what makes medschool so hard?

[me9]

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What aspect of medschool makes it so difficult? Is it the blistering rate at which the material is presented? Or is it the hard concepts to understand? Please dont say "both," or "the combination of the two"(though thats probably it).
thank you!!

 

[southerndoc]

The material thrown at you is enormous. The material itself isn't that difficult... it's just the amount of it. It's like trying to take a sip of water from a fire hydrant.

Your clinical years are hard because you spend 60-120 hours per week in the clinic/hospital, and when you get home, you're still expected to read up on your patients and study for your upcoming tests.

 

[Iron Horse]

I agree with Geek Medic: volume.

 

[Vader]

Quantity not quality. 😀

 

[MD2b06]

Volume!! We've been given abt 500 pages of material to digest in a little over 2 weeks. Exam in 12 hours. Almost enough to bring a grown man to tears. 😉 Honestly though, I kinda enjoy it, in a sick, masochistic way. 😛 Probably b/c I'm learning so much. Just gotta suck it up. Aight, gotta go! Friends is on! 🙂

 

[8744]

Dude, it's not that hard. At least the first two years aren't. We start rotations in June and I know I'm going to work my keester off.

All about budgeting time. For those of you single folks with no other responsibilities, I don't see how you can't keep up with studying, go to class, and still have time for a meaningful social life.

But I agree it is a huge volume of material. Still, a solid three hours a day of studying in a diligent manner, without distractions (like SDN) will probably keep you in the middle rankings of your class.

It is very hard to fail out. On the other hand, the freshman class at my school lost five out of 102 people when the dust settled after last semester. By comparrison we only lost two, and one was for personal reasons unrelated to grades.

 

[neilc]

i have to aggree that it is a lot of volume, but still very manageable. if you are a gunner, you are screwed...but if you want to learn the material you need to know, at least enough to stay afloat, a few hours a day, every day, with maybe a bit extra before exams and you will make it...no problem. the folks that are screwed are the ones who half-ass study, and then try to get it all in late, or the ones who try to learn every word from the lecture notes, books, etc...

don't worry. if you are organized and did well in undergrad you should have no problem.

 

[dude4]

There is no way in hell you can possibly learn all this ****! I am in the middle of my class by doing two simple things! Study my ass off two days before each exam (using Board Review Series notes on the particular subject) and not worrying about the ****ing gunners...those are the intraverts who stay intraverted during externship.

How about them Badgers!

 

[Gator05]

As one of our neurosurg faculty once remarked..."It's not exactly rocket science". It's not; instead, it's more like memorizing the instruction manual to the Space Shuttle.

Sorry, but some of those saying this stuff is easy are merely strutting their egos. It seems downright impossible at times, when you dare to step back and look at the volumes of information you are personally responsible for. Manageable? That depends. How much are you trying to manage?

Some of this stuff can get complicated. Physiology is a great (and to myself, fun) example; quickly extrapolating all of the changes resulting from a single variable is straightforward yet thought-provoking. When it starts getting to multi-variable (as with multi-organ failure) changes, balancing the management well becomes quite the mental exercise.

If you're NOT taking time out for yourself and your friends/loved ones, life's gonna get pretty miserable for you at some point.

 

[Fanconi]

Med school isn't only intellectually challenging.

It is also physically challenging. Working 80-hour weeks while trying to maintain some sort of normal life will kick anyone's ass.

Also, it is emotionally challenging. The hardest part for me has been watching people MY AGE die (from cancer, etc) and the incredible bravery with which they approach their mortality. You see some really sad things during your clinical rotations.

Dude, all in all, it's really ****ing exhausting, more than you could ever possibly know without having experienced it for yourself. Now that I'm about to graduate and actually start playing doctor for real in a few months, I can say it has all been worth it. I'm very happy I went to med school, and I'm damn proud of myself for making it through with most of my sanity intact.

 

[dude4]

I have not done rotations yet, nor have I have seen anyone die of a grave illness. My only point is that medical school is hectic, but extremely manageable!!! I went to the University of Wisconsin and graduated w/ a very strong GPA. I studied eight hours some days, not everyday, but quite a few...I suppose I was a bit burned out when I entered medical school, because I find myself very pleased to be in the mid to high eighties and in the middle of the class. I find I spend my time more efficiently doing medical research in both Cancer and Cardiovascular related fields....and at clinics! You can find one of my publications under kalina in Circulation Research(check Pubmed) "GFP-FRNK induced Anoikis...." So no I am not just sitting around doing nothing!

 

[southerndoc]

Originally posted by Panda Bear
It is very hard to fail out.

Tell that to the members of my class that are no longer in medical school -- 10% of my first-year class.

Originally posted by dude4
I find I spend my time more efficiently doing medical research in both Cancer and Cardiovascular related fields....and at clinics! You can find one of my publications under kalina in Circulation Research(check Pubmed) "GFP-FRNK induced Anoikis...." So no I am not just sitting around doing nothing!

I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! Why not post your CV and wow us all with your greatness.

 

[dude4]

Did you just hear what I said, I am in the middle of my class...not the top! I only was stating you can get by w/ a "manageable" amount of stress and studying, that's it!
I am just curious, I heard that 3rd year is challenging, how about fourth. What are the more laid back rotations....my 3rd year I get one elective (maybe Radiology) and the fourth year is basically all electives!