Burning Out

[diatomic]

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Is anyone else burnt out? This next semester is my last (and hardest) for completing the pre-pharmacy requirments. My PCAT scores are not GREAT, but okay and my classes for this fall have put a strain on me that only a prepharmacy student would understand. Im afraid that I am going to have to C's when grades are reported and I feel that my second PCAT (the one this past november) was worse than the first. I just feel like the cards are stacked against me. If I dont get in this next year, I will most likely transfer to the University of Kentucky to get my B.A. in Chemistry and then reapply next year.

I am just really sick of classes right now, I have a final tomarrow and I am feeling mediocre about it. Please, someone give me a pep-talk.

 

[s13]

here is what really helped me when i felt like breaking down...from a fellow SDNer baggywrinkle...

"Okay here is the scoopage. I have been a pharmacist now for twenty years. When I was in school I did not learn how to study until my third year. Does that tell you anything about how I did?
Once I learned how to study I became known for my excellent notes because I taped the lectures, then transcribed them virtually verbatum. With that done I would then begin to study. I lived in the library, closing the place down at 2am (I was there after the med students went home), taking as much as a month to study for major exams then would run to the exam with the information leaking out my ears. My rote memorization got better with time like a muscle does with weight training. Four weeks worth of study was paired down to a week. My best buddy could take my notes with a hangover the night before the exam and get a better grade than I.

I had to work harder than some. So what?

What they are asking you is how bad do you want it. Those of us who sweat blood to get there know the value of hard work. You need to decide if you want it badly enough to bleed for it, then hunker down and watch smarter people with less resolve fall by the wayside. You will notice that they make it artificially more difficult than it needs to be. This is intentional. On the other side that ability to bite the bullet and bulldoze your way through will serve you your entire life. Have you got what it takes?"

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=92472&highlight=rote+memorization

 

[diatomic]

Wow .... +1 Informative for that!

 

[OSURxgirl]

Just know that no matter how difficult classes are now....it will be 20 times worse in pharm school.

 

[Requiem]

I can now truly define burnt out. Studying for exams is killer, I haven't even started bio or chem.

I have a math exam tommorow, then english then on saturday at 9am physics. Studying has now killed me :|

 

[TACSTS]

Are you currently attending SCC? Hrm...do I know you? 😎

I say don't sweat it. If you don't get into UK this time, get your application together early next year and apply early decision, that way you have the maximum amount of chances because all the seats are still available. Having gone through UK's "interview" process twice I'm gonna let you in on what I've learned. GPA and PCAT isn't as big of a deal as everyone thinks when they start out. Now, granted, you're not going to get in with a 1.2gpa and a 11% on the PCAT. Once you make it to the interview part it almost seems they never even look at your academic record again, just how well you socialized, were you witty, did you make jokes about how you love UK football despite them being a sorry team, etc... 😉 So, don't get too worked up about not having perfect grades and focus on preparing for the interview as best you can, because you can really make up for a lot of shortcomings by doing a great interview. And like you said if you end up finishing a bachelors, that would really help you be more competitive too, at UK or any pharmacy school. Good Luck!

 

[rxforlife2004]

Wait until u get into pharmacy school, and you would know what burnt-out really means.

Say, I have an exam next Monday which covers almost 120 drugs that we have learned in 2 weeks. Each drug you need to know the brand-name/generic, Mechanism of Action, Indications, Pre-caution and Contraindications.

It's equivalent to a thick book (200 pages literally). ANd at my school, to pass this exam, you must score >=90%!!! So heck yeah! It is tough in Pharm school!

🙁

 

[aphistis]

Wait until u get into pharmacy school, and you would know what burnt-out really means.

Say, I have an exam next Monday which covers almost 120 drugs that we have learned in 2 weeks. Each drug you need to know the brand-name/generic, Mechanism of Action, Indications, Pre-caution and Contraindications.

It's equivalent to a thick book (200 pages literally). ANd at my school, to pass this exam, you must score >=90%!!! So heck yeah! It is tough in Pharm school!

🙁

Cheer up, undergrads. Whatever profession you're going into, it only gets more fun from here. 😀

 

[emogrrrrl]

I'm going to have to agree with rxforlife and OSURxgirl...you think you're burnt out now, wait til you're in pharmacy school. One significant difference I would say is that in pharmacy school (unless you're a gunner) most people just want to pass their classes and don't worry about getting straight A's. For some people, at least in my class, the inability to be top of the class causes them additional stress. As a pre-pharm or pre-professional student in general, you are always worried and constantly working to get top grades.

I'm currently on my 3rd exam out of 9 (exams/finals) over the next 6 days. So much fun. 🙄 The key is to work your ass off throughout the semester so that at the end you can have some leeway with your finals. It's even better when you can get exempt from some of those finals.

 

[danyoung2003200]

I hear ya diatomic. I am so glad my finals and this semester is over. Only 4 prereqs left!!!! Are you going to apply to UK. I am applying this summer for early decision 2006. I am crossing my fingers that my PCAT scores are going to be good enough. I haven't heard from many people applying to UK. Maybe we should all email each other with our progress of applying and, hopefully, getting accepted to UK!!
Good Luck with finals everyone!!

 

[ApothRM]

here is what really helped me when i felt like breaking down...from a fellow SDNer baggywrinkle...

"Okay here is the scoopage. I have been a pharmacist now for twenty years. When I was in school I did not learn how to study until my third year. Does that tell you anything about how I did?
Once I learned how to study I became known for my excellent notes because I taped the lectures, then transcribed them virtually verbatum. With that done I would then begin to study. I lived in the library, closing the place down at 2am (I was there after the med students went home), taking as much as a month to study for major exams then would run to the exam with the information leaking out my ears. My rote memorization got better with time like a muscle does with weight training. Four weeks worth of study was paired down to a week. My best buddy could take my notes with a hangover the night before the exam and get a better grade than I.

I had to work harder than some. So what?

What they are asking you is how bad do you want it. Those of us who sweat blood to get there know the value of hard work. You need to decide if you want it badly enough to bleed for it, then hunker down and watch smarter people with less resolve fall by the wayside. You will notice that they make it artificially more difficult than it needs to be. This is intentional. On the other side that ability to bite the bullet and bulldoze your way through will serve you your entire life. Have you got what it takes?"

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=92472&highlight=rote+memorization

Freaken awesome post!!