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Platinumabi said:
As y’all might have guessed, I am a premed(freshman) who has decently good grades. I have study buddies(3) two of them are premeds and one is not. All my study buddies have straight A’s up to this point and I’m sure they’ll get a 4.0 this semester. I, on the other hand, have 1 A+, 1 A, 1A-, and 1B+. I have been competing(in a positive way) with them and I’m getting scared now. I do not think I’ll make it. I came in college aiming for a 4.0 but I don’t think it will happen. I am so scared and I feel like I am incapable of scoring as high as them and continue being a premed. I am on Thanksgiving beak for this week and I am supposed to study for many exams I have next week. But I am just going on YouTube and searching for dumb stuff on there and being lazy. I’m feeling very discouraged. Can anyone please share an advice on what I should do?

Thank you
🙁


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Beat your previous best grades, not the grades of others. Start by making a study schedule, this causes you to "consciously" acknowledge the work you have to complete and stop avoiding it all together. Don't just make a simple schedule, MAKE DETAILED SCHEDULES. Example: when you'll be studying, from what time to what time, where will you be studying, when are your breaks, what will you do during your breaks, how long will your breaks be, etc. Apparently I learned in my motivation psych class that making detailed goals = more effective/greater chances of successfully completing those goals.Your grades aren't terrible, so think of it this way: "I want to maintain or do even better in those classes"

Keep up the good work pal, you're far from the finishing line, but it's also the closest you've ever been to your goal in becoming a medical school student/physician. Don't stop here, hustle and charge forward!
 
Are you putting off studying because you're intimidated by the amount of work you have to do?

Just start SOMEWHERE.

Which class are you most worried about?

How can you best study for that AT THIS MOMENT -- re-watch a lecture, read the textbook, or do practice?

Start doing the most tangible thing you can do.
 
Drakozord X said:
Beat your previous best grades, not the grades of others. Start by making a study schedule, this causes you to "consciously" acknowledge the work you have to complete and stop avoiding it all together. Don't just make a simple schedule, MAKE DETAILED SCHEDULES. Example: when you'll be studying, from what time to what time, where will you be studying, when are your breaks, what will you do during your breaks, how long will your breaks be, etc. Apparently I learned in my motivation psych class that making detailed goals = more effective/greater chances of successfully completing those goals.Your grades aren't terrible, so think of it this way: "I want to maintain or do even better in those classes"

Keep up the good work pal, you're far from the finishing line, but it's also the closest you've ever been to your goal in becoming a medical school student/physician. Don't stop here, hustle and charge forward!
Click to expand...

Best advice out there. In high school I was constantly worried about how I was performing in regards to others but all it lead me was absolute trouble and anxiety and unhealthy study habits, and I dropped that attitude and outlook 2 years ago, and I've been feeling really good and doing well.

I made a calendar/schedule every semester for my classes, study hours, break/relax times to hang out with friends, and for my research/volunteer hours as a premed. Take it easy on the stress and plan everything out, nothing good can come from stressing and pushing yourself, that's why there's such a high burn out rate.

Also making tiny small goals for yourself really helps motivation on a day to day if it's getting hard to keep on target. Making your bed every morning is a small goal that takes 30 seconds to complete, but in our heads it feels like a bigger goal and we get happy over something so small. Make your bed, get up early and meditate, or just finishing a book a week or a month can be really satisfying. Don't lose your motivation and focus on yourself and helping others, not competing and being better than them.
 
Just to tone down the neuroticism, your grades are still very good. Don’t let being a perfect student become your identity. I know it’s difficult to not compare yourself to your peers, but you’ll be happier if you don’t. As for practical advice, when I don’t feel like studying, it’s better for me to go to a coffee shop or the library so I feel like others will judge me if I am not being productive.


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Platinumabi said:
As y’all might have guessed, I am a premed(freshman) who has decently good grades. I have study buddies(3) two of them are premeds and one is not. All my study buddies have straight A’s up to this point and I’m sure they’ll get a 4.0 this semester. I, on the other hand, have 1 A+, 1 A, 1A-, and 1B+. I have been competing(in a positive way) with them and I’m getting scared now. I do not think I’ll make it. I came in college aiming for a 4.0 but I don’t think it will happen. I am so scared and I feel like I am incapable of scoring as high as them and continue being a premed. I am on Thanksgiving beak for this week and I am supposed to study for many exams I have next week. But I am just going on YouTube and searching for dumb stuff on there and being lazy. I’m feeling very discouraged. Can anyone please share an advice on what I should do?

Thank you
🙁


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
Go talk to a therapist.
 
Platinumabi said:
?


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Go to your school's counseling center.

I am so scared and I feel like I am incapable of scoring as high as them and continue being a premed. I am on Thanksgiving beak for this week and I am supposed to study for many exams I have next week. But I am just going on YouTube and searching for dumb stuff on there and being lazy. I’m feeling very discouraged.
 
I finished freshman year with a 3.53, and many on here finished with lower than that and lived to tell the tale.

There are a couple things premeds need to remember, and these are all absolute:
1) The only person whose grades matter to you should be you.
2) The performance of other individuals doesn’t not impact your chances of getting to medical school. Not even a little.
3) You don’t need a 4.0 to get into medical school. You don’t need a 3.8 to get into medical school. 3.6? That’s cutting it closer to the line, but many, many people have gotten in with a 3.6 and below.

Chill and focus on yourself.
 
Drakozord X said:
Beat your previous best grades, not the grades of others. Start by making a study schedule, this causes you to "consciously" acknowledge the work you have to complete and stop avoiding it all together. Don't just make a simple schedule, MAKE DETAILED SCHEDULES. Example: when you'll be studying, from what time to what time, where will you be studying, when are your breaks, what will you do during your breaks, how long will your breaks be, etc. Apparently I learned in my motivation psych class that making detailed goals = more effective/greater chances of successfully completing those goals.Your grades aren't terrible, so think of it this way: "I want to maintain or do even better in those classes"

Keep up the good work pal, you're far from the finishing line, but it's also the closest you've ever been to your goal in becoming a medical school student/physician. Don't stop here, hustle and charge forward!
Click to expand...

This. Pretty much how i got through studying for the mcat. Literally scheduled out every single day of studying before even starting then went through and crossed them off day by day. Highly effective.

Also I'd like to add some healthy competition between friends isn't terrible. I had friends in high school where we'd help one another out and then still see who could score the highest on the exams. I usually lost haha. In college not so much mainly because my friends are either in fifteen classes or I'm not comfortable enough with the ones who are to do so.
 
Flying Penguin said:
Are you putting off studying because you're intimidated by the amount of work you have to do?

Just start SOMEWHERE.

Which class are you most worried about?

How can you best study for that AT THIS MOMENT -- re-watch a lecture, read the textbook, or do practice?

Start doing the most tangible thing you can do.
Click to expand...

Indeed!

OP, focusing on what is right in front of you is vital to success in any arena. In an age where social media and technological devices are always at our fingertips, it is way too easy to become distracted if you don't prioritize things and get them done. Thinking about everything that needs to be done can be daunting. Focusing on the next important task and taking action is as simple as it gets.

And sometimes, you just have to take a break, even an entire day off to relax and clear your mind. Overall, however, action is of utmost importance, especially when emotion seeks to take over. I fool around on SDN from time-to-time and worry about this process as much as the next person, but when it's time to get it done, it is time.

Persevering through difficult times builds character, so don't give up because of the idea that you might fail, especially when you're grades are as solid as they currently are. You will not achieve your goals by worrying. One foot in front of the other, period. And do not compare yourself to others. Do you, and do as well as you possibly can. You got this.
 
Goro said:
Go to your school's counseling center.

I am so scared and I feel like I am incapable of scoring as high as them and continue being a premed. I am on Thanksgiving beak for this week and I am supposed to study for many exams I have next week. But I am just going on YouTube and searching for dumb stuff on there and being lazy. I’m feeling very discouraged.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea whatsoever. Sometimes, you just need to talk to someone face-to-face and be encouraged. A counselor can do for you in-person what we are attempting to do for you in this thread, except they may have access to other resources in your direct environment and also likely have more experience in this area than many of us. If they're helpful, imagine having that person as a source of continued support!

I wish I'd taken advantage of counseling, advising, and other student resources back in undergrad. I had a lot of family and personal circumstances that affected my ability to focus on school work and it would've been so helpful to get any sort of help.

Goro provided great advice, seriously. The pre-med track does not get easier as time passes. If you need help, get it now.
 
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The difference is not in who got the A and who got the A-, Oh and the B+ kids going to PA school! In my experience, some classes are just going to flow better for different students. My Gen Bio 2 had tons of plants and animals and all the pre-vets scoring 100% no curves and I am drowning in 88, 90, 92 on my exams. Same kids in Chem and Orgo looked like fish out of the water. Then you walk into Physics and its all the math nerds and the bio kids are struggling again.

What is going to separate you and allow you to succeed is PURE GRIT! If the subject is "hard" or "boring" then just pretend like its somewhat interesting or say to yourself "maybe it's not hard, but I just need to go through it a couple more times to let it sink in."

There are 9001 hoops to jump through as a premed and often times it feels like you are on fire... Put a smile on and ask for another helping! 🙂
 
I'll second the counselor as its a resource that has helped many. Your grades are good! You want a 3.6+ and should aim for 3.7+ for best results.
There was a time when I liked to watch ET on youtube for motivation (guilty pleasure.) Eric Thomas is the "when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breath" guy. The basic story is he was born to teenage mother in low SES, dropped out of high school, homeless and eating out of trash cans. He turned his life around got his GED, got his bachelors in like 8 years and now he has his Ph.D. in Education which I think was paid for by his school as he is a famous motivational speaker and speaks to sports teams and on Wall St.
 
Isoval said:
I finished freshman year with a 3.53, and many on here finished with lower than that and lived to tell the tale.

There are a couple things premeds need to remember, and these are all absolute:
1) The only person whose grades matter to you should be you.
2) The performance of other individuals doesn’t not impact your chances of getting to medical school. Not even a little.
3) You don’t need a 4.0 to get into medical school. You don’t need a 3.8 to get into medical school. 3.6? That’s cutting it closer to the line, but many, many people have gotten in with a 3.6 and below.

Chill and focus on yourself.
Click to expand...

Your post made me day. Thanks! Take the wise advice OP. Sometimes it’s good to have friends that motivate you (positive peer pressure) but if it’s making you scared of studying and you’re stressing about whether or not you can do as well as them... well... that’s not very healthy.

Deep breaths. RELAX. Their grades don’t matter. You’re still doing really well
 
Isoval said:
I finished freshman year with a 3.53, and many on here finished with lower than that and lived to tell the tale.

There are a couple things premeds need to remember, and these are all absolute:
1) The only person whose grades matter to you should be you.
2) The performance of other individuals doesn’t not impact your chances of getting to medical school. Not even a little.
3) You don’t need a 4.0 to get into medical school. You don’t need a 3.8 to get into medical school. 3.6? That’s cutting it closer to the line, but many, many people have gotten in with a 3.6 and below.

Chill and focus on yourself.
Click to expand...

Your post made me day. Thanks! Take the wise advice OP. Sometimes it’s good to have friends that motivate you (positive peer pressure) but if it’s making you scared of studying and you’re stressing about whether or not you can do as well as them... well... that’s not very healthy.

Deep breaths. RELAX. Their grades don’t matter. You’re still doing really well
 
Blanky said:
I'll second the counselor as its a resource that has helped many. Your grades are good! You want a 3.6+ and should aim for 3.7+ for best results.
There was a time when I liked to watch ET on youtube for motivation (guilty pleasure.) Eric Thomas is the "when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breath" guy. The basic story is he was born to teenage mother in low SES, dropped out of high school, homeless and eating out of trash cans. He turned his life around got his GED, got his bachelors in like 8 years and now he has his Ph.D. in Education which I think was paid for by his school as he is a famous motivational speaker and speaks to sports teams and on Wall St.
Click to expand...

ET is the man! I love his stuff, as well as Gary Vaynerchuck's.
 
Platinumabi said:
As y’all might have guessed, I am a premed(freshman) who has decently good grades. I have study buddies(3) two of them are premeds and one is not. All my study buddies have straight A’s up to this point and I’m sure they’ll get a 4.0 this semester. I, on the other hand, have 1 A+, 1 A, 1A-, and 1B+. I have been competing(in a positive way) with them and I’m getting scared now. I do not think I’ll make it. I came in college aiming for a 4.0 but I don’t think it will happen. I am so scared and I feel like I am incapable of scoring as high as them and continue being a premed. I am on Thanksgiving beak for this week and I am supposed to study for many exams I have next week. But I am just going on YouTube and searching for dumb stuff on there and being lazy. I’m feeling very discouraged. Can anyone please share an advice on what I should do?

Thank you
🙁


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...


I did the same thing. Or felt the same way, rather. At some point you have to have the epiphany that you shouldn’t be competing with other people. It’s not about what is going to make you a better doctor than them. It’s what is going to make you a good doctor overall. I realize medical school admissions may feel different, but you’ll be a pretty insufferable gunner if you approach everything with a competitive attitude.

Definitely try therapy. When I was doing this, I was pretty depressed. That doesn’t mean you are as this is just my experience. I couldn’t get the motivation to study even though I really wanted to. And I also have pretty bad imposter syndrome.
 
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