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Hello everyone,
I dont mean to depress anyone on here but the truth is that I have been carrying a burden for so long. I dont know who to talk to about this, no one will understand. I KNOW that I want to be a doctor I DREAM about becoming a doctor and my whole life in based on this dream but it just hurts to hear no from everyone. I currently have a 3.2 gpa and I spoke to my premed advisor about it and he said that If I didnt shape up I was not going to go anywhere. He also said to think about something else to do with my life, truth is that I do NOT see myself doing anything else.
I have tried to seek support from friends and family and all they say is "you will make it" they just do not understand the struggle that it take to get through college since no one in my family has gone. Im currently struggling in physics I just failed my exam. I dont seem to have enough time to study and the list goes on and on. It has gotten to the point where is feel so overwhelmed with so many things that will come in my way as a premed that I even doubt if im smart enough to even make it.
As of now I am volunteering at a non profit clinic for the poor and uninsured, as well as shadowing a pediatric Doctor and I have fallen in love with medicine even more. What can I do I just feel so crushed and stupid and at times i feel a bit of hate towards my self.
Thank you guys, any opinion or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.
#1 Reading a little between the lines, but you should probably seek help from your school's mental health professionals.
#2 Medicine is not for everyone. Just because you want to do it, does not mean that it is going to happen or that it should happen.
#3 You have a 3.2. That is a distress marker for medical schools. Plenty of successful physicians had a 3.2, even more struggled with Physics. But, if you take all the people with 3.2s in the US, the vast majority should not be in medical school because they are ill equipped to handle the academic marathon that is medical training.
#4 There are two explanations if you feel like you don't have enough time to study. a) You actually don't have enough time to study (less common, but certainly possible) b) You don't know how to study (far more common). For a) scale back on your other time commitments, for b) get help. Tutors, TAs, office hours, etc. Figure out why you are struggling. This isn't a time issue. Spending 4 hours a day studying intro Physics is not better than studying 2 hours a day.
#5 You need to get out of this "I LOVE MEDICINE AND IT IS ALL I WANT" mentality. I am probably further along the spectrum of "Medicine is a calling" than most residents/attendings on SDN, but I'm sorry, this just screams naivete.
Just to echo the last bit, I'm also rather far toward the medicine is a calling end of the spectrum. I don't think anyone should be able to see themselves on nothing except one field. You've seen what doctors do. You like it. Now break down what it is you see them doing. Because it's not just "doctoring". Interacting with lots of people for brief periods of time? Few people for longer periods of time? Healthy people? Vulnerable people? Working with families? Doing paperwork? Working with your hands? Doing delicate tasks with your hands? Reading scientific literature? Multitasking? It's a red flag to me if someone says "I can't see myself doing ANYTHING but medicine". It's an indicator to me they haven't thought about what medicine really is
Thank you for your insight, I understand the roles of doctors, I have also considered other options if I do not get into medical school. I have hopes and dreams but at the same time I am realistic with myself. Your comment has been a checklist to me and yes I understand all of these qualities
#1 Reading a little between the lines, but you should probably seek help from your school's mental health professionals.
#2 Medicine is not for everyone. Just because you want to do it, does not mean that it is going to happen or that it should happen.
#3 You have a 3.2. That is a distress marker for medical schools. Plenty of successful physicians had a 3.2, even more struggled with Physics. But, if you take all the people with 3.2s in the US, the vast majority should not be in medical school because they are ill equipped to handle the academic marathon that is medical training.
#4 There are two explanations if you feel like you don't have enough time to study. a) You actually don't have enough time to study (less common, but certainly possible) b) You don't know how to study (far more common). For a) scale back on your other time commitments, for b) get help. Tutors, TAs, office hours, etc. Figure out why you are struggling. This isn't a time issue. Spending 4 hours a day studying intro Physics is not better than studying 2 hours a day.
#5 You need to get out of this "I LOVE MEDICINE AND IT IS ALL I WANT" mentality. I am probably further along the spectrum of "Medicine is a calling" than most residents/attendings on SDN, but I'm sorry, this just screams naivete.
It depends on the learning center I think. There was one other thread where I suggested going to a learning center to a poster, and the poster mentioned that the best the folks over at the learning center could do for him was to create a schedule . . . Study tips? Diagnostic tests? Trial tutoring? Nope. Just scheduling.The other posts are on, but I would like to add that I think pretty much Anyone can benefit from a visit to the learning center or something to get tips on study skills, even those who are doing well. I was doing just fine, went, and started doing exceptionally well.
Also agree with Mimelim that learning to study efficiently is key.
It depends on the learning center I think. There was one other thread where I suggested going to a learning center to a poster, and the poster mentioned that the best the folks over at the learning center could do for him was to create a schedule . . . Study tips? Diagnostic tests? Trial tutoring? Nope. Just scheduling.
Where would one go to if the learning center sucks is something I'm struggling to think about. I see no better option than online forums like SDN. : /
I don't think there is a problem or that she needs a therapist. She is the first person in her family to go to college. That is a challenge. By the way congrats! You are doing great. You might not be able to get into medical school but it is cool that you want to go and it makes sense that you have wanted to go. You might still be able to go if you get your grades up but there is no guarantee so it would be good to have a backup such as graduate school or something else when you apply. Also that is a good idea because grad school is pretty easy and then you can apply to med school from there after boosting your grades. Maybe you decide you want to switch gears entirely. Either way you are doing a good job 3.2 isn't bad grades tend to go up in the later years. Make sure you space out your premed classes and take some courses you find enjoyable. Physics is not that important for medical school.