People who failed?

[dannye3]

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I want to read stories/blogs about people who failed medical school.

I've come across a few threads on here but apparently the thread starter was just a troll.

Why do I want to read about people failing medical school?

Because I want to know what to expect if it happens...and see how these people moved on/where they went (maybe they all just went to dental school?).

I can't seem to find any.

Anyone?

 

[rachmoninov3]

two things:
1. Stop worrying about failing and go study. Send an email to your professor if you're worried about failing.
2. Most people who fail are given many chances to retake or repeat depending on your school. Just because you failed your anatomy course doesn't mean they'll kick you out. You'll probably have to go through a remediation process and retake an exam or two, but you won't be kicked to the curb.

I had a friend who left med school and she was given many chances to make-up the class she failed. She just decided to leave, and is very happy with that choice.

If you want to be a doctor, stick with it and with a little help you'll make it. If you want to leave, cut your losses now and move on.

 

[Law2Doc]

two things:
1. Stop worrying about failing and go study. Send an email to your professor if you're worried about failing.
2. Most people who fail are given many chances to retake or repeat depending on your school. Just because you failed your anatomy course doesn't mean they'll kick you out. You'll probably have to go through a remediation process and retake an exam or two, but you won't be kicked to the curb.

Agreed. Less than 1% of US allo med students actually fail out. Those that do were given second and third chances, ranging from repeating courses to repeating years. While it's not that hard to fail a test or perhaps even a course once, if you cannot manage to pass on the second or third time through a given block, the nicest thing a school can do is stop you from wasting your time, because it never gets any easier. As mentioned above, if you screw up, you get help, you fix things, and the next time through you pass. No real reason to dwell on this topic because there's maybe one person per year who has these issues, and they are usually battling other non-academic distractors.

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

People who get accepted to medical school are all capable of completing it. Most of the time that people struggle it's usually due to other problems in there life, which can vary from family problems to depression to inefficient studying. If you are putting in the effort, the reward will be passing or even honoring. Granted, it's going to be easier for some than others. But admissions do a good job of accepting people who can pass through all the hoops.

I find most people who are struggling are having either personal issues or aren't studying effectively. Some of the ways you studied in UG won't cut it in med school, the time investment is much greater so you can't afford to dick around using certain methods. If you think you are going to fail, get some help. There are TONS of resources for med students to succeed, so be sure to use them! Some times all it takes is for someone in the know to point you in the right direction. Suck up you pride and ask for help! everyone is human at some point.

If you are looking for what life offers after med school you are clearly looking for a way out. If this is you choice, make sure it is one you can make with out having any regret in making. Leave and never look back.

If you are willing to see it through, suck it up and hit the books (after talking to your dean or student councilor)

How do you eat an elephant?








....One bite at a time.

 

[indo]

people who fail a class or two almost always have some pervasive personal conflict...rarely is it because someone isn't "smart enough" for med school.

 

[njbmd]

I want to read stories/blogs about people who failed medical school.

I've come across a few threads on here but apparently the thread starter was just a troll.

Why do I want to read about people failing medical school?

Because I want to know what to expect if it happens...and see how these people moved on/where they went (maybe they all just went to dental school?).

I can't seem to find any.

Anyone?

The number one reason that people fail in medical school is that something (personal or family illness, issues, procrastination, poor study habits) prevents them from mastering the large volume of information that needs to be assimilated in order to get through the coursework. People do NOT fail because the material to too difficult to understand. In terms of understanding, medical school is far easier than many undergraduate courses. The volume is the culprit in terms of mastery. Your study time and study habits have to allow you to deal with the volume.

In my blogs, I write about why medical students fail and relate some stories and thus you may want to take a look there as there is too much to write in one thread.

 

[Tired]

Suicide?

 

[Trail Boss]

Suicide?

Not as funny as you might think.

 

[dannye3]

Thanks for the responses...

The reason I asked is because I was wondering what type of careers are available if you have completed the 4-year pre-med cirriculum and either didn't get accepted to med-school or failed (or dropped out).

Do you have to get a master's degree in one of the sciences and if you do, what kind of careers are available for that?

 

[dannye3]

What I mean is, what kind of careers are available to someone who has a degree in the 4-year pre-med sciences, ie: major in Biology, or Chemistry, etc?

I've heard of people saying they failed medical school and just "wasted 4 years of their life in pre-med".

Is that an over-exaggeration? Are there any decent careers out there besides dental school?

If anyone has a brief list of those careers that'd be appreciated...

My current plan is to get a degree in Computer Sciences so I can get a good paying job and help fund my way through pre-med/medical school. I already have about 6 years experience writing computer software and websites, but didn't go to college to learn it so I do not have a degree.

I also will be spending those 2 years paying off some debt (not much, but my credit sucks terribly), and getting other things situated before I plan on going in the medical direction...

 

[shabu2]

Are there any decent careers out there besides dental school?

Dentistry is not a bad option...... But, I found dental school to be a bigger time commitment than med school.

 

[WellWornLad]

What I mean is, what kind of careers are available to someone who has a degree in the 4-year pre-med sciences, ie: major in Biology, or Chemistry, etc?

I've heard of people saying they failed medical school and just "wasted 4 years of their life in pre-med".

All you need for med school is 8-10 courses. You can really major in anything you like and still get the prereqs done. Just do something you enjoy. Undergrad majors mean nothing, unless you plan on being an architect, engineer or grad student.

My current plan is to get a degree in Computer Sciences so I can get a good paying job and help fund my way through pre-med/medical school. I already have about 6 years experience writing computer software and websites, but didn't go to college to learn it so I do not have a degree.

I was a comp sci major. Hey, do it if it interests you but don't expect the sky to rain down jobs upon you. Technology is a terribly fragmented field and no one cares if you're a comp sci major. If you want something that pays decently (read: not an intern or help desk position) they'll want to see enterprise-grade projects you've done in the language/development environment they use, which usually comes out of low/non-paying internships.

That's a lot of effort and time to put in for 2 years of entry-level salary while you simultaneously take care of prereqs and extracurriculars. I wouldn't plan on having any regular employment during med school.

Bottom line, if you really want to go the med school route, I suggest you fully commit and not put so much emphasis on your back-up plan. If you're not completely sure about medicine, you should explore it further. If you're worried about making it through, don't - that's the adcom's job.

I also will be spending those 2 years paying off some debt (not much, but my credit sucks terribly), and getting other things situated before I plan on going in the medical direction...

I don't know exactly how your credit ratings affect government loans, but if you end up taking out private loans a bad rating can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, or prevent you from getting loans altogether. I would speak to a financial aid rep at a med school about this if I were you.

 

[mjl1717]

Why dwell on the negative? (there is enough pressure as is!) Just go study!!!!😕

 

[francisco84]

at my school, failing class=retake year... there are about 6 people in my class who started last year, including one who missed passing the last class of the year by 1pt

 

[GoLakers310]

Dentistry is not a bad option...... But, I found dental school to be a bigger time commitment than med school.

How would you know that?

 

[FlowLimited]

at my school, failing class=retake year... there are about 6 people in my class who started last year, including one who missed passing the last class of the year by 1pt

Yeah, but MCV has letter grades so failing is literally earning an F, right? I would imagine that schools with Honors, High Pass, etc. tend to be more lenient on those who "fail" because failing may only be one point below Pass.

I don't attend MCV, so if I'm mistaken and any letter grade below a C is failing, then, well, that's just mean...

 

[Lopyswine]

I love how many med students continue to view dental school as backup. Its not. Its an entirely different career.

Its not like the dental schools accept the MCAT. You can't transfer in ANY of you medical school classes.

Its an entirely different school with different criteria for admission.

Dental school requires hundreds of hours of shadowing and assisting to ensure the applicant is serious about dentistry.

Also, you have to realize that MOST of dentistry is hand skills. We have to spend countless hours in the lab working our preparations. The teachers will grace you a C if you a TENTH of a millimeter over/under the ideal prep.

What I am trying it say is: If you like dentistry more than medicine, go for it. However do not view dental school as the de facto backup to med school.

 

[FlowLimited]

I love how many med students continue to view dental school as backup. Its not. Its an entirely different career.

Its not like the dental schools accept the MCAT. You can't transfer in ANY of you medical school classes.

Its an entirely different school with different criteria for admission.

Dental school requires hundreds of hours of shadowing and assisting to ensure the applicant is serious about dentistry.

Also, you have to realize that MOST of dentistry is hand skills. We have to spend countless hours in the lab working our preparations. The teachers will grace you a C if you a TENTH of a millimeter over/under the ideal prep.

What I am trying it say is: If you like dentistry more than medicine, go for it. However do not view dental school as the de facto backup to med school.

His post history suggests he's pre-med. I wouldn't take it personally.

 

[dannye3]

If you mean me, I wouldn't even try to go the dental route if I failed medical school... I have no desire to be a dentist at all (no offense to any dentists), that's why I was wondering if there are any careers for people with science degrees, but someome said that teaching or going back to school would probably be the only options?

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

What I mean is, what kind of careers are available to someone who has a degree in the 4-year pre-med sciences, ie: major in Biology, or Chemistry, etc?

I've heard of people saying they failed medical school and just "wasted 4 years of their life in pre-med".

Is that an over-exaggeration? Are there any decent careers out there besides dental school?

If anyone has a brief list of those careers that'd be appreciated...

My current plan is to get a degree in Computer Sciences so I can get a good paying job and help fund my way through pre-med/medical school. I already have about 6 years experience writing computer software and websites, but didn't go to college to learn it so I do not have a degree.

I also will be spending those 2 years paying off some debt (not much, but my credit sucks terribly), and getting other things situated before I plan on going in the medical direction...

Ok..... so if I get this right, not only have you not been accepted to medical school, but you also have not gotten most of the way through your pre-med classes.....

It is WAY TOO EARLY to worry about failing med school! Its like you are setting yourself up to fail! If you dont think you can hack it (the pre-med classes should let you know if you are capible of the material) then dont even bother with med school.

Use your degree in comuputers if things dont work out, you said you have alot of experience with them so use that to your advantage.

Now stop worry about something you are so far away from!

 

[shabu2]

How would you know that?

Because I am an Oral Maxillofacial Surgery resident who already graduated from dental school and am more than halfway through med school.

 

[shabu2]

You can't transfer in ANY of you medical school classes.

Its an entirely different school with different criteria for admission.

Not entirely true. You can get all science classes waived at Columbia (dental) if you already took Step I or already have your MD. and science requirements for med and dental are the same. But I feel you.......Dental school was harder in my mind compared to med school due to that tenth of a millimeter rule! 🙂

 

[Lopyswine]

Not entirely true. You can get all science classes waived at Columbia (dental) if you already took Step I or already have your MD. and science requirements for med and dental are the same. But I feel you.......Dental school was harder in my mind compared to med school due to that tenth of a millimeter rule! 🙂

currently only 2 out of the 56 dental schools accept med school transfer credits. So I was speaking in a general sense that most med students who change to dental will have to repeat their science courses.

 

[Law2Doc]

Or because the teacher discovers half of the students illegally got a copy of the final exam and in revenge the teacher makes an insanely difficult exam no normal human being would be capable of passing and flunks EVERYONE no matter whether the students were innocent or they were involved in getting that exam. Personal experience.

I'm assuming from your location that this wasn't at a US med school.