Blog Post Focus – Thinking Ahead: Accepted but Hate the Experience?
This prospective medical student post is mainly to explore the idea of what you would do were you accepted to medical school and found that you intensely disliked it. Medical school is a very challenging and stressful time preparing for a very challenging and stressful career, but it should not be hated. Would the constant trials and tribulations wear you down and make you resentful? Would you hate the limitations of your time to pursue anything else? Is there anything else you would want to do?
Imagine What it Would Feel Like to Get into Medical School–Would You Love It or Hate It?
Think about it: what if you got into medical school and hated it? Why do you think you would hate it? What would you do? Take a moment to reflect on this.
As a prospective medical student this could be a scary thought. You try so hard and made the pursuit of medicine such a prominent part of your life. So, acceptance to medical school should be a celebration. However, there is the possibility that the experience would be less enjoyable than hoped—or even hated.
Would You Hate It?
If you haven’t considered possibly hating medical school before now, it may be useful to better understand yourself and why you want to go to medical school. One, because by anticipating challenges you can prepare for them. Two, because it may help you determine how passionate you are for medicine or how you may not truly want to pursue medicine.
There Are Many Unenjoyable Things in Medical School
Medical school has many things that are generally considered unenjoyable. Tests, long hours studying, great demands on time, taking on large loans, delayed gratification, competition, an arduous journey that may not seem like there is an end in sight, and many others. Basically, all the things you didn’t like about college, but intensified—but, at least the focus is on medicine now (except you will have many many many modules or lectures on topics outside of medicine). If you get on reddit or talk to current medical students or residents or physicians you may well hear all sorts of things they did not enjoy about medical school.
Medical School Shouldn’t Be a Hateful Experience
Although there are lots of things that are unenjoyable, the experience should not be hated. The experience of medical school may be hated though if you already have a supreme dislike of the endless slog of education. Entering into yet more education is entering a system of hierarchy where you may well be treated as a child regardless the age you enter medical school. This hierarchical system can be nearly unbearable for some.
Also, just like in all educational experiences you likely had before this there will be cliques and people who are more and less popular. Just because medical schools are pathways to professional careers does not mean people who are there always act professionally.
If you can see yourself hating certain aspects of medicine – maybe the indefinite deal of gratification, or competing more than ever for top marks, or having to deal with busy work and lectures that don’t have to do with your future career at all—then think about whether you would be able to work around it. Certain schools are more oriented to “adult learning” and give students more freedom than other schools. Depending on how your medical school is set up you may not need to spend much time there at all and you can escape when you need to.
What Do You Expect?
If you see yourself really abhorring the process of medical school, but to this point have been pursing it, then talk with advisors, friends, and those who have gone before you. Whatever parts you think you would hate, discuss them. See if they are realistic. Maybe they are not and you realize this may not be a worry.
On the other hand, maybe some things you think you will hate are likely to be encountered on a regular basis. Discuss plans for getting around it. Or, consider avoiding it entirely. Because if you really think you will hate certain aspects of medical school—or several aspects—then perhaps continuing the journey to medical school is not for you.
Conclusion—Will You Love It or Hate It?
Note, many residents and physicians whine about their journey. Yet, they tend to say they are ultimately happy they went into medicine. It is a prolonged journey of delayed gratification with large demands on time, emotions, and resources. Don’t approach it lightly.
Prepare for possible challenges. If you are in the mindset that you can meet and overcome any challenge because you are passionate to pursue medicine then you will likely be fine. If you are not passionate about pursuing medicine, then you may well hate the process and journey that will occupy you the next decade of your life.
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