A bit of a rant on grades

[necronomicon]

---

Members do not see this ad.

First semester of med school is coming to a close, and I'm at a school that has grades. At this point, I was going to be happy to get an A/A- in every class. Then I saw that I am literally 0.05% away from an A- in anatomy...meaning, naturally, that I got a B+. I keep telling myself that it's still a respectable grade and that I shouldn't be bothered by it, but it's eating me up right now. I know that, ultimately, it shouldn't have much/any influence on the match, but it's still just one more drawback on the application.

For the rest of you at graded schools, what are your thoughts? I find grades, especially right now, to be pretty demoralizing. There's nothing about an 89.45% to scoff at, but I feel inferior right now because we've all been programmed to accept nothing but A's. If grades are essentially meaningless, and things are based more on class rank, what's the point of grades at this level?

I know this will seem trivial to many, but it' been on my mind nonstop for over a week, and I just wanted to vent. Discussed it with family/friends, but it's different because they don't understand the investment of time in a class like anatomy. Any opinions/insights/criticisms welcome.

Have a nice weekend!

 

[ChEMD]

I think grades push me to try a little bit harder, so in that sense I like them. That being said, it definitely adds some stress because like you said, everyone is basically programmed to want or even need all A's. I guess the first thing you have to realize is a B+ isn't a bad grade. I'm willing to bet the average in your class is somewhere in the B/B+ range, and being average in one class among a group of very smart people isn't anything to be ashamed of.

In all reality, I think grades are there solely to determine your class rank. Some schools only have grades during 3rd year, but I feel like that would stress me out even more. I couldn't imagine having grades for one year determine where I rank among my peers in the 4 years of hard work I went through. Especially since I've heard 3rd year grades can be very subjective, I appreciate the fact that I get to prove myself over 3 years and one 'bad' mark isn't going to weigh in that much.

With your current situation, I think you just need to ask yourself if you're learning and understanding the material as best you can. If the answer is yes, then you need to at least try to be content with whatever grade you get, because at the end of the day, that's the most important thing.

 

[wjs010]

Is it strange that I'll be attending a school with grades but without rank?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

As I progress through my second year, i see how stupid the first two year grades are in the grand scheme of things. Much more so in second year. Why? We have lecturers that teach and test on specific material that isn't relevant. I had a lecturer this week give 50 minutes of talking where 80% of it he said, "this isn't important for boards, but it will be on the test and it will be important if you are going to be a nephrologist." Thanks for wasting my time with something I will never remember 6 years from now and for testing on something that isn't relevant. So I could spend every waking hour learning this material in depth and thoroughly, or I can learn enough to pass the test and then watch a movie. That is my opinion. In other words, congrats on your B+ but if you continue to let it bug, it is going to be rough.

 

[Apoplexy__]

Sorry to hear, OP. That really bites. I'd be pretty upset too.

I can relate, though. I'm in a PBL curriculum, where PBL is one class worth >80% of your GPA. So you can see how PBL pretty much determines your GPA. Well, for some inane reason, then decided to cut the value of PBL in half in Semester 3, after it being so high for two semesters. And it just so happens that I didn't shine in the first 2 semesters of med school, only to really pick up on things in Semesters 3 and 4. So I got a B in both Semesters 1 and 2, then got an A in the 3rd semester. Unfortunately for me, this means my B-B-A performance gets me a 3.25 GPA, while my friends with Master's degrees and super-skilled backgrounds got A-B-B to lock in a nice ~3.5 GPA. I **** you not, I scored #1 in my class for a PBL test in Semester 3, and have been top 5% of pretty much every test, diagnostic, etc. but my rank and GPA probably aren't top quartile.

Class rank sucks.

 

[Dr.TurkandJD]

I am at a school that has grades, plus/minus, and rank. I think its up to you to determine how you will go through school. I want good grades, but will I hate myself for getting a C? No! I am an MS1 and got plenty of C's already, however, I feel like I know more and can apply my knowledge in the real world much more efficiently then many of my classmates that get straight A's.

OP don't be a gunner!

 

[Goro]

You're already in medical school, so quit complaining.

First semester of med school is coming to a close, and I'm at a school that has grades. At this point, I was going to be happy to get an A/A- in every class. Then I saw that I am literally 0.05% away from an A- in anatomy...meaning, naturally, that I got a B+. I keep telling myself that it's still a respectable grade and that I shouldn't be bothered by it, but it's eating me up right now. I know that, ultimately, it shouldn't have much/any influence on the match, but it's still just one more drawback on the application.

For the rest of you at graded schools, what are your thoughts? I find grades, especially right now, to be pretty demoralizing. There's nothing about an 89.45% to scoff at, but I feel inferior right now because we've all been programmed to accept nothing but A's. If grades are essentially meaningless, and things are based more on class rank, what's the point of grades at this level?

I know this will seem trivial to many, but it' been on my mind nonstop for over a week, and I just wanted to vent. Discussed it with family/friends, but it's different because they don't understand the investment of time in a class like anatomy. Any opinions/insights/criticisms welcome.

Have a nice weekend!

 

[DermViser]

I am at a school that has grades, plus/minus, and rank. I think its up to you to determine how you will go through school. I want good grades, but will I hate myself for getting a C? No! I am an MS1 and got plenty of C's already, however, I feel like I know more and can apply my knowledge in the real world much more efficiently then many of my classmates that get straight A's.

OP don't be a gunner!

Whatever helps you sleep better at night.

 

[studocplsignore]

OP, I know your exact pain and it makes me so mad. I was one question away from the next grade tier, and then I used Arabic numerals for the cranial nerves instead of the roman ones.

I wouldn't be so mad, but Anatomy was worth a hell of a lot and I would have loved to get to the next tier.

Either way, you can't worry about this for too long, or it'll eat you up. Look forward to spring quarter.

 

[DermViser]

First semester of med school is coming to a close, and I'm at a school that has grades. At this point, I was going to be happy to get an A/A- in every class. Then I saw that I am literally 0.05% away from an A- in anatomy...meaning, naturally, that I got a B+. I keep telling myself that it's still a respectable grade and that I shouldn't be bothered by it, but it's eating me up right now. I know that, ultimately, it shouldn't have much/any influence on the match, but it's still just one more drawback on the application.

For the rest of you at graded schools, what are your thoughts? I find grades, especially right now, to be pretty demoralizing. There's nothing about an 89.45% to scoff at, but I feel inferior right now because we've all been programmed to accept nothing but A's. If grades are essentially meaningless, and things are based more on class rank, what's the point of grades at this level?

I know this will seem trivial to many, but it' been on my mind nonstop for over a week, and I just wanted to vent. Discussed it with family/friends, but it's different because they don't understand the investment of time in a class like anatomy. Any opinions/insights/criticisms welcome.

Have a nice weekend!

If you let a small thing like this get to you, over a freakin B+. I can't wait to see you on the wards, when every bit of criticism will eat you up inside. There's a reason there is such a high rate of suicide in the medical profession, and it starts in medical school. You better learn better coping skills than you have now, or you won't last.

 

[scummie]

Don't worry, you will have plenty more exams throughout the next few years to obsess over. You will go from the "only need 1/2 point to get an A in micro" to "Dear God, please let me have a 1/2 point so I can pass pathology".

The symptoms you are describing are part of "Medical Student Adjustment Syndrome" where you realize how much work/variability it takes to get an A and then how much work you actually want to put in. Would you rather study for 5 more hours to maybe get a B+ or would you rather finish watching a season of Game of Thrones? Class rank switches around a lot especially during the first two years as people get burned out from trying to be a superstar megastudent.

 

[Dr.TurkandJD]

Whatever helps you sleep better at night.

Whatever helps you sleep better at night.

False, its not what makes me feel better, its a fact. A lot of people who get good grades have no idea how to approach a patient and are books smart. There are so many people that I am wondering how will they ever break bad news to a pt's family or use problem solving skills to answer questions. Some people are more clinical, have better bedside manner, and still have enough knowledge to treat, while others are more book smart, socially awkward, will get all A's but can't talk to patients. Most people are somewhere in the middle, but most of the time, people are are getting straight A's are on the extreme. Does getting an A in Anatomy and me getting a C make you a better future doctor? Of course not. Because you tiny arteries that no one cares about (unless you're doing surge) doesn't mean you are better. As one of the greats says, "Patients don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

 

[DermViser]

False, its not what makes me feel better, its a fact. A lot of people who get good grades have no idea how to approach a patient and are books smart. There are so many people that I am wondering how will they ever break bad news to a pt's family or use problem solving skills to answer questions. Some people are more clinical, have better bedside manner, and still have enough knowledge to treat, while others are more book smart, socially awkward, will get all A's but can't talk to patients. Most people are somewhere in the middle, but most of the time, people are are getting straight A's are on the extreme. Does getting an A in Anatomy and me getting a C make you a better future doctor? Of course not. Because you tiny arteries that no one cares about (unless you're doing surge) doesn't mean you are better. As one of the greats says, "Patients don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Great that you use overused cliches to justify your poor performance. You apparently have drank the med school Kool-Aid. Guess what, there are tons of people who are good at books and doing well on clinical rotations. They aren't mutually exclusive. Those are the ones that get the more competitive (better lifestyle) specialties.

You getting straight C's doesn't somehow make you a "better" doctor, and make those who are able to get A's automatically socially inept. Guess, what you can say that for any specialty: No one cares if I know _______, unless I'm doing ________. If you wish to accept mediocrity, that's fine, but don't make those who don't, as somehow "socially awkward", when you have no proof of that, just anecdote, and your "feelings" that you can apply the information.

 

[DrEnderW]

Dr.Turkland, I don't know what you are talking about.

The "if you get all As you're socially awkward" thing is ridiculous and applies even less so for DO students. Most people are not socially awkward bookworms that had a 4.0 in undergrad and a 36 MCAT going for academic medicine and that's why they are at a DO school in the first place. The people at the top of my class are normal people that just work really, really hard. Sure, you have to be a little obsessive and masochistic to end up at the top of your class, but that doesn't make you socially awkward.

 

[schwasted589]

I thought grades were like the 9th thing on the list that residency programs looked at for placement, and therefore, weren't that important? Shouldn't the focus be more on whether you're learning/retaining the information?

 

[hallowmann]

I thought grades were like the 9th thing on the list that residency programs looked at for placement, and therefore, weren't that important? Shouldn't the focus be more on whether you're learning/retaining the information?

I think it was 7th or 8th ... but ... yeah.