Just Need Some Support

[SoulinNeed]

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I don't know, lately the burden of pre med requirements and and the extracurricular stuff has been racking my brain. Some of you may know that I decided this semester to switch from pre-law to pre-med after I realized it's what I really wanted to do. Currently, I'm only taking College Physics I, and I'll begin the rest of my prerequisites next semester (in my senior year). Today, I was figuring out my schedule, and for a usually non-science student, it seemed like a lot. I'll be taking Biology I, Chemistry I, Calculus I, Bio lab, Chem lab, a humanities course, and I'll be doing research every week (10 hours) in a Psychology lab. After talking to some people, a couple of which gave up on pre-med, I'm starting to doubt myself. I mean, I was pretty good as a Poli Sci and Psychology double major (3.96 GPA), and thus far in my Physics class I scored a 97% on the first exam (class average was 72%), but everyone keeps telling me about how hard these science classes are, and how much harder Orgo will be in the future (oh, the horror stories I've heard).

I don't know, I guess I'm just ranting now, but I'm just looking for some words of encouragement from you guys. This is doable, right? The one thing I keep telling myself is that others have done it, these are level 100 classes, and while they aren't easy, they do go a chapter a week, and the lab classes follow the same material (right? lol). The one thing I'm used to is studying a lot, and reading a lot. The good thing I like is that we go a chapter a week (I'm used to having to read and memorize hundreds of pages a week in my other classes), and I genuinely enjoy the topics and like to study these sciences. I guess the number of hours just scared me, I mean, including research, I'll be doing 27 hours of school a week. That's doable, right? Even with science classes? If I study, and prepare, I can do this! I just want to one day be a DO or MD, and do IM primary care, and help out here in Illinois (be it Chicago or rural). Thanks for listening guys. 🙂

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

I don't know, lately the burden of pre med requirements and and the extracurricular stuff has been racking my brain. Some of you may know that I decided this semester to switch from pre-law to pre-med after I realized it's what I really wanted to do. Currently, I'm only taking College Physics I, and I'll begin the rest of my prerequisites next semester (in my senior year). Today, I was figuring out my schedule, and for a usually non-science student, it seemed like a lot. I'll be taking Biology I, Chemistry I, Calculus I, Bio lab, Chem lab, a humanities course, and I'll be doing research every week (10 hours) in a Psychology lab. After talking to some people, a couple of which gave up on pre-med, I'm starting to doubt myself. I mean, I was pretty good as a Poli Sci and Psychology double major (3.96 GPA), and thus far in my Physics class I scored a 97% on the first exam (class average was 72%), but everyone keeps telling me about how hard these science classes are, and how much harder Orgo will be in the future (oh, the horror stories I've heard).

I don't know, I guess I'm just ranting now, but I'm just looking for some words of encouragement from you guys. This is doable, right? The one thing I keep telling myself is that others have done it, these are level 100 classes, and while they aren't easy, they do go a chapter a week, and the lab classes follow the same material (right? lol). The one thing I'm used to is studying a lot, and reading a lot. The good thing I like is that we go a chapter a week (I'm used to having to read and memorize hundreds of pages a week in my other classes), and I genuinely enjoy the topics and like to study these sciences. I guess the number of hours just scared me, I mean, including research, I'll be doing 27 hours of school a week. That's doable, right? Even with science classes? If I study, and prepare, I can do this! I just want to one day be a DO or MD, and do IM primary care, and help out here in Illinois (be it Chicago or rural). Thanks for listening guys. 🙂

Chill pill, deep breath, beer, etc...

It's so doable. As a first semester freshmen I had an eerily similar schedule to what you're signing up for and I got a 3.3. Sure, it's not stellar but a first semester freshmen who went out 3-4 nights a week and didn't get below a B- on that load is a sign that it's very doable.

If you really want to be a doc you'll do it and then laugh about how much pressure you put on yourself for no reason.

 

[xxAtreusxx]

Hey, its definitely doable. Just take it one day at a time, no sense in getting ahead of yourself and freaking out.

And don't believe the O chem stories. People told me the same things before I took it, and I found it to be pretty straightforward.

 

[SoulinNeed]

Chill pill, deep breath, beer, etc...

It's so doable. As a first semester freshmen I had an eerily similar schedule to what you're signing up for and I got a 3.3. Sure, it's not stellar but a first semester freshmen who went out 3-4 nights a week and didn't get below a B- on that load is a sign that it's very doable.

If you really want to be a doc you'll do it and then laugh about how much pressure you put on yourself for no reason.

Yeah, sometimes I just need to shut everyone out for a second, and just get some more confidence in my own ability. Thanks!

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

Oh yeah, and Ochem is a JOKE! compared to the horror stories. Put in the work (I recommend taking it over the summer) and just rock it.

 

[SoulinNeed]

Oh yeah, and Ochem is a JOKE! compared to the horror stories. Put in the work (I recommend taking it over the summer) and just rock it.

I actually will be taking OChem over the summer (not this one, next summer), along with Physics II (with their labs). It'll be a full term so it won't be accelerated. I think I made a wise decision in figuring out my schedule so I will only be taking 2 classes (plus labs) that semester. It'll allow me to dedicate the time needed to both classes.

 

[SoulinNeed]

Hey, its definitely doable. Just take it one day at a time, no sense in getting ahead of yourself and freaking out.

And don't believe the O chem stories. People told me the same things before I took it, and I found it to be pretty straightforward.

Thanks, I really appreciate the encouragement. I'll treat it like how classes are supposed to be treated, with work and dedication.

 

[sonofva]

you can do it man! i was a poli-sci major as well. i did my own post-bacc work and cranked out all that jam over the course of a year, including about 10 hours of research per week and 20 hrs clinical work per week. i ended up with a 3.9 science gpa and a few acceptances, and i was an absolute mess in my undergraduate.

you can do anything for a year.

 

[rawman]

Remember what is one person's weakness may be another person's strength. So far it seems you've been able to kick ass in your Physics class (which many people, including myself, found annoyingly difficult). Don't pay attention to doubters and always keep in mind your motivation for doing this in the first place.

I was also one of those people that was only OK at general chem but absolutely rocked O-Chem. You really won't know til you take it. You seem to already have a good schedule planned out, so just concentrate on doing your best now and keep it up!

 

[DoctorBoom]

😱

I don't know, lately the burden of pre med requirements and and the extracurricular stuff has been racking my brain. Some of you may know that I decided this semester to switch from pre-law to pre-med after I realized it's what I really wanted to do. Currently, I'm only taking College Physics I, and I'll begin the rest of my prerequisites next semester (in my senior year). Today, I was figuring out my schedule, and for a usually non-science student, it seemed like a lot. I'll be taking Biology I, Chemistry I, Calculus I, Bio lab, Chem lab, a humanities course, and I'll be doing research every week (10 hours) in a Psychology lab. After talking to some people, a couple of which gave up on pre-med, I'm starting to doubt myself. I mean, I was pretty good as a Poli Sci and Psychology double major (3.96 GPA), and thus far in my Physics class I scored a 97% on the first exam (class average was 72%), but everyone keeps telling me about how hard these science classes are, and how much harder Orgo will be in the future (oh, the horror stories I've heard).

I don't know, I guess I'm just ranting now, but I'm just looking for some words of encouragement from you guys. This is doable, right? The one thing I keep telling myself is that others have done it, these are level 100 classes, and while they aren't easy, they do go a chapter a week, and the lab classes follow the same material (right? lol). The one thing I'm used to is studying a lot, and reading a lot. The good thing I like is that we go a chapter a week (I'm used to having to read and memorize hundreds of pages a week in my other classes), and I genuinely enjoy the topics and like to study these sciences. I guess the number of hours just scared me, I mean, including research, I'll be doing 27 hours of school a week. That's doable, right? Even with science classes? If I study, and prepare, I can do this! I just want to one day be a DO or MD, and do IM primary care, and help out here in Illinois (be it Chicago or rural). Thanks for listening guys. 🙂

Organic chem difficulty is relative. I actually thought gen chem was harder than O chem. O chem is all about memorizing a couple of concepts a few goups and how they will react and basically you will get by without millions of memorization. Pre-med is not that bad...i actually kinda miss it... being a student...except the volunteering part lol. 😱

 

[SoulinNeed]

Thanks guys, you don't know how much this means.

 

[Cheshyre]

I know it's been said by everybody else, but I just have to share this.

I made a lot of mistakes in undergrad. Chalk it up to immaturity. When I took orgo freshman year, I thought it was the hardest thing ever. As I moved on in college, I realized how stupid I was. There's not a ton of stuff to "figure out", nor are there a massive amount of reactions to memorize. It's not a super easy course, but it's definitely not that tough either.

Studying orgo for the MCAT between junior and senior year was pretty much a joke.

Don't worry. Just put in the study time. Sleep right as much as possible. Eat reasonably well when you can. Take care of yourself. Have a break every now and then. It will be fine. Just don't deviate from these directions or you're screwed. My main issue was sleeping horribly - I wouldn't be surprised if my average sleep time per night from freshman to junior year was under 5 hours. It effectively murders whatever memory you have and makes lecture worthless because you can't focus on the professor long enough to gain anything useful.

 

[SoulinNeed]

Yeah, the only thing that's getting to me is the research. I'll be doing 2 hours of it a day, and I'm afraid it'll cut too deeply into my study time, but it has to be done. 🙁

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

Yeah, the only thing that's getting to me is the research. I'll be doing 2 hours of it a day, and I'm afraid it'll cut too deeply into my study time, but it has to be done. 🙁

2 a day? if i was you i'd try to move that to like 4 or 5 twice a week instead. that 2 a day is really gonna be a pain in the ass

 

[SoulinNeed]

2 a day? if i was you i'd try to move that to like 4 or 5 twice a week instead. that 2 a day is really gonna be a pain in the ass

Yeah, I'm trying to figure it out. I might just do 1 hour on Monday, 4 on Tuesday, none on Wed (schedule is too packed), 1 on Th, and 2 on Friday, or just 3 on one of those days (probably Fr). I believe she said it would be cool if I only did 8 hours a week.

 

[Melicopter]

Even with the research, it should be doable. It's nice to break up the studying with something else that you have to do, but has no homework. I do about 10-12 hrs. of research each week (3-4 hours, 3 days a week). I'd scrap the every day thing if I were you. That sounds yucky.