Any medical students or doctors here?

[Gungalley]

Firstly, I wanna say I think this is the right forum to post over thema. Anyway, are there any medical students or doctors over here? Any tips for someone whose about to start medical school?

[Big War Bird]

My wife is a doctor and I was at her side through med school. Everything Nakandakari Lobato said is true, but especially the stress parts.

[Shaba Wangy]

Careful with the towering egos. Especially of the surgeons. Many think they are little gods.

Oh! And make friends. Network. There will be many days when things will be due and you won't know unless you ask, and explaining things to them will make you know them better. What school are you going to?

[Gungalley]

Well for my country and school's syllabus (theres only 1 undergraduate med sch in my country), its a 5 year course and the first 2 are pre clinical years altho u get some attachments to hospitals. I just had a look at my anatomy books and I was shocked. I didn't know you have to study (and remmeber most of) an encyclopedia for your exams. Goodness imagine studying Netter's Atlas of the Human Body for anatomy (And not the only book you need for that subject)

Im trying to exercise every week (running and gym). Is there time to join activities in school? I'm tempted to join 1 (or a few) activities but I'm afraid I can't commit to it. Most people from other faculties have classes a few days a week, but I have classes every day.

Oh, and does alcohol really kill brain cells?

And aren't most students really tenacious in med school, given how difficult it is to get admitted in the first place?

[Gungalley]

Are you still a med student or are you an MD?

[Ummon]

My modest point of view is that the idea that "everyone who takes med school is smart" is hugely incorrect. Quite the opposite, often this is not the case: yet med students, and especially good ones who later become doctors (in Italy around 60% don't), are very hard-working, often highly motivated. That is what makes the difference. You can be as smart as you wish, but if you don't like it, you won't succeed.

Infact, the sacrifice of your time is what makes it a good school for life. The most important info I burrowed from medical studies, aside from a few enjoyable courses like physiology and neurology, is that you must do what you like.

[Ummon]

Ummon,

Your signature is cryptic. "Your patron is an inane or empty Jesus."?

But then my Latin is very weak.

NL

Talk of synchronicity: my patron is an empty jesus indeed.

[Ummon]

And Ummon what does it mean?

NL

My patron here when I became a citizen was "Jesus the Inane". Your comment made me notice, that my signature's translation of this name as Jesus Inanis held a possible ambiguous meaning, as I am a fan of Zen Buddhism and I study religions as well: my patron (as in patron saint) may be seen as an empty, or void Jesus. Therefore, in synchronic terms (a Jungian concept which almost nobody understands, which is akin to deja-vu, in the sense that it puts an accent on meaningful coincidences as a consequence of the mental apparatus which perceives them and not their probability of occurrence like many think), I appreciated the irony of the event.

[Simetrical]

Ummon,

Your signature is cryptic. "Your patron is an inane or empty Jesus."?

But then my Latin is very weak.

NL

Off-topic, but: he means to say that his patron is [user]Jesus the Inane[/user]. Almost everyone with badges has a "patron" who first proposed them for the rank of Citizen. Mine, for instance, is [user]Crandar[/user]. You can read our rather pretentious Constitution, which describes a number of relevant procedures and so on (section 3 is of particular interest in this regard). You'll probably have people starting to offer to patronize you shortly after you get to fifty posts and become eligible, judging by what I see of your posts.

[misfitsfiend138]

im a pre-med student, any advice for me as well

[misfitsfiend138]

im a bio major and my gpa is 3.38 so far. when did u start studyn for ur mcat?

[misfitsfiend138]

so u started studying the mcat your freshmen year of college? i guess ill start this year (sophmore year). o yea is calculus a needed course?

[Sétanta]

You are going to need a higher GPA than that if you want to get in anywhere. 3.38 is not at all competetive, sorry to say. All big time Medical Schools reject people with 4.0s on a regular basis.

Showing that you are dedicated in more than just grades is also critical. Working in hospitals is common, but not all pre-med people do that. I personally work as a volunteer EMT/Firefighter with time in the ER as well.

[misfitsfiend138]

You are going to need a higher GPA than that if you want to get in anywhere. 3.38 is not at all competetive, sorry to say. All big time Medical Schools reject people with 4.0s on a regular basis.

shot down like a fighter plane in a godzilla movie..............
well i just finished my 1st year in college, about to go into second. i dont think a 3.38 is terrible, i mean i got about 2 years to bring em up. i was told the main thing is your mcat score and i have to get at least a 3.5.

as for activities im in a fraternity and im thinking about joining the pre-med fraternity/group this year. i also know a few doctors who have offered me internships, pencil-pushing, etc.

[Sétanta]

shot down like a fighter plane in a godzilla movie..............
well i just finished my 1st year in college, about to go into second. i dont think a 3.38 is terrible, i mean i got about 2 years to bring em up. i was told the main thing is your mcat score and i have to get at least a 3.5.

as for activities im in a fraternity and im thinking about joining the pre-med fraternity/group this year. i also know a few doctors who have offered me internships, pencil-pushing, etc.

I don't mean to be harsh, but it is true that it will be very hard to be competitive for med school with a 3.38 if you don't have an absolutely outstanding exta-curricular activity resume. I wouldn't say there is a main thing to getting into med school, as mcat, grades and activities are all very important.

I'm not sure how good a frat looks (it doesn't look bad), but the main thing is to do things that could be considered community service (like in high school),and stuff in the medical field. if a doctor offers you anything, take it. Having activities and keeping up grades proves you are more than a textbook memorizer and are capable of staying alive during med school.

[Gungalley]

Thanks NL. Really appreciate your advice. Over here, medicine can be studied as an undergraduate course. I'm starting my first year next week. I just got my copy of Netter's. Its really expensive. No CD, but it gives you access to the student consult website. And I'm shocked by the number of terms there are. I sure hope you don't have to memorise the name of every nerve, bone and muscle but I got a feeling you would have to. And having your peers examine your body? The whole class or just one person? I better start going to the gym. Oh and why is networking so emphasised? Thanks.

[Mathius]

Avoid drink.
Self medication, while quick and easy, ain't smart.
/goto 1 and 2

[Niccolo Machiavelli]

Just don't become fixated on a career and don't assume you can save anyone from what is inevitable or burn-out is your fate.
Help people living a happy life and you may be closer to the pursuit of your own happyness.

Just do the best you can to not have regret on the list of possible thoughts when you die. It may be your last. Take matters lightly.

The end is important in all things...

[Gary88]

not to be a bummer but med students are statistically the most likely to get a drug/drink/both addiction get divorced and kill themselves...so really try and find a way to keep you chilled out that doesn't affect your work (thus making you even more stressed) you want to do this and you will succeed in the end (if you work hard)

[Gungalley]

Can anyone tell me why networking is so emphasised upon?