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- Nov 25, 2013
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So, here's the story:
My major is Mathematical Biology, sort of a hybrid of math to biology, at a 3:1 ratio, respectively. At my university, all mathematics majors have to also specialize in a science (excluding actuarial and finance math majors). Even though I'm mathematical biology, which has biology in it, my degree is still under the college of mathematics, so I need specialize in a science anyway.
No problem, I specialized in "Physical Sciences", which is specialized to include classes that have my pre-med classes as prerequisites, which means I'll take 18 hours from P-Chem I, P-Chem II, Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Modern Physics.
My Mathematical Biology curriculum has standard biology classes like microbiology, genetics, etc.
See, the problem is.....well
When I have to take a test in a class that deals with numbers, for example, partial differential equations or discrete mathematics, I have no problem during the test. In fact, it's fun, and it's almost like stress relief working problems out and killing time.
I'm like that with Genetics too, because it's very interesting, and I've come up with my own methods to analyze mutant crosses, and being heavy into the computational aspects of biology, genomics is so easy. So genetics is easy. Microbiology is just interesting and I have a knack for colors, so all the aesthetically appealing stains and oil droplets (can't say too much about the lab's smell) help me learn the nomenclature and physiology really easily.
HOWEVER, my problem unfortunately, is with molecular biology. Not Bio I or II, but classes in like neurophysiology or proteomics, where so much memorization of pathways and results is required. I can easily draw them at home or when I'm not under stress, I lead my own study groups (to help me practice) for the students in my class and they all do well because they say I'm a good teacher...however, come test day, I blank out so bad. These memorize and regurgitate classes are starting to become a source of B's on my transcript.
If it's something logical, numeric, or proof based, like P-Chem, Diff EQ, Java Programming, I can do well and derive results on my own, fly by with A's.
It's just those darn classes with the memory and recall, like neurophys or proteo. On test days in those classes, despite studying, I start jittering, my jaw tickles, I start inhaling and exhaling really loudly, my exhales come out piping hot, saliva gets super warm, head feels like a fried circuit, stomach folds in on itself...and I usually bomb the tests with C's or sometimes get mid B's. Then, when I come home and I'm not under stress, I can easily recall all the info and even correct my own mistakes that I remembered without opening a book.
This is obviously going to be a huge problem on an MCAT or medical school test. It's not the aptitude, I exhibit the aptitude well, I KNOW the information, I understand it, but it's just that not being in a form compatible with my way of thinking is providing a problem.
Any suggestions? I'm worried anti-anxiety meds will play with my mind, thought process, and make me drowsy (my dad once told me he took a low dosage of Lorazepam for the same anxiety attacks when he was a student in pharmacy school, and he could barely keep his eyes open for a biopharmacuetics midterm).....
My major is Mathematical Biology, sort of a hybrid of math to biology, at a 3:1 ratio, respectively. At my university, all mathematics majors have to also specialize in a science (excluding actuarial and finance math majors). Even though I'm mathematical biology, which has biology in it, my degree is still under the college of mathematics, so I need specialize in a science anyway.
No problem, I specialized in "Physical Sciences", which is specialized to include classes that have my pre-med classes as prerequisites, which means I'll take 18 hours from P-Chem I, P-Chem II, Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Modern Physics.
My Mathematical Biology curriculum has standard biology classes like microbiology, genetics, etc.
See, the problem is.....well
When I have to take a test in a class that deals with numbers, for example, partial differential equations or discrete mathematics, I have no problem during the test. In fact, it's fun, and it's almost like stress relief working problems out and killing time.
I'm like that with Genetics too, because it's very interesting, and I've come up with my own methods to analyze mutant crosses, and being heavy into the computational aspects of biology, genomics is so easy. So genetics is easy. Microbiology is just interesting and I have a knack for colors, so all the aesthetically appealing stains and oil droplets (can't say too much about the lab's smell) help me learn the nomenclature and physiology really easily.
HOWEVER, my problem unfortunately, is with molecular biology. Not Bio I or II, but classes in like neurophysiology or proteomics, where so much memorization of pathways and results is required. I can easily draw them at home or when I'm not under stress, I lead my own study groups (to help me practice) for the students in my class and they all do well because they say I'm a good teacher...however, come test day, I blank out so bad. These memorize and regurgitate classes are starting to become a source of B's on my transcript.
If it's something logical, numeric, or proof based, like P-Chem, Diff EQ, Java Programming, I can do well and derive results on my own, fly by with A's.
It's just those darn classes with the memory and recall, like neurophys or proteo. On test days in those classes, despite studying, I start jittering, my jaw tickles, I start inhaling and exhaling really loudly, my exhales come out piping hot, saliva gets super warm, head feels like a fried circuit, stomach folds in on itself...and I usually bomb the tests with C's or sometimes get mid B's. Then, when I come home and I'm not under stress, I can easily recall all the info and even correct my own mistakes that I remembered without opening a book.
This is obviously going to be a huge problem on an MCAT or medical school test. It's not the aptitude, I exhibit the aptitude well, I KNOW the information, I understand it, but it's just that not being in a form compatible with my way of thinking is providing a problem.
Any suggestions? I'm worried anti-anxiety meds will play with my mind, thought process, and make me drowsy (my dad once told me he took a low dosage of Lorazepam for the same anxiety attacks when he was a student in pharmacy school, and he could barely keep his eyes open for a biopharmacuetics midterm).....
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