Is anyone else feeling burned out already?

[Vox Animo]

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I'm only a few weeks into MS1, and already feel overwelmed. Even wondering if i made the right decision, or if i can make the grades.

O well, back to the books.

 

[medhacker]

I'm only a few weeks into MS1, and already feel overwelmed. Even wondering if i made the right decision, or if i can make the grades.

O well, back to the books.

I suspect a good number of us feel somewhat similar to what you said. hang in there vox animo!! 👍

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

I'm only a few weeks into MS1, and already feel overwelmed. Even wondering if i made the right decision, or if i can make the grades.

O well, back to the books.

HAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAH
HAHAHHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHHA


Im done. Wait for it....


HAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHA
HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
HAHHAAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA

First year is a looooooong haul homey. Suck it up and git 'er done. Be glad you don't have those miserable biochem exams.

 

[lilzelda]

I'm tired, scared, and stressed....but i think after the first test it'll get better, hopefully

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

I'm only a few weeks into MS1, and already feel overwelmed. Even wondering if i made the right decision, or if i can make the grades.

O well, back to the books.

BTW, have you guys had a test yet? If its any consolation, you get 3+ months of summer and we get boards and rotations.

Second year is world's better......so far at least.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

I'm tired, scared, and stressed....but i think after the first test it'll get better, hopefully

Nail your first test. At all costs. Its smooth sailing after that (albeit a lot of work).


I couldnt imagine how failing my first test could have impacted my whole year.

 

[It'sElectric]

First year is a looooooong haul homey. Suck it up and git 'er done. Be glad you don't have those miserable biochem exams.

No Biochem first year? Maybe I read that wrong.

 

[ShyRem]

I've been in school now since early August - and am more than halfway through gross (so I'm a month or so ahead of you). I think EVERYONE felt that way before the first exam. After that, you get a feel for what you're supposed to be learning, what you should spend more time on, what you can tone down on. If any clubs do a review before your exams - GO TO THEM. They are GOLD. If you have an upperclass big brother/sister type arrangement, then ask them. Look at old exams (if possible) for a gauge of how you're doing in your own brain. If they're not readily available, ask the curriculum office if they have copies of old exams you can review, even in their office if need be. Reviewing old exams really helps you see if you're studying anything close to the right material.

Now, after your first exam assess:
Did I pass? YAY! Note I did not say "high pass".
Did I not pass? Uh-oh. By how much? just a little? Or a LOT?
If you don't pass your first exam, don't panic. you should be assigned a tutor. And i would haul your butt to the learning center ASAP to get tested for how you learn best. Go visit your professors and ask them how to do better, what hints or tricks they have for you. They will be surprisingly helpful, especially if you make the first step (but please don't bother them until after the first exam unless you're REALLY REALLY feeling lost).

Now lastly: TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF. This is SOOOOO important. I don't mean get drunk and not remember the evening - I mean take time to do something GOOD for yourself. Cook a GOOD homemade meal. Take a walk in the woods, on the beach, somewhere peaceful and NONMEDICAL. No listening to lectures allowed, either. A break is a NECESSITY for your mental well-being.

EVERYONE feels overwhelmed, lost, and so far underwater they can't even see the surface, nonetheless get any air. It gets better. Really. 🙂

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

No Biochem first year? Maybe I read that wrong.

You did.

Last year we had mandatory weekly quizzes a midterm and a final.


This year, for some dumb reason. If your quiz average is 84% or better; you can opt out of the exams. If you so choose to take the exam and do better, you keep that grade. If you so choose to take the exam and do worse; you get the 84%.

Im not sure where the logic on that one. And actually, it concerns me for these guys come boards time....

 

[Vox Animo]

You did.

Last year we had mandatory weekly quizzes a midterm and a final.


This year, for some dumb reason. If your quiz average is 84% or better; you can opt out of the exams. If you so choose to take the exam and do better, you keep that grade. If you so choose to take the exam and do worse; you get the 84%.

Im not sure where the logic on that one. And actually, it concerns me for these guys come boards time....

because you suck, that was their logic.

 

[It'sElectric]

You did.

Last year we had mandatory weekly quizzes a midterm and a final.


This year, for some dumb reason. If your quiz average is 84% or better; you can opt out of the exams. If you so choose to take the exam and do better, you keep that grade. If you so choose to take the exam and do worse; you get the 84%.

Im not sure where the logic on that one. And actually, it concerns me for these guys come boards time....

I gotcha. I'd have to agree with you on those concerns. It's so important in med school to learn as much as possible and prepare yourself as best as possible primarily for the BOARDS.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

because you suck, that was their logic.

you are the one whining about how hard school is. I wouldnt talk to much smack if I were you.

 

[MikeyLu2010]

seriously...im with buckeye on this one...this is as easy as it will get...wait till 2nd year + step 1..not to mention clinical years + residency...btw wat school are u at vox..

 

[ImNoSuperman]

Yeah, so I'm sitting here during a break after my first pharm lecture and I have to say that it hasn't gotten averwhelming yet. Next block is Blood and Immunity and that's when the poo hits the fan. I certainly have my moments when I feel absolutely ready to quit; but this too shall pass. Keep a yo' head up...

 

[kaikai128]

seriously...im with buckeye on this one...this is as easy as it will get...wait till 2nd year + step 1..not to mention clinical years + residency...btw wat school are u at vox..

The second year here is WAY better than the first. There is no way someone could pay me enough money to re-do first year. Second year is long--but you can see the end of the 8 hour days of lecture, the classes are more interesting, you spend more time hands on with clinical work, etc.

I was ready to quit after about 3 months of my first year. It DOES get better. Hang in there everyone.

 

[laboholic]

You did.

Last year we had mandatory weekly quizzes a midterm and a final.


This year, for some dumb reason. If your quiz average is 84% or better; you can opt out of the exams. If you so choose to take the exam and do better, you keep that grade. If you so choose to take the exam and do worse; you get the 84%.

Im not sure where the logic on that one. And actually, it concerns me for these guys come boards time....

I am still going to take the midterm even if I keep a >85% on the quizes.... I might get a 100% and I have nothing to lose by taking it. I dont think there will be many people who opt out unless they have 95-100 on the quizes (and that is really hard to do)...I could be wrong though.

Speaking of the biochem quizes...I better get to studying

Vox... You will be fine. Many people I have talked to feel like you. Just give it a few months and allow yourself to get into a groove. All you have to do is pass and you will still be a doctor. Grades in the basic sciences are not everything.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I forget who said it, but listen to their advice: do NOT fail that first set of exams. I could not imagine starting med school out with such a hit to one's confidence.

 

[Vox Animo]

seven-Oh D-O baby

 

[lilzelda]

you guys gets a midterm and a final, we get one test per system.....

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

seven-Oh D-O baby

Yeah, thats cool if you are sure you want to do FP.

 

[Dartos Vader]

Yeah, thats cool if you are sure you want to do FP.

Totally false. I had slightly above average Comlex and fairly low class rank and was gauranteed (sp?) a residency spot at a good ER program and a good OB program. I was also told I could easily get my choice of IM programs. I was told by an ENT attending that I should apply to ENT programs (one of the most competitive fields out there right now) and that he coudn't care less about scores. In his words he said he could teach anyone, but he had to deal with his resident day in and day out for five years. Certainly some residencies seem to demand high scores, but from my experience, Good personality and a good attitude are king on rotations. Not a bad range if you ask me.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Totally false. I had slightly above average Comlex and fairly low class rank and was gauranteed (sp?) a residency spot at a good ER program and a good OB program. I was also told I could easily get my choice of IM programs. I was told by an ENT attending that I should apply to ENT programs (one of the most competitive fields out there right now) and that he coudn't care less about scores. In his words he said he could teach anyone, but he had to deal with his resident day in and day out for five years. Certainly some residencies seem to demand high scores, but from my experience, Good personality and a good attitude are king on rotations. Not a bad range if you ask me.

Are you seriously going to deny the fact that a stronger classroom gpa is better than a 70=DO GPA when it comes to residency?

Take board scores out of the equation and I think you can see my point. Not to mention, it makes intuitive sense that someone that studies their balls off for years one and two will likely study their balls off for the board; and there you have it a better board score.

So now you have a good GPA and a good board score. Explain to me how that isn't better than an average GPA and a good board score?


Additonally, your definition of *good* may vary from what mine is. I intend on doing anesthesia at JHU (don't laugh - its a DO friendly program at JHU - see for yourself). Tell me now that a DO, with an average COMLEX/USMLE score, and a slightly above average is going to get in there.....I doubt it.

 

[medhacker]

Totally false. I had slightly above average Comlex and fairly low class rank and was gauranteed (sp?) a residency spot at a good ER program and a good OB program. I was also told I could easily get my choice of IM programs. I was told by an ENT attending that I should apply to ENT programs (one of the most competitive fields out there right now) and that he coudn't care less about scores. In his words he said he could teach anyone, but he had to deal with his resident day in and day out for five years. Certainly some residencies seem to demand high scores, but from my experience, Good personality and a good attitude are king on rotations. Not a bad range if you ask me.

I have been confirmed this very same thing by 2 PDs 👍

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

I have been confirmed this very same thing by 2 PDs 👍

And I've heard from PDs otherwise. So...


If you want to strive for 70s thats cool. Maybe thats your style.

Its not mine.

 

[Ifellinapothole]

Anyone else feel overwhelmed?

Nope

 

[MikeyLu2010]

agreed with buckeye ..u cant generalize wat you heard from a couple of PD's and assume its the case across the nation..thats just dumb..now if u really want to do ur residency at that particular hospital and program..thats a different story..

 

[Dartos Vader]

Are you seriously going to deny the fact that a stronger classroom gpa is better than a 70=DO GPA when it comes to residency?

Take board scores out of the equation and I think you can see my point. Not to mention, it makes intuitive sense that someone that studies their balls off for years one and two will likely study their balls off for the board; and there you have it a better board score.

So now you have a good GPA and a good board score. Explain to me how that isn't better than an average GPA and a good board score?


Additonally, your definition of *good* may vary from what mine is. I intend on doing anesthesia at JHU (don't laugh - its a DO friendly program at JHU - see for yourself). Tell me now that a DO, with an average COMLEX/USMLE score, and a slightly above average is going to get in there.....I doubt it.

Who's denying high board/gpa scores are better than low scores? I never said that. You said someone with low scores is resigned to fp (there's nothing wrong with fp btw, those docs blew my mind on rotations), i simply disputed that. I think you and I are both right, some places are seriously interested in high scores, some look at other factors. I don't think you have to intimate that I have a lower definition of *good* than you do. anesthesia is competitive, but right now ER is pretty darn competitive and last I checked ENT is harder to get into than gas is.

Are you on rotations yet or are you still in preclinical? Not asking to be insulting, just curious. Good luck getting the spot you want.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Who's denying high board/gpa scores are better than low scores? I never said that. You said someone with low scores is resigned to fp (there's nothing wrong with fp btw, those docs blew my mind on rotations), i simply disputed that. I think you and I are both right, some places are seriously interested in high scores, some look at other factors. I don't think you have to intimate that I have a lower definition of *good* than you do. anesthesia is competitive, but right now ER is pretty darn competitive and last I checked ENT is harder to get into than gas is.

Are you on rotations yet or are you still in preclinical? Not asking to be insulting, just curious. Good luck getting the spot you want.

Second year. So, still preclinical.

I mean, Im not going to argue with you - as there really isn't a point. Id rather bust out the grades now and find out it really doesn't matter later than **** around now, pick a specialty that I want, and realize, just maybe I should have worked harder in preclinical years.

This is what happened to me in undergrad. I skated by and I got a bunch of allo waitlists. That's why I am where I am (no regrets really - I made the bed...) - but I won't be making that mistake again.

 

[Dartos Vader]

Second year. So, still preclinical.

I mean, Im not going to argue with you - as there really isn't a point. Id rather bust out the grades now and find out it really doesn't matter later than **** around now, pick a specialty that I want, and realize, just maybe I should have worked harder in preclinical years.

This is what happened to me in undergrad. I skated by and I got a bunch of allo waitlists. That's why I am where I am (no regrets really - I made the bed...) - but I won't be making that mistake again.

Sounds like a good plan. We've hijacked this thread a bit, sorry folks. You guys in first year just keep plowing through, it'll be over in no time.

 

[DMAKSIMOVIC]

Sounds like a good plan. We've hijacked this thread a bit, sorry folks. You guys in first year just keep plowing through, it'll be over in no time.

DMU 4 LIFE! This is awesome....after spending all day in an ER getting pooped and spit on, it's fun to ruin somebody else's day......I mean add meaningful conversation to a thread. I love you guys........chest hairs for all.

And oh yeah....the overwhelmed stuff....Get some icy hot and rub it in places they say not to on the package.....usually gets me going.......quick. 😱 good burn.......soooo goood.

 

[Inquiringmind24]

I think the biggest obstacle for me so far in the pre-clinical years has been focus. When I focus, I tend to do very well, but when I am surrounded by distractions I tend to stuggle. Being a single male constantly thinking of females and trying shake off summer laziness, I've been off to a slow start second year......

 

[TWP]

DMU 4 LIFE! This is awesome....after spending all day in an ER getting pooped and spit on, it's fun to ruin somebody else's day......I mean add meaningful conversation to a thread. I love you guys........chest hairs for all.

And oh yeah....the overwhelmed stuff....Get some icy hot and rub it in places they say not to on the package.....usually gets me going.......quick. 😱 good burn.......soooo goood.

Yes!!! That is probably the greatest post ever recieved here at SDN!!! I almost blew protein shake all over my laptop! Not sure what makes this one stand out but...there is no answer, just the noble pursuit.