ms 1 non-science major needs a pep talk

[rhiannon777]

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So I'm two weeks into my first year of MD, and I feel soooo behind. I decided after college that I wanted to go into medicine, so I took only the absolutely required science prerequisites (organic and inorganic, and one year of intro bio). Everyone else in my class seems to have had years of biochem (we start with biochem at my school). They seem to be whizzing through while I have to spend significant time with a biology dictionary just to understand what the prof's saying. I feel way behind everyone else and I'm terrified of failing.

 

[Law2Doc]

So I'm two weeks into my first year of MD, and I feel soooo behind. I decided after college that I wanted to go into medicine, so I took only the absolutely required science prerequisites (organic and inorganic, and one year of intro bio). Everyone else in my class seems to have had years of biochem (we start with biochem at my school). They seem to be whizzing through while I have to spend significant time with a biology dictionary just to understand what the prof's saying. I feel way behind everyone else and I'm terrified of failing.

The first two weeks you probably are behind them. This will all even out in a couple of weeks as their undergrad knowledge gets surpassed. Then it will $uck for everyone equally. Hope that cheers you up.

Keep at it, put in the hours, learn how to study effectively, and you should pass. Admissions does a decent job of picking people who are capable of doing the work -- it's up to you now to buckle down and do it.

 

[Cirrus83]

Hey I know how you feel OP...we're doing mostly biochemistry in fundamentals right now and I've never taken biochemistry.

Which wouldn't really be too big of a problem, except that it's taking me way more time to study biochem than the other kids so they can focus more on anatomy...which is making me feel like I'm super behind =(

Just keep your chin up and hustle for now. They might know the basic science better but we'll catch up. Still, in retrospect I do wish I had taken biochem just so it'd be easier this time around.

On the bright side I did take anatomy before (not as in depth but still...it does help a little bit even if it was 4 years ago).

But yeah there's people with PhD's and Master's and all sorts of stuff in my class and obviously they know their basic sciences way better than I do. Just keep at it though...you got in after all, so someone clearly believes you can learn the science.

 

[BillyWitchDoctr]

As a psych major I felt very behind at the beginning of med school. It was probably true too. I was studying my a$$ off for biochem while the biochem major could spend that time working on anatomy. I found that that there was a much more level playing field once 2nd year began.

 

[Cirrus83]

As a psych major I felt very behind at the beginning of med school. It was probably true too. I was studying my a$$ off for biochem while the biochem major could spend that time working on anatomy. I found that that there was a much more level playing field once 2nd year began.

Yeah personally I'm basically debating right now whether to study more biochem or just go more on anatomy and scrape by in fundamentals (biochem).

Because I'm starting to realize there's basically no way I have any chance of Honoring both classes since I can either focus on Anatomy like a lunatic, or spend all my hours playing catch-up on Biochem. Seriously, the biochemistry stuff takes me like 2-3 hours to figure out what the hell is going on for each little 1 hour lecture, and some days we have 3 separate biochem lectures 🙁 which would be about 8 hours of biochem studying alone just to get it done, neglecting ALL my other stuff lol.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

As a non-science major, I can assure you that it'll balance itself out pretty soon. Biochem and anatomy are the classes where you're going to feel at the greatest disadvantage because you will have people in your class who majored in biochem or TA'd in anatomy lab, but very few people have significant experience with subjects like neuro, path, pharm, etc.. So, yeah, you do have to study more at the start, but imo it was worth it to not have to take all those extra science classes. And you'll gain good study skills earlier than your classmates who can just sit back and rely on past knowledge.

 

[Miami_med]

I majored in Anthropology, I'm now an MS-3, and I even beat the average on the boards. It's a little harder first year, and thereafter it is totally irrelevant.

I will say that if you majored in a humanity, the hardest thing will be learning to study nothing but science. I know in Anthro, I'd read a 400 page book, recall 10%, use that 10% to write a 10 page paper, and then get an A. In medicine, you get to skip all but the first step, and the relevant (key is relevant) part of the book is even shorter, but you've gotta read it 10 times. That was hard for me at first. It is pretty much all mind numbing repetition until the end of the first semester when it falls back to a steady state of about 80% mind numbing repetition the rest of the time.

 

[mlw03]

biochem is rough, even for someone with a background in it. but in the end it's just massive memorization and you ARE capable of doing it. i agree that repetition is the key. you made it through the toughest hurdle - you got into med school. no one wants to see you fail, and you won't. med school is a big adjustment and i think most students feel overwhelmed at the beginning. you WILL make it through - just keep plugging along.

 

[InternationlDoc]

I majored in Anthropology, I'm now an MS-3, and I even beat the average on the boards. It's a little harder first year, and thereafter it is totally irrelevant.

I will say that if you majored in a humanity, the hardest thing will be learning to study nothing but science. I know in Anthro, I'd read a 400 page book, recall 10%, use that 10% to write a 10 page paper, and then get an A. In medicine, you get to skip all but the first step, and the relevant (key is relevant) part of the book is even shorter, but you've gotta read it 10 times. That was hard for me at first. It is pretty much all mind numbing repetition until the end of the first semester when it falls back to a steady state of about 80% mind numbing repetition the rest of the time.

It's the repetitions that get your through. Sure concepts blah blah, but in the end, that A = how in detail and almost hair splitting facts you can recall. The more you know the more it'll help bind that one concept as well.

1st year = learning how to learn. Atleast it was for me. After first couple of B's you get the idea --> adjust --> honor.
Adjustment = individual tailoring of learning styles.

We'll see about second year, but I don't feel "behind". Study your material everyday and after 2 months you'll get used to it.

👍 lol steady state of 80% hahaah..so true!

 

[ForbiddenComma]

So I'm two weeks into my first year of MD, and I feel soooo behind. I decided after college that I wanted to go into medicine, so I took only the absolutely required science prerequisites (organic and inorganic, and one year of intro bio). Everyone else in my class seems to have had years of biochem (we start with biochem at my school). They seem to be whizzing through while I have to spend significant time with a biology dictionary just to understand what the prof's saying. I feel way behind everyone else and I'm terrified of failing.

This isn't true. It's only your perception. A lot of other people in your class are having major troubles as well... trust me! No matter what they majored in.

Most of your classmates are used to undergrad science. Even if they are biochem majors, most are not fully prepared for the brutality of first-year biochem or anatomy. If you took A&P in undergrad, you will have an idea about how little undergrad courses cover what you have to learn in med school.

The majority of my biology/biochem/bioengineering/etc classmates got either a D or outright failed our first round of tests. Our class average was 67%! And my class is highly traditional in terms of background and age. So don't sweat it.

I got my undergrad degree in journalism, which has about as much to do with biological science as a rocket has to do with a ham and cheese sandwich. But overall, I don't think I had any major disadvantage compared to my classmates.

It doesn't matter what you major in... NOTHING prepares you for med school! 😉

 

[Blade28]

I was an engineering major in college. I felt like I was way behind during the first few weeks of med school as well - but as others have stated, after a while the material is new for EVERYONE. Don't worry, just try to keep up and soon the playing field will be level again.

 

[45408]

Everyone else always seems to WHIZ THROUGH the material, while you, and only you, are left to slowly trudge your way through it. Don't believe it. Many of your classmates are having just as much trouble as you are, and there are probably some having a lot more trouble. There are a few people who are truly amazing at memorizing everything in a day or two, but it's not nearly as much of your class as it may seem.

 

[Pembleton]

So I'm two weeks into my first year of MD, and I feel soooo behind. I decided after college that I wanted to go into medicine, so I took only the absolutely required science prerequisites (organic and inorganic, and one year of intro bio). Everyone else in my class seems to have had years of biochem (we start with biochem at my school). They seem to be whizzing through while I have to spend significant time with a biology dictionary just to understand what the prof's saying. I feel way behind everyone else and I'm terrified of failing.

You will feel as if you are behind. Don't worry too much though as eventually you will catch up. It's really just memorization, your classmates are probably not smarter than you are. They are more likely accustomed to the grind of memorization. Keep working hard and you'll be fine. I was an English major and the transition to med school has been difficult. The things I was good at in school (writing and analysis) aren't really valued during the first two years of school. I had to learn (painfully) to switch off that mindset and find one that works.

 

[samwise2]

feeling esp tool-like lately. i do really well in the more humanities type stuff (pbl), but of course, this all means nothing for the boards, which determine everything. and my school is pass/fail! how do i feel like crap in a pass/fail environment? to me, it's just really stressful bec i am just barely "passing" our quizzes (which don't count, but are supposed to be indicative of the final).

alas. i, too, was a non-science major. all i can say is that i know the feeling, and i hope the other people on this board are right, cuz right now, i am bearish on my prospects... :cry::cry:

 

[Kazema]

1st year = learning how to learn. Atleast it was for me. After first couple of B's you get the idea --> adjust --> honor.
Adjustment = individual tailoring of learning styles.

We'll see about second year, but I don't feel "behind". Study your material everyday and after 2 months you'll get used to it.

👍 lol steady state of 80% hahaah..so true!

Agree with this. Preclinical years aren't so much about how much science you know; first year is mostly about how well you can adjust your learning style to medical school and actually figure out how to learn stuff. Second year is when you actually start understanding what you're learning and figuring out what you should actually be understanding out of all the crap they throw at you.

I was a cognitive science major in undergrad, I took pretty much only the standard med school prereqs. The first semester of first year was mostly me memorizing a whole ton of stuff I didn't understand even in the slightest and wondering what all those biochem majors were talking about. The thing is, most of what they were talking about had nothing to do with what we needed to learn/memorize. Med school biochem/physio/etc explores topics at a shallower level than advanced undergrad courses, so in actuality you may not be as far behind as you think you are. The preclinical years in general are broad but shallow. Advanced undergrad courses tend to go deeply into a few topics, medical school courses cover a ton of topics at a shallow level. It's very different, and science majors have less of an advantage than you think.

And odds are, you're probably doing better than a couple of the science majors. Just try to make it through the basic science stuff and you'll all be on pretty much even footing afterward.

And by the time you hit year 3, none of that will matter at all.

 

[rickthetwinkie]

So I'm two weeks into my first year of MD, and I feel soooo behind. I decided after college that I wanted to go into medicine, so I took only the absolutely required science prerequisites (organic and inorganic, and one year of intro bio). Everyone else in my class seems to have had years of biochem (we start with biochem at my school). They seem to be whizzing through while I have to spend significant time with a biology dictionary just to understand what the prof's saying. I feel way behind everyone else and I'm terrified of failing.

I know exactly what you mean. I graduated with a psych degree, and it definitely seems like "everyone" has taken a biochem class. Just keep plugging at it, because you will eventually get the material. I was initially overwhelmed by some of this, but after a couple of times, it gets a little easier. You may just have to work harder at it due to nonexposure. I imagine this will level off later when everyone is at the same level (relatively).

 

[LadyWolverine]

Everyone else always seems to WHIZ THROUGH the material, while you, and only you, are left to slowly trudge your way through it. Don't believe it. Many of your classmates are having just as much trouble as you are, and there are probably some having a lot more trouble. There are a few people who are truly amazing at memorizing everything in a day or two, but it's not nearly as much of your class as it may seem.

I could not agree with this more. Ignore the people that seem to have an easier time than you do. Most people are lying if they say that they are having an easy time of things. I have an undergraduate degree in Cell/Mol/Biochem, and a graduate degree in Micro/Immuno, and I STILL feel like I am constantly behind. As a matter of fact, I've never felt adequately prepared for a single exam.

Ignore everyone else's habits and do your own thing, even if it means you have to put in more hours. It will pay off in the end.

 

[tacrum43]

OP, med school biochem is a hard class for most people. It was the one that I found hardest, and I was a science major. It might just be that you started off right away with biochem.

Hang in there! And I found that the Lippincott Biochem book was useful in filling the gaps in my knowledge. Just don't try to read all of it. 🙂

 

[Sureshot83]

I was also a non-science major. In my view it actually sort of helps out in the long run. Though first year is probably more difficult as a non-science major, it forces you to work harder and learn how to get to the core of the important stuff in subjects you have never seen before. By the time second year comes around, and the material is new for everyone, you'll be in much better shape than the kid who took biochem, immuno, neuroscience, and physio in college, and just breezed through first year.

Remember that you learn almost nothing of actual value in first year, except for anatomy, physio, and a few rare other things. The only purpose of first year is to get you ready to learn the actual important stuff in second year.

 

[Blanket]

You are gonna be fine....I have BS in EE, so most of the stuff in medical school is new to me.

All this means is that you will have to study a little harder the first two weeks of the semster (when for others the material might be just a review).

(Just few mins ago, i was talking to my buddy and he mentioned how micro so far has been easy so far and a good review for him; while i spent last couple days having to learn this stuff).