[INTRODUCTION - The purpose of our study was to survey the opinion of students graduating in 2008 at the Semmelweis University Faculty of Medicine about university education, future perspectives and physical as well as their mental health conditions. We have considered factors that might cause or might protect against burnout syndrome. METHODS - The electronic questionnaire has been sent to all graduating students and included the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hungarian version of Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which assesses anxiety, the Hungarian adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Human Profession modified for students and the CAGE test, which evaluates alcohol consumption. The questionnaire included general questions concerning medical school education, health condition, support from the community, future perspective and livelihood. RESULTS - 31.4% of the graduating class (94 people) answered the questionnaire. These former students felt that the theoretical education at the university was of high quality; however, 61% considered the practical education insufficient. At the beginning of their careers, merely 5% of the young physicians felt well-prepared professionally. 30% of the responders reported a high degree of burnout; 59% would like to work abroad, and 26% were considering leaving the field of healthcare. A quarter of the students had psychosomatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS - After graduating from medical school, young physicians have to face the difficulties of finding a job, an unstable livelihood and a high risk of burnout syndrome. The high percentage of young medical school graduates leaving the profession as well as the high migration rate might contribute to the growing problems of the healthcare system.]