How important is honoring classes in med school....?

[Noirukiddingme]

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I know this sounds like a weird question, but right now it seems that I'm doing fairly to very well in all my classes (so far). However, I am not honoring anything, but am within 1 - 2% in almost every class. On the one hand, I could push to honor some classes and not others (planning to pass one class to honor others), or just do as well as I can in all classes... What do you guys think?

1. Does honoring anything matter?
2. Should I just focus on learning as much material as possible from each class no matter what my grade is (because all of this material will be on boards)?
3. Should I focus my attention on certain specific classes (like biochem, or gross, or physio) so that step 1 is easier?

I realize this is kind of trivial, but I'm not really sure how important honoring classes is/how important each class is for preparing for boards... Thanks for any input.

p.s. - i'm asking this because i don't want to find out in 2 or 4 years that if I pushed to honor class X, it would've been better than doing fairly well in everything.

 

[ChiDO]

Do the best you can in everything, don't leave anything on the table, and you won't regret it. That's how I approach it.

 

[penguin24]

Just do the best you can in each class, don't substitute one for the other, b/c individual grades don't matter much. Step 1 is more impt, & you don't want to have a lopsided knowledge-base b/c you only studied for some courses while skimming others.

Try to honor all of them, and if you get lucky some honors will fall your way, but don't go chasing after one specific honor in a class; not worth it.

Individual grades start to matter when u hit M3 core clerkships, but then each course is taken separately & thus no need to triage.

 

[njbmd]

I know this sounds like a weird question, but right now it seems that I'm doing fairly to very well in all my classes (so far). However, I am not honoring anything, but am within 1 - 2% in almost every class. On the one hand, I could push to honor some classes and not others (planning to pass one class to honor others), or just do as well as I can in all classes... What do you guys think?

1. Does honoring anything matter?
2. Should I just focus on learning as much material as possible from each class no matter what my grade is (because all of this material will be on boards)?
3. Should I focus my attention on certain specific classes (like biochem, or gross, or physio) so that step 1 is easier?

I realize this is kind of trivial, but I'm not really sure how important honoring classes is/how important each class is for preparing for boards... Thanks for any input.

p.s. - i'm asking this because i don't want to find out in 2 or 4 years that if I pushed to honor class X, it would've been better than doing fairly well in everything.

When many people start to fill out that ERAS application, they often wish that they had achieved higher grades in the preclinical coursework. Certainly strong academics will take you further than a mediocre performance and thus it makes sense to do the best that you can in every course.

 

[turkeyjerky]

2. Should I just focus on learning as much material as possible from each class no matter what my grade is (because all of this material will be on boards)?

Isn't that how you get good grades?

But the answer to your question is no, getting honors in any specific pre-clinical course is not important. That's prolly b/c you're going to be a doctor, not a pre-clinical science course specialist. Surgery programs want you to do well in surgery, perhaps an anatomy residency program would care about your honors in anatomy, but I'm not sure how many of those programs there are.

 

[Tiger26]

1st two years: probably not important unless you want to do something uber competitive (derm, plastics, neurosurg, maybe ortho . . . )

2nd two years: very important to honor things

 

[bad virus]

1st two years: probably not important unless you want to do something uber competitive (derm, plastics, neurosurg, maybe ortho . . . )

2nd two years: very important to honor things

Emergency Medicine? Just curious, do I need to push that extra hour which I would much rather spend vegged out on the couch?

 

[xanthomondo]

2. Should I just focus on learning as much material as possible from each class no matter what my grade is (because all of this material will be on boards)?

Isn't that how you get good grades?

You'd be surprised. Getting good grades is all about memorizing little pointless factoids spread throughout the notes (which anyone can do given enough time). Learning the major concepts and actually understanding things (the things that usually matter the most) usually don't get you very far on the exams.

 

[clinicallabguy]

I know this sounds like a weird question, but right now it seems that I'm doing fairly to very well in all my classes (so far). However, I am not honoring anything, but am within 1 - 2% in almost every class. On the one hand, I could push to honor some classes and not others (planning to pass one class to honor others), or just do as well as I can in all classes... What do you guys think?

1. Does honoring anything matter?
2. Should I just focus on learning as much material as possible from each class no matter what my grade is (because all of this material will be on boards)?
3. Should I focus my attention on certain specific classes (like biochem, or gross, or physio) so that step 1 is easier?

I realize this is kind of trivial, but I'm not really sure how important honoring classes is/how important each class is for preparing for boards... Thanks for any input.

p.s. - i'm asking this because i don't want to find out in 2 or 4 years that if I pushed to honor class X, it would've been better than doing fairly well in everything.

Agree with above posters. I will shoot for honors in every course, and not preferentially for only a few. However, I have priorities higher than medical school (a wife and kids) and if I miss honors in one class or several I don't think that I will regret it. I think that option 2 above is the best. I plan to study as hard as I can for each and hope an honor or 2 will come my way.

I've only taken 2 tests so far, and have missed honors by 3 or 4 points on both. It kind of stinks, but still happy about it being a good place to start. Wherever you are, if that's your best then it's a good place to improve from.

 

[J ROD]

Just do your best and regret nothing!!

 

[dude1344]

Just try your damned hardest and have no regrets. Let the chips fall where they may and be proud that you gave it your full effort. You can't really control anything outside of that.

 

[Blesbok]

The difference between honors and one or two points below isn't going to make a difference as far as boards are concerned.

However, it is going to make a difference in your class rank, AOA, etc and therefore it will have an effect if you want to go into a competitive residency.

Like others have said, just do your best and you will have nothing to regret.

 

[rysa4]

Honestly? A few honors in basic sciences can be helpful. For most residency choices, both in terms of specialty and specific programs, those few plus a good clinical track record, a strategically chosen elective or two and a paper ( even if its just a case series or something simple) and good letters of recommendation will take you just about anywhere. There are always the exceptions usually in programs in the most competitive specialties with a scant few spots in each program---but usually you'll be good to go.

 

[medInUSA]

SUPER IMPORTANT,

Especially 3rd year.

ABSOLUTELY try to honor every single class. Remember, even if you decide to a apply for a non competitive field, the best programs are still very competitive to get into.

 

[Noirukiddingme]

Isn't that how you get good grades?

But the answer to your question is no, getting honors in any specific pre-clinical course is not important. That's prolly b/c you're going to be a doctor, not a pre-clinical science course specialist. Surgery programs want you to do well in surgery, perhaps an anatomy residency program would care about your honors in anatomy, but I'm not sure how many of those programs there are.

Yea, currently I'm just trying to do my best in every class, and that's how i'm getting good grades, but I wasn't sure if I should alter my time management. Thanks for the responses, I'll definitely just keep on truckin... and let the chips fall where they may....