your average day?

[6ft3dr2b]

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Hello everyone,

I'm interested in attending medical school someday and I just have some questions about your daily life. I'm trying to get a feel of what your lives are like. Here goes:

Location (what school?)

What year?

When are you classes? (ex 9-5)

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?)

Do you socialize? (how long?)

Do you exercise? (how long?)

How long do you study?

What are your weekends like?



THANK YOU!

 

[Jalby]

Location (what school?)

Keck/USC

What year?
MS II

When are you classes? (ex 9-5)

8-12 daily. also 1-3 Monday and 1-4 or 5 Thursday

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?)

Apartment 3 miles from Campus

Do you socialize? (how long?)

Yes. Depending on the week, from 5 nights a week to none.

Do you exercise? (how long?)

Run 6 miles twice a week and go to the gym 3-4 times a week

How long do you study?

5 week block. Weeks 1-2 10-15 hours each week. Week 3 15-20, week 4 20, week 5, 40

What are your weekends like?

Either go to conferences, Ski trips, or watching national championship college football


THANK YOU!

Your welcome

 

[jbish]

Location (what school?) McGill
What year? First
When are you classes? 8:30 to 3:30 M-F
Where do you live? apt. about a kilometer from campus
Do you socialize? not really. probably go out to dinner or a movie on weekends. maybe go w/ someone to the gym
Do you exercise? yes, about an hour a day
How long do you study? this unit is 6 weeks. i'm not doing any studying this week; i'll do studying next weekend and the following weekend for the midterm at the beginning of week 4 and i'll continue studying on the weekends of 5 and 6 for the cumulative exam
What are your weekends like?if there isn't an upcoming exam i try to go out to dinner at least once, go to the gym twice, get groceries, every other weekend do laundry, and watch TV/movies for braindead time

 

[good_faith]

Originally posted by 6ft3dr2b
Hello everyone,

I'm interested in attending medical school someday and I just have some questions about your daily life. I'm trying to get a feel of what your lives are like. Here goes:

Location (what school?)

What year?

When are you classes? (ex 9-5)

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?)

Do you socialize? (how long?)

Do you exercise? (how long?)

How long do you study?

What are your weekends like?



THANK YOU!

This is an excellent question.
Please current med student give response , we will like to hear from you.
Thanks

:

 

[LuckyMD2b]

Year: MS 1

Classes: Basic Science: M-Fri 8:30 to 12:30; plus optional lectures, office hours, exam or course reviews 0 to 5 hrs/week; required patient interview course Wed 2:30-4:30; social medicine (i.e. epidemiology etc.) 1nce a week 1:30-4:00

Live: On campus across just across the street from school; will move off next year (hopefully)

Socialize: Definately -- usu. go out with classmates a couple times a week when I feel like it, or if I get dragged out of my room by some friends to go out to a restaurant or movie. Come exam time folks usually don't go out as much. I go out more now than in my first 3 years of college, but not as much a senior year (after I knew I was accepted to med school). I think I'm more efficient, and make better decisions, so when I do go out it's worth it.

Exercise: (Also a way to socialize btw.) between 2 to 5 days a week depending on how lazy I am. When the weather was better I was running ~6miles 3times/week. I Play basketball, & lift weights -- great way to relieve stress. Plus it's my favorite way to procrastinate and feel like I'm being productive simultaneously (since I wanna do ortho I gotta get my bench press up).

Study: obviously it is med school, there's so much to learn you feel like you should be studying. I study a lot more now than I did in college. But I don't spend that much more time since i don't have to do dumb $#!+ like lab reports, problem sets, and term papers. Plus the material is much more interesting than in college. I don't know how much I study on average per day, but it is quite a bit. Some days don't do anything, and just sleep because I might be a little worn down. I always feel like I haven't studied enough, but it always turns out pretty well. I at least try to keep up with the course, and prepare for the next day. Come exam time studying time doubles. I try to do at least a little bit every day.

Weekends: I do a lot of volunteer work a few Saturday mornings a month and do quite a bit of community service (mentoring (teens) and teaching about science (4th to 6th grade boys) and sex ed. (high school students)). But that only takes up a few hours a month. On the weekends I wake up late and try to catch up on studying and reinforce the crap I learned the previous week. Weekends are also a chance to unwind (watch TV, go out, shop, nap, travel (usu. home), go to the gym -- don't go to church as much as I used to) Kinda like weekends in college.

 

[skidmark]

Year:MS1

Class: M-F 8-1:00 or 2:00

Housing: I live in an Apt. 4 miles from school

Social: We have major parties after tests( every 5 weeks), I usually do something fun on Fridays.

Exercise: We have a weightroom at school which is very convenient. I try to workout twice a week. We also have intramural sports once a week (soccer, football, basketball,etc.)

Study: I study everyday except Fridays. We have 5 week test blocks. I usually study 3-4 hours per day during the first 2-3 weeks of the block. I study about 6-8 hours per day during the two weeks prior to the test.

Weekends: I usually study on weekends if a test is approaching. If not, I tailgate and go to LSU football games.

Geaux Tigers!!
National Champions

 

[nutmegs]

Hello everyone,

I'm interested in attending medical school someday and I just have some questions about your daily life. I'm trying to get a feel of what your lives are like. Here goes:

Location (what school?) Temple Med/Philadelphia PA

What year? first

When are you classes? (ex 9-5) 8/9 to noon/2/3... varies daily

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) apartment about 10 minutes from school

Do you socialize? (how long?) hmm... chat with roommate, talk to friends from home on IM, occasionally meet up with people for a beer or two. varies greatly- some days I'm just not in the mood to study at all and will be totally unproductive. other times I'll head to the bookstore and be there for 5-7 hours if there's an exam coming up...

Do you exercise? (how long?) after class ~3x/week, for an hour or so. less during exams.

How long do you study? like I said this really varies. minimum is probably an hour or two a day. I've already studied from waking-sleeping before exams though. I never studied much in college at all, so that was a change. but I found a couple of cool places to go to study, so that makes it worth it for me. if it's not exam time, I try to get at least one or two super productive days in, then kinda just follow along on the others...

What are your weekends like? I try to study some on one day or the other, sleep in, usually go out one night and stay in/rent movies/hang out with friends the other. I try to get out to go snowboarding or hiking depending on the weather, and occasionally go to visit my family, esp. after exams. I also volunteer on sat mornings and thursday afternoons

 

[Starflyr]

Location (what school?) UTMB - Galveston

What year? MS-III

When are you classes? (ex 9-5) Um, it depends on the rotation. Currently, Im on psych consults and Im on campus from 8-5 but do hardly any work.

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) In a house, 30-45 minutes from school

Do you socialize? (how long?) Ummm...rarely.

Do you exercise? (how long?) yep. 1 hour/day.

How long do you study? I study at school

What are your weekends like? Currently, good ( I have 24 hour call tomorrow, but I have all other weekends completely off this rotation). Normally, what weekend?

 

[doc05]

Hello everyone,

I'm interested in attending medical school someday and I just have some questions about your daily life. I'm trying to get a feel of what your lives are like. Here goes:

Location (what school?) let's keep this anonymous

What year? MS-3

When are you classes? (ex 9-5) depends on the rotation. on average, 7 am-5pm, longer for surgery and OB

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) apt. near campus

Do you socialize? (how long?) there's no time these days

Do you exercise? (how long?) 1-2 hours/day, if I'm lucky

How long do you study? 1-2 hours/day

What are your weekends like? they mostly suck.



THANK YOU!

 

[mcgillmed]

Ha ha. Two from McGill on one thread. What are the chances? Here's what you can expect, JBish, in two years:

Location (what school?) McGill, Montreal, Canada

What year? MS-III

When are you classes? 7am-6 p.m. in the hospital. until 8 a.m. next day if on call. Longer for sugery, IM (so I'm told. I've only done Peds and Obs/Gyn, which was not nearly as bad as some people say)

Where do you live? By myself, in appt, 10 minutes from campus

Do you socialize? Used to socialize a lot more earlier in med school. Too tired at the end of the week now. Going out two nights a week is rare, one is more like it.

Do you exercise? If I'm not on call, I make it to the gym 3-4 times a week, for about 90 minutes

How long do you study? Ha!! At the beginning of a rotation = < 7 hrs/wk. Week of an exam = 3-4 hrs/day

What are your weekends like? I like to veg and hit the gym. I'm on call about 2/4 weekends a month, so with the other two, I'm either going out of town, or sitting on my butt, watching football. I wish I could study more over the weekend, but I cant. It would help though.

BTW, after 2 1/2 years of med school and finishing my first two clinical rotations, I would give this advice to someone thinking of going to med school -- if you would be happy doing ANYTHING else, do it!!

 

[bennet]

What year?----- 1st year

When are you in classes? (ex 9-5) ------mostly 8-12 (rarely 8-10am) and 8-3, twice a week.

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) ------close to school.

Do you socialize? (how long?) -------not often enough 🙂. I often try to schedule my fun times around things i enjoy doing .e.g. going to the movies, watching TV, working out and going to restaurants with friends.

Do you exercise? (how long?)-----1-2 hrs/day, depending on my level of energy.

How long do you study?------10-50 hours a week, depending on how close the next test is. I am trying yo make it a lot more balanced, so that i don't drive myself crazy right before tests.

What are your weekends like? See above. Usually a mixture of fun and school, the ratio depends on how close the next test is.

Good luck with the application! (if you are applying, that is.)

 

[DOtobe]

I know this is an allo board, but I'll post anyway.

Location (what school?) LECOM

What year? MS-3

When are you classes? (ex 9-5) For MS-1 and MS-2, usually from 8-4 or 8-5. Some days we would luck out and get out by noon. MS-3 varies by rotation. Now I am in surgery, which is 5:30-5:30 (roughly). Other rotations have started anywhere from 7 to 9 am and usually ended by 5:00.

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) MS-1 and 2 lived in an apartment, now I live in the housing offered by rotation sites.

Do you socialize? (how long?) Usually would go out to restaurants, movies, etc. with friends a few times a week.

Do you exercise? (how long?) Would try to every day during MS-1 and 2 for about a half hour a day, but this has gotten harder now while I am rotations

How long do you study? Would usually study about 3 hours a night (more when boards were getting closer) and about 9 hours on the weekends (especially when we had exams on Monday).

What are your weekends like? Since most of our tests were on Mondays, usually spent studying. Would try to make time for going out to see a movie or some other form of socializing.

 

[docmemi]

Originally posted by Jalby
Location (what school?)

Keck/USC

What year?
MS II

When are you classes? (ex 9-5)

8-12 daily. also 1-3 Monday and 1-4 or 5 Thursday

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?)

Apartment 3 miles from Campus

Do you socialize? (how long?)

Yes. Depending on the week, from 5 nights a week to none.

Do you exercise? (how long?)

Run 6 miles twice a week and go to the gym 3-4 times a week

How long do you study?

5 week block. Weeks 1-2 10-15 hours each week. Week 3 15-20, week 4 20, week 5, 40

What are your weekends like?

Either go to conferences, Ski trips, or watching national championship college football


THANK YOU!

Your welcome

my friend who goes to keck, ms I, says its a killer. im getting scared. should we be?

 

[OtoNerd]

I'm an MSIV at keck, and I don't think one should be scared about med school, but it is a lot of work...

It's like taking a drink from a fire hose. You have to learn a lot in a short period of time, but that is the same for any school and there is no getting around it.

I can't speak to the current Keck curriculum as I am the last of the "old" curriculum, but the information that I and any current med student ultimately must learn is the same, no matter how it's taught.

It's certainly more difficult for some than others, but even those who struggle the most at the beginning usually get into the swing and are strong by year three.

Hope it helps. I have enjoyed it here and would choose it #1 over any med school if I had to do it over again.

OtoNerd

 

[Susie7]

I have a non-traditional approach to medical school that many people disagree with, but I have found that it works for me, so here goes:

Location (what school?)
MCV/VCU

What year?
MSII

When are you classes? (ex 9-5)
8-12, plus clinical skills small group or preceptorship 1-4 Tues and 2nd semester of MSII we have board review 12-1 Weds/Thurs. Only clinical skills and anything else involving patients is mandatory, so these are the only things I attend.

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?)
Apartment w/in walking distance of campus, but I usually drive unless the weather is especially nice.

Do you socialize? (how long?)
I have a good friend who lives in my apartment building and we hang out a lot...eat out, watch tv/movies, drink, etc. almost everyday.

Do you exercise? (how long?)
I joined a gym and try to attend aerobics classes 4-5days/wk.

How long do you study?
I start studying 3-4 days before the test and will usually put in a good 6hrs/day at that point.

What are your weekends like?
Sometimes I volunteer at a clinic or other times I will teach some MCAT or SAT classes. For the most part, I relax and watch tv.

I know this all makes me sound like a lazy bum, but I actually use all that extra time to explore things on my own, such as learning to suture, observing in the OR, and working on a research project.

 

[charlatangirl]

Location (what school?) - UICCOM

What year? MI

When are your classes? (ex 9-5) Usu. 8:30-12:30, although on Tues/Thurs we have Gross lecture/lab and therefore get home around 6pm

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) Condo, downtown Chicago

Do you socialize? (how long?) Yes but much less than I used to!

Do you exercise? (how long?) Just an hour or so 3-4x/week

How long do you study? 3-6 hrs/day, more on weekends

What are your weekends like? Pretty relaxing, I prefer staying in with my boyfriend, girlfriends or family rather than going out, spending loads of cash and getting hammered...although that still seems to occur more than I expect...


...GOOD LUCK!

 

[Blade28]

(A little tough right now since I'm in my surgery rotation.)

Location (what school?) University of Hawaii

What year? MSIII

When are you classes? (ex 9-5) In the hospital from 0400 - 1900, except when on call

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) Apartment

Do you socialize? (how long?) Not much, usually just hanging out with classmates (if not studying)

Do you exercise? (how long?) Gym 3 times a week

How long do you study? As long as I can stay awake! 🙂 About 2-3 hours on the weekdays, 6-8 hours on my day off. I also try to read whenever I get the chance during downtime during my rotation

What are your weekends like? I get Sunday off

 

[docmemi]

anyone out there at ucla can tell us how their day looks?? preferably someone in the new curriculum. anyone with friends at ucla, do you know how your friend's day is typically like?? thanks.

 

[Lara]

Originally posted by mcgillmed
Ha ha. Two from McGill on one thread. What are the chances?

LOL - I'm not at McGill med, but I went there for undergrad and applied twice (waitlists are pure evil). Montrealers represent! 🙂

At least I'm not suffering through those artic temperatures - it's cold enough in Philly, I can't imagine how awful it must be back home! Brrrrr.

 

[lowbudget]

Location (what school?) UTMB-Galveston

What year? 3

When are you classes? (ex 9-5)
MS1: 8-12 at most, MS2: 1-5 at most... MS3: 1-2 hrs of lectures per day (if you're lucky), learning occurs during rounds and after work.

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?)
Apt 1 block from the hospital, 15 minutes from when I lock my door in the morning to when I'm at the nurse's station pulling a chart.

Do you socialize? (how long?)
Yes (in class, at work, after classes, weekends). MS1-2: Maybe 1-2 nights weeknights (bar, dinner, movie), 1-2 nights weekend nights. MS3: 1 weekend night per week.

Do you exercise? (how long?)
Yes/No. MS1-2: Every other day weights or some sport with classmates. MS3: 1-2 nights per week if I'm lucky.

How long do you study?
MS1: 0-7 hrs per day depending on exam schedule. MS2: 0-10 hrs per day depending on exams, projects. MS2 USMLE season: 0-14 hrs per day. MS3: 0-8 hrs depending on work schedule and exams.

What are your weekends like?
Sports, meals with friends, house party, bar, movie, dates, go home see parents, go to Houston, veg at home, study mucho, sleep, work at hospital, weekend trip somewhere.

 

[8744]

Location (what school?):

LSUHSC-Shreveport

What year?

MSIII

When are you classes?:

On two week Neonatal Nursery block in Pediatrics. (Not NICU.) No classes as such except for Grand Rounds on Thursdays and a noon conference M-T-W-T. All we have to do is two write-ups (H&Ps) on two babies per week (four total) and progress notes every day for these babies. This takes about an hour per day or less. That's it. We also have two half days in Pediatric Subspecialties. This has been the easiest, most relaxing, two weeks of my medical school career.

Pediatrics is a relatively benign rotation. Surgery is exactly opposite and can be quite demanding. 14 hour days were not uncommon. Weekends off were exceedingly rare. Same with OB-gyn.

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) House, with wife, three children, and five dogs.

Do you socialize? (how long?) Not really. We do family and Church things.

Do you exercise? (how long?) I try to run four or five miles per day. I also try to run early in the morning, not because I like to but because I "get it over with" and don't have to worry abut it in the afternoon or evening when, because of family life, it would be very difficult to get out.

How long do you study?

During 1st and 2nd year if you averaged it out probably two hours per day. Much more during first year and practically never during the last months of second year. (Except I studied about six hours per day for a month for Step 1. We had almost two months off between second and third years.)

What are your weekends like? Family, dogs, chores, things like that.

 

[Seaglass]

Location (what school?) Penn State

What year? MS-IV

When are you classes? (ex 9-5) On Rotations. I have 8 months of rotations, 1 of which is "research" and 2 months vacation (10 months total). Worst hours so far this year - MICU with 12 hour days and call q4. Best hours on anesthesia with 6-8 hour days, no rounding. Actually the best hours are on research and vacation. I had to use one of my vacation months to interview for residency though.

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) In an apartment off campus.

Do you socialize? (how long?) Sure, several hours a week. Go out for wings, movies, etc.

Do you exercise? (how long?) Not much, but i have the time too if I was so motivated.

How long do you study? Currently, I don't.

What are your weekends like? Depends on the rotation. In the unit I had Sunday's off but had normal duties otherwise and occasional call. On anesthesia I had all weekends off.

 

[docmemi]

some make it sound like 3rd and 4th year are harder than 1st and 2nd. i always thought ide have it easy once rotations start. am i wrong??

 

[DOtobe]

Rotations aren't harder, it's just that the hours are longer. And you HAVE to go to rotations - you can't skip them like you would miss class. There is no "I don't feel like going to my surgery rotation today so I'll stay home."

Third year is way, way, WAY better than years 1 and 2.

 

[Seaglass]

I agree, third year is better but the hours certainly are a lot longer. I had 2 classmates who couldn't adjust to this, would miss rounds, come in late, leave call early. They are still 3rd years.

Fourth year usually starts tough with sub-internships (rotations with intern-like responsibilities) but gets easy. Really easy.

Casey

 

[6ft3dr2b]

keep the responses coming...this is GREAT!...thanx

 

[Bevo]

Location (what school?)
Ross Medical School

What year?
MS-2

When are you classes? (ex 9-5)
umm, kinda hard to tell right now.
mostly 8-2 with lots of variations during the week due to labs and health clinic days

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?)
across the street from school

Do you socialize? (how long?)
forgot what that is

Do you exercise? (how long?)
3 times a week ~2 hours a day


How long do you study?
lately, around 3-4 hours tops
behind already 🙁
f#$^%$#^#$^ PATH!

What are your weekends like?

read above comments cept add in more study hours and class review hours

 

[6ft3dr2b]

?

 

[raya]

Location (what school) A university in Asia

What year? first year (that's what we call it here)

When are you classes? (ex 9-5) 8-12, with 1:30-4 on Mondays

Where do you live? (apt/on campus?) a place a few blocks away from school

Do you socialize? (how long?) I eat lunch everyday with friends, watch a movie sometimes...I'm happy with that

Do you exercise? (how long?)Aside from walking to school everyday and climbing stairs, I don't get any other exercise


How long do you study?2-8 hours a day, 2 on normal days and 8 on the day before an exam

What are your weekends like?Study, do required projects, sleep, read a couple of non-medical books(trying to finish "Return of the King", watch tv 🙂