Man, why does everyone wanna do pre-med...

[JustaUnicorn]

+1. This is why I only hung out with the business school kids

I like the social science crowd: good beer and fascinating debates.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[redshadow]

Students seem to think saying "I'm Pre-med" somehow makes their general science course load tougher than the person whose taking the same general sciences freshman year and going into something else.

 

[tendram]

Because what the f*ck else is there for biology majors to do?

My thoughts exactly. I think most of the biology majors at my school were pre-med/pre-health initially because, well, what else is there to do?

Also, assuming you're not trolling (and you're not making a very convincing case that you aren't) keep in mind that all of these guys you see as your competition are entering freshmen starting undergrad such as yourself. Wait until you're a junior/senior to start sizing up your competition. I assure you that the vast majority of those people aren't just in it 'just because' anymore. Also, it takes a lot of work and determination to get into med school so you should't be worrying about having your seat taken up by some guy that doesn't really want to be a doctor. The admissions committees have a way of sorting out those people out for just that reason. A lot of this has already been said but that's just my two cents.

Some studies show that consistent weed use is correlated with intelligence decline...if that's true, you better bet your ass I'd rather be in a drinking heavy frat instead. Plus, weed definitely makes many people lose motivation. I also don't have much experience with weed.

Too bad those are the only two types of frats to choose from

 

[BlueLabel]

Too bad those are the only two types of frats to choose from

$50 says he didn't get a bid because he sucks just as bad in person.

 

[Escape_Goat]

Some studies show that consistent weed use is correlated with intelligence decline...if that's true, you better bet your ass I'd rather be in a drinking heavy frat instead. Plus, weed definitely makes many people lose motivation. I also don't have much experience with weed.

Hey guyz, let me tell you all about stuff I don't know anything about.

P.S. Have fun at FSU. How's it going at rank #91?

Bwahaha. So pre-med.

 

[circulus vitios]

I'll back back, bumping this thread in a few years when I finally get into medical school.



P.S. Have fun at FSU. How's it going at rank #91?

 

[darknight]

P.S. Have fun at FSU. How's it going at rank #91?

Great. Almost no debt when I finish 🙂

 

[HeyNumber2]

Great. Almost no debt when I finish 🙂

👍👍

 

[NuttyEngDude]

I was really excited reading this thread until I got halfway through and realized that "pre-med" is not plural in the title.... 😕

 

[BlueLabel]

i was really excited reading this thread until i got halfway through and realized that "pre-med" is not plural in the title.... 😕

+1

 

[Moose A Moose]

...for the babes and Grey's Anatomy lifestyle.

 

[BlueLabel]

 

[listener23]

Students seem to think saying "I'm Pre-med" somehow makes their general science course load tougher than the person whose taking the same general sciences freshman year and going into something else.

In reality it does, most other career paths aren't as GPA intense. There is a big difference from a freshman bio major taking bios 101 vs a freshman "premed" bio major taking it. The premed feels the need to get an A ,whereas the general bio major would be fine with a C.

 

[kyamh]

In reality it does, most other career paths aren't as GPA intense. There is a big difference from a freshman bio major taking bios 101 vs a freshman "premed" bio major taking it. The premed feels the need to get an A ,whereas the general bio major would be fine with a C.

While other careers may not worship a 3.9 as much as medicine does, I don't think that there is a direct correlation between students who "feel the need to get an A" and students who actually end up getting that A. In my experience, pre-meds in intro courses understand the information a lot worse than the future majors in that discipline do.

The best example is physics - many pre-meds don't understand a thing about physics since all they care about is knowing how to ace the psets and get the A. Two years later those same A students are struggling to score well on the physical science MCAT, which is frankly tests very basic physics concepts in a very predictable manner. Physics majors, even those who haven't taken courses that focus on the MCAT material can still figure out the answers with ease while your typical pre-med spends 3 months re-memorizing the formulas. There is a difference between memorization and understanding and unfortunately many pre-meds fall in the first category. Whether or not these students go on to actually apply to medical school is another story - please note the HUGE distinction between students who are seriously applying vs students who come into college with the goal of completing the pre-med curriculum.

 

[listener23]

While other careers may not worship a 3.9 as much as medicine does, I don't think that there is a direct correlation between students who "feel the need to get an A" and students who actually end up getting that A. In my experience, pre-meds in intro courses understand the information a lot worse than the future majors in that discipline do.

The best example is physics - many pre-meds don't understand a thing about physics since all they care about is knowing how to ace the psets and get the A. Two years later those same A students are struggling to score well on the physical science MCAT, which is frankly tests very basic physics concepts in a very predictable manner. Physics majors, even those who haven't taken courses that focus on the MCAT material can still figure out the answers with ease while your typical pre-med spends 3 months re-memorizing the formulas. There is a difference between memorization and understanding and unfortunately many pre-meds fall in the first category. Whether or not these students go on to actually apply to medical school is another story - please note the HUGE distinction between students who are seriously applying vs students who come into college with the goal of completing the pre-med curriculum.

I don't blame premeds for memorizing there way through physics, its essentially pointless. There not many aspect (if any) of being a doctor that will require a good understanding physics. I came to college to become a doctor not a nobel prize winning physicists. I love people not my stupid physics book.

 

[mcloaf]

While other careers may not worship a 3.9 as much as medicine does, I don't think that there is a direct correlation between students who "feel the need to get an A" and students who actually end up getting that A. In my experience, pre-meds in intro courses understand the information a lot worse than the future majors in that discipline do.

The best example is physics - many pre-meds don't understand a thing about physics since all they care about is knowing how to ace the psets and get the A. Two years later those same A students are struggling to score well on the physical science MCAT, which is frankly tests very basic physics concepts in a very predictable manner. Physics majors, even those who haven't taken courses that focus on the MCAT material can still figure out the answers with ease while your typical pre-med spends 3 months re-memorizing the formulas. There is a difference between memorization and understanding and unfortunately many pre-meds fall in the first category. Whether or not these students go on to actually apply to medical school is another story - please note the HUGE distinction between students who are seriously applying vs students who come into college with the goal of completing the pre-med curriculum.

Maybe, but I think that's also a problem with into physics courses in general. I recall hearing a story on NPR not that long ago about how many physics professors are realizing that they need to revamp teaching approaches as many students (yes even physics majors) finish introductory courses with very little conceptual grasp of things like Newton's laws because they are instead focused on recall of formulas and mathematical problem solving.

You're right, though; I got A's in both semesters of intro physics but didn't understand most of it conceptually until I had to study for the MCAT.

 

[kyamh]

I don't blame premeds for memorizing there way through physics, its essentially pointless. There not many aspect (if any) of being a doctor that will require a good understanding physics. I came to college to become a doctor not a nobel prize winning physicists. I love people not my stupid physics book.

I feel as though I did a crappy job explaining my main point. It's not about physics and it's not about memorization. The conversation is about whether pre-meds do (or ought to) have/expect respect from their peers given the path they are pursuing. I would argue that, academically, pre-meds do not deserve elevated respect and they are often worse learners/students because of the "I just need to get an A and I don't need to understand this" attitude.

 

[BlueLabel]

I feel as though I did a crappy job explaining my main point. It's not about physics and it's not about memorization. The conversation is about whether pre-meds do (or ought to) have/expect respect from their peers given the path they are pursuing. I would argue that, academically, pre-meds do not deserve elevated respect and they are often worse learners/students because of the "I just need to get an A and I don't need to understand this" attitude.

I think it's interesting how pre-meds and successful pre-meds get conflated. It reminds me of that Neil deGrasse Tyson video I posted a couple months ago... the kids flunking intro physics are most likely not med school bound

 

[Anicetus]

I think it's interesting how pre-meds and successful pre-meds get conflated. It reminds me of that Neil deGrasse Tyson video I posted a couple months ago... the kids flunking intro physics are most likely not med school bound

Unless they retake it 2 years later and go to DO schools.

It happens all the time.

 

[inycepoo]

I don't blame premeds for memorizing there way through physics, its essentially pointless. There not many aspect (if any) of being a doctor that will require a good understanding physics. I came to college to become a doctor not a nobel prize winning physicists. I love people not my stupid physics book.

If your only goal in college is to become a doctor, then damn, you're taking higher education really wrong.

College is not only a training ground for med school. The sooner premeds realize this, the better off they'll be and the less disconnected our future physicians will be.

 

[inycepoo]

Maybe, but I think that's also a problem with into physics courses in general. I recall hearing a story on NPR not that long ago about how many physics professors are realizing that they need to revamp teaching approaches as many students (yes even physics majors) finish introductory courses with very little conceptual grasp of things like Newton's laws because they are instead focused on recall of formulas and mathematical problem solving.

You're right, though; I got A's in both semesters of intro physics but didn't understand most of it conceptually until I had to study for the MCAT.

How'd you do well without understanding the stuff conceptually? Were the exams just easy? I have never taken any physics exam that could be done with only memorization. The two don't go together?

 

[mcloaf]

How'd you do well without understanding the stuff conceptually? Were the exams just easy? I have never taken any physics exam that could be done with only memorization. The two don't go together?

Good logic, knowing formulas, and rudimentary conceptual framework. Exams were pretty easy IMO, but averages were like 75ish (though I was taking the classes as a senior, so I think I had the advantage that most of the course was aimed at freshman who didn't really know how to do college yet). I didn't really realize how weak my conceptual understanding was until I did some TBR problems. I think some of it is also becoming more comfortable with figuring out which physics concepts/eqns are relevant when, which isn't something I had to learn in undergrad because it's more like "we covered fluids, this exam is going to be on fluids, know fluids" vs. MCAT where you can get any random combo of physics concepts even within one passage.

 

[487806]

If your only goal in college is to become a doctor, then damn, you're taking higher education really wrong.

College is not only a training ground for med school. The sooner premeds realize this, the better off they'll be and the less disconnected our future physicians will be.

Pretty much this. Honestly, the "premeds" who think college is a prep work for med school are clueless since the journey begins in med school itself, not college.