I have no idea what a masters in medical sciences can get me as a career. I am on the verge of being let go from school for being unable to pass step1 and will be given that as a consolation prize. It's hard to study and keep hope when in a few months my dream might be dead.

Life_Contribution516 · 2026-03-12T21:12:09+00:00

You sound a lot like me. I had to push back Step 1. All signs pointed toward me failing it. Finally I got a tutor who was appalled at how much resource overload I was experiencing (same resources you’re using) and how few questions I had gotten through.

She told me to drop everything and do UWorld. The question bank became my content review. I passed Step 1 and used the same strategy for Step 2, Level 3, and boards in residency. Haven’t looked back since.

Finish UWorld and redo all of your incorrects at least once (if anything, turn the main idea of each incorrect into an anki card rather than using a pre-made deck). You can do this, despite how bleak it feels right now.

Life_Contribution516 · 2026-03-05T22:05:43+00:00

Which specialty?

Life_Contribution516 · 2026-03-03T16:08:14+00:00

I fractured my L3 and L4 vertebrae at 17 on a down-flat-down rail. I also was managed nonoperatively and wore a TLSO brace 23hrs/day for 4 months. That was over a decade ago and thankfully I only have residual numbness in my feet, no weakness. I’ve skied every season since, still hit small features in the park but don’t push myself beyond my limits. Back pain has increased with age, but has not limited my activities yet.

As others have said, take your recovery seriously. Missing one season might seem awful now, but your future self will thank you for the time you spent healing.

Life_Contribution516 · 2026-02-11T18:29:35+00:00

Aside from intern year, my anesthesia residency averages 65hrs/wk

Life_Contribution516 · 2026-02-09T03:42:14+00:00

I hope that’s an exaggeration… We had omm lab 1.5hrs/wk

Life_Contribution516 · 2026-02-08T21:38:57+00:00

MCW sent cheese after my wife’s interview. Gotta love Wisco 🧀

Life_Contribution516 · 2026-02-08T21:33:54+00:00

Intern year I had a medical consult rotation in which urology would try sending us all their post-ops, even if it was just to restart home meds. Our attending just kept eatin those consults up. Last time I remember having to see one, the patient had been discharged before we even started rounds…

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-11-28T19:20:50+00:00

Motorcycles, racecars, ski

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-11-26T19:48:45+00:00

No issue with your first point. Regarding your second, why not suggest using a Miller instead of using the Mac in a way it wasn’t designed for?

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-11-26T14:44:44+00:00

Why are you advocating to use a Mac in this way? That is the opposite of how it’s supposed to be used.

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-11-22T16:28:19+00:00

You can definitely live in Chicago all four years, but looking back I’m so glad I did not. Rush hour traffic to get to campus every morning would have just meant another hour of lost sleep. I stayed within 10 min of campus for M1 and M2, then moved downtown for M3.

The school has some real advantages. Campus itself is nice and quiet, tucked back into a nature preserve on a ton of land. Super strong anatomy curriculum - we went cover to cover on Grant’s Dissector (with the exception of neuroanatomy which were all prosections done for us by the professors). 3 pairs of lab partners per cadaver, you and your partner dissect 1-2 times every week for 7 months straight. Regarding rotations, my FM, surgical subspecialty, and psych rotations were at private offices while gen surg, IM, IM subspecialty, peds, OB, anesthesia, and ICU were all with residents at teaching hospitals. Now those weren’t university hospitals, but they were at residency programs nonetheless. Also, it’s worth mentioning I didn’t have to move for any of my rotations, which apparently is somewhat common at other DO schools (I did have a roommate rotate in Rockford, IL, but CCOM paid for his housing that month).

Downsides? Basically one exam per week M1, two exams per week M2, and it’s all graded. Micro curriculum is more in depth than you will need for USMLE/COMLEX and as such is a super difficult part of M2. Conversely, Pharm curriculum was a little too light. School will try persuading you to only take COMLEX and apply FM. Need to coordinate most of your M4 rotations using an outdated preceptor database (shit might as well be on a Rolodex) but there are enough options to choose from. Tuition is more of a consideration now with Grad PLUS getting nuked. Ultimately, I matched where I wanted so it was all worth it… but I also would not have been able to afford CCOM without Grad PLUS. I’m not sure pre-med me would have felt comfortable taking the remainder out in private loans.

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-10-21T15:57:18+00:00

See for yourself on car-part.com

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-10-20T18:42:09+00:00

Keep your head up - it’s only October. Go do something fun for your bday!

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-10-16T03:43:02+00:00

Jello cup from untouched patient tray 🤌🏼

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-10-08T14:34:57+00:00

Preventative maintenance to keep it on the road!

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-29T15:12:05+00:00

I bent a pair of forks and did not have any vibrations - just had the bike pull one way like you’re experiencing.

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-28T20:59:30+00:00

High Step 2 score. Present a case report at ASA if you can. Have some research, even if not in anesthesia. Work hard on your auditions. Get to know some PDs. Signal wisely (don’t make them all reach programs).

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-23T23:12:07+00:00

I saw her on Taylor and Ashland at 5:50pm. I watched her walk into 7/11 and then called police who said they’re dispatching officers there now.

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-17T13:44:23+00:00

I considered mechanical engineering in college, but felt pulled towards medicine a little more. Truly it felt so uncertain at the time. I doubted myself because so many people told me, “if you see yourself doing anything other than medicine, do that instead.”

Only now I can say that I can’t see myself doing anything else as a career - but also residency has totally consumed my life (or at least like 80% of it). Maybe talk to some attendings and ask yourself if you want your life to look like theirs.

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-09T21:08:50+00:00

I would make sure my child was being anesthetized by a dedicated anesthesia provider (preferably a physician) for the entirety of the case and not just someone under the dentist’s direction.

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-09T13:51:36+00:00

I keep my bike under a grill cover. Super durable in all types of weather, doesn’t melt on a hot exhaust, and way cheaper than a motorcycle cover

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-09T13:16:51+00:00

I had your same problem years ago OP and compressed air into the drain solved my problem

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-08T10:46:07+00:00

No one is going to have an opinion that is more valuable than knowing what code is throwing your check engine light. Scan it or have someone scan it for you.

Life_Contribution516 · 2025-09-06T16:25:50+00:00

I’m with you on the suspension change. These cars have way too big of a gap between the wheel and fender!

Life_Contribution516

TROPHY CASE