Few concerns and questions

[hopefullkid]

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Hello all,

I have really confused for past few days, weeks rather. I have been trying to figure out what exactly I am doing wrong. I am currently taking 18 credits: physics II, cancer bio, micro bio, bio lab, and some other bio classes that are relatively not as hard as other 300 level bio courses. I am doing reasonably well in all my courses but it seems like I am ALWAYS short on time. I mean short like I literally don’t have time to get a haircut short. It’s really driving me insane. I work in a lab and I am trying desperately to get more involved but I always have some thing urgent, exams that I can’t make out the time to do more like read articles and such. I have to take the MCATs soon but I can’t make the time out to study for them. For the classes I am doing well in, basically I have to spend about 3-4 entire days to study just for them, where other students don’t spend half as much. Can some one please help me out? How do you guys manage time more efficiently? How much do you study for one class to do good in? What am I doing wrong here?

 

[tiedyeddog]

Hello all,

I have really confused for past few days, weeks rather. I have been trying to figure out what exactly I am doing wrong. I am currently taking 18 credits: physics II, cancer bio, micro bio, bio lab, and some other bio classes that are relatively not as hard as other 300 level bio courses. I am doing reasonably well in all my courses but it seems like I am ALWAYS short on time. I mean short like I literally don’t have time to get a haircut short. It’s really driving me insane. I work in a lab and I am trying desperately to get more involved but I always have some thing urgent, exams that I can’t make out the time to do more like read articles and such. I have to take the MCATs soon but I can’t make the time out to study for them. For the classes I am doing well in, basically I have to spend about 3-4 entire days to study just for them, where other students don’t spend half as much. Can some one please help me out? How do you guys manage time more efficiently? How much do you study for one class to do good in? What am I doing wrong here?

I find many of my peers lied about how much they studied in order to make others feel like stupid. Your course load looks too tough for spare time.

 

[NeuroChaos]

That is general.

Besides, you should not be comparing yourself to others. Everyone comes from a diff. background, has diff. talents, skills etc. It may take one kid 4 hr/week to pull off all A's and someone may have to spend 40/weeks. That is what makes our species so darn interesting.

Just do whatever YOU think is necessary for you to get high grades. Do not worry about the Einstein in the front row.

 

[hopefullkid]

I find many of my peers lied about how much they studied in order to make others feel like stupid. Your course load looks too tough for spare time.

Yea I completly agree you on that but regardless they still manage to make time for plenty of other things that I cant even imagine fitting in the time for in my weekly schedule such as part-time jobs and independent reasearch projects which I desperately want to do.

 

[binko]

Get off SDN and go get a haircut then.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I find many of my peers lied about how much they studied in order to make others feel like stupid. Your course load looks too tough for spare time.

It IS hard to be as smart as me. Just kidding.

Seriously though.....18 hours is quite a bit, no matter how difficult each course is. I never took more than 17 at a time, and I spent a good part of 1 summer dedicated to that stupid MCAT. I would cut back on the hours, and unless you really love research, drop that too. Research isn't required for med school.

Do whatever you enjoy. If you would rather do lots of community service and leadership stuff, drop research/lab stuff and go for what you enjoy.

Find the time to relax----that is the toughest part of med school.

 

[Anotherface]

Hello all,

I have really confused for past few days, weeks rather. I have been trying to figure out what exactly I am doing wrong. I am currently taking 18 credits: physics II, cancer bio, micro bio, bio lab, and some other bio classes that are relatively not as hard as other 300 level bio courses. I am doing reasonably well in all my courses but it seems like I am ALWAYS short on time. I mean short like I literally don’t have time to get a haircut short. It’s really driving me insane. I work in a lab and I am trying desperately to get more involved but I always have some thing urgent, exams that I can’t make out the time to do more like read articles and such. I have to take the MCATs soon but I can’t make the time out to study for them. For the classes I am doing well in, basically I have to spend about 3-4 entire days to study just for them, where other students don’t spend half as much. Can some one please help me out? How do you guys manage time more efficiently? How much do you study for one class to do good in? What am I doing wrong here?

It sounds like you have a tough schedule. That many credits of upper division courses is intense. A few semesters back I took a 4 upper division bio classes along with two and electives and I rarely had spare time. If I recall correctly, I was always writing papers/labs or studying. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to decrease your courseload at this point, but may be you can use your time more efficiently. In any case, you are going to have to tough it out.
good luck

 

[hopefullkid]

Get off SDN and go get a haircut then.

Never on here much 🙂

 

[DrJosephKim]

Sounds like you may need to work on time management skills.

 

[pride4jc727]

I was wondering if you took the time to consider all the time you would be spending outside of school with research and other EC's as well as the courseload you have now. You will need to have extremely good work ethic and time management in order to accomplish all the set goals you have laid for yourself.

Next time, you should prioritize your goals and determine what it is you want to gain from your course load and EC's. Don't worry about what others do, but how you alone can benefit from the studies and activities that you are putting on your plate. But do this planning BEFORE you enroll for next semester's classes so you don't run around with your head chopped off!

 

[bellakk]

Taking 18 hours, working and studing for the MCAT is pretty much impossible. Your best bet is to plan on taking the MCAT this summer in early July, this will give you plenty of time in May and June to study, just make sure that you are either taking classes or working this summer and not both while studying!! You can still sumbit your applications in early June and on the app state that you're taking the MCAT in july. I know schools that have offered interviews before they recieved MCAT scores (although I dont think they can actually interview before they get the scores).

Good luck with all that studying!

 

[hopefullkid]

Taking 18 hours, working and studing for the MCAT is pretty much impossible. Your best bet is to plan on taking the MCAT this summer in early July, this will give you plenty of time in May and June to study, just make sure that you are either taking classes or working this summer and not both while studying!! You can still sumbit your applications in early June and on the app state that you're taking the MCAT in july. I know schools that have offered interviews before they recieved MCAT scores (although I dont think they can actually interview before they get the scores).

Good luck with all that studying!

Actually, I don't have a job. But the thing is the classes that I am taking, I feel like they should not require as much time as I need to put into them. Most are upper division but still they are relatively easy compared to most other upper division classes. As far as research is concerned, currently I put in about 10 hrs/wk at most on a really busy week. I just feel as though I should have plenty more time on my hand and that I take twice as long with regular work leaving me with no time for much else, MCAT and research. For MCATs I feel I need more time to prepare than just half of May and June so I should be getting more MCAT in right now. I just wanted to know if you guys have some advice as far as time management or study tips/skills that I lack that are vital for some one in my situation.

I appreciate all the replies. Thank a lot.

 

[hal9000]

Grow your hair out. Chicks dig that.

 

[Brent8927]

Actually, I don't have a job. But the thing is the classes that I am taking, I feel like they should not require as much time as I need to put into them. Most are upper division but still they are relatively easy compared to most other upper division classes. As far as research is concerned, currently I put in about 10 hrs/wk at most on a really busy week. I just feel as though I should have plenty more time on my hand and that I take twice as long with regular work leaving me with no time for much else, MCAT and research. For MCATs I feel I need more time to prepare than just half of May and June so I should be getting more MCAT in right now. I just wanted to know if you guys have some advice as far as time management or study tips/skills that I lack that are vital for some one in my situation.

I appreciate all the replies. Thank a lot.

A change in study habbits might help a lot. You really need to find out what works best for you. It's definetely possible that it may take you longer to learn the same thing as someone else. Just remember that while others may be better at some things, you're certainly better at other things.

I used to recopy my notes in undergrad. It took quite a while, and when I entered a post-bac program, I realized there was a far more effective way for me to study, after which I put in far less time studying and received far better grades.

I can't tell you what method(s) will work best for you, but some people do best in study groups, some tape the lectures and re-listen to them, some recopy notes, some write up summaries, some do lots of problems, some try and relate the material to other things, etc. etc.

I actually use different study methods depending on the course.

If you haven't found it already, I'd highly encourage you to spend some time figuring out how you learn best. It'll come in very handy for the MCAT, and most importantly, for medical school.