Advice for new undergrads?

[Nerdali]

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I'm starting my undergrad in September and was wondering if anyone had advice for making the change from high school to college? It is my dream to go on to medical school, but I am nervous and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Thundrstorm]

Stop worrying about medical school. That's my advice. Try to survive freshman orientation first. 😉




Oh, and: learn to manage your time, don't proctrastinate, and make sure you take fun and interesting classes as well as the required ones.

 

[Shodddy18]

have fun, worry about med school later.... Drink some alcohol, have as much sex as you can get, sleep late and skip class. There will be plenty of time later to be serious.

 

[frostynorthwind]

Eh, I think it would be wiser to initiate the "work hard, but play harder" policy only if you truly work hard. I have a few friends who goofed off in the first few semesters of undergrad and had a kick-arse time but are now struggling to make up for it (as juniors, seniors, or post bac students).

My recommendation is that you just take it as it comes and try to focus most on doing really well at each stage. Although it's a trite adage, the analogy of running a marathon versus a sprinting race definitely holds true for becoming an MD. In undergrad, attend lecture and do the homework, but more importantly, make sure that you really understand the concepts presented in your physics, gen chem, organic, and bio classes. (Trust me, it really helps if you only have to "review" material you already know rather than cramming to relearn stuff for the MCAT... and man, I could have saved myself a lot of pain in this respect!)

Still, be sure to have fun in undergrad, too and continue doing things that you enjoy even if they aren't related to medicine at all. Have fun and good luck! 👍

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Mr. Adventure's 4 Simple Maxims:

1) When you drink and get drunk, don't act like it. In other words, don't use alcohol as an excuse to stumble around, be loud, confrontational and overly flirty with cool girls. You'll never get any action that way. Just play it cool baby and know your limits.

2) Do not get wrapped up in what people think about you. There's always going to be playa haters in this world. If you let these people get under your skin, they'll steal your soul.

3) Just because it looks like aspirin and tastes like aspirin, doesn't mean that it is aspirin.

4) If your buddies would rather sit around on Fri. night, get high, play PS2 and listen to Led Zepplin rather than go out...find new friends. You'll never, never, never get laid.

 

[DrBowtie]

The #1 golden rule. Don't do cocaine. It's one hell of a drug.

 

[IgweEmeka]

Eh, I think it would be wiser to initiate the "work hard, but play harder" policy only if you truly work hard. I have a few friends who goofed off in the first few semesters of undergrad and had a kick-arse time but are now struggling to make up for it (as juniors, seniors, or post bac students).

My recommendation is that you just take it as it comes and try to focus most on doing really well at each stage. Although it's a trite adage, the analogy of running a marathon versus a sprinting race definitely holds true for becoming an MD. In undergrad, attend lecture and do the homework, but more importantly, make sure that you really understand the concepts presented in your physics, gen chem, organic, and bio classes. (Trust me, it really helps if you only have to "review" material you already know rather than cramming to relearn stuff for the MCAT... and man, I could have saved myself a lot of pain in this respect!)

Still, be sure to have fun in undergrad, too and continue doing things that you enjoy even if they aren't related to medicine at all. Have fun and good luck! 👍

Great advice.
Just to reiterate, definitely start off strong and most importantly, maintain your strength. The worst thing that can happen is to start off strong and get too comfortable and fall off in your sophomore and junior years. Getting into med school is getting more competitive every year, that means you should start volunteering and doing all that leadership stuff as early as freshman year. Meanwhile, in the scheme of all that studying and volunteering, find ample time to hit the bars, clubs, get some lady friends or guy friends, skip classes, and do all that stuff that makes college the best years of ones life. It can get hectic at times, but just tough it out and you should be just fine. You would also get to enjoy the reward of semi-slacking off your senior year. I am entering my senior year and I have some major things planned for this year socially which includes traveling to different cities for interviews and hitting the bars after my interviews (if they went great..lookout NYC) and going on various road trips and such.
Most off all, stay focused on your future and you should be just fine.

 

[Enginerd42]

Mr. Adventure's 4 Simple Maxims:

1) When you drink and get drunk, don't act like it. In other words, don't use alcohol as an excuse to stumble around, be loud, confrontational and overly flirty with cool girls. You'll never get any action that way. Just play it cool baby and know your limits.

2) Do not get wrapped up in what people think about you. There's always going to be playa haters in this world. If you let these people get under your skin, they'll steal your soul.

3) Just because it looks like aspirin and tastes like aspirin, doesn't mean that it is aspirin.

4) If your buddies would rather sit around on Fri. night, get high, play PS2 and listen to Led Zepplin rather than go out...find new friends. You'll never, never, never get laid.

Mr. Adventurous, I wish you were my friend when I started college!

 

[ddmo]

Mr. Adventure's 4 Simple Maxims:

1) When you drink and get drunk, don't act like it. In other words, don't use alcohol as an excuse to stumble around, be loud, confrontational and overly flirty with cool girls. You'll never get any action that way. Just play it cool baby and know your limits.

2) Do not get wrapped up in what people think about you. There's always going to be playa haters in this world. If you let these people get under your skin, they'll steal your soul.

3) Just because it looks like aspirin and tastes like aspirin, doesn't mean that it is aspirin.

4) If your buddies would rather sit around on Fri. night, get high, play PS2 and listen to Led Zepplin rather than go out...find new friends. You'll never, never, never get laid.

This is great advice!

Basically, the key is to put your work first, while not taking yourself too seriously. Study hard, but know when to take time off and have a social life and hang out. Too many people are unable to find the fine balance here.

In terms of medical school, just do your best at whatever is in front of you. Be aware of the pre-reqs you need, and fit in some good extra-curriculars early and you won't regret it in the long run. But the most important thing is finding a major you enjoy and doing well in it. And most importantly, don't ever tell people you are "pre-med" until you have been accepted, you'll only come off as a douche bag.

 

[Flopotomist]

Be interesting and interested. Find something unique that you are really into, and dive with both feet into doing it. In addition to having fun, learning a ton, and meeting cool people, you will have a great essay to write come application time. Good luck.

 

[45408]

yeah, get a good GPA now. The classes aren't gonna get any easier.

 

[byeh2004]

relax dont stress out, being a successful premed isnt about how intelligent you are but how hard you work and how well you balance your time

remember college is about discovering your passions, learning about life, and most importantly learning about yourself.

 

[DrHopeless]

I agree with the "Work Hard, then play later". Hopefully I will be able to enjoy the fruit of my labor in my spring semester of my senior year, ski trips, honey, and not have to worry about school so much any more 😀 Then medical school 🙄

 

[topdogg82]

just have fun freshman year, but just be careful not to go overboard and screw up in classes. however, u really shouldnt be worried about med school right now when u haven't even started college! like i said, just savor the experience.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

The #1 golden rule. Don't do cocaine. It's one hell of a drug.

😀

 

[stifler]

watch all the videos on www.purepwnage.com to get yourself pumped up about destroying the grade curve. then do it!

 

[PineappleGirl]

This is some general advice that I contributed to a publication for freshman at my school. I edited out all the stuff that is specific to my school. This is just some general advice that will work for anyone at any college:


Do take some introductory classes in areas outside your major. For example if you are a history major, you might be interested in taking some classes in classics, archeology, philosophy or anthropology. Just make sure you stay in the introductory level unless you know you will do well in the subject and have taken it before.

Do take required classes early on. You want to get these out of the way. Getting divisionals out of the way leads to a carefree junior and senior year.

Buy an academic planner at the beginning of the year and as soon as you get the syllabi for your classes write important dates in the planner. Always write down when papers are due or when exams will be given. This will allow you to plan weeks in advance. If you can, do one paper a week rather than all the papers at once even if they are all due at the same time. This strategy can often help alleviate the trauma suffered on May 1st (the day every professor likes to set as a due date for his or her papers in the spring semester).

Do go to your professor's office hours. You are paying his or her salary. He or she should be available to you during his or her posted office hours. Even if you don't really have anything important to talk to your professor about, it's usually a good idea to go and introduce yourself by asking your professor something, regardless of whether it's really important or not. Many professors get bored during their office hours and some even get upset when students don't come to see them. Even if you are not a top student, go to office hours. If the professor sees you and knows you are interested in the class and making an effort to do well, this could make a difference in your grade, and may even be the difference between passing and failing.

Don't take advanced classes outside your major. For example, if you are a history major, don't enroll in a 300 level calculus course. You will suffer. You will fail.

Don't trust you academic advisor. Verfiy everything with the Undergraduate Bulletin. Half the time advisors don't know what they are talking about. When at your appointment, politely ask your advisor to verfiy whatever he or she says with the bulletin. Familiarize yourself with the bulletin and the requirements for your major before going to your advising appointment. You may even want to bring a copy of the bulletin with you and reference it while you are talking to your advisor.

Don't eat the meat at the dining hall. If it looks like a health hazard, it probably is.


Good luck to you!

 

[jon stewart]

This is some general advice that I contributed to a publication for freshman at my school. I edited out all the stuff that is specific to my school. This is just some general advice that will work for anyone at any college:


Do take some introductory classes in areas outside your major. For example if you are a history major, you might be interested in taking some classes in classics, archeology, philosophy or anthropology. Just make sure you stay in the introductory level unless you know you will do well in the subject and have taken it before.

Do take required classes early on. You want to get these out of the way. Getting divisionals out of the way leads to a carefree junior and senior year.

Buy an academic planner at the beginning of the year and as soon as you get the syllabi for your classes write important dates in the planner. Always write down when papers are due or when exams will be given. This will allow you to plan weeks in advance. If you can, do one paper a week rather than all the papers at once even if they are all due at the same time. This strategy can often help alleviate the trauma suffered on May 1st (the day every professor likes to set as a due date for his or her papers in the spring semester).

Do go to your professor's office hours. You are paying his or her salary. He or she should be available to you during his or her posted office hours. Even if you don't really have anything important to talk to your professor about, it's usually a good idea to go and introduce yourself by asking your professor something, regardless of whether it's really important or not. Many professors get bored during their office hours and some even get upset when students don't come to see them. Even if you are not a top student, go to office hours. If the professor sees you and knows you are interested in the class and making an effort to do well, this could make a difference in your grade, and may even be the difference between passing and failing.

Don't take advanced classes outside your major. For example, if you are a history major, don't enroll in a 300 level calculus course. You will suffer. You will fail.

Don't trust you academic advisor. Verfiy everything with the Undergraduate Bulletin. Half the time advisors don't know what they are talking about. When at your appointment, politely ask your advisor to verfiy whatever he or she says with the bulletin. Familiarize yourself with the bulletin and the requirements for your major before going to your advising appointment. You may even want to bring a copy of the bulletin with you and reference it while you are talking to your advisor.

Don't eat the meat at the dining hall. If it looks like a health hazard, it probably is.


Good luck to you!

that last part is good, i asked my advisor while i was planning for sophmore classes and i asked him whether i should take a&p, since i heard that it was good for the mcat. The adviso goes, med schools dont prefer it if you take a&p before hand.....i was like WTF! in my mind of course. Many poeple have taken it and gotten into med school..

 

[Will Hunting]

Mr. Adventure's 4 Simple Maxims:

1) When you drink and get drunk, don't act like it. In other words, don't use alcohol as an excuse to stumble around, be loud, confrontational and overly flirty with cool girls. You'll never get any action that way. Just play it cool baby and know your limits.

2) Do not get wrapped up in what people think about you. There's always going to be playa haters in this world. If you let these people get under your skin, they'll steal your soul.

3) Just because it looks like aspirin and tastes like aspirin, doesn't mean that it is aspirin.

4) If your buddies would rather sit around on Fri. night, get high, play PS2 and listen to Led Zepplin rather than go out...find new friends. You'll never, never, never get laid.

great post.

 

[Centinel]

Don't take advanced classes outside your major. For example, if you are a history major, don't enroll in a 300 level calculus course. You will suffer. You will fail.

I think the rest of PineappleGirl's post was excellent, but this part here is wrongheaded, fearful advice. If you are smart enough to do something difficult outside of your major, please do it. I have friends who are comparative literature majors who are taking vector calc and diff. eq. courses.

 

[ShyRem]

Any of you out there who can't take another advanced level course and be successful please introduce yourselves because I don't want you as MY physician. Well-rounded doesn't mean an introductory class in everything. And a good physician is not just someone who passed medical school - a good physician is someone who is always seeking to learn more and be a better person.

 

[MontanaMatt]

Sex, Drugs, & Rock n Roll <------- everything you need to make it through.