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Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
We surveyed nearly 2400 current medical students about almost every aspect of their educational experience. The questions ranged from the aspirational, asking the reasons they chose to pursue medicine as a career, to the practical, investigating how much debt they anticipate and how financially prepared they feel. We also asked them to speak out on incidents of discrimination and harassment, with some surprising and alarming results. See how they responded on issues ranging from work-life balance to whether they would recommend their institution to others in this comprehensive medical student survey.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Although the overall rankings of the major influences that inspired students to pursue medicine as a career remain unchanged from our first survey back in 2016, several gaps between self-identified male and female respondents grew wider for some responses. Specifically, "financial compensation" increased from a 16-point spread in 2016 (35% of male respondents, 19% of female respondents) to a 22-point spread in 2018. "Interest in science" went from a 2-point difference in 2016 (75% of male respondents, 73% of female respondents) to a 7-point gap in 2018. "Prestige of medical career" went from a 15-point gap in 2016 (44% of male respondents, 29% of female respondents) to an 18-point difference in 2018. Perhaps this is associated with the fact that male respondents were more likely to list many different influences, whereas female respondents mostly chose only the top three answers shown here.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
If you're a student who hasn't yet settled on a specialty, the results show you're definitely not alone. Less than one half of all respondents have chosen a specialty thus far. In fact, only a little more than one half of third-year students have even settled on their specific future career path. Compared with our previous survey results, more students have yet to even narrow down their options, with 21% having not yet focused on only a few specialties this year compared with only 16% in 2016. If you're one of the many still weighing your options, this index provides a series of articles designed to help you make your choice.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Somewhat unsurprisingly, personal interest in a specific field remains the overwhelming major factor affecting specialty choice. Somewhat more surprisingly, female respondents more often cited personal interest (73%) as an influence than did male respondents (65%). Alternatively, more male respondents than female respondents indicated that lifestyle was a major contributor to their decision (23% vs 16%, respectively).
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
The vast majority of all respondents (85%) consider future earnings to be of at least moderate importance when choosing a specialty. However, earning potential is more often extremely or very important to male respondents (41%) than to female respondents (33%). Of note, more female respondents this year (33%) indicated that future earnings were extremely or very important than did female respondents in 2016 (28%).
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Compared with results from our last student survey, internal medicine has entered the top three, pushing pediatrics down a ranking; however, the rate of future pediatricians stayed steady at 9%. Of note, surgery was chosen by only 4% of respondents this year, compared with 8% in 2016. More male respondents than female respondents chose orthopedic surgery (5% vs 2%), emergency medicine (14% vs 7%), and anesthesiology (7% vs 3%). More female respondents than male respondents chose ob/gyn & women's health (11% vs 2%) and pediatrics (14% vs 3%).
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Almost one half of all respondents will graduate medical school with more than $200,000 in debt. In stark contrast, approximately 1 in 10 respondents anticipate graduating debt-free. Compared with the results of our last student survey, more students anticipate graduating with more than $200,000 in debt (45% vs 38%), and fewer students anticipate graduating without debt (11% vs 14%).
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
More than one third of all respondents feel somewhat or very unprepared for their financial future. More female respondents indicated that they felt very or somewhat unprepared (40%) compared with male respondents (28%). Perhaps as a result of nearing the reality of their looming debt, more fourth-year students indicated that they feel very or somewhat unprepared (40%) than did first-year students (24%).
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
In encouraging news, more than one half of all respondents indicated that they feel at least somewhat prepared for their licensing examinations. This is somewhat tempered by the relatively small proportion (16%) who feel very prepared. Among that confident group, more male respondents (19%) than female respondents (13%) indicated that they feel more than somewhat prepared.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Overall, less than one half of all respondents feel somewhat or very prepared to begin residency. More female respondents (9%) than male respondents (7%) indicated that they feel very unprepared for the upcoming demands of life as a resident. Encouragingly, as students progress through school, they feel better prepared for residency; 34% of first-year and second-year students feel very or somewhat prepared for what lies ahead, compared with 49% of third-year students and 57% of fourth-year students. However, 21% of fourth-year students still indicated they feel somewhat or very unprepared.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
We asked student respondents whether they had personally experienced or seen unwanted advances of a verbal, physical, or sexual nature. In terms of personal experience, 30% of students reported having received unwanted advances, primarily from patients. That number increased to 36% of respondents who indicated having witnessed such behavior. According to our survey, nearly one quarter of students experienced unwanted advances from patients in particular.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
In terms of breakdown by gender, nearly 40% of female respondents reported having experienced or witnessed unwanted verbal, physical, or sexual advances. This is compared with 20% of men. Almost one third of female respondents indicated an encounter with unwanted advances from patients.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
We also asked students whether they have personally experienced or witnessed what they feel are instances of bias during their educational experience. One half of all respondents indicated they witnessed some form of bias, with nearly 40% reporting that they personally experienced such an incident. More than one half of female respondents indicated having seen or personally been involved with a biased situation. By far, gender bias was the most common form of discrimination reported by female respondents; male respondents indicated a similar amount of bias based on race or ethnicity compared with gender bias.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
The person responsible for the bias witnessed or experienced varied by bias type. Incidents of disability bias reportedly involved faculty more often than other students or patients. Gender bias was more commonly attributed to faculty and patients. Students were responsible for the highest incidence of bias based on sexual orientation, whereas they were responsible for the least amount of bias based on race or ethnicity. Female respondents cited far more gender bias from patients (72%) than did male respondents (55%).
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
In terms of the biggest challenge during medical school, more male respondents (34%) than female respondents (27%) report struggling with work-life balance. The overall ranking of concerns remains unchanged from our last student survey, with most students primarily concerned with general overall stress and a properly balanced life.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Part of work-life balance involves studying. Most students surveyed spend at least 20 hours per week studying, with more than one quarter logging more than 40 hours. Notably, second-year students claim to study the most, with 48% reporting that they study more than 40 hours.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
More than one half of all respondents indicated that they at least sometimes doubt their ability to become a quality physician. More than 60% of female respondents indicated having doubts at least sometimes, whereas 47% of male respondents indicated they rarely or never have doubts.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
The vast majority of medical students in our survey indicated that they have experienced burnout at least some of the time (77%), with nearly one quarter indicating that burnout is almost always present. By gender, 81% of female respondents reported that burnout was present some of the time or more frequently. In contrast, 29% of male respondents indicated burnout was never or rarely present.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Almost one half of all student respondents have considered leaving medical school at some point. More encouragingly, this is typically an infrequent thought. More male respondents (58%) than female respondents (49%) reported never having considered leaving.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
In positive news, two thirds of students are happy with the relationships they have with their instructors. Dissatisfaction remains low, at only 11%. This is true of both male and female respondents, whose responses overwhelmingly indicate satisfaction with those teaching them about medicine.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
In terms of overall satisfaction, nearly three quarters of all student respondents reported being at least somewhat satisfied. Only 13% indicated dissatisfaction. These numbers are consistent across both male and female respondents, with the overwhelming majority indicating that the state of their learning is at the very least satisfactory.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
On another positive note, the vast majority of students do not regret their choice of institution. More than 70% of respondents indicated that they would recommend their school to others. However, students are more critical as they progress through their educational journey; 49% of first-year students strongly recommend their institution compared with only 33% of fourth-year students. Still, according to our respondents, the overall attitude toward their educational experience appears to be quite positive.
Medical Student Life & Education Report 2018
Ryan Syrek, MA | September 5, 2018 | Contributor Information
Medical students from around the country were surveyed for their thoughts on debt, work-life balance, and other aspects of the educational experience. See what they had to say.Medscape Features Slideshows, August 2016
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