How much free time per day can you have in order to be top 10% in your class?

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Ugh, why hasn't anyone mentioned that your class rank in the preclinical years for the most part doesn't matter?!

Oh, and for that matter, if you're so set on going to a high-ranked school, a good number of them are pass/fail and unranked in your preclinicals. The idea there being that they don't want people struggling to make it into the top 10% (which almost inevitably leads to gunner behavior and a truly miserable med school class) for pretty much no reason since residencies almost always just look at your performance in years 3 and 4, step 1 score, recommendation by bigshots and maybe some nice research experience to round things up. Your step 1 score is enough of a gauge of how well you know your sciences.

Please, please, PLEASE don't kill yourself trying to get top 10% at a pass/fail school. It's so incredibly not worth it. There are a few people in my class who have been doing really well and after meeting with various professors and deans and discovering that regardless of how much they wish it weren't true, we really don't keep any of the grades and a 100 really is equal to a 75, are now really demoralized and have cut their study times significantly. Don't be that guy.
 
Lol at 30 mins. of freetime per day. :laugh:

OP - It really depends on the student. I know some people that can get straight A's without trying, but others that cram for a week and barely pull B's. It's up to you to find out which type you are.
 
AnnaBananax said:
I'm an MS2 in the top 10% of my class.

In my opinion, the key to doing what you need to do to be in the top 10, 5, 2% and keeping your sanity is efficiency and maximizing your time.

For example, I get to school 1.5 to 2 hours before class starts and study. I go to the lectures which I feel are beneficial. If I'm not in lecture, I'm in the library studying. I study during lunch instead of dicking around with my friends, which gets me another 1.5 (we have a REALLY long lunch break). If there isn't any afternoon class, I'll usually study for another couple hours or so. I head to the gym at 4:30 ish. Home, have dinner. If we have an exam coming up I might read through notes, but usually I don't do much work once I'm home at the end of the day.

So, on the low end, if I have afternoon classes I get 3-4 hours in at school and read at home if I need to, or if there isn't afternoon class I can get a good 6.5 in and still go to the gym at 4:30 and not do any work in the evening. I go to bed early. Sleep is important for memory consolidation.

I usually go out one weekend night, but don't get so obliterated that I lose the next day.

Just be efficient
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Sounds like a nice schedule... What med school you go to?
 
grindtime1 said:
I'm talking about medical school, not undergrad. This is why I had this thread in the Allopathic forum, though it was moved for some reason.

I understand that it's possible to coast through undergrad, but nobody studies for 1 hour a day in medical school without being the worst student in his class. 1 freaking hour a day? That's a joke.

In medical school, many of my "average" friends spend 8+ hours a day studying. This is why I wanted to know how much you need to study to finish in the top 10%.
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grindtime1 said:
Sorry, but that's just not believable. You don't study a few hours before an exam for the first time and expect to have any sort of success. It doesn't matter how smart your friend was.
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I've always heard that the only people who knew what medical school was like were medical students and doctors - but hey, I guess this premed kid knows exactly what med school is like for every person at every single school in the U.S. That is impressive.
 
Not so much. Today after about 4 days I actually sat down and read a book for Comp, and did some practice problems for physics. But I'm one of those who barely study and manage to get A's on all test. In fact the lowest test score I've gotten since college started is an 89.5, and the average for that test was 65? Oh wait, not it was a physics test... I got an 88. But that was because of stupid mistakes on conceptual question worded very weird. I got all the problems correct. I hope my luck holds up! LOL I got my essay test back today and I got a 50/50 and I read the book in 4 hours. Basically skimmed it. XP
 
StormingWynn said:
Not so much. Today after about 4 days I actually sat down and read a book for Comp, and did some practice problems for physics. But I'm one of those who barely study and manage to get A's on all test. In fact the lowest test score I've gotten since college started is an 89.5, and the average for that test was 65? Oh wait, not it was a physics test... I got an 88. But that was because of stupid mistakes on conceptual question worded very weird. I got all the problems correct. I hope my luck holds up! LOL I got my essay test back today and I got a 50/50 and I read the book in 4 hours. Basically skimmed it. XP
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college =! med school
 
ButImLETired said:
Ugh, why hasn't anyone mentioned that your class rank in the preclinical years for the most part doesn't matter?!

Oh, and for that matter, if you're so set on going to a high-ranked school, a good number of them are pass/fail and unranked in your preclinicals. The idea there being that they don't want people struggling to make it into the top 10% (which almost inevitably leads to gunner behavior and a truly miserable med school class) for pretty much no reason since residencies almost always just look at your performance in years 3 and 4, step 1 score, recommendation by bigshots and maybe some nice research experience to round things up. Your step 1 score is enough of a gauge of how well you know your sciences.

Please, please, PLEASE don't kill yourself trying to get top 10% at a pass/fail school. It's so incredibly not worth it. There are a few people in my class who have been doing really well and after meeting with various professors and deans and discovering that regardless of how much they wish it weren't true, we really don't keep any of the grades and a 100 really is equal to a 75, are now really demoralized and have cut their study times significantly. Don't be that guy.
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this is soooo soooo soooo soooo true. it's not worth it to kill yourself. I know I'm going to pass, so I study casually, whenever there isn't something else going on. since there's usually something else going on, I study a few hours per week when the exam is a few weeks away, and then maybe 10-12 hrs per week in the two weeks before the exam. They insist that we won't fail, and I believe them. Actually, because of how relaxed I've been in med school, I feel I've done better than I would be doing if I were freaking out. Obviously, this will change a bit in the spring when we start our systems, but even then, it won't change much. because I won't let it. Because med school should be fun, not stressful. Make it that way!
 
bleargh said:
college =! med school
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No **** Sherlock! I'm only a freshman and I'm working on changing that habit. The reason this has worked for me is because I have exceptional memory and I'm able to skim through my notes right before a test and be able to remember and/or apply the material to the test.
 
StormingWynn said:
No **** Sherlock! I'm only a freshman and I'm working on changing that habit. The reason this has worked for me is because I have exceptional memory and I'm able to skim through my notes right before a test and be able to remember and/or apply the material to the test.
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your attitude is gonna take you real far in life.
 
ButImLETired said:
Ugh, why hasn't anyone mentioned that your class rank in the preclinical years for the most part doesn't matter?!

Oh, and for that matter, if you're so set on going to a high-ranked school, a good number of them are pass/fail and unranked in your preclinicals. The idea there being that they don't want people struggling to make it into the top 10% (which almost inevitably leads to gunner behavior and a truly miserable med school class) for pretty much no reason since residencies almost always just look at your performance in years 3 and 4, step 1 score, recommendation by bigshots and maybe some nice research experience to round things up. Your step 1 score is enough of a gauge of how well you know your sciences.

Please, please, PLEASE don't kill yourself trying to get top 10% at a pass/fail school. It's so incredibly not worth it. There are a few people in my class who have been doing really well and after meeting with various professors and deans and discovering that regardless of how much they wish it weren't true, we really don't keep any of the grades and a 100 really is equal to a 75, are now really demoralized and have cut their study times significantly. Don't be that guy.
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MSSM actually keep tract of your grade even though it's pass fail. It has absolutely no bearing at all, actually I think it might have a tiny percentage in AOAing.

I been studying quite much, but then again I like the material.
 
StormingWynn said:
No **** Sherlock! I'm only a freshman and I'm working on changing that habit. The reason this has worked for me is because I have exceptional memory and I'm able to skim through my notes right before a test and be able to remember and/or apply the material to the test.
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it's official. You're a *****.

I love how people think they are smart taking a few intro college courses like physics and english. It cracks me up. You aren't smart, your classes are easy.

You must understand that basically every major in college is simple (read: memorize/regurgitate) excluding physics (read: think) and maybe biochem. Esp. freshman year! lol dude.

It is one thing to do well in an easy class and another thing entirely to brag about acing easy classes like you are a genius.
 
StormingWynn said:
Not so much. Today after about 4 days I actually sat down and read a book for Comp, and did some practice problems for physics. But I'm one of those who barely study and manage to get A's on all test. In fact the lowest test score I've gotten since college started is an 89.5, and the average for that test was 65? Oh wait, not it was a physics test... I got an 88. But that was because of stupid mistakes on conceptual question worded very weird. I got all the problems correct. I hope my luck holds up! LOL I got my essay test back today and I got a 50/50 and I read the book in 4 hours. Basically skimmed it. XP
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You just couldn't help yourself, could you...🙄

I never understood how people could unabashedly brag about themselves without feeling the slightest sense of shame in doing so. Let your grades do the talking, not your mouth.
 
BennieBlanco said:
it's official. You're a *****.

I love how people think they are smart taking a few intro college courses like physics and english. It cracks me up. You aren't smart, your classes are easy.

You must understand that basically every major in college is simple (read: memorize/regurgitate) excluding physics (read: think) and maybe biochem. Esp. freshman year! lol dude.

It is one thing to do well in an easy class and another thing entirely to brag about acing easy classes like you are a genius.
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Straight chemistry and engineering (which I guess would fall under physics) are no walk in the park, either, from what I hear.
 
StormingWynn said:
Not so much. Today after about 4 days I actually sat down and read a book for Comp, and did some practice problems for physics. But I'm one of those who barely study and manage to get A's on all test. In fact the lowest test score I've gotten since college started is an 89.5, and the average for that test was 65? Oh wait, not it was a physics test... I got an 88. But that was because of stupid mistakes on conceptual question worded very weird. I got all the problems correct. I hope my luck holds up! LOL I got my essay test back today and I got a 50/50 and I read the book in 4 hours. Basically skimmed it. XP
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Dude...aren't you a frosh? So you have mostly A's in a bunch of easy freshmen-level courses w/ professors that give a ton of leeway to ensure you do well. Congrats, dude, congrats. No, seriously, congrats on doing well your freshmen year! A lot of people don't do well first semester, hence the easy classes and lots of grace at many schools and in many courses, but, sorry, that doesn't exactly make your straight A's impressive.

That being said, when you're a senior w/ a 4.0 in all honors classes in a difficult double-major combo w/ a 40T on the MCAT, come back and brag. Until then...
 
Pre-clinical classes depend entirely on your memory and test-taking ability.

I don't even open the syllabus until test week. I only watch lectures that have poor syllabus notes. During test week from Saturday until Friday, I'll usually read the syllabus twice. Granted, I'm most likely not top 10%, but I've honored every pre-clinical class except one, which was ironically my undergraduate major.

You won't know until you get there.
 
Most people could study 24/7 and never be in the top 10% of the class.
 
this thread is turning into a bunch of mental masturbation about " well I don't need to study for my Intro to Life 100 class because I'm amazing"
No one cares to listen to you brag about how little you have to study to get good grades.
More power to you if you can coast through classes but there's always someone smarter who has to put in less effort. Be humble and don't go bragging about it.
 
greatnt249 said:
Straight chemistry and engineering (which I guess would fall under physics) are no walk in the park, either, from what I hear.
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Agreed. Engineering is probably right there.

Basically I'm saying most science majors (*bio*physiology*) and everything else, is memory and papers. Memory =/= thinking
 
BennieBlanco said:
it's official. You're a *****.

I love how people think they are smart taking a few intro college courses like physics and english. It cracks me up. You aren't smart, your classes are easy.

You must understand that basically every major in college is simple (read: memorize/regurgitate) excluding physics (read: think) and maybe biochem. Esp. freshman year! lol dude.

It is one thing to do well in an easy class and another thing entirely to brag about acing easy classes like you are a genius.
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Do you even know what classes I'm talking about? I'm taking engineering physics 2, level 200 class. Shakepeaeran literature, level 300. A molecular Biology class, level 300, Converssaional French, level 300 and Organic Chem, level 200 What else do you need? F-ing *****, you need to think before you talk. I opted out of almost all my Ged requirements by by taking all the AP in HS. I'm still finding out if I have to go back and repeat those classes because I'm scared Med schools wont take them, unless they allow me to substitute higher level courses. 👎 And how was I bragging? Did you not catch my post where it said, "I'm working on changing that habit?" I guess not. So please go die. That's 23 credits! Wohoooo!

And If I don't brag about my grades how is anyone going to know? Just saying, I'm not, but just saying.

I started college with 50 credits, not so much a freshman right?

And as to the "No **** Sherlock" comment, I'm just tired of him posting idiotic comments on other threads. Sheesh! Calm down! SARCASM! Learn it!
 
On a lighter note, everyone just take a pill chill and relax. Maybe smoke some green, yah know? :luck:
 
ButImLETired said:
Ugh, why hasn't anyone mentioned that your class rank in the preclinical years for the most part doesn't matter?!

Oh, and for that matter, if you're so set on going to a high-ranked school, a good number of them are pass/fail and unranked in your preclinicals. The idea there being that they don't want people struggling to make it into the top 10% (which almost inevitably leads to gunner behavior and a truly miserable med school class) for pretty much no reason since residencies almost always just look at your performance in years 3 and 4, step 1 score, recommendation by bigshots and maybe some nice research experience to round things up. Your step 1 score is enough of a gauge of how well you know your sciences.

Please, please, PLEASE don't kill yourself trying to get top 10% at a pass/fail school. It's so incredibly not worth it. There are a few people in my class who have been doing really well and after meeting with various professors and deans and discovering that regardless of how much they wish it weren't true, we really don't keep any of the grades and a 100 really is equal to a 75, are now really demoralized and have cut their study times significantly. Don't be that guy.
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I might be wrong but doesn't the AOA bylaw state that inductees be at least among the top academic percentile of their class? While a school may not have an official ranking, I think a good number of schools keep student grades which they use to select AOA members addition to other factors ( community service, leadership, etc).
AOA gives a big boost during residency selection, all things being equal of course.
 
StormingWynn said:
Do you even know what classes I'm talking about? I'm taking engineering physics 2, level 200 class. Shakepeaeran literature, level 300. A molecular Biology class, level 300, Converssaional French, level 300 and Organic Chem, level 200 What else do you need? F-ing *****, you need to think before you talk. I opted out of almost all my Ged requirements by by taking all the AP in HS. I'm still finding out if I have to go back and repeat those classes because I'm scared Med schools wont take them, unless they allow me to substitute higher level courses. 👎 And how was I bragging? Did you not catch my post where it said, "I'm working on changing that habit?" I guess not. So please go die. That's 23 credits! Wohoooo!

And If I don't brag about my grades how is anyone going to know? Just saying, I'm not, but just saying.

I started college with 50 credits, not so much a freshman right?

And as to the "No **** Sherlock" comment, I'm just tired of him posting idiotic comments on other threads. Sheesh! Calm down! SARCASM! Learn it!
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Humility...learn it.🙄
 
i get lots of free time... I dont know abt others though


lol, but im not a med student :S
 
Do you even know what classes I'm talking about? I'm taking blah blah blah...I started college with 50 credits, not so much a freshman right?
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Sorry, dude, I was in the exact same boat you're in now. I started with 44 credits and tackled a biology and a physics major at UNC which is apparently known for being super-difficult in both subjects (wish I'd known that beforehand *sigh*). While the physics side of things was certainly far more difficult than anything med school will throw at you, you have absolutely no clue how much you're going to be working in med school. You might think you have a soul-crushing schedule, but it's nothing. You're taking 23 credits? Wow! According to my course catalog, I'm doing 33.5, and credits in med school are pound-for-pound considerably more rigorous than those in college.

And If I don't brag about my grades how is anyone going to know?
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There are ways to convey information without presenting yourself in a poor light. Jumping into a thread that really has nothing whatsoever to do with undergrad grades would not be one of them. Why do you assume people want to know your grades, anyway?
 
StormingWynn said:
Do you even know what classes I'm talking about? I'm taking engineering physics 2, level 200 class. Shakepeaeran literature, level 300. A molecular Biology class, level 300, Converssaional French, level 300 and Organic Chem, level 200 What else do you need? F-ing *****, you need to think before you talk. I opted out of almost all my Ged requirements by by taking all the AP in HS. I'm still finding out if I have to go back and repeat those classes because I'm scared Med schools wont take them, unless they allow me to substitute higher level courses. 👎 And how was I bragging? Did you not catch my post where it said, "I'm working on changing that habit?" I guess not. So please go die. That's 23 credits! Wohoooo!

And If I don't brag about my grades how is anyone going to know? Just saying, I'm not, but just saying.

I started college with 50 credits, not so much a freshman right?

And as to the "No **** Sherlock" comment, I'm just tired of him posting idiotic comments on other threads. Sheesh! Calm down! SARCASM! Learn it!
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Shakespeare, french, biology, and "repeating" high school courses lol!!!:laugh::laugh:

How do you handle 23 units of such difficult courses! 😱😱😱

StormingWynn said:

And If I don't brag about my grades how is anyone going to know? Just saying, I'm not, but just saying.
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*No comment due to refraining from personal attacks* :soexcited:
 
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MilkmanAl said:
You might think you have a soul-crushing schedule, but it's nothing. You're taking 23 credits? Wow! According to my course catalog, I'm doing 33.5, and credits in med school are pound-for-pound considerably more rigorous than those in college.
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Are you saying med school is harder than Shakespeare, french, biology, and "repeating" high school classes!?

You should take notes StormyWynn!!
 
MegaProjectile said:
I might be wrong but doesn't the AOA bylaw state that inductees be at least among the top academic percentile of their class? While a school may not have an official ranking, I think a good number of schools keep student grades which they use to select AOA members addition to other factors ( community service, leadership, etc).
AOA gives a big boost during residency selection, all things being equal of course.
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I can't speak for all schools, but I know that at my school preclinical grades have NO bearing on possible future AOA status, other than you must pass everything, of course! AOA is dependent on other factors, such as clinical grades, community service, research, etc.
 
StormingWynn said:
Do you even know what classes I'm talking about? I'm taking engineering physics 2, level 200 class. Shakepeaeran literature, level 300. A molecular Biology class, level 300, Converssaional French, level 300 and Organic Chem, level 200 What else do you need? F-ing *****, you need to think before you talk. I opted out of almost all my Ged requirements by by taking all the AP in HS. I'm still finding out if I have to go back and repeat those classes because I'm scared Med schools wont take them, unless they allow me to substitute higher level courses. 👎 And how was I bragging? Did you not catch my post where it said, "I'm working on changing that habit?" I guess not. So please go die. That's 23 credits! Wohoooo!

And If I don't brag about my grades how is anyone going to know? Just saying, I'm not, but just saying.

I started college with 50 credits, not so much a freshman right?

And as to the "No **** Sherlock" comment, I'm just tired of him posting idiotic comments on other threads. Sheesh! Calm down! SARCASM! Learn it!
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you though, are full of gems.
 
MegaProjectile said:
I might be wrong but doesn't the AOA bylaw state that inductees be at least among the top academic percentile of their class? While a school may not have an official ranking, I think a good number of schools keep student grades which they use to select AOA members addition to other factors ( community service, leadership, etc).
AOA gives a big boost during residency selection, all things being equal of course.
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Correct, for my school. They make the selections for junior AOA (this is the only one that will make it onto your residency application) fairly early into M3, so it does take into account the grades you got in M1-M2. The people I know who got in were people who had done quite well in M1-M2.

Furthermore, don't plan on doing mediocre as an M1-M2 and then miraculously doing amazingly well on Step 1 and your clinicals. Most people who did really well as M1-M2 will continue to do so. I can certainly think of some notable exceptions, but not many.
 
StormingWynn said:
Do you even know what classes I'm talking about? I'm taking engineering physics 2, level 200 class. Shakepeaeran literature, level 300. A molecular Biology class, level 300, Converssaional French, level 300 and Organic Chem, level 200 What else do you need? F-ing *****, you need to think before you talk. I opted out of almost all my Ged requirements by by taking all the AP in HS. I'm still finding out if I have to go back and repeat those classes because I'm scared Med schools wont take them, unless they allow me to substitute higher level courses. 👎 And how was I bragging? Did you not catch my post where it said, "I'm working on changing that habit?" I guess not. So please go die. That's 23 credits! Wohoooo!

And If I don't brag about my grades how is anyone going to know? Just saying, I'm not, but just saying.

I started college with 50 credits, not so much a freshman right?

And as to the "No **** Sherlock" comment, I'm just tired of him posting idiotic comments on other threads. Sheesh! Calm down! SARCASM! Learn it!
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The good news is that you'll get some time off between undergrad and medical school. ADCOM's will detect your egotistical approach to life and they will serve up a nice dose of humble pie.

I'm registered for 42 hours atm for this semester. There are so many "bad ass" students in my medical school class, that are struggling to make B's in our modules. Medical school isn't easy... Hell, we have several full scholarship students from Ga Tech (Presidential scholars there) that are making 75s. I also know a Rhode scholar from the class above me that came out of MS-1 with a 3.25.
 
How much you need to study to be at the top of your class varies by your abilities. There is no formula.

A caveat to that is that you have no predictor of your abilities until you get to med school. You just need to get in there and see how you do. Undergrad success means nothing.

By looking at my pre-med stats and the time I spent out of school before starting med school compared to others in my class, most people would expect me to be middle of the pack or lower. However, I consistently score well and am in at least the top 25% of my class (that's the best I can do with the data we're given with scores).
 
fahimaz7 said:
The good news is that you'll get some time off between undergrad and medical school. ADCOM's will detect your egotistical approach to life and they will serve up a nice dose of humble pie.

I'm registered for 42 hours atm for this semester. There are so many "bad ass" students in my medical school class, that are struggling to make B's in our modules. Medical school isn't easy... Hell, we have several full scholarship students from Ga Tech (Presidential scholars there) that are making 75s. I also know a Rhode scholar from the class above me that came out of MS-1 with a 3.25.
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Oh trust me, I know my weaknesses. I work at those weaknesses everyday, but I'm currently in classes that I enjoy and therefore excel in. And by the way, at certain schools 12 credit hours CAN be much more difficult than 24 hours are different schools. I suppose I'll be in the dark when Med School comes around and I'll work my ASS off to prove to myself and others that I can and do apply myself when I need too.

Bennie, how and I repeating them? Ummm I never knew those classes were high school courses. If I did I would have taken them. I was placed into those classes. Sheesh, why are you so mad that some people have different study habits that allow them to stay on top? Are you jealous or something? I'll admit I'm nowhere near the smartest person, nor the dummest. All I'm saying is that I'm able to stay on top with not a huge effort. Of course when I need to apply myself I do. For example this week, I've had to work my butt off because of my schedule. I don't know the material very well SO I'm working on it.

Was the point of this thread to give your insights on how much you study to stay on top of the class? In the end I assume what studying is for some is a totally different thing to others.

Bennie, I don't know what your wrote, but weren't you one that told me told stop being to rude? Seriously dude, don't get all hyped up over online comments, after all that's all they are, comments. No harm in them.
 
Was the point of this thread to give your insights on how much you study to stay on top of the class?
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Yes, but in med school, not in undergrad. I'd wager the majority of people here are juniors or seniors in college and know what it takes to succeed where they are.
 
MilkmanAl said:
Yes, but in med school, not in undergrad. I'd wager the majority of people here are juniors or seniors in college and know what it takes to succeed where they are.
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Oh, sorry. I guess I assume that it was mentioning undergrad since it's in the this forum. Sorry bout that. But I give some advice that a lot of people might agree with. Don't spend your entire days studying, because if you're not happy studying then you don't learn at all. At least that's the case with me. I'm able to remember a lot of the material of which I enjoy, while forgetting a lot of the material I don't.
 
StormingWynn said:
Oh, sorry. I guess I assume that it was mentioning undergrad since it's in the this forum. Sorry bout that. But I give some advice that a lot of people might agree with. Don't spend your entire days studying, because if you're not happy studying then you don't learn at all. At least that's the case with me. I'm able to remember a lot of the material of which I enjoy, while forgetting a lot of the material I don't.
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that's nice dudesef, but generally speaking people on sdn aren't looking for advice for freshmen.
 
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You have that option in undergrad - especially during freshman year when life is a breeze even if you have a ton of credit beforehand - but when the workload triples in med school, sometimes you're under the gun and have to keep pushing regardless of what you feel like doing. If you're gunning for top 10% in your class, those moments will come considerably more often.
 
MilkmanAl said:
You have that option in undergrad - especially during freshman year when life is a breeze even if you have a ton of credit beforehand - but when the workload triples in med school, sometimes you're under the gun and have to keep pushing regardless of what you feel like doing. If you're gunning for top 10% in your class, those moments will come considerably more often.
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I don't even think that's just limited to those that are gunning for top 10%. Some folks are just struggling that hard to survive.
 
Yes, absolutely. I'm pretty sure everyone has an "oh ****" moment every month or so, at the very least. That goes double for schools that have you take pre-clinical shelf exams. Relearning all of physiology in 3-4 days is not terribly fun.
 
MilkmanAl said:
You have that option in undergrad - especially during freshman year when life is a breeze even if you have a ton of credit beforehand - but when the workload triples in med school, sometimes you're under the gun and have to keep pushing regardless of what you feel like doing. If you're gunning for top 10% in your class, those moments will come considerably more often.
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I think it's just me, but if I wasn't enjoying the material I was because of a lack of time to unfold then I would slow down and take a break from it all, say an hour or two. Some people can learn while under stress and pressure, but I sometimes can't. 🙁 I see what you're saying though, triple the load while not allow you that time to unfold. Hopefully one can unfold afterward and reboot.
 
StormingWynn said:
I think it's just me, but if I wasn't enjoying the material I was because of a lack of time to unfold then I would slow down and take a break from it all, say an hour or two. Some people can learn while under stress and pressure, but I sometimes can't. 🙁 I see what you're saying though, triple the load while not allow you that time to unfold. Hopefully one can unfold afterward and reboot.
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What has been most challenging for me in medschool is that at times I'm forced to move so fast that I can't really stop to enjoy the material that I'd probably really love given the time to contemplate it. Imaging a hot dog eating contest, you love hot dogs, but after your 10th in this sitting you just can't stand them any more. You can't stop and take a break because everyone else around you is miserable but still chowing down on those darn hot dogs. And whoever keeps down the least in the bunch will fail. And everything you've been working for the past 5 years rides on you not failing. So you keep going. This is totally what many a weekend right before an exam feels like for me. I love medicine but sometimes you can't stop and take a break and those moments can make you miserable regardless of your love of medicine.

We just fly through the material at a pace I would have thought was impossible as a freshman in undergrad. At my school we covered an entire semester long undergrad immunology course in 2 weeks. I know this because my classmate used the textbook we covered as her undergrad text at a rather prestigious university. If you had asked me to cover an entire UG course in two weeks I would have thought you were insane, in fact I distinctly remember commenting about how summer classes were so insane because they did that in 2 months, lol.
 
bleargh said:
that's nice dudesef, but generally speaking people on sdn aren't looking for advice for freshmen.
Click to expand...

lol. You have some classic one liners sometimes.

:clap:
 
StormingWynn said:
I think it's just me, but if I wasn't enjoying the material I was because of a lack of time to unfold then I would slow down and take a break from it all, say an hour or two. Some people can learn while under stress and pressure, but I sometimes can't. 🙁 I see what you're saying though, triple the load while not allow you that time to unfold. Hopefully one can unfold afterward and reboot.
Click to expand...

What was your most challenging part of your 1st semester as a freshman? What about high school?
 
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