Time for Other Interests

[Tianar]

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Hello all!

I'm getting ready to enter with the class of 2017, and I'm curious about how much time there is to pursue extracurriculars/other activities outside of class.

I realize that it is most likely severely limited based on how much studying needs to be done, but I wanted to hear from other folks about what their interests are and maybe how they find time to indulge them while in school.

For example, I'm a big theater nerd and have been active in local community theaters for years now. Would there be time for me to volunteer? Or maybe I should just stick with catching a show every so often. 🙂

I appreciate any feedback!

 

[DrMaximus]

Hello all!

I'm getting ready to enter with the class of 2017, and I'm curious about how much time there is to pursue extracurriculars/other activities outside of class.

I realize that it is most likely severely limited based on how much studying needs to be done, but I wanted to hear from other folks about what their interests are and maybe how they find time to indulge them while in school.

For example, I'm a big theater nerd and have been active in local community theaters for years now. Would there be time for me to volunteer? Or maybe I should just stick with catching a show every so often. 🙂

I appreciate any feedback!

Personally, I find time to do things that take my mind off of school. I am not a theater nerd but a video game nerd and I've stayed fairly caught up on my favorite series. I'm also an avid runner and typically get three-four miles a day, barring weekends. When my wife is up on weekends, I rarely study, but that's only on non-test weekends and every other weekend at most. I've also been snowboarding five times since I've been in school.

So, tl;dr version, yeah, there is time. But you always have to put school first.

 

[survivordo]

There is plenty of time to do things. It's all about time management. However, I found it difficult to commit to any schedules. You never know when you are going to have to stay late, study up for a test etc. and don't want to constantly be letting people down.

Survivor DO

 

[DrMaximus]

There is plenty of time to do things. It's all about time management. However, I found it difficult to commit to any schedules. You never know when you are going to have to stay late, study up for a test etc. and don't want to constantly be letting people down.

Survivor DO

100% agree to this.

 

[LaughingMan]

It also largely is based on how efficiently you study.

I know of some students who study very poorly, they have music playing, and are passively studying--they have to spend double/triple the amount of time studying as friends who can actively study.

If you can efficiently study, meaning 2-3 hours of hardcore, active studying-you should have time.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I like what I am hearing.

 

[Goro]

If you're a really good time mgr, there are things you can do, but volunteer theater work? I doubt it. STRONGLY recommend against it.

Hello all!

I'm getting ready to enter with the class of 2017, and I'm curious about how much time there is to pursue extracurriculars/other activities outside of class.

I realize that it is most likely severely limited based on how much studying needs to be done, but I wanted to hear from other folks about what their interests are and maybe how they find time to indulge them while in school.

For example, I'm a big theater nerd and have been active in local community theaters for years now. Would there be time for me to volunteer? Or maybe I should just stick with catching a show every so often. 🙂

I appreciate any feedback!

 

[Tianar]

If you're a really good time mgr, there are things you can do, but volunteer theater work? I doubt it. STRONGLY recommend against it.

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of ushering or hospitality for a night here and there, not like costuming the entire cast of Les Miserables. 😛

 

[Goro]

Sounds doable.

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of ushering or hospitality for a night here and there, not like costuming the entire cast of Les Miserables. 😛

 

[Mattinthehat250]

I have similar concerns. I'm hugely into guitar and would love to play in a band during med school, but doubt I would have time. It would be awesome to at least play a few shows here and there.

 

[pre med 2014]

It also largely is based on how efficiently you study.

I know of some students who study very poorly, they have music playing, and are passively studying--they have to spend double/triple the amount of time studying as friends who can actively study.

If you can efficiently study, meaning 2-3 hours of hardcore, active studying-you should have time.

This. You gotta balance work and fun. There are med students that work on airline transport pilot licenses on the side to supplement their medical studies.

 

[abolt18]

It also largely is based on how efficiently you study.

I know of some students who study very poorly, they have music playing, and are passively studying--they have to spend double/triple the amount of time studying as friends who can actively study.

If you can efficiently study, meaning 2-3 hours of hardcore, active studying-you should have time.

I usually listen to music while I study, but it's always classical music, usually piano concertos and whatnot. Nothing with words and nothing that I know enough to get stuck in my head. I find it helps me totally focus on the task at hand without getting distracted by everything around me. Definitely helps me "power" study.

 

[scpod]

For the first two years I taught anatomy and physiology at a nursing school in the evenings for 25 hours a week. But, it was very conducive to studying as I could show a film or have them do group project stuff when I needed some extra time🙂 On the drive back and forth I litened to some famous recorded lectures that have been talked about before.

But, I also graduated from Lecom-B, and four days a week was only at school for two hours. That's a major part of why I picked them.

Still, the bottom line is about time management and the quality of your studying. Some of my classmayes spent 8 to 10 hours a day studying and others spent 3 or 4. You won't know which one you will be until you get there.

 

[hallowmann]

...Still, the bottom line is about time management and the quality of your studying. Some of my classmayes spent 8 to 10 hours a day studying and others spent 3 or 4. You won't know which one you will be until you get there.

This is probably the thing that worries me the most. I want to learn as much as I can, because ultimately I want to both do well and be a good physician, but I honestly can't tell if I could get myself to spend 10 hrs a day of just reading, in addition to sessions and labs. I've gotten kind of used to being able to study and spend a good amount of time with my family.

How was PBL? Was the extra time worth not knowing what to focus on for the test? I've heard many people don't do well on the first few PBL exams because there's so much material and no clear objectives or areas of focus. Is that accurate? (Sorry if I'm derailing the thread, but for me at least its related).

Do you think a non-lecture based curriculum really helped those in your class in terms of being able to spend more time outside of class/studying, while at the same time being able to cover the material?

 

[sylvanthus]

Like others have said, you will have time if you use your study time efficiently. I studied ALOT and still slept 9 hours a night, and completed a mountaineering course which required multiple field trips and summit attempts. Just use your time wisely.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I have similar concerns. I'm hugely into guitar and would love to play in a band during med school, but doubt I would have time. It would be awesome to at least play a few shows here and there.

I am thinking the same as you. I am in a band now an will be going to school kinda close. The problem is practicing though, if you want to sound good you need that rehearsal time. Playing an occasional show would be doable but songwriting/practice might be too much. I am going to try to manage it though myself. Just have to figure out how to study asap when I get to that point.

 

[DrMaximus]

I am thinking the same as you. I am in a band now an will be going to school kinda close. The problem is practicing though, if you want to sound good you need that rehearsal time. Playing an occasional show would be doable but songwriting/practice might be too much. I am going to try to manage it though myself. Just have to figure out how to study asap when I get to that point.

I actually quit my band sophomore year of undergrad due mostly to time issues. I'm impressed that you guys have kept it going. You could probably make it work, your bandmates just really have to understand your time constraints.