Do medical students experience the 'university life'?

I am currently in the application process for Medicine.

The medical students I have talked to said that they aren't like typical students because they often have 9-5 days and have to work hard all year round ect ect.

So does this mean you don't get much time to socialise, relax, go out? Not that I want to go to uni just for these things. ( I dont really know what 'uni life' is, I just assume its this sort of thing.

So how busy is the life of a medical student?

And are you expected to behave more responsibly than other students (even if its not in the actual university)?

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1

fallenangel

It's a medics responsibility to work hard and play harder. It's very easy to make/find time if you're committed to get the work done when you say you will.

I got all my revision done, went gym 4-5 times and went out twice a week, as well as having free time.

Reply 2

Pride

21

Medical students aren't the only students in universities that do 9-5 days lol...

But yeah, some medical students feel that the medical school is to an extent separate from the rest of the school. I haven't started university yet, I'm also studying my A2 exams, but the general consensus I find is that medical students get what they put in, when it comes to socialising. There's plenty of societies to get involved in, the medics also tend to have their own societies. I think medics can experience 'the universty life', whatever that is, but perhaps it requires a little more effort than some of the other students.

Reply 3

Zedd

12

All university students experience 'university life'- which degree you do, the skills you have, and the friends you make will largely dictate what that 'university life' is like, but everyone will put in work and spend time to relax and have fun. If anything medical students might be said to have some of the best experiences whilst at university simply in virtue of the number of societies and sports teams intended for medical students.

Yes.

I've heard that medical students are the craziest at partys!
With such a challenging course, you need to put in a few hours' each night, but that doesn't mean you're studying constantly like in your A-levels. You balance work with play.

Reply 6

Democracy

20

Original post by thegreenchildren

So does this mean you don't get much time to socialise, relax, go out? Not that I want to go to uni just for these things. ( I dont really know what 'uni life' is, I just assume its this sort of thing.

So how busy is the life of a medical student?

No you absolutely do, it's just that you're not on the same sort of timetable as a standard non-medical undergraduate student - so medics tend to mostly go to MedSoc events and MedSoc societies which are designed to fit into the busy med school timetable.

And are you expected to behave more responsibly than other students (even if its not in the actual university)?

Expected to yes...the reality is that no one is perfect however.

Reply 7

thegreenchildren

OP

9

Original post by Pride

Medical students aren't the only students in universities that do 9-5 days lol...

I have never been to university so that is why I asked.

Reply 8

Elles

17

Original post by Monarose

...but that doesn't mean you're studying constantly like in your A-levels.

Hmm, I found medical school harder work than A-levels. :tongue:

But the socializing/leisure things are often much easier than school/6th form as you're often living with all your friends & have access to a huge range of clubs/societies locally too!

With regards to the 'behaving responsibily' - there are some fitness to practice esque things e.g. attendence registers may be taken more seriously; tutors (if in a clinical environment) may be asked to comment on professionalism (e.g. puntuality, reliability, presentability, communication, teamworking) as well as just academic things; any cautions/charges/external things (!) (even seemingly relatively innocuous like driving fines) may have to go through a different process of panel.

Reply 9

nexttime

22

Original post by Elles

(even seemingly relatively innocuous like driving fines) may have to go through a different process of panel.

As a lowly medical student you have to tell the med school about driving fines?! Surely an exaggeration!?

I don't drive, but if i did, it literally would never have occurred to me to do anything other than just pay it.

Reply 10

manic_fuzz

17

I don't have 9-5 days at all, though I have only just started preclinical :K:

Additionally, I've definitely experienced even better than I would have expected from typical uni life, socialising most definitely hasn't been compromised... yet :tongue:

Reply 11

twelve

13

Original post by Pride

Medical students aren't the only students in universities that do 9-5 days lol...

But yeah, some medical students feel that the medical school is to an extent separate from the rest of the school. I haven't started university yet, I'm also studying my A2 exams, but the general consensus I find is that medical students get what they put in, when it comes to socialising. There's plenty of societies to get involved in, the medics also tend to have their own societies. I think medics can experience 'the universty life', whatever that is, but perhaps it requires a little more effort than some of the other students.

I don't think this is true at all.

From personal experience (only one term's worth mind you) there are so many things put on specifically for medics that its so easy to get out and about and get involved. And then there is plenty of time for university wide events as well. Yeah you have 9-5 days, but you still have evenings and weekends. If I got rid of all the time I sit around doing nothing in particular, I could get involved in a lot more than I already do, and get more work done.

So yeah, work hard, and play harder as you've probably heard soo many times. But its alarmingly true. I'll most likely be a hermit by the time exams come around I reckon but thats fine :biggrin:

Reply 12

nexttime

22

I wonder how frequent 9-5 days actually are...

I've certainly never had that inflexibility, not even during clinical.

Reply 13

modini

15

We probably only get one 9-5 day a week (two if we're really unlucky). But even then it's only 9-5 if you go to all the lectures (which a lot of people don't, including me).

Reply 14

AnonymousPenguin

16

Original post by nexttime

As a lowly medical student you have to tell the med school about driving fines?! Surely an exaggeration!?

I don't drive, but if i did, it literally would never have occurred to me to do anything other than just pay it.

My understanding was that as long as its a fixed-penalty notice you don't have to tell the medical school since it doesn't involve any criminal proceedings. If it goes to court or you accept a caution then you have to tell them immediately. Is this not correct?

Reply 15

Helenia

20

Original post by AnonymousPenguin

My understanding was that as long as its a fixed-penalty notice you don't have to tell the medical school since it doesn't involve any criminal proceedings. If it goes to court or you accept a caution then you have to tell them immediately. Is this not correct?

This is what we were told - the same applies after graduation, except you have to tell the GMC directly.

Reply 16

Elles

17

Original post by nexttime

As a lowly medical student you have to tell the med school about driving fines?! Surely an exaggeration!?

I don't drive, but if i did, it literally would never have occurred to me to do anything other than just pay it.

When someone asked in a 2009 PFP GMC/MDU-esque lecture the answer was yes - all the official people should be told about even driving things.
Something that stuck in my mind because it did surprise people but not really something I've independently researched in depth - what with me still not being a driver! :tongue:

& also they warned to seek legal advice rather than be quick to accept a caution because contesting/going to court may be a better option long term.

Do medical students experience the 'university life'?

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