General Advice to an entering Freshman

[Bowchickawowwow]

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Hey Guys, I'm entering my first year of college. Chose the easier one over the prestigious one due to financial issues, trying to stand out, that whole deal.

I'm a Biology Major, and I'm wondering if there's any study tips you guys would advise. I don't know how to accustom from the "homework every day" routine to the "two grades a class" thing.

Should I record all the lectures? Or type it up as the person speaks?

I'm really nervous about all my math classes (I suck at math, barely keeping a B+ in my calculus class...-__-).

Also, I'm taking Biochem and Orgo during my soph year. Is it better to take those classes during my junior or even senior year?

I really appreciate y'alls advice 🙂

 

[Adaggiote]

shhhhh...It's all right. Just take a look at my siganature...I found it and it seems to work well for me...

 

[Disinence2]

Have fun! Enjoy every day of college!

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Hey Guys, I'm entering my first year of college. Chose the easier one over the prestigious one due to financial issues, trying to stand out, that whole deal.

I'm a Biology Major, and I'm wondering if there's any study tips you guys would advise. I don't know how to accustom from the "homework every day" routine to the "two grades a class" thing.

Should I record all the lectures? Or type it up as the person speaks?

I'm really nervous about all my math classes (I suck at math, barely keeping a B+ in my calculus class...-__-).

Also, I'm taking Biochem and Orgo during my soph year. Is it better to take those classes during my junior or even senior year?

I really appreciate y'alls advice 🙂

This is why I think high school needs to be organized differently. I always tried to logic with the teacher that if I could get an A on the exam, I didn't need to turn in daily homework (especially in AP classes). I never succeeded.

You should be OK taking both of those at the same time, but make sure you do get those study habits down. I'd recommend taking orgo before MCAT, but biochem can wait until later if you want. It still might help though. If I could go back, I'd only take one pre-med class per semester, and get one of the sequences done over the first summer. Just a personal opinion though. This would have been less stress, better grades, and I could have done more fun ECs with the free time. I didn't start off pre-med though, so my classes were quite compact.

 

[Adaggiote]

This is why I think high school needs to be organized differently. I always tried to logic with the teacher that if I could get an A on the exam, I didn't need to turn in daily homework (especially in AP classes). I never succeeded.

You should be OK taking both of those at the same time, but make sure you do get those study habits down. I'd recommend taking orgo before MCAT, but biochem can wait until later if you want. It still might help though. If I could go back, I'd only take one pre-med class per semester, and get one of the sequences done over the first summer. Just a personal opinion though. This would have been less stress, better grades, and I could have done more fun ECs with the free time. I didn't start off pre-med though, so my classes were quite compact.

Sequences?? I do not understand.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Sequences?? I do not understand.

Calculus A/B, Gen Chem 1/2, etc.

 

[Cypher321]

Just follow the teachings of St. John of Belushi, the patron saint of Universities and Colleges and you will succeed without a doubt.

 

[boko]

study skilllsss....at least study something everyday....you dont have to type notes or recored lectures...im doing fine just writing but whatever will be easier for you! you will figure it out after a while...trust me!

btw...in order to do well on the MCAT you are going to need to take OChem BEFORE you take it so if you plan on applying to med school your junior year your def going to need to take it before then. I've heard there is some biochem on the MCAT but not much so i wouldnt stress tooo much about that.

Also besides studying and what not get involved NOW and start speaking with a premed advisor they may be helpful.

 

[CaliGirl14]

Party hard. Study harder.

 

[ovenmitts]

Do NOT procrastinate. It will be the death of you. It creates so much unnecessary stress that could have been prevented if you had kept up with your work.

Now back to cramming for my final tomorrow.

 

[NickNaylor]

Hey Guys, I'm entering my first year of college. Chose the easier one over the prestigious one due to financial issues, trying to stand out, that whole deal.

I'm a Biology Major, and I'm wondering if there's any study tips you guys would advise. I don't know how to accustom from the "homework every day" routine to the "two grades a class" thing.

Should I record all the lectures? Or type it up as the person speaks?

I'm really nervous about all my math classes (I suck at math, barely keeping a B+ in my calculus class...-__-).

Also, I'm taking Biochem and Orgo during my soph year. Is it better to take those classes during my junior or even senior year?

I really appreciate y'alls advice 🙂

Best advice: try not to be a tool. It'll help you in your personal life and academic life.

 

[getright]

This is why I think high school needs to be organized differently. I always tried to logic with the teacher that if I could get an A on the exam, I didn't need to turn in daily homework (especially in AP classes). I never succeeded.

You should be OK taking both of those at the same time, but make sure you do get those study habits down. I'd recommend taking orgo before MCAT, but biochem can wait until later if you want. It still might help though. If I could go back, I'd only take one pre-med class per semester, and get one of the sequences done over the first summer. Just a personal opinion though. This would have been less stress, better grades, and I could have done more fun ECs with the free time. I didn't start off pre-med though, so my classes were quite compact.

Charlie is awesome!

 

[TOcho118]

OP, why would you take orgo before gen chem? Am I reading this correctly?

Also, recording lectures is always a good idea, especially when you are not sure if your note-taking abilities are up to par. You can always go back later and clarify things you didn't get the first time. If you don't need em, just don't listen to em.

 

[Bowchickawowwow]

I'm not taking Orgo before chem! I'm taking Chem 211 w/lab (or 1) my first semester, and then Chem 213 w/lab (or 2) during the summer of that year to sort of scatter the stress around my schedule.

Then Orgo I would be beginning of soph year and then Orgo II would be summer of soph year, according to what I have "planned" that's pretty much bound to change though lol

 

[circulus vitios]

Study your ass off. First and second year courses are a lot easier than third and fourth year classes.

 

[SouthParkMD]

Hey Guys, I'm entering my first year of college. Chose the easier one over the prestigious one due to financial issues, trying to stand out, that whole deal.

I'm a Biology Major, and I'm wondering if there's any study tips you guys would advise. I don't know how to accustom from the "homework every day" routine to the "two grades a class" thing.

Should I record all the lectures? Or type it up as the person speaks?

I'm really nervous about all my math classes (I suck at math, barely keeping a B+ in my calculus class...-__-).

Also, I'm taking Biochem and Orgo during my soph year. Is it better to take those classes during my junior or even senior year?

I really appreciate y'alls advice 🙂

Well the most important thing to remember is to make sure that the keg is on the right side when try to down it…..otherwise beer just goes everywhere.

Also in addition to coursework research, etc, practice bouncing a ping pong ball into a cup and get a head start on your beirut/flip cup skills. These are essential to success in college.

 

[FutureMDSurgeon]

Study your ass off. Then study harder.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

My personal advice is take a lighter load your freshman year. I've seen way to many friends go head first into college thinking they can adjust right away and finding out how badly prepared they were. It is really better to start out slow and then progressively increase your work load as you feel out your academic comfort zone.

 

[0919mmk]

wear sunscreen

 

[two thirty]

Have fun during your freshman year(probably the best year of my life), but make sure you stay on top of your grades. Trust me, it's much easier getting A's in gen chem than having to stress for the next three years on how to repair your GPA.

Take a lighter load to get used to college life.

Have fun.

 

[Mahliah]

I always heard it was bad to take prereqs over the summer & med schools look down on that. Im just a premed though, so dont take my word for truth.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I always heard it was bad to take prereqs over the summer & med schools look down on that. Im just a premed though, so dont take my word for truth.

There's no real evidence for this.

 

[Mahliah]

There's no real evidence for this.

It's better not to take that chance.

 

[medicalmatins]

I always heard it was bad to take prereqs over the summer & med schools look down on that. Im just a premed though, so dont take my word for truth.

I took prereqs over the summer because I attended an old-fashioned liberal arts college (it's amazing). I didn't get the impression that I was behind (5 interviews, 2 pre-match offers), although it was hard work taking classes without a break while working. Weigh your needs.

 

[Shakespeare37]

Hopefully more medical students/adcom members/advisers will jump in on this, but to the best of my knowledge, WHEN you take a pre-req (time of year) has nothing to do with how it is viewed. WHERE (CC vs State School vs Elite College) does. That said, A's are really what's important.

 

[orthomyxo]

Don't drop the soap.

 

[Pculotta4]

Get involved on campus with the activities you are interested in, not necessarily just what you think would look best to medical schools.

That being said, be sure to spend a couple years on a medically related research topic or get medical experience in the hospital. This shows dedication/passion for the medical field. Which, sooner or later, you'll figure out you have to have to become a doctor.

Briefly look over your notes daily, develop good study habits, and get above a 3.5 every semester (dropping the occasional 4.0).

And small example.....I was able to have ALOT of fun and finish with a 3.6. In hindsight, I wish I would have had a little less fun and finish with a 3.8. It would have made me feel better about my application.

 

[kansaskid]

Have fun, find friends, study hard, and explore your academic options. Play a little with your education, take a crazy random class that you're interested in. The beginning of college is all about possibilities. Get a job if you can even if you don't need one, it builds character.

 

[HAV000]

Have fun, find friends, study hard, and explore your academic options. Play a little with your education, take a crazy random class that you're interested in. The beginning of college is all about possibilities. Get a job if you can even if you don't need one, it builds character.

+1👍

 

[Sloo0]

1. Take all your General Requirements first. Most incoming freshman dont do well in classes, not because they arnt smart but because they have poor study habits. Taking easier classes will be better for your GPA, take the harder ones later when you are a better student.


2. Study by yourself. If your campus has a good library go there often and find a very secluded quiet spot that doesnt have large groups of kids nearby who like to talk and pretend they are studying just because they are in the library.


3. Try to balance your class schedule. Try to take 2 Science classes + 2 Easy non-science classes OR just take 3 Science Classes. I ended up taking too many units and would get B+'s or B's when if I had a lesser course load I would have gotten A's.


4. Look in to internships early on. The longer you stay with a Professor or at an Internship the better it will look and the better your chance of a good LOR. It will also give you a chance to diversify. You can for example do 1 internship for 2 years and then switch to another for the last 2 years.


5. Look at what classes satisfy the requirements for your major and try to pick the easiest route. Go to Ratemyprofessors.com and check out all the professors for all the classes that satisfy any requirement every quarter. It might not be worth it to take lets say Organic Chemistry in Fall when the teacher teaching it is notorious for only giving out 5% A's. I got a lot of undeserved B+'s due to insane teachers while my friends had teachers who gave out a 20% curve.


6. Dont get caught up in smoking weed, its really not worth it, trust me.


7. DONT get a job. Unless you REALLY REALLY need the money. It does not build up character, all it does is give you a lot of $ you will have no use for and end up spending on stupid stuff. It will make you fatigued and impact your grades.

8. Make friends with upper classmen or the really studious people in your classes. A lot of the time they will have tests that were passed down to them and it will help you 100000%. I remember I took Plant Biology and I studied my ass off and I kept getting B's when the class average was like 90%. I didnt find out until the final that there were exams from previous years floating around and the teacher reused questions verbatim.....

9. Take some of the harder courses in Summer School because it will A. help you alleviate your course load during the year (can take less units) and B. they are often easier to get A's in.


10. Take Genetics, Physiology, Microbiology and Anatomy if you can, even if they are not required for your major to graduate. Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology will help you on the MCAT. And Anatomy will help you if/when you Matriculate to Med School.

11. Try to take Ochem/Physics as close as you can before you take the MCAT. I took them in my 2nd year and by the time I started studying for the MCAT I had to basically try to re-teach myself all over again whereas a lot of my friends had just taken those courses and had a much easier time.



I got more but im too bored to keep going 😴

 

[BadHorse]

1. Take all your General Requirements first. Most incoming freshman dont do well in classes, not because they arnt smart but because they have poor study habits. Taking easier classes will be better for your GPA, take the harder ones later when you are a better student.


2. Study by yourself. If your campus has a good library go there often and find a very secluded quiet spot that doesnt have large groups of kids nearby who like to talk and pretend they are studying just because they are in the library.


3. Try to balance your class schedule. Try to take 2 Science classes + 2 Easy non-science classes OR just take 3 Science Classes. I ended up taking too many units and would get B+'s or B's when if I had a lesser course load I would have gotten A's.


4. Look in to internships early on. The longer you stay with a Professor or at an Internship the better it will look and the better your chance of a good LOR. It will also give you a chance to diversify. You can for example do 1 internship for 2 years and then switch to another for the last 2 years.


5. Look at what classes satisfy the requirements for your major and try to pick the easiest route. Go to Ratemyprofessors.com and check out all the professors for all the classes that satisfy any requirement every quarter. It might not be worth it to take lets say Organic Chemistry in Fall when the teacher teaching it is notorious for only giving out 5% A's. I got a lot of undeserved B+'s due to insane teachers while my friends had teachers who gave out a 20% curve.


6. Dont get caught up in smoking weed, its really not worth it, trust me.


7. DONT get a job. Unless you REALLY REALLY need the money. It does not build up character, all it does is give you a lot of $ you will have no use for and end up spending on stupid stuff. It will make you fatigued and impact your grades.

8. Make friends with upper classmen or the really studious people in your classes. A lot of the time they will have tests that were passed down to them and it will help you 100000%. I remember I took Plant Biology and I studied my ass off and I kept getting B's when the class average was like 90%. I didnt find out until the final that there were exams from previous years floating around and the teacher reused questions verbatim.....

9. Take some of the harder courses in Summer School because it will A. help you alleviate your course load during the year (can take less units) and B. they are often easier to get A's in.


10. Take Genetics, Physiology, Microbiology and Anatomy if you can, even if they are not required for your major to graduate. Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology will help you on the MCAT. And Anatomy will help you if/when you Matriculate to Med School.

11. Try to take Ochem/Physics as close as you can before you take the MCAT. I took them in my 2nd year and by the time I started studying for the MCAT I had to basically try to re-teach myself all over again whereas a lot of my friends had just taken those courses and had a much easier time.



I got more but im too bored to keep going 😴

I did almost none of these things and I got into medical school. Just sayin'.

 

[Sloo0]

I didnt do a lot of those things either. Example, I got a job because my dad said it would build character etc, became a Supervisor for an on-campus food court so yea.... I also got in to med school but trust me I took the hard route. A lot of those things I mentioned are things that would have made my life 10000X easier and 10000X easier to get in to Med School.

 

[BadHorse]

I didnt do a lot of those things either. Example, I got a job because my dad said it would build character etc, became a Supervisor for an on-campus food court so yea.... I also got in to med school but trust me I took the hard route. A lot of those things I mentioned are things that would have made my life 10000X easier and 10000X easier to get in to Med School.

Eh, I agree with 3 and 5. The rest are pretty subjective.

 

[Fishin316]

My only advice is take some classes that have nothing (seemingly) to do with medicine; take a philosophy class or literature class. You seem like a good student if you are getting to biochem your sophomore year. Your ahead of pretty much everyone so you can afford to take a few outside classes.

Seek out the best professors and take their class; they are the best teachers for a reason. Some of the best professors that I have had are not in the science department.

I know that I will catch flack for this, but it really is not worth taking every single science class.

Having prospective is very important. Taking a step outside of the science building sometimes can be very good. When you read a truly good book, it forces you to self-reflect. Don't be just another pre-med that is all ambition but has no idea who they are or for what they are living.

But all the best, college is great. Work hard and don't make mountains out of mole hills.

 

[alyssadk]

6. Dont get caught up in smoking weed, its really not worth it, trust me.


7. DONT get a job. Unless you REALLY REALLY need the money. It does not build up character, all it does is give you a lot of $ you will have no use for and end up spending on stupid stuff. It will make you fatigued and impact your grades.

Disagree x2. Do what you want, college is the time to experiment. Smoking pot isn't going to hinder you. And having a job isn't really going to affect you, I've had a job all through school and not only has it taught me how to act in a work environment but I personally don't feel like it can in any way impair you. Not everyone had the money or the privilege to go to school on someone else's dime. Real world experience may not be directly applicable to med school but it all works out in the end. You learn valuable skills like putting up with annoying coworkers and dealing when you don't really want to go to work, but every work environment is going to eventually boil down to a basic principle: no one would work for the rest of their life if it was possible not to, doctor or not. I feel like it's lazy to think that something as simple as recreational drug use or working would keep you from getting the grades you want. Go to school when it feels right, when you know you are in a position to give it your all. Nothing else really matters. And if you don't get into med school, at least you have some job experience.

 

[NickNaylor]

Disagree x2. Do what you want, college is the time to experiment. Smoking pot isn't going to hinder you. And having a job isn't really going to affect you, I've had a job all through school and not only has it taught me how to act in a work environment but I personally don't feel like it can in any way impair you. Not everyone had the money or the privilege to go to school on someone else's dime. Real world experience may not be directly applicable to med school but it all works out in the end. You learn valuable skills like putting up with annoying coworkers and dealing when you don't really want to go to work, but every work environment is going to eventually boil down to a basic principle: no one would work for the rest of their life if it was possible not to, doctor or not. I feel like it's lazy to think that something as simple as recreational drug use or working would keep you from getting the grades you want. Go to school when it feels right, when you know you are in a position to give it your all. Nothing else really matters. And if you don't get into med school, at least you have some job experience.

I never understood this mentality. It's like any behavior can be excused because it's your "college years" and you were "experimenting."

 

[Cannon]

I never understood this mentality. It's like any behavior can be excused because it's your "college years" and you were "experimenting."

AND THE MENTALITY IS..........: You only have your college years to try things. So why not do it? Experiences lead to wisdom. No experiences == no common sense. If you want to try doing drugs? As long as you just TRY, you'll probably gain valuable insight into dealing with people who you might see in an emergency room. Want to have sex (homo- or hetero-)? You'll be gaining insight into yourself. Want to join a semi-militant save-the-trees-because-they're-better-than-people group? You'll gain insight into how crazy some crazy people REALLY are.

College is the best time for this because you have the least expectations in your daily life. In high school, you were, presumably, under the eyes/thumbs of your parents. In medical school and beyond, you will be watched for professionalism and maturity. In your undergraduate years, you will be left to meander freely across the plains of campus like cattle: as long as you show up when you're needed, they won't even notice you until its time to go to the grindhouse.

 

[2sk0ol4c0ol]

After all of my college experiences this year, I can sum up the most pertinent tips you can give anyone about anything.

BEWARE this information might cause your head to explode do to incredible enlightenment

1. Don't suck at life.
2. Don't be an A-hole/dumb-A

Those these two may seem like the same rule, once you find the subtle though vastly important difference you'll be succeeding in whatever you do!👍

Also, I think college is a time for exploration, not experimentation. Once again the two seem the same but they have subtle differences that make them completely different.