Completely Lost.

[mysterl33]

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I need some direction. My academic performance this past semester was not very good so I got dismissed from my college. I was studying Chemistry there and planned on going to Pharmacy school after.

'm thinking of taking some chemistry classes (gen chem. 1&2, orgo 1&2) at a community college for either a semester or a year to help bring my GPA back up, then apply to a school with a pre-pharmacy track.

What do you guys think I should do? I really do not know what to do in this situation. What would you do in this situation.

 

[tahi193]

First thing, think about why you're performing poorly in school. Is it a distraction? Are you working long hours? Too many other activities? Or are you just not studying properly? Going to community college without knowing why you're not doing well will only make things worse.

Once you have the problem figured out and have decided to fix it, then I think going to community college and making good grades is a nice start. You can transfer after a semester or two and you'll be on track again.

 

[themulya]

You need to find out what went wrong. You need to fix whatever problems you had this year. If you had this much trouble with undergrad, you're going to have a hell of a time in pharmacy school.

I'm usually a pretty optimistic guy, but in this situation I need to ask why do you still want to do pharmacy? Is there still a drive?

If you still want to do pharmacy then I would agree with your plan. In your case I do think that you do need to go back to a 4 year university. You need to be able to show that you can perform well in both types of environments to prove that this last year was a fluke. If you plan on taking the PCAT you need to nail it. There cannot be anymore mistakes now. Try and find an advisor who can help guide you through this process.

But I'll repeat it again, you need to fix whatever problems you have. If you can't move on and learn from your past, there is no point in thinking about your future.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I hear Subway is hiring...

In all seriousness, you need a head check. I've seen a lot of poor academics, from friends to folks I tutored in UG, but being dismissed after one term seems really, really extreme. I attended two tier-1 schools and neither of them out-and-out dismiss someone after one term without academic probation.

Have you considered the possibility that you're not cut out for school, that you don't meet the mold for a graduate student specifically perhaps? Higher education isn't for everyone, and the longer you waste telling yourself that you can make it when the facts speak to the opposite, the longer you prolong finding what you're really good at - Because it's obviously not scholastics. There's nothing wrong with that... Excellent livings are available even without a Pharm.D. Hell, you could be a pharm. sales rep, and probably make more money w/ way less education!

I am not just being negative to be contrary... Not everyone can make it in school. That's just the fact of life. I'll never run a 100 mile marathon, I'll never play in the NBA, I'll never go to Harvard Medical School, I'll never fly on a space shuttle... Even if I wanted to do those things, I just can't do them. And thinking otherwise is denial.

Think about that for a while. Maybe you just don't really like school, but you're pursuing the education to some other end? Making someone else happy perhaps?

 

[mysterl33]

I've attended the school for 2 years. Was on probation prior to getting dismissed.

 

[caitie]

this may sound like a stupid question, but do you know how to study? I didn't and it shows. my very first sem of college I got an F in calc. (and put on academic probation) I shaped up the 2nd sem a little bit, but after taking a 3 mo long summer break, i completely went backwards for the first sem of my second year and had to withdraw from my chem class (and i'm a chem major!), but i REALLY shaped up this past semester (now i just have to rememeber what i did when school starts back in aug )

my main problem was procrastination and stubborness. If I was confused I was too stubborn to ask the professor, telling myself I could figure it out. But in all honesty, you will really get no where if you plan on doing everything all by yourself. You cant be afraid to ask for help, even if you're afraid it will make you look dumb. I hate that fact and still have a hard time coming to terms with it, but it's definitely the truth.

BUt to answer your question (besides figuring out what exactly led you to poor grades) you could always just completely start over at a new school and just pretend the past 2 years of your college life have never happened. Whether you transfer your credits or not, I would definitely go to a different school... just because (to me) it would seem like you have a better chance at making an improvement if you go to a different environment where you won't have a tendency to think negative thoughts (being dismissed, and the pressures of showing yourself worthy and not being dissmissed again)

You're the only one who really knows what you want to do. Don't think yourself a failure just because Plan A didn't work out. Maybe Plan B (whatever it is, even if it's totally unrelated to pharmacy) will work out better for you 🙂

 

[HyZaAr21]

I feel like you aren't up to snuff for this career. To go on academic probation then finally get dismissed from college means you can;t handle your academics. And if you are only in your 2nd year in school then you have no idea how hard pharmacy really is. There are people that I know who entered pharm schools with 3.6 GPAs and 85 PCATS and they struggled their first year to just barely get a 3.0 there.

 

[mysterl33]

Thanks for your inputs and being straight forward haha.

caitie - I guess I don't really know how to study. When I "Study" I read the book, go over past quizzes and tests, and try to work out some problems in the book. Besides that, i do procrastinate a lot and am pretty stubborn.

This might sound stupid, but how do you study and how did you stop or procrastinate less? How did you shape up to get better grades?

As far as transferring my credits. I thought I was required to get a transcript sent from my previous college if I wanted to apply to a different college..I did fairly well in a few classes but not so good on others. ugh confused. anybody know more info please let me know haha.

Again, thanks for your inputs.

 

[tahi193]

First of all, go to class. A lot of professors assume that you're hanging on their every word. Things that seem insignificant when they mention them can actually turn out to be important. It may be a hint to read more about it in the book. You will not do well unless you go to class, take notes and try to understand how the professor operates.

For me studying boils down to plain old boring repetition. For math and chem classes, I did a lot of book problems over and over. Sometimes I did the same problems 2 or 3 times before the exam.

For things like biology, I made flash cards. Go through them until you can do every single one without hesitation. Use your notes to put together the information you've learned on the flash cards.

For classes with a lot of reading, simply reading the book is not enough for me. I have to highlight important things and go back and take notes on the parts I've highlighted, then review that information before the test. It's the only way I can retain information straight from a book.

Have you ever been to a study skills class? Those are supposed to be helpful.

 

[caitie]

Thanks for your inputs and being straight forward haha.

caitie - I guess I don't really know how to study. When I "Study" I read the book, go over past quizzes and tests, and try to work out some problems in the book. Besides that, i do procrastinate a lot and am pretty stubborn.

This might sound stupid, but how do you study and how did you stop or procrastinate less? How did you shape up to get better grades?

As far as transferring my credits. I thought I was required to get a transcript sent from my previous college if I wanted to apply to a different college..I did fairly well in a few classes but not so good on others. ugh confused. anybody know more info please let me know haha.

Again, thanks for your inputs.

Bad way to study:
My problem was I wanted to thoroughly read each chapter. I didnt feel comfortable (aka too stubborn lol) going on to the next without doing so. In the end, I'm cramming, or just didnt make it far enough. I may have gotten 70% through a unit and completely understand what i read, but that equates to a 70% on the test! I also felt like going to class, taking notes, just looking over them, and reading the book was enough. But it's not.
How I changed:
My epiphany came when I had a break down the night before my economics final (i KNEW I was going to fail, I was thinking "why didn;t i just drop it?") My mom said "see this econ book? its too late for that forget about reading it" and we went through the supplemental study guide and focused on the bold words and skimmed the important paragraphs.
I ended up getting a C overall in that class, but I think if I hadn't listened to my mom's advice I would have made a D.
Also, I got up the courage to ask my professors for help when I needed it. It REALLY does help a lot. True, there are some jerks out there. (for example, my french teacher who scheduled two quizzes in a row and I told her beforehand that I had to go out of state for my grandma's funeral and she wouldnt allow me to make them up, even take it earlier!) But it's worth it to ask for the 90% that will help. For example, when i talked to my calc teacher after I missed a lot of classes for the same reason above, he met with me everyday for about a week and then even postponed the scheduled test that was coming up for me without me asking! (and i got a 100 on it 👍, and I'm sure if i didnt ask it would have been like a 60) I didn't even think that was an option. Also, my advanced inorganic chemistry teacher let me meet with him once a week and i pulled a B+! Last semester, all the classes that i asked the professor for help, I got B/B+s.. except for physics..got a C+ (I admit, i should have asked for help again at the end of the semester, but i was busy asking for help in my other classes and didnt have a lot time)
My chem prof also told me if you have like 3 exams, 2-3 days in a row, you should ask one of the professors if its OK to take it early. He said they respect that if you ask for EARLIER, and they will usually work with you.

Sorry this is really long, but I just want to help out- believe me when I tell you I know how you feel. I'm not there yet to making the grades I should be getting, but doing what I said above has made a BIG improvement. I just need to keep it up. I'm hoping this next semester will be a big turn around for me.

Major point I hope you take from this: Ask your professors for help. If you're afraid to go because you knew you should have spoken to them earlier, admit it to them! They'll understand and they're respect that you want help. Going to them will also help your procrastination problem. It may seem unrelated, but it really does help.

BTW, the way you study sounds like a good plan. But whenever you do sit down and study, keep a list of things that confuse you or you just dont quite get. Just make a note and move on to the next topic (granted that it's not completely dependent on what you're confused about) and take this list to your prof and ask for clarification. oh yeah, and take more notes when the prof explains it to you!

 

[Passion4Sci]

I'm just wondering... When you're procrastinating from doing your homework, what are you doing instead?

 

[catchsomezz]

pop question: whats more fun than doing homework and studying?

...anything! lol

I'm just wondering... When you're procrastinating from doing your homework, what are you doing instead?

but seriously. theres no easy way to stop procrastinating. there will always be temptations and better things to do. just tighten those bootstraps, go to the library, pop those ritalin pills like skittles (JUST KIDDING), and just do it (nike)

This might sound stupid, but how do you study and how did you stop or procrastinate less? How did you shape up to get better grades?

 

[Passion4Sci]

pop question: whats more fun than doing homework and studying?

...anything! lol

I can't be the only person that enjoys learning.

 

[catchsomezz]

*whistles* *tumbleweed blows by* *calenders start flipping past the days*
i think you're alone on this one passion 😀
btw...how fast do you think i need to post to catch up to you

I can't be the only person that enjoys learning.

edit: well its not the learning i dont like...its the testing and going to class parts

 

[charfdorn]

I can't be the only person that enjoys learning.

I do, too, but even I have fallen asleep at a textbook or played an extra game of Tiger Woods instead of re-reading my notes.

 

[Passion4Sci]

*whistles* *tumbleweed blows by* *calenders start flipping past the days*
i think you're alone on this one passion 😀
btw...how fast do you think i need to post to catch up to you




edit: well its not the learning i dont like...its the testing and going to class parts

I have fingers like the wind, so you'd better get crackin'.

Charf, I can't say I haven't indulged in some Prototype or a few hours of an MMORPG or two, but there's a big difference between not reviewing your notes occasionally and actually chronically procrastinating all of your schoolwork.

 

[caitie]

I'm just wondering... When you're procrastinating from doing your homework, what are you doing instead?

I enjoy learning as well, but I don't like the homework that I have to do!
Seriously, I work a lot, and when I get home I have a 9 year old sis begging me to play with her, so sometimes work and family come first, that's my procrastination

 

[Passion4Sci]

I enjoy learning as well, but I don't like the homework that I have to do!
Seriously, I work a lot, and when I get home I have a 9 year old sis begging me to play with her, so sometimes work and family come first, that's my procrastination

I aimed it mostly at the Op since he obviously has serious procrastination issues (And he meant time management issues, too).

I like doing homework because it gives me that lovely dopamine release when I'm finished with it - Job well done. I don't mind tedium, but then again, 4 1/2 years in the Army tempered me pretty well in that respect.

 

[caitie]

I aimed it mostly at the Op since he obviously has serious procrastination issues (And he meant time management issues, too).

I wasn't sure. I made some posts earlier in the conversation, so thought I might as well continue doing so.

I like doing homework because it gives me that lovely dopamine release when I'm finished with it - Job well done. I don't mind tedium, but then again, 4 1/2 years in the Army tempered me pretty well in that respect.

Love the neuroscience reference. that made my day.
Maybe I should think that way and it will help me get things done quicker: "If I finish this, I'll get my dopamine release.. yeaaaaah" 😎

 

[FarmDea]

I have fingers like the wind, so you'd better get crackin'.

Charf, I can't say I haven't indulged in some Prototype or a few hours of an MMORPG or two, but there's a big difference between not reviewing your notes occasionally and actually chronically procrastinating all of your schoolwork.

Playing Prototype is way better than studying 🙂

 

[Storm90]

I like studying 🙄 and emoticons obviously. OP, you've got a long road ahead of you and you're going to have to work hard for the next 4-5 years. Take this time where you've been dismissed and assess your life. If you really want to become a pharmacist, effort will be needed, but it will also be worth it. Also use this time to do whatever it is that you would do instead of studying to get it out of your system. That's why I tend to watch a lot of movies over the summer, to try to get it out of my system (my procrastination ammo).