Pre-Clinical Grades

[futuredoctor1995]

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Hello!

I just started at a DO school and I am wondering how important are pre-clinical grades. We had a Biochem test and I didn't do that bad because I passed without the curve but I am so concerned with grades. I need to study for the boards but classes take a huge time out. Grades are giving me alot of anxiety and we have anatomy now so I am even more worried about if I will pass or not. So my question is how important are the grades in pre-clinical year? I just want to do Internal or Family Medicine on the East Coast. Thank you!

 

[Chibucks15]

Hello!

I just started at a DO school and I am wondering how important are pre-clinical grades. We had a Biochem test and I didn't do that bad because I passed without the curve but I am so concerned with grades. I need to study for the boards but classes take a huge time out. Grades are giving me alot of anxiety and we have anatomy now so I am even more worried about if I will pass or not. So my question is how important are the grades in pre-clinical year? I just want to do Internal or Family Medicine on the East Coast. Thank you!

Take a deep breath you'll be okay. Don't study for boards yet just focus on refining study skills and doing well in classes. The pre-clinical grades aren't the most important, but they aren't worth absolutely zero. Just pass and work on getting better. You can worry about boards after this year

 

[futuredoctor1995]

I do well to the point where I can get a B- but I am so confused on whether I should strive for more. Someone told me to get Uworld for 2 years... is that a bad idea to study for classes?

Take a deep breath you'll be okay. Don't study for boards yet just focus on refining study skills and doing well in classes. The pre-clinical grades aren't the most important, but they aren't worth absolutely zero. Just pass and work on getting better. You can worry about boards after this year

 

[Chibucks15]

I do well to the point where I can get a B- but I am so confused on whether I should strive for more. Someone told me to get Uworld for 2 years... is that a bad idea to study for classes?

Some people it works for, but the thing is you have to find what works for you. If your school has a tutor/learning office or something like that they can help a lot with building study strategies and moving forward. Keep trying different things to see what works. It took me almost half of first year to get something really figured out. The thing with Uworld or any board prep, is that they test on many clinical things you don't really learn until second year so your scores will be low and it won't really help. Depends on what setting syou have. Try Anki if you havent yet. It isn't my thing, but some people swear by it.

Above all else, just keep grinding you can do it. I've found the less you worry about each particular grade the better you end up doing due to less pressure. And for what its worth, many schools are pass/fail preclinical, so it shows that the specific grade isn't hugely important. But do your best to be as high in the class as you can and itll work out. Good luck

 

[FourniersGreenGang]

Study for your classes. That IS studying for boards. There's a lot of minutia on both board exams you're unlikely to run across or pay much attention to in first aid and study resources. Sometimes the odd thing from some random lecture is just what you needed to answer a question. It's a good idea to be familiar with your boards resources but study for your classes primarily.

 

[calbear20]

Lol typical neurotic med student advice. You just started MS1 and someone is telling you to hop on the uworld train. Do you even know what you want to do? If you're gunning for ortho or derm or some other crazy competitive field by all means start early and make your life 1000x more miserable now. Otherwise I'd say you need to relax and focus on doing well in your classes now. Like someone said above me, studying for your classes IS studying for boards. It may not feel like it because yes it's way extra info then you need but it's foundational in the end.

I do well to the point where I can get a B- but I am so confused on whether I should strive for more. Someone told me to get Uworld for 2 years... is that a bad idea to study for classes?

 

[futuredoctor1995]

Lol typical neurotic med student advice. You just started MS1 and someone is telling you to hop on the uworld train. Do you even know what you want to do? If you're gunning for ortho or derm or some other crazy competitive field by all means start early and make your life 1000x more miserable now. Otherwise I'd say you need to relax and focus on doing well in your classes now. Like someone said above me, studying for your classes IS studying for boards. It may not feel like it because yes it's way extra info then you need but it's foundational in the end.

I am actually not trying to gun for anything competitive. I just want to pass and do well these 2 years. I am for the internal medicien or family medicine side! I just want to be able to balance my life and not study as much as I do now. I have lost the sense of weekends and weekdays because I study so much. Thanks

 

[futuredoctor1995]

Study for your classes. That IS studying for boards. There's a lot of minutia on both board exams you're unlikely to run across or pay much attention to in first aid and study resources. Sometimes the odd thing from some random lecture is just what you needed to answer a question. It's a good idea to be familiar with your boards resources but study for your classes primarily.

Thank you! I don't care that much about Boards right now but my question was how important are the pre-clinical grades? Thanks!

 

[futuredoctor1995]

Some people it works for, but the thing is you have to find what works for you. If your school has a tutor/learning office or something like that they can help a lot with building study strategies and moving forward. Keep trying different things to see what works. It took me almost half of first year to get something really figured out. The thing with Uworld or any board prep, is that they test on many clinical things you don't really learn until second year so your scores will be low and it won't really help. Depends on what setting syou have. Try Anki if you havent yet. It isn't my thing, but some people swear by it.

Above all else, just keep grinding you can do it. I've found the less you worry about each particular grade the better you end up doing due to less pressure. And for what its worth, many schools are pass/fail preclinical, so it shows that the specific grade isn't hugely important. But do your best to be as high in the class as you can and itll work out. Good luck

Thank you so much! I just wanted to know how important is my GPA? I just don't want to be trying for a 100 and then realizing that a 80 would have been just fine and I would've actually slept longer and stressed less. T

 

[Chibucks15]

Thank you so much! I just wanted to know how important is my GPA? I just don't want to be trying for a 100 and then realizing that a 80 would have been just fine and I would've actually slept longer and stressed less. T

Do the best you can without burning yourself out. It will do nothing but help you in the long run. But think of it this way...every school grades differently how would residencies compare them?

Class rank is definitely a thing but that can be lower on the list as well. Do a search on here or google for NRMP program directors survey. It gets you all the info you want

 

[Goro]

Hello!

I just started at a DO school and I am wondering how important are pre-clinical grades. We had a Biochem test and I didn't do that bad because I passed without the curve but I am so concerned with grades. I need to study for the boards but classes take a huge time out. Grades are giving me alot of anxiety and we have anatomy now so I am even more worried about if I will pass or not. So my question is how important are the grades in pre-clinical year? I just want to do Internal or Family Medicine on the East Coast. Thank you!

PDs don't care about hem, but they are the best predictors of Board scores.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Figure out your rhythm w classes before you focus on boards. It’s still early in the semester. You need to build up a little cushion now bc the intensity is likely to keep ramping up. One of the nicest feelings is walking into finals (which will be insane btw) and not having to even worry about passing bc you busted a** all semester and have a massive buffer.

 

[gensurghopeful]

If you're trying to do FM or IM your fine - just study and chill and make med school that best it can be.
Board scores for those residency spots are on the lower end (depending on location).

I plan on starting board studying end of OMS1 year and will be trying to hit min of 230.

 

[Mr. D.O.five]

Hello!

I just started at a DO school and I am wondering how important are pre-clinical grades. We had a Biochem test and I didn't do that bad because I passed without the curve but I am so concerned with grades. I need to study for the boards but classes take a huge time out. Grades are giving me alot of anxiety and we have anatomy now so I am even more worried about if I will pass or not. So my question is how important are the grades in pre-clinical year? I just want to do Internal or Family Medicine on the East Coast. Thank you!

lol