How To Develop A Strong Work Ethic

[Virgil]

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Even if I'm taking a class I enjoy (languages, biochemistry, physiology, history, etc.), I find it very difficult to study...especially when it's a couple of days (or weeks) before an exam. I have concluded that in order to be very successful in your studies, you need to have 1) good work ethic, and 2) passion for what you're learning. Personally, I'd rather have good work ethic instead of passion: if you work hard, you can still do great on your exams even if you don't like the subject (Calculus anyone?). The bright side is that for many of the classes I'm taking, I actually find the stuff we're learning very interesting. HOWEVER, I really do hate studying...which is realistically the only way I can get the grades I need. I've been getting along O.K. with the bare minimum amount of studying (AMCAS GPA - 3.44 OA, 3.12 BCPM), but I need to raise my GPA (esp. science) as close as possible to the matriculant average before I apply next year. I also need to prepare myself for medical school, as I am sure I have to study if I plan on doing well. And finally, if I don't get this whole "studying" thing down by the end of this semester, I know "studying" for the MCAT over the summer is going to be a disaster.

What are some practical steps I can take to improve my work ethic and study even though I hate studying with a passion? I hate studying so much that I can't even force myself to open up the book and get started until it's the day before the test. To me, studying is a painful process that requires a lot of time (opportunity cost: I could be having fun with friends or doing something else) and mental strain--it's frustrating when you can't get a concept and keep getting practice problems wrong. PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[armybound]

apply to med school, fail to get accepted, and realize if you don't kick it into gear you're going to be flipping burgers the rest of your life.

it worked for me.

 

[Virgil]

apply to med school, fail to get accepted, and realize if you don't kick it into gear you're going to be flipping burgers the rest of your life.

it worked for me.

But my situation is still salvageable. I don't doubt that would work...but what can I do now?

 

[armybound]

I don't know what to tell you. you know what you have to do. just make yourself do it. build yourself up to it slowly if you have to.

 

[littlealex]

apply to med school, fail to get accepted, and realize if you don't kick it into gear you're going to be flipping burgers the rest of your life.

it worked for me.

I applied and got in, but I still don't know how to do work. I'm honestly a little worried that I won't be able to keep up with the constant influx of information in med school.

 

[searun]

Self Discipline is an internal quality. If you don't have it, and perhaps you do not have it, no one on SDN can give it to you.

And if you don't have it, don't go into medicine. You will be miserable, and your career, as a student, will be very brief.

If you have a short attention span, there are much better career choices than medicine. There are many wonderful career choices, but don't go into medicine if you cannot concentrate and are unable to work hard.

 

[armybound]

I applied and got in, but I still don't know how to do work. I'm honestly a little worried that I won't be able to keep up with the constant influx of information in med school.

well that's my point. i think that failing to get into med school is great. you really see what you're made of and it wakes you up and gives you a kick in the ***. i would still be lazy if i had just coasted through school and got accepted.

 

[Auron]

Even if I'm taking a class I enjoy (languages, biochemistry, physiology, history, etc.), I find it very difficult to study...especially when it's a couple of days (or weeks) before an exam. I have concluded that in order to be very successful in your studies, you need to have 1) good work ethic, and 2) passion for what you're learning. Personally, I'd rather have good work ethic instead of passion: if you work hard, you can still do great on your exams even if you don't like the subject (Calculus anyone?). The bright side is that for many of the classes I'm taking, I actually find the stuff we're learning very interesting. HOWEVER, I really do hate studying...which is realistically the only way I can get the grades I need. I've been getting along O.K. with the bare minimum amount of studying (AMCAS GPA - 3.44 OA, 3.12 BCPM), but I need to raise my GPA (esp. science) as close as possible to the matriculant average before I apply next year. I also need to prepare myself for medical school, as I am sure I have to study if I plan on doing well. And finally, if I don't get this whole "studying" thing down by the end of this semester, I know "studying" for the MCAT over the summer is going to be a disaster.

What are some practical steps I can take to improve my work ethic and study even though I hate studying with a passion? I hate studying so much that I can't even force myself to open up the book and get started until it's the day before the test. To me, studying is a painful process that requires a lot of time (opportunity cost: I could be having fun with friends or doing something else) and mental strain--it's frustrating when you can't get a concept and keep getting practice problems wrong. PLEASE HELP!!!

A couple of things:

1. You hate studying and yet you want be a doctor? How exactly do you expect to survive in med school - It's endless studying, even for the students who may not have had to study as much as others in undergrad. You WILL have to study many many hours. No way around it. If you hate to study, no amount of work ethic will help you.

2. Sorry, but your statement about fun and opportunity costs is absolutely ridiculous. You need to get your priorities straight. I like to hang out with my friends but I'm well aware that studying and doing well in school is my utmost priority. I place a lot of value on my time, and am not afraid to tell friends that I have stuff going on and I cant see you guys this week. Everything else comes second. This is the path that I chose, and thus I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goal - If I have to do things that are uncomfortable or undersirable, so be it. Sacrifices must be made. It looks like you want everything to go smooth and be all rainbows and kittens. It doesn't work like that. If it's motivation you lack, then try and do some shadowing - It'll also give you some perspective. You need to sit down, put your hand to your heart and figure out what you truly want in life, and what you're willing to do get it.

 

[coldweatherblue]

do you have a job? Have you ever worked 50 hrs/week for a summer or something?

wait tables, do landscaping, work a $10/hr construction job... etc. Having to get up every morning and go DO something for 12 hrs will help build work ethic.

However, it's impossible for someone to just hand you good work ethic on a silver platter.

studying-wise just learn what you are going to need to know to get the grade you want and how much time/effort it's going to take for you to learn that and go from there. I dunno I didn't need much "work-ethic" to get through undergrad.. but working a lot of hours while being in school helped me a lot. Good luck.

 

[futuredrcrawfor]

do you have a job? Have you ever worked 50 hrs/week for a summer or something?

wait tables, do landscaping, work a $10/hr construction job... etc. Having to get up every morning and go DO something for 12 hrs will help build work ethic.

However, it's impossible for someone to just hand you good work ethic on a silver platter.

studying-wise just learn what you are going to need to know to get the grade you want and how much time/effort it's going to take for you to learn that and go from there. I dunno I didn't need much "work-ethic" to get through undergrad.. but working a lot of hours while being in school helped me a lot. Good luck.

I agree as a HS sophomore I worked at a daycare for 8 months- that was enough for me to know that I wanted to do something I loved- medicine. I did 2 weeks of shadowing each day and had to leave my house at 6am to get to the meetings at the hospital on time (I lived a ways away) it was amazing and I was willing to get out of my warm bed!

 

[Jolie South]

get a job in the "real world" that sucks. take a good hard look at people that have been doing what you're doing for 15+ years. then, try to imagine yourself in 15 years in the same job with the same people.

it's not pretty. it's not hard after that to kick your arse into gear and get moving.

 

[spo01]

virgil, i know exactly how you feel. i think most pre meds do too, some more than others. very few people actually 'enjoy studying'.

what you describe is basically a form of immaturity, i even heard that medical school 'forces maturity' on a lot of people. and just because you are passionate about something and motivated it can still be very difficult to do it. but nothing ever worth having comes easy, or else everyone would be doing it and everyone would be successful, right? i find studying painful. yes, painful. i hate it with a passion, but when i'm done doing it i have a great sense of accomplishment and this drives me to do it more. i always envied those people who could sit down and read even for enjoyment like harry potter. i swear it could be a book with all the answers to life and i would have a helluva time sitting still to read it. my dad is an MD who is one of the hardest working and smartest men i know, and he described studying exactly like you and i do, 'painful' lol. he told me at one time in medical school he literally tied a rope from his leg to the desk so he would quit getting up to avoid studying. like you, i wait till a few nights before to study. the stress and pressure to study at that time drives me to study and study hard, i ended up with a final gpa of 3.6. but i know this wont work in medical school or any graduate school so i am changing my habits too. so since i relate to you pretty well i will you my lengthy suggestions which have worked for me.
1) discipline- this is obvious, and the other poster is correct that you gotta get your a** into gear. discipline doesn't come over night so build it up slowly. i always used to see these asian and indian students at my library studying. it was amazing how focused they were. i swear a bomb could go off and they would still sit there studying just engorged in the material. i always laughed and even partially believed when i heard someone say 'asians are naturally smart' or whatever race it is. bottom line is they have discipline. they were raised with academics as a priority and i noticed this between many of my friends who are [insert race here]: they learned at an early age to sit down, shut up, and focus (i'm just giving an example so please dont complain about racial sterotyping). ok now see #2

2) flow- this is very hard to explain but there is even a book out (actually called 'flow') that tries to explain it too. flow is just an arbitrary word to describe it really. it basically means 'being in the zone.' you ever notice michael jordan or tiger woods when they are doing their sport are completely engaged in the moment and activity at hand? nothing can distract them and they are just intensely focused and not worrying about anything else. i'm sure you've had moments where you were so into what you were doing and focused that when you were done you were like 'man where did the time go?'. that is flow. if you are like me i will get into a non-stop zone of intense focus once i get in the groove of things. getting started is the hardest part! but when i'm in it i'm in it, hence thats how i did well in undergrad, but this requires discipline once again. and the more you 'practice' it the more easier it will come. there is no magic pill or simple answer to achieving this state, you just have to recognize this and discipline yourself to do it. live in the present, engage your full attention 100% into what your doing (don't think about what's on tv or what your friends are doing!!). don't hate or complain about what you're doing just do it and do it well. make it interesting, be completely absorbed in the moment, the 'NOW' the 'present'. relax, discipline yourself, eliminate distractions, and manage your time! i find the more busy and productive i am the better i am in school and it helps with my work ethic!

and another piece of advice, exercise! this helps a lot especially with mood.

ok that was long and sounds like some philosophy book, it's hard to explain but i hope you atleast got something out of it. if you don't get into gear soon you will find yourself one day miserable at some minimum wage job struggling to make it through the day. now get the hell off SDN and study!

 

[dd128]

Self Discipline is an internal quality. If you don't have it, and perhaps you do not have it, no one on SDN can give it to you.

And if you don't have it, don't go into medicine. You will be miserable, and your career, as a student, will be very brief.

If you have a short attention span, there are much better career choices than medicine. There are many wonderful career choices, but don't go into medicine if you cannot concentrate and are unable to work hard.

I'd have to agree, no one can really teach how to develop a good work ethic. It'd be like teaching you how to see or how to taste. The only thing I could suggest is maybe putting a few more things on your plate if your not volunteering or working. If you have no time to slack off and know you only have certain amount of time to study, or work maybe that will motivate you a bit.

On a personal note I learned my work ethic because I had to. My family had no money to support me, so I had to work and go to school entirely on my own. Knowing you are the only thing holding you up is a very strong motivator. Maybe you should forgo parental compensation or something if that's what you're relying on to give you a kick in the pants.

 

[Virgil]

A couple of things:

1. You hate studying and yet you want be a doctor? How exactly do you expect to survive in med school - It's endless studying, even for the students who may not have had to study as much as others in undergrad. You WILL have to study many many hours. No way around it. If you hate to study, no amount of work ethic will help you.

2. Sorry, but your statement about fun and opportunity costs is absolutely ridiculous. You need to get your priorities straight. I like to hang out with my friends but I'm well aware that studying and doing well in school is my utmost priority. I place a lot of value on my time, and am not afraid to tell friends that I have stuff going on and I cant see you guys this week. Everything else comes second. This is the path that I chose, and thus I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goal - If I have to do things that are uncomfortable or undersirable, so be it. Sacrifices must be made. It looks like you want everything to go smooth and be all rainbows and kittens. It doesn't work like that. If it's motivation you lack, then try and do some shadowing - It'll also give you some perspective. You need to sit down, put your hand to your heart and figure out what you truly want in life, and what you're willing to do get it.

This is from the guy who said:

This has been a rough semester for me for a number of reasons, mainly I felt I took on too much (17 hrs - 3 major science classes (genetics, Human, physiology and physics at the same time) and I didn't spend enough time studying. Plus I work 13 hours a week. I consider myself a very smart person and am told the same by friends and family, but I simply don't put in enough time for whatever reason. I think at times I get distracted easily.

and

I'm taking physics (with lab), genetics and human physiology and 2 gen eds this semester.

I'm finding it really difficult to study for all 3 sciences, as each one takes a lot of time to study for. And I usually have tests for all 3of them all in the same week. I seriously feel like I'm sinking at times because I think of everything I need to study and it makes me very anxious despite how hard I try to fight the feeling.

How early do you begin studying for your tests?

Well, it looks like you're my carbon copy. You have difficulty studying (from the horse's mouth) and you're preparing for the MCAT...and you probably like Final Fantasy. Tell me, Auron. How do you expect to survive in medical school?

 

[Virgil]

virgil, i know exactly how you feel. i think most pre meds do too, some more than others. very few people actually 'enjoy studying'.

what you describe is basically a form of immaturity, i even heard that medical school 'forces maturity' on a lot of people. and just because you are passionate about something and motivated it can still be very difficult to do it. but nothing ever worth having comes easy, or else everyone would be doing it and everyone would be successful, right? i find studying painful. yes, painful. i hate it with a passion, but when i'm done doing it i have a great sense of accomplishment and this drives me to do it more. i always envied those people who could sit down and read even for enjoyment like harry potter. i swear it could be a book with all the answers to life and i would have a helluva time sitting still to read it. my dad is an MD who is one of the hardest working and smartest men i know, and he described studying exactly like you and i do, 'painful' lol. he told me at one time in medical school he literally tied a rope from his leg to the desk so he would quit getting up to avoid studying. like you, i wait till a few nights before to study. the stress and pressure to study at that time drives me to study and study hard, i ended up with a final gpa of 3.6. but i know this wont work in medical school or any graduate school so i am changing my habits too. so since i relate to you pretty well i will you my lengthy suggestions which have worked for me.
1) discipline- this is obvious, and the other poster is correct that you gotta get your a** into gear. discipline doesn't come over night so build it up slowly. i always used to see these asian and indian students at my library studying. it was amazing how focused they were. i swear a bomb could go off and they would still sit there studying just engorged in the material. i always laughed and even partially believed when i heard someone say 'asians are naturally smart' or whatever race it is. bottom line is they have discipline. they were raised with academics as a priority and i noticed this between many of my friends who are [insert race here]: they learned at an early age to sit down, shut up, and focus (i'm just giving an example so please dont complain about racial sterotyping). ok now see #2

2) flow- this is very hard to explain but there is even a book out (actually called 'flow') that tries to explain it too. flow is just an arbitrary word to describe it really. it basically means 'being in the zone.' you ever notice michael jordan or tiger woods when they are doing their sport are completely engaged in the moment and activity at hand? nothing can distract them and they are just intensely focused and not worrying about anything else. i'm sure you've had moments where you were so into what you were doing and focused that when you were done you were like 'man where did the time go?'. that is flow. if you are like me i will get into a non-stop zone of intense focus once i get in the groove of things. getting started is the hardest part! but when i'm in it i'm in it, hence thats how i did well in undergrad, but this requires discipline once again. and the more you 'practice' it the more easier it will come. there is no magic pill or simple answer to achieving this state, you just have to recognize this and discipline yourself to do it. live in the present, engage your full attention 100% into what your doing (don't think about what's on tv or what your friends are doing!!). don't hate or complain about what you're doing just do it and do it well. make it interesting, be completely absorbed in the moment, the 'NOW' the 'present'. relax, discipline yourself, eliminate distractions, and manage your time! i find the more busy and productive i am the better i am in school and it helps with my work ethic!

and another piece of advice, exercise! this helps a lot especially with mood.

ok that was long and sounds like some philosophy book, it's hard to explain but i hope you atleast got something out of it. if you don't get into gear soon you will find yourself one day miserable at some minimum wage job struggling to make it through the day. now get the hell off SDN and study!

Thank you so much. This is exactly what I'm looking for: practical advice.

 

[Auron]

Virgil, I was once like you as you can see from those posts, except I didn't hate studying like you. I originally thought my problem was that I didn't like studying as evidenced in those posts - However, I recently realized that my real problem was that I've been torn between medicine and another career for a long time. For a long time I could not decide between these 2 careers. It affected my school work because I didn't know at that time whether this is 100% what I want to do. Now I've realized that medicine is truly what I want to. I have phased the other profession out of my mind, and now I'm putting all my energy into becoming a doctor- and it feels great.

No one enjoys studying - It's just something we have to do to do what we want to do.

I'm currently acing all my classes (17 hrs). I have no doubt I will continue this trend.

 

[Virgil]

I'd have to agree, no one can really teach how to develop a good work ethic. It'd be like teaching you how to see or how to taste. The only thing I could suggest is maybe putting a few more things on your plate if your not volunteering or working. If you have no time to slack off and know you only have certain amount of time to study, or work maybe that will motivate you a bit.

On a personal note I learned my work ethic because I had to. My family had no money to support me, so I had to work and go to school entirely on my own. Knowing you are the only thing holding you up is a very strong motivator. Maybe you should forgo parental compensation or something if that's what you're relying on to give you a kick in the pants.

I actually brought this up to my parents who were about ready to kill me. They don't understand that because they have provided everything I need, I never had to work for anything and have a pretty hard time exerting myself as a result. I don't deny that I'm spoiled. I started this thread to see how I can overcome it so I can reach my goals. Short of moving out and providing for myself, is there anything else I can do to learn the value of hard work? Thanks for your reply.

 

[Virgil]

Virgil, I was once like you as you can see from those posts, except I didn't hate studying like you. I originally thought my problem was that I didn't like studying as evidenced in those posts - However, I recently realized that my real problem was that I've been torn between medicine and another career for a long time. For a long time I could not decide between these 2 careers. It affected my school work because I didn't know at that time whether this is 100% what I want to do. Now I've realized that medicine is truly what I want to. I have phased the other profession out of my mind, and now I'm putting all my energy into becoming a doctor- and it feels great.

No one enjoys studying - It's just something we have to do to do what we want to do.

I'm currently acing all my classes (17 hrs). I changed. It can be done.

Not at all--I know that I'll never "enjoy" studying as much as all the other fun things life has to offer. As evidenced by my OP, I'm more concerned about how I can get myself to do uncomfortable things. This doesn't only include studying. I hope that one day I'll be doing the dishes, working out, making healthy meals and washing my dirty laundry without whining and on a regular basis.

And Auron, I'm sorry for calling you out like that. I remember reading and sympathizing with one of your posts when you were having trouble with school, and so I thought that last post of yours was a little hypocritical. I'm glad to see you found your answer.

 

[Virgil]

get a job in the "real world" that sucks. take a good hard look at people that have been doing what you're doing for 15+ years. then, try to imagine yourself in 15 years in the same job with the same people.

it's not pretty. it's not hard after that to kick your arse into gear and get moving.

Didn't work. Desire for something / fear of avoiding something are not very strong motivators for me. At this rate, I might just settle for a crappy job so long as I don't have to bust my a** studying. Of course, I don't want a job like that, just like I don't like being fat. But so long as I don't have to give up cheeseburgers (an don't have to go to the gym), I guess I can live with being fat. It's a little depressing since my ideal self (athletic build, doing well in school) is drastically different from my real self (overweight and unable to get myself to study). Do you guys see where I'm coming from?

 

[Jolie South]

Didn't work. Desire for something / fear of avoiding something are not very strong motivators for me. At this rate, I might just settle for a crappy job so long as I don't have to bust my a** studying. Of course, I don't want a job like that, just like I don't like being fat. But so long as I don't have to give up cheeseburgers (an don't have to go to the gym), I guess I can live with being fat. It's a little depressing since my ideal self (athletic build, doing well in school) is drastically different from my real self (overweight and unable to get myself to study). Do you guys see where I'm coming from?

even hardworking people get lazy sometimes, the difference is we just get out there and force ourselves to do it and face the discomfort no matter what.

a job where you are really responsible for projects won't allow you to slack. the fear of being fired is motivation. you have no option but to do it if you hope to keep working.

 

[Virgil]

even hardworking people get lazy sometimes, the difference is we just get out there and force ourselves to do it and face the discomfort no matter what.

a job where you are really responsible for projects won't allow you to slack. the fear of being fired is motivation. you have no option but to do it if you hope to keep working.

I did that too. I'm currently researching (relating to my field of study) and have worked in a doctor's office. I hate research as I'm at the bottom of the totem pole and all I do is a bunch of demeaning scut-work. I agree with you that these jobs are motivating in that sense, but they have done little to teach me the value of hard work.

In theory, I understand that studying is necessary to do well and working out/eating right is necessary to losing weight, but I guess I just don't "get" it. I know for a fact that if my parents threw me out of the house and I had to fend for myself, I'd be quick to learn the value of hard work and won't have this problem anymore. However, that's a bit radical. Is there anything I can do that'll have the same effect?

 

[Virgil]

Self Discipline is an internal quality. If you don't have it, and perhaps you do not have it, no one on SDN can give it to you.

And if you don't have it, don't go into medicine. You will be miserable, and your career, as a student, will be very brief.

If you have a short attention span, there are much better career choices than medicine. There are many wonderful career choices, but don't go into medicine if you cannot concentrate and are unable to work hard.

If I remember correctly, I wasn't asking for career advice. Yes, self-discipline is an internal quality, one which can be developed (much like a skill). I was asking for advice in regards to how I can develop this skill.

 

[Jolie South]

I did that too. I'm currently researching (relating to my field of study) and have worked in a doctor's office. I hate research as I'm at the bottom of the totem pole and all I do is a bunch of demeaning scut-work. I agree with you that these jobs are motivating in that sense, but they have done little to teach me the value of hard work.

In theory, I understand that studying is necessary to do well and working out/eating right is necessary to losing weight, but I guess I just don't "get" it. I know for a fact that if my parents threw me out of the house and I had to fend for myself, I'd be quick to learn the value of hard work and won't have this problem anymore. However, that's a bit radical. Is there anything I can do that'll have the same effect?

I was spoiled too and to tell you the truth I never became all that motivated until I became independent. When you don't have anyone else to blame, you're faced with the reality of things and as another poster said you are the only one holding yourself back.

 

[bigDee]

There is no secret to having a good work ethic. If you aren't lazy, you have good work ethic. Simple as that. The fact that you're searching for some kind of unique fix of some kind to improve your work ethic is proof of your laziness. You want to find a way to get all the gain, without the pain.

 

[Auron]

There is no secret to having a good work ethic. If you aren't lazy, you have good work ethic. Simple as that. The fact that you're searching for some kind of unique fix of some kind to improve your work ethic is proof of your laziness. You want to find a way to get all the gain, without the pain.

Perfect 👍

 

[dd128]

I actually brought this up to my parents who were about ready to kill me. They don't understand that because they have provided everything I need, I never had to work for anything and have a pretty hard time exerting myself as a result. I don't deny that I'm spoiled. I started this thread to see how I can overcome it so I can reach my goals. Short of moving out and providing for myself, is there anything else I can do to learn the value of hard work? Thanks for your reply.

It's not really about your parents. The only way you're going to get past this is to cut the umbilical cord so to speak. I would be willing to bet not a lot of med schools are going to be interested in a spoiled girl who doesn't like to study. I'm not saying this to be mean, it's just a fact. Life isn't easy, and no matter where you go in life, be it medicine or otherwise, if you want to succeed you're going to have to work hard. Your parents won't always be there to spoil you, and the sooner you realize that you need to rely on yourself the better.

 

[custard]

How about fear as a motivator? With it being harder and harder to get into med school each year, unless you bump your GPAs up substantially (and get an awesome MCAT score) your chances of getting into med school are pretty slim.

 

[Tartheheel]

Even if I'm taking a class I enjoy (languages, biochemistry, physiology, history, etc.), I find it very difficult to study...especially when it's a couple of days (or weeks) before an exam. I have concluded that in order to be very successful in your studies, you need to have 1) good work ethic, and 2) passion for what you're learning. Personally, I'd rather have good work ethic instead of passion: if you work hard, you can still do great on your exams even if you don't like the subject (Calculus anyone?). The bright side is that for many of the classes I'm taking, I actually find the stuff we're learning very interesting. HOWEVER, I really do hate studying...which is realistically the only way I can get the grades I need. I've been getting along O.K. with the bare minimum amount of studying (AMCAS GPA - 3.44 OA, 3.12 BCPM), but I need to raise my GPA (esp. science) as close as possible to the matriculant average before I apply next year. I also need to prepare myself for medical school, as I am sure I have to study if I plan on doing well. And finally, if I don't get this whole "studying" thing down by the end of this semester, I know "studying" for the MCAT over the summer is going to be a disaster.

What are some practical steps I can take to improve my work ethic and study even though I hate studying with a passion? I hate studying so much that I can't even force myself to open up the book and get started until it's the day before the test. To me, studying is a painful process that requires a lot of time (opportunity cost: I could be having fun with friends or doing something else) and mental strain--it's frustrating when you can't get a concept and keep getting practice problems wrong. PLEASE HELP!!!

Part of the reason why I sometimes don't study or like studying is that frankly I'd like to do 'better', more fun things like my non-premed friends: watch tons of t.v., go out, hang out every other night, take a chill-pill every now and then etc. But during those times I try to realize that for the life I envision myself living, I will need to work extremely hard.

Try this:

You want to go into medicine right? Of course you're not going into it for making 'money' per se 😉 but that should be/is one of several important sources of motivation right? The 6 figure moola $ that you might sub-consciously envision yourself making someday in the future can quite possibly be earned RIGHT NOW!!...Yes!!!!...if you pretend that's so.

Think about studying to be your full time job as a premed; you're time is HIGHLY valuable and extremely expensive; you're paid a 150$ an hour to study, to get good grades, to learn a lot of information, to study for the MCATs etc....only this money is being deposited into your bank account and/or you're investing it into a highly profitable venture that will truly give you double the returns in about 10 years. Realize that every hour you waste NOT studying, you're 'pissing away' (couldn't find a better way to say it...squandering maybe? ) that 150$/hr and any potential future earned interest revenue from it.


This might be a highly controversial and unconventional way of thinking about it, but sometimes it really works for me and gets me to realize the value of my time, my responsibilities as a premed, and gets me to park myself, and start studying.

Another thing to consider is that sometimes you might be in denial of the fact that you're not 'getting it' or are just plain bad at what you're studying, and this possibly leads you to procrastinating studying for exams. Try to work on that and realize that the earlier and more regularly you study, the better off you'll be.

So get off SDN!!! and go earn some moola and INVEST! ($$$!!$$)...ahem...I mean study...!! (Something that I should be doing right now...😳)

 

[154241]

having once felt exactly the way you did, i think that no advice will help you. no self help books or study skills or anything like that. you know exactly what you need to do, just as i did. you just have to do it. if you ever do depends on you. for me, it was failing at something that meant a lot to me--an opportunity that i will never have back. i knew i could never inflict that much pain on myself again. i hope it doesn't come to this point for you.

so... how miserable does your life have to get before you decide the way you live is unacceptable?

 

[Quadratic]

I'd say try getting a job. Not 20 hours, 10-12 hrs a week is enough. It helps you prioritize and builds time management skills. Right now you don't have any because you're just lounging around campus waiting on an anvil to fall on your head. It also helps in that you don't become as comfortable. That's bad territory.

 

[al112987]

apply to med school, fail to get accepted, and realize if you don't kick it into gear you're going to be flipping burgers the rest of your life.

it worked for me.

worked for me too, only mine was for college, and I was a good 1/6 on those.

 

[puchi]

Hitting a rock bottom pretty much did it for me.

 

[dienekes88]

Try to come up with a pretty detailed schedule of your day... and stick to it. It helps if you have other serious commitments: sports team, club, job, etc.

I don't buy that self-discipline is something that's innate. You can definitely learn it, but it takes practice. Instead of going out with friends, start studying 2 days before your next exam. Bump that up to 3 afterwards. Plan it out and follow through.

I used to be pretty bad about discipline, organization, and efficiency. I'm not good at the moment, but I'm better. You'll get there, dude.

 

[User314159]

Just take it one day at a time - don't think about the entire semester. If you see the semester as a huge chunk, it's easy to want to take it easy at times. I'm only a freshman, but what has been working for me so far is to view the semester week by week. Tell yourself, I'll work extremely hard this week, and then I'll do something fun on Friday night, etc. That way, not only will the work seem more doable, but the semester's workload will appear more manageable.

Good luck with everything!

 

[paranoid_eyes]

LOL at your avatar....

but seriously, there is a certain pleasure you get from achieving the goals you set for yourself each day.

for example, i will tell myself, finish reading the next chapter of bio today. once i finish, it actually feels good (there must be some complicated neurobiology behind this). try it. once you reinforce that studying leads to good grades, it will become a habit.

 

[Virgil]

There is no secret to having a good work ethic. If you aren't lazy, you have good work ethic. Simple as that. The fact that you're searching for some kind of unique fix of some kind to improve your work ethic is proof of your laziness. You want to find a way to get all the gain, without the pain.

I'm not asking for a quick solution--I asked for a practical solution. I know it might take time and hard work, which I'm not looking forward to, but I'm guessing I need to take it step by step. What I'm really asking for is advice on doing that. What do you think? And please don't tell me "just do it."

 

[Virgil]

Try to come up with a pretty detailed schedule of your day... and stick to it. It helps if you have other serious commitments: sports team, club, job, etc.

I don't buy that self-discipline is something that's innate. You can definitely learn it, but it takes practice. Instead of going out with friends, start studying 2 days before your next exam. Bump that up to 3 afterwards. Plan it out and follow through.

I used to be pretty bad about discipline, organization, and efficiency. I'm not good at the moment, but I'm better. You'll get there, dude.

I agree. Actually, I'm much better than I was before too. Hmm...maybe I'm being to hard on myself. I study in advance to some degree but definitely not enough to ensure an A in all my classes. It frustrates me because I can't settle for B's or C's anymore.

 

[al112987]

I'm not asking for a quick solution--I asked for a practical solution. I know it might take time and hard work, which I'm not looking forward to, but I'm guessing I need to take it step by step. What I'm really asking for is advice on doing that. What do you think? And please don't tell me "just do it."

Theres no practical solution, you just have to find the motivation to do it.

I don't like to study either, but I force myself to do it because I know if I don't now, I'll regret it later. I know what failure feels like, and I pretty much don't need to go through it anymore.

I mean, come on, its 3 am on friday, I'm still up, not because I went out to a bar, or did anything fun for that matter, but because I have a **** ton of work to do, and I'm refusing to sacrifice my saturday night for it. In fact, its driving me so far up the wall that I literally had to close my eyes for about 5 minutes and make believe that I was on a boat, fishing offshore as opposed to being at my desk.

 

[[pj]]

I'm not asking for a quick solution--I asked for a practical solution. I know it might take time and hard work, which I'm not looking forward to, but I'm guessing I need to take it step by step. What I'm really asking for is advice on doing that. What do you think? And please don't tell me "just do it."

Sit down and strap yourself to the chair.

 

[Cwc127]

Virgil,

Just want to let you know you are DEFINITELY not alone!

I graduated high school with a 3.8. I was in the National Honors Society, and when I graduated, I had all the fancy ribbons and awards. It was great. The thing I didn't realize at the time, however, was how great it was. It was almost like I expected being in that situation. In high school, I never put forth a legitimate effort. I would do homework in other classes, study for exams in my other classes, etc. I never did any work at home. I went to my state university after I graduated, and thought I could sleepwalk through it as well.

My first semester I earned a 2.75. Granted, there were a lot of variables that contributed to this outcome. Living in the dorms with someone I didn't know, taking 17 credits, etc. But the big one? My work ethic/study habits. My very first exams were Geography and General Chem I on a Tuesday. I went through the motions the first few weeks of class. Monday night, around 6pm, I went to the library. I put both the Chem book and Geo book on my desk, and started with Geo first. I started reading. 20 minutes later, I closed the book. There was no way I could read all of those chapters in one night, AND study for chem.

So, I opened my Chem book. A half hour later, I shut the book, telling myself there was no way I could learn all of that in one night. The next day, I made a C on my Geo, and a D on my Chem exam.

Over the next few months, I avoided waiting until the night before to study for exams, but this didn't mean I would study every day and stay on top of everything. I would still wait until a day or so before to start studying.

This took me a few semesters to figure. As I said before, I never worked in high school, and I expected to come to college and be king of the world.

Now, as a sophomore, I start studying about a week before my exams. I am currently working to develop my study habits even further, to the point where I am studying each and every day for about 3-4 hours. I am doing much, much better in this respect. What, you ask, has been my motivation as of recently?

My younger brother. My younger brother, who is now a senior in high school, has a learning disability. The disability primarily affects his communication/reading skills, although his overall inability to learn and critically think at the levels of others is apparent within minutes of talking to him for the first time.

He wasn't given a chance in high school. My parents heavily contemplated sending him to a special school where the teachers would be more qualified and specialized to teach someone like him. This never happened, and he went to the same high school that I did.

Like I said, he is a senior now.

He has a 3.77 GPA, and has recently been accepted into the National Honors Society. Bless his heart, he is still working on trying to get a 22 on the ACT to get into college.

It is unbelievable how hard he works. Whenever I come home on weekends, he is working. All the time. I feel guilty immediately. Here I am, with all the gifts in the world, never had to work for my 3.8 GPA, for my 27 ACT, or for my NHS bid. But here is my brother, with a learning disability, competing with everyone else because he cares, and has the motivation and unbelievable work ethic to get where he wants to be. He recently took the ACT again, and his scores will be posted in a week. I truly pray he gets what he needs, because he deserves it more than anyone.


Anyway, aside from all of this, I have found that my grades are proportional to my work ethic. It may be hard to sit down and study at first, but once you get started, it's not so bad. Just try to get in the habit of looking at the material every day. I don't know if this post helped you or not, as I just kind of went off randomly, but I felt a lot of what I said related somewhat to what you are experiencing.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Abuse Adderal.

 

[Team Zissou]

I think your best best is to just use fear as your motivation. Realizing you might not get into med school w/out kicking it into gear will do wonders for you.

 

[Law2Doc]

How about fear as a motivator? With it being harder and harder to get into med school each year, unless you bump your GPAs up substantially (and get an awesome MCAT score) your chances of getting into med school are pretty slim.

Fear of failure is the perfect motivator here. Not only for failing to get into med school, but for failing courses once you get in. Unlike college, med school is not very forgiving of coasting. The volume of material you are expected to work through and know is voluminous, and studying the night before a test simply doesn't work there. And all those folks in college who made you look good by getting Cs and Ds will have been truncated away by the admissions committee, and you will find yourself in a class full of folks who mostly aced their coursework, and expect to continue. Some percentage of students at most med schools end up having to repeat a course or an exam or even a whole year. They won't fail you out, but are happy to take another $30k from you and put you into the 5 year program if you fall below the pass line. So you either improve your work ethic first year, or you improve it next year when you are repeating first year. Those who coasted in college generally have to adjust to the new environment, or will often struggle. Knowing a few people who crashed and burned serves as a nice motivator for me.