Medical School

[somebody]

Hey guys does any one have any experience of Medical school or knows how crazy it is once you start med school?

plz share your experience

[Vagabond -SC2-]

Hey if you want to PM with specific questions I will be more then happy to try and help you out.

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Vagabond -SC2-

Hey if you want to PM with specific questions I will be more then happy to try and help you out.

Why not share them here so the rest of our viewers can benefit?

[Vagabond -SC2-]

Doh,,,

sure ok post up some more specific questions and I will try and help out....

[somebody]

Here are the questions (specify your answer in terms of country if you need to, US would be nice ):

1. DO you think taking classes for MCATs is a good idea? does it help you out?
2. I heard from people that first 2 years are hard in terms of material covered. There is tons of memorization. Is it really that crazy that you become a "book worm"?
3. ALso heard that you are basically on your own when it comes to studying. People usually relay less on lecture. Is it true?
4. Also found out that the paper work never stops once you apply for medical school and get in.

I have talked to about 15 medical students and only 2 said that it is just like any university that you attended. Most of them said that it is hard as hell where your sleep hours are cut, you don't get time to shower and etc...

I really want to go to med school but all these comment is making me have second thoughts. Also i am not a rich kid so i have to think about my financial situation as well.

Elaborate on all these questions if you can and add something you didn't expect (assuming you already been through med school or currently in one), something bizarre.

Thanks

[Vagabond -SC2-]

Ok I feel that I can give you some good advice and information on most of your concerns. But first let me share where I am coming from. I have my Ph.D. and my wife is a medical doctor (OB/Gyn). We have been together since college. So even though I am not a medical doctor I am very aware of all the ins and outs.

So let me start with your last comment first…
“I really want to go to med school but all these comment is making me have second thoughts. Also i am not a rich kid so i have to think about my financial situation as well.”
Ask yourself why you want to go to med school? I am not going to lie to you it is tough and a lot of hard work and it does not just stop after you graduate if you want to be a practicing physician. Residency programs can be brutal depending on the area of interest and physical location. For example surgery and OB/Gyn are way, way demanding. Also, do not worry about the tuition, period. We put my wife though med school on our own. Yes huge student loans (as a grad student I barely made enough money to support myself. There are other ways of getting money and loan repayments (most of these, deal with supporting under privileged areas (think Northern Exposure – the TV show). Or the military. We had plans to be together and could not risk her being sent somewhere unknown (your situation may be different).

1. DO you think taking classes for MCATs is a good idea? does it help you out?
Yes I think the MCAT prep classes are good idea. This also depends on your standardize testing abilities. Most medical doctors I know took a prep class.

2. I heard from people that first 2 years are hard in terms of material covered. There is tons of memorization. Is it really that crazy that you become a "book worm"?
Yep, there is a lot a whole lot. This also depends on your abilities, your study time will different if you never had to open a book in college vs. had to study all the time. You will be pressured but you will also find that you have some fun time to, BIG TO REMEMBER – it is only 2 years you can cut back on parting for 2 years. Years 3 and 4 are your rotations years and are better (hands on). Jsut dont forget about the second part of the boards.

3. ALso heard that you are basically on your own when it comes to studying. People usually relay less on lecture. Is it true?
I believe there is a lot of truth to this. Many times my wife would skips classes to put in extra study time for the next days test. The institutions or your class or teachers usually provide older tests and study guides to help.

4. Also found out that the paper work never stops once you apply for medical school and get in.
I am not sure what you are referring to here. I do not remember my wife having that many issues with this (again this is a finite time frame and in the long run will not amount to much.

Money is always a concern and if you opt to go it yourself (very doable) just remember be conservative with you money (every $1 on loans really = more like $7). Not to scare you but your loan will be part of your life for a long time. Hell it will be a house basically (a large house). But it is a means to an end.
Ok so were are we (me and my wife ) now you may ask?
- 3 years out of my post doc working for an international pharmaceutical company
- Wife is 2 years out of residency.
- OK so money both made next to nothing as post-doc and resident. Then the next year = for me a doubling of my salary and my wife’s x4….

[Celeste]

Originally Posted by somebody

Here are the questions (specify your answer in terms of country if you need to, US would be nice ):

1. DO you think taking classes for MCATs is a good idea? does it help you out?
2. I heard from people that first 2 years are hard in terms of material covered. There is tons of memorization. Is it really that crazy that you become a "book worm"?
3. ALso heard that you are basically on your own when it comes to studying. People usually relay less on lecture. Is it true?
4. Also found out that the paper work never stops once you apply for medical school and get in.

I have talked to about 15 medical students and only 2 said that it is just like any university that you attended. Most of them said that it is hard as hell where your sleep hours are cut, you don't get time to shower and etc...

I really want to go to med school but all these comment is making me have second thoughts. Also i am not a rich kid so i have to think about my financial situation as well.

Elaborate on all these questions if you can and add something you didn't expect (assuming you already been through med school or currently in one), something bizarre.

Thanks

1. It doesn't hurt. There are also many online sites that can help prepare you, as well as free pre-test sites like these: Kaplan is the most used online.
The free pre-test is located on the bottom of the page.Your Complete Guide to the MCAT
MCAT Test Change Resource Center[/url] MCAT-prep.com - MCAT Tests FREE! - The Only Prep You Need

2. Physician, Know Thyself! Medical school is a serious time and financial commitment. Being a book worm isn't all bad. That's the easy part.
It's true that you'll most likely be buried in homework and study (at most times), but the rewards are well worth it. Even in premed, I had 2 to 4 hours of homework and study everyday. Before exams, it's not uncommon to spend fifteen hours a day studying.
Before entering Med school, you need to examine your commitment (four years of medical school and three to twelve years of residency and fellowship) and desire to be there.

3. Not necessarily. There are study groups, free tutors, and lectures.
Make alot of friends and then get together often to study.

The required GPA thru premed to get you into med schools is 3.2 and most accepted have 3.5 and above.
Make sure your volunteering, tutoring if possible, and being active in health care activities throughout your premed years.

Best wishes! If your committed, you can do anything!

[somebody]

Very well. Thanks for advice and help. I can see that i have few things to improve on before i get there (e.g. I really have hard time studying straight for 3-4 hours).

2 More questions:
1) I know its pass/fail system there so is it hard to a passing grade?
2) What were your MCAT scores celeste and vegabond's wife?
Your guys advice is really helpful yet scary but i won't let it stop me

[vegabond give your wife a pad on the back and celeste you have to give yourself a pad on the back.]