What Is Every Year Of Medical School Like In Terms Of Workload, And How Hard Is It?

What is every year of medical school like in terms of workload, and how hard is it to make time for other people and activities?



This question was originally posted on Quora.com and was answered by Michael Korsakov, Med student


I’m an American med student in my last year of med school. I go to an MD (allopathic) med school. It’s 4 years long. Year by year:

1 - What the hell did I get myself into! There’s so much to study. I have no idea how I’m going to remember everything. Which one is coronal again? The gallbladder secretes what?! Gross dude. Where the hell is the distal radioulnar joint? It’s so true what people say that studying in med school is like trying to drink from a fire hose at full blast. The way I studied in undergrad is definitely not going to work in med school. Literally every single person in med school is smart. Still trying to find my routine. At least I’m glad I survived the first year.

2 - Ok I’m somewhat more comfortable now. More streamlined in how I study. I skipped all the lectures and other things I don’t need to attend, and instead focused on “high yield” information and learning. But f**k Step 1 is coming up, how the hell do I study for this! Got to start asking around etc. Ok sounds like the senior class ahead is recommending reading and highlighting First Aid for the USMLE along with all our classes, same with Pathoma for pathology (I love Dr. Sattar!), etc., etc. Damn, finally, Step 1 is done!

3 - Now the real learning begins. It’s so cool to be able to be in the hospital, wear my short white coat, steth, pens, notepads, carry Maxwell, and all that. No, wrong! I hate waking up at 4am to get ready to go to the OR and be the retractor b*tch for the surgeon, while getting yelled at by the scrub nurses. Everyone asks me what specialty I want to do, but if I tell them what I actually want, then they tell me how that specialty is the worst and why I should be in their specialty instead. I fear they’ll give me horrible evalulations. I love my resident! I hate my resident! Why am I standing around and doing nothing, but when I try to ask if I can help, they just roll their eyes and mutter “F***ing med student…”. When can I go home to study?

4 - So much better than last year already. At least doing a fun elective. Applying and interviewing now. Furiously checking phone every 5 minutes to see my emails. No, Dr. Attending, I promise I’m not on Facebook. Why didn’t they offer me an interview? Yes, I got an interview offer at My Favorite Hospital! Flying to cool cities, fun dinners, touring hospitals. I love it. Where am I going to match? I love medicine. I hate medicine. Did I pick the right specialty?

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