Waiting to date until medical school.

[pyrois]

Probably the worst possible title for this thread, but they only give you so many characters!

So here's the question. Who out there, in their last semester of college and currently single, is less inspired than usual to get into a serious relationship?

With people moving all over the place for medical school, it seems as though a relationship now would be just "asking for trouble" as it will be turning into a long-distance relationship come May or August.

Furthermore, who is actually looking forward to meeting new people at medical school. At least at interviews I've found that everybody seems to have quite a bit in common. The medical institutions seem to have quite the knack at drawing together a crowd of people that, while diverse in background, have similar fundamental values.

Perhaps that sort of pre-screening may prove making friends easier in the years ahead...

What think you?

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[jackieMD2007]

I don't know about dating, but I'm looking forward to studying a lot of anatomy in medical school, if you know what I mean. 😉

 

[BeatrixKiddo]

Whatever floats your boat.

 

[jonathon]

When you meet someone you want to be around, then you date them. Don't be one of those fools who thinks you can't date a person during certain times of your life. Who gives a flipping ass if you are an undergraduate, medical student, resident, or whatever you want to call yourself, you date a person when you meet someone you want to be around.

There is no better feeling then being in love!

Probably the worst possible title for this thread, but they only give you so many characters!

So here's the question. Who out there, in their last semester of college and currently single, is less inspired than usual to get into a serious relationship?

With people moving all over the place for medical school, it seems as though a relationship now would be just "asking for trouble" as it will be turning into a long-distance relationship come May or August.

Furthermore, who is actually looking forward to meeting new people at medical school. At least at interviews I've found that everybody seems to have quite a bit in common. The medical institutions seem to have quite the knack at drawing together a crowd of people that, while diverse in background, have similar fundamental values.

Perhaps that sort of pre-screening may prove making friends easier in the years ahead...

What think you?

 

[Mr. Tee]

I don't know about dating, but I'm looking forward to studying a lot of anatomy in medical school, if you know what I mean. 😉

Yeah up close and personal.

 

[BellyDancingDoc]

Probably the worst possible title for this thread, but they only give you so many characters!

So here's the question. Who out there, in their last semester of college and currently single, is less inspired than usual to get into a serious relationship?

With people moving all over the place for medical school, it seems as though a relationship now would be just "asking for trouble" as it will be turning into a long-distance relationship come May or August.

Furthermore, who is actually looking forward to meeting new people at medical school. At least at interviews I've found that everybody seems to have quite a bit in common. The medical institutions seem to have quite the knack at drawing together a crowd of people that, while diverse in background, have similar fundamental values.

Perhaps that sort of pre-screening may prove making friends easier in the years ahead...

What think you?

OP:

Are you someone who has dated/been in relationships in the past, and you now feel like taking a break?

Or are you someone who has never had a SO in your life?

 

[nmarie27]

I am hoping there will be some hot guys in my class!! 🙂

 

[HumbleMD]

When you meet someone you want to be around, then you date them. Don't be one of those fools who thinks you can't date a person during certain times of your life. Who gives a flipping ass if you are an undergraduate, medical student, resident, or whatever you want to call yourself, you date a person when you meet someone you want to be around.

There is no better feeling then being in love!

...Says the person who's clearly in a great relationship.

To OP, I'm a not-too-bitter-single. Yeah, I'm with you that this whole year I wasn't really looking, knowing that I'll be halfway accross the country next year. I think the other motivation is that there aren't really a lot of desirible women at my current undergrad school.

 

[gujuDoc]

When you meet someone you want to be around, then you date them. Don't be one of those fools who thinks you can't date a person during certain times of your life. Who gives a flipping ass if you are an undergraduate, medical student, resident, or whatever you want to call yourself, you date a person when you meet someone you want to be around.

There is no better feeling then being in love!

This post sort of echos my sentiments. Its easy to say you are going to wait to a certain time but when it really comes down to it unless you are getting an arranged marriage, love is not something that happens when you say ok now is the time to look for love. When you find that special person, it often happens when you least expect it to happen and if the relationship is serious and the persons involved are mature enough and emotionally strong enough to deal with everything then things will work themselves out but if not then it won't work together. however life is hard and stress will be there whether its undergrad, med school, residency, work. If you say things like I'm going to wait until such and such you'll find yourself always finding something coming up. But that is my thoughts on this matter.

 

[maestro1625]

...Says the person who's clearly in a great relationship.

To OP, I'm a not-too-bitter-single. Yeah, I'm with you that this whole year I wasn't really looking, knowing that I'll be halfway accross the country next year. I think the other motivation is that there aren't really a lot of desirible women at my current undergrad school.

ah, something about UMich we agree on. 🙂

 

[i'm the map]

the chance - or responsiblity - to go total skank-***** with educated people for a semester is something that probably won't happen again for many. basically, this is your chance to go hook up with the kids with piercings and black nail polish.

 

[armybound]

just make sure they like you before they find out you're going to be a doctor.

don't want to see those $$$$ light up their eyes

 

[HumbleMD]

ah, something about UMich we agree on. 🙂

Oh maestro, I was almost missing your bitterness...

If only we could end up at the same school, then the waiting will all have been worthwile.. 😉

 

[DrMidlife]

Just to be the old fart voice of experience here, there are three reasons to date as much as you can whenever you can:

1. Relationships are hard work, at least some of the time.
2. It's highly recommended to do that work without damaging yourself or your SO, and you probably have to learn how to do that.
3. You can't learn it outside of a relationship.

Oh yeah, 4. You'll be in a profession with a big scary divorce rate, so don't ignore #1.

 

[mychelle774]

When you meet someone you want to be around, then you date them. Don't be one of those fools who thinks you can't date a person during certain times of your life. Who gives a flipping ass if you are an undergraduate, medical student, resident, or whatever you want to call yourself, you date a person when you meet someone you want to be around.

Yeahh but the OP has a very valid point about not choosing to enter serious relationships becuase they may/will have to deal with one person moving and starting a completely different lifestyle. The adjustment to the amount of time required to study in med school already puts enough stress on the individual, not to mention a newly-minted SO. Just isn't fair to the SO who didn't sign up for med school and puts unnecessary burden on the person who did.

That being said, yeah, I'm into dating just before med school. Now's when I have the time, and stumbling across someone who's relationship material is kinda rare for me anyway. But if I did, then talking about my upcoming change would be the reasonable thing to do. If that means the relationship ends, then it's for the best. If we're willing to make it work, then, yay, I have some support to start med school with.

Really you can't control how and when you feel things, only what you decide to do about it next. Do whatever's best for you.

 

[dutchman]

Probably the worst possible title for this thread, but they only give you so many characters!

So here's the question. Who out there, in their last semester of college and currently single, is less inspired than usual to get into a serious relationship?

With people moving all over the place for medical school, it seems as though a relationship now would be just "asking for trouble" as it will be turning into a long-distance relationship come May or August.

Furthermore, who is actually looking forward to meeting new people at medical school. At least at interviews I've found that everybody seems to have quite a bit in common. The medical institutions seem to have quite the knack at drawing together a crowd of people that, while diverse in background, have similar fundamental values.

Perhaps that sort of pre-screening may prove making friends easier in the years ahead...

What think you?

wait till you finish residency.

 

[nmarie27]

[ Who gives a flipping ass if you are an undergraduate, medical student, resident, or whatever you want to call yourself, you date a person when you meet someone you want to be around. ]

I agree!!!

 

[BellyDancingDoc]

the chance - or responsiblity - to go total skank-***** with educated people for a semester is something that probably won't happen again for many. basically, this is your chance to go hook up with the kids with piercings and black nail polish.

OMG, I totally thought I was the only yuppie little pre-med who was always secretly into those scary-yet-hot goth boys. You totally made my day...

 

[dutchman]

I am hoping there will be some hot guys in my class!! 🙂

wont happen. You will have to major in sociology or Physical ed if you want that kind of a thing.

 

[weathertalk]

He who has low standards has many options.

 

[Law2Doc]

Probably the worst possible title for this thread, but they only give you so many characters!

So here's the question. Who out there, in their last semester of college and currently single, is less inspired than usual to get into a serious relationship?

With people moving all over the place for medical school, it seems as though a relationship now would be just "asking for trouble" as it will be turning into a long-distance relationship come May or August.

Furthermore, who is actually looking forward to meeting new people at medical school. At least at interviews I've found that everybody seems to have quite a bit in common. The medical institutions seem to have quite the knack at drawing together a crowd of people that, while diverse in background, have similar fundamental values.

Perhaps that sort of pre-screening may prove making friends easier in the years ahead...

What think you?

Do not put your life on hold expecting there to be a better time for relationships. In med school you will have far less time than in college, and a far higher percentage of your class than college will be married or taken or otherwise totally undatable, so choices will simply not be as extensive.

 

[philios]

if you are truly set on med school i suggest waiting until med school to date. Dating takes up way too much energy and time and its very difficult to succeed in school and romantic life at the same time. For example in my case I got a 3.125 GPA first semester with a girlfriend. We broke up during XMAS break and for the past 2 semesters I have recieved 3.91 GPAs. So in my case, as long as Mrs. Right doesnt come along Im set for the next 2 years.

 

[baylormed]

I don't know about dating, but I'm looking forward to studying a lot of anatomy in medical school, if you know what I mean. 😉

At least that's the version that our parents are getting, right Jackie?

MOM: Where were you last night? I called you and you didn't answer.
ME: Um...I was studying anatomy.
MOM: Oh, okay.

 

[Law2Doc]

if you are truly set on med school i suggest waiting until med school to date. Dating takes up way too much energy and time and its very difficult to succeed in school and romantic life at the same time. For example in my case I got a 3.125 GPA first semester with a girlfriend. We broke up during XMAS break and for the past 2 semesters I have recieved 3.91 GPAs. So in my case, as long as Mrs. Right doesnt come along Im set for the next 2 years.

Um, it's important to do well in med school too though. And much harder.

 

[jackieMD2007]

At least that's the version that our parents are getting, right Jackie?

MOM: Where were you last night? I called you and you didn't answer.
ME: Um...I was studying anatomy.
MOM: Oh, okay.

Yeah! What up BaylorMed! Way to represent. High five!

ME: I was up really late in the anatomy lab mom. Sorry about not calling back!

*But by anatomy lab I don't mean the one with dead people. Haha.

 

[etf]

Yeah! What up BaylorMed! Way to represent. High five!

ME: I was up really late in the anatomy lab mom. Sorry about not calling back!

*But by anatomy lab I don't mean the one with dead people. Haha.

me: i was rounding on my ob/gyn patients.

 

[lilnoelle]

me: i was rounding on my ob/gyn patients.

ummmm.... i'd change that to I was rotating in gyn.
same affect without the creepiness factor.

 

[Law2Doc]

ummmm.... i'd change that to I was rotating in gyn.
same affect without the creepiness factor.

He's entitled to his own fetishes.

 

[jbrice1639]

ummmm.... i'd change that to I was rotating in gyn.
same affect without the creepiness factor.

and child support...

 

[Law2Doc]

and child support...

It's highly unlikely that you would be the source of paternity of any patients you would "see" in OB.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

just make sure they like you before they find out you're going to be a doctor.

don't want to see those $$$$ light up their eyes

Too bad that's the only way I can get any affection. 🙁

Oh yeah, 4. You'll be in a profession with a big scary divorce rate, so don't ignore #1.

I keep seeing this, yet nobody has a source. I agree with the stat, but my school says that doc divorce rates are lower.

 

[mdvargas]

I am hoping there will be some hot guys in my class!! 🙂

OMG, I'm looking forward to that too! I NEVER met/saw any hot guy in my four years of undergraduate. Besides that, I'm exited about making new friends and meeting all kinds of people in med school.

 

[Law2Doc]

OMG, I'm looking forward to that too! I NEVER met/saw any hot guy in my four years of undergraduate.

People don't get better looking the further into schooling you go. It's often the folks who studied while everyone else was on dates or at parties that make it through. 🙄

 

[notdeadyet]

Date early, date often. Romantic relationships are like anything else in life: you get better with practice.

Folks who put off dating for whatever reasons and then think they'll hit the ground running "later" often find themselves lonely and bored.

I'd hate to think of getting married after only a couple years of dating various folks. I'm in a happy marraige with my wife largely because I made most of my stupid mistakes with women that came before her. Emphasis on "most", though, she'd be the first to point out.

 

[Haemulon]

Date early, date often. Romantic relationships are like anything else in life: you get better with practice.

Folks who put off dating for whatever reasons and then think they'll hit the ground running "later" often find themselves lonely and bored.

I'd hate to think of getting married after only a couple years of dating various folks. I'm in a happy marraige with my wife largely because I made most of my stupid mistakes with women that came before her. Emphasis on "most", though, she'd be the first to point out.

I support this post. At no other time in life will most people be together with so many others with so much in common and with so many social freedoms and comaratively few responsibilities and baggage. Take advantage of college life while you can.

 

[NonTradMed]

I agree with the OP that deliberating starting a long distance relationship when you have a short time windown is asking for trouble.

I guess that's because a good friend of mine did just that when she entered college. She met a great guy three weeks before she was leaving the state for college and despite people telling her to 'let it go', she continued with it for two years. She pined for the guy at the expense of her social life (she would insist on going home by 9pm when we went out on the weekends so she could take his call). Unfortunately, she didn't really know the guy until she transferred to his university and found herself isolated and without friends and that he was a total prick. Evidently, how a guy acts when you're thousands of miles away and how he acts when you guys are seeing each other everyday is totally differently.

She later told me that she had sacrificed so much for a guy she didn't know, and that long distance relationship was really tough unless you knew the guy beforehand.

I had a boyfriend whom I met right before his graduation and he left me shortly after we started going out because he didn't want to put up so much effort on such a short relationship. Perhaps it was best, but througout the entire relationship, I felt unsure of where we'd be in the next few months (b/c he wasn't sure where he'd go etc) and it was really painful breaking up. You can't control who you fall in love with but if I had a choice of meeting a great guy and dating him for one short month before having to break up with him and not dating him at all....I'd take the latter.

I guess my feeling is that, if you know you are leaving within a short time period which would not give you the time you need to develop a healthy foundation for a relationship, I suggest not starting something b/c that would just be painful.

Med school *is* harder than college, you have less time for relationships and there are more married/undatable people. However, you are in one place and you have a set schedule so in that way, your life is more stable. It's a tough call, but just from my personal experience, I'd say, only give long distance relationship a try if you know you have time to lay a good foundation for a long distance thing. Otherwise, better to just wait a bit.

 

[mdvargas]

People don't get better looking the further into schooling you go. It's often the folks who studied while everyone else was on dates or at parties that make it through. 🙄

I think you misinterpreted my moment of realization - I meant to say it has been my luck not to have met any hot guys in my classes, that's all.

 

[Haemulon]

NonTradMed,
What you said is good advice. However what ever happened to good old fashioned dating? One does not need to be in a serious relationship to date right? There is no need for commitment and one could date several people casually as long as expectations are clear. In this scenario, there would seem to be nothing wrong with going out with a few people before med school. And the experiences would probably be helpful later on when really trying to settle down with one special someone for a long term relationship. But I can see it either way.

 

[pyrois]

OP:

Are you someone who has dated/been in relationships in the past, and you now feel like taking a break?

Or are you someone who has never had a SO in your life?

The former.

 

[pyrois]

When you meet someone you want to be around, then you date them.

That's so not true.

I have many female friends who I love to hang out with, and I don't date them. Some of them I'm simply not attracted to, and the others who are attractive have qualities that make them good friends, but would make them horrible girlfriends.

I'm sure you know a number of people you like being around (playing pool/tennis/volunteering/cards/lunch in the cafeteria/talking on aim, what have you) that you wouldn't want to date😛

There is no better feeling then being in love!

I'll agree with you on that, but just because you "want to be around" someone doesn't mean you're in love.

 

[NonTradMed]

NonTradMed,
What you said is good advice. However what ever happened to good old fashioned dating? One does not need to be in a serious relationship to date right? There is no need for commitment and one could date several people casually as long as expectations are clear. In this scenario, there would seem to be nothing wrong with going out with a few people before med school. And the experiences would probably be helpful later on when really trying to settle down with one special someone for a long term relationship. But I can see it either way.

That's true. There's nothing wrong with dating just to see what fishes are out there in the sea.

I guess the problem I see is that you can't control who you fall in love with and starting something you know you'd have difficulty finishing (or continuing) seems to be asking for heartbreak.

As I stated before, it's not an easy call, and I think it differs from situation to situation. If you're like my friend who met a great guy 3 weeks before heading out of the state, I'd say ditch the guy and look for someone closer to school. However, if you'll in a relationship for the last year and you leave, long distance is certainly an option b/c you guys have a solid enough foundation to try a separation. But generally, I think people should try to avoid long distance relationships if they can.

 

[pyrois]

Date early, date often. Romantic relationships are like anything else in life: you get better with practice.

I completely agree. I'm not saying "stave off women" for the last semester, but rather (I thought I mentioned this in my first post, but maybe I forgot) I was referring to staying away from "serious" relationships.

Actually, let me be more specific. "serious" relationships are fine, because those are the relationships that, when you go off to timbuktu for medical school, the girl or guy who isn't caught up by some sort of graduate schooling will follow regardless of whether it takes them away from friends or family.

The problem area comes with the fact that one semester is little time to develop a bond that strong and, although possible, is very rare (although if you find a bond like that, definitely go for it, but this thread is for the "normal" couple). Thus, you end up with something that isn't a "serious" relationship insomuch as it is a "semi-serious" relationship. Something where you won't move with each other, abandoning all else to be with each other, but you might try pulling a long-distance relationship with.

Having been in a number of interesting relationships in the past, I find the thought of going through so much anguish and suffering at the end of my college career to be prohibitively terrible to prevent me from wanting to get too serious with anybody.

Perhaps it is just me, but I find that my relationships can quickly escalate to that "semi-serious" level and that break-ups always seem to get me down and out for weeks if not months.

Casual dating, sure. Serious gf/bf stuff... not so sure.

 

[Genetics]

You took what this person said to literal. There is a HUGE difference between dating someone you are interested in getting to know better and being in a serious relationship. THis person was simply stating that if you like a certain person and want to get to know them better, then you can go out on a date. Nobody in this thread has diagreed. It is obvious that the poster who wrote this is older and wiser (in regards to relationships) then you are.

That's so not true.

I have many female friends who I love to hang out with, and I don't date them. Some of them I'm simply not attracted to, and the others who are attractive have qualities that make them good friends, but would make them horrible girlfriends.

I'm sure you know a number of people you like being around (playing pool/tennis/volunteering/cards/lunch in the cafeteria/talking on aim, what have you) that you wouldn't want to date😛




I'll agree with you on that, but just because you "want to be around" someone doesn't mean you're in love.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Long distance relationships can be done. They're great when you are in med school/grad school because having a local relationship means that since you technically have the ability to spend time with them, the significant other (especially if it is a girl) will probably expect it to a certain degree. Not so with long distance relationships - you simply don't have that option!

And yes there are definitely PLENTY of exceptions, especially if your significant other demands you on webcam or phone 24/7. But if that's the case you shouldn't get into long distance with someone whos really needy and demanding in the first place.

Now this setup works EVEN BETTER when both people are in medical school (or at least in grad school) because they will know what you are going through and when you say "I gotta go study for boards I can't talk for more than 5 minutes" THEY DONT CUT YO WANG OFF! Cuz they know what it's like!! And it really helps you macromanage your time - getting lots done on weekdays so you have a weekend here and there to travel.

This doesn't work with needy or demanding people, and it doesn't work for those who like to think alot and make up paranoid situations in their heads about who or what their significant others might be doing. That goes for long distance in general, regardless of whether in school or not.

Its also great because it makes you not take things for granted. Like procreational activity. Or a nice dinner. Or just chilling watching tv together. Etc.

 

[pyrois]

As I stated before, it's not an easy call, and I think it differs from situation to situation. If you're like my friend who met a great guy 3 weeks before heading out of the state, I'd say ditch the guy and look for someone closer to school.

I'm leaning towards your angle on things, because as much as I like to push the concept of love and relationships to something magical and fate-driven, there is a certain degree of utility in a match-up that can push people together, or drive people apart.

Being a romantic, and a believer in fate, I've had to re-adjust my interpretation of where I might one day find my "soulmate."

Originally, due to the influence of the media, I thought whoever I was destined to be with would be the person who would go with me everywhere, abandoning all else to be with me, and the person for whom I would do the same.

As I've become older and seen what the world is really like, I still believe that those fundamental aspects of my future match would be true (that we would sacrifice quite a bit to be with each other). On the other hand, I also think that even though those sentiments will eventually be there, perhaps fate would be more kind so as to allow me to meet someone like that at the end of the tumultuous journey through medical school as opposed to the beginning, from which my partner would be dragged through the entire bumpy ordeal.

And yes, I know that my particular view of the world is still very naive, but I have my personal reasons and experience for thinking it operates upon such a simple model.

 

[pyrois]

Long distance relationships can be done. They're great when you are in med school/grad school because having a local relationship means that since you technically have the ability to spend time with them, the significant other (especially if it is a girl) will probably expect it to a certain degree. Not so with long distance relationships - you simply don't have that option!

And yes there are definitely PLENTY of exceptions, especially if your significant other demands you on webcam or phone 24/7. But if that's the case you shouldn't get into long distance with someone whos really needy and demanding in the first place.

Now this setup works EVEN BETTER when both people are in medical school (or at least in grad school) because they will know what you are going through and when you say "I gotta go study for boards I can't talk for more than 5 minutes" THEY DONT CUT YO WANG OFF! Cuz they know what it's like!! And it really helps you macromanage your time - getting lots done on weekdays so you have a weekend here and there to travel.

This doesn't work with needy or demanding people, and it doesn't work for those who like to think alot and make up paranoid situations in their heads about who or what their significant others might be doing. That goes for long distance in general, regardless of whether in school or not.

Its also great because it makes you not take things for granted. Like procreational activity. Or a nice dinner. Or just chilling watching tv together. Etc.

I absolutely agree. Long distance relationships can work, but in the past I've found that the only long distance relationships that truly work out "to the end" are one in which the people involved spent more time with each other than apart (by that I mean they dated for 4 years in college, then 4 years long distance in graduate school, then met up again afterward, as opposed to 1 semester in college, then try to go for 4 years in graduate school, which is what I was primarily concerned about when I created this thread).

I think the whole "med student dating grad/med student" applies for both local and long-distance relationships. In both cases, they understand that you need to study (this was not so in college between pre-meds/non-pre-meds!). I mean, if your goal in a long-distance relationship is to have someone out there thinking about you and wanting to marry you when you get a chance to be together again, then that's great. Otherwise the long-distance relationship itself is somewhat of an impotent arrangement. No good can come of it unless the ultimate goal is getting together again and getting married.

On that note, I return to the idea that it is not so good to start something in the last semester of college in hopes of getting marreid 4-8 years down the line (after medical school/residency?) after 4-8 years of a long-distance relationship. It seems rather... unlikely.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

I started a relationship in the last semester of senior year college. My chica then ran off to medical school. We've done about a year and a half of long distance after we graduated. It can be done.

Just takes the right people.

 

[pyrois]

You took what this person said to literal. ... THis person was simply stating that if you like a certain person and want to get to know them better, then you can go out on a date.

Well, I actually think he does mean that literally. There are many people out there who get into "serious" relationships (with the intent of getting married) simply because they like being around someone. Being a "romantic" or whatever they call them these days, I try to find a little more.

If the poster did indeed simply mean dating for the sake of "getting to know them better" then that's not even relevant to the thread. Assuming he read the actual post and not just the title of the thread, he would have known I'm referring specifically to starting a "serious relationship."

Nobody in this thread has diagreed.

Well, nobody in the thread had addressed that particular post either.

It is obvious that the poster who wrote this is older and wiser (in regards to relationships) then you are.

To make a statement as blanketing as that based off of less than a paragraph of text from two relatively anonymous individuals on the internet can be the beginning of a long life of pretentious narrow-mindedness.

Sorry for mentioning that, but I'm a huge proponent of stopping these sorts of broad generalizing statements, founded upon a statistically insignificant sampling of information, that seem to spew from the mouths of SDNers (and thus potential/current members of the medical profession) on a minutely basis.

 

[Haemulon]

That's true. There's nothing wrong with dating just to see what fishes are out there in the sea.

I guess the problem I see is that you can't control who you fall in love with and starting something you know you'd have difficulty finishing (or continuing) seems to be asking for heartbreak.

As I stated before, it's not an easy call, and I think it differs from situation to situation. If you're like my friend who met a great guy 3 weeks before heading out of the state, I'd say ditch the guy and look for someone closer to school. However, if you'll in a relationship for the last year and you leave, long distance is certainly an option b/c you guys have a solid enough foundation to try a separation. But generally, I think people should try to avoid long distance relationships if they can.

Agreed. You are right that through casual dating one may end up unexpectedly falling in love. In which case there could very well be a set up for heartache. I'm so glad that I don't have to worry about these things anymore. Dating was a blast, but being married to someone you love is even better.

 

[qtpai]

I've recently come to the conclusion that it is silly to "wait for the next step in my life to date." I am personally going for MD/PhD and tenure at a university eventually, and the fact of the matter is that, while there will be times when my workload is reduced, for the next 20 years, I will have workloads VERY substantially greater than the average person out there, and I will be expected to meet certain standards in my work. With that in mind, I have figured there is no better time than now to try this whole relationship thing out, because it's definitely not getting any easier.

So I now have my first girlfriend, and am trying to see how it works out.