GPA guilt?

[kotton]

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I know many of you have insanely good GPA's, but some of us haven't really worked that hard and are starting to feel the guilt. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

What are some good ways to keep your guilt under control and not let it get the best of you?

 

[njbmd]

I never cared about my GPA as such but actually cared most about mastery of the material. In the end, my GPA took care of itself and I had no guilt about medical school. If you have studied the material and mastered it to the best of your ability, then what's to feel guilty about? In the end, if you pass everything and get past boards, you practice. I guarantee that no patient has ever asked me about my grade on any medical school test.

 

[NewMDontheblock]

I never cared about my GPA as such but actually cared most about mastery of the material. In the end, my GPA took care of itself and I had no guilt about medical school. If you have studied the material and mastered it to the best of your ability, then what's to feel guilty about? In the end, if you pass everything and get past boards, you practice. I guarantee that no patient has ever asked me about my grade on any medical school test.

That's how I intend on studying in medical school. Seems like a good change of pace to start studying for yourself and your career rather than for your grades...
I mean if you want to be a really smart doctor, you will study your ass off no matter what, that's how I see it...

 

[WellWornLad]

I know many of you have insanely good GPA's, but some of us haven't really worked that hard and are starting to feel the guilt. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

What are some good ways to keep your guilt under control and not let it get the best of you?

I don't get it. Do you mean to say that you took easy courses just for the A's, or that you feel guilty for being smarter than most? I don't know where guilt would enter in, really. You get out of school what you put in, no matter what the grade.

 

[kotton]

No, I mean you didn't put in that much of an effort in studying and have gotten C's/C+'s on almost all of your past courses, which obviously affects your GPA and makes you feel bad for not trying harder.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

knocking step 1 out of the park and racking up the honors come third year makes up for whatever gpa you scrape by with; easier said than done of course

 

[maygrl110]

knocking step 1 out of the park and racking up the honors come third year makes up for whatever gpa you scrape by with; easier said than done of course

First of all, do we have GPA's? I'm so out of the loop! Second, I'm planning on suppressing everythng that happened the first 2 years and focus on kicking butt on rotations, getting good letters...I think it will help if you have an area/areas you are interested in so you can make yourself the best candidate possible. After Boards, I could care less about first two year's grades.

 

[Docster]

That's how I intend on studying in medical school. Seems like a good change of pace to start studying for yourself and your career rather than for your grades...
I mean if you want to be a really smart doctor, you will study your ass off no matter what, that's how I see it...

That was my perspective during Years 1 and 2, but then something changed during my third year. I still wanted to learn as much as I could so that I could be a "good" doctor, but I quickly learned that kissing ass is just as important given the subjective nature of clinical grades and their importance.

Halfway through third year, on my second day of surgery, my PGY-2 pulled me and the other med student aside in the PACU after a case and asked us why we wanted to do well on the rotation. I answered because I want to go into surgery and want to learn. The other student who didn't want to go into surgery answered so that he would be a well-rounded doc. The resident just yelled, "NO! Cut the BS, all third year is about is getting the best grade so that you can get into the residency you want, instead of some podunk program." Obviously, our next 3 weeks on that surgical service were pure hell -- but, I did learn what it really means to be a "hard worker" and how to put aside my ego and be a team player.

Reading and knowing your **** goes a long way, but being enthusiastic (no matter how much you just want to go home), showing you workhorse work ethic (by showing up early for rounds, never asking to leave even if its 7 or 9pm after having gotten in at 5am, taking care of scut, answering pages and taking care of floor work if the intern is scrubbed in), and having a smile on your face/ being confident will push you over the edge into A/Honors territory.