Pre-Med Stress..

[Indicum Aequora]

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I've been reading this forum the past couple of years, and I've seen how helpful advice from like-minded people can be. So, if you've had a similar experience to mine, or know someone else who has, I would greatly appreciate your insight. Thank you.

Once I graduated high school I jumped right into university. I decided that I wanted to pick up a double-major/double-minor (all in the sciences), because I was truly interested in all of the topics and thought it'd give me the well-rounded education that I desired. Anyway, my degree was extended two years (60 credits) because of all the extra courses.

I'm now in my fifth year, and although I still enjoy my course work, it's become progressively more difficult to maintain my productivity and motivation. I know my dream is medical school and that I want to fight for it, but I just can't seem to anymore. It's almost as if there's a giant wall preventing me from processing information. For example, over the last few months, I've had a hard time remembering what I've done during the day, things as simple as how I got to school, what I did that morning, or whether I ate or not. I've had trouble formulating good coherent sentences by mispronouncing simple words or losing my train of thought. I've had a hard time reading, retaining, and interpreting information. Overall, I've just noticed a steady decline in my mental capacity.

I've always had to take 6-7 courses/semester (typically almost all science courses), which was never a problem, but now it's unbelievably overwhelming. Something that I did do differently this year, that I've never done before, was take courses year round. Not just one or two light courses, but a plethora of junior/senior science courses. I don't even remember the last time I had a full day off, I've always had to stress about something, be it work (engineering), volunteering (firefighting/EMS), or university. I'm assuming the absence of any breaks is the main contributing factor, but it's mid-semester and I can't take a break now. Taking a break when I have a seven classes to prep for every week means failing every class...

So, does anyone have any advice on how to push through and get some proper brain function back?

 

[ohioguy]

Didn't read your whole post but there's pre med stress, there's going to be pre MCAT stress, post MCAT stress, interviewing stress, and then when you're in med school there's some stress there as well. Did I mention actual doctor stress?

Find some ways to relax and take time for yourself. Staying sane with all the stuff you got going is a skill in it of itself.

 

[Kinch]

Taking 6-7 science courses per semester would stress most people out if you are truly doing that. If I write down the tasks I need to accomplish that day in the morning and just check them off one by one, I tend to feel less stressed throughout the day.

 

[solitarius]

Sounds like burnout.

 

[woltej1]

If the dream is to become a doctor then why are you doing all this undergraduate extra course work? Is it that important for you to learn about it that you're willing to push back your medical career 2 years and pay the extra money? You said that you know your dream is medical school, but the first question that popped into my head after partially reading your post is what the hell are you doing all this extra stuff for then? It is beyond unnecessary for medical school. If you are getting stressed out after 6 years of schooling and you have medical school left and your grades show it, there will be some serious concerns from medical schools. Not saying it will hold you back from admission as it seems you're a good student and willing to put in the effort to learn, but it will require explaining in your II.

 

[Ismet]

Part of me wants to call troll...people actually do this? Willingly doing 6 years of undergrad when you know you want to go into medicine is a little ridiculous.

You're burned out. I really hope you're planning a gap year between graduating and med school, because you can't continue like that. Med school will eat you alive if you come in already burned out. If you keep going like this, your GPA, and more importantly, your physical/mental/emotional well-being will suffer. You need to cut it back, maybe drop the minors or drop whatever you have invested the least time in. You say you are genuinely interested in the subjects and that you want a well-rounded education, but you're going down a path that has the potential to be very harmful.

But that's more long-term, like taking fewer classes next semester, and maybe seeking professional help. Also look into relaxation techniques, yoga, take short breaks, etc.

 

[inycepoo]

Either a troll, or a poor, uninformed premed doing all the things wrong (e.g., why so many years of college if you don't like it, bro?).

Not sure which one is worse.. 🙁

 

[Mr Avante]

Either a troll, or a poor, uninformed premed doing all the things wrong (e.g., why so many years of college if you don't like it, bro?).

Not sure which one is worse.. 🙁

Nay,
Just burnout

OP, take a break and relax.

 

[Indicum Aequora]

Thanks for your responses everyone.

None of it really helped my situation, but hopefully future readers will benefit from some of your advice.

 

[Etyan]

To address the final question:
You are burned out.

Want to regain some semblance of your former functionality? Drop some of the excess activities identified by the posters above. Get some sleep. Rewind by a lake. Cook and consume healthy food.

Not possible for you? At the very least, get in a daily routine that includes exercise where you break a sweat. Minimum 30 mins/day investment will do wonders for both functionality and outlook.

I've been reading this forum the past couple of years, and I've seen how helpful advice from like-minded people can be. So, if you've had a similar experience to mine, or know someone else who has, I would greatly appreciate your insight. Thank you.

Once I graduated high school I jumped right into university. I decided that I wanted to pick up a double-major/double-minor (all in the sciences), because I was truly interested in all of the topics and thought it'd give me the well-rounded education that I desired. Anyway, my degree was extended two years (60 credits) because of all the extra courses.

I'm now in my fifth year, and although I still enjoy my course work, it's become progressively more difficult to maintain my productivity and motivation. I know my dream is medical school and that I want to fight for it, but I just can't seem to anymore. It's almost as if there's a giant wall preventing me from processing information. For example, over the last few months, I've had a hard time remembering what I've done during the day, things as simple as how I got to school, what I did that morning, or whether I ate or not. I've had trouble formulating good coherent sentences by mispronouncing simple words or losing my train of thought. I've had a hard time reading, retaining, and interpreting information. Overall, I've just noticed a steady decline in my mental capacity.

I've always had to take 6-7 courses/semester (typically almost all science courses), which was never a problem, but now it's unbelievably overwhelming. Something that I did do differently this year, that I've never done before, was take courses year round. Not just one or two light courses, but a plethora of junior/senior science courses. I don't even remember the last time I had a full day off, I've always had to stress about something, be it work (engineering), volunteering (firefighting/EMS), or university. I'm assuming the absence of any breaks is the main contributing factor, but it's mid-semester and I can't take a break now. Taking a break when I have a seven classes to prep for every week means failing every class...

So, does anyone have any advice on how to push through and get some proper brain function back?

 

[LuciusVorenus]

I've been reading this forum the past couple of years, and I've seen how helpful advice from like-minded people can be. So, if you've had a similar experience to mine, or know someone else who has, I would greatly appreciate your insight. Thank you.

Once I graduated high school I jumped right into university. I decided that I wanted to pick up a double-major/double-minor (all in the sciences), because I was truly interested in all of the topics and thought it'd give me the well-rounded education that I desired. Anyway, my degree was extended two years (60 credits) because of all the extra courses.

I'm now in my fifth year, and although I still enjoy my course work, it's become progressively more difficult to maintain my productivity and motivation. I know my dream is medical school and that I want to fight for it, but I just can't seem to anymore. It's almost as if there's a giant wall preventing me from processing information. For example, over the last few months, I've had a hard time remembering what I've done during the day, things as simple as how I got to school, what I did that morning, or whether I ate or not. I've had trouble formulating good coherent sentences by mispronouncing simple words or losing my train of thought. I've had a hard time reading, retaining, and interpreting information. Overall, I've just noticed a steady decline in my mental capacity.

I've always had to take 6-7 courses/semester (typically almost all science courses), which was never a problem, but now it's unbelievably overwhelming. Something that I did do differently this year, that I've never done before, was take courses year round. Not just one or two light courses, but a plethora of junior/senior science courses. I don't even remember the last time I had a full day off, I've always had to stress about something, be it work (engineering), volunteering (firefighting/EMS), or university. I'm assuming the absence of any breaks is the main contributing factor, but it's mid-semester and I can't take a break now. Taking a break when I have a seven classes to prep for every week means failing every class...

So, does anyone have any advice on how to push through and get some proper brain function back?

You're working as an engineer while doing 6 science classes a semester every semester for six years? No one here has an easy solution to your problem because there is none. As others have said, it's burn out.

If you can, quit your job. If possible, drop one of your majors or your minors and try to graduate ASAP. Then take a year off for your sixth year.

 

[supermintyfresh]

... For example, over the last few months, I've had a hard time remembering what I've done during the day, things as simple as how I got to school, what I did that morning, or whether I ate or not. I've had trouble formulating good coherent sentences by mispronouncing simple words or losing my train of thought. I've had a hard time reading, retaining, and interpreting information. Overall, I've just noticed a steady decline in my mental capacity.

Sounds like:

1. You need sleep
2. You need sleep
3. You need SLEEP!
4. You have a brain tumor, and that is affecting your mental capacity 😉

In all seriousness, allot 7-8 hours of your day to just sleep, and another 1 hour to exercise daily. Guaruntee you will remember what you ate in the morning after just one week! 😀

 

[inycepoo]

Thanks for your responses everyone.

None of it really helped my situation, but hopefully future readers will benefit from some of your advice.

Really? Obvious troll is obvious.