Scared out of his mind

[Jason110]

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I jumped over all those hurdles as a pre-med engineering major. I was accepted to a medical school last October and will matriculate this Fall. I was very relieved when I received my first acceptance! The thought of "I can't believe I'm going to become a doctor!" went through my mind.

But here I am, just a couple of months from beginning medical school. Pardon my French, but I'm scared s**tless. After reading posts here and talking to current medical students, I feel like I'm going to fail out (and I haven't even started yet). Many say that the workload is intense and at time competitive. I'm just worried I won't be able to handle it. To comfort me, people say that 90+ percent of all those who enter MD programs eventually finish them. That's great and all, but I feel like the remaining ten percent!

At times, this fear overwhelms me and makes me question whether or not I'm cut out to be a physician. I even think about (heaven forbid!) quitting! That thought, however, passes very quickly.

Are my fears justified? Did any of you have those fears during the summer between college and medical school?

Any information (either way on the issue) is appreciated.

Jason

 

[LSUwannabe]

Since I'm about to start as well (and spent last week around current students lamenting the difficulties of med school) I think I can relate...

I try to take EVERY opinion from current students w/ a grain of salt. Everyone's experience is different.

I am committed to giving an honest 100% effort and I believe that'll be good enough...at least to get by. If you're willing to do the work I believe the odds are heavily in your favor.

My suggestion:

Relax and be comfortable in knowing you'll do your best. If that is by chance not good enough then what can you do? Anxiety certainly won't help your performance...

 

[samdwi]

I jumped over all those hurdles as a pre-med engineering major. I was accepted to a medical school last October and will matriculate this Fall. I was very relieved when I received my first acceptance! The thought of "I can't believe I'm going to become a doctor!" went through my mind.

But here I am, just a couple of months from beginning medical school. Pardon my French, but I'm scared s**tless. After reading posts here and talking to current medical students, I feel like I'm going to fail out (and I haven't even started yet). Many say that the workload is intense and at time competitive. I'm just worried I won't be able to handle it. To comfort me, people say that 90+ percent of all those who enter MD programs eventually finish them. That's great and all, but I feel like the remaining ten percent!

At times, this fear overwhelms me and makes me question whether or not I'm cut out to be a physician. I even think about (heaven forbid!) quitting! That thought, however, passes very quickly.

Are my fears justified? Did any of you have those fears during the summer between college and medical school?

Any information (either way on the issue) is appreciated.

Jason

Med school course work is not conceptually difficult, but there is a lot of material - that's where it become difficult. As an engineering major, you are accustomed to conceptual challenges, so med-school may be a major shift for you as it was for me.

Getting good grades in med-school is directly related to how much time you spend in the anatomy/histology lab, studying texts, drawing and re-drawing various structures and so on. Memorize and learn the material. It is a matter of mental stamina.

If you feel you can do that, then you'll be fine the first two years of med-school.

 

[katrinadams9]

I graduated undergrad as a chemical engineer. The same thoughts went through my head before beginning medical school last fall. There were many times throughout the year that I even thought to myself that I wasn't smart enough to be in med school, that I'd somehow snuck through the admissions committee and was less capable than my classmates. I figured out how to change my study habits though, and although I'm nowhere near the top of the class, I can say that I'm keeping pace with the class average.

My advice for you is just to remember that the adcoms don't make mistakes. If they let you in, then they believe you have what it takes to make it through the grueling 4 year process and become a doctor.

 

[Fenrezz]

I jumped over all those hurdles as a pre-med engineering major. I was accepted to a medical school last October and will matriculate this Fall. I was very relieved when I received my first acceptance! The thought of "I can't believe I'm going to become a doctor!" went through my mind.

But here I am, just a couple of months from beginning medical school. Pardon my French, but I'm scared s**tless. After reading posts here and talking to current medical students, I feel like I'm going to fail out (and I haven't even started yet). Many say that the workload is intense and at time competitive. I'm just worried I won't be able to handle it. To comfort me, people say that 90+ percent of all those who enter MD programs eventually finish them. That's great and all, but I feel like the remaining ten percent!

At times, this fear overwhelms me and makes me question whether or not I'm cut out to be a physician. I even think about (heaven forbid!) quitting! That thought, however, passes very quickly.

Are my fears justified? Did any of you have those fears during the summer between college and medical school?

Any information (either way on the issue) is appreciated.

All I can say is that you'll become very surprised at what you can accomplish when you have no choice on the matter (aka can't drop a class anymore). The volume is intense, and it will be rough at first, but you'll get used to it. Most everyone does.

 

[sacrament]

If you got through engineering school, you're going to be fine. Med school is talked up as being outrageously difficult, but keep in mind that mostly these are bio majors we're talking about. Of course they find it difficult, they've spent the last few years taking bio classes and letting their brains atrophy. (Go ahead and get indignant bio majors, you know it's true!!!) Don't worry about a thing.

 

[Blake]

Chances are you'll be part of 99% of the folks who will end up being doctors in 4 years. Don't stress yourself too much, you'll make it. Good luck

 

[JMD]

If you made it this far and are set on being a Doc then you'll be fine. Don't worry about it.

The few people who quit in my class did so because they decided they did not want to go into medicine afterall (sucks to figure that out after working so hard to get there!), not because they couldn't handle the coursework.

Now that is a whole different issue (which has beeen discussed on here recently)... whether or not medical school/medicine is all that it is cracked up to be, but if it is the difficulty/workload that worries you, it's not that bad.

 

[basupran]

Engineering to medicine shift: it isn't as bad as you may think.

Engineering=intuition/understanding of fundamental concepts and then applying them
Medicine=understanding of many concepts, putting them together and then applying them

From my personal experience, an engineering mindset allows you to build a conceptual framework first and then tack on the details. Biological mindsets tend to throw everything into a box (memorizing). The engineering mindset can help you for long term, but both work.

Bear in mind, there is more to memorize in medicine than there is in engineering. Use your engineering skills and draw schematics, think about how you would design something, etc... remember, structure and function are related when it comes to the body.

 

[EvoDevo]

If you got through engineering school, you're going to be fine. Med school is talked up as being outrageously difficult, but keep in mind that mostly these are bio majors we're talking about. Of course they find it difficult, they've spent the last few years taking bio classes and letting their brains atrophy. (Go ahead and get indignant bio majors, you know it's true!!!) Don't worry about a thing.

Not true. I can actually think my way out of a paper bag.







Sometimes.

 

[Portier]

Not true. I can actually think my way out of a paper bag.







Sometimes.

Don't lie evo....I saw you Saturday after spending all that time with the cotton ball dunked in alcohol.

You couldn't even see the paperbag.

 

[deuist]

My advice for you is just to remember that the adcoms don't make mistakes. If they let you in, then they believe you have what it takes to make it through the grueling 4 year process and become a doctor.

Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[EvoDevo]

Don't lie evo....I saw you Saturday after spending all that time with the cotton ball dunked in alcohol.

You couldn't even see the paperbag.

There was a paperbag? I thought I was seeing a bald Navy guy trying to fondle my butt. 😕

 

[sacrament]

There was a paperbag? I thought I was seeing a bald Navy guy trying to fondle my butt. 😕

I wasn't even wearing a uniform or anything. Get that prescription checked, dude.

 

[Mike59]

- The hardest part of this entire process is getting in (and that's over, take a deep breath)

- The knowledge required to be a good doctor and be successful in med school requires discipline and some elbow grease, but at its core, medicine is very mechanical and with an engineer's mind I think you'll be at an advantage. Learn how the system is constructed and how it works, how it gets broken, and what we can do to fix it. If you can study disease with that mindset you'll be fine. Trust me, even people with a background in nursing/bio/whatever have ZERO advantage over you.

- Just take one day at a time. This process is way way too long and you'll take yourself out of the race if you look too far forward. Worry about what you have to do TODAY and NOW and don't stress. You're not even in med school yet so your TODAY and NOW should be great times.

Hope my words of wisdom do something for you, good luck!

 

[Termwean]

I graduated undergrad as a chemical engineer. The same thoughts went through my head before beginning medical school last fall. There were many times throughout the year that I even thought to myself that I wasn't smart enough to be in med school, that I'd somehow snuck through the admissions committee and was less capable than my classmates. I figured out how to change my study habits though, and although I'm nowhere near the top of the class, I can say that I'm keeping pace with the class average.

My advice for you is just to remember that the adcoms don't make mistakes. If they let you in, then they believe you have what it takes to make it through the grueling 4 year process and become a doctor.

I start in August...and have these same feelings sometimes. Your advice slightly soothes me..thank-you!

 

[EvoDevo]

I wasn't even wearing a uniform or anything. Get that prescription checked, dude.

I was talking about Portier, actually. But if I can't remember you being there....

 

[LSUwannabe]

I start in August...and have these same feelings sometimes. Your advice slightly soothes me..thank-you!

You haven't met our classmates yet...they'll put you at ease.



(only JOKING all...).

 

[Termwean]

I can't wait to meet them!

 

[tupac_don]

- The hardest part of this entire process is getting in (and that's over, take a deep breath)

- The knowledge required to be a good doctor and be successful in med school requires discipline and some elbow grease, but at its core, medicine is very mechanical and with an engineer's mind I think you'll be at an advantage. Learn how the system is constructed and how it works, how it gets broken, and what we can do to fix it. If you can study disease with that mindset you'll be fine. Trust me, even people with a background in nursing/bio/whatever have ZERO advantage over you.

- Just take one day at a time. This process is way way too long and you'll take yourself out of the race if you look too far forward. Worry about what you have to do TODAY and NOW and don't stress. You're not even in med school yet so your TODAY and NOW should be great times.

Hope my words of wisdom do something for you, good luck!

I Strongly disagree with you. I think someone who has a PA or NP, RN, pharmacy degree will have significant advantage over someone who hasn't, over an engineer definetly. I mean seriously you are telling me that studying medicine related stuff, going through all those rotations and maybe even doing a residency in a respective field will not give you any advantage whatsoever over a typical Med school matriculate. I think you are misinformed. The only thing that might work against you if you have an advanced degree is to fall back on that knowledge rather than study at your best to maximize your grades and knowledge. However if you go full out with knowledge already acquired you will be a force to reckon with. I am sorry but it's just not the same seeing something for the first time and seeing it for the third time. The field does eventually even out. But in the beginning the person with advanced degree definetly has an edge. I don't mean to appear arrogant, just stating a fact of life.

 

[deuist]

I Strongly disagree with you. I think ... just stating a fact of life.

Is this statement your theory or a fact? According to many of the current allopathic students who are posting on these boards, your previous education will not help you. Oh sure, you might understand one point of a lecture better, but in the grand scheme of all of the knowledge that can be acquired in medical school, the playing field is pretty level.

Are for as work experience goes (i.e., RN''s, psychologists, etc...), then the student might have an advantage during clinical rotations with the ability to talk to patients. I know that sure was nervous as hell when I first started working in a hospital. However, I'm a lot more comfortable now with whatever comes my way.

 

[humuhumu]

Is this statement your theory or a fact? According to many of the current allopathic students who are posting on these boards, your previous education will not help you. Oh sure, you might understand one point of a lecture better, but in the grand scheme of all of the knowledge that can be acquired in medical school, the playing field is pretty level.

Are for as work experience goes (i.e., RN''s, psychologists, etc...), then the student might have an advantage during clinical rotations with the ability to talk to patients. I know that sure was nervous as hell when I first started working in a hospital. However, I'm a lot more comfortable now with whatever comes my way.

Background makes a difference, but not a big one in the long run. Students who majored in neuroscience have an edge in medical neuroscience, but that's only one course, and they still have to work. Students who took a solid anatomy/physiology course in college will find it easier to absorb material in medical anatomy and physiology, but there's an order of magnitude more material so they still have to work. Students who have experience with patients before med school may find that physical exam skills come more naturally, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. You get the idea....

 

[thackl]

Engineers do well first yr. The switch is ok and all the techie geeks in my class are near the top. A few anatomy prof's have even commented on how engineers are able to 'get' the 3D relationships in the the human body.

I'm just trying to make you feel better. Regardless of background, everyone who wants to gets thru...... and it ain't that bad. Parts of it are bad, but overall, it's not hard.

 

[Mistress S]

I don't really have anything to offer in the way of advice, just wanted to commiserate. I'll also be starting med school this fall after a year away from college (and an insanely easy final year of school before that), so it's really been at least 2 years since my brain did any serious work, unless you count the MCAT (I don't). I was an English major, which will probably not give me an edge in any of the classes I will take in med school (although if someone's down for discussing, say, female sexuality in greek mythology, watch out! 😀 ). I have a lot of clinical experience which may help a bit later on, but that's about it.

At first I was just really happy to be accepted, and I didn't worry about all the work ahead. Now that it is looming ever closer, I just hope I can hack it. I loved almost all my bio classes in undergrad but will never so long as I live be a chemist. I can't believe how much I've forgotten, my partner is taking an intro-level bio class for his pysch degree and frankly I'm of little help to him (although to be fair, they are mostly covering plants in his class, and I hated that section of bio so I made a point of forgetting as much of it as possible once it was over to make room for more important things). I'm amazed at the stupid things I've forgotten. I minored in bio but undoubtedly still have had less science background than probably 80% of the people entering med school, so I worry if I'll be able to handle the equivalent of, say, 22 credits of hard science. I feel like I should study up a bit this summer, but instead am going to Europe.

Every seemingly difficult task I've been faced with, I've generally been able to remind myself that a lot of people who do not necessarily seem all that bright have been able to do it successfully before me (examples: getting a driver's license, all my pre-med courses and the MCAT, having a healthy relationship, house-breaking a puppy, and I plan someday to apply this philosophy to child-rearing). If stupid people can do it, so can I! After all, I'm at least not substantially dumber than average, right? However, this feels less true about med school, because all the doctors and med students I've met so far seem reasonably bright. My hope is that I'll meet some idiotic doctors in school so I can feel good about my own chances of getting through it! 👍 Maybe current students can comment on their own experiences in this area?

I think we'll both probably be okay, and I think the "take it one day at a time" advice is good. That's what I'm going to try to do. That and relax, because I'm afraid I won't be doing as much of that in the fall. I'm sure I'll post something more freaked out after classes start and I more fully comprehend that I have gotten in over my head.

 

[thackl]

I was an English major, which will probably not give me an edge in any of the classes I will take in med school.

From what I've seen out here, you will hate the material but do quite well. That's how the lib arts majors have been fairing. As for the short time off..... it's seems to help more than hurt, especially if you were feeling burnt out to begin with.

 

[Mumpu]

Don't worry. It's really very very hard to fail out of medical school.

 

[automaton]

I think reassurance is fine, but it needs to be qualified, or else it will do you disservice. You will most likely not fail out of medical school, AS LONG AS you don't become lazy. Some people get the idea that you can't fail out no matter how much you screw up, and interpret that as a license to goof off, even more than they did in undergrad. That will bite you in the ass.

You will have to work hard. For a lot of people, they'll work harder than they've ever done before. But the adjustment is not that painful. I'm one of the laziest, most disinterested medical students I know. I remember I asked a bunch of people how hard med school is, and all I got was reassurance, a nice pat on the back, and a "you'll be fine, it's really hard to fail." And so my attitude was like, "Ok sweet, I'm gonna screw around for a year and it'll be no big deal." Well, long story short, I had to retake a few tests - sometimes for RIDICULOUS reasons. (e.g. 94% quiz1, 92% quiz2, blew off final - oops failed by exactly 1 point). But anyway, as long as you don't have that stupid attitude, you will be fine. If I can make it through 2 years + boards, man... let's just say almost anyone can.

Work hard, take breaks whenever you need it. Medical school is hyped up to be this really painful impossible thing. And well... it's painful but not impossible. 🙂 Don't worry about it. Remember how hard you thought junior high was going to be?