This research investigates the choices of the formative activities performed by medical students and their motives, in order to understand the reasons behind these choices in the institutional context in which they occur and in the broader social context of modern capitalist societies, where new standards of self-achievement have developed, according to A. Ehrenberg's research. Therefore, we not only listened to medical students, but also studied the prevailing values and practices adopted in the medical school investigated. Furthermore, other procedures mentioned by the interviewees were analyzed, including the selection criteria for medical residency. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with twelve medical students. Additionally, 156 of 160 fourth year medical students answered a survey about extracurricular activities. The data analysis was based on similar surveys and studies on current changes in the patterns of individual behavior in society.