Is it worth it?

[RichieTemp]

Hi everyone,
I am a junior and am planning to go to med school. I already have taken the Mcat's (scored a 35) and have a reasonably high GPA. I've been speaking to a couple of my friends in med school and they've been telling me that you have to pretty much memorize entire books with all the details. Is this true for all med schools or does it vary from school to school?

One of my friends has semi-photographic memory and is finding it alright. However, the other (who is a slower reader and memorizes by repetition) is really struggling.
I too am a slow reader, so i would appreciate any advice from current medstudents in a similar position. Basically, I am trying to figure out if it is doable for someone like me, and if so is it worth it&gt;? <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />

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[Amy]

It is definitely doable. My memory isn't great, but I'm getting through med school just fine. As long as you keep up with everything, it's not a problem. If med school is something you really want, then go for it! You may have to study more than some of your classmates, but if you're dedicated to it, you'll be just fine.

Good luck!!

 

[snowballz]

What the hell is a semi photographic memory and why does everyone claim to have one?

Alicia

 

[Voxel]

From your MCAT score and grades, I'd say you're intelligent and can make decisions. What you will need to succeed in medical school is to develop and stick to a schedule of reading and studying. Will you have to do more than your friends with photographic memory? Yes. Does that mean it is not doable? No. You will just have to work harder than those guys/gals with photographic memory for the same result. Is this fair? No. But such is life. Good luck in med school. Work Hard! You will do fine.

MS-IV

 

[Vader]

In medical school, you will be required to learn volumes of information. Succeeding is more about studying regularly and going over material again and again until you get it. Very few people have the ability to open a textbook at the last minute and assimilate all the information they need. The vast majority need repetition, which you get from lecture, assigned reading, small groups, PBL (if that's part of your curriculum), independent study, and watching "ER". Ok, maybe not the last one... The bottom line is that if you get admitted, you already have what it takes to succeed. Doing well is dependent upon how much effort you put into studying.

BTW, you might consider P/F schools if you are worried about competing for grades. Believe me, it does take the pressure off.

 

[Fanconi]

I agree with our radiologist-to-be up there. Go to med school if you want to be a doctor. That's all there is to it.

Don't worry about how hard you have to work. EVERYBODY has to work hard. And, yeah, no matter how brilliant you are, med school is gonna SUCK at times. It's the nature of the beast.

You will be tested, not only in class but also on a personal level. You will doubt many times that you made the right deicision by going to med school. I don't think I'm being a cynic here, either. Those feelings of frustration and doubt are pretty universal.

But screw it. If you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. You can do it.