what do you do to forget about the 'premed life' for a while ?

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sat0ri said:
Wow that was an obnoxious post
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Sure it was rude, and I do apologize, but seriously.... I am a pre-med, though admittedly removed from school for a couple years, I understand sometimes school is hard. But seriously, people need to get out in the real world. I guess I know too many pre-meds that go through college as if its a badge of courage, when in reality it is a gift that they even have that opportunity. So my jerk comment is not meant necessarily towards the OP, but to similar ideas that constantly keep springing up among many pre-meds.

There are a lot bigger problems in the world than the struggles of living the pre-med life.
 
I've joined a couple of fantasy football leagues with friends (I live pretty far from most of my friends, so it's a nice way to stay in touch and gives me a reason to watch just about every NFL game I can) and I've taken up cooking and baking. Strange mix, but it's helped me calm down a lot as my neuroticism has grown exponentially over recent weeks.
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
Sure it was rude, and I do apologize, but seriously.... I am a pre-med, though admittedly removed from school for a couple years, I understand sometimes school is hard. But seriously, people need to get out in the real world. I guess I know too many pre-meds that go through college as if its a badge of courage, when in reality it is a gift that they even have that opportunity. So my jerk comment is not meant necessarily towards the OP, but to similar ideas that constantly keep springing up among many pre-meds.

There are a lot bigger problems in the world than the struggles of living the pre-med life.
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Well that was pretty respectable of you to say, up front with no fuss.
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
Sure it was rude, and I do apologize, but seriously.... I am a pre-med, though admittedly removed from school for a couple years, I understand sometimes school is hard. But seriously, people need to get out in the real world. I guess I know too many pre-meds that go through college as if its a badge of courage, when in reality it is a gift that they even have that opportunity. So my jerk comment is not meant necessarily towards the OP, but to similar ideas that constantly keep springing up among many pre-meds.

There are a lot bigger problems in the world than the struggles of living the pre-med life.
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No doubt that's true, but I think SDN is a nice place for people to vent about the unique stresses of the med school application process so I try to be more tolerant of the neuroticism (which I myself fall victim to sometimes!).

I'm also non-trad and I have plenty of financial, marital, and other concerns that are equally (or more) important than this premed stuff, but I don't think there's anything wrong with having a place for people to rant and rave about it. God knows it's better to do it on here than to go off about it to your family and friends in real life....
 
blackkrim said:
No doubt that's true, but I think SDN is a nice place for people to vent about the unique stresses of the med school application process so I try to be more tolerant of the neuroticism (which I myself fall victim to sometimes!).

I'm also non-trad and I have plenty of financial, marital, and other concerns that are equally (or more) important than this premed stuff, but I don't think there's anything wrong with having a place for people to rant and rave about it. God knows it's better to do it on here than to go off about it to your family and friends in real life....
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Hmm, a really good point.
 
blackkrim said:
No doubt that's true, but I think SDN is a nice place for people to vent about the unique stresses of the med school application process so I try to be more tolerant of the neuroticism (which I myself fall victim to sometimes!).

I'm also non-trad and I have plenty of financial, marital, and other concerns that are equally (or more) important than this premed stuff, but I don't think there's anything wrong with having a place for people to rant and rave about it. God knows it's better to do it on here than to go off about it to your family and friends in real life....
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I dunno, seems to me that it mostly encourages and propagates the perspective that premed is the hardest thing you could do and we are special snowflakes for doing it. Most of the posts I see on SDN spell out to me precisely why I am so grateful not to have been a premed while still in school. I also think it's a bit naïve to assume that people say these things on here instead of in real life. In my experience, people often use forums and online discussions as a testing ground for ideas, but the more feedback and validation they get for them there, the more quickly they begin to feel comfortable saying those things elsewhere. This can sometimes be useful - it is how I became comfortable enough with discussing my desire to go to medical school to be able to tell my family and really start working towards it. Sometimes it's less useful - like when we propagate unhealthy attitudes about our lives being different or harder than everyone else's.

I see no reason to treat SDN conversations as any different from real life ones - the two are not really so separate. If someone on here says something which I would call out in real life, it should probably be called out here as well - anything else gives a false impression of the social acceptableness of the statement. Too often these days, the internet is used to find groups of people who think exactly what you think so that you can talk about it without conflict - which is the opposite of what the world needs. Disagreement is a wonderful, useful thing which we are horrifyingly quick to get rid of whenever possible. Now, in this case, it's a minor quibble, and a minor callout. Point made, the thread can move on. But I wanted to emphasize that it was not an inherently bad thing to call things out in the first place, since they seem to be getting crap for that.
 
mehc012 said:
I dunno, seems to me that it mostly encourages and propagates the perspective that premed is the hardest thing you could do and we are special snowflakes for doing it. Most of the posts I see on SDN spell out to me precisely why I am so grateful not to have been a premed while still in school. I also think it's a bit naïve to assume that people say these things on here instead of in real life. In my experience, people often use forums and online discussions as a testing ground for ideas, but the more feedback and validation they get for them there, the more quickly they begin to feel comfortable saying those things elsewhere. This can sometimes be useful - it is how I became comfortable enough with discussing my desire to go to medical school to be able to tell my family and really start working towards it. Sometimes it's less useful - like when we propagate unhealthy attitudes about our lives being different or harder than everyone else's.

I see no reason to treat SDN conversations as any different from real life ones - the two are not really so separate. If someone on here says something which I would call out in real life, it should probably be called out here as well - anything else gives a false impression of the social acceptableness of the statement. Too often these days, the internet is used to find groups of people who think exactly what you think so that you can talk about it without conflict - which is the opposite of what the world needs. Disagreement is a wonderful, useful thing which we are horrifyingly quick to get rid of whenever possible. Now, in this case, it's a minor quibble, and a minor callout. Point made, the thread can move on. But I wanted to emphasize that it was not an inherently bad thing to call things out in the first place, since they seem to be getting crap for that.
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I don't entirely disagree, but I guess I'm more lenient toward this stuff than you are. Obviously premed is neither hardest thing you can do nor the most important, but it is a very stressful process that can really grind you down. It's nice to have a place to talk to people who are going through similar things, since my friends and family have no firsthand experience of anything like this (and I really don't want to bug them with endless worries about my application status!). I think it can be beneficial to find communities where people do go through similar difficulties and I tend to think of SDN as, in part, a premed support group. It's a very isolating experience, otherwise, and I don't think it's fruitful to "call out" the venting unless someone is being very, very unreasonable.

You are right that there is undoubtedly an echo chamber effect here, though. Sometimes SDN amplifies anxiety by making one feel that if you don't have a 4.0/45 and haven't cured AIDS then you are destined for the Caribbean. That's obviously unhealthy, so all the talk needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
 
blackkrim said:
I don't entirely disagree, but I guess I'm more lenient toward this stuff than you are. Obviously premed is neither hardest thing you can do nor the most important, but it is a very stressful process that can really grind you down. It's nice to have a place to talk to people who are going through similar things, since my friends and family have no firsthand experience of anything like this (and I really don't want to bug them with endless worries about my application status!). I think it can be beneficial to find communities where people do go through similar difficulties and I tend to think of SDN as, in part, a premed support group. It's a very isolating experience, otherwise, and I don't think it's fruitful to "call out" the venting unless someone is being very, very unreasonable.

You are right that there is undoubtedly an echo chamber effect here, though. Sometimes SDN amplifies anxiety by making one feel that if you don't have a 4.0/45 and haven't cured AIDS then you are destined for the Caribbean. That's obviously unhealthy, so all the talk needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
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Right, and I don't advocate that it not be discussed or given any credence...I'm just saying that little nudges like the objecting comment ARE the grain of salt. By all means, have the discussion, but it is not a bad thing if the thread is accompanied by a few posts which just say "Also, remember that you actually have it pretty good".

That being said, I personally just bought a ton of video games to reward myself for the long hard haul of MCAT studying, which I hope paid off on the 27th!
 
I like to go for a nice long run. Gotta exercise while I still have time. 🙂
 
mehc012 said:
Right, and I don't advocate that it not be discussed or given any credence...I'm just saying that little nudges like the objecting comment ARE the grain of salt. By all means, have the discussion, but it is not a bad thing if the thread is accompanied by a few posts which just say "Also, remember that you actually have it pretty good".

That being said, I personally just bought a ton of video games to reward myself for the long hard haul of MCAT studying, which I hope paid off on the 27th!
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Fair enough, but the post that set all this off was a little too flippant for my taste--maybe it's because I am not a fan of the first world problems meme. Those reminders do sometimes stray into "Holier than thou" territory, which isn't constructive.

Good luck with your MCAT scores!
 
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blackkrim said:
Fair enough, but the post that set all this all was a little too flippant for my taste--maybe it's because I am not a fan of the first world problems meme. Those reminders do sometimes stray into "Holier than thou" territory, which isn't constructive.

Good luck with your MCAT scores!
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Heyo, you've got just as much right to call out as they do!
And thanks!
 
I watched scrubs over and over again. I was also taking Saturday off, no matter what and I would go to my bf (now husband) place away from the city and just watch tons of movies and drink.

(I still do that 😀 )
 
I try to keep myself entertained by planning events on the weekends. Exercise, brewery tours, movies, going to the park, hiking, grabbing drinks with friends, watching sports (football!), hitting on chicks at bars 🙂, etc. Whatever you gotta do to keep yourself balanced, do it. It helps me when I feel overwhelmed from the process.

I am also non-trad. But in a sense it makes the process more complex bc I know what its like to make a good salary and not have to work as hard. As a premed, its non-stop, honestly. I'/m working hard, and at times its tiring. But I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.
 
There's a bar down the street from my place with air hockey, pool tables, darts, etc...fun to go, sometimes I'll walk down with my mom.
As long as dudes don't hit on me, it's a great time. That is the one crappy thing about bars - doesn't matter what you're wearing or who you're talking to, it's assumed that if you're in a bar and you're female, you clearly want people to be hitting on you.
 
Hobbies. Socializing and getting involved with non-science school and work certainly helps. (If you have friends in other cities or states, btw, I highly recommend planning a visit in the next few months ... if you can afford it. I just did so over labor day weekend and it was an awesome stress reliever.) But, personally, what's keeping me sane is working on my novel. In undergrad, it was working as a freelance graphic designer and photographer. It gives me something else to focus intently on, instead of just trying to distract myself.
 
mehc012 said:
There's a bar down the street from my place with air hockey, pool tables, darts, etc...fun to go, sometimes I'll walk down with my mom.
As long as dudes don't hit on me, it's a great time. That is the one crappy thing about bars - doesn't matter what you're wearing or who you're talking to, it's assumed that if you're in a bar and you're female, you clearly want people to be hitting on you.
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Wearing a wedding ring is apparently the most effective way to stop this. I know some people say it's objectifying women (i.e., the best way to get guys to stop bothering you is to tell them you are someone else's property), but I think it's clever.
 
type12 said:
Wearing a wedding ring is apparently the most effective way to stop this. I know some people say it's objectifying women (i.e., the best way to get guys to stop bothering you is to tell them you are someone else's property), but I think it's clever.
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It's not clever, it's a PITA. I tend to agree with the 'some people' you reference - I shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to hang out with my mother without being hit on. I don't like lying, and I would really hate to contribute to rings being ignored for those wearing them for real because at some point, people will stop believing it if they are frequently worn falsely. Also, I can't stand wearing jewelry.
 
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Painting. It keeps me sane. Also, I've been making lots of desserts. Just in the past week, I've made fudge, chocolate pie, cream puffs, and banana cream cookie cake. I have to give it away as fast as I make it or I'll run out of room in the fridge.
 
Mad Jack said:
I miss being in undergrad and working. It was a vacation compared to med school.
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What kind of job did you have? School just started, so it's feeling quite the opposite for me.
 
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