just an observation: interesting how when non-trads are trying for good grades and to make a good impression on the profs, people rush to defend them by pointing out how much more they have at stake. however, when trads exhibit similar behavior, they are described as "psycho."
as a trad, i'll be the first to admit that i'm a little on the high strung side when it comes to my schoolwork, though i don't think anyone would have ever considered labelling me as "psycho." I do think my attitide is because i honestly do feel that i have a lot at stake at this point in my life.i don't do much kissing up, i definitely don't cheat and i rarely brought my stress to my professors unless i truly was doing poorly, but i still always took my assignments very seriously.
i am
more than willing to acknowledge that in a few years i'm going to laugh at how seriously i took every grade when i was younger, but for the time being, getting into medical school (and most things associated with it) is one of my tippy-top priorities since i don't have kids, serious money issues, health problems, serious family issues, etc. at the moment to occupy my attention.
as a student who was in several classes with post-bacs, i definitely did this:
several times a class despite my own attitude towards education, but i've always respected the dedication it takes to come back to school after leaving it for a while (so....those just graduated from college people get a little less respect in this sense) because, invariably, there are issues to contend with once you're out of school for an extended period of time.
in summation to my rather long post, i guess i want to say that, for our "limited" perspective (well, mine is limited...i know some trads with some extensive life experience even if they're only 21), getting into med school and becoming a doctor is just as important to (some of) us as is it to (most of) the non-trads out there.