How do you deal with self doubt about getting into med school?

[AcousticDoc]

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Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

 

[Medikit]

Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

I just told myself I would see it through. I had a backup plan but I was also pretty certain that I would apply to foreign medical schools if I couldn't get into anything in the US. Other than that I honestly tried not to think about it because if I did it made me very sad.

 

[NiteOwl]

Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

I know how you feel. I sometimes wonder if I will be able to get into medical school. I have similar problems with family members, some of my family doesn't seem to believe that I can do it. I have even had this said when having problems with a class, "If you are having problems now, how do you you think it will be in medical school? How are you going to deal with it then?". They weren't saying it to be hurtful on purpose or anything but still, it hurt anyway. I deal with it by encouraging myself more. When anyone acts like I can't do it, it makes me want to work even harder, because I won't let them be right in the end.

Good luck, I hope you do well.

 

[AcousticDoc]

I just told myself I would see it through. I had a backup plan but I was also pretty certain that I would apply to foreign medical schools if I couldn't get into anything in the US. Other than that I honestly tried not to think about it because if I did it made me very sad.

I feel the same. I just need to find myself a more supportive group of people. *Nor Cal pride Medikit!

 

[Medikit]

I feel the same. I just need to find myself a more supportive group of people. *Nor Cal pride Medikit!

For sure. I'm sorry that your family doesn't support you more. My family was a little more supportive once I started showing that I could get the grades. I love this part of the state. My rejection from Davis absolutely slayed me.

 

[AcousticDoc]

I know how you feel. I sometimes wonder if I will be able to get into medical school. I have similar problems with family members, some of my family doesn't seem to believe that I can do it. I have even had this said when having problems with a class, "If you are having problems now, how do you you think it will be in medical school? How are you going to deal with it then?". They weren't saying it to be hurtful on purpose or anything but still, it hurt anyway. I deal with it by encouraging myself more. When anyone acts like I can't do it, it makes me want to work even harder, because I won't let them be right in the end.

Good luck, I hope you do well.

Totally Cynthia! They'll give the "how do you think it'll be in med school" or say "You know getting into medical school is really hard," in a condesending disapproving tone. I get the "want to prove them wrong" feeling as well but I HATE THAT FEELING because I want to go into medicine on my own terms without having to spend my time think about proving others wrong.

 

[Medikit]

Where are you right now in terms of school?

 

[DarkFark]

Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

I think I know what you mean. I had a reputation for being absent minded what I was younger, and friends and family used to joke about how many people I'd kill if I became a doctor. Other times they would question my motivation whenever I suggested the idea (I didn't fully commit until college). Fortunately, my father had faith in me, which helped me overcome those doubts, and I eventually outgrew the absent mindedness. After I started doing well in college (success in high school wasnt enough), everyone was behind me. Hang in there and find someone who will support you in the interim.

 

[AcousticDoc]

Where are you right now in terms of school?

I suffered from severe deppression in highschool and graduated with a 2.2 GPA (can you see why my family doesn't have too much faith in me?). After I got my deppression fixed I improved my GPA to a 4.0 (although that'll drop a little bit after this semester 😡 ). I'm currently debating between doing a spring transfer to UCSB or wait for the fall application and to see if I can get into the top Tier UCs like Cal or UCLA.

 

[NiteOwl]

Totally Cynthia! They'll give the "how do you think it'll be in med school" or say "You know getting into medical school is really hard," in a condesending disapproving tone. I get the "want to prove them wrong" feeling as well but I HATE THAT FEELING because I want to go into medicine on my own terms without having to spend my time think about proving others wrong.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I have similar feelings about it, I want to prove them wrong but I hate that because I want to go to medical school because I want too, not because I want to prove them wrong.

 

[NiteOwl]

I suffered from severe deppression in highschool and graduated with a 2.2 GPA (can you see why my family doesn't have too much faith in me?). After I got my deppression fixed I improved my GPA to a 4.0 (although that'll drop a little bit after this semester 😡 ). I'm currently debating between doing a spring transfer to UCSB or wait for the fall application and to see if I can get into the top Tier UCs like Cal or UCLA.

Good job raising your GPA! I left 11th grade with a 2.1 GPA and after I got into 12th grade I made all A's (after transfering schools). I'm not sure what I graduated with though. Thats one of the reasons my family didn't take me to seriously, my high school grades.

 

[Medikit]

I suffered from severe deppression in highschool and graduated with a 2.2 GPA (can you see why my family doesn't have too much faith in me?). After I got my deppression fixed I improved my GPA to a 4.0 (although that'll drop a little bit after this semester 😡 ). I'm currently debating between doing a spring transfer to UCSB or wait for the fall application and to see if I can get into the top Tier UCs like Cal or UCLA.

Ah well, no one really knows what you can and can't do right now. College is tough though and both of the colleges you are considering have steep competition. I hope that you are doing regular therapy and plan on continuing to do it throughout college. I also suffered from depression only mine didn't really get me until after I started attending college. Here is a link to my story: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2514099&postcount=24

I'm studying for finals so I can't really write up a personalized version. Feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions. I might not be able to answer them until after I'm done with tests on Wednesday.

 

[AcousticDoc]

Cynthia you sound like the female version of me! Creepy! You shave your legs and armpits tho right? 😛

 

[NiteOwl]

Cynthia you sound like the female version of me! Creepy! You shave your legs and armpits tho right? 😛

Yeah...because I tried waxing, and that sucked

 

[AcousticDoc]

I'm studying for finals so I can't really write up a personalized version. Feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions. I might not be able to answer them until after I'm done with tests on Wednesday.

thanks medikit but I don't think there will be a need, your personal story link did wonders. It's nice to know that even people with deppresion like yours can make changes to themselves. 👍

 

[MEG@COOL]

Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

Self confidence is all about being sure about stuff. Worrying about things means that you might not be sure. Make sure to do one little thing every day that makes you know that you are sure. It can range from eating at a certain time for a meal to satisfy hunger, or even doing special things like looking at the clouds if there are any clouds and trying to estimate the altitude. In actuality it does not matter what you do. All these things will let you know for sure or not for sure whether you would like to become a nurse or a doctor. Doctors make more money usually though.

 

[Shredder]

Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

my short answer is that numbers dont lie. so if you have decent ones, throw that in their face. otherwise make them good. either way, have some confidence in yourself, its important in life.

 

[Coldsweat_06]

Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

When I first began college, I had some doubt, due to the fact that I started high school with a 2.0GPA. It was not until I read Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" that I began taking school seriously. From that point on, I began making 3.5 or higher until graduation. I graduated with a 3.2. I remember wanting to take joint enrollment classes and my mother telling me that she was scared that I would fail them. I REALLY wanted to prove her wrong, it seemed as if she had no faith in me. The one person you really want to believe in you is your mother, but I didn't feel like she believed. So, I graduated and made it my personal goal to prove to her that I would do extremely well in college. I began doing so well that she had no choice but to see that I was and am serious about my goal. If someone doubting you will help you to motivate yourself, then "let your haters be your motivators." Let those people push you to strive hard because in the end, they WILL be looking up to you. They then will realize that they were simply a stepping stone, put in place by God for you to overcome. So, be encouraged and know that you are not alone. There are others who have faced that fear and quite a few of them are already physicians.

 

[saffronrain]

When I first began college, I had some doubt, due to the fact that I started high school with a 2.0GPA. It was not until I read Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" that I began taking school seriously. From that point on, I began making 3.5 or higher until graduation. I graduated with a 3.2. I remember wanting to take joint enrollment classes and my mother telling me that she was scared that I would fail them. I REALLY wanted to prove her wrong, it seemed as if she had no faith in me. The one person you really want to believe in you is your mother, but I didn't feel like she believed. So, I graduated and made it my personal goal to prove to her that I would do extremely well in college. I began doing so well that she had no choice but to see that I was and am serious about my goal. If someone doubting you will help you to motivate yourself, then "let your haters be your motivators." Let those people push you to strive hard because in the end, they WILL be looking up to you. They then will realize that they were simply a stepping stone, put in place by God for you to overcome. So, be encouraged and know that you are not alone. There are others who have faced that fear and quite a few of them are already physicians.

That's so true. However, I was one who did really well in high school, but freshman year of college, I totally screwed it up. I ended up with such a low GPA that I can't even bear to think about it... ::shudder:: However, I transferred schools and this past year I did extremely well! I guess the school I went to wasn't really for me, and I needed smaller classes with individualized attention. My dad always seems to put me down. Even if I do well in classes here, he always says "you could have done the same at the other school you know." I don't know... he always brings up the past and doesn't move on. "Failures are the stepping stones to success"- I strongly believe in this. My dad still attempts to belittle my ambitions and say that I can't get in, and that I'm a falure. I wish he didn't do that because 1). I want to get into med school (and I will) without that feeling of "oh! I'll prove you wrong!" and 2). I really want to prove people who think I can't do it, wrong. It's that in-between feeling...strange huh? My mom believes in me, and she knows I can do it. I like that way of looking at it though- "let your haters be your motivators." Good one! 🙂
Good luck to everyone w/ med school and whatnot. WE CAN DO IT. 😀

 

[Amorphisgirl]

... If someone doubting you will help you to motivate yourself, then "let your haters be your motivators."...

I appreciate this thread. Overall, my friends and family are supportive. What about when you express, especially to the doctors you know, "I might want to go into x specialty" and the echoes you hear are "I don't see you as going into x, Amorphisgirl, I see you as going into y or z."?
I understand it's too early to have it all mapped it out at this stage of the game. I usually just say thank you.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

http://cheston.com/pbf/PBF003BCBunnyPit.html

haha love your signature cartoon 👍 very clever!

 

[Karina]

I just tell myself that this is what I have worked so hard for and that I wouldn't be in if I didn't deserve it. It's something new, and fear comes with new experiences, but it's not the first time I've felt this way...I think I felt it in a smaller scale when I started undergrad...and see how well that turned out...I survived! I have the support of my parents, family, friends and boyfriend...they all believe I can do this and keep telling me I will be a great doc...seeing how much faith they have in me makes me feel better.

And also, knowing this is the only thing I can see myself doing...it's gonna make me work hard and not f this up! 😛

Good luck! And we'll be OK! 🙂

Karina

 

[DianaLynne]

After reading all the threads on this post, I hear a lot of passion. I think passion for what you do has the ability to carry you through all kinds of hardship and challenge. People prove time and time again that even with low stats you can get into top flight medical schools as long as you put in the hours helping people in real ways.

I dealt with depression for decades before I finally discovered the joys of Lexapro. Now that that is under control I have found myself achieving at higher levels than I have before. I too find the "Med school is so hard", "You don't have the perseverence to do it", and all that. Of course it's hard! But I believe in what I'm doing and I trust that that passion will carry me through.

Hang in there folks, the opportunities are out there!

 

[Medikit]

haha love your signature cartoon 👍 very clever!

It's one of my favorite comics

Here's a link to the archives, a few of them have adult themes so I wouldn't be browsing through all of them at work:

http://cheston.com/pbf/archive.html

 

[Coldsweat_06]

I appreciate this thread. Overall, my friends and family are supportive. What about when you express, especially to the doctors you know, "I might want to go into x specialty" and the echoes you hear are "I don't see you as going into x, Amorphisgirl, I see you as going into y or z."?
I understand it's too early to have it all mapped it out at this stage of the game. I usually just say thank you.

Honestly, don't let what they say get to you because they are not the masters of your fate. As long as you have the desire to go into x specialty, then that is where you will be. It's more important for you to see yourself in that specialty, than for them to see it. For you are the one who must be fulfilled with what you do in life. You are the "master of your fate, the captain of your soul." Remember that and you will go extremely far. People are going to have things to say, but in the end, it's just talk.

 

[Shredder]

That's so true. However, I was one who did really well in high school, but freshman year of college, I totally screwed it up. I ended up with such a low GPA that I can't even bear to think about it... ::shudder:: However, I transferred schools and this past year I did extremely well! I guess the school I went to wasn't really for me, and I needed smaller classes with individualized attention. My dad always seems to put me down. Even if I do well in classes here, he always says "you could have done the same at the other school you know." I don't know... he always brings up the past and doesn't move on. "Failures are the stepping stones to success"- I strongly believe in this. My dad still attempts to belittle my ambitions and say that I can't get in, and that I'm a falure. I wish he didn't do that because 1). I want to get into med school (and I will) without that feeling of "oh! I'll prove you wrong!" and 2). I really want to prove people who think I can't do it, wrong. It's that in-between feeling...strange huh? My mom believes in me, and she knows I can do it. I like that way of looking at it though- "let your haters be your motivators." Good one! 🙂
Good luck to everyone w/ med school and whatnot. WE CAN DO IT. 😀

saffronrain, ive seen that icon before. what does it mean?

 

[crys20]

I told myself that I was going to work hard enough, FOR LONG ENOUGH. Once I realized I would do that I knew it was going to happen and I was much more chill about the whole thing. Then I got a 30 MCAT, pulled my GPA up to a 3.4-3.5ish and got psyched about the prospect of being a DO in case it didn't pan out at MD schools. Now I'm super chill going into the process because I'm confident I'll get in SOMEWHERE. And before all that I had backup plans...But all involved med...Like, if I don't get in the first time I'll do SMP at GT or retake the MCAT or something like that you know? You come up with a plan for what you're going to do to improve your app if it doesn't work out the first time...If you plan smart and do the right things, maybe apply broader 2nd time around, you'll almost undoubtedly get in that time...And one year is nothing...So really the process is now, I've realized, nothing to stress about though if you would've talked to me 2 years ago I would've been crying in my coffee after bombing a gen chem test and thinking the world was over. 🙂

 

[Haybrant]

excellent idea for a thread; one thing that is really important is to make this a personal task; try to minimize your involvment of family and friends b.c they dont understand this process and will make things worse. Honestly, this is what draws people to sdn; we all know what each other is going through and can relate.

 

[saffronrain]

saffronrain, ive seen that icon before. what does it mean?

Hi Shredder, yeah that symbol means "Om" or "Aum." It's Hindu, and we believe that all of creation emerged from that one sound. It represents all aspects of God- Brahman- the absolute. We say "Om" before any prayers, chants, etc.
One of my friends thought it was a strand of DNA. Don't ask.

 

[AcousticDoc]

I told myself that I was going to work hard enough, FOR LONG ENOUGH. Once I realized I would do that I knew it was going to happen and I was much more chill about the whole thing. Then I got a 30 MCAT, pulled my GPA up to a 3.4-3.5ish and got psyched about the prospect of being a DO in case it didn't pan out at MD schools. Now I'm super chill going into the process because I'm confident I'll get in SOMEWHERE. And before all that I had backup plans...But all involved med...Like, if I don't get in the first time I'll do SMP at GT or retake the MCAT or something like that you know? You come up with a plan for what you're going to do to improve your app if it doesn't work out the first time...If you plan smart and do the right things, maybe apply broader 2nd time around, you'll almost undoubtedly get in that time...And one year is nothing...So really the process is now, I've realized, nothing to stress about though if you would've talked to me 2 years ago I would've been crying in my coffee after bombing a gen chem test and thinking the world was over. 🙂

Thanks for that post crys, it reminded me that I sometimes just overthink too much and worry about things when I should just chill and enjoy the process instead of worrying about the end goal. It's that fear of failure that plagues my mind so much since I slacked off so much in Highschool - the fear that I could go back to those old habits of mine even when I'm doing well. I really am thinking way to much about the end goal and not enjoying the moment. Thanks again for the post. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

 

[cyclone92]

hate to bump this thread but...

I am in a similar situation where I doubt myself way too much and it has shown through my academic performance. Anybody go through a similar phase, and come out on top to eventually make it to med school? Im a freshman if that helps..

 

[Torr]

hate to bump this thread but...

I am in a similar situation where I doubt myself way too much and it has shown through my academic performance. Anybody go through a similar phase, and come out on top to eventually make it to med school? Im a freshman if that helps..

I think that's normal. You're a bottom-of-the-foodchain student and just starting out. I felt really insecure as an undergrad. I think I gained most of my confidence after working in the real world for a while.

I'm gradually working my way up to god complex 😉

Edit: Forgot to give advice. Don't know enough about you but being a freshman can be tough. Find ways to make friends, connect on campus, and go to office hours with questions. Being proactive is key. Also, do things you enjoy...don't just lock yourself away and study .

 

[hiyaman]

Does anyone here ever have any doubts about their ability to get into med school? I often find my self confidence slipping when certain family members laugh at me for wanting to get into med school. If so, how do you guys deal with self doubt?

How do I deal with it? Easy

I DONT THINK ABOUT IT

and I especially try not to compare myself to other applicants

Although you have to compare yourself a little bit to be realistic

Actually I think about it a lot in spurts....lol just do your best.
You don't have to be super smart to be in medicine, just have some common sense and be a good test taker.

 

[Shibbyboi182]

I go to a higher-end public where everyone and their mother is pre-med, so it's hard not to compare myself to those around me. As someone who had a slow start, and working my way through my junior year progressively getting better and better, I tell myself that I always did the best I could, even when it didn't pay off how I wanted (don't tell yourself this if it's not true lol ).

Also, I go in with the attitude that no matter how long it takes, and how hard I have to work, I'm going to get in. Will I need an SMP? I hope not. But if I do, I'll cross that bridge when it comes. I'll do what I need to do to get where I want.

"If you want it, you can have it. But you gotta learn to reach out there and grab it."

 

[Nazaret]

Thanks guys, I was feeling a little down today and after reading this thread it reenergized me. We can do anything we want, we just have to believe in ourselves and truly go after our dreams. BTW long time reader and first time post on SD. Thanks!

 

[CodeBlu]

I tell myself... I'm awesome. You can do this.

 

[Hotshy]

I tell myself... I'm awesome. You can do this.

That's the only way to do it. You just have to know that if you are focused you will make it.

I also had trouble with my family being a little less supportive. For the first few weeks of college my mother suggested I should go for PA (she's a nurse.)

1. "Med school is so competitive you should think about becoming a PA, life will be simpler, you'll be done sooner ect."

2. Gets 4.0 first semester

3.???????

4. Profit.

 

[CodeBlu]

That's the only way to do it. You just have to know that if you are focused you will make it.

I also had trouble with my family being a little less supportive. For the first few weeks of college my mother suggested I should go for PA (she's a nurse.)

1. "Med school is so competitive you should think about becoming a PA, life will be simpler, you'll be done sooner ect."

2. Gets 4.0 first semester

3.???????

4. Profit.

F-C-U-K YES! Do it to it. You got this game. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

[Morsetlis]

Motivational posters.

 

[ppfizenm]

My doctor gave me a lotion called obecalp that builds confidence and removes self doubt.

 

[jdok]

poor OP

Fastforward to 2007...

So I obviously haven't been doing so hott in my undergraduate time at Cal. I'm trying to find post-bac enchancement programs around the area but I'm just lost. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

...never to be heard from again.

 

[NickNaylor]

I deal with self-doubt every single day of med school that peaks on each test day.

Get over it. It's going to get a lot worse.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

I just chose my major as a personal choice and one that does not fit the common pre- one, so if I do not get in I am fine in knowing that I will be able to pursue a PhD instead or simply start working in the industry.

 

[nctw]

I deal with self-doubt every single day of med school that peaks on each test day.

Get over it. It's going to get a lot worse.

Joy 🙂