I don't think I'm smart enough

[thisismyacct]

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I got terrible grades last semester, partially due to poor studying habits and because it was my first semester of college. I'm doing a little better this semester, but I can't seem to get any A's on anything. The highest I could get are B's. The advice I get everywhere is "learn to learn" and "find out what studying method works best for you" but I just don't know any. Add to the fact that it seems like everyone else (all the pre-med/dental/pharmacy students) are just naturally gifted and that frustrates me since I too got good grades in HS like them.

I didn't do so well on my last chemistry exam, I scored a little below average and I likely did poorly on my last bio exam after doing well on the first one.

Sorry for the rant all I'm asking is how do I know if I am not intelligent enough or if I just need to study better and How do/did you study for each science class? For example, what did you do for your biology classes, your chemistry, your physics, etc.?

 

[deleted407021]

It's possible that you don't possess the intellect to achieve what you want, but I think that's unlikely!

I'd wager that you do in fact need to find a better way to learn, as others have said. Please don't hesitate to look to your institution's academic success center and get some pointers. They'd be happy to help you get on your way to making those As you need.


I learn best by teaching, so when I wasn't studying on my own, I liked to tutor my classmates.

 

[Lannister]

This is just my personal opinion, but I really don't think you have to be naturally smart to make it to med school. Obviously it makes it easier, but as long as you have the motivation and are willing to put the effort in, you can probably make it.

As for studying, this is what I did for biology. I went to every lecture and took detailed notes. Immediately after the lecture, I would type up a quiz. So for example, if my notes said "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell", a question on my quiz would be "What is the powerhouse of the cell?". I would make two copies, a blank quiz and an answer key. When I made the answer quiz, I would try to write down the answers without looking at my notes first (obviously verify that your answers are correct). Then, in the week before the quiz, I would dedicate two days to each chapter that we covered. On the first day I would re-read my notes and watch the mediavision of the lecture. On the second day I would take my quiz, and do any practice problems that the professor provided us with.

That only works for biology. For chemistry, physics, and math: PRACTICE. Open up your textbook and do every practice problem in the book. Buy supplemental books with more practice problems. Find practice problems online.

 

[Lannister]

Also, I should add that before you start trying to fix your study methods, you need to identify the problem. Why isn't your current method working? Are you studying a lot but not studying efficiently? Are you not understanding what's going on in class and are afraid to ask for help? Do you think you understand, and then fail the tests anyways?

 

[aalamruad]

It's possible that you don't possess the intellect to achieve what you want, but I think that's unlikely!

I'd wager that you do in fact need to find a better way to learn, as others have said. Please don't hesitate to look to your institution's academic success center and get some pointers. They'd be happy to help you get on your way to making those As you need.


I learn best by teaching, so when I wasn't studying on my own, I liked to tutor my classmates.

Even when I am studying alone and don't have anyone to teach material to, I teach it anyways. I would probably sound like a lunatic to anyone watching me, since I'm basically just talking to myself, but it works incredibly well. Saying stuff out loud, in complete sentences, makes it painfully clear where the weak spots in your knowledge are.

 

[deleted407021]

Even when I am studying alone and don't have anyone to teach material to, I teach it anyways. I would probably sound like a lunatic to anyone watching me, since I'm basically just talking to myself, but it works incredibly well. Saying stuff out loud, in complete sentences, makes it painfully clear where the weak spots in your knowledge are.

Agree 100%!

 

[thisismyacct]

This is just my personal opinion, but I really don't think you have to be naturally smart to make it to med school. Obviously it makes it easier, but as long as you have the motivation and are willing to put the effort in, you can probably make it.

As for studying, this is what I did for biology. I went to every lecture and took detailed notes. Immediately after the lecture, I would type up a quiz. So for example, if my notes said "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell", a question on my quiz would be "What is the powerhouse of the cell?". I would make two copies, a blank quiz and an answer key. When I made the answer quiz, I would try to write down the answers without looking at my notes first (obviously verify that your answers are correct). Then, in the week before the quiz, I would dedicate two days to each chapter that we covered. On the first day I would re-read my notes and watch the mediavision of the lecture. On the second day I would take my quiz, and do any practice problems that the professor provided us with.

That only works for biology. For chemistry, physics, and math: PRACTICE. Open up your textbook and do every practice problem in the book. Buy supplemental books with more practice problems. Find practice problems online.

For bio I go to class and take good notes. I do like your idea I think I'll start doing that. For chemistry, my professor hasn't said anything at all about doing the problems in the back of the book since we just get homework sets to do and in class we just work through our workbook. Do you think I should still do problems from the book if they haven't said anything about them?

 

[eteshoe]

Some good stuff here. The key to a lot of academic success is discipline. If you were the type of student that basically slept through high school and still pulled a 4.0, then college is usually a wake up call. You have to set some short term goals and long term goals for each class. For example covering 1-2 chapters in the TB per week: read the chapter at the beginning of the wk (no notes), Take notes in class, go through the chapter once again but adding things to your course notes from the textbook. Do practice problems throughout the week and then finish off the week by typing a short 1-2 paragraph summary of the important highlights from the chapter. This will force you to really learn the concepts. It sucks but it can really help you when exam time comes around.

In more quantitative courses, tons of practice problems are key - and you can find a bunch online for free as well. Constant reinforcement is the way to success. You don't have to be the smartest but you should be working smart and hard in order to stay on top of things. Make sure you utilize your school's tutoring center and above everything - DISCIPLINE. Good luck!

 

[Lannister]

For bio I go to class and take good notes. I do like your idea I think I'll start doing that. For chemistry, my professor hasn't said anything at all about doing the problems in the back of the book since we just get homework sets to do and in class we just work through our workbook. Do you think I should still do problems from the book if they haven't said anything about them?

Try asking the professor where you can get more practice problems. Sometimes the textbook questions don't reflect the kind of questions the professor will ask on the exams. But there's really only so many types of questions you can ask in gen chem, so I think doing the textbook problems will probably be helpful. But still, ask the professor if he thinks they're worth doing.

 

[Goro]

Go to your school's learning or education center and get help with learning styles, test taking strategies, time mgt etc.

I got terrible grades last semester, partially due to poor studying habits and because it was my first semester of college. I'm doing a little better this semester, but I can't seem to get any A's on anything. The highest I could get are B's. The advice I get everywhere is "learn to learn" and "find out what studying method works best for you" but I just don't know any. Add to the fact that it seems like everyone else (all the pre-med/dental/pharmacy students) are just naturally gifted and that frustrates me since I too got good grades in HS like them.

I didn't do so well on my last chemistry exam, I scored a little below average and I likely did poorly on my last bio exam after doing well on the first one.

Sorry for the rant all I'm asking is how do I know if I am not intelligent enough or if I just need to study better and How do/did you study for each science class? For example, what did you do for your biology classes, your chemistry, your physics, etc.?

 

[osckey]

I got terrible grades last semester, partially due to poor studying habits and because it was my first semester of college. I'm doing a little better this semester, but I can't seem to get any A's on anything. The highest I could get are B's. The advice I get everywhere is "learn to learn" and "find out what studying method works best for you" but I just don't know any. Add to the fact that it seems like everyone else (all the pre-med/dental/pharmacy students) are just naturally gifted and that frustrates me since I too got good grades in HS like them.

I didn't do so well on my last chemistry exam, I scored a little below average and I likely did poorly on my last bio exam after doing well on the first one.

Sorry for the rant all I'm asking is how do I know if I am not intelligent enough or if I just need to study better and How do/did you study for each science class? For example, what did you do for your biology classes, your chemistry, your physics, etc.?

I had a rough freshman year in college only to find my stride for the last three years, score very well on the MCAT, and get multiple acceptances. Start hanging out with the kids you think are smart and emulate their study habits until you develop your own tricks of the trade. Above all, carry the mentality that if the other guy can do it then so can you. Performing at a high level is not impossible, it's difficult. Those are two very different things. Also, if you feel overwhelmed with the transition to college, take fewer credits this upcoming semester and supplement classes the following summer to get a hold of how to handle the rigor of your classes.

Often times, it's not that we're not smart enough for it but rather, that we're not prepared for the challenge. Adapt and survive.

 

[mistafab]

I got terrible grades last semester, partially due to poor studying habits and because it was my first semester of college. I'm doing a little better this semester, but I can't seem to get any A's on anything. The highest I could get are B's. The advice I get everywhere is "learn to learn" and "find out what studying method works best for you" but I just don't know any. Add to the fact that it seems like everyone else (all the pre-med/dental/pharmacy students) are just naturally gifted and that frustrates me since I too got good grades in HS like them.

I didn't do so well on my last chemistry exam, I scored a little below average and I likely did poorly on my last bio exam after doing well on the first one.

Sorry for the rant all I'm asking is how do I know if I am not intelligent enough or if I just need to study better and How do/did you study for each science class? For example, what did you do for your biology classes, your chemistry, your physics, etc.?

It is okay buddy. Self doubt is part of the maturing process. You are smart enough, and school can be tough at times. You have plenty of time to do well - you can absolutely make it happen. I believe in you.

 

[DrDarce]

For chemistry I found practice problems always forced me to learn the material thoroughly, but my professors always gave lots of practice problems. Basically you need to put in the time. Do the practice problems if you have them, and go into office hours for concepts you are having trouble with. Not only will it help you understand those concepts you have trouble with, but a lot of times the professor will give you insight on what concepts are most important as well. Good luck.

 

[Udreamin]

You probably want us to tell you that you're just not smart enough so you can get off the pre-med road. Well, I won't. Fake it till you make it, you're just battling your mind right now.

And from my experience, 99% of the pre-meds/pre-healths you're intimidated by are no more smarter than you are, trust me. The ~1% that are smarter than you are only marginally smarter than you. An even smaller number are true geniuses and a smaller number than that are doing pre-health. There are few geniuses in college, you probably won't even meet one.


My advice: stop overcomplicating and overestimating the material. I used to be the guy with the lowest exam score in a 300 man lecture hall, having absolutely no confidence, and feeling out of place until I met some of the top scoring students who taught me that undergrad material is child's play. That was the difference between a low-scorer and the high-scorer. The low-scorer is scared of the material, chokes, and puts it off till the last second to study. The high-scorer was laughing at the material last night and every night before that since the material was lectured on in class.

It suddenly clicked to me (and it should to you, as well) that what we're learning in UG isn't hard - there are kids all around the world in China, Russia, and Korea who learned this stuff at 10 years old. There are far more complicated things in the world of academia that are nearly impossible to teach, and let me tell you, General Biology, General Chemistry, General Calc-based Physics, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, etc. are not those things despite overneurotic SDN premeds, professors, and students telling you otherwise. Study the material and if you can't explain it to a 5 year old, you didn't study enough. Undergrad is child's play.

 

[P0ke]

I found that Tro was an amazing gen Chem text book. Read the chapters and do the in-chapter example problems, which have step-by-step solutions. Do whatever problems your professor assigns too. A lot of gen Chem for me was staring at a problems and solutions until it "clicked". And then you emulate the sample problems with extra problems at the end of the chapter, and do them until you get the same answer as the back of the book.

Edit: I was a ****ty student at first and got C's in gen chem. Retook gen chem 2 and was the highest grade out of a big lecture hall class. You just need to learn how to study.

 

[thisismyacct]

Thank you everyone for the replies