To those in pre-med right now and that didn't have a good work ethic in high school, how have you been able to improve it in undergrad? I am a senior in HS right now and am taking a few college classes and my work ethic sucks, I just don't care. Like I want to do well but I am very lazy and hate school. I'll probably get all B's in my college classes this year and I need to find a way to work hard if I want to become a doctor starting next year. But I just hate school and studying and such. What can I do to improve it? I mean I realize that if I don't try I'll end up with a crappy job or living with my parents but I just don't seem to care...
Improving work ethic
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deleted303591
Make every day count and leave nothing at the table.
If you do not give 100% every day you are leaving something at the table. You do not want to look back and think about the past and how you didn't work hard.
If you do not give 100% every day you are leaving something at the table. You do not want to look back and think about the past and how you didn't work hard.
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Take a year off and work a crappy minimum wage job while living with your parents. Now picture that for the rest of your life.
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If you hate school and studying, maybe medicine is not for you. You have to have personal motivation and a drive to excel in school.
Just set aside time each day to study. Instead of going on facebook and mindlessly cruise through posts, pick up your notes. You know that one of tv time that you do homework during, turn the tv off and do the homework in 20 minutes instead.
Little things add up.
Just set aside time each day to study. Instead of going on facebook and mindlessly cruise through posts, pick up your notes. You know that one of tv time that you do homework during, turn the tv off and do the homework in 20 minutes instead.
Little things add up.
D
deleted303591
That's right.
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Agreed. We all go through rough patches but if you consistently feel this way then maybe you should consider other healthcare fields that don't require as much studying. There are many wonderful jobs out their that are related to medicine and will pay you well enough to get out of your parents house lol
I wish I could give better advice on how to motivate yourself but personally, my motivation is knowing that one day I will have the honor of saving someone's life and easing the pains of disease on generations to come, and that I can't possibly see myself doing anything else. And that's just enough 😳
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I had no work ethic in high school. I found it in college after I tried to pull the same crap I did in HS.
No one here knows what motivates you. It's going to be difficult for anyone on the outside to ever provide you with the kind of drive it takes to study consistently over multiple years to improve your work ethic. You have to want it. You have to figure out why you want it. For some that maybe involved seeing the "alternative" careers, for some that involves a desire to please their parents, for others it's the drive for general excellence and all the goodies that come with it. Whatever you ultimately decide, just don't kid yourself into thinking that you can slack around and achieve this goal unless you're some kind of genius.
No one here knows what motivates you. It's going to be difficult for anyone on the outside to ever provide you with the kind of drive it takes to study consistently over multiple years to improve your work ethic. You have to want it. You have to figure out why you want it. For some that maybe involved seeing the "alternative" careers, for some that involves a desire to please their parents, for others it's the drive for general excellence and all the goodies that come with it. Whatever you ultimately decide, just don't kid yourself into thinking that you can slack around and achieve this goal unless you're some kind of genius.
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👍 A strong kick in the @$$ will show you the way. I needed a few of those along the way.
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I SEEE WHAT MY DAD DOES.....I DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT MY DAD DOES FOR A LIVING.
But seriously, being a doctor is a great job for me since it adds science, hand work, and I can look years from now and say...
"Boy, my job keeps me entertained and is actually worth something.
But seriously, being a doctor is a great job for me since it adds science, hand work, and I can look years from now and say...
"Boy, my job keeps me entertained and is actually worth something.
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Do what you love and you won't have to fight it. Are you positive you want to do med, or do you just want to make a good living? If the latter, figure out what you're really passionate about and do that.
I don't know guys, I mean I understand what you are saying but I just feel like I know I can do it but can't find it in myself to try. A few kicks in the ass might help, but I've already gotten that in my college classes and it shows me that I need to put in the effort to succeed in college level classes, but I just don't care. My thinking to myself is well, a few B's on my college gpa won't mean much, I just need to start trying in college. But before this year started I said I need to start trying now because my college GPA matters. I'm just not mentally right for a college education. My life is either lottery or bust. I just despise school and don't give a crap about anything but still want to succeed. ugh.... fml
This is so true... It's what did it for me.
And while you're doing this job, you'll realize you don't want to be like the people you're working with.
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Doctors go to school for 8 years. If you don't like school, medicine may not be right for you.
As for finding motivation, you have to realize you have one life, and if you're not willing to put in the effort necessary to accomplish your dreams, why are you even living?
As for finding motivation, you have to realize you have one life, and if you're not willing to put in the effort necessary to accomplish your dreams, why are you even living?
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I love your pragmatism. This is so right!!!!!👍
Wise words also. To seriously consider medicine you have to enjoy learning, as in medicine you will be a lifelong learner.
Find that inner motivation that you're lacking, nobody can give you this, you have to find it yourself. Good luck
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Find enjoyment in the material. Learning stuff you're interested in is always easier than trying to choke it down.
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Lift heavy and take your multi.
Seriously though, I found a lot of discipline through physical activity - maybe if you can spare time for regular exercise that will challenge you (no half-assing it on a treadmill, for example), you can cultivate focus in this way too.
And on the other hand - you're going to be really pissed when you keep thinking this way and, upon looking back 4 years from now when you're stuck at some crappy job (provided you even find one..), you realize how much you wasted your time and how you regret not working harder.
And honestly, we can give you advice 'til we're blue in the face, but if you don't change your mindset, absolutely nothing is going to happen. If you want to go to medical school or be even remotely successful in the future, you're going to have even more difficult challenges than maintaining a decent GPA in undergrad. You're going to be stuck with crap tasks and mindless work, and you're going to have to find a way to power through the next four years and beyond. So think about if you're up for this, because it isn't going to get any easier.
Seriously though, I found a lot of discipline through physical activity - maybe if you can spare time for regular exercise that will challenge you (no half-assing it on a treadmill, for example), you can cultivate focus in this way too.
And on the other hand - you're going to be really pissed when you keep thinking this way and, upon looking back 4 years from now when you're stuck at some crappy job (provided you even find one..), you realize how much you wasted your time and how you regret not working harder.
And honestly, we can give you advice 'til we're blue in the face, but if you don't change your mindset, absolutely nothing is going to happen. If you want to go to medical school or be even remotely successful in the future, you're going to have even more difficult challenges than maintaining a decent GPA in undergrad. You're going to be stuck with crap tasks and mindless work, and you're going to have to find a way to power through the next four years and beyond. So think about if you're up for this, because it isn't going to get any easier.
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Honestly, the advice to defer college for a year and get a job is excellent advice. It will give you time to de-stress from the college application burnout so many people get, it will give you a chance to learn what the world of work is like (hint: it sucks way more than school), and you can save up some money, maybe take a few cool road trips, read a few good books, experience some life.
The discipline of having to get up every morning and show up on time OR GET FIRED is a great discipline to have coming into your freshman year of college, when the administration won't be calling your parents every time you play hooky.
The discipline of having to get up every morning and show up on time OR GET FIRED is a great discipline to have coming into your freshman year of college, when the administration won't be calling your parents every time you play hooky.
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OP: "I'm lazy."
SDN: "Go kill yourself."
But seriously, he's a senior in high school. Cut him some slack. OP, just wait until you get to college and bomb your first exam (like I did) and that should motivate you to do some work.
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I agree with what everyone else has said, but do realize that senioritis hits at every level.
I sat on a plane next to a 2nd year resident and she said it's perfectly normal to lose motivation during your last year of HS, UG, med, residency, etc.
I sat on a plane next to a 2nd year resident and she said it's perfectly normal to lose motivation during your last year of HS, UG, med, residency, etc.
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As already suggested, take a year or two off and live in the real world. The fact that you think getting straight Bs in a few college courses is "a kick in the ass" is proof you have not, in fact, experienced anything of the sort. Working at McDonalds, living in a crappy apartment, never having any money to do what you want while being too tired from working double shifts to enjoy yourself will serve as a strong motivation to return to school and actually do well. The best part is this path does no damage to your GPA in case you do find some motivation.
Or you can go on to college, do poorly at it, close doors to your future, and show up here in a few years with a "I am about to graduate with a 2.5 GPA because I was immature earlier in college, how do I show adcoms I can do the work???" thread.
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Let me give you my insight, since I was in the same situation as you.
In high school, I was one of the laziest people you would ever meet. I would procrastinate on a whole semester's worth of homework and do it all the night before the last day and turn it in (rolling turn in). I would simultaneously start reading, outlining, and "studying" for an exam the block before the actual test. I would basically play games, watch TV, and do nothing academic when I got home until 1 or 2 am.
Basically, I had atrocious work ethic. I didn't bomb school (decent GPA, 2170 SAT, 33 ACT), but that was only because high school was easy. But, it's completely different in college.
When I got to college, the whole environment was different. I had much more free time and had much more time to chill with friends and basically was FREE from the mindless institution known as high school. I found the reason for my laziness. It was because I was absolutely sick of the boring "wake up, go to school for 6-8 hours, come home, do whatever, go to sleep, repeat the next day" routine.
Sorry for this long post, but what is my main point? College is MUCH more different than high school. You don't burn out as easily if you can manage your time. You have so much free time and the workload is very manageable, if you break it up. I'm basically all caught up with all my work and, by the looks of it, I'll be pulling straight A's at the end of the semester. In high school, I put everything off til the end because the only time I had to do hw was afterschool. Now, I'm free to do whenever.
Now, I can do it in the morning, in between classes, after I come back from the movies, etc. It's very liberating and I'm actually motivated to do the work. You can even skip lecture and do it. Nobody cares.
For you, this might be the case too. Many "2.0 GPA high school slackers" rise up to the challenge in the new college environment because it's so DIFFERENT. No one's here to hand hold you. You're free to do whatever. Some people actually thrive in this sort of environment. I was one of those people. Your work ethic may actually turn 180 degrees because college is so different from high school.
Now, I'm not saying that there's a 100% guarantee that you'll instantly change. But, you'll be surprised how much will change once you're in college. Let that be some encouragement for you. You're spending MONEY to study here. You're an adult now. Act like one.
In high school, I was one of the laziest people you would ever meet. I would procrastinate on a whole semester's worth of homework and do it all the night before the last day and turn it in (rolling turn in). I would simultaneously start reading, outlining, and "studying" for an exam the block before the actual test. I would basically play games, watch TV, and do nothing academic when I got home until 1 or 2 am.
Basically, I had atrocious work ethic. I didn't bomb school (decent GPA, 2170 SAT, 33 ACT), but that was only because high school was easy. But, it's completely different in college.
When I got to college, the whole environment was different. I had much more free time and had much more time to chill with friends and basically was FREE from the mindless institution known as high school. I found the reason for my laziness. It was because I was absolutely sick of the boring "wake up, go to school for 6-8 hours, come home, do whatever, go to sleep, repeat the next day" routine.
Sorry for this long post, but what is my main point? College is MUCH more different than high school. You don't burn out as easily if you can manage your time. You have so much free time and the workload is very manageable, if you break it up. I'm basically all caught up with all my work and, by the looks of it, I'll be pulling straight A's at the end of the semester. In high school, I put everything off til the end because the only time I had to do hw was afterschool. Now, I'm free to do whenever.
Now, I can do it in the morning, in between classes, after I come back from the movies, etc. It's very liberating and I'm actually motivated to do the work. You can even skip lecture and do it. Nobody cares.
For you, this might be the case too. Many "2.0 GPA high school slackers" rise up to the challenge in the new college environment because it's so DIFFERENT. No one's here to hand hold you. You're free to do whatever. Some people actually thrive in this sort of environment. I was one of those people. Your work ethic may actually turn 180 degrees because college is so different from high school.
Now, I'm not saying that there's a 100% guarantee that you'll instantly change. But, you'll be surprised how much will change once you're in college. Let that be some encouragement for you. You're spending MONEY to study here. You're an adult now. Act like one.
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I am one of those premeds who never tried in high school and did horribly my first semester. What I did was really ask myself why I am doing this and once I found the answer I was truly able to put my full effort into the science classes, and the results were great.
this is really true. I'm taking a year off, working that job and I can say it's made me motivated to not have to do it any longer than one year....
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There will come a time in your life when you will need to decide if you are more miserable taking classes, or if you are more miserable not being successful (whatever that may mean to you).
But it doesn't have to be a terrible choice between one or the other. I cruised through my first 2 years of college with B's and B minuses. Then I fell in love with biology and my grades shot up. And then I realized I wanted to be a doctor and it just made me work harder. You are young so perhaps you don't know what you want to do yet. That's okay, but go and find a subject you like a lot and take classes in it. You may find that you just didn't like your subject matter.
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First a couple of questions: Is this a long-term thing for you or a senioritis thing for you? I had senioritis pretty bad my last year of HS.
Second I have to agree with others that there is no better motivator than being out working a crappy job in the real world for awhile to spark an interest in school. So take a year, have that experience, then go for college. If you f'up on your college courses it WILL haunt you when you apply, no matter how far down the road that is. There are a lot of people in the non-trad forum who just didn't have it together the first time they started and then did well in another degree years down the road, but still have to contend with that crappy gpa from 10 years earlier dragging them down. So if you think you do want to do medicine, don't risk putting yourself in that position.
Second I have to agree with others that there is no better motivator than being out working a crappy job in the real world for awhile to spark an interest in school. So take a year, have that experience, then go for college. If you f'up on your college courses it WILL haunt you when you apply, no matter how far down the road that is. There are a lot of people in the non-trad forum who just didn't have it together the first time they started and then did well in another degree years down the road, but still have to contend with that crappy gpa from 10 years earlier dragging them down. So if you think you do want to do medicine, don't risk putting yourself in that position.
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I also have sort of the same question. Instead of starting another thread, is it okay if I ask it here? If it is, then my question is about the same. I also have an okay work ethic. I'm in high school, but am a sophomore. Now the only class I actually feel motivated to study for is Biology. Biology just really interests me the most. I don't feel too motivated to study for any other class such as English, History, Spanish, Math, etc, but I still study for them because I want a good future, but I usually do a little poorly than I do in biology in these classes. In fact, my highest grade is in biology. I'm assuming this is also a bad thing that I don't feel motivation to study for the other classes?
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You are in high school. It's normal to not want to study in high school. Just keep your grades high enough for acceptance to a good college and be prepared to start studying more in college.
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I hated it. I learned to love it though. Yes, I love studying (most of the time).
