Anyone else getting all C's?

[mr.applesauce]

I'm pretty much getting all C's in my science classes except one class. I work so hard to just barely pass :/

Anyone else in the same boat? I'm seriously on the closer end of a 2.0 than a 3.0 GPA right now.

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[SurgDoc95]

I'm pretty much getting all C's in my science classes except one class. I work so hard to just barely pass :/

Anyone else in the same boat? I'm seriously on the closer end of a 2.0 than a 3.0 GPA right now.

Not quite in the same boat, but if you’re passing your classes you’re doing something right. Just keep your head up and keep on fine tuning your study techniques. Maybe at the conclusion of the semester evaluate the way you’ve been studying and make some adjustments for next semester. Lots of time to bring your GPA up!


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[mr.applesauce]

Not quite in the same boat, but if you’re passing your classes you’re doing something right. Just keep your head up and keep on fine tuning your study techniques. Maybe at the conclusion of the semester evaluate the way you’ve been studying and make some adjustments for next semester. Lots of time to bring your GPA up!


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Hypothetically, can someone still get a residency if they had a GPA near a 2.0? Even though they passed all of their classes and boards?

 

[SurgDoc95]

Hypothetically, can someone still get a residency if they had a GPA near a 2.0? Even though they passed all of their classes and boards?

Absolutely! As long as you’re not failing courses and pass your COMLEX you’ll get a residency. Now don’t expect Ortho, but FM or community IM? You’ll be just fine. If you want something more specialized you’ll have the ability to work for it during your residency (cardio, Pulmonology, etc).


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[Robin-jay]

Not quite in the same boat, but if you’re passing your classes you’re doing something right. Just keep your head up and keep on fine tuning your study techniques. Maybe at the conclusion of the semester evaluate the way you’ve been studying and make some adjustments for next semester. Lots of time to bring your GPA up!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Nothing makes me tear up more than a positive supporting post on SDN.

 

[le_purrde]

During my recent interview at KCU, one of the professors straight up told us that 1st/2nd year grades had little to no effect on your residency placement since it's impossible to compare students between schools with A/B/C, pass/fail, h/hp/p/lp/f, etc. Not sure how accurate that is, but it sounded reasonable since it is more or less impossible to determine what a "pass" means relative to an A-.

 

[zurc2014]

I'm pretty much getting all C's in my science classes except one class. I work so hard to just barely pass :/

Anyone else in the same boat? I'm seriously on the closer end of a 2.0 than a 3.0 GPA right now.

I am so sick and tired of making 70% on every exam. Just finished anatomy and I thought I was going to fail that bad boy...I feel your pain 🙁

 

[68PGunner]

What do they call the guy who graduated last in his medical school class???

DOCTAH

 

[mr.applesauce]

I am so sick and tired of making 70% on every exam. Just finished anatomy and I thought I was going to fail that bad boy...I feel your pain 🙁

I feel you :/

 

[mr.applesauce]

What do they call the guy who graduated last in his medical school class???

DOCTAH

Yeah but I bet those who don't get a residency or who didn't pass boards were probably at the bottom of their class.

 

[DocWinter]

Some people just have that ceiling. You can try different study techniques next semester. Passing is all you need, but you should be most concerned about understanding the material for boards next year.

 

[Spectreman]

Last year over 40 people at my school had to remediate Physio. Consider your situation to be pretty good.

 

[Goro]

I'm pretty much getting all C's in my science classes except one class. I work so hard to just barely pass :/

Anyone else in the same boat? I'm seriously on the closer end of a 2.0 than a 3.0 GPA right now.

This is NOT good. Get thee to your school's learning or education center STAT!

You're in the risk pool for failing Boards, so take this seriously.

And read this:
Goro's Guide to Success in Medical School (2017 edition)

 

[BabyHero]

This is NOT good. Get thee to your school's learning or education center STAT!

You're in the risk pool for failing Boards, so take this seriously.

And read this:
Goro's Guide to Success in Medical School (2017 edition)

Risk pool for failing boards? Are you smoking crack? You are seriously delusional. Do not go to your school's learning or education center STAT as this is possibly the dumbest thing I have ever read on SDN. I skimmed Goro's Guide a few weeks ago during some downtime on a rotation, many SDNers are highly critical of this non-physician faculty telling us how to succeed.

Summary, relax, you're in first semester. Make small changes and self reflection each test cycle and semester. Otherwise, remember, Pass = Doctor (and you're doing that).

 

[Goro]

Risk pool for failing boards? Are you smoking crack? You are seriously delusional. Do not go to your school's learning or education center STAT as this is possibly the dumbest thing I have ever read on SDN. I skimmed Goro's Guide a few weeks ago during some downtime on a rotation, many SDNers are highly critical of this non-physician faculty telling us how to succeed.

Summary, relax, you're in first semester. Make small changes and self reflection each test cycle and semester. Otherwise, remember, Pass = Doctor (and you're doing that).

No, I just know what happens to my students after two years of med school, and what we (and others) see is that people who are barely passing are those that are most likely to fail Boards. While a lot of people struggle int he first semester, by now they figure out what to do. Those that don't go to the bottom and stay the bottom.

 

[BabyHero]

No, I just know what happens to my students after two years of med school, and what we (and others) see is that people who are barely passing are those that are most likely to fail Boards. While a lot of people struggle int he first semester, by now they figure out what to do. Those that don't go to the bottom and stay the bottom.

Sure, absolute correlation between board scores and preclinical grades. But get help STAT? Come on man, that is unnecessary drama. Somebody has to finish at the bottom, might as well be the OP.

 

[Goro]

Sure, absolute correlation between board scores and preclinical grades. But get help STAT? Come on man, that is unnecessary drama. Somebody has to finish at the bottom, might as well be the OP.

Being at the bottom with a 79 is far different than with a 70...and barely passing to boot. So yes, OP needs some help, now. You did notice that OP post was a cry for help?

 

[zurc2014]

Sure, absolute correlation between board scores and preclinical grades. But get help STAT? Come on man, that is unnecessary drama. Somebody has to finish at the bottom, might as well be the OP.

IDK. I started off iffy and barely passing my classes. I was advised to see the student academic services asap. They stress how strong the correlation is between preclerkship grades and boards are here. Luckily I have been making As now (streaming works for me...go figure) but here at UTSW they preach what Goro is saying.

 

[BabyHero]

Being at the bottom with a 79 is far different than with a 70...and barely passing to boot. So yes, OP needs some help, now. You did notice that OP post was a cry for help?

Again and not surprisingly, you are wrong. 70% can mean two entirely different levels of knowledge depending on what school the OP attends and how grades are recorded. Again, the OP is passing so making large drastic changes in study habits would be stupid. Instead, make small changes focusing on becoming more efficient. What you are doing is mostly working, despite what Goro tells you. Again, don't forget, you are passing.

 

[pseud0]

the amount you need to worry definitely varies by school

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

Go by your class average.. if the class average for an exam is 82+ and your in the low 70s, there's a problem and you need to get things straightened out asap. However, if your class average is around (hypothetically) 75 and your getting a few points below, I wouldn't be going into panic mode just yet. However, I would be conscious of the fact that failing a class is going to be a red flag later on.

Make sure you are reviewing what you missed (if allowed) and ask yourself if it's minutiae (ex: what percentage of females are subjected to traumatic events that may lead to ptsd) or if you are missing questions due to gaps in conceptual understanding. if you're missing minutiae, then decide if the extra time spent is worth it (I personally don't spend time trying to memorize powerpoint *facts* and stick to board resources and streaming lectures). If you're missing big clinical concepts you may want to get with your student academics advisor and try to get some new approaches to help.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Risk pool for failing boards? Are you smoking crack? You are seriously delusional. Do not go to your school's learning or education center STAT as this is possibly the dumbest thing I have ever read on SDN. I skimmed Goro's Guide a few weeks ago during some downtime on a rotation, many SDNers are highly critical of this non-physician faculty telling us how to succeed.

Summary, relax, you're in first semester. Make small changes and self reflection each test cycle and semester. Otherwise, remember, Pass = Doctor (and you're doing that).

I disagree. I think that people who are just managing to pass probably need to rework something in the way they study or organize information. Like, the goal here is to create a strong foundation for not only applying medical education, but also in taking your existing information base and then applying it to very convoluted question and clinical situations.

You need to learn how to be mentally flexible. And that's what medical school should ideally provide, a place to build up the mental pathways to really manage enormous amounts of information.

 

[zurc2014]

Go by your class average.. if the class average for an exam is 82+ and your in the low 70s, there's a problem and you need to get things straightened out asap. However, if your class average is around (hypothetically) 75 and your getting a few points below, I wouldn't be going into panic mode just yet. However, I would be conscious of the fact that failing a class is going to be a red flag later on.

Make sure you are reviewing what you missed (if allowed) and ask yourself if it's minutiae (ex: what percentage of females are subjected to traumatic events that may lead to ptsd) or if you are missing questions due to gaps in conceptual understanding. if you're missing minutiae, then decide if the extra time spent is worth it (I personally don't spend time trying to memorize powerpoint *facts* and stick to board resources and streaming lectures). If you're missing big clinical concepts you may want to get with your student academics advisor and try to get some new approaches to help.

I dont even know how indicative this is. My class averages stay in the lower 90's. I dont know how these mfers scoring so high lmao.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I dont even know how indicative this is. My class averages stay in the lower 90's. I dont know how these mfers scoring so high lmao.

Either they're very smart or the difficulty of the tests are that bad.

My school's averages are usually around 75ish.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I dont even know how indicative this is. My class averages stay in the lower 90's. I dont know how these mfers scoring so high lmao.

He/She is referring to low curves/low averages where the average is around 75-78%, not so much when the class average is above 85%. If you are right around the average, then you are not doing as bad as you thought. This might be due to a more brutal curriculum (i.e. more contact hours) or have tougher questions (i.e. 3rd order question being used a lot) than the norm and so this contributes to low scores.

 

[Kkshake]

Don't worry too much, half of those passing with A's are taking Adderall or stimulants

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

I dont even know how indicative this is. My class averages stay in the lower 90's. I dont know how these mfers scoring so high lmao.

Check your schools average COMLEX for previous years. If your class average is an A, I'd question how well their testing style is prepping you for boards. I personally think a traditional bell curve is more ideal but I will digress on that matter. Once you compare the schools avergae comlex with the class average, you'll have an idea of where you stand as far as risk of failing boards. I say this because this thread is more about surving school/boards rather than killing it.

I seriously question the difficulty if the class average is an A. While I don't think it's beneficial to have a class average below 75%, having such a high average isn't pushing you (as a class) to do better or prepping you for the difficulty of boards (unless your class is a bunch of gunners and will have an average above 600 on COMLEX, but I'm skeptical that'll happen)

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Depends on the school. At my school I'm pretty sure anyone who never failed anything and had a low 2.0 could probably pass COMLEX with a little bit of studying. Our curriculum was practically a 2 year review geared towards boards.

- You can always push yourself to improve. If you are worried about failing in the future go see your learning specialist. I was passing all my exams and randomly went to a session on test taking skills. I picked up 1-2 things that probably helped me get 2-5% higher on exams.

- Yes, some residencies can weed you out based on your GPA. Our school lists your GPA and board scores in the very first line of your MSPE.

- As long as you pass there is always a residency in FM or community IM that usually goes unfilled. It won't be the most ideal place but it's something so you don't go unmatched.

 

[BabyHero]

I disagree. I think that people who are just managing to pass probably need to rework something in the way they study or organize information. Like, the goal here is to create a strong foundation for not only applying medical education, but also in taking your existing information base and then applying it to very convoluted question and clinical situations.

You need to learn how to be mentally flexible. And that's what medical school should ideally provide, a place to build up the mental pathways to really manage enormous amounts of information.

Yes, make small changes to improve. Nothing to panic about. You panic when you score 55% and do not when you pass.

 

[pstrick]

I'm getting all C's as well. Class average on tests is generally around B+/A-.

Start saving money for a COMLEX review course.

As post-merger DO's, even some people at the top of the class are going to end up in primary care.

 

[jcve34]

1. Go to a learning specialist. The whole point of their job is to teach you how to study/organize information so that you can at least be average.

2. Once you have successfully employed strategies that get you to the average of the class you can explore new techniques on your own. These can include the following:
-How is my note taking?
-how is the review of my notes... is it active or passive?
-how effective is my preview of the material?
-how many times is most effective for me to pass through the material to do well?
-do I need to employ a study group utilizing the Feynman technique to really flush out my gaps in knowledge?
-should I look into additional resources?

3. Tweak things now because you want to have a set process of accumulating information for the 2nd year.

 

[BabyHero]

1. Go to a learning specialist. The whole point of their job is to teach you how to study/organize information so that you can at least be average.

2. Once you have successfully employed strategies that get you to the average of the class you can explore new techniques on your own. These can include the following:
-How is my note taking?
-how is the review of my notes... is it active or passive?
-how effective is my preview of the material?
-how many times is most effective for me to pass through the material to do well?
-do I need to employ a study group utilizing the Feynman technique to really flush out my gaps in knowledge?
-should I look into additional resources?

3. Tweak things now because you want to have a set process of accumulating information for the 2nd year.

Learning specialist, such a laughable concept. Someone who has never done telling you how to. Find a 2nd year student to talk without about effective strategies for approaching the mountain of information. You'll benefit more.

 

[rabbott1971]

Yes, make small changes to improve. Nothing to panic about. You panic when you score 55% and do not when you pass.

I think your advice is quite wrong. Nobody said panic. But to wait until you are actually failing before taking action is foolish. There are techniques and methods of assimilating material that could be of tremendous benefit to this student. OP could quite possibly benefit from learning more efficient ways to study.

 

[BabyHero]

I think your advice is quite wrong. Nobody said panic. But to wait until you are actually failing before taking action is foolish. There are techniques and methods of assimilating material that could be of tremendous benefit to this student. OP could quite possibly benefit from learning more efficient ways to study.

Couple points:

1. learning more efficient ways should always be done, I'm suggesting this is best done by talking with someone who has been successful in medical school, not speaking with some flunky who get their educational specialist online degree.

2. @Goro wrote "STAT" and that suggests panic or at least go first thing Monday morning. Who says the OP will eventually be failing? You don't know that. Most likely, if the OP continues with current study habits and self-reflection, grades will stay unchanged. OP works harder to improve study methods or seeks help of 2nd year student, things may improve.

 

[zurc2014]

Check your schools average COMLEX for previous years. If your class average is an A, I'd question how well their testing style is prepping you for boards. I personally think a traditional bell curve is more ideal but I will digress on that matter. Once you compare the schools avergae comlex with the class average, you'll have an idea of where you stand as far as risk of failing boards. I say this because this thread is more about surving school/boards rather than killing it.

I seriously question the difficulty if the class average is an A. While I don't think it's beneficial to have a class average below 75%, having such a high average isn't pushing you (as a class) to do better or prepping you for the difficulty of boards (unless your class is a bunch of gunners and will have an average above 600 on COMLEX, but I'm skeptical that'll happen)

Yea. I know that is too high of an average. Honestly it is mostly in the mid to upper 80s but on quite a few finals (we only have a final for most of our courses) it has been lower 90s. We are pass fail tho so Im just trying to pass. At this point I know I am not going to kill the boards and Im just trying to survive.

 

[hallowmann]

Yea. I know that is too high of an average. Honestly it is mostly in the mid to upper 80s but on quite a few finals (we only have a final for most of our courses) it has been lower 90s. We are pass fail tho so Im just trying to pass. At this point I know I am not going to kill the boards and Im just trying to survive.

You need to change something. Pass this semester, then make a major change. If you're barely passing with the class average in the upper eighties, something is wrong. You need to get a tutor, talk to 2nd yrs, and even talk to more people in your class. You need to figure out a strategy that would work for you, and it may help to get ideas from others.

For all you know, there may be a master study list or document that lays out HY material being passed around your class. Even if it's not the case, there may just be things others are doing that could help.

There definitely is a difference between barely passing with a class average of say 78% than barely passing with a class average of 88%.

In the long run, passing is all that matters, but something is wrong with your current study strategy, and it needs to be addressed long before boards.

 

[68PGunner]

Take a NBME and do some Qbank quests if you want to gauge your progress when it comes to board. I go to a DO school, in which many alumni on this board confess that the exams are full of PhD minutia where you need to study off lecture slides in order to pass classes. Yet, I’m comfortably passing all of my classes while doing very well on Qbank quests and school administered NBME exams.

Class grades don’t correlate that well w/ board scores in my opinion.

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

Take a NBME and do some Qbank quests if you want to gauge your progress when it comes to board. I go to a DO school, in which many alumni on this board confess that the exams are full of PhD minutia where you need to study off lecture slides in order to pass classes. Yet, I’m comfortably passing all of my classes while doing very well on Qbank quests and school administered NBME exams.

Class grades don’t correlate that well w/ board scores in my opinion.

Grades do correlate to a degree (if you are in the A-B range it comes down to your dedicated prep). I agree on qbanks. If you can score well on the qbanks, you know the major concepts and should atleast pass. There will always be some minutiae from a random slide on the exam that you may or may not know, but I feel it's better use of my time to do qbanks and have a solid understanding of the pathophys rather than utilizing just the professors notes and memorizing every single detail to get an A.

 

[Goro]

Kudos to the moderators for protecting the forums. I smelled a troll respawn pretty quickly.

Getting back to the subject at hand from the OP, the weakest students go to the bottom of the Class quickly and stay there. That's the problem. When COMLEX time rolls around and we hold our breath to see what the pass rate is, we are not surprised by 80-90% of the people who fail. They're the ones who are barely passing (70-75%) for the entire two preclinical years.

The reasons for failure are well documented by our Student Advancement Committee:
mental health issues
poor work ethic
poor time mgt skills
constant second guessing on exams
exam anxiety issues
Rarely: loss of interest in a career in Medicine, or not wanting to be in med school int he first place (but did so due to Tiger Parents).
Even more rarely: not "getting" med school.

 

[zurc2014]

You need to change something. Pass this semester, then make a major change. If you're barely passing with the class average in the upper eighties, something is wrong. You need to get a tutor, talk to 2nd yrs, and even talk to more people in your class. You need to figure out a strategy that would work for you, and it may help to get ideas from others.

For all you know, there may be a master study list or document that lays out HY material being passed around your class. Even if it's not the case, there may just be things others are doing that could help.

There definitely is a difference between barely passing with a class average of say 78% than barely passing with a class average of 88%.

In the long run, passing is all that matters, but something is wrong with your current study strategy, and it needs to be addressed long before boards.

Yea I know. I was urged by the academic services to see them right after the first exam. Extremely scary and humbling. I have a tutor on the weekends and attend group tutoring sessions. I have been making As and high Bs now. I only commented to show that Goro may be right since it surely helped me in my case. We are Pass/Fail but my school jumps on you asap if you're barely making it.

 

[Football Pig]

Kudos to the moderators for protecting the forums. I smelled a troll respawn pretty quickly.

Getting back to the subject at hand from the OP, the weakest students go to the bottom of the Class quickly and stay there. That's the problem. When COMLEX time rolls around and we hold our breath to see what the pass rate is, we are not surprised by 80-90% of the people who fail. They're the ones who are barely passing (70-75%) for the entire two preclinical years.

The reasons for failure are well documented by our Student Advancement Committee:
mental health issues
poor work ethic
poor time mgt skills
constant second guessing on exams
exam anxiety issues
Rarely: loss of interest in a career in Medicine, or not wanting to be in med school int he first place (but did so due to Tiger Parents).
Even more rarely: not "getting" med school.

Protecting the forums?? Protecting them from what exactly? My best guess is anyone that disagrees with you. The direction SDN has taken over the last several years is causing many to avoid posting or participating. Most of the moderators are obnoxious idiots. The number of users on SDN is pathetic given the number of premeds, medical students, residents, and physicians. SDN unwritten rules are largely to blame for this. Disagree with someone like idiot. I challenge anyone to disagree with GoroTard or any other moderator and count how long your account lasts. This place is pathetic. SDN has redefined what it means to be a troll.+

I'm back with another of my many many accounts. Yes, ban this one and I'll come back with another. I've seen accounts that wren't even mine get banned because the weren't pro-SDN unwritten policy and rules.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

Take a NBME and do some Qbank quests if you want to gauge your progress when it comes to board. I go to a DO school, in which many alumni on this board confess that the exams are full of PhD minutia where you need to study off lecture slides in order to pass classes. Yet, I’m comfortably passing all of my classes while doing very well on Qbank quests and school administered NBME exams.

Class grades don’t correlate that well w/ board scores in my opinion.

Chiming in out of curiosity, what are Qbank "quests?" And are you doing them as an MS-I or MS-II?

 

[68PGunner]

Chiming in out of curiosity, what are Qbank "quests?" And are you doing them as an MS-I or MS-II?

Kaplan or USMLERx quests for now and then Uworld later. They are much better representation of the real USMLE quests than your crappy PhD quests that test you on straight crap while ignoring the essentials.

So, it is possible for above average preclinical students to do average or below average on boards and below average preclinical students to do average to above average on boards.

The only predictive power to high preclinical grades is that you won’t likely fail boards.

Honestly, I would just straight up focus on these Qbank quests and focus on passing classes. It is possible for you to be an above average student in your preclinical classes and then getting shredded on these Qbanks by averaging 40-50%. It is also possible to do really well on these banks by averaging around 70-85% and just do average in your classes.

However, the best representation of USMLE quests is from these qbanks, not from your professor written quests. Up to you to decide what to do with your life and study.

 

[pstrick]

Even more rarely: not "getting" med school.

What do you mean by this?

 

[Goro]

What do you mean by this?

Someone who was actually not smart enough for med school. Extremely rara avis.

I forgot one more common reason for failing: outside life distractions combined with poor coping skills...mom getting cancer; S.O. stepping out, kids acting out in school, etc. Students from cultures where extended family is important are more affected by this. I try to impress upon them that you can't run home every time Uncle Joe gets sick.

 

[pstrick]

Someone who was actually not smart enough for med school. Extremely rara avis.

I see. I was curious if you meant that there were some people who never figured out how to do well in school.
Not necessarily not smart enough, but unable to find a system that works for them.

 

[deleted244469]

Don't worry too much, half of those passing with A's are taking Adderall or stimulants

This post reeks of cope. You DO realize that plenty of people require said medication, correct? Not everyone buys it illegally.......

 

[Kkshake]

This post reeks of cope. You DO realize that plenty of people require said medication, correct? Not everyone buys it illegally.......

Not everyone, but a good portion do buy it illegally. And many that don't use Adderall buy legal study stimulants which are pro-drugs.

 

[Goro]

I see. I was curious if you meant that there were some people who never figured out how to do well in school.
Not necessarily not smart enough, but unable to find a system that works for them.

This is probably true as well, but if true, it's not what the students are reporting to our advancement committee or their advisers.

 

[Robin-jay]

Someone who was actually not smart enough for med school. Extremely rara avis.

I forgot one more common reason for failing: outside life distractions combined with poor coping skills...mom getting cancer; S.O. stepping out, kids acting out in school, etc. Students from cultures where extended family is important are more affected by this. I try to impress upon them that you can't run home every time Uncle Joe gets sick.

How common of a reason is that (kids acting out in school)?