What do y'all do while you wait?

[UrshumMurshum]

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After you finish your secondaries, what do you do while you wait?

I've already graduated, I'm only working part time (<20 hours/week) and I have pretty much nothing to do.

What things are y'all doing? Or I guess most everyone is just using SDN as they wait.

 

[The kitchen sink]

After you finish your secondaries, what do you do while you wait?

I've already graduated, I'm only working part time (<20 hours/week) and I have pretty much nothing to do.

What things are y'all doing? Or I guess most everyone is just using SDN as they wait.

Dude, enjoy your summer. That's what I did before MS-1. Don't open a book or anything. Just study hard and stay on top of your stuff once your there.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Catching up on shows, starting new shows, reading new books, current events, research manuscript writing, and the list goes on.

 

[Bnmakr1]

Trying to get some overtime, reading, and ps3. I don't know what to do with myself. I have to keep my cell phone in the other room so I don't check my email every 5 minutes.

 

[DolFAN]

Try enjoying life?

Go out, explore stuff around your city. Sign up to groupon/living social and do a bunch of fun things. Read some books, watch some TV shows.

 

[MedicMike13]

buy a boat... all of your time will be spent either having fun or spending your money, both are pretty good for taking your mind off applications

 

[MedPR]

After you finish your secondaries, what do you do while you wait?

I've already graduated, I'm only working part time (<20 hours/week) and I have pretty much nothing to do.

What things are y'all doing? Or I guess most everyone is just using SDN as they wait.

Lets see:

Work 40 hours/week
Taking a couple of classes
Volunteering
Trying to read some books to talk about during interviews
About to start tutoring
Spending time with my girlfriend

 

[psychkub]

Work
Shadow
Volunteer
Prepare for interviews by working on solid responses for most commonly asked questions.

 

[HalfListic]

Lets see:

Work 40 hours/week
Taking a couple of classes
Volunteering
Trying to read some books to talk about during interviews
About to start tutoring
Spending time with my girlfriend

Im also, working, classing, volunteering, reading, tutoring....and spending time with MedPR's girlfriend.

Hope this helps 👍

 

[NeuroLAX]

Im also, working, classing, volunteering, reading, tutoring....and spending time with MedPR's girlfriend.

Hope this helps 👍

Damn I forgot to add that. What shift do you take, mornings or afternoons? 😉

 

[HalfListic]

Damn I forgot to add that. What shift do you take, mornings or afternoons? 😉

Kinda depends on PR's schedule...

 

[MedPR]

Im also, working, classing, volunteering, reading, tutoring....and spending time with MedPR's girlfriend.

Hope this helps 👍

Damn I forgot to add that. What shift do you take, mornings or afternoons? 😉

Kinda depends on PR's schedule...

So that's why I found an extra-small condom wrapper in our apartment...

 

[HalfListic]

So that's why I found an extra-small condom wrapper in our apartment...

haha

 

[NeuroLAX]

.

 

[rzoo14]

🙂

no problem dude.

 

[HalfListic]

 

[DrMaximus]

I have to keep my cell phone in the other room so I don't check my email every 5 minutes.

This was me.

And it looks like things have gotten a little out of hand above... 🙄

But all these guys are right. Kill time doing things that you won't have time for in med school.

 

[dntke1518]

buy a boat... all of your time will be spent either having fun or spending your money, both are pretty good for taking your mind off applications

I bought a boat my sophomore year of undergrad... I definitely have no regrets, though sometimes fixing things or making little tweaks can be a pain.

 

[MedPR]

This was me.

And it looks like things have gotten a little out of hand above... 🙄

But all these guys are right. Kill time doing things that you won't have time for in med school.

Everytime my phone vibrates I hope it's an interview invite.

Every morning when I wake up I anxiously check my phone for email interview invites.

No luck yet 🙁

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Everytime my phone vibrates I hope it's an interview invite.

Every morning when I wake up I anxiously check my phone for email interview invites.

No luck yet 🙁

I feel your pain man. I think last season the first reported invites that came out were for LECOM-B, then NOVA at around early August. I think CCOM/AZCOM interviews came out around mid august, so you got some time.

 

[HalfListic]

Me too!

I actually got had a call on my phone a whole back and the call ID read Pomona. I got a little excited since I dot know anyone from Pomona, except westernU...

Turned out, they just wanted to double check my campus preference. Boo.

 

[DrMaximus]

Everytime my phone vibrates I hope it's an interview invite.

Every morning when I wake up I anxiously check my phone for email interview invites.

No luck yet 🙁

It'll happen. The wait sucks, but it's totally worth it when you get that notification.

 

[MedPR]

I feel your pain man. I think last season the first reported invites that came out were for LECOM-B, then NOVA at around early August. I think CCOM/AZCOM interviews came out around mid august, so you got some time.

It'll happen. The wait sucks, but it's totally worth it when you get that notification.

I hope so. At this point I might even be happy with a rejection notification. Since the initial rush of secondaries passed, I haven't gotten much of anything and the waiting is killing me. I hope I don't have to go through all this again next year.

 

[HalfListic]

I've posted this before, but I've also been doing some photography and videography... Pretty cool stuff.


I've been hired a few time for photo shoots (mostly families) but I like video more.

Passes the time too...

 

[NeuroLAX]

I hope so. At this point I might even be happy with a rejection notification. Since the initial rush of secondaries passed, I haven't gotten much of anything and the waiting is killing me. I hope I don't have to go through all this again next year.

Oh I remember wanting at least a rejection letter. Some schools strung me along until the very end (like Colorado). Other schools are decent enough. Yet others wait until days/weeks after they are done interviewing to let you know that you're no longer being considered. It's like... um, thanks? I got that already... You have a solid MCAT, dude.. I'm confident that you'll get in somewhere. Now that the initial rush of secondaries has passed, try to get your mind off of it. I know it's easier said than done, but try.

I've posted this before, but I've also been doing some photography and videography... Pretty cool stuff.


I've been hired a few time for photo shoots (mostly families) but I mostly like video

Sounds like a pretty sweet gig. How much are people willing to spend on some nice photography?

 

[psychgirrrl]

Taking Biochem, starting an internship, seeing friends I never see, spending time with family from abroad, dancing my bootay off and checking my e-mail every 5 seconds to see if a school has sent me a love letter. It will happen It will happen

 

[DrMaximus]

I hope so. At this point I might even be happy with a rejection notification. Since the initial rush of secondaries passed, I haven't gotten much of anything and the waiting is killing me. I hope I don't have to go through all this again next year.

The wait is definitely what feels killer.

Oh I remember wanting at least a rejection letter. Some schools strung me along until the very end (like Colorado). Other schools are decent enough. Yet others wait until days/weeks after they are done interviewing to let you know that you're no longer being considered. It's like... um, thanks? I got that already...

And this happened to me, too. I got a rejection from a school I think in May that I submitted my secondary to in September.

 

[MedPR]

Oh I remember wanting at least a rejection letter. Some schools strung me along until the very end (like Colorado). Other schools are decent enough. Yet others wait until days/weeks after they are done interviewing to let you know that you're no longer being considered. It's like... um, thanks? I got that already... You have a solid MCAT, dude.. I'm confident that you'll get in somewhere. Now that the initial rush of secondaries has passed, try to get your mind off of it. I know it's easier said than done, but try.



Sounds like a pretty sweet gig. How much are people willing to spend on some nice photography?

The wait is definitely what feels killer.



And this happened to me, too. I got a rejection from a school I think in May that I submitted my secondary to in September.

Glad I'm not the only one. Just picked up a second job (tutoring) for the Fall and Spring semester. It pays minimum wage though.. lame.

 

[HalfListic]

Sounds like a pretty sweet gig. How much are people willing to spend on some nice photography?

For me, $100 and they get every photo and rights to them etc. If you've looked into pros nowadays, several hundred for an hour and you only get prints unless you want to pay extra for digitals that usually have a water mark...crazy stuff

 

[Ost3oclast]

I hate waiting. I also hate the thought of a waitlist :/ working doesnt help me take my mind off things I just watch netflix and surf sdn all day....

 

[NeuroLAX]

Glad I'm not the only one. Just picked up a second job (tutoring) for the Fall and Spring semester. It pays minimum wage though.. lame.

Yeah minimum wage is no fun. At least it is something you can put on your applications and secondaries!

For me, $100 and they get every photo and rights to them etc. If you've looked into pros nowadays, several hundred for an hour and you only get prints unless you want to pay extra for digitals that usually have a water mark...crazy stuff

Good deal 👍 My buddy does weddings and can charge up to 2k. I like to think I'm an OK-ish photographer with cameras < $300, but it has never been a hobby and I certainly don't have the skills to operate an expensive camera.

I hate waiting. I also hate the thought of a waitlist :/ working doesnt help me take my mind off things I just watch netflix and surf sdn all day....

Now that my application cycle is coming to a close I am on SDN allll the time. I might hit 800 posts before Monday (Orientation).

 

[MedPR]

Yeah minimum wage is no fun. At least it is something you can put on your applications and secondaries!



Good deal 👍 My buddy does weddings and can charge up to 2k. I like to think I'm an OK-ish photographer with cameras < $300, but it has never been a hobby and I certainly don't have the skills to operate an expensive camera.



Now that my application cycle is coming to a close I am on SDN allll the time. I might hit 800 posts before Monday (Orientation).

Yea that's probably about 60% of the reason I'm doing it. I could probably get a better paying job, but it wouldn't be useful to my application. I considered researching more, but the scheduling wouldn't be as flexible. It's hard to find a second job when I'm already in school, working 40 hours at one job, and trying to volunteer at the same time.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Yea that's probably about 60% of the reason I'm doing it. I could probably get a better paying job, but it wouldn't be useful to my application. I considered researching more, but the scheduling wouldn't be as flexible. It's hard to find a second job when I'm already in school, working 40 hours at one job, and trying to volunteer at the same time.

Yeah dude you have quite a bit of activities on your plate. Do you and your gf live together?

Research is extremely time consuming if you want to get anything substantial out of it. The scheduling is rough, especially if you are trying to fit volunteer hours in during the week. I found myself kinda pinned down by research and wasn't really able to squeeze a whole lot else into my schedule. But I can't complain, I've learned A LOT and have my name on a few publications... so I consider it time well invested.

 

[nicolemsm]

Yeah dude you have quite a bit of activities on your plate. Do you and your gf live together?

Research is extremely time consuming if you want to get anything substantial out of it. The scheduling is rough, especially if you are trying to fit volunteer hours in during the week. I found myself kinda pinned down by research and wasn't really able to squeeze a whole lot else into my schedule. But I can't complain, I've learned A LOT and have my name on a few publications... so I consider it time well invested.

research is very time consuming, but it's always worth the extra time investment in the end when the researcher smiles at you b/c you've produced phenomenal results (as the only undergrad working in the lab comparable to a post doctoral fellow's work!)

it's funny how 20hours in the lab in reality turns into 30/40 ++


i've been looking for another job, but don't know how i'd ever fit it in with multiple ECs, volunteering at two hospitals, working in the lab, TAing and trying to manage my studies. after reading this thread, i'm glad to not be the only neurotic pre-med who doesn't know what to do with their 'free' time.

 

[MedPR]

Yeah dude you have quite a bit of activities on your plate. Do you and your gf live together?

Research is extremely time consuming if you want to get anything substantial out of it. The scheduling is rough, especially if you are trying to fit volunteer hours in during the week. I found myself kinda pinned down by research and wasn't really able to squeeze a whole lot else into my schedule. But I can't complain, I've learned A LOT and have my name on a few publications... so I consider it time well invested.

Yea, we live together. She's gone before I wake up and asleep before I get home from work though.

I'm basically trying to stay busy and keep up with ECs just in case I have to reapply next year.

research is very time consuming, but it's always worth the extra time investment in the end when the researcher smiles at you b/c you've produced phenomenal results (as the only undergrad working in the lab comparable to a post doctoral fellow's work!)

it's funny how 20hours in the lab in reality turns into 30/40 ++


i've been looking for another job, but don't know how i'd ever fit it in with multiple ECs, volunteering at two hospitals, working in the lab, TAing and trying to manage my studies. after reading this thread, i'm glad to not be the only neurotic pre-med who doesn't know what to do with their 'free' time.

Yup, and that's exactly why I'm not trying to do more research. Plus I don't really like it.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Yea, we live together. She's gone before I wake up and asleep before I get home from work though.

I'm basically trying to stay busy and keep up with ECs just in case I have to reapply next year.

Yup, and that's exactly why I'm not trying to do more research. Plus I don't really like it.

Ah, that situation isn't exactly ideal... my friends are going through the same thing. No bueno at times.

Research definitely isn't for everyone. It's good to try things and figure out yourself whether or not it is for you. I guess you have your answer on that.

 

[MedPR]

Ah, that situation isn't exactly ideal... my friends are going through the same thing. No bueno at times.

Research definitely isn't for everyone. It's good to try things and figure out yourself whether or not it is for you. I guess you have your answer on that.

Yea, but it's better than living separately and never seeing each other. She usually wakes up for a few minutes when I get into bed. It is tough though. We tried to schedule our days off so they overlap and so far it has worked out pretty well. We're going to try and travel abroad next summer assuming I get in and can quit my job.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I am so excited for this year in between I gotta say. Especially living in NYC. Girls, bars, central park, unlimited food...yea it's great here.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Yea, but it's better than living separately and never seeing each other. She usually wakes up for a few minutes when I get into bed. It is tough though. We tried to schedule our days off so they overlap and so far it has worked out pretty well. We're going to try and travel abroad next summer assuming I get in and can quit my job.

👍 Glad it has work out well. I guess the weekends are catch-up time?

 

[MedPR]

👍 Glad it has work out well. I guess the weekends are catch-up time?

Kind of. She's on peds inpatient right now so she works 1 day each weekend and is off the other day. She still has to wake up at 445 AM though so we can't stay out or up too late even on her day off. In 3-4 weeks she'll start peds outpatient and will be off every weekend. Plus she'll start at 10am or noon so she can wake up later.

Gonna suck even more when she is on her surg rotation though.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Kind of. She's on peds inpatient right now so she works 1 day each weekend and is off the other day. She still has to wake up at 445 AM though so we can't stay out or up too late even on her day off. In 3-4 weeks she'll start peds outpatient and will be off every weekend. Plus she'll start at 10am or noon so she can wake up later.

Gonna suck even more when she is on her surg rotation though.

😱 I guess it's a good thing that she's going through all of this stuff before you. At least you guys are able to see each other every day now. She'll be able to give you some invaluable advice when it's your turn!

 

[MedPR]

😱 I guess it's a good thing that she's going through all of this stuff before you. At least you guys are able to see each other every day now. She'll be able to give you some invaluable advice when it's your turn!

Yea, definitely. I already know what books I'm buying/not buying for pre-clinicals. I'm also incredibly scared of Step 1. It's an insane amount of info.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Yea, definitely. I already know what books I'm buying/not buying for pre-clinicals. I'm also incredibly scared of Step 1. It's an insane amount of info.

I plan on buying First Aid sometime during first year. I'm pretty nervous about it too. Cumulative exams are rough.

 

[MedPR]

I plan on buying First Aid sometime during first year. I'm pretty nervous about it too. Cumulative exams are rough.

Buy the 2012 version. I would suggest buying 2011, but the 2012 is in color and the previous versions aren't. They publish a new one every December! My girlfriend started annotating around September or October of 2nd year (in 2011) and then 2012 came out.. She wasn't going to get the new one, but then we found out it was in color.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Buy the 2012 version. I would suggest buying 2011, but the 2012 is in color and the previous versions aren't. They publish a new one every December! My girlfriend started annotating around September or October of 2nd year (in 2011) and then 2012 came out.. She wasn't going to get the new one, but then we found out it was in color.

Gotcha. Color is always nice!

I occasionally take a gander at the USMLE forum, but every time I do I end up feeling incredibly overwhelmed and it's not worth it just yet.

 

[MedPR]

Gotcha. Color is always nice!

I occasionally take a gander at the USMLE forum, but every time I do I end up feeling incredibly overwhelmed and it's not worth it just yet.

That's how I feel everytime I go into the MCAT forum to try and help.

Another cool thing FA does is give you a $10 amazon gift card if you're the first to email them with errata in their newest version.

 

[NeuroLAX]

That's how I feel everytime I go into the MCAT forum to try and help.

Another cool thing FA does is give you a $10 amazon gift card if you're the first to email them with errata in their newest version.

Oooo $10! I've seen some of the errata updates and some of them are quite long...there's some potential in there for some serious extra income. I guess that's why it's only $10... You gotta be the first one so that kinda limits your chances of being the first for many, if any.

 

[MedPR]

Oooo $10! I've seen some of the errata updates and some of them are quite long...there's some potential in there for some serious extra income. I guess that's why it's only $10... You gotta be the first one so that kinda limits your chances of being the first for many, if any.

Yea, I'm sure there are a bunch of serious gunners on it the first day it gets shipped out.

 

[NeuroLAX]

Yea, I'm sure there are a bunch of serious gunners on it the first day it gets shipped out.

Thankfully I didn't go to a ugrad that had blatant gunners, especially during chem lab. I would have been absolutely livid if I caught someone tampering with my experiments. There would be hell to pay.

I've heard only good things about the student comradery at all the schools I've interviewed at. I wouldn't feel comfortable going to a school that was full of gunners. Takes all the fun away from learning medicine together as a cohesive and constructive group.

 

[michow87]

Just wanted to drop by and give my 2 cents.

While you guys are waiting for secondaries/interviews, make sure that you are staying busy and involved in the medical field via work/internships/shadowing opportunities/etc. Then, every month to 2 months, send an update email to the schools that you have applied to. This shows your dedication to the field and your strong interest in the school.

Good luck!