overachiever syndrome

[PAgirl]

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We've had one test and a quiz so far, and I already know I need to calm down A LOT with worrying about grades. I'm not competetive with other people, but I put a ton of pressure on myself to do really well. I've been really stressed that I'm not going to get honors in my classes, which I know is completely ridiculous because med school is completely different than any other kind of school in terms of grades, but I can't help it. I've done well so far, but we've only been in school 4 weeks, and I know I'm bound to do mediocre on a test in the future, so I'm trying to prepare myself for that now so I won't freak out. Trust me, I know how crazy I sound, but I'm really hard on myself. It's not my parents or anything, I just feel like, for me, it's unacceptable to not get good grades. And the worst thing is I don't even know what it's like to get below an 85 on a test, so I think I'm really going to have a hard time dealing with it. Has anyone else felt this way? Can any second years give me any advice for coping with being on par with everyone else?

 

[thedelicatessen]

Dude, I totally feel that way too. It sometimes seems like my whole professional career depends on every little thing I do in med school, but I guess at the end of the day, as long as we try hard and pass, we'll become doctors and do good in society, which is my ultimate reason for going into medicine. We will survive!

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Just make sure the test you do medicore on isn't USMLE step I cuz that's the only test that matters for your first two years.

 

[PAgirl]

Just make sure the test you do medicore on isn't USMLE step I cuz that's the only test that matters for your first two years.

Yeah, a lot of people have said that your grades for the first two years aren't that important, it's Step 1 that really makes a difference. I've been trying to make myself feel better by telling myself that, but it hasn't worked very well so far. I know if I get good board scores I'll most likely get into the residency I want, but for some reason that isn't enough to make me feel better.

 

[leopanther]

I'm trying to imagine how sheltered of a life you must have had to be this terrified about scoring below 85 on a test.

 

[PAgirl]

I'm trying to imagine how sheltered of a life you must have had to be this terrified about scoring below 85 on a test.

First of all, I'm definitely not terrified. I know it's not the end of world and obviously nothing's going to happen to me. It's more that I'm really stressed about it. It just really bothers me. And like I said, my parents never put pressure on me, nor did anyone else. It's completely self-induced. I don't understand why I'm like this, and believe me, I want to change it. There has to be other people in med school who feel the same way. I think it comes from being a Type A, which I assume most med students are. Trust me, I'm completely normal in every other way. I'm not one of those kids who studies 24/7, I don't want other people to do poorly, and I don't even like talking about school when I'm hanging out or doing something else. But I know I have the wrong mindset about grades and I'm looking for some advice about how to change that. Ok, I'm going to stop posting for a while. Right now I should devote some time to studying instead of student doctor.

 

[ZagDoc]

Just remember... ALL of your classmates have barely ever scored below an 85 on tests. The pool you're competing with now is nothing like before. The amount of information you're expected to know if nothing like before. You're in rarified air. Just keep strokin the ego, and remember that at this point, passing doesn't mean you're average. Passing means you're among the middle of extradiornary people. Ps get MDs right?

Addendun: I don't think extraordinary is too strong of a word.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Yeah, a lot of people have said that your grades for the first two years aren't that important, it's Step 1 that really makes a difference. I've been trying to make myself feel better by telling myself that, but it hasn't worked very well so far. I know if I get good board scores I'll most likely get into the residency I want, but for some reason that isn't enough to make me feel better.

Time for a psych consult.

 

[Engin]

We've had one test and a quiz so far, and I already know I need to calm down A LOT with worrying about grades. I'm not competetive with other people, but I put a ton of pressure on myself to do really well. I've been really stressed that I'm not going to get honors in my classes, which I know is completely ridiculous because med school is completely different than any other kind of school in terms of grades, but I can't help it. I've done well so far, but we've only been in school 4 weeks, and I know I'm bound to do mediocre on a test in the future, so I'm trying to prepare myself for that now so I won't freak out. Trust me, I know how crazy I sound, but I'm really hard on myself. It's not my parents or anything, I just feel like, for me, it's unacceptable to not get good grades. And the worst thing is I don't even know what it's like to get below an 85 on a test, so I think I'm really going to have a hard time dealing with it. Has anyone else felt this way? Can any second years give me any advice for coping with being on par with everyone else?

Stop apologizing and beating yourself over your supercompetitiive nature. Embrace it. We have enough people who don't care enough, who do just enough to get by. Even in medical school. Being supercompetitive, caring so much, is something I wish I had more of.

Just stay balanced. And then if you can, try to have a better than than just your ego for this drive. And then fu^&IN go for it.

 

[Cirrus83]

Do your best but seriously, browbeating yourself to study like 20 hours a day while thinking crazy competitive thoughts may not really be the best way to study, lol.

 

[Tristy]

Do your best but seriously, browbeating yourself to study like 20 hours a day while thinking crazy competitive thoughts may not really be the best way to study, lol.

Right, don't give yourself a surmenage 😉 or you'll end-up in the medschool looney-house! Plus, you're draining your energy just thinking about "the others" And besides, i think we've all (or a lot of us) felt the way you're feeling right now in the evil evil first year..

I wish I could be more eloquent and give a more constructive/intelligent answer, but it's almost 5am around here and my brain is on strike. GL though!

 

[blz]

sounds like the standard med school chick.

 

[cbass1350]

We've had one test and a quiz so far, and I already know I need to calm down A LOT with worrying about grades. I'm not competetive with other people, but I put a ton of pressure on myself to do really well. I've been really stressed that I'm not going to get honors in my classes, which I know is completely ridiculous because med school is completely different than any other kind of school in terms of grades, but I can't help it. I've done well so far, but we've only been in school 4 weeks, and I know I'm bound to do mediocre on a test in the future, so I'm trying to prepare myself for that now so I won't freak out. Trust me, I know how crazy I sound, but I'm really hard on myself. It's not my parents or anything, I just feel like, for me, it's unacceptable to not get good grades. And the worst thing is I don't even know what it's like to get below an 85 on a test, so I think I'm really going to have a hard time dealing with it. Has anyone else felt this way? Can any second years give me any advice for coping with being on par with everyone else?

I wish someone would have told me that pre-clinical grades have very little to do with how good a doctor I will be.

 

[78222]

You need to chill out before everyone starts to hate you.

 

[Doctor J]

You need to chill out before everyone starts to hate you.

Word.

Classmates that are all 'oh I'm so worried about my grades' and then get 2 s.d.'s above mean are hated like none other.

Classmates that get their honors quietly and humbly without rubbing anyone's noses in it are usually well liked. They're good to go to for answers.

 

[humuhumu]

The most important things to worry about as you study during the first two years:

How can I remember and understand this material so I can...

(1) ... be a better physician?
(2) ... learn and perform effectively as a 3rd and 4th year med student?
(3) ... crush Step 1?

Don't worry about grades (unless you're failing). Worry about how well you remember and understand the material, because most of it really does matter clinically.

 

[pagemmapants]

The most important things to worry about as you study during the first two years:

How can I remember and understand this material so I can...

(1) ... be a better physician?
(2) ... learn and perform effectively as a 3rd and 4th year med student?
(3) ... crush Step 1?

Don't worry about grades (unless you're failing). Worry about how well you remember and understand the material, because most of it really does matter clinically.

Exactly exactly exactly. At this point, studying for the exams is NOT the way to go. I've told this to all of my friends who, last year, were staying out until 2 am every day until 3 days before the test and then locking themselves in the library for the entire pre-exam weekend. The exams are a good way of keeping track of how much you know, but really the grades you get on them have very very VERY little to do with how your residency app is going to be viewed. You're not learning for the professor anymore, you're learning for yourself, for the boards, and most especially for your future patients. Blowing an exam out of the water and getting a 98% is going to make you feel good for a few days but if you forget everything you learned for that exam 3 days later it pretty much matters as much as what color socks you wore on August 23rd 2003.

 

[swoop]

I doubt many go from barely passing their block exams to a 255 step I. Pure conjecture of course. If it makes you feel better, there has to be lot of data somewhere showing no real correlation of anything to step I score...

 

[PAgirl]

Thanks to everyone for the encouraging words. I've heard that grades don't really matter, and it makes me feel better to hear it again and again. So far I've been doing pretty well with just being happy to learn the material. I really like it, the way it inter-relates and is actually relevant to my future career like nothing has been before. I think that knowing I've learned the material and will (hopefully) retain it will be satisfaction enough.

 

[THP]

As you go through you will settle into a routine and it won't seem as stressful. Just make sure you don't ruminate on your grades. Because of the sheer number of tests you will take through medical school (which continues into 3rd year by the way - something I wish they had told me) they just become second nature and you won't stress as much.

I do think your attitude is good though that you put pressure on yourself to do well. People who are successful in life tend to have that inner drive.

 

[mindquick]

try not to care, rather, see stress as an advantage. the more you like the stress, the more the stress will like you in return. it makes you more competitive and hard-working, as long as the stress is good stress, the kind that likes you.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Try getting your head out of your books. Share your plight with a kid with ALL. I've heard oncology patients are really empathetic. They give good advice for coping with anxiety, stress, pressure, depression. That sort of thing. I'm sure you can get some perspective on what it means to be on par with everyone else.

 

[greenmarker]

Yeah, I'm kind of the same way. I did well on the quiz and test that we had, and certainly did not rub it in anyone's face (I said I did fine/okay)... but for the few days before that I was a mess in terms of doing nothing other than locking myself up in my room and studying/freaking out/convincing myself that if I took too much time out to surf the net or, you know, talk to someone i will fail out/be a terrible doctor... the entire nine yards. Even though, logically I know how completely ridiculous that is. I know that I rather not shoot for honors/high pass if it means that this is what it will take, but the compulsion of trying harder/etc is definitely alive and well. And also, I have zero interest in the "competitive" specialties, so its not even that.

So, basically, I'm in the same boat, and I really don't want to be a complete nutjob. I'm joining the gym and forcing myself to go and be consistent with it, I'm gonna try to study more with people because there is no way that I will be this neurotic if it means that others would have to know about it, and just taking more 'constructive' breaks (ie not sdn/facebook/tmz ideally, but going out to a park or a restaurant, preferable with others).