college with very high grades (3.9). I know college is not the same as med school, but I love the game so much and I'm a big believer in that your mental state has a huge part in dictating your academic performance. I'd love to hear advice from adcoms/med students.

And note: NFL is NOT my career dream, but there is a person who was in the NFL and in med school and graduated too simultaneously, so it's not impossible.

I'm trying to say this in the nicest possible way, bu it t will be a lot faster and less expensive to simply not apply to med school than to try to play D1 while being a med student, which will only lead to your being dismissed from too many course failures.

I had a student have to repeat the year because he tried to maintain a consulting business, which I think all will agree with me is a lot less intensive than playing D1.

You have no idea what a furnace med school is.

How can you play for your college team if you're a full time student at a different school???

 

[chlorocruorin]

Classic SDN:

1. Ask for yes / no for XYZ activity / action
2. Told no by several experienced posters
3. Proceed to argue why yes would work anyway

Lol it’s pretty obvious you’ve had bad experiences with athletes/football players. Every single no I got I said thank you and asked why, hell I even agreed on most of them. I’ve been nothing but respectful. Me explaining why I love football is not arguing my point. You would never understand what football has done for me and my family. It’s taken some of my family out of poverty, and it’s changed my life. But what do you know? You’re just some big DO hotshot, did you even care to chyme in? If not, why are you even posting in here? Lol

Classic sdn: ppl commenting as if their someone bigger than who they really are lmao. Hope you feel more “entitled” pale! Clearly you needed it! Hahaha

 

[Goro]

Lol it’s pretty obvious you’ve had bad experiences with athletes/football players. Every single no I got I said thank you and asked why, hell I even agreed on most of them. I’ve been nothing but respectful. Me explaining why I love football is not arguing my point. You would never understand what football has done for me and my family. It’s taken some of my family out of poverty, and it’s changed my life. But what do you know? You’re just some big DO hotshot, did you even care to chyme in? If not, why are you even posting in here? Lol

Classic sdn: ppl commenting as if their someone bigger than who they really are lmao. Hope you feel more “entitled” pale! Clearly you needed it! Hahaha

:troll::troll::troll::troll::troll::troll::troll::troll::troll::troll:

 

[RNthenDoc]

OP, I’m not a D1 athlete (1A HS lolololol) but what I am is very experienced in carrying multiple heavy time commitments at once.

For me, the uniqueness of what I was doing gave me a lot of love on the application trail for medical school, and in that way it was worth it. I think the same would be true for residency apps in your situation.

For me, though, I couldn’t keep up juggling so much, and I’ve made the decision to focus on medical school. There’s no way I would have survived last semester otherwise. I would have failed out if I hadn’t only been studying, but instead was able to do well.

Now this doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be able to juggle multiple massive commitments better than I. You may simply be better at medical school than I was/am! But for me, I had to choose and I’m glad I did.

 

[WildcatS11]

**** it man - DO IT! I played d1 sport (soccer) and if I could’ve kept going during m1 year I totally would’ve. Also had a classmate who did d1 track (or XC? Can’t recall) during m1. They did fine. Those who don’t play high level athletics won’t understand. If you were successful in college doing this, keep it going for a year.