Can a medical student have a life besides books?

mikittyXD · 03-07-2008, 09:59 AM

since I began medical school my social life has almost almost disappeared

anyone with the same problem? I'm curious about med students life in other countries!
So speak up!

Smeer · 03-08-2008, 04:52 AM

Yea I've been in med. school for a little over two months, and I have to say that I feel the same way! Studying is getting slightly easier because I'm getting used to the tough words, but in terms of having free time it's horrible! Everyone says it gets better though so I'm hopeful

mikittyXD · 03-08-2008, 05:13 AM

im in my first year here (our major is 6 years straight, we don't have pre-med) and it's horrible! For my exams i spent a month and a half studying eveyday, all day like 12hours :s

taimur · 03-10-2008, 09:27 AM

2 months into my first year i can say tht its not abt always havin ur noses buried in books but its more abt being worried abt things like failing, passing, exams, vivas, suplees which kill ur appetite for doing anything fun........

mikittyXD · 03-10-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taimur

2 months into my first year i can say tht its not abt always havin ur noses buried in books but its more abt being worried abt things like failing, passing, exams, vivas, suplees which kill ur appetite for doing anything fun........

Yes I agree! The pressure to do good, and (worse even) the pressure to do better than others is horrible! but thats actually what makes me want to go out more with my friends, but I can't so much because I have sooo much to study

Fareeha · 06-29-2008, 05:46 AM

its so much tough that if we get a free time like after finals a few days we get soo bored isnt that ?

mikittyXD · 06-29-2008, 06:13 AM

its true, you feel like you have nothing to do!

Fareeha · 06-30-2008, 11:07 AM

yah n we ultimately open our books bak

haaiko · 07-01-2008, 05:14 PM

Can a medical student have a life besides books?

Absolutely, I have plenty of time as long as i program my stuff, my daily basis isn't just studying for the closest test, but i read a bit from all i have that period even before getting to see the subject in class. Then, when i have a test, i've already studied so i don't have to kill my head the whole day.

Do light sports, run a while, sleep well, read literature different than medicine, there is said that "those who just know medicine, doesn't even know medicine" sounds better in spanish cause i'm familiar with the expression in english

By the way, i can even play poker on wekends with friends, or other people to get more money to buy books or other stuff

haaiko · 07-01-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikittyXD

Yes I agree! The pressure to do good, and (worse even) the pressure to do better than others is horrible! but thats actually what makes me want to go out more with my friends, but I can't so much because I have sooo much to study

I don't see as a good thing trying to be better than anybody, it just adds some emotional issues to your life, i think that if you are concerned only in what and how are others doing you don't get to know what is the thing you like the most of your medical formation and you might not take the best of it.

As you get through neuro sciences you'll notice most of your efforts in remembering everything are in vain, since we learn a lot of junk info that will be gone once the period is over. A few amount of people can have hypermnesia and those of course have issues

.

mikittyXD · 07-02-2008, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haaiko

Can a medical student have a life besides books?

Absolutely, I have plenty of time as long as i program my stuff, my daily basis isn't just studying for the closest test, but i read a bit from all i have that period even before getting to see the subject in class. Then, when i have a test, i've already studied so i don't have to kill my head the whole day.

Do light sports, run a while, sleep well, read literature different than medicine, there is said that "those who just know medicine, doesn't even know medicine" sounds better in spanish cause i'm familiar with the expression in english

By the way, i can even play poker on wekends with friends, or other people to get more money to buy books or other stuff

that would be 'um médico que só sabe de medicina, nem de medicina sabe' - a doctor who only knows about medicine, doesn't even know medicine. Its funny that you mention that, because it's written in big letters in my college

well it depends, my college has a lot of class hours during the semester, sometimes i leave home at 8 am and get home at 8 pm...after that i don't really feel like studying..So i suppose it really depends on how much time you actually have to study during the semester. I also have a lot of papers, that take a lot of time, and i have about 6 or 7 subjects each semester...I try to keep up, but it's a lot of stuff! If you add that up with other activities (I play cello) and time for your friends, boyfriend, sports...I end up not having that much free time.

mikittyXD · 07-02-2008, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haaiko

I don't see as a good thing trying to be better than anybody, it just adds some emotional issues to your life, i think that if you are concerned only in what and how are others doing you don't get to know what is the thing you like the most of your medical formation and you might not take the best of it.

As you get through neuro sciences you'll notice most of your efforts in remembering everything are in vain, since we learn a lot of junk info that will be gone once the period is over. A few amount of people can have hypermnesia and those of course have issues

.

You have to try to do better than others, the admittance to your specialty (after the medical degree) depends on your average during the degree, and it's decided nationally (the openings for each specialty are for all the medical schools in the country - 7). So it is a lot of pressure.
And yes, i know we forget most of what we learn, but that still doesn't mean we don't have to study than still