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Being a Single Male
Being a Single Male 
One word: freedom! Every phase of life brings changes - new people, new experiences, new places. You're going to change a lot as a result of your exposure to all these new things, and your old lady isn't gonna like this. But follow Jay-Z's example: "I got 99 problems but a b!#%& ain't one." As a single guy, you're free to meet hundreds of new people, go dozens of new places, do scores of new things, and discover who you are without getting a "Where are you/I miss you" text every five minutes. Hang with your classmates, go out to the club, make out with any girl you want, go home and hook up, and repeat as often as you want. And if you're in the market for something more substantial, follow the words of one of our favorite faculty members: "Go for the PT and OT students." The bottom line: life as a single guy means you get to have as much fun as you want, experience med school and the people you meet to the max, and be true to yourself.
Luke Dvoracek, dvoracekl@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being a Single Female
Being a Single Female
Who wouldn't want to be a single female in med school? Ladies, I'm here to tell you that you're about to have the time of your life here. Why be shackled by the confines of a relationship when you can experience the delights of flirting, freedom, and playing the field? While I'm at the club dancing the night away, my less-fortunate, unavailable peers are sitting at home, reading encyclopedias out loud to each other and lamenting their unhappy fate. While I'm at the bar, chatting it up with some lucky dudes, my taken friends are watching reruns of Full House in silence with their significant others. Yes, that is indeed the reality of the situation. Being in a relationship can be a drag, especially in med school. But, being single has never been sexier, especially when you are surrounded by tons of eligible bachelors ready to please your every desire! Around the medical campus, you will find that there is plentiful fodder for your perusal, coming in several flavors including MD, PT, OT ... the list goes on and on. So really, the only question is, why would you say no to being wild, sexy, and glamorously single?
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Being Married
Being Married
Being married is wonderful. Being married in med school is awesome for me, less awesome for my husband (who doesn't get to see me that much). Being married means that I go home every day to a home-cooked meal, my apartment is kept fairly clean, and the bills get paid because one of us has a job. Best of all is coming home every evening to your best friend. As great as med school is and as fantastic as my classmates are, I love that my husband has a life separate from Wash U. It's great to be able to talk to him about all the cool stuff I learned that day (and practice my physical exam skills), but it's even better to talk about non-med-school things. I love having someone to think about the future with and someone to help me keep my life balanced. Being married definitely encourages me to be an efficient student; it's a priority for me to spend my evenings and most of every weekend at home, which translates to me studying hard all afternoon so I don't have to think about school when I'm at home.
Sigrid Barklund, jsbarklund@wustl.edu
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Dating Someone Outside of Medical School -- Steven Bokshan
Dating Someone Outside of Medical School
Deciding if/who to date during medical school is a BIG decision. For those students who are dating someone else in the medical field, I can imagine it would be a huge source of stress relief to handle the burden of becoming doctors together. As someone who is currently dating my college love, an opera singer, my advice is to give other professions a chance! The fact is that you will be bombarded by the medical field for approximately the rest of your life. As great as medicine is, there is simply more to life. Dating someone in another profession is an AMAZING way to see those other sides of life. For example, after flying back to Michigan to see my girlfriend perform as one of the leads in the University opera, I realized how lucky I was to date someone from such a different background. Dating someone outside of medicine will constantly make you expand your horizons. For all you singles, this means you're going to have to push your social life farther than just those post-exam parties!
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Dating Someone Outside of Medical School II -- Desiree Spencer
Dating Someone Outside of Medical School
As someone who double-majored in Biochemistry and French in college, I've always loved diverse perspectives. Medicine may be my career and passion, but there is life beyond the hospital doors. For me, dating a person outside the medical school community helps me to remember this daily. Through my boyfriend, I see an entirely different life perspective with its own blessings and challenges. I am reminded that although what I am doing is important, it is not the only thing that matters in this world. Sure, it can be hard when he doesn't relate to a struggle I'm having, and most of my nerdy anatomy jokes are lost on him, but at the end of the day, our relationship enriches my life immeasurably and helps me to keep in touch with the world outside medicine. These experiences will ultimately make me a better physician.
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Not Living in the Central West End
Not Living in the Central West End (CWE)
I come from a small town where high-rises and apartment complexes are virtually unknown. The Central West End (CWE) is a busy, bustling place - which can be great - but I knew after a first look that it wasn't for me. Instead, I scouted out other areas of town online, primarily using Craigslist. When I drove up to my current residence, I knew it was the one. I live in a modest duplex in Dogtown. The neighborhood is pleasant and quiet, and my dog loves the backyard. It's not even a long drive; I get from my house to the parking garage at the medical campus in 10 minutes. I can't be quite as spontaneous as everyone who lives in the CWE, but sometimes I like the fact that my home is a distinct entity from the medical school. Also, I feel like living outside the CWE encourages me to explore what the other parts of St. Louis have to offer.
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Dating Someone in Your Class
Dating Someone in Your Class 
Surviving Med School with the Old Ball and Chain: As I glanced across the anatomy lab, I saw her undressing me with her eyes. I figured, she's pretty cute, seems nice enough, why not give her a chance? So, on a romantic 3 am night at the Annex, our relationship began. And to be perfectly honest, it's been great dating a classmate. You always have someone to study with, someone who won't complain when you can't go out because you have tests the next day, basically someone who knows exactly what you're going through. Oh, and so I don't get hit when she reads this, the first two sentences were jokes.
Surviving Med School with the REALLY OLD Ball and Chain: From across the anatomy lab, I started undressing him with my eyes - for educational purposes, of course. As the sexy lab goggles were coming off, he strutted over and said "Baby, you make my cardiac output increase." It's not the most romantic line, but in a class of 60 nerdy guys you just have to settle. (Just kidding!) I'll admit that I was completely opposed to dating someone I would see all day every day, but to tell you the truth it's been great! As long as you find a balance and give each other time and space, you'll be able to have a great/sane relationship without driving each other crazy!
Paul George, georgep@wusm.wustl.edu
Natalia Brito Rivera, britoriveran@wusm.wustl.edu
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In a Long-Distance Relationship -- Jenny Travieso
In a Long-Distance Relationship
"Do you know who likes long distance? Women. It's all talking and no sex." - "How I Met Your Mother"
I'm here to tell you that quote is so false. Nobody likes long distance. The truth is it comes in two flavors: worth it and not worth it. In my opinion, you can't really know what flavor you have until you give it a shot. Some are not worth it, whether it's because there is no end in sight, they realize the distance is more than physical, or maybe they find something better in their new ZIP code. Those that are worth it can be really great. You have the opportunity to meet your classmate as a whole awesome person, not just half of an awesome couple. You also have more time to be involved and get schoolwork done. The feeling of always having something to look forward to, whether it's a Skype date or a trip, really helps the "school is never-ending" blues. Every time you miss them, you are reminded how much you truly care. It's challenging, but if you're in a profession that requires an investment of 10 years, then delayed gratification is no stranger to you, right?
Jenny Travieso, traviesoj@wusm.wustl.edu
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In a Long-Distance Relationship -- Roger Klein
In a Long-Distance Relationship
In medical school, there are two different kinds of long-distance relationships - the kind with a definite end and the kind that are long distance indefinitely. I am fortunate to be in the first kind. The time my girlfriend and I have been together (four years) is significantly longer than the time we are going to be apart (one year). After this year, she is moving in with me in St. Louis. Although it's certainly not an ideal situation, working through a year or two is definitely possible, and there are upsides; having a long-distance relationship forces you to interact with your classmates instead of using your significant other as a social safety net. As a side note, you should probably sign up for your SkypeTM account now.
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Being African American
Being African American
The first-year class at Wash U is pleasantly diverse, and although the African-American population is not the largest one at Wash U, you will not be alone. Wash U is extremely supportive of its minority students and has a wonderful staff in the Office of Diversity Programs. In addition, the upperclassmen are great about organizing get togethers and just stopping us in the hall to make sure everything is going well. If you're looking for a role model, you don't have to look much farther than the diversity office, where you'll find the super-accessible Dr. Ross. You can always stop by for some chocolate and a chat with him! As a city, St. Louis has a large African-American population, and you'll be presented with numerous opportunities to interact with this community on a daily basis. The transition to medical school at Wash U is made easier by the friendly people you'll meet on the first day. Regardless of your background, you'll have a great time getting to know your own diverse first-year class.
Caldwell Powell, powella@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being Asian-American
Being Asian-American 
Having come from areas of the East Coast with significant Asian populations, I was quite dubious about what the plain farmlands of the Midwest could possibly offer me. I assumed that St. Louis lacked cultural diversity and lamented that I would have to suffer months without eating Korean food. But I am happy to say that my assumptions were quickly proven incorrect once I came to Wash U and St. Louis. At Wash U, Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is one great way that Asian-American culture is expressed and embraced; the association organizes volunteer events targeting the Asian population in St. Louis, hosts fun performances and dinners, and holds study breaks with yummy Asian snacks! Outside of school, the city of St. Louis has much to offer as well. There are tons of diverse restaurants (Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Chinese, Indian, etc.) - even more than I could possibly try. Although there are no legit Koreatowns or Chinatowns, there are several pockets of good restaurants and grocery stores (and even bubble tea!). The Asian population is not large in St. Louis, but I definitely never feel alone, especially at a medical school that always works to foster strong cultural diversity and community.
Judy Kim, kimju@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being an International Student
Being an International Student
Raised for most of my life on the beautiful, tropical island of Taiwan, I initially had doubts that I would be able to fit into St. Louis with its slow-paced Midwestern culture, sprawling roads (and polite drivers!), cold winters, and fanatic baseball fans. Living here for a little over three months, though, has changed my perspective dramatically. St. Louis is probably not a city that one would fall in love with at first sight, but it has so much to offer at second glance. Within weeks of arriving in St. Louis, I was able to connect with a friendly community of Taiwanese students and residents in the area. Furthermore, being exposed to a diverse group of colleagues and mentors in medical school, I seldom felt like an international student at all. Having no family in the U.S., I really appreciate the number of events here that reach out to "orphaned" students who are unable to go home during short-term breaks; for example, some faculty members invite students to their houses for Thanksgiving each year. Nothing truly beats home, but St. Louis is slowly and affectionately becoming a second one for me.
Putzer Hung, phung@wustl.edu
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Being Canadian
Being Canadian 
So you're coming to Wash U, eh? Be prepared. Upon first introducing myself as Canadian, some of the most frequent responses included comments about my lack of a South Park-esque Canadian accent, and questions about whether I came from the French-speaking part of Canada, if I went to McGill (apparently the only Canadian university known here), and which side of the road we drive on. Rick Mercer was right: Americans are woefully uneducated about us neighbours from the north. Fear not; you can make it a personal mission to educate the masses, and to humour/annoy your classmates with your Canadianisms. Otherwise, some of the biggest differences are in politics and the use of imperial units. People here are crazy about football ... almost as much as we are about hockey. And of course, there's the health care system. (Also, the pronunciation of "capillary.") Nevertheless, I find daily life in St. Louis to be very similar to Toronto. Welcome to your new home away from home.
Allan Jiang, jiangal@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being Vegetarian in St. Louis
Being Vegetarian in St. Louis 
Us crazy non-meat eaters don't have it too bad in St. Louis. There are some good restaurants with veggie dishes close to campus, the hospital cafeterias and on-campus Shell Caf‚ are doable, and every free meal that we are provided will have a veggie option (which usually has seconds available). The Schnucks on Lindell isn't great for vegetarian options, but there's Whole Foods and Trader Joe's within a 10-minute drive (or by MetroLink) that will provide the goods. Our classmates are always really good about providing vegetarian options at potlucks without even making fun of us! Also, if you're craving an entire restaurant/bakery devoted to vegetarians/vegans, check out Sweet Art in the Shaw Neighborhood (~15 minutes from the CWE); it has an amazing assortment of tasty veggie meals and wildly awesome vegan cupcakes.
Elyse Aufman, aufmane@wusm.wustl.edu
Jenny Travieso, traviesoj@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being MSTP
Being MSTP
To be completely honest; if you're considering multiple Wash U-caliber schools, chances are you're going to have several great options for your medical and research education. Unless there are specific research strengths at a particular school, you're going to have great opportunities at any top program. Choose a school based on where you want to be for eight years of your life, and who you want to be with. For us, that school was Wash U. Although MSTPs integrate completely with med students for the first two years, you're going to grow distant from them as they go into clinics and you go into lab. Fortunately, you have 25 students per year going through the program with you and a total of 200 students in the program. Even if you don't like everyone in the program, you always have a bunch of awesome students to be around. In terms of organization and logistics, the administration is awesome and throws a bunch of fun social events, including trips to the water park, dinners, and a Cardinals tickets giveaway. The stipend here is very generous, both on an absolute and relative scale. Because St. Louis is such an inexpensive city, you can live in a nice apartment, own a car, go out frequently, and still put away some cash per month to use to buy a place later on.
Roger Klein, kleinro@wusm.wustl.edu
Avik Som, soma@wusm.wustl.edu
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Going to Classes
Going to Classes
I always go to class. In fact, I go to class so much that when I skip class (usually to shadow or to do something similarly goody-two-shoes-y), my classmates send flowers because I must be really sick. On a more serious note, I go to class because being in lecture keeps me focused. Personally, I learn best in a structured environment, and getting up every morning for class helps to keep me organized. Going to lecture every day and keeping up with the material as it's presented makes exam week less stressful. A lot of people will tout the wonders of recorded lectures (they are great and I take advantage of them), but going to class regularly helps keep your evenings/weekends/wee hours lecture-free. Another advantage is being able to ask questions of professors during lecture instead of having to email later.
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Skipping Classes
Skipping Classes
In undergrad, I was definitely the one who never, ever went to class, and, funnily enough, I've been turning that around ever since medical school started. However, old habits die hard, and I don't always make it to every class. There are some things that you should definitely be there for: anatomy lab, histology lab, small groups, etc. However, whether you've overslept, don't learn well from the lectures, or simply need to be somewhere else, the world won't end if you skip class! It is even easier to skip class here than it was in undergrad. All of our lectures are recorded, PowerPoints and other resources can be found online, and even the course books are a reliable source to study from. Keep in mind that professors do eventually notice if a lot of people are missing, and as a professional you should ideally be there for all of your classes. Realistically, not everyone will do this, but as long as you are still learning what you need to know, you're all set.
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Being from the West Coast
Being from the West Coast 
When I get asked, "Why would you ever leave San Francisco for St. Louis?" I usually answer, "Because I'm going to med school at Wash U." If this doesn't satisfy the asker, I usually give in, "Yeah, the San Francisco summers are cooler, winters are warmer, and we have that orange bridge." I've found that people from St. Louis are very modest and kind to give California so much credit just for its weather (although it is partly this modest and welcoming attitude that I have come to appreciate about the people I've met in St. Louis). If you're from California and considering coming to St. Louis, I can at least tell you why it has been the right decision for me. Working alongside community members in the nutritious cooking course at Wash U, I have had the enriching challenge to reconcile my snobby West-Coast food ideals with the stark realities of lifestyle and wellness in St. Louis. Teaching and cooking with these community members and some of my fellow med students has been an eye-opening experience. I am excited to continue with clinical and public health research to learn how to better serve a diverse community by empowering them with health literacy. In short, I'm gaining a lot of valuable new perspective from my time on campus and in the community here, and there are still many opportunities I haven't approached yet. Don't get me wrong - I do miss the view of the ocean and that big orange bridge, but they'll still be there when I go back for Thanksgiving.
Chris Chung, chungch@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being from the East Coast
Being from the East Coast
BEAST Coasters, welcome to the land of cheap rents, flat landscapes, and friendly people. While the lack of nearby oceans may make you question the viability of that shrimp in your sushi (don't worry, it's still good; see Wasabi in the restaurant section), the seriously seriously low cost of living and Midwestern hospitality will have you well on your way to claiming the Midwest as your own. People make eye contact and smile! Even on the street! Three-dollar draft specials! Decent dollar burgers! Half-off martinis! Did I say DOLLAR burgers? Don't get me wrong, having always been around a major East Coast city, I had my misgivings about St. Louis. But contrary to the rumors, I've found that St. Louis is a welcoming and safe city with plenty to do. Check out the Delmar Loop neighborhood or go downtown for a night out. Take in the city's cultural scene at the completely FREE museums. The Saint Louis Zoo and Saint Louis Science Center are similarly free of charge. Even the fact that the next closest major cities are all five hours away (middle America sprawl, y'all) encourages you to explore and discover the city first without limiting your ability to take a weekend getaway. Welcome to St. Louis. In time, you'll only be wanting MO, MO, MO.
Neena Cherayil, cherayiln@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being from the South
Being from the South
If you grew up familiar with grits, the Bible Belt, and Southern accents: first of all, don't panic, they still have grits here; second, check out the sections on maintaining faith (or just check out the CWE's beautiful cathedral); and as for the accents, well, there are plenty of direct Delta Airlines flights out of Lambert airport. When it comes to Southern hospitality, turns out the Midwesterners are giving us a run for our money. As for the summers, you have an edge on your classmates in handling the heat and humidity, and as for the winters, so far so good. I'll admit I've strong-armed my northern climate classmates in to taking me shopping for some much needed winter weather gear. Who knew North Face made more than fleeces?
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Being from the Midwest
Being from the Midwest
 The Midwest is a wonderful place. If you're from the Midwest and coming to St. Louis, you will fit right in. People may make fun of you for the way you pronounce things like "bag" and "boat," but really they're just jealous of how awesome you are. You won't make fun of them, though, because you're too nice; St. Louis is full of people that will smile at you on the street and give you directions if you ask for them. When your classmates from California are complaining about how cold the winters are, you can revel in the fact that the winters here are actually quite mild. You will probably end up missing the snow because there's not enough of it here, but you win some and you lose some. Being in the middle of the continental 48 means that you're the same distance away from lots of fun places (road trip!). Moral of the story: Coming to St. Louis when you're from the Midwest means you can live in a big city while still retaining your roots.
Cassie Graham, grahamc@wusm.wustl.edu
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Staying in St. Louis
Staying in St. Louis 
The Onion recently published an article titled "U.S. Adds 4 Million Jobs But in St. Louis" whose premise is that the only limiting factor to a new job is moving to St. Louis. I never thought I would live in St. Louis for undergrad. I certainly never thought I would also stay here for medical school. I was deciding between St. Louis and Chicago for medical school, so why stay here if I've already lived here for four years? First of all, the Central West End is very different from Clayton (and from all of the suburbs of St. Louis if you're a native). Second, some of the brightest people I have ever met in my life study and teach at this institution. Third, Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the "hot spot" of sorts for all of the rare cases within a 200+ mile radius, as well as the primary care network for a lot of the uninsured patients from St. Louis. My UChicago friend who sent me the Onion article may not understand why I'm choosing to call St. Louis my home for almost a decade of my life (at least), but there's something about this city and about Wash U that makes it so appealing. Plus, I heard that around four million jobs are going to be created here in the next year!
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Coming from a Small College
Coming from a Small College 
I went to undergrad at The College of Wooster, a small liberal arts school in Ohio with a total enrollment of approximately 1,800 students. The largest lecture I had was 40 students, and most of the advanced science classes I took only had 15 or 20 students. When I showed up at Wash U, having 120 students in a lecture hall definitely required a little adjustment. I was used to asking some personal-interest questions every now and then during class, but, with the exception of short clarifying questions, it's generally not common to ask complex questions during class in med school. The lecturers, by virtue of having to tailor their presentations to the majority, have a very specific set of information they need to communicate and a tight time frame in which to present it. If you have a personal-interest question, however, they're happy to answer questions via email or in person before/after class. Professors will not baby you through the courses; at Wooster, professors worked actively to identify and motivate struggling students. Here, the studying is definitely more on the individual student. Fortunately, almost everyone here is extremely self-motivated, so constant personal attention is pretty unnecessary.
Roger Klein, kleinro@wusm.wustl.edu
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Coming from a Large University
Coming from a Large University
If you came from a big university or even a large high school, get ready. One hundred and twenty people is not a whole lot of people. Whether intentional or not, everyone is aware of the inner workings of everyone else's lives and business. Like any large family, you'll benefit from a support system of unique individuals from interesting places, with cool hobbies, and probably some odd habits. But after several rounds of drunken king's cup/10 fingers, you'll know way more than you bargained for. In fact, even when you weren't present for any of this drunken debauchery, you'll still find out through the grapevine. When long-distance relationships end around Anatomy Post-Exam Party #1, Halloweekend, the Thanksgiving Turkey Drop, you'll know. In the same vein, you'll notice the blossoming of intra-class relationships. (To the single folk, cross your fingers for attractive anatomy group partners.) Speaking of Halloweekend, another distinction of large universities is that you are accustomed to celebrating several days of Halloween and are planning at least two costumes. Apparently, at small universities, Halloween is only celebrated on October 31 ... Ridiculous, I know.
Valary Raup, raupv@wusm.wustl.edu
Michelle Robinette, robinettem@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being From a Small Town
Being From a Small Town
If you come from a place where you get stopped on the way home from school so a herd of dairy cows can cross the road, a place where the population of deer is greater than the population of people, or one of the few places on the planet where you still can't get cell phone service, you, like me, are from a very small town. I am not a city girl and probably never will be, but I will admit that I love St. Louis. After growing up in rural northeast Pennsylvania and going to college in rural central Pennsylvania, I was ready to move to a city for medical school where there was bound to be more excitement and more opportunity. I'm glad I chose St. Louis, because it doesn't have the suffocating skyscrapers, the bumper-to-bumper traffic, and the huge crowds of people that I expect from cites. It has beautiful natural landscapes within the city, it's easy to get into popular restaurants and hot spots, and it's possible to do tons of fun things for little cost. Trust me when I say that St. Louis is an excellent city to choose for your first adventure outside of small-town life.
Katie Bishop, bishopk@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being From a Big City
Being From a Big City 
Born and raised in NYC and having attended undergrad in Chicago, I was kinda nervous about moving to a city with a population under half a million. If you're used to shopping at corner delis, giant supermarkets will never stop feeling incredibly overwhelming; the aisles never end. Yes, you will need a car to get anywhere. And if you don't have a car or, like me, don't know how to drive, make some friends who have a car fast. The MetroLink lightrail has two lines, and the two lines run on the same track for more than half the route. It's kinda cute, no? Do you know what a float trip is? I didn't either. Go on one and surprise yourself. Being in a smaller city has its perks. You don't have to wait in line at restaurants. NOT EVEN DURING RESTAURANT WEEK. Parking is $3, FOR THE DAY! The first time I went grocery shopping, I couldn't understand why the cashier was talking to me so much; I thought he was being super creepy, until I realized he was just being NICE. Welcome to the mid-Midwest. People here are really, really nice. You'll learn to love St. Louis; don't worry!
Angelica Wong, wonga@wusm.wustl.edu
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Staying Sane in Med School
Staying Sane in Med School 
As much as we talk about how much fun we have, med school is busy, particularly around exams. If you don't have a way to relax already, you absolutely need one. Burnout is a fear when the work gets tough during second and third year. There are many ways ... Some sigh in groups at McDreamy every Thursday and some party rock in clubs every weekend. I know guys who get jacked to relax, and some people who host Disney sing-alongs. Sports fanatics watch every football game or play on 10 intramural teams, and gamers shoot Nazi zombies or play RPGs in groups. Many cook, a few brew beer. Some wage economic warfare as they settle Catan, and some maintain their beer pong champion status. You can dance the night away in one of the clubs on campus or climb rock walls. I, personally, do almost all the above, as well as drag friends to bars and play drinking Jenga until the wee hours of the morning. The moral is to do fun things that are completely removed from school. Staying sane is easy if you keep life fun. Do something cool (and perhaps even new) every week! Oh, and go to the City Museum; it makes anyone happy.
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Being Gay in Med School
Being Gay in Med School
You might be worried that by choosing Wash U over a school in one of the gay mecca cities that you're committing yourself to four (or seven to nine if you're an MSTP) years of no social life, conservatism, and celibacy. But you'd be wrong. While you aren't in San Francisco anymore, Dorothy, St. Louis can hold its own. Like most places in the Midwest, people here are friendly and tolerant of others around them. The gay community here is vibrant and accepting. There are a good number of gay and lesbian bars for a city its size. We even have a gay rugby team!* I've been out since day one here and have been pleasantly surprised by how supportive my straight classmates have been; many of them wear a rainbow Staff of Asclepius on their white coats and some have been known to go to show tunes night at the local gay bar. There are GLBT faculty, and our curriculum includes GLBT competence. All in all, life is good here. Save the closet for your new white coat. *Even if you've never played before, you should totally join the gay rugby team. Rucking with your rugby brothers after a long day at school is a great way to de-stress! Shoot me an email (lermand@wusm.wustl.edu) if you're interested or have general questions about gay life in StL.
Dov Lerman-Sinkoff, lermand@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being Female in Medical School
Being Female in Med School
I have been female my entire life. Not a lot has changed about being female since I've been in medical school. Sometimes really old doctors don't understand the meaning of being politically correct. Sometimes patients will call you "nurse" even when your badge says MD. However, some patients will open up to you more just because you have an empathetic (a.k.a. female) face. The pelvic exams just will not be as big of a shock to you as it will to some of your male classmates. Anatomy professors will report that the only students that have ever passed out on the first day were male. Women are also a bit less fazed by blood. It's just scientific. Chances are that if you're reading this you know you want to be in medical school, and it really is as great as it sounds. The main responsibility comes from understanding that being a female doctor will have its separate set of challenges when it comes to planning a family, but there are so many great female doctors around you during medical school that you will figure it out as you go along.
Jenny Travieso, traviesoj@wusm.wustl.edu
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Being Male in Medical School
Being Male in Medical School 
Being male in med school means that you are in good company. Approximately 50 percent of the class is also male! Med school can sometimes be stressful, but wrinkles add character if you're a guy. Another perk that comes with being male is that you have an advantage in the No Shave November contest. Studies have shown that being male substantially improves your chances of winning. Just kidding (except not really ... all previous winners have been male).
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Living on Campus
Living on Campus 
The great thing about living on campus is that everything is at your fingertips. Your classrooms and most student-group meetings are all conducted in the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center (FLTC), and, without setting a single foot outdoors, you can travel between the hospitals (with their cafeterias), laboratories, and Olin Residence Hall. The carrels are a great place for studying and meeting up with friends, and the histology rooms on the third floor can easily be commandeered for a movie or gaming night. Restaurants and bars galore are minutes away in the Central West End, and Forest Park is on your very doorstep. Even the MetroLink is a few steps beyond the doors of the FLTC for when you want to leave the comfort of campus for shopping or a day/night of fun. Besides all this, the area is very safe. Wash U security is everywhere, and unless you are putting yourself in dangerous situations, you are unlikely to encounter one. No matter where you live, the campus is the center of your academic and social life; why not save yourself the commute and hunker down here?
Annie Wang, wangan@wusm.wustl.edu
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Finding Your Own Housing Off Campus
Finding Your Own Housing Off Campus
There are two resources that are incredibly useful for finding off-campus housing; for the more cautious, Wash U has an internal resource available to post housing ads accessible at ars.wustl.edu. Here, people who have @wustl email addresses or have registered with Wash U can post their rooms available to rent. You can find entire places available for rent or rooms in houses shared with a range of people including older MSTP students looking to share space in their off-campus condos and graduate students from other programs with a room to fill. For the more daring, www.padmapper.com is a free service that combines Craigslist ads and posts them on a Google map. This website allows you to browse by location and compares the price for each listing within the neighborhood by a percentage above and below the mean. Although this service can help you find some of the best deals in town, it is best to use this resource if you have time to visit prospective residences to meet the landlord and determine if you like the property and the location. Nighttime drives through the neighborhood are a must.
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Being a Non-Science Major
Being a Non-Science major
I came to Wash U after two years that were completely devoid of science in any form. For those two years, I worked at a consulting firm and ran spreadsheets projecting things like the expected growth in U.S. beer sales by 2020. Really. To top it off, I was a civil engineer in college and, let me tell you, building bridges and wastewater treatment facilities has little to do with the human body. But let me also tell you this: I go to class every day, and I thoroughly enjoy it. Nothing is a boring repeat of something that I have learned in one of my many 1000-level biology classes before (because I obviously haven't taken those). Having a background that is different from my peers keeps me grounded and reminds me of how amazing a life in medicine is and why I chose this life for myself. I have not once felt like I came to medical school for a lack of anything better to do with a biology major. I chose this path after testing other possibilities and seriously thinking about my decision. Even when things seem hard, I never question why I came here.
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Being Alcohol Free
Being Alcohol Free
So, your favorite drink at an open bar is cranberry juice? Not a problem. Even in medical school, you're not alone. Often, not drinking is associated with not going out or being anti-social. I've been a non-drinker for years (22, to be exact), but it has in no way inhibited me from enjoying my nights in a variety of social situations. Plus, like the all-time quarterback position, you'll be everyone's favorite party friend since you can always DD! (... or not vomit in the taxi.) Wash U School of Medicine may be ranked as the No. 1 party school*, but if you are used to going to parties sober from undergrad, it's just as easy here. In fact, I find going out with my class here even more fun than some of my previous experiences, partly because of how smart, attractive, and cool my classmates are. Hopefully, next year's class is as lucky. If you want to protect your liver and remember last night, do not fear: It's a cinch to say NO to the -OH (pronounce this "oh," for poetic effect). *This statement is false, in case you were wondering, or at least unfounded.
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Throwing Apartment Parties
Throwing Apartment Parties
Aside from post-exam parties, apartment progressive parties are one of the most common social events during first year (primarily because people don't have houses yet.) Because so many students live in Del Coronado, we've hosted two events there with similar premises: five or six class members choose a theme and drink for their rooms, then people rotate among them throughout the night. It's a fun, quieter alternative to bars and large parties, and it gives you a chance to break into smaller groups and meet people you might not usually interact with. It is also common for people to invite smaller groups over for game nights, movies, or other more relaxed events. Although these events are usually posted to the class Facebook group for all to attend, smaller groups are typically more common for these types of things due to spatial constraints. One more word to the wise: Make sure you gauge your complex and your neighbors, and be respectful of their right to a quiet living space. You might want to think twice about constantly throwing parties when you live one thin wall away from a family or elderly couple.
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On Being Hispanic
Growing up in Puerto Rico greatly impacted my college experience as I faced cultural differences, enjoyed the support of my Hispanic friends, and missed Latin food. The great thing about medical school in St. Louis is that there are a ton of Latin restaurants so I no longer have to go without Hispanic food! But seriously, my Hispanic heritage has had a small impact on my med school experience. St. Louis has a small Hispanic population so you don't get to interact with many Latin patients. Also, there are only about two to three Hispanic students per class so being Hispanic has not defined my group of friends. This is great since I get a laugh out of my culturally "unaware" friends asking whether we have "Winnie the Pooh" in Puerto Rico and believing we use gold and cows as currency. Even though being Hispanic hasn't defined med school for me, Wash U does provide a lot of ways for your Hispanic heritage to color your med school experience, including the MedSpan(ish) student group and volunteering opportunities at the "Casa de Salud" free clinic. How much you want to incorporate your heritage in your med school experience is completely up to you.
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On Being a Parent in Medical School
On Being a Parent in Medical School
If there is one thing that I am learning about being a parent in medical school is that there is never a "perfect time" to have kids whether you are a graduate student or not. Life isn't going to slow down during residency or in your practice. If it is something that is important to you and your spouse, it can be an incredible experience to start a family early. It is definitely a decision that both parents have to make, because it is going to be a team effort. Yes, there are days when I miss out on something my daughter does for the first time or when I don't get as much studying in as I had hoped. But at the end of the day, I love being able to get away from the books and play with my girl. It helps to think of school as my job right now - study hard at school, but then leave the job and come home and relax with my family. As far as St. Louis goes, it is a great place to raise kids; free museums, a fantastic zoo, and parks everywhere you turn make family outings very reasonable on a student budget.
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On Being an Older Student
On Being an Older Student
In "Good Will Hunting," Robin Williams says to Matt Damon, "So, if I asked you about art, you'd probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written ... but I bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel." As an older student who has spent the last five, 10 years working at a real job, raising a family, or earning an advanced degree, there will be times when you'll feel like this. There will also be times when you'll feel like you're too old to stay out past midnight on a Monday, drinking and scrawling on your classmates with highlighters. But, the truth is that most of the time you'll forget that there even is an age gap between you and your classmates. So my advice to you is to do what makes you happy (including going to bed at 10:30 pm), but don't let your age keep you from saying yes to some of the crazier ideas that arise in medical school; your best memories and closest friendships will come from getting lost in East St. Louis or seeing if you can fit seven people and a yellow lab in your four-door sedan.
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