<p>@iwbB,
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<p>I hope to continue to conduct research during the ms1/2 years and would be somewhat miffed if that was not possible. Were you able to conduct “outside” work during ms1/2?</p>
<p>^This would be a great thing to ask your prospective schools, especially the students who you meet there (eg on interviews). Ask if they or their friends do anything other than school–eg research, jobs, etc. For us, we are expected to be free from 8am until 7-8pm every school day for academic requirements. Now, do we have stuff to do 8am-8pm? No. We are in classes around 20h per week, and most weeks it’s the same 20h, but we’re expected to be available regardless. Things they spring on us might be patient encounters, clinical requirements, lectures about other topics (eg interprofessional care). This expectation makes it tough to have outside commitments. </p>
<p>Honestly, I can’t think of any student my year, the year above me, or the year beneath me who has a job or does research outside of school. Which isn’t to say that’s impossible, just that time requirements really vary by school and you should make sure to ask!</p>
<p>I called up 3 med schools that I’m looking into ( two MD and one D.O school) regarding the physics situation. They said that they really don’t care when or where I take it as long as it’s before I apply to their schools. Though NYMC did warn about the MCATs. I know these are only three schools but I’ll ask more in the future.</p>
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<p>My old roommate, who graduated from John Hopkins Med, is one person I know who thought med school was easier. He’s very ambitious though-had maintained a 3.9 GPA on a 2.7 curve, worked 3 part-time jobs throughout college, and went straight through to med school meaning he studied for the MCAT during undergrad. He slept on average 3-4 hours a night and didn’t need more sleep than that. Maybe he found it easier because of the pass/fail system. Our college was curved to a 2.7. It’s rare, but for some people, likely those who need very little sleep, med school is easier simply because of the grading system.</p>
<p>plumazul,</p>
<p>I am involved in student government as well as admissions and also need to have social/free time plus MD/PhDs at my school take extra coursework during 1st year so research would simply have not been possible during MS1. You learn during MS1 to become more efficient such that MS2 was easier despite being even more work than MS1 but my student government roles increased so I still didn’t have time for research. One classmate tried to do both and eventually stopped with lab work. Basic science work is just too much on top of med school.</p>
<p>I think the thing is, is that most incoming med students have no concept of what a huge time suck med school is. They think (rightly so, in my opinion) that they were more or less rockstar undergrads who managed to do it all (for the most part), so there’s no reason they won’t be able to still do it all once they get to med school. They think they’re the exception, and that their time management skills are superior to everyone else’s, and that of course they’ll be able to keep doing whatever they like to do on top of med school.</p>
<p>And then after a short period of time, they realize what they’ve gotten themselves into, and reluctantly agree to just work on school. I absolutely without a doubt promise you that school will (or at least, should) keep you plenty busy, but not so busy that you go insane–just busy enough that you might be finally getting a taste at what your future holds (or so they tell me…).</p>
<p>In fact, that’s my go-to answer to the ever-present question from friends and family–“How’s med school?” “It’s keeping me busy!”</p>
<p>As part of his welcome to incoming med students, the director of student health at D1’s med school told them to make a list of the 10 most important people and activities in their life: significant other, children, parents, friends, pet, regular exercise, enough sleep, a sport, a hobby, any other EC activity --then cross 7 of those off the list because there wouldn’t be enough time. </p>
<p>And Plum–don’t forget you will be expected to participate in a variety non-academic activities–like class meetings, class projects, clinics, community service projects, student specialty interest groups, professional membership organizations, student representatives to various boards and school organizations. All of which eat up your limited free time.</p>
<p>Anyone want to comment on what the med schools told me?</p>
<p>I don’t believe your post will change anyone’s opinion. It is still best to take pre-med rec’s at you home school (or one of equal or better quality) and not in the summer. To do anything else is a red flag. It will look like you are taking an easier path, which of course you are. Adcom’s are not idiots.</p>
<p>kristin,
this is exactly my D’s comment when she mentioned that she is interviewing applicants. Just as you said, exact words: “they do not realize what they’ve getting themselves into”
“but not so busy that you go insane”, well “insane” episodes did happen. It is OK as long as you learn how to deal with them, what breaks them for you. In D’s case, she has to get together with certain people to start feeling normal, to bring herself back so to speak. Unfortunate fact is that sometime she has to be with others who tend to bring this insanity back. Hopefully it is limited for time periood before big exams.</p>
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<p>It shouldn’t be. What if I want to save money by graduating early? What if I want to work on a double major or a minor my last 2 years of college? And I believe that someone said that a cc class isn’t always easy. Plus aren’t summer classes harder because they go at a faster pace? Now they are easy?</p>
<p>Okay lets say that I do take physics over the summer and get an A in both classes. How much of a negative effect will this have on me? Like will I be rejected right away? Is it really that big of a deal? I would imagine in this economy that med schools would be more understanding about classes taken at cc’s.</p>
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<p>Well, you would have wasted a summer while much of your competition did something wonderful with their summer. 
Summers are precious, use them wisely.</p>
<p>Well put, Plum. And it would still look cheesy. </p>
<p>And OP, whether you think something should or shouldn’t matter, just ain’t real important to your app. It is what it is and you have made it clear you are doing the summer CC classes to make it easier on yourself. Don’t blame the med schools for being accurate.</p>
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<p>Actually no it’s so I could save money and graduate early. I also only want to take ONLY bio and geosci classes my Jr and Sr year. And okay I do want it a little easy on me with physics. I hate it dearly with a passion. I’ve been in orgo chem for 4 weeks now and I even like that better !!!</p>
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<p>What would be considered wonderful?</p>
<p>Columbia09, </p>
<p>I don’t think that you want to listen to the answer of the question you asked these wise and experienced parents. It seems like what you want is to be told to go ahead and do what you propose to do–that there won’t be any repercussions with respect to your applications. As one of the posters said a couple of pages ago, none of the messages sent by taking physics away from your home school is a message that you want to send.</p>
<p>Could you possibly take a non-medschool prerequisite course over the summer to make room in your schedule to take the physics class during the regular school year? It’s unlikely they will care if you took English Lit or African History in the summer, but science classes?</p>
<p>The thing is, you never know exactly how a particular admissions person/committee will view taking the mandated courses at cc, or an “easier” college, or in the summer…</p>
<p>You aren’t the first student to want to do this. A lot do it thinking it will be easier to get the good grade…and ad comms aren’t stupid, they know this too. And of course there are some students who do it to save money. But ad comms don’t know which students are which.</p>
<p>For some ad comms, they may not think a thing of it. Great – good for you. Other ad comms? It may be a big red flag…</p>
<p>They are considering so, so many applicants…and they have so few spaces available…and they have to come up with some kind of criteria for winnowing the pile…DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM ANY EXCUSE to put yours in the reject pile?</p>
<p>Columbia,</p>
<p>Every reason other than money is a reason med schools don’t care about so they aren’t going to cut you any slack. As far as med schools are concerned, if money was a concern you should have gone to a cheaper school or applied to one where you would get merit aid. Going to lower ranked or state schools are not dinged the way community college is.</p>
<p>The reason you heard things like “CC classes can be hard” or “summer courses can move too fast” is that we are trying to caution someone like you who thinks CC is an automatic A and thus it’s worth the risk of a red flag. You probably will get a higher grade but it’s just not worth it. Is trying so save one semester or year of tuition worth jeopardizing your chances to med school?</p>
<p>So a C at the home school tops an A in a summer course.</p>
<p>You know what?</p>
<p>Why don’t you conduct the experiment and come back here in 2 or 3 years and tell us how it all works out for you.</p>
<p>No don’t circumvent the question. A C at the home school or an A in a summer course ?</p>
<p>An A at the home school. :)</p>