A C in medical school...

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Pansit

Pansit

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Is getting a C in medical school, say in Biochem as hurtful for a competitive residency as it would be hurtful of getting a C in undergrad in applying to med school. I have seen here on SDN a list showing grades are not as important in medical school. I am just wondering because looking at the schedule of 2nd year, there isnt as much time to study and focus solely on boards and you might have to make some sacrifices to ensure you get a great board score. In undergrad I could take a bunch of easy classes during MCAT semester and devout 100% of time on the test...i have a feeling medical school isnt that easy...I dont plan on getting a C but if it happens I wouldnt want to think that my chances are over...I treated a C in undergrad as a death sentence and I dont think that kind of attitude would work well in medical school...the stress is already large enough...
 
From what I hear, as long as you pass but ace the boards, its better than doing well in the class but badly on the boards, unless you want a very competitive residency (in which case you may need both).
 
instead of worrying about it, just lay everything on the line so you have no excuses. you will take tons of tests and just have to do your best.

why such a negativity as a premed? Not to mention posting it at 6am?
 
Course grades are hardly the most important thing when applying to residency. Yes they matter, but there are a few other things higher on the priority ie: boards, clinical performance and LOR. I wouldnt worry about that now anyway. Focus on passing anatomy.
 
Pansit said:
...I treated a C in undergrad as a death sentence and I dont think that kind of attitude would work well in medical school...the stress is already large enough...
Click to expand...

Everyone gets a rude awakening after matriculation. Once you get into medical school "you ain't in Kansas anymore Toto." Most of the people you will meet in medical school have never had a C before, but half of them will have as soon as the first exam is over. In fact, half of these people, who were probably in the top 5% of the class in undergrad, will be below average students. That's right! They'll be making C's left and right and just praying to pass the next test. Some people who never made a C before will fail their first test. A few will even flunk out of school.

Medical school is a lot like professional sports. You may have been the best in highschool and college, but once you get to the professional ranks there will be starters.... and those who sit on the bench every game.

Not everyone can be 1st in the class. Just use your time wisely, do your best, and focus on learning as much as you can.
 
your statement is very misleading- seeing that you are a MS-0, i will have to give you the benefit of the doubt. a 'c' in medical school is a passing grade and is nothing to sneeze at. grades in medical school are important but does not carry as much weight as compared to board scores and LOR. i attended a talk given by one of our intructors who is an orthopaedic surgeon about surgical residency prior to finals and he stressed the importance of the clinical yrs. as long as you dont fail any course, you have a chance to be competitive provided you do well in the boards and impress the heck out of your attendings during your rotations.
my advise is to do your best even if you come in dead set on a less-competitive field. that way, even when you change your mind midway, you can still apply to more competitive residencies.

MaximusD said:
If you get a C in med school, you are going to be able to enter Family Medicine or General Practice. Sorry.










:meanie:
Click to expand...
 
st. pius v said:
your statement is very misleading- seeing that you are a MS-0, i will have to give you the benefit of the doubt. a 'c' in medical school is a passing grade and is nothing to sneeze at. grades in medical school are important but does not carry as much weight as compared to board scores and LOR. i attended a talk given by one of our intructors who is an orthopaedic surgeon about surgical residency prior to finals and he stressed the importance of the clinical yrs. as long as you dont fail any course, you have a chance to be competitive provided you do well in the boards and impress the heck out of your attendings during your rotations.
my advise is to do your best even if you come in dead set on a less-competitive field. that way, even when you change your mind midway, you can still apply to more competitive residencies.
Click to expand...

Max is MS-1 at PCOM
 
It has to be cold for me to concentrate, so I am definitely going to need AC.
 
Pansit said:
Is getting a C in medical school, say in Biochem as hurtful for a competitive residency as it would be hurtful of getting a C in undergrad in applying to med school. I have seen here on SDN a list showing grades are not as important in medical school. I am just wondering because looking at the schedule of 2nd year, there isnt as much time to study and focus solely on boards and you might have to make some sacrifices to ensure you get a great board score. In undergrad I could take a bunch of easy classes during MCAT semester and devout 100% of time on the test...i have a feeling medical school isnt that easy...I dont plan on getting a C but if it happens I wouldnt want to think that my chances are over...I treated a C in undergrad as a death sentence and I dont think that kind of attitude would work well in medical school...the stress is already large enough...
Click to expand...

Once you matriculate, Pansit, it's whole other ballgame. The @#$! classes are tough, man, and everyone has a fairly high baseline of intelligence and decent work ethic. It's nothing like undergrad. Often, my simple wish is to pass, although something above a C is preferred. Unless you are some kind of gunner, or study like an absolute lunatic, at some point in your first two years, you are going to worry about passing a class, practical, or at least a test. Consider this: at least a fourth of my class failed the anatomy practical in the last section. Uh, these are med students, mind you, who have considerable ability. I passed, but I think the difference between my knowledge and some of those who did not pass wasn't that appreciable. It's a constant thing in the back of my mind. For that matter, sometimes, as much as I try, I'm not going to get that A. I'm happy with my B's for now.

Anyway, the first two years, as many folks a bit ahead of me have put it, are your initiation into the fraternity of medicine. It's meant to be gruesome and tough. It's there to prepare you for the realities of residency. I wouldn't worry too much about grades; just make sure to pass your classes and do as well as you can. Everything I've heard tells me that the grades in the first two years don't mean much. Your clinical grades matter much more and so forth. That said, do your best; it'll have to do.
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but Pansit is a first year. At least I remember him posting during last year's application cycle.

Anyway, a C in med school is like the equivalent of a AA++ in regular people school :laugh:

Just make sure you do well on your boards and clinical rotations
 
Pansit said:
Is getting a C in medical school, say in Biochem as hurtful for a competitive residency as it would be hurtful of getting a C in undergrad in applying to med school. I have seen here on SDN a list showing grades are not as important in medical school. I am just wondering because looking at the schedule of 2nd year, there isnt as much time to study and focus solely on boards and you might have to make some sacrifices to ensure you get a great board score. In undergrad I could take a bunch of easy classes during MCAT semester and devout 100% of time on the test...i have a feeling medical school isnt that easy...I dont plan on getting a C but if it happens I wouldnt want to think that my chances are over...I treated a C in undergrad as a death sentence and I dont think that kind of attitude would work well in medical school...the stress is already large enough...
Click to expand...

I got one C in medical school (gross anatomy) and it was addressed at 1 of my 8 interviews. The others didn't mention it.

By the way, a C in undergrad clearly isn't a death sentence -- I got plenty of them.
 
Delayed response there max?
 
Better late than never?
 
I thought this was going to be a thread about
slater.jpg


and maybe a "Saved by the Bell: the Med School Years" pilot.
 
scpod said:
Everyone gets a rude awakening after matriculation. Once you get into medical school "you ain't in Kansas anymore Toto." Most of the people you will meet in medical school have never had a C before, but half of them will have as soon as the first exam is over. In fact, half of these people, who were probably in the top 5% of the class in undergrad, will be below average students. That's right! They'll be making C's left and right and just praying to pass the next test. Some people who never made a C before will fail their first test. A few will even flunk out of school.

Medical school is a lot like professional sports. You may have been the best in highschool and college, but once you get to the professional ranks there will be starters.... and those who sit on the bench every game.

Not everyone can be 1st in the class. Just use your time wisely, do your best, and focus on learning as much as you can.
Click to expand...

Well I better get my butt ready for bench warming.
 
scpod said:
Everyone gets a rude awakening after matriculation. Once you get into medical school "you ain't in Kansas anymore Toto." Most of the people you will meet in medical school have never had a C before, but half of them will have as soon as the first exam is over. In fact, half of these people, who were probably in the top 5% of the class in undergrad, will be below average students. That's right! They'll be making C's left and right and just praying to pass the next test. Some people who never made a C before will fail their first test. A few will even flunk out of school.

Medical school is a lot like professional sports. You may have been the best in highschool and college, but once you get to the professional ranks there will be starters.... and those who sit on the bench every game.

Not everyone can be 1st in the class. Just use your time wisely, do your best, and focus on learning as much as you can.
Click to expand...

Learn, learn, learn..end of the day what you take out of your 2 years of hardcore learning will reflect during rotations and beyond. Ofcourse experience and more learning will enhance your career but just realize like SCPOD said know how to use your time wisely and ofcourse failing should never be an option. Those boards will test all your knowledge at once..so kinda like our version of superbowl.
 
scpod said:
Everyone gets a rude awakening after matriculation. Once you get into medical school "you ain't in Kansas anymore Toto." Most of the people you will meet in medical school have never had a C before, but half of them will have as soon as the first exam is over. In fact, half of these people, who were probably in the top 5% of the class in undergrad, will be below average students. That's right! They'll be making C's left and right and just praying to pass the next test. Some people who never made a C before will fail their first test. A few will even flunk out of school.

Medical school is a lot like professional sports. You may have been the best in highschool and college, but once you get to the professional ranks there will be starters.... and those who sit on the bench every game.

Not everyone can be 1st in the class. Just use your time wisely, do your best, and focus on learning as much as you can.
Click to expand...

I don't think people flunk out as soon as they start failing one class or even few classes.... I mean my friend (who now is MS2 at wayne state) knew this "so called genius" from undergrad, the kid was a wizard, 3.8 GPA as a biochem major, rocked the MCATs with a 38....... anyways to get back to my story, the kid was doing OK initially during his MS-1, but as the year progressed, he started flunking out.... Finally, wayne state sat down with him, and told him he can complete the Curriculum in 6 years (instead of the normal 4 years)

seems like, if you start fudging around in med school, the school itself trys to help you out before you decide to drop out
 
I don't mean to sound ignorant... but aren't the 3rd and 4th year (rotation years) easier than the first and 2nd years ??? because you don't really have as many lectures and as much studying to do.... or is there something Im totally missing here?
 
Nasem said:
I don't mean to sound ignorant... but aren't the 3rd and 4th year (rotation years) easier than the first and 2nd years ??? because you don't really have as many lectures and as much studying to do.... or is there something Im totally missing here?
Click to expand...

I haven't experienced this myself yet, but from what I've seen in my shadowing and in discussions with current students, they say it isn't as intense, but you will be reading alot. Any time that you have a question about something you had better look it up. Also, different rotations are very different from one another and the amount of work they require. Some rotations require you to be there by 6:00 every morning and you don't leave until late; once you're home you may have to read for 1-2 hours to keep up with what the attending expects of you.

Once again, this is just what I have seen and heard from current students.
 
Nasem said:
I don't mean to sound ignorant... but aren't the 3rd and 4th year (rotation years) easier than the first and 2nd years ??? because you don't really have as many lectures and as much studying to do.... or is there something Im totally missing here?
Click to expand...

3rd and 4th years..you will have didactic sessions, presentations that you are responsible for and never forget the real patients you will have to keep track of! Shelf exams, step 2, step 3 board exams are all going to pile up. I doubt there's any real difference through out your medical education..its just how you perceive things? Infact during electives you might be moving around a lot which should be a hassle. On a positive note..3rd and 4th years are crucial in terms of you auditioning for a good residency..so you should def try to be at your best!
 
Don't forget some rotations with unbelievable hours...Gen Surg and OB/Gyn...and some pimping that really never happened during the first 2 years and some attendings berating and talking down to you because you forgot some obscure detail from basic science.

Really though, it may not be that bad for some but 3rd and 4th years are a whole different ball game.
 
threads like this tend to discourage me from med schools lol.... seems like your going to attend the first 2 years about 35 hours a week and study another 40 (70+ hrs for school work alone)... sounds like hell

THEN, you spend another 2 years being your attending's B!!ch, which im sure isn't boasting to the self moral / self esteem....

Instead of medical schools sending you a "congratulations, you have been accepted at our school, we look forward to having your join our 20XX class"... they should just say "Welcome to hell"
 
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