Give Up My Life For Med School

I’ve heard this question asked by pre-med students oh so many times: “Do I have to give up my life for med school?” And I’ve also heard a related question many times: “Do I have to give up my life, relationships with my significant other, friends and family for med school?”
To all of you pre-meds out there, let me ease your nerves a bit by telling you that no, you do not have to give up your (entire) life for med school. Will med school involve making some changes to your life and schedule? Absolutely. But this doesn’t mean that your whole life will change as you know it.

Medical School

I remember many years ago (yes, I’m old, it was many years) sitting in a classroom in my undergrad university listening to an organic chemistry lecture. I hated organic chemistry with a passion that is matched by little else. I remember wondering if this is what med school would be like–endless hours of listening to gobbledygook and then going home to study the gobbledygook for more endless hours. I imagined having to give up running, going out to eat, and all of my other assorted hobbies. This was actually one of the reasons that it took me so long to take the plunge into med school. I was unwilling to accept this reality.

Medical School

But guess what? I am now less than two weeks from graduating from med school and I still run almost every day. I go out to eat with my friends all the time, and I still enjoy many of the same hobbies. Did I have to make sacrifices and reduce the number of hours spent on “fun stuff” during med school? Absolutely. But I was still able to make the time to enjoy myself. And actually, I firmly believe that my success in med school is because of, and not in spite of, the fact that I enjoy a life outside of medicine.

Medical School

Now let me address the second question. Will you have to sacrifice your relationships with your significant other (if you have one), friends, and family during med school? The answer is similar to the one above. Yes, you will find yourself with less time to enjoy all of your relationships, but you will have to sacrifice none of them.
My partner has been my ultimate supporter throughout medical school. He has cooked me dinner when I didn’t have the time. He spent hours reviewing anatomy flashcards with me. He (yes, this is love) even went into the anatomy lab with me and went through each cadaver, locating various structures. He listened to me rant about endless things. He hugged me when I broke down in tears from being overwhelmed by it all. So no, I do not believe that you have to give up a relationship with your significant other to make it through med school–quite the opposite: having a significant other can be a blessing during med school.

Medical School

The very same goes for friends and family. If someone is truly your friend, they will still truly be your friend once you finish medical school. Your family loves you and will understand you neglecting them on occasion.
I only wish someone had told me all of this when I was a pre-med student. I believed quite the opposite for years, and this definitely impacted my decision to delay applying to med school.
So, there you have it from the horse’s mouth. I don’t believe that you have to give up your life for medical school, so if that’s the reason you are doubting your decision to apply, doubt no more!

So… Do I Have to Give Up My Life For Med School

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Do I Have to Give Up My Life For Med School