I could really use some advice, please.

[jiayo]

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Hey everyone,
I could really use some advice.

After my final today my professor noticed I looked really distraught and anxious, and brought me outside the classroom to speak to me.
He mentioned that he was concerned, because I've always been a straight A student in his class--yet this semester, I've been consistently getting low B's and C's.
He asked me if everything was alright, and I just told him straight out "I can't study anymore. I'll sit down with the intention to study, but I just don't retain anything and get in the zone until the night before." He and I talked, and he said he was worried that I had burnout, and if I didn't do something about it now, he doesn't want me to crash in medical school.

His basic point was that he believed I was capable of doing it, but he thought that my lack of interest in studying suggested that I didn't truly want to pursue medical school anymore (which I denied).

I'm a strong student, and I'm heavily involved on campus. This semester, I took 3 classes so I had time for the MCAT. I've been studying for that just fine, but when it comes to my classes, I just can't study. That might sound really weird, but it's not like I don't try! I sit there, everything's all set, and I don't retain anything.

He advised me to search deep down (cliche, I know) about if I really wanted to become a doctor. But I don't know how to go about doing that...I've shadowed, spoken with physicians...there's no other way for me to get a glimpse of what a doctor does.

Does it sound like burnout to you guys? And how should I overcome it? I've never doubted my decision to pursue medical school until now..do you think his thought about "you're unconsciously pushing yourself away fro medical school" has any legitimate reason?

Sorry this is so long..I just really wanted to get everything out. Any advice would really be appreciated, thank you.

 

[kavorca]

You might be ADD. It might be as simple as adding a med or getting more exercise.

 

[Hifey]

You might just be a little burnt out or tired. That doesn't mean that you deep down don't wanna go to medical school. It just happens. Just take it easy for a while and you'll see your concentration pick back up.

 

[rxlea]

I agree with the above poster's suggestion of exercise. It really does help you to focus.

 

[marele86]

Since you've been studying just fine for the MCAT, I think it has more to do with that than any kind of burnout. The mcat is a beast, and next to it, studying for classes seems kind of boring - it happens to lots of people. I took a lightened load that semester and still came out with a slightly decreased sGPA - it didn't matter in the end.

See if you still have problems with classwork next semester. I bet a summer of relaxing and being done with the mcat will get you back on the right track.

 

[lstone13]

You might just be a little burnt out or tired. That doesn't mean that you deep down don't wanna go to medical school. It just happens. Just take it easy for a while and you'll see your concentration pick back up.

👍

It's okay! Being burnt out this semester does not mean that you will burn out in medical school or that you subconsciously don't want to go to medical school. This happens to everyone at some point in their lives. You'll be fine! Like Hifey said, take it easy for a little while! Use this summer to regain your focus.

 

[d1ony5u5]

It may be burn out. Or it may be the MCAT. The truth is, I see your professor's point, and think that one way to fix your problem is to do what he says.

Your current performance might keep you out of med school if you don't improve. So you have to get to the bottom of this. Why is it happening? Only you can tell... I wouldn't go as far as saying that you are subconsciously undermining yourself. But the truth remains that something is causing you to not do as well as you used to. If medical school is really what you want, you'll find the motivation to fix whatever is wrong, because if not you just won't get there. That's powerful motivation, once you truly understand the consequences of what's happening to you.

So, in that sense, I agree with your professor. Think about what your motivations are for a medical career, and think about what it is that is stopping you from studying well. If your desire to be a doctor overpowers whatever your problem is, you'll get through.

Good luck.

 

[jiayo]

Thank you, everyone, for the responses. It's really encouraging to hear helpful advice 🙂
I'm going to be taking the MCAT on the 17th..definitely taking 2 days off after finals to recharge and get back into it.

 

[graccey]

Sometimes, going to the gym helps. It helps to sleep a lot before an exam too. If anything try shutting off the computer and moving to a different study location (i.e. a quiet section of the library or study lounge).

 

[rama kandra]

Finish him!

 

[Narmerguy]

I've never really found that exercise helped me focus or study better. I go to the gym a lot but it's only to stay in good shape and such. But, if anything, I feel worn out afterwards and not really looking forward to cracking open a book.

 

[surftheiop]

This semester, I took 3 classes so I had time for the MCAT.

This might sound completely counter intuitive, but hear me out.

Your problem might be that you weren't taking enough classes. Sometimes when I have an "easy" semester it doesn't feel like I have to constantly work really hard to keep myself above water and it ends up that I have a tough time actually making myself do the lesser amount of work I do have.

When studying becomes a choice rather than "necessity" its easy to let things get away from you.

 

[PsychMajo]

I've actually seen and talked to several people who are having this problem. I'm in my senior year and attending med school in the fall. I have caught myself not studying at ALL this semester. Here's my thought about some different situations, and I'm sure that it doesn't apply to everyone...

I, personally, am bored with class. I don't care about it, none of it will help me in med school, and studying is just a waste of time. Therefore I have stopped studying.

I have a friend who is burnt out. He was trying for med school, and just can't do it anymore. He stopped attending class, his grades tanked (despite being smart as hell) and started doing anything else besides schoolwork. But on the other hand, he just doesn't care.

My wife is in a masters program and she is considering dropping out. She has been going to class for almost 8 years now from undergrad to her first masters and now her second. She WANTS to be there and WANTS to study but has a difficult time as she keeps getting distracted, questioning herself and then finds herself behind by a week or two. By the time she catches up, she's behind and now she sees it as pointless to study.

The bottom line is that each person I know going to school as intense as MD, DO, or NP school has a burnout period. You have to be truly honest with yourself to figure out why your motivation dwindled and what you can do to inspire yourself. Myself, I like to go on vacation (classes be damned, if you're not studying anyway why not have fun!!). Drinking, going out, watching movies, etc. all are candidates (in moderation). Stressing doesn't really help much- and trust me, I know from experience. So... take some time- even write it out what your motivations are and how to get back on track, maybe change a venue or two, and definitely take at least a weekend and head out of town.

I'm not sure if anything I mentioned will work for you or if you can identify but it worked for me.

Hang in there. You can do it!!

 

[Ilvcurst]

Don't worry guy, it happens to a lot of us. I had a period in college where I couldn't study either. Freshmen year I could study for like 12 hours straight no problems but then towards the end I couldn't even sit there for like 1 hour to study. My mind would be racing or just blank. I felt sick to my stomach of studying.

Honestly, we have all been studying forever, in High School, the SATs, then college, then MCAT, then medical school, then the boards, etc.... It is very easy to just get sick of it you know?

What I did was go see my doctor and she gave me a mild anti-aniexty mediciation. Then I took a year off of school and just relaxed, lived a little, snowboarded, and just de-stress. A combination of the two really helped me to come back Senior year and finish strong.

Honestly, it doesn't sound like burnt out, it almost sounds like aniexty. It's like a vicious cycle, you get a little aniexous about studying, you try to study, you can't cuz you are anexious, then you fall behind, aniexty builds, now you need to study even more, but this causes more pressure and so forth....

Take a break guy, it's okay! Life is long and you will get plenty of time to be a doctor 👍