What should I do the summer before I matriculate???

[anthoncr]

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I'm starting this fall, any advice on what new admits should do to prepare?

OHSU class of 2008!

 

[Mike59]

This question is asked like once a week- Definitely search some previous posts.

My answer is always the same: LIVE DAMNIT..LIVE! Don't study, don't do a pre-matriculation program. There's so much to learn in med school in such little time. Summer preparation means jack in the grand scheme of things.

If you can't think of anything fun to do, just sit on your ass and watch game shows/soaps (You'll thank me 2 years from now!) 🙂

 

[DrBravesgirl]

have some fun, watch tv, and load up on sleep. you won't get much in the coming years.

 

[Gohan]

Have FUN, SLEEP, Have FUN, SLEEP, SLEEP, Party PARTY, SLEEP

DO NOT STUDY!!!!!! 😴

 

[orthoman5000]

I wouldn't listen to them. Definitely buy and read all of your first year textbooks (several times optimally), start doing research, and find a faculty member in your desired field to be your mentor and brown nose them as much as possible 😀 😀 😀

Hey the pre-meds never take the advice they are given so I just tell them what they really want to hear!

 

[Wardens]

I'm taking the advice and doing absolutely nothing. Thanks, guys! 👍

 

[DrMom]

I'm taking the advice and doing absolutely nothing. Thanks, guys! 👍

Good choice! 😀

 

[paramed2premed]

I spent my prematriculation summer working full-time and reapplying to medschools, sending in secondary apps and fees.

Then I got off the waitlist a month before matriculation. D'oh!

THIS summer is my vacation!.

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

Please, if you love yourself, you will do nothing during the summer. You will sleep in, you will see every movie that comes out, you will take a vacation, etc. You'll thank us later for this advice when you are studying for boards during THE SUMMER when all you really want is to go to the pool or go shopping!!!!!!!!!!!! *RANT*

 

[EctopicFetus]

enough to vomit like a freshman in college. Enjoy yourself.. Real life starts next year. Take a trip with friends (if you have any) and go drive through the US or go to Europe if you can afford it.

Beyond that.. good luck Med school ROCKS!!

 

[praying4MD]

I'm starting this fall, any advice on what new admits should do to prepare?

Absolutely nothing. Enjoy the precious time you have off or you will regret it when you have no time and it becomes commonplace to turn down social occasions because you have to work.

sleep. eat. workout. play video games. read. read. read. and read some more [pleasure reading of course.]

laugh. go out with friends and family.

 

[orthoman5000]

Am I just really poor at saving money or is everyone giving the response of "do absolutely nothing" a trust-fund baby? I ask because I've always had to work during the Summer, there was no other choice. To me school has always been more of a vacation that Summer has because it's a lot easier than working a full time job.

 

[Sean2tall]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with the whole doing nothing thing . . . yeah.

I mean. . doing nothing is not all it's cracked up to be. I have tried it for maybe three weeks to a month and it gets old real fast. You can't do anything fun because you've got no job and no money. I think a lot of these people who say sleep all the time just really wish they could sleep right now. But is it going to make you feel better while studying for boards to say, "well that one summer two years ago when I got to sleep so much was awesome."? I doubt it. I say do something cool and make some money and have lots of fun in your free time. But doing nothing? Yuck. . I would be freakin' out after a month or less.


Edit: oh. . and I totally agree with you orthoman

 

[sdude]

As a wise and venerable 29 year old...let me share my wisdom on this subject...

You have an important task ahead of you this summer. Mastering it is essential to being a good physician (I'm assuming, of course, you want to be a PHYSICIAN, and not merely a specialist or researcher).

You need to be able to enjoy life for it's own sake--as an end in itself. If you can't do this you may never be able to appreciate medicine as a thing in itself, or your patients as ends in themselves.

You need to find what truly delights you, and does not depend on anyone else's approval for its significance. Surfing, reading Kant, and chilling out with my friends floats my boat.

If you delight in biochemistry and could care less if it had anything to do with the boards, get yourself a nice shiny copy of the new Vogt and Vogt and have some good clean fun!

Aren't sure what to do? Try something weird... Buy a skateboard. Learn to ollie. See if you can be the first med student to ollie the 4 step at the OHSU admin building (I haven't been there--might be an 8 step...better work up to it, and wear pads...)

 

[wadoc]

I just finished my first year, so I'm starting "the last summer of my life." Unfortunately, it's taken up largely by some extra requirements (some form of research) we didn't know about until we started school in September.

So having worked (because I had to) all summer before starting, I'm kind of regretting the fact that I didn't do something more fun while I had the chance. So look into anything you might have to do next summer...

But don't get the impression med school isn't fun--it's just not the same kind of fun as you seen on MTV spring break south of the border!

 

[mlw03]

Excellent advice - I'm driving out to Vegas (from FL) with my best friend - gonna see what the middle of the country looks like. If anyone wants me to make some bets for them while I'm out there (perhaps you'd like to bet your tuition on the Milwaukee Brewers winning the World Series?! ), do let me know.

enough to vomit like a freshman in college. Enjoy yourself.. Real life starts next year. Take a trip with friends (if you have any) and go drive through the US or go to Europe if you can afford it.

Beyond that.. good luck Med school ROCKS!!

 

[phllystyl]

drink.

alot.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

If you want to do something that will help you out as a future doctor. . . learn how to golf. All doctors golf. So get a head start and get some lessons.

I'm serious.

 

[In2bate2]

Have fun, but keep your eyes on the prize. If you love medicine, it will be hard to simply ignore it all summer. I choose to work at a non medical job, have fun with my friends, and do some research with surgeons in my desired field. A sweet summer!

 

[jakstat33]

I'm starting this fall, any advice on what new admits should do to prepare?

OHSU class of 2008!

get it up!

 

[Jet915]

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, if you really want to study...........I guess you could take anatomy or something if you are bored.

Jetson