Dealing with Doubts

[Algophiliac]

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How do you deal with worrying about your ability to succeed at a particular class, lab procedure, or other engagement?

As a student with a poor academic history, I will be taking classes again to repair my GPA mistakes. While I do know that I am capable enough to master the material, I am worried about slipping up in any ways that would lower my GPA below an A status. Because I've never gotten many A grades in my previous classes (mostly Bs and Cs), I'm sometimes worried that I won't even know how to get them.

I will be starting out slowly, but I am aware of my nonexistent margin of error. Taking just one class and not doing well would be disastrous, just as taking multiple classes and not doing well would be disastrous.

In addition to this, my job search is not going well, and as a result my confidence levels are absolutely shot. How will I get a decent chance at medical school, when I can't even find a job? I've never worked, obviously have not been academically sufficient enough to participate in internships, and my only laboratory experience is in a laboratory with limited procedural work variety. This effectively rules me out from many professions, perhaps even that of a lab technician, despite the laboratory procedures I learned well from past lab classes. There are simply much better applicants for those positions out there than I am, and that worries me.

I won't even add debt stress, or the stress of potentially having to move back home to a family that would be upset.

How do you handle stressors and doubts?

 

[MedPR]

How do you deal with worrying about your ability to succeed at a particular class, lab procedure, or other engagement?

As a student with a poor academic history, I will be taking classes again to repair my GPA mistakes. While I do know that I am capable enough to master the material, I am worried about slipping up in any ways that would lower my GPA below an A status. Because I've never gotten many A grades in my previous classes (mostly Bs and Cs), I'm sometimes worried that I won't even know how to get them.

I will be starting out slowly, but I am aware of my nonexistent margin of error. Taking just one class and not doing well would be disastrous, just as taking multiple classes and not doing well would be disastrous.

In addition to this, my job search is not going well, and as a result my confidence levels are absolutely shot. How will I get a decent chance at medical school, when I can't even find a job? I've never worked, obviously have not been academically sufficient enough to participate in internships, and my only laboratory experience is in a laboratory with limited procedural work variety. This effectively rules me out from many professions, perhaps even that of a lab technician, despite the laboratory procedures I learned well from past lab classes. There are simply much better applicants for those positions out there than I am, and that worries me.

I won't even add debt stress, or the stress of potentially having to move back home to a family that would be upset.

How do you handle stressors and doubts?

After sharing my opinion on this topic multiple times on SDN, I have realized that many people disagree with me and feel it is too "extreme" or only makes things worse. However, what I'm about to type is exactly what I tell myself in these types of situations.

Worried about being able to get an "A" in a class.
If I can't get an A in an undergrad class, I won't be able to succeed in medical school. True or not, it's what I tell myself. After getting a 4.0 over my last 30 credits and a 33 on the MCAT, I have gained more confidence and rarely feel stressed about classes. Those 30 credits were all at a CC, so thoughts like "maybe I can only get A's in CC classes and not classes at a more rigorous program" began to creep into my head. My MCAT score, while not stellar, is good enough proof (to me) that I will be able to handle harder and more rigorous coursework. Small victories help a lot.

Worried about finding a job
I was in your position about 16 months ago. I had no work experience, a biology degree, and no real prospects. After about 10 months of job hunting, I got lucky and landed a hospital job in a clinical lab. I just tried to stay confident because I knew if I got too down on myself I would be wasting time that I should be spending filling out applications and making phone calls.

Worried about debt
I'm confident that I'll get in this cycle, and therefore am confident that I will have a good salary in the next 9 years. The only debt I have is student loans, so I don't have to worry about it until I am out of school, but I do think about it from time to time. Just try to minimize how much trouble you get into and your future salary should be able to take care of it.

 

[startingover84]

How do you deal with worrying about your ability to succeed at a particular class, lab procedure, or other engagement?

I too worry about this. Here's what I've come up with for myself.

Regarding "can I actually do this?" Well, yes, I can. Because I've decided not to give up. That means that if I don't get into an allopathic school after 1-2 cycles, then I'll try DO. Then I'll try the Caribbean. Then I'll try the academic fresh start in TX. I'm not giving up, so I might as well put in 110% so it doesn't take me an extra 10 years to get where I want to be.

Regarding the debt issue. Currently my husband and I have our mortgage, one more year on my car, and his tiny student loan payment. But we don't make much money. We agreed that we'd rather take this journey (and risk) together, and if I somehow flunk out of medical school we'll walk that path together, too. It's worth the risk for both of us. For me, it means the world to have someone believe in me.

Just keep in mind most medical schools do a great job of admitting people that can actually make it through.

Also, keep believing in yourself. I know it can be tough. Create a circle of friends that will support you.

 

[realmeaning]

About getting A's in classes-- I often have these thoughts as well, and I find that researching study skills and making a sort of guideline for yourself REALLY helps. (Confidence comes from preparation.) I'm in the middle of condensing various strategies into a step by step method that I hope will work for me (and if it doesn't, I'll go back to the original notebook of various strategies and try again).

Also, a schedule. I'm currently at home with my parents so it's a little bit harder to get organized and into "study mode." I plan on spending a lot of time at the library and in coffee shops when fall classes start.

Something that has also helped me enormously is journaling. I remember in college before my sophomore year I sat down and just journaled all my anxieties, and that helped me to let go of the past a little bit and make new psychological space to get motivated.

Also, I think it's important to examine WHY your past performance was poor. For me, it was a combination of anxiety/depression that led to lack of motivation. Clearly, I just wasn't emotionally mature enough to handle college. I'm taking care of those issues, and have a motivation this time around that doesn't come from parental pressures, but myself.

Hope this helps.

 

[Algophiliac]

Worried about finding a job
I was in your position about 16 months ago. I had no work experience, a biology degree, and no real prospects. After about 10 months of job hunting, I got lucky and landed a hospital job in a clinical lab. I just tried to stay confident because I knew if I got too down on myself I would be wasting time that I should be spending filling out applications and making phone calls.

All of these suggestions are very helpful, thank you. In terms of the job concerns, how did you manage to survive for the 10 months of job hunting? What would it be best to do during that time period, and what did you do? My worry is that my skills do not seem to be precisely what the numerous job offers are searching for, because I am not at all familiar with microbiology or biochemistry lab techniques. I would not be an asset to the companies, if I am lacking these basic skill sets!

No matter how much I wish to do this, sometimes I am worried that taking out additional loans and lengthening the process will only lead to more debt and no acceptances later. I can only control my own actions and resume, but not the choices the medical schools make regarding decisions to accept applicants. Because a family would be nice someday (hopefully not too far down the road), I am simply not sure if it is reasonable to get into debt over my head at this point in my life.

realmeaning, I have being doing this extensively! Has no one's family been upset at their children for returning home after graduation? I must be unlucky!

Journaling is something I've never done before, so I'll have to look into it, thank you. It would definitely help me reason through things more rationally, instead of jumping to conclusions that are too risky or too safe.

 

[DrHoffy]

Algo-
All of us go through this "FUD" (fear uncertainty Doubt) while we go through the process of applying to medical school, then once we are in med school, then the transition to clinicals and each new rotation, and then match, and then intern year, and then being a second year,....I think you see the pattern. It can be a daily issue the forst 6 months of in tern year....and once you are out on your own it all comes back.
So for me, I am constantly remeinding myself that ALL of us are feelign this way at some point...if someone tells they haven't felt the FUD at some point they are lying. Whether it is about grades, admission, finances, support, seeing a cadevar for the first time....
reminding myself that everyone goes through this and not comparing my self to my collegues helps very much.

IN terms of doing well in classes...take just one this first go araound. Immediatly find a tutor or a study buddy. You may also want to get tested for any LD...or find out why you didn't do well in class before...was it test taking skills? was it knowing the material? was it discipline? once you are in this field you will ALWAYS be getting tested. so if you know up front what your hold up is it will go a long way.

I am a non trad- I started college in 1992- and of my first three semesters one of them was below a 2.0 and i was put on academic probation. SO I know it can be done...but it is definetly getting more compteitive. I too had do some grade repair, etc.

IN terms of the job, start volunteering in a local hospital. be awesome...get great letters of recc. and apply to the hospital jobs...much easier to hire someone with no experience if they know you and your work ethic. ER typically have some sort of "secretary" or someone to trasport patients, etc that do not have formal training. that might be a way to go.

Hope that helps!
Marcia

 

[realmeaning]

realmeaning, I have being doing this extensively! Has no one's family been upset at their children for returning home after graduation? I must be unlucky!

Oh, my parents have their share of anxieties for sure. My mom often seems to mention a certain childhood friend who is consulting for BCG after going to H-bomb, and wonders why I decide to start down my path later than most. But for the most part, I think my parents are just happy that I've finally settled into what they deem a "good" career after galavanting around a bit.

It's still a challenge to put up with their "rules" in my mid-20's. But it'll be worth it!