Pre-medical Crash Course

[avksx]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello. I'm Aveks. I've read these forums for a few months, and finally decided to post. I'm a pre-med, with a poor academic history, a sub-par life history and I'm ready to turn that around. I'm seeking some personalized help, but before I go asking questions, I'll give a brief introduction of myself and where I'm at in my life.

I'm a student at a small community college in California. My academic career is less than stellar. I graduated from a 4-1/2 year high school career with a 2.1 GPA. I test well, and my ability to understand concepts and apply them is uncanny, and I've been relying on this gift to get me through school for most of my life. I absorb concepts and ideas like a sponge. I didn't turn in any homework assignments in high school, I never studied, I slept through almost every class and aced every test that was handed to me.

My first semester of community college (Spring 09) I establish a 1.0 gpa and got myself landed on academic probation. Around this time something snapped in my head. I got really damn tired of sitting on the sidelines to my own existence. During the summer I took a really intensive writing course, and I worked harder than I ever have in my life (still not very hard), and managed to scrape a B+ in the course. That was the highest grade I'd gotten in 7 years. This year I aggressively set my sights on pursuing a degree in neurobiology and possibly medical Neurology if I could get there. I decided to push myself a little harder, and ended up scraping together a cumulative 3.3 GPA this semester.

I don't know how to study. I don't know how to take notes. I don't know how to be a good student. I have no idea where to go from here.


So my question for you, SDN, is such:


How in the hell do I prove to Medical school administrators that I'm worth their time? I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I have what it takes, I just need to know how to make my potential energy into kinetic energy.

 

[apumic]

Hello. I'm Aveks. I've read these forums for a few months, and finally decided to post. I'm a pre-med, with a poor academic history, a sub-par life history and I'm ready to turn that around. I'm seeking some personalized help, but before I go asking questions, I'll give a brief introduction of myself and where I'm at in my life.

I'm a student at a small community college in California. My academic career is less than stellar. I graduated from a 4-1/2 year high school career with a 2.1 GPA. I test well, and my ability to understand concepts and apply them is uncanny, and I've been relying on this gift to get me through school for most of my life. I absorb concepts and ideas like a sponge. I didn't turn in any homework assignments in high school, I never studied, I slept through almost every class and aced every test that was handed to me.

My first semester of community college (Spring 09) I establish a 1.0 gpa and got myself landed on academic probation. Around this time something snapped in my head. I got really damn tired of sitting on the sidelines to my own existence. During the summer I took a really intensive writing course, and I worked harder than I ever have in my life (still not very hard), and managed to scrape a B+ in the course. That was the highest grade I'd gotten in 7 years. This year I aggressively set my sights on pursuing a degree in neurobiology and possibly medical Neurology if I could get there. I decided to push myself a little harder, and ended up scraping together a cumulative 3.3 GPA this semester.

I don't know how to study. I don't know how to take notes. I don't know how to be a good student. I have no idea where to go from here.


So my question for you, SDN, is such:


How in the hell do I prove to Medical school administrators that I'm worth their time? I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I have what it takes, I just need to know how to make my potential energy into kinetic energy.

Hey and welcome to SDN! Glad you're finding this place interesting and decided to post!

Unfortunately, sounds to me like you don't prove anything to med school adcoms because, frankly, you've pidgeon-holed yourself as a sponge off society in this post.

What you basically just told us is that you consider yourself intelligent but basically suck at life and are lazy. That's not going to get you far. Sounds to me like a career playing WOW and selling your high-level characters might fit you better than medicine. And I'm actually not being sarcastic with this post for once. Unless you can actually turn around a complete 180º (maybe 540º just for show), you don't really sound like someone I'd want to be in medical school with nor have as a colleague in the hospital. You may have potential but you sound lazy and directionless. Maybe in 10 years with some life experience you would stand a chance after returning to school and acing the med school prereqs but with such a recent and dismal past, I'd guess there's really no chance you're going to "prove" anything to an adcom.

 

[avksx]

Hey and welcome to SDN! Glad you're finding this place interesting and decided to post!

Unfortunately, sounds to me like you don't prove anything to med school adcoms because, frankly, you've pidgeon-holed yourself as a sponge off society in this post.

What you basically just told us is that you consider yourself intelligent but basically suck at life and are lazy. That's not going to get you far. Sounds to me like a career playing WOW and selling your high-level characters might fit you better than medicine. And I'm actually not being sarcastic with this post for once. Unless you can actually turn around a complete 180º (maybe 540º just for show), you don't really sound like someone I'd want to be in medical school with nor have as a colleague in the hospital. You may have potential but you sound lazy and directionless. Maybe in 10 years with some life experience you would stand a chance after returning to school and acing the med school prereqs but with such a recent and dismal past, I'd guess there's really no chance you're going to "prove" anything to an adcom.

Thank you for the response, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for.

In essence you reaffirmed to me that I'm lazy and directionless, because I told you I was lazy and directionless, and now you're telling me that my past is irrevocable, and that I should continue being lazy and directionless.

No thanks.




I'm not seeking mention on whether my goal is possible or not, but rather what impossibilities I'm facing. Don't tell me I can't learn to sail, tell me how to build a boat. I'll deal with the rest.

 

[Elpenor]

Quote

A little harsh there, broski. OP, set a schedule and stick to it. You said your gpa last semester was 3.3, but what is your overall gpa? You need to get that overall gpa up to a 3.3-3.4 at least. And just because op was a slacker in high school does not mean he cannot change. I was similiar to you op (I graduated with a 2.7 gpa in highschool) Now I am a freshy with a 4.0. Just need to dedicate yourself, make a plan and get it done.

As far as tips etc:

Study in the library. It is a LOT easier to get work done, what else are you going to do in the library? No distractions.

Don't procrastinate. You have an English paper due in 2 weeks? Start sketching out an outline now.

Study, a lot. Study until you understand everything, and you should always be "prepared" enough to where you could take a test on a days notice.

Find what works for you. For me, I like to draw things (like the krebs cycle or meiosis etc.) Perhaps flashcards work for you, or w/e.

Talk to your professors. Most teachers like to help students, and it can't hurt.

 

[avksx]

OP, set a schedule and stick to it.

This is good advice, but could you be a little more specific?


Also, how did you go about jumping from a 2.7 to a 4.0 in a year? Anecdotes are welcome. 😉

 

[mvenus929]

You really just need to find a way to study that enables you to actually remember everything you learn and apply it. Applying it is the difficult part, especially if you're already a sponge and absorb concepts easily. Maybe all you need to do is focus on the application of them and do lots and lots of practice problems (or essays, if the course is a writing-intensive course). Maybe doing flow charts will help.

But you need to actually want it, which it sounds like you do. A huge upward trend will definitely help when it comes to applying to med school, especially if you can talk about what changed your attitude and why you want to pursue med school now.

Good luck.

 

[Elpenor]

Also, how did you go about jumping from a 2.7 to a 4.0 in a year? Anecdotes are welcome. 😉

I never took high school seriously. It wasn't too hard for me to get A's on my tests / papers but I never did homework, ever lol. Honestly I don't know what my deal was, but I didn't decide to take things serious until it was too late for my gpa. I guess the thought of a "clean slate" in college motivated me. The main thing I changed was my attitude and everything else seemed to fall into place.

One thing my dad told me really hit me in the face.

(He works in a factory btw) He said "you can have fun now and grow up and be like me, or you can study and get good grades, and have fun the rest of your life"

 

[avksx]

Study in the library. It is a LOT easier to get work done, what else are you going to do in the library? No distractions.

Don't procrastinate. You have an English paper due in 2 weeks? Start sketching out an outline now.

Study, a lot. Study until you understand everything, and you should always be "prepared" enough to where you could take a test on a days notice.

Find what works for you. For me, I like to draw things (like the krebs cycle or meiosis etc.) Perhaps flashcards work for you, or w/e.

Talk to your professors. Most teachers like to help students, and it can't hurt.

I started forcing myself to spend two hours in my school library, every day, regardless of whether or not I had homework I could do. It's probably the most effective thing I've changed about my study habits. I also started communicating with my professors more and establishing a more personal connection with them. It hasn't really helped me that much, but it hasn't hurt me either, so I'll keep doing that. I'll try the drawing thing. A lot of organic chemistry as it applies to biochemistry seems to be fairly cyclic as it follows the patterns of homeostasis. This could be really useful tool.


Procrastination is still my greatest foe, but I'm trying to overcome it through power of will and trial and error strategies. Any more advice in this respect is welcome.


Thank you!

 

[Slowpoke]

Know that it is never too late to change for the better and your past only hinders you if you let it.

The good thing about your situation is that you now have your head in the right place and that's all that matters.

Since you've built a natural behavior to be lazy, heres a piece of advice to start you off:

When you start being lazy and slacking off, ask yourself what your goals are. If they are in the right place, you'll do the right thing. If you want it badly enough, then you'll make it, just put in the work and sweat like the rest of us.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Hey and welcome to SDN! Glad you're finding this place interesting and decided to post!

Unfortunately, sounds to me like you don't prove anything to med school adcoms because, frankly, you've pidgeon-holed yourself as a sponge off society in this post.

What you basically just told us is that you consider yourself intelligent but basically suck at life and are lazy. That's not going to get you far. Sounds to me like a career playing WOW and selling your high-level characters might fit you better than medicine. And I'm actually not being sarcastic with this post for once. Unless you can actually turn around a complete 180º (maybe 540º just for show), you don't really sound like someone I'd want to be in medical school with nor have as a colleague in the hospital. You may have potential but you sound lazy and directionless. Maybe in 10 years with some life experience you would stand a chance after returning to school and acing the med school prereqs but with such a recent and dismal past, I'd guess there's really no chance you're going to "prove" anything to an adcom.

must you be so acidic..
take a tums.. it'll help you get the anger out..

you should look towards al ot of people who didn't do well in school..
so what he was **** for a while..
1 word OVERCOME .. if one overcomes their own adversities then they are strong enough to climb any mountains
you have no right to judge..

to the OP
work your ass off
show not the world.. but yourself that you have purpose in life and do amazingly
end of story
step 1. retake the classes where you got C's and below
step 2. move on aim for every class to be a A
step 3. show the world you can be of use, volunteer and intern at hospitals and for doctors
step 4. mcat
step 5. hope you were good enough

 

[quiltlady]

Your school probably has a study resources center, use it. Take a class in how to use a library, most students have no clue about what a research library has. Read for pleasure instead of wasting your time doing nothing. Read broadly. It is not too early to shadow some physicians and find out if this is what you really want to do in life.

 

[DocMcCoy]

.

 

[avksx]

Your school probably has a study resources center, use it. Take a class in how to use a library, most students have no clue about what a research library has. Read for pleasure instead of wasting your time doing nothing. Read broadly. It is not too early to shadow some physicians and find out if this is what you really want to do in life.

I've already cut out television and myspace from my life. Anything where I'm not learning something, or just absolutely happy doing, I won't waste time with. I've begun to refuse to settle for simple contentment.


How should I approach physicians to shadow, and where should I look for the most willing ones? I really want start doing some further extra-curriculars but I have no experience with them, no connections, and no idea where to start.


And yeah, I remember hearing about our schools resource and tutoring centers but I never looked into it. Thank you for reminding me! I'll make a note of it.

 

[alexlex143]

well. I think it sounds like you have the right mindset now to begin something as rigorous as med school. You just have to put your money where your mouth is. Showing an upward trend in your attitude and in your academics will be favorable on your part if you're serious.

Since you're at a community college, I would suggest not taking any major courses there. You should be looking into transferring to a four year university. Although some schools don't require a bachelor's degree, most do. You want to get all your important classes done at an accredited university.

Take all your classes seriously. your cGPA and your sGPA can make or break you, and although there are several aspects in considering your candidacy as a med student, I would suggest focusing on that for a while, especially since you find it difficult investing the appropriate time in your courses given your lack of studying techniques.

My advice I guess would be to avoid procrastination. That word means nothing to me any more. You'll be surprised how well you start doing just by getting things done. It's really not that difficult.

These are the first few steps. You definitely want to start looking into volunteering, research, shadowing, and the like. You want to make yourself as well-rounded as possible but for now, definitely work on getting your act together.

 

[avksx]

well. I think it sounds like you have the right mindset now to begin something as rigorous as med school. You just have to put your money where your mouth is. Showing an upward trend in your attitude and in your academics will be favorable on your part if you're serious.

Since you're at a community college, I would suggest not taking any major courses there. You should be looking into transferring to a four year university. Although some schools don't require a bachelor's degree, most do. You want to get all your important classes done at an accredited university.

Take all your classes seriously. your cGPA and your sGPA can make or break you, and although there are several aspects in considering your candidacy as a med student, I would suggest focusing on that for a while, especially since you find it difficult investing the appropriate time in your courses given your lack of studying techniques.

My advice I guess would be to avoid procrastination. That word means nothing to me any more. You'll be surprised how well you start doing just by getting things done. It's really not that difficult.

These are the first few steps. You definitely want to start looking into volunteering, research, shadowing, and the like. You want to make yourself as well-rounded as possible but for now, definitely work on getting your act together.

I'm taking introductory Biology and Chemistry courses now to refresh old knowledge.

When should I start applying to four year universities?

 

[nohika]

The main thing I changed was my attitude and everything else seemed to fall into place.

THIS. This is something you need to remember, and look at. Your attitude is one of the most important things.

I'm pretty sure your college should have tutoring centers and probably some resources for you to learn how to take notes, how to study, etc. Some people here have given you excellent options - I'm a pretty good notetaker, so even though we're different majors/"pre-whatevers", contact me if you want some help with that.

I was a crappy student in high school - pulled my act together my last two years and pulled a 3.3 cGPA. However, my community college GPA was probably a 2.2 at that time (I did Running Start and took college classes too). I've busted my ***** the past three quarters and my cumulative GPA is FINALLY above a 3.0. I graduated in 2008.

I finally decided that I could continue being a lazy bum and have no direction in my life, or I could take it under control, study my booty off, and succeed. Attitude is everything. It can easily make or break you.

Again, PM me if you want any study tips/whatever. 🙂 I hated doing homework too.

ETA: As to applying to four-year universities, I'd try to have a string of two/three quarters of 3.5 (3.3?) or up GPAs before applying - enough to show "improvement" or that you can handle their curriculum. Plus, it'd help prove to you, too.

 

[apumic]

OP, as others have said, I encourage you to work hard. My initial response was harsh because 1) you have an extremely tough journey ahead of you that is going to take far more motivation than 90% of the people on this site have or could ever need to succeed (you have much further to go); 2) your OP sounds to me like a bit of warstorying about the past and how you could "ace exams w/o studying," etc. Your OP sounds to me like that of someone who still has not matured beyond that part of one's life. While it'd be nice if we could teach you study skills, how to be a good student, etc. on a forum, that is simply not possible. Even 1-on-1, life skills and learning skills are extremely hard to teach and motivation is pretty much impossible to "teach." And, finally, 3) you're asking how to "prove" to adcoms you are worth their time, which, honestly, at this point, you wouldn't be. Yeah, I realize that's harsh, but you have to fix everything else before you would be worth their time to admit and train.
As for learning to study, take notes, and be a good student, I would suggest seeking the help of your CC's learning enrichment center (or similar office). I certainly believe you can turn this around but it worries me a bit that you have apparently waited so long. I obviously have no idea how old you are but I would guess early 20s, perhaps. For someone in his/her 20s to have things so scattered is a bit worrisome to me if you hope to enter medicine soon. If you are as smart as you say you are, I wonder how you did not think ahead a bit and work hard when it mattered. I had a stage where I pulled what you describe but it was planned out (i.e., I realized when I was about 10 that school doesn't matter 'til you enter HS so I pulled the "only As on all tests=Cs in all classes" thing until I got to HS and then immediately began performing at the honors "A" level again). OTOH, your lack of motivation seems to be chronic. Even when you are "trying" you are "barely scraping a B+." I'd like to be able to tell you that's great but, honestly, it comes nowhere close to cutting it. I'd like for you to prove my gut reaction wrong. Get a 4.0 next semester and rub it in my face -- SERIOUSLY, PLEASE DO! (Hey, if that's your motivation for an A is to make apumic look like an idiot and absolute jerk, I am totally here to take the fall for you to be motivated! lol)
To be successful, you should take courses that will challenge and interest you. If you're as smart as you say you are, I might suggest taking only the cell part of gen bio (often gen bio 1) and then taking a more interesting upper division class. Perhaps take the O-Chem/Biochem (1 sem each) route that some med schools allow. Do whatever it takes to challenge and interest you. Figure out how you learn and use that in your studying. Work your butt off studying until you know just how much (or little) you actually need to study.

 

[avksx]

OP, as others have said, I encourage you to work hard. My initial response was harsh because 1) you have an extremely tough journey ahead of you that is going to take far more motivation than 90% of the people on this site have or could ever need to succeed (you have much further to go); 2) your OP sounds to me like a bit of warstorying about the past and how you could "ace exams w/o studying," etc. Your OP sounds to me like that of someone who still has not matured beyond that part of one's life. While it'd be nice if we could teach you study skills, how to be a good student, etc. on a forum, that is simply not possible.

Even 1-on-1, life skills and learning skills are extremely hard to teach and motivation is pretty much impossible to "teach." And, finally, 3) you're asking how to "prove" to adcoms you are worth their time, which, honestly, at this point, you wouldn't be. Yeah, I realize that's harsh, but you have to fix everything else before you would be worth their time to admit and train.

As for learning to study, take notes, and be a good student, I would suggest seeking the help of your CC's learning enrichment center (or similar office). I certainly believe you can turn this around but it worries me a bit that you have apparently waited so long. I obviously have no idea how old you are but I would guess early 20s, perhaps. For someone in his/her 20s to have things so scattered is a bit worrisome to me if you hope to enter medicine soon. If you are as smart as you say you are, I wonder how you did not think ahead a bit and work hard when it mattered. I had a stage where I pulled what you describe but it was planned out (i.e., I realized when I was about 10 that school doesn't matter 'til you enter HS so I pulled the "only As on all tests=Cs in all classes" thing until I got to HS and then immediately began performing at the honors "A" level again).

OTOH, your lack of motivation seems to be chronic. Even when you are "trying" you are "barely scraping a B+." I'd like to be able to tell you that's great but, honestly, it comes nowhere close to cutting it. I'd like for you to prove my gut reaction wrong. Get a 4.0 next semester and rub it in my face -- SERIOUSLY, PLEASE DO!

To be successful, you should take courses that will challenge and interest you. If you're as smart as you say you are, I might suggest taking only the cell part of gen bio (often gen bio 1) and then taking a more interesting upper division class. Perhaps take the O-Chem/Biochem (1 sem each) route that some med schools allow. Do whatever it takes to challenge and interest you. Figure out how you learn and use that in your studying. Work your butt off studying until you know just how much (or little) you actually need to study.

Noted. I still don't understand why you believed sizing me up would benefit me in any way, but it's inconsequential.

I understand that translating years of experience with good academic habits is a hard thing to do, I was asking for suggestions on study methods and anecdotes that would help me find my own methods of excelling academically. Mnemonics, illustrations, outlining styles, etc.

I'm not a superficial hollowed-out shell, asking around for ideas on how I can give myself weight and substance. I'm a substantial, developed person with bad habits, in uncharted waters, looking for any help I can get. I have learning skills, but they are grossly inefficient and I'm seeking to improve them. And I have the motivation. I feel as thought I was born with an intrinsic scientific curiosity, and pre-medical studies has re-ignited that fire in my heart.

I'm almost 20. As for why I didn't start earlier? I was stuck in a persistent cyclic mentality that because I got bad grades, I could never do anything with my life, and that because I could never do anything with my life, I had no reason to get good grades. Before I knew it, high school career was over and I had a head full of knowledge and a piss poor transcript.

I don't have the general chem courses necessary to take higher level chemistry, but I will get to that all in due time. In the mean time I plan on checking out Org Chem books from the library to study independently.

Thank you for your contribution. I'll let you know when I'm knocking out that 4.0 GPA.

 

[apumic]

Noted. I still don't understand why you believed sizing me up would benefit me in any way, but it's inconsequential.

I understand that translating years of experience with good academic habits is a hard thing to do, I was asking for suggestions on study methods and anecdotes that would help me find my own methods of excelling academically. Mnemonics, illustrations, outlining styles, etc.

I'm not a superficial hollowed-out shell, asking around for ideas on how I can give myself weight and substance. I'm a substantial, developed person with bad habits, in uncharted waters, looking for any help I can get. I have learning skills, but they are grossly inefficient and I'm seeking to improve them. And I have the motivation. I feel as thought I was born with an intrinsic scientific curiosity, and pre-medical studies has re-ignited that fire in my heart.

I'm almost 20. As for why I didn't start earlier? I was stuck in a persistent cyclic mentality that because I got bad grades, I could never do anything with my life, and that because I could never do anything with my life, I had no reason to get good grades. Before I knew it, high school career was over and I had a head full of knowledge and a piss poor transcript.

I don't have the general chem courses necessary to take higher level chemistry, but I will get to that all in due time. In the mean time I plan on checking out Org Chem books from the library to study independently.

Thank you for your contribution. I'll let you know when I'm knocking out that 4.0 GPA.

My biggest "technique" or secret to studying is to learn concepts, not details. Mnemonics, etc. are great for when you've just got to learn something but you'll do far better if you learn to learn things. (Sorry, not sure how else to describe that -- you have to focus on the big picture concepts first and build a frame in which to place details.) I would also suggest spending some time studying before classes you feel you lack a background in (e.g., my chem background was absolutely piss poor -- I had a C+ after 1st semester of HS & it was the top grade b/c the instructor was so bad and then I transferred and was placed in a 7am honors chem course where the instructor had a stroke and we had a sub w/ no science background for 6 wks, so I ended up w/ basically no real clue about chem; so to solve that, I watched an entire semester's worth of UC-Berkeley gen chem lectures online and did practice problems in the 4 wks prior to taking gen chem 1 -- I ended up w/ the top score in both gen chem classes despite my lack of background when prior to that, I honestly had doubts about being able to pass; so my suggestion there is to study ahead if you feel you might need it). Good luck!