Summer and Freedom!

He made it!!! First year of medical school - done! Boom.

People keep asking us what are we going to do to celebrate. Celebrate?? I'm putting my man to work! :) He has a long overdue honey-to-do list. A lot of them are fun nesting things too! And he is excited to do them. (actually while i write this, he is sanding down her dresser that we are refinishing). I asked him a few questions last night - what was the hardest thing in medical school (a subject, a teacher, an obstacle, or an adjustment)? Was medical school what he expected? What would he have done differently. And although my husband isn't into self-reflection and for those of you who know him personally, know that he doesn't dwell (at all!) on the bad and just moves on. So he really didn't have too much to say. The only thing that I could get out of him was that medical school was more manageable (I would say easier but then you would get the wrong impression) than what he had expected. He thought that medical school would be set up where no one was allowed to get an A, if you are late to your test you fail your block, and you are forced to study 24/7 and still never be able to pass. Although it takes a student a few tests to figure out expectations or how to study, it is possible to get an A. If you are late to your test or have a family emergency (we have had 3 M1s lose a parent this year), they will work with you and let you retake it. You are an investment to them so they are always willing to help you do better in school. And you do get a life outside of medical school, it is just on your school's schedule not yours (basically you only get a life after Friday tests).

It's crazy to think how naive we were and where all we came from before we got here. You might remember this quick change of plans, which is actually funny because I work with the lady that called us in Boston.

What does a first year medical student do during their summer?
Most do research. For more competitive residencies, it's frowned upon if you don't. If you are wanting to do a more relaxed field, than travel and enjoy your summer off! A lot of students are having trouble finding research jobs. Let me re-phrase, they are having trouble finding PAID research jobs. Like with anything, there are budget cuts, less grants given out for research, and less a program can pay a student. In all honesty, they know that medical students will end up doing the work for free just because they need it on their CV. Some are lucky enough to find paid research - $1,000 to $2,000 for the whole 2-3 months. Also, there is the question what field do I do my research in? Are you supposed to already know what specialty you want to go into after first year? Again, for some of the competitive specialties that might be a question they bring up during your interview - Why did you spend your time doing research in this field if you were wanting to go into this field? On paper it may show indecisiveness. Some of the more competitive fields, want you to be all or nothing for their field. They don't want to hear how you flipped a coin at the last minute between two specialties. And other fields could care less. You can see how finding research or what to do with your summer has been a strain on some of the students the past few months during school. Budgeting to make that student loan last a few more months.