Any other grad students here?

why are you running that much

Why do you question it?

because it sounds like he feels it's a burdensome obligation to have a workload like that

so i'm trying to help him by suggesting that he need not run 140 mpw to be good (if good is his goal). no one needs to run that much to be elite (unless maybe you're training for an ultra?). And 2-3 hours to drive for a race? Do you even have a social life anymore, don't you miss it? running is not an activity that is merit-based on volume. You will be successful for doing the correct things, not who does the most mileage and works the hardest. Resting and recovery are as important as the sweating.

Anyway, then his workload will be less burdensome and there will be one more happier, less self-destructive person in the world.

Well I'm not studying 8 hours a day yet, and I only run 20 milers on occasion, but I just started grad school. I'm studying mechanical engineering. Now you don't have to feel like the only one.

I have had an injury plagued 2 years, but I entering my 3rd year of grad school. I study virology. My work is more lab based than hours in the library. Good luck with training.

-Mango

Mango wrote: I study virology. -Mango

You've come to the right place. Plenty of good specimens here for you to study.

I'm a grad student as well, but I don't study 8 hours a day, run 20 miles a day, or drive 2-3 hours to race every couple weeks.

I studied neuroscience and trained regularly during my graduate years (which ended last year). Doing laboratory work in grad school is a good match to training. I could make my own schedule (not being stuck to 9-5), could wear whatever I wanted instead of being forced into a suit and could take advantage of the training resources that a university provides.

Grad student (law). Including class time, I'm probably studying anywhere from 4 to 12 hours a day. Not running quite as much as you, but enjoying it while I can before I have to give up student flexibility for a real job.

I'm in my third year of medical school, which is extremely busy, but in a different way than the first two years. I spent the first two years of med school studying 12 hours a day (I'm talking 12 hours of actual studying, not counting breaks), plus or minus, on most days. It wasn't fun, and it was excessively tiring at times. It wears at you, and the constant sacrifices you have to make can really add up. And while I don't run anymore competitively, I've been a dedicated lifter and cyclist (well, until my bike was stolen). Finding time to train, study, and still see/talk to friends can be rough.

It just depends on your priorities in life. I'm working hard now so that I can hopefully achieve a comfortable lifestyle without letting my job completely overwhelm the rest of my life (which med school has to some degree).

I'm not here to build myself up or show off my achievements, but let's just say that after busting my ass day in and day out the last couple of years, my USMLE Step I board scores will now pretty much get my foot in the door at any residency program in the country that I want.

Has it been worth it so far? I'd like to think so. It's easy to be envious of your friends who are already out working jobs they may or may not really enjoy, while you're still toiling in poverty/academia. Consider it an investment in your future.

I'd also like to add that, despite the long hours of studying, I agree with the law school guy above me who mentioned having the flexibility to train and do whatever else in life while in school. It's a busy life, but in general unless you're working in a lab 8-5, chances are you have a bit more flexibility as far as taking care of normal everyday things. I've come to really appreciate the classical "student lifestyle" after now having to spend 60-80 hours/week in the hospital.

Hey bison where do u attend med school? Was it really nec to study 12 hrs a day? I have heard that at the most 7 to 8 but 12? That must be including class time right? Otherwise I don't see how you would even have time to sleep/eat and other stuff.

thanks guys

ooO wrote:

Hey bison where do u attend med school? Was it really nec to study 12 hrs a day? I have heard that at the most 7 to 8 but 12? That must be including class time right? Otherwise I don't see how you would even have time to sleep/eat and other stuff.

University of Maryland. That figure generally does include class time, although the great thing about Maryland is that there's less class time than a lot of medical schools (and since I think most people learn well by going over things on their own rather than being "talked at" all day, I think that's one of the biggest draws of Maryland).

The time you put in really depends on what you're aiming for and what you're willing to settle for. After the initial shock of the workload in medical school, many students can streamline their efficiency a bit and find out how to pick out what's important. In medical school, it's not terribly hard to pass, assuming you've got all the tools to get you there in the first place. It's not even terribly hard to do pretty well, either. But to really shine and maintain a position at the top of your class, you either need to A) be a flat out genius, or B) be ready to really work your ass off. And since A doesn't apply to me, B became the only way for me to achieve my goals. Since I'm interested in going into some very competitive specialties, it has always been important that I do extremely well. Part of it is the [ex-]runner in me and the competitive spirit, I suppose.

The real rub is that the "hours studied" and "improvement in grades" don't share a direct correlation; furthermore, the amount of work required to bump your score from an 85 to a 95 is a lot more than what might be required to bump yourself from a 75 to an 85. "Honors" grades tend to reward people who are able to soak up every last bit of information, even the obscure and seemingly trivial points. For many, there comes a time where that quest just doesn't seem worth the time. For me, at least during the first two years, I made it my goal to rise above that attitude, but I won't pretend it didn't come without some sacrifice.

thanks for clarifying. i will be applying next year and will make uom a choice now, not to far from it anyhow but never considered it. guess you'll be gone if i get in there too bad we could have went for some runs

ooO wrote:

thanks for clarifying. i will be applying next year and will make uom a choice now, not to far from it anyhow but never considered it. guess you'll be gone if i get in there too bad we could have went for some runs

I highly recommend at least considering Maryland. The schedule is one of the things that initially drew me to it, and I don't regret that one bit.

Whatever you do, I would place "offers video recording of daily lectures" towards the top of your "what am I looking for in a med school?" list. It's not necessarily something most incoming students consider, but it might be one of the most important deciding factors, and in retrospect there is no way I would've been happy attending a school that didn't.

Anyway, my girlfriend is a teacher in Baltimore and is in the process of buying some property in the area, so who knows, maybe I'll still be around the Baltimore area for residency.

u have an email i can reach u at?

Shoot me an email at bisonhurdler at hotmail dot com.

8 hours a day, that's it? As my advisor said to me my first year, "Even NORMAL people work more than 8 hours a day!"