i've gained some perspective

[rewindthemovie]

---

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Well, from last night until now i've been slowly thinking of dropping out of college (this is maybe my 4th week in college) due to a bad grade on a chem test (and I thought it was extremely easy wilst taking it). It's not so bad that I couldn't still get an A in the class, though it would take almost 100%'s on all of the rest of the tests.

I know now that that's just stupid. I need to admit that I have time management problems and I don't set aside enought time to get stuff done and in the meantime end up wasting time that I could've achieved something.

So, basically, I'm asking you guys to tell me how you dealt/deal with time management. Especially since I'm in a undergrad research lab (btw, since it counts as a credit and it's a chem credit and i will get an A in it, does it count towards BCPM?) and there's no specific time I have to go in, I think I'm skimping on the work I should be putting in there.


Maybe there's somebody on campus that could help me with time management.

 

[leorl]

hehe. sorry rewind for laughing...but you were thinking of dropping out of college because of a bad grade (C,D,F) on one of your first college exams of the year? hehe. Dude, no worries. Do better next time...make sure you go through this exam with someone who got a good grade or with the prof to know what you did incorrectly, since you thought you did fine when taking it. It means you're not answering the question in the way the prof wants or not detailing things enough, or have a misunderstanding of what's meant to happen in order to get the right answer.

What do you do that makes you waste time? are you watching too much tv? are you playing on the computer too much? Schedule out your day and plan what you're doing in between classes, what hours before and after dinner you're going to work, etc. Instead of going for coffee between classes, sit down and do some homework instead. Or go in to the lab.

 

[Addicted To SDN]

dropping out is not the solution! there are definitely people at your school that can help you out. My problem wasn't quite like yours...in college I was probably the number one gunner. I always had to take the hardest classes and all at the same time. So I would be stuck with four bcmp classes, all with labs...i was about to explode towards the end of the semester. But, then I figured out perfecting a schedule is all a game and you have to know how to beat it. So then I managed my time by taking two hard classes and two classes that weren't as difficult. I also figured out that the weekends were crucial...trying forecasting what needs to be done the following week and try to get the hardest stuff done first, unless you have a test to study for. So for example if you have a test on friday...then you should try doing all the bs work on saturday...try to get all of it done. Then on sunday study for that test. The week itself should be taken up mostly by going to class, but during the evening try to finish the bs work you didn't get to, but also study a couple of hours for that test you have on friday. Then on thursday everything should be done...so spend that entire day, after your classes are done of course, studying for that test on the next day. This is what I do, but try to attend some time management program at your school. remember...one test is not going to hurt your chances...figure out what you did wrong and tweak your brain to think in the way you are suppose to for chem exams...then change it up for other types of exams.

 

[liverotcod]

I think it's good that you are taking a poor exam performance seriously, and I understand your initial reaction. I'm glad to hear that you've gained perspective and are sticking it out. My advice:
1) go to the prof's office hours to go over the exam. This will tell you what the prof was looking for in the exam that you didn't get.
2) if you are concerned about time management and study skills, your college almost certainly has resources available to improve on these skills. At my undergrad, it was called the "Bureau of Study Council." But ask your freshman advisor, or just ask the prof when you go in, and he/she can point you in the right direction. Had I bothered to follow this advice 18 years ago as a freshman pre-med, I would have saved myself a lot of grief. Best wishes.

 

[NubianPrincess]

It's only been 4 weeks...it may take you the whole semester to learn just how you, as in individual, need to readjust to the demands of a college schedule.

And yes those chem credits do count towards your bcpm.

Relax a little and just try your best.

 

[rewindthemovie]

dropping out is not the solution! there are definitely people at your school that can help you out. My problem wasn't quite like yours...in college I was probably the number one gunner. I always had to take the hardest classes and all at the same time. So I would be stuck with four bcmp classes, all with labs...i was about to explode towards the end of the semester. But, then I figured out perfecting a schedule is all a game and you have to know how to beat it. So then I managed my time by taking two hard classes and two classes that weren't as difficult. I also figured out that the weekends were crucial...trying forecasting what needs to be done the following week and try to get the hardest stuff done first, unless you have a test to study for. So for example if you have a test on friday...then you should try doing all the bs work on saturday...try to get all of it done. Then on sunday study for that test. The week itself should be taken up mostly by going to class, but during the evening try to finish the bs work you didn't get to, but also study a couple of hours for that test you have on friday. Then on thursday everything should be done...so spend that entire day, after your classes are done of course, studying for that test on the next day. This is what I do, but try to attend some time management program at your school. remember...one test is not going to hurt your chances...figure out what you did wrong and tweak your brain to think in the way you are suppose to for chem exams...then change it up for other types of exams.

we're not so different, i'm only taking science classes (4 of them and a philosphy class for requirement) and i've already joined a u-grad research team and shadowed two doctors in my first 4 weeks of school. I guess I've sorta overwhelmed myself.

 

[Addicted To SDN]

we're not so different, i'm only taking science classes (4 of them and a philosphy class for requirement) and i've already joined a u-grad research team and shadowed two doctors in my first 4 weeks of school. I guess I've sorta overwhelmed myself.

Yeah don't worry...if i had to give an incoming freshman one word of advice...it would be to take a medium load...dont do what i did and take 4 science class with labs...med schools don't look at your course load until after you have probably passed all the screens. Take a medium load...get a high GPA and MCAT score...do some research and maybe join a club or two...something to take you away from academics. Shadowing two doctors this early is not that important. Get a foothold on the important things and then pursue EXTRAcurriculars.

 

[Addicted To SDN]

also why are you taking four science classes? no one will give you credit for taking that kind of course load unless you can get straight As in all of them. You will actually get the same amount of social credit if you get straight A in anything...so take a lighter load...ask your advisor how you can lighten your load before its too late to drop a class.

 

[rewindthemovie]

also why are you taking four science classes? no one will give you credit for taking that kind of course load unless you can get straight As in all of them. You will actually get the same amount of social credit if you get straight A in anything...so take a lighter load...ask your advisor how you can lighten your load before its too late to drop a class.

i only have 13 credits. one of the classes is "clinical lab sciences" (sort of my major.... until i switch it 🙂) which is beyond incredibly easy (it has a lab, but we do one like every 2 months... so it's easy).

oh yeah, i'm in crew already (4:45 am practices everyday so right now i'm going through the process of ditching my roommate and getting a single becuz are schedules clash so bad and i get no sleep).

 

[Taurus]

Just suck it up and keep on moving. Medicine is a long road with many potholes.

 

[rewindthemovie]

Just suck it up and keep on moving. Medicine is a long road with many potholes.

i'm just stressed. how can i get a 4.0 if i'm worried about having to get 100% on every test in a certain class.


this college thing got real interesting real fast

 

[drguy22]

i got a 40 on a chem exam once....tat was gen chem.....but i got 2 A's in orgo..it happens to all of us....and dont worry bout a bad grade i got a C+ in a writing class and im still goin to med school 🙂 just chill...and make a to do list and aim to finish it! Youll get used to the pressures of college life, just give it a semester 🙂

 

[rewindthemovie]

i got a 40 on a chem exam once....tat was gen chem.....but i got 2 A's in orgo..it happens to all of us....and dont worry bout a bad grade i got a C+ in a writing class and im still goin to med school 🙂 just chill...and make a to do list and aim to finish it! Youll get used to the pressures of college life, just give it a semester 🙂

you have no idea how good that makes me feel 🙂 i mean literally, my stress level just took a leap down.

 

[JDAD]

CHILL OUT, Look at the GPA's of accepting medical schools. How many average 4.0? ZERO. The average GPA of med schools is around a 3.6 - that means there are lots and lots of B's and C's on peoples transcripts.

A 4.0 is not common, it's the exception. Enjoy your time in college, you might not think it now, but it will be one of the bets times of you life. So relax and go drink a beer. (Maybe O'douls for you, I don't think your 21 yet)

 

[Medikit]

I dropped out after a host of bad grades with a time management problem that consisted of me not spending any time on class and all of my time on the computer or running with the cross country team. Don't be scared to get B's. You may not have had them in high school, but you will get them in college. Fear not the C's. Many people have had a few. But as you know you do need to get A's for medical school. My question for you is what are your distractions during the school year? For me it was a simple matter of not turning on the computer unless I needed to write a paper or something. You need to remove your distractions so you can focus. This isn't an easy thing to do, your friends are typically a part of your distraction.

 

[fourthyearmed]

You don't have to have a 4.0 to get in med school. I had Bs in Physics and even had a C in both Calculus and Organic Chem but I've done just fine in med shool. Don't take too many tough classes at once. Take some courses in summer school. I took Physics one summer and Micro another. And don't worry about your first semester so much. Everyone does bad because they are adapting to college. Your grades will go up. And it's the same in med school. I had to learn how to study and adapt to a new place and each semester my grades went up a little more. Research isn't that big a deal unless you're interested in academic medicine. If you're not interested in it and only doing it for your resume I'd drop that and focus on classes more.

 

[trying]

Make a schedule Sunday night for the week. Try to be as detailed as possible and make sure going to class/studying/going to tutoring make up a good amount of your time. As a first year, a whole lot of time spent in the lab might not make a huge difference b/c 1)they know you don't know anything yet 2) you just started. Focus on just getting good grades right now. When I felt myself slipping, I made this anal schedule where I actually wrote down when I was going to eat and when I was going to watch TV. It helped me bulild up discipline and made me reailze how valuable time is. Good luck!Ma

Well, from last night until now i've been slowly thinking of dropping out of college (this is maybe my 4th week in college) due to a bad grade on a chem test (and I thought it was extremely easy wilst taking it). It's not so bad that I couldn't still get an A in the class, though it would take almost 100%'s on all of the rest of the tests.

I know now that that's just stupid. I need to admit that I have time management problems and I don't set aside enought time to get stuff done and in the meantime end up wasting time that I could've achieved something.

So, basically, I'm asking you guys to tell me how you dealt/deal with time management. Especially since I'm in a undergrad research lab (btw, since it counts as a credit and it's a chem credit and i will get an A in it, does it count towards BCPM?) and there's no specific time I have to go in, I think I'm skimping on the work I should be putting in there.


Maybe there's somebody on campus that could help me with time management.

 

[rewindthemovie]

Make a schedule Sunday night for the week. Try to be as detailed as possible and make sure going to class/studying/going to tutoring make up a good amount of your time. As a first year, a whole lot of time spent in the lab might not make a huge difference b/c 1)they know you don't know anything yet 2) you just started. Focus on just getting good grades right now. When I felt myself slipping, I made this anal schedule where I actually wrote down when I was going to eat and when I was going to watch TV. It helped me bulild up discipline and made me reailze how valuable time is. Good luck!Ma

sounds like a good idea 🙂


actually, i love the chem lab. i'm working with graduate students that do most of the work, i can usually do some homework in there most of the time while chemicals are dissolving.


for the most part, i'm just trying to gain perspective on whether i want to do medicine or research. both are fun (though i don't have any "real" experience in medicine, i do like the shadowing more than the lab right now).


oh yeah, just because i'm a freshman doesn't mean I don't know anything in the lab. i know not to leave out NAD+ and about $500 worth of other chemicals out on the bench over night that need to be in a freezer so that their ruined (grad student did that yesterday). 😀

 

[ockhamsRzr]

Give me a break. Quit now and make room for someone who actually has a clue -- and the ability to understand how to perform. Go talk to a single mom at a urban state school who has kids AND a job AND every other worry in life AND needs to get As like everyone else. You are just pathetic.

Quit and let someone who is truely prepared take a swing.

You're a whiner!

Ock

 

[Medikit]

Give me a break. Quit now and make room for someone who actually has a clue -- and the ability to understand how to perform. Go talk to a single mom at a urban state school who has kids AND a job AND every other worry in life AND needs to get As like everyone else. You are just pathetic.

Quit and let someone who is truely prepared take a swing.

You're a whiner!

Ock

It's Occam

 

[Reno]

As everyone has already mentioned, time management is key and may take a semester or two to fully adjust to the rigors of college, especially if you were like me and had to do absolutley nothing to suceed in high school.

Second, don't take it too personally, but I question anyones integrity that is willing to quit college after one little grade. That is like someone who wants to take their own life after they slept in and missed a important date or something....(I couldn't think of anything better)

As with another thread college is more then about getting 4.0's, especially your first year; just relax and enjoy your self as it will be one of your more memorable ones. Work hard and play hard.

PS. Good luck with crew that was some tough stuff.

 

[IndyZX]

It's Occam

its spelled a million ways

 

[ockhamsRzr]

It's Occam

Were I William himself...it might be.

 

[ockhamsRzr]

Second, don't take it too personally, but I question anyones integrity that is willing to quit college after one little grade.

Well said. But we CAN have faith that if this kid is cracking first semester of Freshman year, that the med school app process will effectively weed him out. Weeeeeeeee!

Ock

 

[rewindthemovie]

Well said. But we CAN have faith that if this kid is cracking first semester of Freshman year, that the med school app process will effectively weed him out. Weeeeeeeee!

Ock

no offense, but i wouldn't want you as my doctor. you're sorta an dingus.





i just thought that getting anything lower than an A in my bcpm classes would not get me in to college. i mean... i know there are a lot of people in this world that are smarter than me and will get those spots @ the "good" med schools and i'll be left hanging with a degree I can't really do much with.

 

[dshnay]

no offense, but i wouldn't want you as my doctor. you're sorta an dingus.





i just thought that getting anything lower than an A in my bcpm classes would not get me in to college. i mean... i know there are a lot of people in this world that are smarter than me and will get those spots @ the "good" med schools and i'll be left hanging with a degree I can't really do much with.

Listen try to do the best you can, if you're going to get a B as your final grade, that's fine, you're not a superman and none one is expecting you to be, you can always improve in another course. Also try to come up to a professor, see if you can do extra credit, if not just study smarter, don't space out. Do the best you can, since I know you can do it.

 

[rewindthemovie]

Listen try to do the best you can, if you're going to get a B as your final grade, that's fine, you're not a superman and none one is expecting you to be, you can always improve in another course. Also try to come up to a professor, see if you can do extra credit, if not just study smarter, don't space out. Do the best you can, since I know you can do it.

Thanks. I don't know about asking for extra credit though. I don't want him to just laugh in my face and say "this is college buddy, now go somewhere," though I doubt it since he has a "Fr." @ the beginning of his name and works at a jesuit university. Ahhh... why not, the worst he could do is condemn me to hell, right?

 

[krelian]

is this the same "rewindthemovie" character who started a thread about how he/she is going to be involved in some hot shot research as a freshman? see thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=147059

funny, all the posts have been deleted 🙄

anyhow, you're way too excited about becoming a doctor, and you're bound to become disappointed later in life with this kind of attitude. also, what kind of person thinks about dropping out of school after just one bad grade (and it's not even the final grade yet). what are you gonna do after you drop out of college? transfer to Harvard where you'll surely get an A in that science class because of grade inflation?

i just thought that getting anything lower than an A in my bcpm classes would not get me in to college.

all i have to say for that quote is... WTF 😱

 

[ockhamsRzr]

no offense, but i wouldn't want you as my doctor. you're sorta an dingus.

Kid, you haven't taken near enough breaths on this Earth yet to call anyone anything. Yet you have the audacity to think we're all here to hold your hand. Do you have any idea how many of us are laughing at you.

Perspective and maturity comes with hard work, time, and reflection--you have clearly demonstrated that you possess none of these traits.

Go read a book punk.

Ock

 

[Blake]

Calm down, people.

 

[ockhamsRzr]

Calm down, people.

Fair enough...but it's really hard to have patience for people who can't help themselves while preparing to help people in the most profound of ways.

Ugh

😕 😕

Ock

 

[fourthyearmed]

i mean... i know there are a lot of people in this world that are smarter than me and will get those spots @ the "good" med schools and i'll be left hanging with a degree I can't really do much with.

Any accredited US med school is a "good" med school. You'll be the same doctor if you go to your state school with a few Bs as you would be if you made a 4.0 and went to Harvard. Med school's all about what you put into the experience.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Hey, I don't think it's a good idea to attack the Freshmen. Saying that they're "naive and it's our responsibility to cure them of that" is exactly the same excuse malignant attendings use to pimp medical students and residents. Don't develop bad habits regarding those behind you in the process, they'll stay with you.

Let's not keep up the hazing cycle. All Freshman go through the same process we do, they'll learn the ropes, just as we are even now as we continue the process...

 

[rewindthemovie]

thanks for the support everybody.

 

[rewindthemovie]

...


i just got a 69% on my bio test.... and it was "easy" again. i don't know what the **** is wrong with me.this is starting to piss me off, i don't know what to do. i studied so hard for this test too.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Keep grinding. Do not give up. They are actively trying to make you quit at this point. They probably have three times as many pre-meds as they want. If you notice, class sizes for upper level Bio and Chemistry courses are probably about a quarter the size of lower level courses. They need to trim the fat. They don't want to waste resources on pre-meds who aren't going to make it. Do not allow yourself to get weeded out.

Work harder and smarter. Figure out what works and stop doing the stuff that doesn't. If the textbook isn't helping, stop reading it. If all the questions are from lecture notes, study those exclusively. Be pro-active in choosing what you study.

 

[rewindthemovie]

Keep grinding. Do not give up. They are actively trying to make you quit at this point. They probably have three times as many pre-meds as they want. If you notice, class sizes for upper level Bio and Chemistry courses are probably about a quarter the size of lower level courses. They need to trim the fat. They don't want to waste resources on pre-meds who aren't going to make it. Do not allow yourself to get weeded out.

Work harder and smarter. Figure out what works and stop doing the stuff that doesn't. If the textbook isn't helping, stop reading it. If all the questions are from lecture notes, study those exclusively. Be pro-active in choosing what you study.

I'm calling tutoring tomorrow as soon as they open and I'm getting weekly scheduled visits for chem and bio, I really can't **** this up. I mean, even if I don't end up wanting to become a doctor, I definitely want to do something in biochem.

The thing is, I ****ING UNDERSTAND ALL OF THIS STUFF..... and I never choked on tests before in highschool.... it just doesn't make sense. I just feel like going home and curling up in a ball.

 

[Blake]

I'm calling tutoring tomorrow as soon as they open and I'm getting weekly scheduled visits for chem and bio, I really can't **** this up. I mean, even if I don't end up wanting to become a doctor, I definitely want to do something in biochem.

The thing is, I ****ING UNDERSTAND ALL OF THIS STUFF..... and I never choked on tests before in highschool.... it just doesn't make sense. I just feel like going home and curling up in a ball.

Dude, it's not easy, but hang in there. I know what you're going through. First exam of college for me was maths. I worked my butt off for that exam, and coming from high school and all, I was excited because I thought I was going to start college on the right foot... 68 %. Ouch. I really thought, there's no way I'll end up in medicine ( or any other field requiring good grades ). Long story short, I ended up getting 100 % for all the other math exams that semester. Don't know how I managed to do it, but I did. The thing is, believe in yourself, work harder, smarter, and never think about quitting. Good luck !

 

[trying]

I'm calling tutoring tomorrow as soon as they open and I'm getting weekly scheduled visits for chem and bio, I really can't **** this up. I mean, even if I don't end up wanting to become a doctor, I definitely want to do something in biochem.

The thing is, I ****ING UNDERSTAND ALL OF THIS STUFF..... and I never choked on tests before in highschool.... it just doesn't make sense. I just feel like going home and curling up in a ball.

I used to confuse being familar with the material and understanding the material. For example, I would know what the title of each of the powerpoint class notes was, so I thought I "knew" the material. Also, I always tried to study the way I was going to be tested. Try that and don't give up.

 

[nikefan13]

...


i just got a 69% on my bio test.... and it was "easy" again. i don't know what the **** is wrong with me.this is starting to piss me off, i don't know what to do. i studied so hard for this test too.

Don't worry...

If the course is curved which most classes in college are, you'll be fine ...What was the class average on that test anyhow?

 

[rewindthemovie]

Don't worry...

If the course is curved which most classes in college are, you'll be fine ...What was the class average on that test anyhow?

73.10

 

[Will Ferrell]

Please tell me you're joking. Are you? If you are not, then you need to take a chill pill. If you want to get above the curve in ANY of your classes you have to stop thinking about getting into medical school and start thinking about the subject material. You would never make it out alive a day at universities such as Cornell, Johns Hopkins, or Berkeley with that attitude. Don't drop out. You're going to have it as easy as it is where you are.

Take your B's and be happy with them. They're not going to keep you out of your dream med schools. Jumping off buildings if you get weeded will. Being happy is more important than getting into med school.

 

[rewindthemovie]

Please tell me you're joking. Are you? If you are not, then you need to take a chill pill. If you want to get above the curve in ANY of your classes you have to stop thinking about getting into medical school and start thinking about the subject material. You would never make it out alive a day at universities such as Cornell, Johns Hopkins, or Berkeley with that attitude. Don't drop out. You're going to have it as easy as it is where you are.

Take your B's and be happy with them. They're not going to keep you out of your dream med schools. Jumping off buildings if you get weeded will. Being happy is more important than getting into med school.

it's not even med school that's the problem. I still am undecided on what I want to do (between med school and research), but either way..... these test scores in such easy classes.... there's no excuse for it but stupidity.

 

[medtechv79]

Talk to yer prof....my first bio class in college most of the class failed. This prof liked to make it hard on the freshmen. We then realized we were studying wrong. We all read the textbook and tried to memorize the text when in reality all the prof tested on was the notes! I studied the notes, barely read the book and improved my grade!!!
U need to talk to the prof and anyone in yer class getting a better grade than u and see what they're studying strategy is. Yer probably not studying right. I'm sure you understan the material but the test is graded by the prof...in his own way.
Don't give up...but after yer first yr. if you still get these grades then u probably might want to reconsider yer major...u don't have to be a doctor unless u have a strong desire to.

 

[ockhamsRzr]

tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...




Ock

 

[rewindthemovie]

Talk to yer prof....my first bio class in college most of the class failed. This prof liked to make it hard on the freshmen. We then realized we were studying wrong. We all read the textbook and tried to memorize the text when in reality all the prof tested on was the notes! I studied the notes, barely read the book and improved my grade!!!
U need to talk to the prof and anyone in yer class getting a better grade than u and see what they're studying strategy is. Yer probably not studying right. I'm sure you understan the material but the test is graded by the prof...in his own way.
Don't give up...but after yer first yr. if you still get these grades then u probably might want to reconsider yer major...u don't have to be a doctor unless u have a strong desire to.

Even if I don't want to become a doctor, my major will stay the same. I love sciences, I just have no idea how to study. I'm going to definitely stay and talk to the teachers today of both chem and bio.

 

[rewindthemovie]

tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...




Ock

ad hominem

 

[Peterock]

it's not even med school that's the problem. I still am undecided on what I want to do (between med school and research), but either way..... these test scores in such easy classes.... there's no excuse for it but stupidity.

So the wide-eyed country girl got her first big taste of the big new city? It isn't so nice is it? All the guys you met were "different" and better than the people you knew back home. Well... here you are, knocked up with nobody calling you the night after and you just got mugged.

People tried to warn you. Go to all your professors and get tutoring immediately... also, find people in the class who did well.

Not gonna be such a hot four years? Is it?

 

[Newman8r]

Talk to yer prof....my first bio class in college most of the class failed. This prof liked to make it hard on the freshmen. We then realized we were studying wrong. We all read the textbook and tried to memorize the text when in reality all the prof tested on was the notes! I studied the notes, barely read the book and improved my grade!!!
U need to talk to the prof and anyone in yer class getting a better grade than u and see what they're studying strategy is. Yer probably not studying right. I'm sure you understan the material but the test is graded by the prof...in his own way.
Don't give up...but after yer first yr. if you still get these grades then u probably might want to reconsider yer major...u don't have to be a doctor unless u have a strong desire to.

hah this is funny, totally reminds me of my first bio class

 

[rewindthemovie]

Not gonna be such a hot four years? Is it?

Actually, yes it will. After what I did today, everything's turned around. I went to both teachers and instead of tutoring I'm just going to come to them for help when I need it. It will be a lot less tedious and it's a lot easier for me to go to the source than through a 3rd party. Plus, besides these two classes I'm having tons of fun, especially in philosophy and the ugrad research lab. Also, in my clinical lab sciences class we went on rounds through the childrens hospital yesterday.