How do you know if you will be able to handle med school?

[optimistic3]

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Let's assume I have already applied and gotten into med school, any MD school. How in the world do I know if I can handle it?? I'm a biochemistry major undergrad, about to graduate, and sometimes I struggle with the courseload when I've taken 4 upper level science classes at once.

I know I have the ability to learn most of the material in the classes that I've taken but maybe I just need to revamp my study techniques. I feel like I often study hard but not necessarily smart. This leads to lots of time spent on information that isn't necessary and I tend to waste my time a lot in that sense. The very heavy courseload of med school scares me but I feel like I won't really know what it's like until I'm in and it's "too late" to back out.

Now, I've never failed (or gotten a D) in a class before so clearly I'm not clueless but I'm still not quite confident yet. Any advice?

 

[mmmcdowe]

I think the closest you can come to knowing is getting in. It probably isn't possible to be fully prepared.

 

[makingthejump]

Numerous people I have talked to said if you have a good work ethic, its doable. If you have done well thus far, and you have a good work ethic you will be fine....use the mentality.."If the thousands of people in the world that are docs did it, why can't I do it?". <-- great mentality to have!

 

[eefen]

Typically, if you can get accepted, you'll do fine. The admissions process isn't totally random, even though it isn't perfect.

 

[Mad Jack]

You get in.

 

[aishiteru]

I know exactly how you feel. My study habits aren't the best either and I struggle with not studying efficiently enough. In med school it'll be lots of information crammed into short periods of time, and I'm not sure if that'll be worse or better for me.

 

[optimistic3]

Numerous people I have talked to said if you have a good work ethic, its doable. If you have done well thus far, and you have a good work ethic you will be fine....use the mentality.."If the thousands of people in the world that are docs did it, why can't I do it?". <-- great mentality to have!

I have thought about that all the time....what have they done differently that I haven't seemed to learn yet? I truly think I need to change my study techniques. Once I graduate in 2 weeks, I'm going to try to do some research on study techniques and find something that works better for me. What I'm doing now works but takes WAY too long and therefore isn't sustainable. Thanks.

 

[Muffinho]

If you don't think you can handle it, you cannot handle it. If you think you can handle it, you'll find a way to handle it.

This applies to everything that doesn't defy the laws of Physics (or logic).

 

[optimistic3]

I know exactly how you feel. My study habits aren't the best either and I struggle with not studying efficiently enough. In med school it'll be lots of information crammed into short periods of time, and I'm not sure if that'll be worse or better for me.

Yes, that's my worry as well! Efficiency is key and for some reason in my 4 years (well, 5) of undergrad, I haven't learned how to do that yet.

 

[DokterMom]

96% of the people who are admitted to US MD schools do just fine. Do you have a good reason to believe you're one of the 4% who won't?

If you've already surmised that your study techniques might not be optimal and that you may need to change something (and aren't terrified by the prospect), then you're very likely part of the 96% and not part of the 4%. Flexibility counts for a lot in life.

 

[Aerus]

If there was a way to know, attrition rates would be almost non existent. Med schools are very supportive of your graduation, so if you get in and want to succeed, you will.