What to do summer before med school

[helpmedecide2020]

I'll be starting at a t5 school in august. I've been sitting around in my parents' basement for the last two months finishing up my senior year online but not really doing anything else. I was originally planning to work in my old lab this summer to try to get more pubs out but then the whole pandemic happened. I want to pursue a competitive specialty like ortho or neurosurgery so I don't really want to just sit around all summer not being productive. What are other incoming M1s doing? Is there anything I can start reading or studying? I want to find an ortho lab at HSS, maybe even apply to their competitive summer research fellowship for 2021, anything I can do to prepare for that?

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[LizzyM]

Learn to make coffee at home if you don't already know how.
Learn to make inexpensvie, healthy meals that can be put together with little active time (quickly on the spot or in a slow cooker) or in advance in batches.
Build some healthy routines that you should be able (mostly) to maintain in medical school.


Read for pleasure -- if you get any pleasure from reading -- or take the opportunity to enjoy whatever you can enjoy given the circumstances. Making good memories now will keep you warm through the long slog that is your first winter in medical school.

 

[helpmedecide2020]

Learn to make coffee at home if you don't already know how.
Learn to make inexpensvie, healthy meals that can be with little active time (quickly on the spot or in a slow cooker) or in advance in batches.
Build some healthy routines that you should be able (mostly) to maintain in medical school.


Read for pleasure -- if you get any pleasure from reading -- or take the opportunity to enjoy whatever you can enjoy given the circumstances. Making good memories now will keep you warm through the long slog that is your first winter in medical school.

I don't drink coffee and I mostly eat at dining halls or fastfood/delivery. I already have a good workout schedule. I have never really read for pleasure either. Is there really nothing else to do? My entire senior year was already really relaxing and these past two months I've just been playing video games all day and going on runs. I feel like I'm slowly becoming stupid lol.

 

[cbdblmad]

I don't drink coffee and I mostly eat at dining halls or fastfood/delivery. I already have a good workout schedule. I have never really read for pleasure either. Is there really nothing else to do? My entire senior year was already really relaxing and these past two months I've just been playing video games all day and going on runs. I feel like I'm slowly becoming stupid lol.

During my two gap years I've worked full time since the monday after I graduated (graduated on a friday) and will work until the week before orientation. Coming from somebody who doesn't have the chance to do nothing, please enjoy the time off. Everybody starting in august is in for it and we will be wishing we could sit around doing nothing again.

 

[PapaGuava]

I agree with what @LizzyM said about learning to make healthy, but time efficient meals. This will help out with your daily routine because time is so valuable in medical school.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

May be try to fix things around the house like my son does. I heard that handyman skills are useful for future Orthopedic surgeons 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

Improve your Spanish.

 

[helpmedecide2020]

During my two gap years I've worked full time since the monday after I graduated (graduated on a friday) and will work until the week before orientation. Coming from somebody who doesn't have the chance to do nothing, please enjoy the time off. Everybody starting in august is in for it and we will be wishing we could sit around doing nothing again.

I worked day and night during undergrad both for school/lab work/part-time job. I enjoyed those times more than now. I admit though I'm probably a little bit of a workaholic but I like being busy since it gives me something to do.

I agree with what @LizzyM said about learning to make healthy, but time efficient meals. This will help out with your daily routine because time is so valuable in medical school.

I mostly just eat out since I live in nyc. Don't really like cooking. What about starting to look for research? I heard ortho research is really competitive to get into and I have no background in ortho. What about tutoring for mcat and maybe making some extra $$.

May be try to fix things around the house like my son does. I heard that handyman skills are useful for future Orthopedic surgeons 🙂

Haha I actually have been helping around with garden work and fixing the roof. Get to use the drill

 

[Morc]

Do all of Zanki before day one of your Zoom classes

 

[helpmedecide2020]

Improve your Spanish.

Hmm I like this idea. I was actually considering taking a medical spanish course at some point. This could definitely be useful.

 

[PapaGuava]

I mean you have about 2 months left, not sure the tutoring would be useful unless you need the extra money. I wouldn't attempt getting involved in research until you work out your schedule and how classes take up your time during your first year. @helpmedecide2020

 

[helpmedecide2020]

Do all of Zanki before day one of your Zoom classes

I want to start doing Zanki just to get familiar with the platform. Would I actually gain anything from doing Zanki before learning stuff in my classes?

 

[Morc]

I want to start doing Zanki just to get familiar with the platform. Would I actually gain anything from doing Zanki before learning stuff in my classes?

No I was just kidding but maybe if you learn how to use Anki that will help

 

[helpmedecide2020]

No I was just kidding but maybe if you learn how to use Anki that will help

Ya lol I know there's no way to do all of them. Still I'd rather do anki cards than sit in bed all day watching youtube/playing video games.

 

[PapaGuava]

Also, OP, if you end up not liking Anki for studying first year courses, you can do well without it. I personally don't use Anki because I find it annoying but will probably just use it to supplement board prep and what not.

 

[cbdblmad]

I worked day and night during undergrad both for school/lab work/part-time job. I enjoyed those times more than now. I admit though I'm probably a little bit of a workaholic but I like being busy since it gives me something to do.

I mean what are you looking for? There's a pandemic on, lots of states need nonclinical medical volunteers to do a huge number tasks. Go set up a community drive to support often forgotten medical workers. Call your local hospitals and churches to see if you can organize a few meals for night shift and weekend staff since they get left out a lot due to admin not being around at those times. You have 9-10 weeks to do something, if you're looking for something medical school related you're not going to get anything worthwhile/long lasting done in that time frame.

 

[helpmedecide2020]

I mean what are you looking for? There's a pandemic on, lots of states need nonclinical medical volunteers to do a huge number tasks. Go set up a community drive to support often forgotten medical workers. Call your local hospitals and churches to see if you can organize a few meals for night shift and weekend staff since they get left out a lot due to admin not being around at those times. You have 9-10 weeks to do something, if you're looking for something medical school related you're not going to get anything worthwhile/long lasting done in that time frame.

The things you suggested are actually exactly what I'm looking for. I wish I could help but I feel like I'm late to the game and I'm unsure if I would be helpful. I'll keep those things in mind though. I just like studying and even if it won't help me that much in med school I'll still do it.

 

[LizzyM]

The things you suggested are actually exactly what I'm looking for. I wish I could help but I feel like I'm late to the game and I'm unsure if I would be helpful. I'll keep those things in mind though. I just like studying and even if it won't help me that much in med school I'll still do it.

Read stuff you won't have time to read after med school begins and treat it like studying. There are some huge lists of recommended books here and there on this forum...
Crosby's book on the 1918 pandemic and Barry 's book on the same topic are a good start for a topic very relevant today.
The Hot Zone.
And the Band Played On.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.
The Checklist Manifesto.
Knife Man.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

 

[cbdblmad]

Read stuff you won't have time to read after med school begin and treat it like studying. There are some huge lists of recommended books here and there on this forum...
Crosby's book on the 1918 pandemic and Barry 's book on the same topic are a good start for a topic very relevant today.
The Hot Zone.
And the Band Played On.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.
The Checklist Manifesto.
Knife Man.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

+1 on The Hot Zone. Micro by Michael Crichton was finished posthumously by the author of The Hot Zone and is good as well.

 

[deleted688779]

Slightly related question: I’ve been out of school for a few years and I worry my brain forgot how to study...or think. Any current med students felt the same, how did you deal with it (if anything)?

 

[datboi_58]

The things you suggested are actually exactly what I'm looking for. I wish I could help but I feel like I'm late to the game and I'm unsure if I would be helpful. I'll keep those things in mind though. I just like studying and even if it won't help me that much in med school I'll still do it.

If you’re truly bored and like studying, you can do research that doesn’t count as research. You don’t have to be in a lab or part of a team to do research. Reading books or articles counts as research. You can probably even access scientific journals and other journals if you have still have access from your college and read the literally thousands of papers on thousands of different topics. You can even spend time creating theories after you’ve gained sufficient knowledge and you’ll be ready with a research project when you’re in school. Of course, you don’t get credit for any of this and you probably can’t put it on your resume but if you’re just wanting to learn, there’s research for you.

And if you like studying, there’s free online courses at edx.org, many by top institutions. Knock yourself out!

 

[A_Knowbody]

Maybe not what you’re looking for, but I’m enjoying hobbies and spending time with friends, family, and SO. Once you start school, you will have a limited schedule that won’t allow you the freedom to do things you enjoy. I also consider myself a workaholic. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy things away from work. The next 4 years will be filled with school, volunteering, research, etc and I’m excited to throw myself into...once I get there and start school.

 

[scorpion2020]

May be try to fix things around the house like my son does. I heard that handyman skills are useful for future Orthopedic surgeons 🙂

I been doing this with my dad. Who knew drills were so fun. We’re bros now.

 

[Amyloid_Beemer]

1. Learn how to use Anki, check out The Anking YouTube page for tutorial videos

2. Develop hobbies or things that can help you de-stress

3. Relax and enjoy one of your last free summers, keep in contact with close friends and family


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