I think I hit a wall.

[physiologist]

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I am currently finishing up my sophomore year in physiology minoring in theatre.

First semester, I had a 3.8 GPA. I got two A's, two A-, and a B+ (Physiology, Intro to Theatre, Molecular Bio, History of Medicine, and Physio Lab).

Suddenly, in my second semester AND the summer semester, it seems I hit a "science ceiling". I study incessantly but still can't get anything higher than a B no matter how hard I try. My GPA fell from a 3.8 to a 3.45 in one semester. I took Organic 2 w/ lab, Physiology 2 w/ lab, Biochemistry, Sociology of Medicine, and Performance. You'd think it was my crazy courseload that brought it down, but in the summer I am currently taking genetics and studying more for that than anything else - 5+ hours a day, every single day, for 10 days straight. I did every single reading and every single practice problem. On the midterm I got a B-, below the class average. It seems in my science courses that no matter how hard I try, I cannot get above a B anymore. The worst thing is, I walk into every exam under the impression that I am clearheaded and understood everything in the course - only to find out I must be delusional when I get my mark back.

Any advice for an aspiring physician? I'm afraid of going into the Arts because it's far too subjective and they are known for being stingy with A's at my college. Also, I'm a notorious "jack of all trades" - slightly above average at almost everything but nothing special in anything.

 

[Stronghopeful]

I feel the same exact way

 

[dbeast]

Ouch. I hope you weren't going too fast.

 

[SN1]

I am currently finishing up my sophomore year in physiology minoring in theatre.

First semester, I had a 3.8 GPA. I got two A's, two A-, and a B+ (Physiology, Intro to Theatre, Molecular Bio, History of Medicine, and Physio Lab).

Suddenly, in my second semester AND the summer semester, it seems I hit a "science ceiling". I study incessantly but still can't get anything higher than a B no matter how hard I try. My GPA fell from a 3.8 to a 3.45 in one semester. I took Organic 2 w/ lab, Physiology 2 w/ lab, Biochemistry, Sociology of Medicine, and Performance. You'd think it was my crazy courseload that brought it down, but in the summer I am currently taking genetics and studying more for that than anything else - 5+ hours a day, every single day, for 10 days straight. I did every single reading and every single practice problem. On the midterm I got a B-, below the class average. It seems in my science courses that no matter how hard I try, I cannot get above a B anymore. The worst thing is, I walk into every exam under the impression that I am clearheaded and understood everything in the course - only to find out I must be delusional when I get my mark back.

Any advice for an aspiring physician? I'm afraid of going into the Arts because it's far too subjective and they are known for being stingy with A's at my college. Also, I'm a notorious "jack of all trades" - slightly above average at almost everything but nothing special in anything.

What university do you go to?

 

[Doubtnichts]

I did the same thing sophomore year...that was my worst year and I didn't get any A's in the sciences either :-\
It does sound like you're going a bit fast though...especially if you're not performing as well as you hope..slow down. You don't actually need all those classes to go to med school...just the requisites.

 

[MSU2009]

Perhaps you have some holes in your basic sciences that need plugging?

 

[Astarael]

Honestly, it sounds like you might be studying too much. It sounds counterintuitive, but humans can only pay attention to one thing for maybe an hour or two at a time. If you are studying for five consecutive hours, there's every possibility that you are only being effective for the first couple hours. The fact that you study so much could be making you think that you have a grasp on the material, while in fact you aren't absorbing it since so much of your study time is taking place while you're mentally checked out.

Obviously I may be completely incorrect in this guess, but if you think that I might be right, you could benefit from breaking your study periods into smaller chunks. Work for an hour and a half, and then take an hour break before coming back to it.

Good luck!

 

[Entadus]

Sounds like a normal sophomore year.

Guess what, you're an upperclassman now! It's time to play your A game

 

[raltima07]

Sounds like a normal sophomore year.

Guess what, you're an upperclassman now! It's time to play your A game

Wooohoo!

 

[13132]

Same thing happened to be sophomore year. My gpa dropped .1 when I got two B's in two 5 credit hour classes in the same semester. I think its normal, but you have to come back strong.

 

[physiologist]

I go to McGill. I think I just took wayyy too many classes (I was missing my org 2 prerequisite from Freshman year because I didn't know whether I wanted to do Arts or Sciences at the time.

I hope I have a chance at rebounding. Next semester I'm taking five classes (instead of seven plus the Italian Opera class I took at the Conservatory). I mistakenly underregistered my first semester soph - I only took four classes and a lab - so I had to compensate second semester soph, when I was so burnt out already from my only 9 days of winter vacation.

Next semester I'm taking Mathematical Models of Biology (BIOL 309), Hormones, Channels and Synapses (PHGY 311), Medical Anthropology (a known bird course), and in independent research class with a professor. Since I need to take a full load every semester to get into medical school (5 classes), I'll need another class. Any easy electives in mind?

Also, I have insane asian parents that make me study all the time, and if I don't study 24/7 I'm not trying hard enough and therefore any bad grade I get is totally my fault. My boyfriend did a semester abroad so we skyped often, but of course to my parents any skyping is too much skyping when I should be studying. To be honest, he was the only thing in my life at the time that wasn't absolute misery/a total pressure-cooker which is why I talked to him so much. Only studying 5 hours when I get home from school is not enough for them - I have to study EVERY MINUTE. Also, try convincing them I need downtime. Ha!

Just yesterday, I got a whole lecture about how I'm ruining my entire future over some "stupid boyfriend". (for the record, my "stupid boyfriend" is soo much smarter than me - he goes to an ivy league school and has an even better gpa than I do). I feel terrible now. Is my future really "ruined" with a 3.45 cumulative GPA after sophomore year (note: my 1st semester sophomore GPA was 3.8 and my freshman GPA was 3.7).

Not that all of my classes are required for either my physiology major, my theatre minor, or my social studies of medicine minor.

 

[barcoderider]

Bird course? haha.

You're not screwed with a 3.45, but you need to pull it up. I saw friends who started making straight B's for 3 possible reasons:

1. They decided not to do pre-med and didn't really care anymore.
2. They really did sort of reach their intellectual peak and just couldn't compete. This was rare.
3. Most frequently, they sabotaged themselves by sticking to crappy study habits that didn't work, but refused to change their ways. This is probably the case for you. Figure out something else that works. Good luck!

P.S. sorry your parents are on your back, but unless they're living with you how do they have any control over how much you study?

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Honestly, it sounds like you might be studying too much. It sounds counterintuitive, but humans can only pay attention to one thing for maybe an hour or two at a time. If you are studying for five consecutive hours, there's every possibility that you are only being effective for the first couple hours. The fact that you study so much could be making you think that you have a grasp on the material, while in fact you aren't absorbing it since so much of your study time is taking place while you're mentally checked out.

Obviously I may be completely incorrect in this guess, but if you think that I might be right, you could benefit from breaking your study periods into smaller chunks. Work for an hour and a half, and then take an hour break before coming back to it.

Good luck!

I had a similar experience like that.

I typically got an A or A- and had only received one B up through the Fall of my sophomore year. However in the Spring I stressed a lot more over grades and would push myself to study a lot more for exams. I definitely understood the material but always found myself making very stupid mistakes once it came time to take the test. No matter how confident I was going in, it always happened. It all added up and I'd find myself losing nearly 10 or 15 points for either stupid mistakes or not pacing myself on an exam properly.
However at the very end of the semester, I started relaxing more about my grades and I ended up doing a lot better on my finals.
I'm not sure if this could apply to your situation or not, but I wish you the best in finding out what could be causing the lower grades.

 

[2sk0ol4c0ol]

I had a similar experience like that.

I typically got an A or A- and had only received one B up through the Fall of my sophomore year. However in the Spring I stressed a lot more over grades and would push myself to study a lot more for exams. I definitely understood the material but always found myself making very stupid mistakes once it came time to take the test. No matter how confident I was going in, it always happened. It all added up and I'd find myself losing nearly 10 or 15 points for either stupid mistakes or not pacing myself on an exam properly.
However at the very end of the semester, I started relaxing more about my grades and I ended up doing a lot better on my finals.
I'm not sure if this could apply to your situation or not, but I wish you the best in finding out what could be causing the lower grades.

👍
This is very true. Ater my great first semester, I started stressing out over keeping my grades. I was no longer studying to learn the concepts or mastering the material. I was studying and taking my test with my gpa looming over my head. I suggest you stop stressing out about your grades do your best (I know that sounds cheesy) `that's all you can do.

 

[physiologist]

I live with my parents, so they're on my back >.<

Also, yeah, I also felt the pressure to keep up my GPA. Especially with my parents threatening me that I'm ruining my life over a boyfriend. It was like epic mega guilt trip all the time.

Worst part is, I can't afford to move out, because getting a job would be too time-consuming to bring up my GPA.

 

[pfaction]

Your mind needs to rest. I know mine does. Take 1 to 2 days off doing absoluetly nothing, no mental stimulation. You should be good to go!

 

[CurrySpice]

Does all that pressure give you test anxiety?

I study sometimes with another girl who is extremely smart but consistently gets poor grades because she gets too stressed out over the exam. I will go to bed at 10 pm the night before after eating a good dinner and reading a book, where she will stay up until 3 am studying and scarfing food. I think that she would probably beat me on tests if she could simply relax and let herself realize that she knows the material. When you study consistently, I find that cramming is actually counterproductive.

 

[BeachBlondie]

I just came off of a year of B's (well, four classes for two semesters.......and I work full time), and you know what? It's not the end of the world. If anything, you should use this "academic set-back" to fuel the remainder of your college career.

This is what you do: you take some time to take a break and center yourself. Then, you go back into it, guns-a-blazin', and you take no prisoners.

Wise words from your humble post-bacc.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

Some hints:

Study with peers or, if your school offers it, under departmental tutors. I say this because if you feel like you're going into a test clearheaded after studying for hours and still get a B-, you might just be studying wrong answers/concepts.

Don't study for 5 hours straight. Like someone above me said, that will probably just end up hurting you. Study 4 hours every week for each of your classes and use the weekend to study 4-5 hours a day and review the concepts. Do this all the time so you don't have to cram for tests. You should just have to "review" once test time comes. Think of how people advise you to study for the MCAT.

Don't take so many classes? I don't know how the semester system works, but 5 classes in the quarter system is pushing it, and 1 unit short of the limit you can register for.

Finally, study in the library. If you study at the library, ideally with a laptop, you no longer have to worry about your parents pushing you to study more than is helpful to you. If you've done your studying for the day, just go waste time on the internet. They'll never know.

 

[physiologist]

My parents don't let me study in the library. They don't "trust me". If I don't study at home, I get grounded.

Great advice guys! But my school FORCES you to take 30 credits per year, which is 5 classes per semester (at 3 credits each)! So no, I HAVE to take 5 classes. I've got no choice 🙁
I go to McGill, and Canadian med schools REQUIRE a full load EVERY SEMESTER.

So I'll follow this whole 4-5 hrs per week per subject rule, in addition to 4-5 hrs per day per weekend. I think that'll be enough. I feel if I have a quantitative goal (i.e. study x amount of hours) instead of just "study" I can better accomplish it.

This past semester I actually had 5 classes, 2 labs, and an italian opera course at the Conservatory. I took that many classes because I was missing a prereq from Freshman year, and took only 13 credits first semester sophomore year (4 classes and a lab).

 

[rhcarolina]

for the record, my "stupid boyfriend" is soo much smarter than me - he goes to an ivy league school and has an even better gpa than I do

I hope your boyfriend ain't premed

 

[physiologist]

He's not. Thank god. One premed is enough in this relationship >.<

 

[physiologist]

I mean, on the bright side, this semester my load is (relatively) easy. Instead of having a devlish junior year and a joke of a senior year, I've deferred one of my more difficult U2 courses to Fall of senior year in order to maximize my GPA during junior year because senior year grades don't count as much. I start every day at 11:30 am and finish 3 days a week at 12:30pm. I have reasonable breaks between my classes (1-2 hours) to review. My schedule is a lot more humane this semester. Let's hope I can bring up that GPA!

 

[LuciusVorenus]

I mean, on the bright side, this semester my load is (relatively) easy. Instead of having a devlish junior year and a joke of a senior year, I've deferred one of my more difficult U2 courses to Fall of senior year in order to maximize my GPA during junior year because senior year grades don't count as much. I start every day at 11:30 am and finish 3 days a week at 12:30pm. I have reasonable breaks between my classes (1-2 hours) to review. My schedule is a lot more humane this semester. Let's hope I can bring up that GPA!

👍

 

[235788]

burn out!!

 

[235788]

My parents don't let me study in the library. They don't "trust me". If I don't study at home, I get grounded.

Great advice guys! But my school FORCES you to take 30 credits per year, which is 5 classes per semester (at 3 credits each)! So no, I HAVE to take 5 classes. I've got no choice 🙁
I go to McGill, and Canadian med schools REQUIRE a full load EVERY SEMESTER.

So I'll follow this whole 4-5 hrs per week per subject rule, in addition to 4-5 hrs per day per weekend. I think that'll be enough. I feel if I have a quantitative goal (i.e. study x amount of hours) instead of just "study" I can better accomplish it.

This past semester I actually had 5 classes, 2 labs, and an italian opera course at the Conservatory. I took that many classes because I was missing a prereq from Freshman year, and took only 13 credits first semester sophomore year (4 classes and a lab).

Stand up for yourself! your a college woman!! This is weird.