from honours to failing

[canuckleheads]

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I have read sdn for along time and used it to prepare for all the different stages of becoming a doctor. But now for the last I am utterly lost and confused. After my first year I honoured most of my class and beginning of this semester was doing just as well. However on my last 2 tests, I barely made passing and today I think I failed.

They are both different classes. Surprisingly enough these are the classes I feel I know the best and can practically recall all my class notes from memory. After my first almost failure I studied everything inside and out for the test and even did pre-test scoring 80%. Now even after that I failed my next test completely. I keep getting stuck with two similar answer choices or between one choice or picking all of the above. Note these are two different prof's so I assuming the problem is not the tests but instead something I am doing. I am stuck and I go to a very cut through school and most of the advice i have gotten from friends has been "not everyone can honour". Now I am just worried about passing. What should I do.

 

[Stuart Smalley]

Your friends are right, not everyone can honor. This isn't college anymore 🙂 If you didn't fail, then don't worry about it too much--I'd bet real money that 90% of people in med school have a block that made them feel the same way. Just be proud that you made it all the way to second year before this happened.

If you did fail or came close, talk to the appropriate person at your school. That way it's documented that you're taking things seriously and that you're trying to correct the problem. This documentation will help a lot if you ever need to ask for second chances. However from the sound of it, you'll be fine.

Also remember that as long as you pass, no one cares about the first two years' grades. It's the STEP that counts.

 

[canuckleheads]

I know that just passing is important but after failing my last test and the final coming up I don't know what's gonna happen. I guess i'm just wondering what else I can do to make sure I don't fail. Honours come and go but an F never disappears.

 

[Stuart Smalley]

I know that just passing is important but after failing my last test and the final coming up I don't know what's gonna happen. I guess i'm just wondering what else I can do to make sure I don't fail. Honours come and go but an F never disappears.

Don't psych yourself out. Take 30 min to watch a TV show and get your anxiety down. Don't let the grades distract you from being able to fully prepare.

"Honour": just curious, but are you from the UK?

 

[Isoprop]

Ask for help. Now. Go talk to your advisor, counselor, or dean. Meet officially so you can show that you are proactive in the process of learning from your mistakes.

Did you try approaching the professor? You might be missing some key point that keeps you from eliminating the wrong choice. Can you go over your exams again to see where you have been making mistakes? Has there been a pattern to the type of questions you have been missing?

Talk to third or fourth years about the class? Ask for tips, old study guides, etc. from them. How have other people been doing?

 

[thepoopologist]

Are there any old tests circulating around? Perhaps add those into the mix.

 

[BlueElmo]

Maybe you're just burned out and need a break. It's sneakily insidious, that boy Burn-Out.

 

[DoctwoB]

2nd year is more conceptual then first. You may need to alter your study habits, do more practice Qs, think through things more, etc. compared to first year which is almost pure memorization.