Comments on: A reader’s letter – 33 and ? med school http://www.medrants.com/archives/4341 Internal medicine, American health care, and especially medical education Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:15:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: shortiyergirl http://www.medrants.com/archives/4341/comment-page-1#comment-528027 shortiyergirl Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:34:35 +0000 http://www.medrants.com/?p=4341#comment-528027 Thanks to Dr.DB for answering my questions in this post. And thanks to all the commenters as well for your perspectives. Can't tell you all how much I appreciate your taking the time and the effort. Thanks to Dr.DB for answering my questions in this post. And thanks to all the commenters as well for your perspectives. Can’t tell you all how much I appreciate your taking the time and the effort.

]]> By: Dr. Bob (FP) http://www.medrants.com/archives/4341/comment-page-1#comment-527978 Dr. Bob (FP) Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:41:01 +0000 http://www.medrants.com/?p=4341#comment-527978 The health of your future child trumps all else. Have a kid by 35 or at least before 40. Having grandparents or friends around will be a huge help. My wife & I (both physicians) had our first during the latter half of residency & then next 2 shortly after. Having a grandparent around was a godsend. If it's b/w say Wash U and a caribbean school, then go to Wash U. If it's the difference b/w say Wash U and University of Iowa, choose the one with family & friends nearby. There are many going through residency in their 30's of even 40's. We have 3 of our current 7 graduating residents who are 42, 43, and 50 this year. You're not that old yet (especially if you take care of your health). The health of your future child trumps all else. Have a kid by 35 or at least before 40. Having grandparents or friends around will be a huge help. My wife & I (both physicians) had our first during the latter half of residency & then next 2 shortly after. Having a grandparent around was a godsend.

If it’s b/w say Wash U and a caribbean school, then go to Wash U. If it’s the difference b/w say Wash U and University of Iowa, choose the one with family & friends nearby.

There are many going through residency in their 30′s of even 40′s. We have 3 of our current 7 graduating residents who are 42, 43, and 50 this year. You’re not that old yet (especially if you take care of your health).

]]> By: Twitted by donreding http://www.medrants.com/archives/4341/comment-page-1#comment-527925 Twitted by donreding Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:23:55 +0000 http://www.medrants.com/?p=4341#comment-527925 [...] This post was Twitted by donreding - Real-url.org [...] [...] This post was Twitted by donreding – Real-url.org [...]

]]> By: anonymous http://www.medrants.com/archives/4341/comment-page-1#comment-527919 anonymous Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:30:11 +0000 http://www.medrants.com/?p=4341#comment-527919 agree with getting in but disagree partially in that particularly in academics a 'better' medical school offers more opportunity for success down the road. of course it matters how much better, if only slightly better probably nothing added. disagree with meritocracy comment, but if you think phd is a meritocracy than i think you would agree with db's viewpoint. totally agree regardless of above points, that how you do will have the biggest single impact on your family. remember that staying nearby may ease a lot of things for you-friends, husband job, etc that perhaps would allow you to do better. of course in 4 years the match sucks for married couples, particularly with children, in that you can be whisked away anywhere in the country (possibly) with 3 months notice. agree there best time to have children is when you want them. however, i think 4th year is a fine time to have children if you have to pick. first year would be the worst. we waited and have personally experienced tragedy with multiple miscarriages and loss of baby, so i would say younger the better overwhelms the other factors, particularly if you want more. but it would have been much harder for sure in the first year to try and study and raise infant. ymmv agree with getting in but disagree partially in that particularly in academics a ‘better’ medical school offers more opportunity for success down the road. of course it matters how much better, if only slightly better probably nothing added.
disagree with meritocracy comment, but if you think phd is a meritocracy than i think you would agree with db’s viewpoint.
totally agree regardless of above points, that how you do will have the biggest single impact on your family. remember that staying nearby may ease a lot of things for you-friends, husband job, etc that perhaps would allow you to do better. of course in 4 years the match sucks for married couples, particularly with children, in that you can be whisked away anywhere in the country (possibly) with 3 months notice.
agree there best time to have children is when you want them. however, i think 4th year is a fine time to have children if you have to pick. first year would be the worst. we waited and have personally experienced tragedy with multiple miscarriages and loss of baby, so i would say younger the better overwhelms the other factors, particularly if you want more. but it would have been much harder for sure in the first year to try and study and raise infant.
ymmv

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