Help me with studying

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Techmed07 said:
cover
By Cal Newport

Looking to jumpstart your GPA? Most college students believe that straight A's can be achieved only through cramming and painful all-nighters at the library. But Cal Newport knows that real straight-A students don't study harder—they study smarter. A breakthrough approach to acing academic assignments, from quizzes and exams to essays and papers, How to Become a Straight-A Student reveals for the first time the proven study secrets of real straight-A students across the country and weaves them into a simple, practical system that anyone can master. You will learn how to:

Streamline and maximize your study time
Conquer procrastination
Absorb the material quickly and effectively
Know which reading assignments are critical—and which are not
Target the paper topics that wow professors
Provide A+ answers on exams
Write stellar prose without the agony

A strategic blueprint for success that promises more free time, more fun, and top-tier results, How to Become a Straight-A Student is the only study guide written by students for students—with the insider knowledge and real-world methods to help you master the college system and rise to the top of the class.

______________________________________________________



Great Book.. I might add
Click to expand...

Haha how sad. Quote from this book: "An overwhelming interest in time management is best left to harried business executives (or, perhaps,premeds). 🙁
 
I was in the same situation when I was a sophmore. I would understand the material, teach others how to do it in study groups, and everyone would get a higher grade than I would. You just have to study effectively that is all. You need to find the way that is best for you, because in the end you are the one who is studying. The way that you are studying now isn't effective.

I would rethink they way you study for specific classes. Each professor is different. For example when I was in bio I, I put hours and hours into studying and got out with a disappointing grade. I decided over winter break I would try a different approach. The professor for this class was really into using the lecture slides and the book. So before lecture I would look over the material to make sure that I knew what was going to be said. I would also highlight what I thought was important. Then after lecture with notes in hand I would go back and then underline with pen what was mentioned in class. Then for the exam I would go over the pictures and concepts that were underlined only. I did pretty well in bio II using that method.

What might work for me may not work for you, so take all my advice with caution. If a class was based on notes and not the book I would write and rewrite my notes until all of it sunk in. I do outline extensively for physics though, using my notes I took in class and the actual slides as a template.

You just have to find the proper method. It took me a long time to figure out how to study effectively. It is always trial and error with every new class, but soon you will figure out what you need to do.

Hope I've been helpful. Good luck :luck:
 
Springhill Mike said:
Thanks, but i do study alone a lot more than with people. I will try the diagram things because i go have partial photographic memory. I only took that before a test because i was up late all week studying for the 3 tests i had, and by friday i was about to pass out.
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umml...this might be the problem. Some people really need good sleep to function well. Maybe try to study a little earlier or something so you can get good sleep before the test.
 
centersharpie said:
I was in the same situation when I was a sophmore. I would understand the material, teach others how to do it in study groups, and everyone would get a higher grade than I would. You just have to study effectively that is all. You need to find the way that is best for you, because in the end you are the one who is studying. The way that you are studying now isn't effective.

I would rethink they way you study for specific classes. Each professor is different. For example when I was in bio I, I put hours and hours into studying and got out with a disappointing grade. I decided over winter break I would try a different approach. The professor for this class was really into using the lecture slides and the book. So before lecture I would look over the material to make sure that I knew what was going to be said. I would also highlight what I thought was important. Then after lecture with notes in hand I would go back and then underline with pen what was mentioned in class. Then for the exam I would go over the pictures and concepts that were underlined only. I did pretty well in bio II using that method.

What might work for me may not work for you, so take all my advice with caution. If a class was based on notes and not the book I would write and rewrite my notes until all of it sunk in. I do outline extensively for physics though, using my notes I took in class and the actual slides as a template.

You just have to find the proper method. It took me a long time to figure out how to study effectively. It is always trial and error with every new class, but soon you will figure out what you need to do.

Hope I've been helpful. Good luck :luck:
Click to expand...

thanks for the advice
 
OP, well this question is really hard to answer because poor test performance is the result of many different factors. But if I had to give one advice, it would be this: place emphasis on trying to understand the core/essence of whatever you are studying. Imagine you've just read War and Peace and now you have to summarize the book in one short paragraph. Do not overlook this step; really put effort into it before tackling the specifics, nuances, exceptions to the rules, and variations upon the theme.

Mind-mapping (fancy word for diagram-based learning) is another useful tool to help you organize, memorize, and associate interconnected concepts.

Good critical thinking and test-taking skills develop through practice and discipline. Judging from your concern, I believe you have the drive to accomplish this. Personally, I wouldn't rely too heavily on Rx and other short-term solutions.
 
GOLDEN RULE.

Different people remember same material differently. Tap in to that by asking others to explain you concepts that u know. By doing this, u will have more than one way to associate and remember that concept. Also, explain others the material u know and ask them how are they going to remember that material?

I use POE in examination when multiple choices are asked.
It helps you to screen out those choices that doesn't make sense.
For coming to final answer, u have less to pick from and u don't freeze out.

I try to solve problems or answer questions which are relevant to material covered in lecture at the end of the chapters. Also, read lesson summary at the end of the chapter to review.

I have tried to discipline myself to write notes but can't. Also, what discourages me from making notes is that people who I see making notes rarely makes A. They just end up with either B or C.
 
Does your professor post old exams up online? Mine does from the past three years that he has taught the course. It's really helpful. It's also helpful to think about what kind of professor you have. For ex, say with o-chem, there are teachers who are really big into mechanisms/theory, and wants you to master the mechs really well. Then there are teachers who are more into memorization and just wants you to be able to regurgitate the reactions. So those are two completely different approaches... and if you are naturally drawn towards studying in one way for the course, sometimes it can be an adjustment to take a test that really tests another totally different mindset.

If it's hard to discern on your own, or you haven't had any exams yet for a class, it can be helpful just to meet with your professor and talk about what he/she is looking for, and what your emphasis should be. Also, if you have taken exams in the class already, really look over the errors you made, and figure out whether they come from carelessness, or time pressure, or something else.
 
cheezer said:
i have the same problem too. lots of people ask me for help and many of them end up doing better than i do. it's probably your test taking skill, but sometimes the people who ask for help are actually smarter than you, just a little lazier. i've done crap like showing stereochemistry on an sp2 carbon on tests, even thought it's been pounded into my head that there isn't any. my advice is to continue studying hard and to calm down. my method of calming down is to just walk into a test not giving a ****. and when i read through test questions i literally highlight all pertinent information so i don't leave anything out. i don't know what else to tell you.
Click to expand...

sp2 hybridized carbons can have stereochemistry i.e. E/Z diastereomers.
 
Techmed07 said:
cover
By Cal Newport

Looking to jumpstart your GPA? Most college students believe that straight A’s can be achieved only through cramming and painful all-nighters at the library. But Cal Newport knows that real straight-A students don’t study harder—they study smarter. A breakthrough approach to acing academic assignments, from quizzes and exams to essays and papers, How to Become a Straight-A Student reveals for the first time the proven study secrets of real straight-A students across the country and weaves them into a simple, practical system that anyone can master. You will learn how to:

Streamline and maximize your study time
Conquer procrastination
Absorb the material quickly and effectively
Know which reading assignments are critical—and which are not
Target the paper topics that wow professors
Provide A+ answers on exams
Write stellar prose without the agony

A strategic blueprint for success that promises more free time, more fun, and top-tier results, How to Become a Straight-A Student is the only study guide written by students for students—with the insider knowledge and real-world methods to help you master the college system and rise to the top of the class.

______________________________________________________



Great Book.. I might add
Click to expand...

i have been reading this book and it seems like it will help. its really good
 
Try looking up different animations of whatever you're trying to learn. It helped me a lot when we covered Cell Respiration, Photosynthesis, etc. I skipped the lectures and didn't crack my book until the night before my exam and I had both of those down pat for the test just by watching some good online animations and reading my textbook and online material. Even got some extra credit by writing out a detailed explanation of the Calvin Cycle on the back of the test. 😀
 
Techmed07 said:
That is great man. What is a tip that you did not before.
Click to expand...

not too sure yet im not that far i just staeted the studying part, but there are a few things i am going to change. like my re-reading notes as studying. and studying all night for stuff, and waiting till the night to start. My cousin who teaches told me that he studied during the day and partied at night.. and guess what he was a straight A student lol. i think he made 1 B his whole college career
 
shaggybill said:
Try looking up different animations of whatever you're trying to learn. It helped me a lot when we covered Cell Respiration, Photosynthesis, etc. I skipped the lectures and didn't crack my book until the night before my exam and I had both of those down pat for the test just by watching some good online animations and reading my textbook and online material. Even got some extra credit by writing out a detailed explanation of the Calvin Cycle on the back of the test. 😀
Click to expand...

I will DEFFINATELY do that. you must be visual learner also lol
 
I don't know if anyone suggested this... but maybe studying in a group isn't your method. Maybe you are helping them but they are not helping you.
 
Jpc984 said:
I don't know if anyone suggested this... but maybe studying in a group isn't your method. Maybe you are helping them but they are not helping you.
Click to expand...

you are probably right it will get you off track a lot, but when i study chemistry i do it in a group but it helps a lot. the people i study with are post-bac so they get down to business which is nice.
 
dontwakeme said:
sp2 hybridized carbons can have stereochemistry i.e. E/Z diastereomers.
Click to expand...

Hrm? We've always gone by saying that there must be four unique atoms/functional groups surrounding the chiral(?) center in question... hence sp3.

Annnnnnd never mind, just realized we're talking about slightly different things.
 
shaggybill said:
Very much so. Somebody can explain something to me all day long and I won't have a clue what they're talking about. Show me a video or a picture though and I can pick up on it right away. Ya gotta figure out what kind of "learner" you are and go with it.
Click to expand...

what kind of things do you do to learn all the details in biology. like things that dont have diagrams?
 
Techmed07 said:
cover
By Cal Newport

Looking to jumpstart your GPA? Most college students believe that straight A’s can be achieved only through cramming and painful all-nighters at the library. But Cal Newport knows that real straight-A students don’t study harder—they study smarter. A breakthrough approach to acing academic assignments, from quizzes and exams to essays and papers, How to Become a Straight-A Student reveals for the first time the proven study secrets of real straight-A students across the country and weaves them into a simple, practical system that anyone can master. You will learn how to:

Streamline and maximize your study time
Conquer procrastination
Absorb the material quickly and effectively
Know which reading assignments are critical—and which are not
Target the paper topics that wow professors
Provide A+ answers on exams
Write stellar prose without the agony

A strategic blueprint for success that promises more free time, more fun, and top-tier results, How to Become a Straight-A Student is the only study guide written by students for students—with the insider knowledge and real-world methods to help you master the college system and rise to the top of the class.

______________________________________________________



Great Book.. I might add
Click to expand...

is the quiz-and-recall method as effective as cal says it is?
 
Techmed07 said:
For me, yes. For him and the students he interviewed yes. Just try it and see.
Click to expand...

i dont understand the whole not thaing idea he presented. do you wtire it in that format as the professor is talking or after you get the professors notes?
 
the worst thing you can do is obsess over the material. the rule of thumb is about two hours for every hour in class. it is just as important not to exceed this as it is to meet it. you could also try some relaxing techniques before a test....for instance i always go running before an exam. it calms you down and released endorphins......you could also get help from many sources but worrying and making yourself crazy is the quickest way to fail........So relax and I promise if you find an interest in ur classes the grades will come.....oh and ps helping others is a great way to learn...if you are able to explain material in detail to someone else then chances are you know the material well.............good luck
 
cbsmd said:
the worst thing you can do is obsess over the material. the rule of thumb is about two hours for every hour in class. it is just as important not to exceed this as it is to meet it. you could also try some relaxing techniques before a test....for instance i always go running before an exam. it calms you down and released endorphins......you could also get help from many sources but worrying and making yourself crazy is the quickest way to fail........So relax and I promise if you find an interest in ur classes the grades will come.....oh and ps helping others is a great way to learn...if you are able to explain material in detail to someone else then chances are you know the material well.............good luck
Click to expand...

thanks for the advice i will deffinately do that when i start losing weight and have later classes next semester
 
i can already see an improvement in my grades. thankyou for ALL the advice. also those book recomendations they have really helped me. everyone can keep advice coming if they have more that is not already stated
 
This book sounds pretty useful. Would you say it's helpful for students wanting to increase their efficiency of studying for medical school, or really only helpful in undergrad?
 
every since i read those books i go to bed earlier (a decent time) and i have been getting A's on almost everything (except english papers). thanks for the reccomendations...

does anyone have any reccomendations for thinking critically and writing papers?
 
Springhill Mike said:
i dont understand the whole not thaing idea he presented. do you wtire it in that format as the professor is talking or after you get the professors notes?
Click to expand...


I dont use this method.. but I you do it after when you are formating your notes.


So is the book good or what?
 
Springhill Mike said:
every since i read those books i go to bed earlier (a decent time) and i have been getting A's on almost everything (except english papers). thanks for the reccomendations...

does anyone have any reccomendations for thinking critically and writing papers?
Click to expand...

I'm very glad to hear you've made improvements. Which book did you read other than the one by Cal? What have you found has helped you the most out of what was discussed?

As far as writing check this book out: http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Styl...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196636783&sr=8-1.
 
jhamaican said:
👎

I would only recommend Adderall when you have backed yourself into a corner and need to cram hardcore. You should never have to use Adderall if you have your study habits in order.
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Or never! Jesus Christ. Not to be rude but if you can't get the grades to get into medical school with out abusing a prescription drug I don't want you as my doctor. I know there are a bunch of people on SDN who are going to jump my $hit over this but good god. Maybe this is just commentary on how intense the educational process has become and how stiff competition has become but its no excuse. Jhamaican, I am really just replying to strongly to the idea of Adderall in general, not specifically to you're comment which was obviously not suggesting Adderall as your main study strategy.

Adderall helps you study longer but it would be actually better for your health, emotional well being, happiness, free time, friendships, and grades if you just studied smarter but for less time or the same time you do now. I would suggest finding out if you are a verbal, visual, or kinesthetic learner and then using the appropriate study method. For example, I am a combo of a verbal and kinesthetic learner. I retain very little information I have acquired verbally. Therefore listening to lectures doesn't actually help me that much. BUT taking written out old fashion notes on paper does help me remember. The physical process of writing something with my hand puts it into my memory. If I did the laptop note thing in class like most students, although it may seem like a trivial difference, I would probably not get as good of grades. Also I study by creating study guides that briefly summarize the info the class is covering. This could be lists of key points, key equations, or even drawings. The study guide isn't exhaustive, its brief, but you retain a lot more info when you allow your brain to reorganize it in some kind of way. Like if you learned about O Chem reactions based on substrate (Carbonyl vs. COOH vs. alcohol vs. etc) rewrite the list based on maybe reactant (Things that react with a strong acid, things that react with a strong base, etc)- The benefits are more than just linear (you learned it two ways, you remember twice as much) but you will retain exponentially more info. To add to this... I make all my "study guides" IN COLOR with markers. This may seem like Kindergarden, but if you are a visual learner then you will literally recall on a test... "Oh I remember that it was in green on the paper." If you are a verbal learner (I don't have the best tips. Talk to a verbal learner) but maybe you need to talk things out with a study partner and have a discussion or re-listen to voice recorded lecture.

Small stuff that helps that you all know but actually does help:
1) Get sleep the night before a test, no really! The best night to pull the all nighter cramming is the night before the night before the test.
2) Sit in the same seat for the test that you do in lecture (if the testing location is the same as class). You will remember more!
3) Do practice problems and practice tests.
4) Assign parts of the reading to different people in a study group and create a master summary list.
5) I often go to review sessions not to ask questions or not to listen to the review but just to see what other people are asking... maybe they think some topic is important that I overlooked. (That being said, don't be mislead by those that obsess over minutia)

Hope that helps. Don't do drugs, kiddo.
 
Techmed07 said:
I dont use this method.. but I you do it after when you are formating your notes.


So is the book good or what?
Click to expand...

I don't understand how to apply that when you are in a biology course while you are taking notes.
 
Drogba said:
I'm very glad to hear you've made improvements. Which book did you read other than the one by Cal? What have you found has helped you the most out of what was discussed?

As far as writing check this book out: http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Styl...s_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196636783&sr=8-1.
Click to expand...

I read Cal and Richard Newport book. Well the studying method, and no group studying. Also, Quiz-and-recall method works really well. But, there is a study method in Richard Newports book that is AMAZING it is called pegging. I just dont know how to apply that to a biology course yet.
 
Springhill Mike said:
I read Cal and Richard Newport book. Well the studying method, and no group studying. Also, Quiz-and-recall method works really well. But, there is a study method in Richard Newports book that is AMAZING it is called pegging. I just dont know how to apply that to a biology course yet.
Click to expand...

I don't think this is what you were referring to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegging_(sexual_practice) 😱

Can you describe it?
 
I probably should have quoted Arjunsi on that last post of mine.
​
 
FootballFan14 said:
Or never! Jesus Christ. Not to be rude but if you can't get the grades to get into medical school with out abusing a prescription drug I don't want you as my doctor. I know there are a bunch of people on SDN who are going to jump my $hit over this but good god. Maybe this is just commentary on how intense the educational process has become and how stiff competition has become but its no excuse. Jhamaican, I am really just replying to strongly to the idea of Adderall in general, not specifically to you're comment which was obviously not suggesting Adderall as your main study strategy.

Adderall helps you study longer but it would be actually better for your health, emotional well being, happiness, free time, friendships, and grades if you just studied smarter but for less time or the same time you do now. I would suggest finding out if you are a verbal, visual, or kinesthetic learner and then using the appropriate study method. For example, I am a combo of a verbal and kinesthetic learner. I retain very little information I have acquired verbally. Therefore listening to lectures doesn't actually help me that much. BUT taking written out old fashion notes on paper does help me remember. The physical process of writing something with my hand puts it into my memory. If I did the laptop note thing in class like most students, although it may seem like a trivial difference, I would probably not get as good of grades. Also I study by creating study guides that briefly summarize the info the class is covering. This could be lists of key points, key equations, or even drawings. The study guide isn't exhaustive, its brief, but you retain a lot more info when you allow your brain to reorganize it in some kind of way. Like if you learned about O Chem reactions based on substrate (Carbonyl vs. COOH vs. alcohol vs. etc) rewrite the list based on maybe reactant (Things that react with a strong acid, things that react with a strong base, etc)- The benefits are more than just linear (you learned it two ways, you remember twice as much) but you will retain exponentially more info. To add to this... I make all my "study guides" IN COLOR with markers. This may seem like Kindergarden, but if you are a visual learner then you will literally recall on a test... "Oh I remember that it was in green on the paper." If you are a verbal learner (I don't have the best tips. Talk to a verbal learner) but maybe you need to talk things out with a study partner and have a discussion or re-listen to voice recorded lecture.

Small stuff that helps that you all know but actually does help:
1) Get sleep the night before a test, no really! The best night to pull the all nighter cramming is the night before the night before the test.
2) Sit in the same seat for the test that you do in lecture (if the testing location is the same as class). You will remember more!
3) Do practice problems and practice tests.
4) Assign parts of the reading to different people in a study group and create a master summary list.
5) I often go to review sessions not to ask questions or not to listen to the review but just to see what other people are asking... maybe they think some topic is important that I overlooked. (That being said, don't be mislead by those that obsess over minutia)

Hope that helps. Don't do drugs, kiddo.
Click to expand...

Well school is perty competative. If i dont get into medical school I honestly do not know what I will do with my life. I go to a very small college, and i hate hearing people tell me about there greades, or asking me what i make all the time. I think I may transfer next year, but i am stil unsure. I kinda want to do a physics major with psychology as well, but my school does not have a physics major.
Adderal, to me, does not work very well when you stay up really late and have a test that day, at least not for me. I plan to never abuse unperceribed drugs again, but before I studied more efficient I did whay I could to be sane the next day after a long night.
 
Springhill Mike said:
what kind of things do you do to learn all the details in biology. like things that dont have diagrams?
Click to expand...

I learn the little details best when I have multiple perspectives. I'll google whatever I'm trying to learn and read several different websites until I begin picking up on it. It can take time, but it works every time. Just try not to be like the girl in my class who analyzes everything in minute detail, and confuses herself by doing so. She freaks out everytime we cover a concept that she doesn't immediately grasp and digs herself in a deeper hole. Just keep in mind that millions of people have understood it before and you can too.
 
What kind of mistakes do you find yourself making?

Are these "ooops!" errors where you smack yourself in the head after getting the test back, or are they genuine errors where you just didn't know the answer?
 
Begaster said:
What kind of mistakes do you find yourself making?

Are these "ooops!" errors where you smack yourself in the head after getting the test back, or are they genuine errors where you just didn't know the answer?
Click to expand...

Well my tests are multiple choice. I usually can narrow it down, but a few times i will narrow it and one of the ones i cross out is it. The real thing is that i can learn the material, but i cant apply it. I was talking to a senior the other day and he mentioned critical thinking is associated with that so that is why i need suggestions on how to get my critical/analytical thinking up to par or better than anyone else in my class.
 
Techmed07 said:
cover
By Cal Newport

Looking to jumpstart your GPA? Most college students believe that straight A’s can be achieved only through cramming and painful all-nighters at the library. But Cal Newport knows that real straight-A students don’t study harder—they study smarter. A breakthrough approach to acing academic assignments, from quizzes and exams to essays and papers, How to Become a Straight-A Student reveals for the first time the proven study secrets of real straight-A students across the country and weaves them into a simple, practical system that anyone can master. You will learn how to:

Streamline and maximize your study time
Conquer procrastination
Absorb the material quickly and effectively
Know which reading assignments are critical—and which are not
Target the paper topics that wow professors
Provide A+ answers on exams
Write stellar prose without the agony

A strategic blueprint for success that promises more free time, more fun, and top-tier results, How to Become a Straight-A Student is the only study guide written by students for students—with the insider knowledge and real-world methods to help you master the college system and rise to the top of the class.

______________________________________________________



Great Book.. I might add
Click to expand...

Do books such as these actually help at all? I mean you just do the work, go to office hours, and learn the material. I always thought books like these were gimmicks, maybe I'll have to take a look at it.
 
I can't say for sure what will work for you because everyone learns differently, but the best way for me to memorize bio stuff is by putting what I learn in context with what I already know so that I have some reference point for memory. Study a little about how memory works, it is really fascinating. Neural pathways that are repeated a number of times come to represent ideas that the mind associates with a concept, etc.

example; today I memorized the Citric Acid Cycle structures/enzymes for Biochem. not too bad but it's a bit of info. This is how I approached it;

1. Review all the chemical structures at all points in the pathway. Look at what changes, how the bonds to O shift, where there are sulfur bonds, etc.. just think about the mechanism. This gets the general concept in your brain and prepares it to learn the details. Use what you know (ie. in this example I'm using the mechanisms we learned in o-chem to apply to the TCA)

2. Learn each compound formed along the way, and as you learn a new one, repeat the entire pathway from the beginning. By the time I got to Oxaloacetate (last one) I had already repeated the rest of the cycle like 8 times and knew it pretty well.

3. Do problems that use what you learned. If you think conceptually about new information right after you learn it your brain will categorize it in "important files" and you'll remember it.

4. Probably most important: Think about what you learn in your free time! Ponder about it... while you're at work chillin go over what you've learned that day. Think about how amazing the concept is and how it connects with the rest of your realm of knowledge.

Anyway, just an example of studying. The only way I can really learn detailed bio stuff well is by understanding the underlying concepts and relating it to the bigger picture. Once you "get" that (which I guess is something that is sometimes hard to come by) the details just fall into place.

for the record, I wouldn't recommend taking Adderall. I've seen friends be able to focus very well but ultimately abusing (I'm speaking for those who don't have a script) prescription medicine is a dangerous thing for anyone who wants to practice medicine to do. Plus imo the best possible thing you can do for your study habits is to be healthy, emotionally balanced, rested, and genuinely enthusiastic about the stuff you're learning and Adderall can screw up this balance. I've always been someone who enjoys more studying on my own and sometimes it's easy to resent profs who make you learn things that you don't see as relevant but ultimately you're the one investing time in formal education so you might as well actually try to enjoy it. good luck. 👍
 
Springhill Mike said:
Well school is perty competative. If i dont get into medical school I honestly do not know what I will do with my life. I go to a very small college, and i hate hearing people tell me about there greades, or asking me what i make all the time. I think I may transfer next year, but i am stil unsure. I kinda want to do a physics major with psychology as well, but my school does not have a physics major.
Adderal, to me, does not work very well when you stay up really late and have a test that day, at least not for me. I plan to never abuse unperceribed drugs again, but before I studied more efficient I did whay I could to be sane the next day after a long night.
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Hang in there Springhill Mike. You seem to be making a really effort to do what you need to do. I hated "premed culture" when I was going through- the constant competition, fretting over grades, admissions paranoia. It gets to be almost like the "I'm so fat" "No you are soooo skinny. I am so fat" conversations that girls with low self esteem have. Premeds totally end up doing the "I'm never going to get in." "No, I'm never going to get in. You're the perfect candidate. I have awful OChem grades" blah blah blah. Just as I think the worst thing to do before a test is listen to people in the seats next to you talk amongst themselves about how much they studied or didn't study, I think it is bad to constantly compare yourself to others as far as med school admissions. You may be comparing your reality to their presentation of reality. A lot of people are technically honest about what they've done, but they may make it seem a lot more impressive than it actually is. You may be more towards the top of the pool than you think! Just have confidence within yourself, try your best, and if you don't get in the first year, apply again. I know docs who are practicing now that tried 4 and 5 years to get into med school, but they did and it ultimately doesn't matter where and when they got in. And you are still just a junior! SO don't worry about it so much. Though you are right to be conscientious. SDN is actually a good resource but its also a horrible head trip in that it will make you paranoid out of your mind. Don't listen to the crap on here too much. 😉
 
FootballFan14 said:
Hang in there Springhill Mike. You seem to be making a really effort to do what you need to do. I hated "premed culture" when I was going through- the constant competition, fretting over grades, admissions paranoia. It gets to be almost like the "I'm so fat" "No you are soooo skinny. I am so fat" conversations that girls with low self esteem have. Premeds totally end up doing the "I'm never going to get in." "No, I'm never going to get in. You're the perfect candidate. I have awful OChem grades" blah blah blah. Just as I think the worst thing to do before a test is listen to people in the seats next to you talk amongst themselves about how much they studied or didn't study, I think it is bad to constantly compare yourself to others as far as med school admissions. You may be comparing your reality to their presentation of reality. A lot of people are technically honest about what they've done, but they may make it seem a lot more impressive than it actually is. You may be more towards the top of the pool than you think! Just have confidence within yourself, try your best, and if you don't get in the first year, apply again. I know docs who are practicing now that tried 4 and 5 years to get into med school, but they did and it ultimately doesn't matter where and when they got in. And you are still just a junior! SO don't worry about it so much. Though you are right to be conscientious. SDN is actually a good resource but its also a horrible head trip in that it will make you paranoid out of your mind. Don't listen to the crap on here too much. 😉
Click to expand...

thanks, and no i am a freshman, but i want to change my habbits before it is too late. I completely agree with everything you said, and i just want to get in like everyone else on these forums.
 
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