Advice on handling competition/pressure in classes?

[Jennieee]

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As I look around my Orgo I classroom, I see more than half of the room being straight A students; students that seem like they are studying more than 5 hrs a day and obviously know their stuff -- the ordinary "pre-med student". The thing with my orgo class is it's based off ranking, so I am in constant competition against all these students.


Sure I know I have to be working harder than them but at times it is extremely frustrating, sometimes even leaving me depressed because these guys around me truly KNOW their stuff and I'm stuck on them so much that I find myself falling behind in the competition. How do you guys handle it?


An extra question: as most of you know, professors are constantly bombarded with brown nosers, students who nag them after class and never leave them alone during office hours. But there are so many -- how do you distinguish yourself from the rest of the 50-or-so-people that do this as well?

 

[atticus27]

As far as earning a good grade you might want to stop worrying about everyone else and start studying and getting tutoring. I felt like an idiot in Physics compared to all the engineering majors, but I just stuck it out and ended up killing it. And Ochem isn't rocket science, it just takes a little more time and practice than some other science classes.

Or you can buy fake prescription glasses and sport an argyle sweater vest. Then they will think you are smarter.

 

[n618ft]

Whip your manly vascular sausage meat out in front of the class... slap it on the table and make sure it makes a loud bang. They'll all shut up when they see how gargantuan it is. 👍

 

[muhali3]

Everyone probably only knows as much as you do. On the outside they try to show that they're the best students, but they're probably as insecure as you are. They also feel like they have to compete with everyone else and thus try to show off how smart they are, to deal with their inferiority complexes.

 

[moonsovermyhamy]

Accepted!

 

[ILikeDrugs]

You can always find out where your classmates live, sneak into their bedroom late at night, and end them. I'm pretty sure you know what I mean. You will be the only one left in class and you will end up being #1. 🙂

 

[Jennieee]

I tried stealing their model sets the other day... little do you know: part-time ninjas, full-time pre-med students

 

[Jennieee]

On a serious note,

Everyone probably only knows as much as you do. On the outside they try to show that they're the best students, but they're probably as insecure as you are. They also feel like they have to compete with everyone else and thus try to show off how smart they are, to deal with their inferiority complexes.

That's what I thought at first but they really do know their stuff.. alot better than I do for sure.. but i'm sure that just means I'm not up-to-par

 

[Jennieee]

Oh well, girl. You can only be your best. Love who you are. Have fun with yourself during this short period on spaceship earth. After its over, there is nothing. Just remember, its not about the destination . . . its about the JOURNEY!!!!!

You went from hijacking my thread to actually giving a meaningful and thoughtful response 😀. Thanks!

 

[jvesco22]

They can't get a better grade than you if they're dead...just sayin

 

[zayka]

I believe many schools, in one way or another, rank their students, and create a fierce competition among them.

Generally, from my experience, professors are annoyed by "brown-nosers". Be genuine.

There is nothing you can do about competition. Such is life. It will only get worse, I'm sure, as you go on in medicine. Don't let it get to you. Do the best that you can and be happy with that.

 

[Trexate]

People like that define themselves by being 'the best.' When they aren't the best it shatters their world. The only advice I can give is don't get caught up in their game. You don't have to run the fastest, just faster than the slowest guy.

If that isn't your style, just bust your ass to be better than they are. Then when they ask "Hey, what'd you get on that test," you can just scoff at them and respond "Better than you." Then watch silently as they slink away, cognizant of their inferiority.

 

[Jolt21]

i don't like losing/failing/looking bad/knowing i suck

so, i say embrace it.

make it a competition in yourself. don't be a douche and run up to people and slam grades in their face, but in your own mind, make it a mission to beat that one kid that keeps messing up the curve. I love taking classes with friends, cause then we make it an outright comp. but, we still want to beat everyone else in the class, so we help each other. it's all friendly in the end. the main thing is that you dont express it out loud...no one likes that kid that does the fist pump when he gets his test back.

 

[XRanger]

in med school, your whole class will be straight A students so might as well get used to it now right?
don't worry about other people, just focus on yourself and make sure you know the material. form study group if it helps.

 

[Jennieee]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

What do you guys personally do when it comes to getting to know the professor?

 

[Slowpoke]

in med school, your whole class will be straight A students so might as well get used to it now right?
don't worry about other people, just focus on yourself and make sure you know the material. form study group if it helps.

agreed. if you can't beat them, join them.

 

[Omni]

http://www.nitrofreeze.com/1113205515_IMG_8010.jpg
All you need now is just high ground.

 

[moonsovermyhamy]

Accepted!

 

[Sauce1]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

What do you guys personally do when it comes to getting to know the professor?

Just go to their office hours with good questions, bull**** with them at the beginning for just like a minute and after you get your answers leave. Professors dont like it when students come in with no real questions and just sit there sucking up. Also it help to go in to the office hours after the first or second class because not many people will be there so the professor will usually ask your name and remember you throughout the class as you come back.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

As I look around my Orgo I classroom, I see more than half of the room being straight A students; students that seem like they are studying more than 5 hrs a day and obviously know their stuff -- the ordinary "pre-med student". The thing with my orgo class is it's based off ranking, so I am in constant competition against all these students.


Sure I know I have to be working harder than them but at times it is extremely frustrating, sometimes even leaving me depressed because these guys around me truly KNOW their stuff and I'm stuck on them so much that I find myself falling behind in the competition. How do you guys handle it?


An extra question: as most of you know, professors are constantly bombarded with brown nosers, students who nag them after class and never leave them alone during office hours. But there are so many -- how do you distinguish yourself from the rest of the 50-or-so-people that do this as well?

I took a full year of Orgo 6 years ago and I dont remember didly squat. As long as your overall GPA is good, and you can remember that 100 pages of orgo on EK , ur good to go.

 

[Jennieee]

Just go to their office hours with good questions, bull**** with them at the beginning for just like a minute and after you get your answers leave. Professors dont like it when students come in with no real questions and just sit there sucking up. Also it help to go in to the office hours after the first or second class because not many people will be there so the professor will usually ask your name and remember you throughout the class as you come back.

Yeah, that's what I plan on doing except sometimes it's hard to think of a good question to even ask

 

[saveourpens]

Jeez, stop worrying about everyone else. Do what is best for you. If you study 5 hours a day for damn organic chemistry then you got problems.

I never got the thing with going to office hours. All the professor will tell you is what's already written for you in the book.

So you want to be the leader of the brown-nosers?....professors don't really care for sucking up. The time wasted nagging your professor can be better spent reading your organic chem book and getting that A you want.

 

[psharma02]

You can always find out where your classmates live, sneak into their bedroom late at night, and end them. I'm pretty sure you know what I mean. You will be the only one left in class and you will end up being #1. 🙂

But he'll also be ranked last!

 

[DendWrite]

I never got the thing with going to office hours. All the professor will tell you is what's already written for you in the book.

I totally disagree. Yeah, some profs suck, but a lot of them genuinely care about their students and will take the time to clarify a point. Ask about something that's not in the book.

 

[obgyny]

As I look around my Orgo I classroom, I see more than half of the room being straight A students; students that seem like they are studying more than 5 hrs a day and obviously know their stuff -- the ordinary "pre-med student". The thing with my orgo class is it's based off ranking, so I am in constant competition against all these students.


Sure I know I have to be working harder than them but at times it is extremely frustrating, sometimes even leaving me depressed because these guys around me truly KNOW their stuff and I'm stuck on them so much that I find myself falling behind in the competition. How do you guys handle it?


An extra question: as most of you know, professors are constantly bombarded with brown nosers, students who nag them after class and never leave them alone during office hours. But there are so many -- how do you distinguish yourself from the rest of the 50-or-so-people that do this as well?

I felt the same way you do, especially in orgo. Everyday in lecture, I felt like I was surrounded by genius, honors kids. It was even worse in orgo discussion, where I was forced to do group work with these people. They could talk the orgo language and would blurt out the answers to the professor's questions before she could finish asking. I never felt like I understood orgo (still don't to this very day), but all the students in my class appeared to live and breathe it so I was always panicking. I worked when I was in college and couldn't spend 5 hrs everyday studying orgo. So I'd leave all the studying until 1-2 days before each exam just doing practice problems. I've aced every orgo exam and have even beaten a few of these genius kids. I'm telling you, I think most of it is a lie, to psych you out or something. Don't let the other students get to you, just focus on studying and doing your personal best instead of the competition!

Good luck 🙂

 

[bunnity]

Maybe I'm biased because I went to a large school, but I think getting to know your professor in every single class is overrated. Go talk to your prof if you are having trouble or if you have questions, but don't go just for the sake of going. Your upper level classes will be smaller and have a better setting for you to get to know your professor in a natural, non-annoying way.

 

[Jennieee]

I felt the same way you do, especially in orgo. Everyday in lecture, I felt like I was surrounded by genius, honors kids. It was even worse in orgo discussion, where I was forced to do group work with these people. They could talk the orgo language and would blurt out the answers to the professor's questions before she could finish asking. I never felt like I understood orgo (still don't to this very day), but all the students in my class appeared to live and breathe it so I was always panicking. I worked when I was in college and couldn't spend 5 hrs everyday studying orgo. So I'd leave all the studying until 1-2 days before each exam just doing practice problems. I've aced every orgo exam and have even beaten a few of these genius kids. I'm telling you, I think most of it is a lie, to psych you out or something. Don't let the other students get to you, just focus on studying and doing your personal best instead of the competition!

Good luck 🙂

Glad I'm not the only one, thanks 🙂

You did the exact opposite of what I'm being told a million times NOT to do -- but hey, whatever works for you and it sure as hell did

 

[deleted202457]

orgo is a breeze! buck up and fight your way to the top lol. embrace the competition or just start cheatin off the smarties. either one works lol 😛