What would make medical school less stressful?

[Goro]

LOL
no amount of exercise will make it better... but good one.

Reading comprehension is always important...the thread is about making med school less STRESSFUL.

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[PieOHmy]

Reading comprehension is always important...the thread is about making med school less STRESSFUL.

No amount of exercise will make it less stressful.... it will be still as stressful and you'll be sore
good one tho.. spoken like someone who has been drinkin' the koolaid!

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

No amount of exercise will make it less stressful.... it will be still as stressful and you'll be sore
good one tho.. spoken like someone who has been drinkin' the koolaid!

I disagree. My lowest-stress year was the one where I was able to get back into running. An hour break to run 4-5 miles made a huge difference in my overall sense of well being.

 

[theKingLT]

No amount of exercise will make it less stressful.... it will be still as stressful and you'll be sore
good one tho.. spoken like someone who has been drinkin' the koolaid!

Maybe exercise isn't your thing, but for most people it's a great stress relief and for some it's invaluable. I played a sport in college with an extremely stressful environment, training close to 40 hours a week year-round, competing for national titles, and destroying my body. Even so the exercise I got made it a net positive on my mental health and helped me succeed with all that, full-time school, pre-med stuff, and a part-time job. Exercise should not be underestimated and personally I would drop every other type of recreation from my life if I needed to in order to ensure I had time to work out.

Sent from my LG-H918 using SDN mobile

 

[initialize]

No amount of exercise will make it less stressful.... it will be still as stressful and you'll be sore
good one tho.. spoken like someone who has been drinkin' the koolaid!

Nah, you just sound like someone who’s never actually worked out.

 

[Goro]

No amount of exercise will make it less stressful.... it will be still as stressful and you'll be sore
good one tho.. spoken like someone who has been drinkin' the koolaid!

We see that it works with our students....unless you think that they're lying?

 

[wearywanderer]

No they can’t.

Why not? Why can't you have techs with knowledge of specific anatomy and training/skills (mechanic-like) to perform certain procedures? A licensed surgeon would be available in case of emergencies, which are super uncommon for many types of procedures. Many company reps know enough to teach/coach the surgeons during cases.

At the HSS (best ortho hospital in the world), they heavily utilize PAs during the surgeries. Many are just as competent as some of the residents.

 

[nimbus]

Why not? Why can't you have techs with knowledge of specific anatomy and training/skills (mechanic-like) to perform certain procedures? A licensed surgeon would be available in case of emergencies, which are super uncommon for many types of procedures. Many company reps know enough to teach/coach the surgeons during cases.

At the HSS (best ortho hospital in the world), they heavily utilize PAs during the surgeries. Many are just as competent as some of the residents.

Because joint replacements are complicated procedures with hundreds of intraoperative decisions to be made. I work with PAs in the joint room all the time. They are great at what they do. However, if you hand them a knife, they wouldn’t know where to put the skin incision. They wouldn’t know where to put the bone cuts. They wouldn’t know how to choose stem length. They wouldn’t know whether to choose cemented vs noncemented. They wouldn’t know whether the patient should get TXA. Etc. If they had enough training to make all those decisions, they’d be an orthopedic surgeon. Most new orthopods doing joints are fellowship trained in joints. There’s a reason for it.

 

[BTDT]

Another thing - we deserve WAY more breaks than we get.

I stopped reading after that sentence. The difficulty of the journey isn't lost on me (I promise), but the journey itself, like many things in life, imparts its own lessons. If someone can't deal with repetition or other BS'ery in an academic (read: "safe") environment, how will they handle it in the real world under real pressure? Sometimes, the "suck" is what makes the lesson stick. Embrace it.

 

[WhereMyLiberalsAt]

I stopped reading after that sentence. The difficulty of the journey isn't lost on me (I promise), but the journey itself, like many things in life, imparts its own lessons. If someone can't deal with repetition or other BS'ery in an academic (read: "safe") environment, how will they handle it in the real world under real pressure? Sometimes, the "suck" is what makes the lesson stick. Embrace it.

We aren’t going through basic training... We’re learning bugs and drugs.

wanting a three day weekend where your school doesn’t schedule some BS Friday wellness lecture or Monday morning clinical check-off, does not make someone a wimpy snowflake...

These old guard doctors, have only been guarding their bank accounts, while their profession has been taken over by insurance companies, government regulation, and low level providers...

These same doctors have found their way into our curriculum and have made it their personal project to spice up my education with team learning exercises.

I understand the argument that an individual grows from their trials/struggles, but life presents plenty of growing experiences without the help of academic institutions...

tldr; no required attendance and standardized curriculum

 

[BTDT]

We aren’t going through basic training... We’re learning bugs and drugs.

wanting a three day weekend where your school doesn’t schedule some BS Friday wellness lecture or Monday morning clinical check-off, does not make someone a wimpy snowflake...

I assume that "tldr" was in regard to the thread and not my post since yours was a bit lengthier.

While I didn't use a military analogy, I do think one might be appropriate here, now that you've mentioned it. Medical school is what it is and works. I'm not saying it is or isn't ideal or efficient, but sometimes things just are what they are. If one wants to spend their energy and time bemoaning their circumstances on the internet then, by all means, bemoan. No one needs me to clarify the differences between desire and entitlement.

 

[Osminog]

What would make medical school less stressful?

No classes, no exams, no rotations, no studying, on-campus petting zoo and arcade, free ice cream of all flavors handed out daily, dance-offs and karaoke, maybe a water slide or two.

I’ll think about this some more, and I’ll let you guys know if I come up with anything else.

 

[Splenda88]

I assume that "tldr" was in regard to the thread and not my post since yours was a bit lengthier.

While I didn't use a military analogy, I do think one might be appropriate here, now that you've mentioned it. Medical school is what it is and works. I'm not saying it is or isn't ideal or efficient, but sometimes things just are what they are. If one wants to spend their energy and time bemoaning their circumstances on the internet then, by all means, bemoan. No one needs me to clarify the differences between desire and entitlement.

I don't think it's wise to say "things just are what they are" and just throw your hands in the air. If we continue like that, we might not recognize that profession in a few years. We should not accept every BS academia is trying to jam down our throat... Look at a test like CS for instance; it has no purpose whatsoever, and yet people are still ok to flush that $2000 down the toilet.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I don't think it's wise to say "things just are what they are" and just throw your hands in the air. If we continue like that, we might not recognize that profession in a few years. We should not accept every BS academia is trying to jam down our throat... Look at a test like CS for instance; it has no purpose whatsoever, and yet people are still ok to flush that $2000 down the toilet.

True enough, but we have a system that trains good doctors. Its up to those who want to change it to prove their way is superior.

 

[Chibucks15]

True enough, but we have a system that trains good doctors. Its up to those who want to change it to prove their way is superior.

The training is the best in the world (mostly). It’d the insane cost of it that’s the issue. And that’s not too hard to prove that more loans = more stress = the consequences of the system we currently have

 

[BTDT]

I don't think it's wise to say "things just are what they are" and just throw your hands in the air. If we continue like that, we might not recognize that profession in a few years. We should not accept every BS academia is trying to jam down our throat... Look at a test like CS for instance; it has no purpose whatsoever, and yet people are still ok to flush that $2000 down the toilet.

Again, things are what they are. The post isn't meant to address the rights or wrongs of the system, merely state the obvious. "BS academia" is subjective.

 

[Second Avicenna]

I often find myself thinking about ways that medical school can be so unnecessarily stressful. If certain things changed in the system, it would make the process so much better.

For me personally, I’ve been thinking a lot about the obnoxious volume of information that we learn, and honestly....if there were an option, I would gladly choose to go to a medical school that lasts 6 years, if it meant that I got to learn the material at a reasonable pace & still have a life outside of class.

Another thing - we deserve WAY more breaks than we get. I know it’s a taboo in American society to cherish vacation time, but it’s a necessary rest period that everyone should have. This constant studying & cycle of stress can wear on you over time. Just because we’re studying/in training doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a good quality life.

What are some things that would make med school less stressful for you?

I guess you'd love it here. It's 7 years of med school!

 

[Premed2295]

Less stressful?
1.Lower tuition
2.Being taught by doctors (preferably who were in practice this millennium) who know what’s important to teach us
3.wifi that works in the classrooms
4.Microphones that don’t shut off during lectures
5.Not having mandatory wellness sessions.
6.Being given study weeks instead of a final on Monday and bull**** for the remainder of the week after the exam.
7.Releasing the academic/ exam schedule for semester more than 3 days before each body system block begins so I can plan family time around exams.
8.Professors who actually answer emails when you ask a question

 

[Osteosaur]

Time to develop an identity outside medicine. It was brought up in another thread that if your entire life is medicine, and you're in that bottom 25% (someone has to be) and you're awful at the only thing you do that has to take a toll.

No amount of wellness or yoga will make up for lost time. In-fact, the time spent doing that you could probably enrich yourself in some genuine way.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Less stressful?
1.Lower tuition
2.Being taught by doctors (preferably who were in practice this millennium) who know what’s important to teach us
3.wifi that works in the classrooms
4.Microphones that don’t shut off during lectures
5.Not having mandatory wellness sessions.
6.Being given study weeks instead of a final on Monday and bull**** for the remainder of the week after the exam.
7.Releasing the academic/ exam schedule for semester more than 3 days before each body system block begins so I can plan family time around exams.
8.Professors who actually answer emails when you ask a question

At my school were not allowed to email professors questions if we have them. we have to go through a third party like our classes student curriculum rep to ask a question to a professor. Thats sad especially when i pay 71K per year

 

[Angus Avagadro]

At my school were not allowed to email professors questions if we have them. we have to go through a third party like our classes student curriculum rep to ask a question to a professor. Thats sad especially when i pay 71K per year

That is sad, and ridiculous. Sorry you have to deal with that. My school allows contacting professors

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

3.wifi that works in the classrooms
4.Microphones that don’t shut off during lectures
5.Not having mandatory wellness sessions.
6.Being given study weeks instead of a final on Monday and bull**** for the remainder of the week after the exam.
7.Releasing the academic/ exam schedule for semester more than 3 days before each body system block begins so I can plan family time around exams.

These changes along would be complete game changers lol

 

[honey0102]

I often find myself thinking about ways that medical school can be so unnecessarily stressful. If certain things changed in the system, it would make the process so much better.

For me personally, I’ve been thinking a lot about the obnoxious volume of information that we learn, and honestly....if there were an option, I would gladly choose to go to a medical school that lasts 6 years, if it meant that I got to learn the material at a reasonable pace & still have a life outside of class.

Another thing - we deserve WAY more breaks than we get. I know it’s a taboo in American society to cherish vacation time, but it’s a necessary rest period that everyone should have. This constant studying & cycle of stress can wear on you over time. Just because we’re studying/in training doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a good quality life.

What are some things that would make med school less stressful for you?

(1) Do away with tiered grading and class rank. No, a P/F curriculum is NOT True P/F if there is class rank. Medical schools admit the cream of the crop. Why intensify it with class rank and foster competition?
(2) Parse down the info we must know. In an ideal world we would want to know everything. Practically, it is not possible. Schools let lecturers who are specialists in subfields, have 150 slide ppts-with info most of us will never use or see on Step1/2/3
(3) Reduce the amount of busy work. This is an issue in many schools
(4) At the clinical level: hire more scribes,techs, etc. Medical students being used to retract things in a surgery where they can't even see what's happening is pure unpaid labor

 

[Angus Avagadro]

(1) Do away with tiered grading and class rank. No, a P/F curriculum is NOT True P/F if there is class rank. Medical schools admit the cream of the crop. Why intensify it with class rank and foster competition?
(2) Parse down the info we must know. In an ideal world we would want to know everything. Practically, it is not possible. Schools let lecturers who are specialists in subfields, have 150 slide ppts-with info most of us will never use or see on Step1/2/3
(3) Reduce the amount of busy work. This is an issue in many schools
(4) At the clinical level: hire more scribes,techs, etc. Medical students being used to retract things in a surgery where they can't even see what's happening is pure unpaid labor

I dont agree with this for several reasons.
Going pass fail with no class rank will not distinguish who is in the top 10% or the bottom 10%. Our current group who are chronically in the bottom 10% are not the same as the bottom 10% at an upper tier school. With the increase in medical school seats, I have seen an increase in marginal candidates. After admission, we have an obligation to get them through.
We twist ourselves into pretzels getting them to PASS boards. These are not people I would want taking care of my family, except maybe my Mother in Law.
I dont think dumbing down the informationn presented is a viable solution. Medicine is a progressive building of your knowledge base. You wont see Crohns or diabetes once, but many times. Each time you see it, you retain a little more information and gain an little more perspective. This is why it takes about 5 yrs after training to be at the top of your craft.
Medical students are often given mundane tasks because they are not yet qualified to do more. This comes with time and experience. 3rd yr students if you haven't noticed are not competent to perform many tasks unsupervised. Believe me, teaching takes time and a great deal of patience. Most attendings will admit that the stipend they receive is inadequate compensation
My son gets paid more as a resident to stand on the sidelines of a football game than I do at school. You feel frustrated because after nearly 3 yrs of medical school, you aren't able to help as much as you would like. This gets better in 4th yr.
Remember, all that useless information that students complain about is not so useless down the road and is what separates us from PAs and NPs. It gets better. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

4) At the clinical level: hire more scribes,techs, etc. Medical students being used to retract things in a surgery where they can't even see what's happening is pure unpaid labor

So your solution to not being able to see is to add another person in the field of view? I enjoy retracting, I consider it as me putting in effort so that they let me show off that running sub-q suture I’ve been practicing. Even residents retract frequently as do the attendings from time to time. Someone has to do it and it may as well be the least qualified person in there, the med student.

I agree with the busy work one.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Less stressful?
1.Lower tuition
2.Being taught by doctors (preferably who were in practice this millennium) who know what’s important to teach us
3.wifi that works in the classrooms
4.Microphones that don’t shut off during lectures
5.Not having mandatory wellness sessions.
6.Being given study weeks instead of a final on Monday and bull**** for the remainder of the week after the exam.
7.Releasing the academic/ exam schedule for semester more than 3 days before each body system block begins so I can plan family time around exams.
8.Professors who actually answer emails when you ask a question

This isn't satire, that's really what your school is like?

Jesus, no wonder so many of y'all complain so much. None of that is acceptable given what I paid 10 years ago much less now.

 

[Premed2295]

At my school were not allowed to email professors questions if we have them. we have to go through a third party like our classes student curriculum rep to ask a question to a professor. Thats sad especially when i pay 71K per year

That’s awful

 

[Premed2295]

This isn't satire, that's really what your school is like?

Jesus, no wonder so many of y'all complain so much. None of that is acceptable given what I paid 10 years ago much less now.

All true.

This is is the list of easy to fix things I’ve observed at my school and heard are common at friends schools as well.

All schools also have more far reaching issues that aren’t a so easily fixed (and of course strengths, though that’s not the purpose of the thread).

This is legitimately just a list of things that schools across the board could fix by tomorrow that would make it better for students.

 

[Ho0v-man]

This isn't satire, that's really what your school is like?

Jesus, no wonder so many of y'all complain so much. None of that is acceptable given what I paid 10 years ago much less now.

My professors answer emails. Otherwise extremely accurate list.

 

[Deecee2DO]

That’s awful

it is. dont go to rowan lol dont get me wrong im fortunate to b in med school and in state but damn so many internal problems i wont even list

 

[PieOHmy]

The Leadership in the medical profession is non existant.
I cant believe people are putting themselves through this crap still

 

[Lawpy]

Are mandatory wellness lectures going to get eliminated anytime soon?

 

[Ho0v-man]

Are mandatory wellness lectures going to get eliminated anytime soon?

“No. They will be supplemented with online exams asking second order questions about the wellness PowerPoint.

You will only be able to take these exams between 8-10pm the evening before an 8 hour exam and you will be monitored via webcam to ensure that you don’t cheat. This advanced monitoring is obviously expensive so you will be charged $2,000 more in tuition this year.

We at rip-off SOM appreciate your understanding in all of this. We apologize for this inconvenience, but it’s imperative to us that you understand how to relax.”

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Are mandatory wellness lectures going to get eliminated anytime soon?

My school doesn’t have any mandatory wellness things. They’re all optional. We have mandatory things on like research ethics or racism that they will schedule for a 3-hour block the day before a final exam.

 

[slowthai]

Are mandatory wellness lectures going to get eliminated anytime soon?

As long as med student/resident suicides continue, med schools and residencies will continue to engage in these CYA tactics in order protect themselves from liability and poor optics. It's a complete joke and a massive insult to all of us, especially those that are struggling the most.

 

[Lawpy]

“No. They will be supplemented with online exams asking second order questions about the wellness PowerPoint.

You will only be able to take these exams between 8-10pm the evening before an 8 hour exam and you will be monitored via webcam to ensure that you don’t cheat. This advanced monitoring is obviously expensive so you will be charged $2,000 more in tuition this year.

We at rip-off SOM appreciate your understanding in all of this. We apologize for this inconvenience, but it’s imperative to us that you understand how to relax.”

As long as med student/resident suicides continue, med schools and residencies will continue to engage in these CYA tactics in order protect themselves from liability and poor optics. It's a complete joke and a massive insult to all of us, especially those that are struggling the most.

Well i'm upset and disappointed because they serve to only worsen the stress and show the sheer apathy of admin to wellbeing. Feels completely heartless and demoralizing. I'd rather use the time to get some extra hours of sleep.

Really wish schools care more about wellness and actually invest a lot in the resources to help students and residents rather than wasting time with garbage and idiotic lectures.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

My school doesn’t have any mandatory wellness things. They’re all optional. We have mandatory things on like research ethics or racism that they will schedule for a 3-hour block the day before a final exam.

OUCH!

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

OUCH!

Yeah. It ends up being a minor thing. And sometimes they are actually really interesting. I just wish they’d schedule them better.

 

[Ho0v-man]

My school doesn’t have any mandatory wellness things. They’re all optional. We have mandatory things on like research ethics or racism that they will schedule for a 3-hour block the day before a final exam.

Just schedule a doctors/dentist/optometrist appointment during that. Get a note. Profit.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Just schedule a doctors/dentist/optometrist appointment during that. Get a note. Profit.

Doesn’t work as great in the military lol.

 

[Premed2295]

Another one

clearly these wellness sessions aren’t working

ASK STUDENTS WHAT THEY NEED FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH AND DO IT

 

[Premed2295]

As long as med student/resident suicides continue, med schools and residencies will continue to engage in these CYA tactics in order protect themselves from liability and poor optics. It's a complete joke and a massive insult to all of us, especially those that are struggling the most.

a million and one up votes Sir

 

[Sagebrush]

Recognition that we need a work-life balance would be nice. Personally, I really appreciated it when I set my goal for the semester to be to get 7 hours of sleep a night and exercise for 1 hour 3 days a week and was promptly told by the faculty member leading the session that she was worried this would significantly affect my academics.

When faculty feel that it's impossible for students to succeed while getting a reasonable amount of sleep and minimal exercise, that is a problem that should be addressed.

 

[slowthai]

Recognition that we need a work-life balance would be nice. Personally, I really appreciated it when I set my goal for the semester to be to get 7 hours of sleep a night and exercise for 1 hour 3 days a week and was promptly told by the faculty member leading the session that she was worried this would significantly affect my academics.

When faculty feel that it's impossible for students to succeed while getting a reasonable amount of sleep and minimal exercise, that is a problem that should be addressed.

Ridiculous. Just because these boomers enjoy being inefficient doesn't mean students have to as well. What a boomer attitude. Should've said "ok boomer"

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Recognition that we need a work-life balance would be nice. Personally, I really appreciated it when I set my goal for the semester to be to get 7 hours of sleep a night and exercise for 1 hour 3 days a week and was promptly told by the faculty member leading the session that she was worried this would significantly affect my academics.

When faculty feel that it's impossible for students to succeed while getting a reasonable amount of sleep and minimal exercise, that is a problem that should be addressed.

Wow that’s unbelievable. We were told we should be studying 60-70 hours per week including lectures, labs, etc. and that we should be getting adequate sleep and exercise lol.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Recognition that we need a work-life balance would be nice. Personally, I really appreciated it when I set my goal for the semester to be to get 7 hours of sleep a night and exercise for 1 hour 3 days a week and was promptly told by the faculty member leading the session that she was worried this would significantly affect my academics.

When faculty feel that it's impossible for students to succeed while getting a reasonable amount of sleep and minimal exercise, that is a problem that should be addressed.

Nah, hyperbole from that faculty member. Some faculty like to mess with your mind. My wife and I would run to the gym and work for an hour and run home as students. She graduated in the top 10%. My class rank had nothing to do with exercise, only my intellect. My son has always been a gym rat. I told him he would have to give up the 3 hr lift and devise a 1 hr workout for the first two years. He did fine. He actually had adequate time to work out on most of his rotations as most sites had a gym he could use. Surgery and OB not so much. It is true you have to balance. One of my advisees years ago was a personal trainer before med school. He lost about 25 lbs the first year, because he only did cardio because he needed the study time. You do what you need to. Pre clinical is the worst and its less than 2 yrs. You'll be fine.

 

[Sagebrush]

Nah, hyperbole from that faculty member. Some faculty like to mess with your mind. My wife and I would run to the gym and work for an hour and run home as students. She graduated in the top 10%. My class rank had nothing to do with exercise, only my intellect. My son has always been a gym rat. I told him he would have to give up the 3 hr lift and devise a 1 hr workout for the first two years. He did fine. He actually had adequate time to work out on most of his rotations as most sites had a gym he could use. Surgery and OB not so much. It is true you have to balance. One of my advisees years ago was a personal trainer before med school. He lost about 25 lbs the first year, because he only did cardio because he needed the study time. You do what you need to. Pre clinical is the worst and its less than 2 yrs. You'll be fine.

It's an issue when faculty are structuring the curriculum such that they expect that you will not be able to get adequate sleep and exercise. The advice of "ignore it" doesn't solve the problem in this case, as the real root of the problem is that medical school is becoming more and more an environment where you are expected to sacrifice your own personal health to accommodate the ever-growing curriculum requirements. We need some recognition (and the subsequent changes) from the schools that the ever-growing curriculum is creating an environment where student health is being cast aside in the name of passing the courses.

 

[CJhooper123]

Nah, hyperbole from that faculty member. Some faculty like to mess with your mind. My wife and I would run to the gym and work for an hour and run home as students. She graduated in the top 10%. My class rank had nothing to do with exercise, only my intellect. My son has always been a gym rat. I told him he would have to give up the 3 hr lift and devise a 1 hr workout for the first two years. He did fine. He actually had adequate time to work out on most of his rotations as most sites had a gym he could use. Surgery and OB not so much. It is true you have to balance. One of my advisees years ago was a personal trainer before med school. He lost about 25 lbs the first year, because he only did cardio because he needed the study time. You do what you need to. Pre clinical is the worst and its less than 2 yrs. You'll be fine.

Same thing happened to me. Used to lift a ton... now have resorted to cardio for time efficiency. Hitting 3 miles/day is very doable. If you get it down... the whole process can take under 30 min.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

It's an issue when faculty are structuring the curriculum such that they expect that you will not be able to get adequate sleep and exercise. The advice of "ignore it" doesn't solve the problem in this case, as the real root of the problem is that medical school is becoming more and more an environment where you are expected to sacrifice your own personal health to accommodate the ever-growing curriculum requirements. We need some recognition (and the subsequent changes) from the schools that the ever-growing curriculum is creating an environment where student health is being cast aside in the name of passing the courses.

Never said to ignore anything, and did say you need to do what you need to do.I believe your premise that faculty design the curriculum so you won't be able to sleep or exercise is faulty. Medicine is about sacrificing time and energy to serve your patients and community. Only you can decide if you are willing to pay the price. My wife breezed through med school and went to class to socialize. I was not that gifted and had to grind it out. You do what you need to . If it's not for you, it's ok. Lots of fast strong people dont like football and dont play. If being a doctor is your dream, go to your schools learning center and improve your study skills. If anxiety or depression is where you think your troubles lie, get some counseling or treatment. Lots of resources should be available. Dont be afraid to ask. Projecting your problems on the faculty or curriculum wont be productive in the long run. Good luck and best wishes..

 

[Sagebrush]

Never said to ignore anything, and did say you need to do what you need to do.I believe your premise that faculty design the curriculum so you won't be able to sleep or exercise is faulty. Medicine is about sacrificing time and energy to serve your patients and community. Only you can decide if you are willing to pay the price. My wife breezed through med school and went to class to socialize. I was not that gifted and had to grind it out. You do what you need to . If it's not for you, it's ok. Lots of fast strong people dont like football and dont play. If being a doctor is your dream, go to your schools learning center and improve your study skills. If anxiety or depression is where you think your troubles lie, get some counseling or treatment. Lots of resources should be available. Dont be afraid to ask. Projecting your problems on the faculty or curriculum wont be productive in the long run. Good luck and best wishes..

So out of curiosity, do you not see curriculum becoming more and more bloated with more required activities each year? (Not speaking about lectures, necessarily, just anything required by the school)

Maybe this is something unique to my medical school and the medical schools that are attended by my friends, but all of us have remarked on the constant increase in "stuff" that takes up more and more time.