Do Med Students Date Each Other? (5 Things You Need To Know!)

Advice / By

Chances are (if you’re reading this) you’re thinking about going (or already on your way) to med school. But you’re worried about your love life. And whether you’ll ever have time again to meet anybody new…

So, do med students date each other?

Yes, med students commonly date each other. Due to the intensity of school, the scheduling and the fact it brings like-minded adults together, it’s very convenient to couple up with a colleague.

Trust me, as someone in their 4th year of med school, I’ve seen it a ton of times. And it doesn’t always end pretty!

But I’ll get into that in this article.

You’ll learn:

  • What the dating atmosphere is like in med school
  • If most med students are single (and why)
  • What it’s like dating another student
  • Why you may/may not what to date a fellow med student

So if that all sounds like something you want to learn about, read on…

Contents show

What is the dating atmosphere like in med school?

The dating atmosphere in med school can be very varied.

Party schools have a reputation for being a hotbed of romance, while other, “more traditional” schools can be a little quiet.

Here are the main factors that help make for an intense dating environment:

  • Schools with a younger average student age (You can check this via the data given by Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR))
  • Geographically remote (or non-urban) schools
  • Schools with lots of social events/extracurriculars (and dorms)

Of course there are always exceptions to the rules. But the least diverse schools (or those with a lot of similar-aged students) tend to have fewer married or settled attendees. So inevitably students end up dating one another!

But obviously there’s a lot of work that goes on in med school. So perhaps the dating atmosphere is a lot more tame than college, high school or whatever else you’re used to.

Finding love in medical school

As for whether it’s possible to find love in med school? That’s entirely dependent on the people involved (and how serious they take their relationships).

From a time standpoint, there’s enough of it for dating if you’re smart about studying.

Related: How To Study Medicine Effectively (Quick Hints & Tips)

But just because you can, doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

Either way, free time can be scarce outside of your class and study commitments. Dating, depending on how fun or not you find the process, might not be priority number one on your list of things to do.

And of course there’s nothing at all wrong with that!

So here’s what you may want to think about:

  • Do you have time to date? Or is there other things you’d rather be doing?
  • How well can you handle the emotional ups and downs?
  • Is it possible it could become a distraction and damage your studies?

Lots of students I personally know have found their significant other through dating in med school. But lots of others have made things awkward for themselves by dating around too.

So you’ve got to consider both sides.

Why are most med students single?

Unfortunately there are no studies available to give a good estimate on just how many med students are single.

Some students show up having been in long-term relationships. Some attend while married. Others go into it single.

Each of these statuses can (and quite often do) change during the course of studies also!

The main reasons for being single though, are:

  • Stress: med school is a massive commitment
  • Time: you’ll struggle to spend a lot it with a partner (especially one who’s on a different schedule)
  • Competition: both these factors make the dating pool small!

Oh and there’s also the fact that dating other med students, especially when you’re around them most of the day, can make things pretty dull.

And sometimes annoying for those around you too.

What is like dating a fellow med student?

Dating another med student doesn’t leave a lot of surprises. You both know each others’ routine, the types of things you see each day and most of all the other people you interact with. That can all get pretty boring fast.

But obviously there are advantages too, like:

  • Sharing the same (or similar) schedule: easy to arrange time-off together
  • Having a better understanding of each other’s challenges (and potential stressors)
  • Similar interests (assuming you’re doing med because you like the subject matter!)

So that’s one reason it’s very convenient and often popular!

But then there’s the bad side too.

Breaking up after things get stale. Being forced to see that person around all the time. Enduring everyone else’s gossip. None of those things can make it seem worth it.

And then there’s the weird competition. Trying to out-do each other for the top grades.

It’s safe to say it’s complicated (and something of cringe-inducing med school stereotype).

Dating in med school: should you do it?

The answer to this question is all about you. Ultimately you know yourself best. And what you can handle!

As a young person going into med, I personally (as a mature student) don’t see anything wrong with it. These are the types of experiences you’re expected to have while in school. And you can learn a lot from them – even if they don’t work out happily-ever-after.

In some ways though I’m also relieved I don’t have to deal with any of that stuff either. Having seen the fall-out of several failed med school relationships around me, it’s not something that seems all that easy to take. Especially as it just piles stress on stress.

But if you feel you’d be able to cope, or can’t stand the desperate thought of being alone during your studies, then it could be worth a try.

Don’t let dating compromise your studies but don’t deprive yourself of fun either!

Summary

To wrap things up, yes med students commonly date each other. In an environment that brings adults together and puts them in close daily contact, how could it not do?

But whether it’s right for you, that’s not for me to say.

Hopefully this article could help shed a little bit more light.

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