What Bad things could face you as Med Student ?

[Student 1]

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I know how "cool" being a med student but what about the real life , is it so that cool?

 

[Law2Doc]

I know how "cool" being a med student but what about the real life , is it so that cool?

Your patients may be dying, they may be addicted to things, they may need to give up things they love. You run the risk of killing people or making their situations worse. In rare instances you can get exposed to TB, C Diff., and blood borne illnesses. You will see and smell some disgusting things, and won't be allowed to let the patient know anything is wrong from your deadpan expression. And frustration always runs downhill, so you might get verbally abused by folks by virtue of being the low person on the totem pole. So yeah, it's not about being cool most of the time.

 

[EgotiStick]

Being hungover in the OR is a uniquely humbling experience. Not because of nausea or other beer-related smells, but definitely because you can't go #2 for hours (and hours)

 

[ar2388]

Being hungover in the OR is a uniquely humbling experience. Not because of nausea or other beer-related smells, but definitely because you can't go #2 for hours (and hours)

🙁

 

[OveractiveBrain]

I know how "cool" being a med student but what about the real life , is it so that cool?

Medical school, in particular my second year, was the worst experience of my life. I was a super nerd in high school, college was pretty awesome, work in between was alright. Residency rocks hard core. Medical school blew.

You give up hobbies, you give up friendships, you give up doing the things you love. You replace them with hours of work, hours of studying. Not like 1-2 a day. I mean like 12 a day. You get older. Your liver works less well, and hangovers get worse. You drink less. You get fat. You try to stay in shape but Step 1 studying overwhelms you. You get lost in this deep dark pit that consumes your soul. Alot of people struggle. They struggle academically, they struggle mentally, they struggle emotionally.

The rewards are by far worth the cost. But you will realize that you have little autonomy, are the target of abuse from literally everyone (**** rolls downhill, and you are at the bottom with a bucket big enough for about a person and a half), and you will work harder, longer hours than you ever have before.

The rewards have to be in personal satisfcation that your knowledge will, some day, contribute to making someone's life better. The joy of learning knowledge for the sake of learning. Understanding that wasted income, substantial debt, and a life of humility is worth the good you do in the world.

Med school sucked. Third year was fun. Fourth year was chill. Being a doctor (albeit a resident), is AWESOME.

 

[thechad]

You give up hobbies, you give up friendships, you give up doing the things you love. You replace them with hours of work, hours of studying. Not like 1-2 a day. I mean like 12 a day. You get older. Your liver works less well, and hangovers get worse. You drink less. You get fat. You try to stay in shape but Step 1 studying overwhelms you. You get lost in this deep dark pit that consumes your soul. Alot of people struggle. They struggle academically, they struggle mentally, they struggle emotionally.

lol dramatic

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

lol dramatic

👍

 

[xanthomondo]

lol dramatic

Is anything he said untrue?

 

[ArcGurren]

Medical school, in particular my second year, was the worst experience of my life. I was a super nerd in high school, college was pretty awesome, work in between was alright. Residency rocks hard core. Medical school blew.

You give up hobbies, you give up friendships, you give up doing the things you love. You replace them with hours of work, hours of studying. Not like 1-2 a day. I mean like 12 a day. You get older. Your liver works less well, and hangovers get worse. You drink less. You get fat. You try to stay in shape but Step 1 studying overwhelms you. You get lost in this deep dark pit that consumes your soul. Alot of people struggle. They struggle academically, they struggle mentally, they struggle emotionally.

The rewards are by far worth the cost. But you will realize that you have little autonomy, are the target of abuse from literally everyone (**** rolls downhill, and you are at the bottom with a bucket big enough for about a person and a half), and you will work harder, longer hours than you ever have before.

The rewards have to be in personal satisfcation that your knowledge will, some day, contribute to making someone's life better. The joy of learning knowledge for the sake of learning. Understanding that wasted income, substantial debt, and a life of humility is worth the good you do in the world.

Med school sucked. Third year was fun. Fourth year was chill. Being a doctor (albeit a resident), is AWESOME.

All true. On the bright side if you really want to, you make close friends who last a lifetime and you enjoy what you're learning more than the crap that you were forced to learn in college because of prereqs and arts requirements and such.

 

[Perrotfish]

Is anything he said untrue?

"third year was fun"

 

[thechad]

Is anything he said untrue?

Yes, quite a few things. I will only comment in the things I quoted, for the sake of time.

You give up hobbies,

I still played videogames, played golf, worked out, read for fun, etc. Most people do still things that they enjoy. Now I'm not a professional golfer or anything, so yeah, med school did limit my time on the course a little, but no more than working a full time job did.

you give up friendships,

Only if you want to. Since I moved away, I was no longer 15 minutes down the street from various friends, but you have phones, email, facebook, and so on and so forth to keep in touch.

you give up doing the things you love.

Again, only if you want to.

You replace them with hours of work, hours of studying. Not like 1-2 a day. I mean like 12 a day.

Nobody studies 12 hours a day every single day, and if they say they do, they're probably lying. Yeah, you study a ****load, but not that much everyday.

You get older.

No ****.

Your liver works less well

Source?

, and hangovers get worse.

Source?

You drink less.

Source?

You get fat.

Maybe you mean, "I got fat."

You try to stay in shape but Step 1 studying overwhelms you. You get lost in this deep dark pit that consumes your soul.

Consumes my soul? Damn, last time I heard that was in Army of Darkness. And Step 1 is nothing like facing an army of the undead.


So, there are the many instances that he was wrong. There are others, but I won't be covering them in this post. I hope I answered you question sufficiently.

 

[thechad]

Also, for those of you who worked full time during undergrad, med school will not be that much of a change.

 

[obgyny]

Medical school, in particular my second year, was the worst experience of my life. I was a super nerd in high school, college was pretty awesome, work in between was alright. Residency rocks hard core. Medical school blew.

You give up hobbies, you give up friendships, you give up doing the things you love. You replace them with hours of work, hours of studying. Not like 1-2 a day. I mean like 12 a day. You get older. Your liver works less well, and hangovers get worse. You drink less. You get fat. You try to stay in shape but Step 1 studying overwhelms you. You get lost in this deep dark pit that consumes your soul. Alot of people struggle. They struggle academically, they struggle mentally, they struggle emotionally.

The rewards are by far worth the cost. But you will realize that you have little autonomy, are the target of abuse from literally everyone (**** rolls downhill, and you are at the bottom with a bucket big enough for about a person and a half), and you will work harder, longer hours than you ever have before.

The rewards have to be in personal satisfcation that your knowledge will, some day, contribute to making someone's life better. The joy of learning knowledge for the sake of learning. Understanding that wasted income, substantial debt, and a life of humility is worth the good you do in the world.

Med school sucked. Third year was fun. Fourth year was chill. Being a doctor (albeit a resident), is AWESOME.

Just curious, which specialty are you in? 🙂

 

[OpalOnyx]

exams every month and a little something at the end of year 2 😉

 

[GulDahntay]

Also, for those of you who worked full time during undergrad, med school will not be that much of a change.

Absolutely false. I worked full time while in undergrad. It was hard, but it cannot compare to what med school (1st and 2nd year ... as those are the only ones I have experience with so far) is like.

Med school is difficult because you have to go to sleep each night knowing that if you want to quit, you will have enough debt to make the rest of your life a living hell.

A friend of mine nearly dropped out after the first year. He decided to buy a 45 ACP Kimber before the summer. This guy has never been into guns, so I asked him about it. He said that if he were to quit, his whole life would be ruined, so he wanted to have a way to end his life quickly should he decide to really drop out of school.

 

[betsywetsy]

Absolutely false. I worked full time while in undergrad. It was hard, but it cannot compare to what med school (1st and 2nd year ... as those are the only ones I have experience with so far) is like.

Med school is difficult because you have to go to sleep each night knowing that if you want to quit, you will have enough debt to make the rest of your life a living hell.

A friend of mine nearly dropped out after the first year. He decided to buy a 45 ACP Kimber before the summer. This guy has never been into guns, so I asked him about it. He said that if he were to quit, his whole life would be ruined, so he wanted to have a way to end his life quickly should he decide to really drop out of school.

 

[VenusinFurs]

Either 80% of you need a dose of perspective or I'm going to be seriously ****ty as a doctor.

 

[thechad]

Props for AVGN.

But seriously, med school is not half as hard as people (on SDN) make it out to be.

 

[VenusinFurs]

Oh, I'm pretty sure third year is going to plow me. But people are definitely making way toooo big a deal about the basic science BS years.

 

[GulDahntay]

Props for AVGN.

But seriously, med school is not half as hard as people (on SDN) make it out to be.

I had to look up what AVGN is. I thought that video thing was of betsywetsy himself.

You and I clearly see things through a different set of lens. I doubt we'll ever agree on what the med school experience is like. Both of our opinions are important to the average pre-med who wants to know what it's really like.

Have there been good moments during my two years in med school? Absolutely. But there have been far too many "what in god's name did I do to deserve this cruel and unusual punishment?" moments. Overall, I'd say that the first two years have been the worst of my life. And I'm not someone who is a stranger to hardship. I have seen and been through things that I would not wish on my worst enemies.

I only wish I could have run into more med students like myself when I was applying. I wish I could have known just how much sacrifice it would take to earn those two letters after my name.

 

[VenusinFurs]

Hmmm. I've had a super sheltered life. I wonder if that's what makes the difference.

 

[DrYoda]

Also, for those of you who worked full time during undergrad, med school will not be that much of a change.

In my experience this is true (and same for everything else thechad has said).

I've been waiting years now to experience the horror that people make med school out to be, and it just hasn't happened. At this point I'm convinced it's not coming.

Even the legendary step I study period was alright; I only had to set my alarm once in a two month period, worked out 5+ days a week and had the flexibility to visit out of town friends.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

A friend of mine nearly dropped out after the first year. He decided to buy a 45 ACP Kimber before the summer. This guy has never been into guns, so I asked him about it. He said that if he were to quit, his whole life would be ruined, so he wanted to have a way to end his life quickly should he decide to really drop out of school.

For somebody so concerned about loans a .45 Kimber is a pretty expensive gun to off yourself with. A piece of crap Hi-Point would be the way to go for the money conscious.

 

[medstud87]

Oh, I'm pretty sure third year is going to plow me. But people are definitely making way toooo big a deal about the basic science BS years.

If you pace yourself properly, basic sciences (M1 at least) are not bad at all. I always think of each test as a big race coming up (I was a track runner in college). You must peak perfectly the day of the test. That means, do not overwork yourself early on in the block. Get the big picture, workout, enjoy yourself, and intensify your studying as the test day approaches. Rest well the night before the exam if you please (I usually get 3-4 hours of sleep, however, because I like to skim through all the material the day before as a final overview). Coffee, its a hell of a drug.

The first week of the block I'd be studying lightly, working out, going to bars/such, and chilling with the 'homegirl'. Closer to the test, I'd be going a little harder, but I'd still be able to go out to a bar/club the weekend before the test week if I desired to and do very well on the exam. All of this because I learned to pace myself properly and realized a study strategy that worked for me. I do not even consider myself all that smart.

With M2 coming up I know I'll be sacrificing a lot more of myself. I'll have to give up a good chunk of my social life, but not working out as thats truly the only thing that keeps me sane (something I can do on my own time and relieves stress). Can't turn into a fat slob.

All in all, if you truly enjoy and are intrigued by medicine and the inter-workings of the human body, med school should not ruin your life.

 

[GulDahntay]

For somebody so concerned about loans a .45 Kimber is a pretty expensive gun to off yourself with. A piece of crap Hi-Point would be the way to go for the money conscious.

I agree. It's actually my fault. He asked me to recommend a large caliber pistol. That's the first piece that came to mind.

 

[xanthomondo]

Yes, quite a few things. I will only comment in the things I quoted, for the sake of time.



I still played videogames, played golf, worked out, read for fun, etc. Most people do still things that they enjoy. Now I'm not a professional golfer or anything, so yeah, med school did limit my time on the course a little, but no more than working a full time job did.



Only if you want to. Since I moved away, I was no longer 15 minutes down the street from various friends, but you have phones, email, facebook, and so on and so forth to keep in touch.



Again, only if you want to.



Nobody studies 12 hours a day every single day, and if they say they do, they're probably lying. Yeah, you study a ****load, but not that much everyday.

.

He never said that he studies 12 hours everyday. But there were a lot of days that I had to study 12 hours per day.

You even admit that med school limited your time on the golf course - so technically isn't that you giving something up?

I used to golf multiple times per week before med school - during med school there was no way I could do it that often (due to both time and money constraints). Isn't that me giving up my weekly golf trip?

With the friendships... "keeping in touch" does not equal maintaining them. I tried staying close with texts/facebook/whatever but after a while if you don't hangout the friendship isn't the same.


Whether or not you find medical school difficult/draining/requiring that you give up hobbies (especially the first two years) really depends on what your background is.

If before med school you spent two years doing a post-bac program (where you took med school classes) of course you're going to have an easier time.

Whether or not you're a pass fail school matters, what specialty you're planning on going into matters...there's just too many variables for someone to generalize that "it's much easier than youre making it out to be!"

Someone I'm rotating with now said that while in medical school he was able to golf more often than ever in his life before. I asked how that was possible and he said that his family joined a country club so he plays for free.

 

[xanthomondo]

Also this is what my MS1 test schedule looked like:

8/19 – SAC
8/30- Aud A, A1

9/8 Lab B 9/8 – Aud A, Lab B
9/10 - SAC
9/27 – Aud A, A1

10/5 – Aud A, A1
10/12 – Lab A, 10/12 – Aud A
10/19 – Aud A, A1
10/27 – SAC
10/29 – SAC

11/2 – Lab B, 11/2 – Aud A
11/11 – Aud A, A1
11/23 - Aud A, A1
11/17 – Aud A , 11/17 – Lab B

12/6 – Aud A
12/13 – SAC
12/15 – SAC
12/17 – Aud A, 12/17 – Lab A
12/20 – SAC

1/7 – Aud A, A1
1/13 – Aud A, A1
1/27 – Aud A, A1

2/3 – SAC
2/4 - SAC
2/7 – SAC
2/9 – Lab B, 2/9 – Aud A
2/14 - SAC (biochem final)
2/17 – Aud A, A1
2/22 – Aud A

3/7 – Aud A, A1
3/9 – Aud A, Lab B, 3/9 – Lab B
3/14 – SAC
3/21 – Aud A, A1
3/25 – SAC

4/14 – Lab A, 4/14 – Aud A
4/18 – Aud A, A1
4/20 – SAC, 4/20 – SAC

5/2 – SAC
5/12 – Lab A, 5/12– Aud A
5/16 – SAC, 5/16
5/17 – SAC
5/25 – SAC
5/27 - SAC 5/27 - SAC

(double dates usually means a lab practical was involved)

I'm not really the brightest guy out there - so this required me to do a wholllee lot of cramming/studying between exams. If you were able to golf and workout 5x/week throughout a year like this - props to you 👍

 

[Depakote]

Your patients may be dying, they may be addicted to things, they may need to give up things they love. You run the risk of killing people or making their situations worse. In rare instances you can get exposed to TB, C Diff., and blood borne illnesses. You will see and smell some disgusting things, and won't be allowed to let the patient know anything is wrong from your deadpan expression. And frustration always runs downhill, so you might get verbally abused by folks by virtue of being the low person on the totem pole. So yeah, it's not about being cool most of the time.

I know a few people who got needle sticks before the time they graduated.

 

[SouthernCross]

OP,

Anecdotal evidence: I've been very happy with medical school (current MS4). Just enjoy the experience and take time to have fun when you need it.

More generalized evidence: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp058183 You'll see that depression in Med School is widespread for a number of reasons, but I think its mostly because we are all used to being smart and in control--and nothing could make you feel more lost than struggling to learn a complex field surrounded by people just as accomplished as you. No matter the stress level or how much you feel like you "have to do", just remember you're not really responsible for patient care while in school. Its about EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE for you.

 

[Sheldor]

Just a quick note as I don't junk anyone has mentioned it. Two things contribute to the spectrum of study schedules you see on threads like these.

1. How smart you are. Less smart = more studying.

2. How well you want to do. If you go to a p/f school or are okay with a good mix of b's and c's then that's different. I could have studied and gone to class from 8 to 3 if I was okay with just passing.

So make sure you consider your gifts and goals as you analyze all of these study schedules!

 

[jdh71]

I'm one of those guys who liked medical school. I didn't think it was some sort of life ending experience. There were some days where it was wake up, study all (almost all) waking hours and then go back to sleep, but that wasn't my normal day at all. Of course, where I went, each quarter every class had one midterm and one final, so you had some goof off time after each test cycle before you needed to pick up the ball and run again. I thought it was a pretty sane way to test. Only my surgery rotation 3rd year was almost unbearable, everything else was pretty cool.

 

[thechad]

He never said that he studies 12 hours everyday. But there were a lot of days that I had to study 12 hours per day.

You even admit that med school limited your time on the golf course - so technically isn't that you giving something up?

I used to golf multiple times per week before med school - during med school there was no way I could do it that often (due to both time and money constraints). Isn't that me giving up my weekly golf trip?

With the friendships... "keeping in touch" does not equal maintaining them. I tried staying close with texts/facebook/whatever but after a while if you don't hangout the friendship isn't the same.


Whether or not you find medical school difficult/draining/requiring that you give up hobbies (especially the first two years) really depends on what your background is.

If before med school you spent two years doing a post-bac program (where you took med school classes) of course you're going to have an easier time.

Whether or not you're a pass fail school matters, what specialty you're planning on going into matters...there's just too many variables for someone to generalize that "it's much easier than youre making it out to be!"

Someone I'm rotating with now said that while in medical school he was able to golf more often than ever in his life before. I asked how that was possible and he said that his family joined a country club so he plays for free.

Ok, I went from golfing 3x/wk to 1x/wk, I wouldn't consider that giving it up (although I guess I give it up every winter, regardless of whether or not I'm in medical school). I still game frequently and have found time to workout on a regular schedule. I hate the people who sell the whole, "Med school is nothing but doom and gloom," nonsense.

And yeah, I am no longer able to keep in touch with my 60 closest friends from back home, but I do talk to and visit a select few on a regular basis, and they do the same.

As Sheldor mentioned, med school is different for different people.

Also, nobody cares about your schedule that you posted.

 

[JimmyChitwood]

So much love on here. Now I know why none of my friends were pre-med in undergrad and why 60% of my class sucks.

 

[jdh71]

So much love on here. Now I know why none of my friends were pre-med in undergrad and why 60% of my class sucks.

first post I read today and probably the BEST 👍

 

[ArcGurren]

so much love on here. Now i know why none of my friends were pre-med in undergrad and why 60% of my class sucks.

+2000

 

[GulDahntay]

I recently got a message that more or less accuses me of being a horrible person who is enabling a friend's potential suicide. The person also told me that because of this, I do not belong in the medical field.

Let me make this clear:

1. I simply gave advice on a matter that I have experience on. I never told my friend to go kill himself. I will not be facing any legal problems because of the advice I have given.

2. Yes, I do care about my friend. Do I wish for his death? No. Do I wish for him to live? Yes. Will I step in and force him to seek help (by ratting him out to the school's admins ... and possibly ending his medical career)? No.

I'll listen to him and talk to him as a friend. But I do not believe in interfering with his free will. He's an adult capable of making his own decisions.

That is all.

 

[Dial71]

I recently got a message that more or less accuses me of being a horrible person who is enabling a friend's potential suicide. The person also told me that because of this, I do not belong in the medical field.

Let me make this clear:

1. I simply gave advice on a matter that I have experience on. I never told my friend to go kill himself. I will not be facing any legal problems because of the advice I have given.

2. Yes, I do care about my friend. Do I wish for his death? No. Do I wish for him to live? Yes. Will I step in and force him to seek help (by ratting him out to the school's admins ... and possibly ending his medical career)? No.

I'll listen to him and talk to him as a friend. But I do not believe in interfering with his free will. He's an adult capable of making his own decisions.

That is all.

While suicide is a serious matter and GulDahntay's actions (if true) are pretty screwed-up, it's kinda funny that the situation described here is nearly identical to the dilemma that's presented in most Intro to Philosophy classes.

You know, it's the one where your friend hands you a box for safekeeping and you find out that it contains a gun. Then he tells you that he is considering suicide and might want the box back.

Hmmm, on second thought, I'm calling troll on this one.

 

[Mattabet]

What Bad things could face you as Med Student ?

Dementors.

 

[Maalik Ashtaar]

My experience with medical school is that it is what you make it.
I was exempted from some classes first year but I still hated first year and found it pretty consuming despite the fact that I had monthly trips to meet my out of state girlfriend. I would many times wake up with a feeling of f*** my life and wonder why I signed up for this.
Second year of medical school I enjoyed a lot more, I started playing videogames again (ME2 FTW), worked out some, watched TV, did good to pretty good in my classes [we were pass/fail], I studied maybe 8 hrs or so if you include attending lecture.
The only major stumbling block was Step 1 were I really started to question my self and wonder why I had made this terrible mistake again. And even after subconciously sabotaging myself during my step 1 exam I still ended up with a decent score [225] and I'm already a block into 3rd year.
So even from someone who didn't "really" want to be a doctor, I'd say my attitude had more to do with how I enjoyed my school then anything else.
I will say that I have had to cut back some of the time I'm able to converse with family and friends but I still call my mom every week.
So I'll say this it is what you make it, but sacrifices will be made

 

[GulDahntay]

While suicide is a serious matter and GulDahntay's actions (if true) are pretty screwed-up....

Why? Again, I want to reiterate that I simply gave advice. I did nothing illegal.

I'd actually prefer to hear more about that philosophy class case as well as your opinion of the matter. But if it makes you feel better to simply call me a troll, go nuts!

 

[gujuDoc]

In my experience this is true (and same for everything else thechad has said).

I've been waiting years now to experience the horror that people make med school out to be, and it just hasn't happened. At this point I'm convinced it's not coming.

Even the legendary step I study period was alright; I only had to set my alarm once in a two month period, worked out 5+ days a week and had the flexibility to visit out of town friends.

I think it is dependent ona person. But I think everyone should try to keep things in perspective and keep 1 hour to themselves to relax or workout or do something other then school. You can make the time to workout if u really want it that bad even with all the hours of studying.

But some people get stressed all the time more easily then others so I've come to learn in the past.

 

[PostHaste]

He never said that he studies 12 hours everyday. But there were a lot of days that I had to study 12 hours per day.

You even admit that med school limited your time on the golf course - so technically isn't that you giving something up?

I used to golf multiple times per week before med school - during med school there was no way I could do it that often (due to both time and money constraints). Isn't that me giving up my weekly golf trip?

With the friendships... "keeping in touch" does not equal maintaining them. I tried staying close with texts/facebook/whatever but after a while if you don't hangout the friendship isn't the same.


Whether or not you find medical school difficult/draining/requiring that you give up hobbies (especially the first two years) really depends on what your background is.

If before med school you spent two years doing a post-bac program (where you took med school classes) of course you're going to have an easier time.

Yeah, this is called growing up. Most people who get a job after college go through the same thing. You work long hours, you relocate to find a good job, your hobbies become answering emails at 8:30 at night. Ask any grown up in a professional position; I'd guess the VAST majority had to cut back on their golf time when they got a job.

College is not the real world. Comparing your life now, whether in med school or a job, to what you did in college is like comparing college to high school. Totally pointless.

 

[gujuDoc]

Yeah, this is called growing up. Most people who get a job after college go through the same thing. You work long hours, you relocate to find a good job, your hobbies become answering emails at 8:30 at night. Ask any grown up in a professional position; I'd guess the VAST majority had to cut back on their golf time when they got a job.

College is not the real world. Comparing your life now, whether in med school or a job, to what you did in college is like comparing college to high school. Totally pointless.

👍👍

 

[deleted192690]

Absolutely false. I worked full time while in undergrad. It was hard, but it cannot compare to what med school (1st and 2nd year ... as those are the only ones I have experience with so far) is like.

Med school is difficult because you have to go to sleep each night knowing that if you want to quit, you will have enough debt to make the rest of your life a living hell.

A friend of mine nearly dropped out after the first year. He decided to buy a 45 ACP Kimber before the summer. This guy has never been into guns, so I asked him about it. He said that if he were to quit, his whole life would be ruined, so he wanted to have a way to end his life quickly should he decide to really drop out of school.

I don't know about you, but when I worked full time and went to school, it was way harder than the first two years of med school. First two years of med school, i actually got to SLEEP. Best of all, I loved not having to answer to anyone except to perhaps myself.

In all truthfulness though, as difficult as med school is (personally I'm prob. the dumbest in our class), I still thought it was much more manageable than expected. Plus, it's school. At least you get to learn stuff, which imho is a privilege (some people can't go to school even if they wanted to, not to be preachy or anything). 🙂

 

[badasshairday]

Medical school isn't that bad. I'm a 4th year, b****s! Woot woot!

 

[DKTacts]

Comparing your life now, whether in med school or a job, to what you did in college is like comparing college to high school. Totally pointless.

Not the best analogy. High school and college are at least comparable. College vs. real life - f*** that.

 

[seelee]

So, I am an M3, one month into my iMed rotation. I am in the top half of the class, I got a 233 on the step.

I honestly can't identify with the despair and gloom on some of these posts. Medical school is hard, there are days I don't want to study or go to lecture, but show me any job where you love every second of it?

The fact is that, even though there are ****ty days, and there are things about medical school that suck, but overall I am glad I am here. I enjoy learning about medicine. I enjoy seeing my skills and knowledge base develop. Yeah, the first two years were rough, but I wouldn't be able to handle third year without the knowledge base I acquired during those first two years.

I do think that where you go makes a huge difference. I am at a school and a hospital that is known for its low degree of malignancy. Attendings, residents, and even interns are eager to teach. There is not a lot of cynicism, and most people like their job.

I think it also makes a difference on how you view medicine. If you view medicine as a calling, as a sacred venture, then there is a good chance that the long hours, the rambling lectures, the insanely irrelevant tests, the pissy attendings, etc will likely wear you down and make you question your place here. On the other hand, if you view medicine as it is, a job, then you will understand that those things are just a part of life and you will cope easier.

Also, being married with kids grounds me and gives me a support structure.

 

[cowme]

Med school was pretty awesome 1, 2 and 4th years.

3rd year I friggin hated. You have absolutely no idea what you are doing what you start, the residents and attendings hate you because you slow them down, yet you are constantly trying to impress them by being super-interested in watching them I+D that peri-rectal abscess. Even if you feel like you are actually helping people by the end of the year, you realize you are not since you aren't allowed to place so much as a low dose aspirin order in the computer. You are asked to hold two tiny forks to gentle retraction over a neck incision for 17 hours, yet stand as far away from the surgical field as possible. You strain over finding the best way to ask way to ask to leave "is there anything else I can help you with?" ...just praying that the answer will not be yes. You are working resident hours and studying at home as much as possible, while barely sleeping.

Intern year so far has been much, much, much better.