r/medschool

im a highschooler rn and i wanna go to med school to be a doctor- been wanting to since i was a kid (probs sports med assuming i match into the appropriate residency) but also i value work life balance and wanna travel alot but being a doctor wouldnt always allow that flexibility. im debating if i should go to med school or not cuz so much people say if they could go back they would not do it again because of stress burnout, etc.... what r other career options that have good work life balance and pay that dont involve math

Hi guyss. I'm an incoming pre med at ucla starting this fall. What are the best ways of getting clinical experience? I already volunteer at a hospital (mostly js wheelchairing patients) and i want something more hands on and patient oriented. Something that not much pre med students have. But also something that i dont need to pay thousands for to get certified. Thanksss!

Hi everyone, to keep this short n sweet, I’m really curious if I’m alone on this/ if others have had the same experience. For reference/backstory I’m an M2, and since starting medical school I have not been as involved in group chats/ keeping up with friends from before medical school, since keeping up with school has become a priority/ taken over. Basically, now it feels like the script has been flipped and every time I do reach out / make an effort to see friends, I’m made out to be a bad friend, for not being around, when I’m literally just studying and trying to pass. Curious if anyone has dealt with the same situation/ anything similar and how you’ve handled it.

Hello everyone!

I recently got accepted into JUMC in the English program. I would be very grateful for any tips, opinions, or advice current or past students would be willing to share about the university, support and resources, and housing advice. Thank you :)

I am an M0 student starting in August and I just got my first stethoscope. And I started crying because it feels like my dream is coming true. I have always wanted to become a doctor and coming from poverty, it always felt like a unreachable dream. And now I get to be a doctor iA.

But afterwards I was like am I overreacting?
But I am genuinely extremely extremely going crazy. I get to be a doctor iA?

All my life I saw docs and would literally dream of being in their shoes one day and now I can be the one to put my stethoscope around my neck? I feel like I am hallucinating and it will all be taken away.

Did any of you all have similar experiences? And if you did, did this feeling occur again before the first class? First anatomy lab? Clinicals?

Sorry, I am going crazy.....

I’m an incoming MS1, starting to think about what specialties I may be interested in so I can prepare for match (by tailoring my extracurriculars). I don’t plan on making a solid decision until after rotations, but wanted to have a general idea of what specialties would best fit my lifestyle goals. My most important factor is a good life-work balance (<= 40 hour weeks), but I would also prefer low on-call burden, regular hours (no nights), and Mon-Fri work week (or three 12 hour shifts within Mon-Fri). Pay isn’t as important to me, as long as average salary is =>$250,000.

I’ve seen some data that shows most specialties work >40 hour work weeks, but I’m not sure how much of this is due to individual choice vs. requirement from most jobs. Same for on-call burden (is it always required or is it optional for some specialties?). Any advice on what specialties to consider? I plan to put a list together, then explore the ones that are of greatest interest to me. For example, I’m scientifically interested in anesthesia, but I think it tends to be more demanding than the lifestyle I desire (unless it is realistically possible to work ~40 hours without on-call in some settings?)

• Would be 37 years old matriculating on my current timeline if everything goes to plan (non trad post bacc route)
• From my military service, I have 24 months of GI Bill left which would cover most med school tuition and as long as you have a day left on the first day of the semester, it would cover the semester in full; I am trying to file for VRE benefits for additional time to cover education but this is 50/50 so I assume I wont be approved for it. I would get about $2K/month (live in MCOL) I am in classes until it runs out (which doing the math, would cover M1, M2 and maybe half of M3.
• I have service several injuries that, mostly due to incorrect surgery and post op treatment, in the military and VA, did not heal properly and I was granted 100% Permanent and Total Veteran Disability so it covers all my living expenses, health care for my spouse and kid, thankfully I was approved. I won't lie, I do have nerve damage to my non-dominant hand & neck and programs have told me this should not hold me back unless I pursue a surgical specialty (I would like to pursue internal medicine or EM). I essentially receive $4.1K/month for the remainder of my life since my issues are very unlikely to improve.

It seems like a lot of students discourage older people from pursuing medicine due to family commitments, debt at an older age and loss of income. Given these benefits, I feel I have more opportunity than others to pursue this goal I was always too afraid to go after. Give my circumstances, would you pursue med school at my age?

Hi everyone,
I’m currently navigating a challenging path toward my dream of becoming a physician. As an expat living in Saudi Arabia, my options for medical school are extremely limited and prohibitively expensive, and full scholarships for medicine are nearly impossible to secure.
However, I have an opportunity for a fully funded nursing (RN) scholarship at a specialized private college here in Riyadh. The program is excellent, but it comes with a mandatory service commitment to work at their affiliated hospital for a few years after graduation.
I’ve been considering a strategic alternative to the traditional "Pre-med" route. Often, it’s assumed that one must major in Biology or Chemistry to be a competitive medical school applicant in the US or Canada. However, I’ve realized that admissions committees don't necessarily prioritize the major itself; they prioritize the completion of the required science prerequisites (like General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Biology).
My plan is to pursue the Nursing degree, which provides a solid clinical foundation and guarantees immediate employment. I intend to complete all necessary science prerequisites during my undergraduate studies. However, I’m concerned because my college is quite small and the schedule is very intensive; I’m not yet sure if they will allow me to take extra courses, summer classes, or overload my schedule to fit in those specific science prerequisites.
If the college doesn't allow me to take those extra science courses during my degree, I am considering taking them as a "post-bacc" or through community college/online courses after graduation while I fulfill my service commitment.
I would love your honest feedback on this

Is the "RN to MD" pathway considered a sound and realistic strategy, even if I have to complete some prerequisites after my nursing degree?

Would my clinical experience as an RN provide a significant advantage in the medical school application process, or could it be seen as a distraction?

Given that I might not be able to fit the prerequisites into my nursing curriculum, do you think this approach is still viewed favorably by admissions committees?

I truly appreciate any insights or personal experiences you can share. Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m 24 years old and I recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging.
I’m trying to decide what my next step should be. I want to continue my education, and one of the options I’ve been seriously considering is medical school.
My biggest concern is that if I choose that path, I’ll likely graduate in my early 30s, and then I’d still have residency ahead of me. I’m wondering if that’s too late or if it’s something people generally don’t regret.
For those who started medical school later or graduated in their 30s, what was your experience? If you were in my position, would you go for it, or would you choose a different path?
I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thanks!

Hi guys, making my posting debut cause I seriously need advice. I'm on rotation in the labor and delivery ward and I absolutely love it. But everyday I find myself sick to my stomach before going in because some of the nurses are so horribly mean.

I know there's good and bad everywhere you go (and some of the nurses have been incredibly amazing) but a lot of them have been quite mean. It's subtle enough that you almost find yourself second guessing it all. But things like making fun of wrong answers you gave to your preceptor, continuously "forgetting" to call you for cases when you're on call and then snickering about it, being very exclusive in every conversation.

I completely understand that we're lacking a lot of the knowledge and hands on skills that many of these experienced nurses have and its probably very frustrating for them to have us around. I completely empathize with them (and I was actually a nurse before medical school so I really do get how busy it can be), but I just can't ever imagine myself acting in the way they do towards anyone, including other students.

I have tried to just be as kind and helpful as possible. I offer to help with any tasks, always trying to help clean up, bring stuff to patients, do any tasks they ask of me with a smile. But it's almost like the harder I try the more annoyed they get with me and I'm not sure what else to do at this point.

The unfortunate thing is the way they talk about patients is also really sad for me to see. I know burnout is real but its hard for me to understand acting in that way.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this and has insight or advice into how they manage it? It's my favorite placement so far yet its hard for me to enjoy because of the bullying. Thank you in advance.

Currently in my summer break in between MS1 and MS2 and thinking about setting up a schedule. What worked best for you? I want to take it early Marchish if possible with no dedicated time 🥲

The ipad I used for my 4 years of undergrad is on its final stretch… any good ipad recommendations?

Model? Size? 128gb vs 256gb? Etc…

I’ll be using a mac aswell.
Thanks in advance and I hope u guys are having a great day😁

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice because I’m honestly stressing about this.
I graduated high school about 4 years ago. After that, I started an undergraduate degree in my home country, but I never graduated. My GPA was only in the low 70s overall, and I had a few courses where I was close to failing or did fail.
When I applied to an MBBS program in China, I only used my high school transcripts and graduation certificate. Since I never completed my undergraduate degree, I didn’t include it in my application. I was accepted, have already paid my tuition and fees, and I’m preparing to go.
Now I’m worried because many applications ask for all education attended, and I’m not sure if I made a mistake by not listing my university studies.
I do have several years of work experience and other things I could provide if needed, but my main concern is whether I should proactively contact the university and disclose my previous university attendance, or if it’s okay since my highest completed qualification is still my high school diploma.
Has anyone been in a similar situation or knows how Chinese universities typically handle this? I’m looking for honest advice on whether I should tell them now or leave it alone.
Thanks in advance.

Hello everyone! Starting medical school in 1 month and I'm starting to get my things together for the move. I was wondering if anyone had any input on some "must-haves" for medical school, anything you think would be helpful, or anything you may have forgotten when you started! I saw many people mentioning a good desk chair, but I will be living in graduate housing and they already give you that shitty wooden chair...should I get one anyway? Thanks :D

How many gap years did you take if any and what did you work on/accomplish?

If you didn’t take a gap year, was it easy transitioning from college to medical school? Did you regret it?

I’m a med student and I genuinely love what I study. But I’m getting tired of the social media trends and cultural narratives that romanticize medicine like it’s some "sacred, divine calling."

​At the end of the day, it's just a job. A highly skilled one, but still just a profession.

​My dilemma is this: If it’s just a job, why are we sacrificing our youth, health, and sanity for it? If it's not a divine mission, what is the ultimate goal of all this insane effort? Financial stability? Prestige? Or are we just conditioned to overwork?

​Would love to hear your honest thoughts

Heyy, I will be shadowing an attending physician in a hospital so I was wondering the proper outfit? Like are we supposed to wear any scrubs or business casual?

hi I’m a 6th year RN, 29 years old, starting a post-bacc this fall with hopes to apply to med school in 2028 or 2029 depending, I have experience in the ICU, just recently started working in the ED and thought I would like EM bc I love critical patients and thinking on the fly but I’ve been down the EM burnout bunny hole and I’m considering IR now — whatcha think, I clearly have time to think about it but I kinda want hear others takes!

Hi everyone, I am currently a rising senior majoring in business at a private 4 year and decided this summer I want to go to med school after exploring the health field more. I’ve taken anatomy & physiology (at a state college) and chem 1 (at a community college) so far this summer and plan to take chem 2 at a community college for the next half of summer. I also plan to take a bulk of the prereqs at my 4 year since i only have 3 major required classes left. I want to preferably only take 1 gap year between post grad and med school, and I have a few questions.

Will having my chem sequence done at a cc look bad to med schools (especially top ones)?

What can I do to be more competitive/what should I immediately do now/once back on campus?

Will I have to do a formal post-bacc or is an informal one sufficient for my circumstance?

My plan for my last two semesters: Sem 1: -major required course -major required course (writing) -bio 1 -organic chem 1 (if i can get in ;-; otherwise physics 1)

Sem 2: -major required course -bio 2 -organic chem 2 (or physics 2) -psychology or sociology

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance🙏

I have a rare genetic disorder that affects one of my tumor suppressing genes, called Birt Hogg Dube syndrome. Based on what's known, I have a high risk of kidney cancer, collapsed lungs, and skin conditions. I've already had numerous collapsed lungs & my recurrence rate is extremely high (>80%).

I don't know whether this would be a negative thing to mention when I apply to med school/interview. I think I could safely explain how I have a genetic condition, but I don't know whether it will be advantageous or disadvantageous to mention my other risk factors (particularly the risk of collapsed lungs). Does anyone have any advice in regards to this or, perhaps, even personal experience?

Thank you