Spring Semester Woes...

[Lunacy4]

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I know I don't post very much but I just needed some fellow pre-meds to sympathize with. I just started organic, and already on the first day my teacher demanded we know the structures of all the amino acids before the next class (two days!). That in itself wouldn't be so bad, but I have four other classes and First Responder training to get through, as well as volunteering at the hospital to try and fit in. It's the first day of class and I'm already feeling overwhelmed. I just don't know if I can get through it all. I found myself thinking today, more than once, if I am complaining about this, am I truly ready to be a doctor? It has been my dream for as long as I can remember, but I'm really feeling strain that friends of mine with other career paths don't seem to be feeling. I'm not saying I can't handle work, but worrying about the MCAT, my GPA, competition, teachers, volunteering, etc. is just eating away at me. All this ON TOP of having a job and attempting a social life. Anyone else feel this way? It would sure make me feel better if you vented about it.

*Lunacy*

 

[CoverMe]

i finished the first half of ochem last semester... have never been so thrilled with a "B" in my life?!?!?! It makes no sense to me, and I seriously doubt it would have been any better had I not been TA'ing, and volunteering (unlike you, i'm not even attempting to have a social life).

I felt slightly better when i spoke with a couple of PGY-2's who laughed about ochem and said "at one point, i quit trying to understand it, and just memorized it." Not too encouraging, but true nevertheless.

anyway, we all sympathize with ya. i start ochem II in another two weeks... i had a dream last night that the first day of class we could test out of ochem II, and the girl next to me had all the answers on a cheat sheet. I dreamed that I went ahead and cheated the whole thing and left with a smile on my face!! I woke up feeling wierd... unhappy that i had cheated, but thrilled that i only had physics II to really worry about this semester!

 

[Zeloy]

Try not to let it get you down. I always think the first day or week of classes is the worst. Teachers scare you with all this stuff you are going to need to learn and all the work ahead of you. Just take it a day at a time or a week at a time. Oh yeah and you might want to give up all hopes at a social life and adaquate sleep.

 

[chriseli]

You have to learn all the structures of the amino acids in OChem I? Geez...we didn't get to that until Biochem I. Is that some specific Ochem or just general...because I would think that you would learn all of the classification and structures in OChem I and learning some of the rxns. That is so weird! Well, I guess the sooner you learn them the more comfortable you will be with them later on...so blessing in disguise...but I sympathize with you I took OChem I in the spring 16 week course with 18 hr semester couse load and OChem II in the summer 6 week course (5 days a week for 1 hr and 15 minutes) with a 19 hr semester course load...needless to say...I barely slid into B territory for OChem II, not quite as lucky for OChem I.

 

[theprizefighter]

Lunacy4,

The Police have a good song called Rehumanize Yourself. The point to the song is that no matter how hectic, unfair, and fast the world seems to be you just have to take time out every now and then and remember that you are still a human being. I felt exactly you did in Spring of my sophomore year but I didn't turn back from my path and because of my determination I got in to med school just like so many other dedicated pre-meds out there. You will to. Just take it a day at a time and remember that you are pursuing medicine because it is your passion, not your prison.

Good luck,

theprizefighter

"They all had a chance to turn back, but they didn't." Sam Gamgee, The Two Towers.

 

[CH3CH2OH]

are you actually going to be tested on the structures on the second day of class?
i think my biochem professor wanted us to memorize all the structures of the AAs 'by next class' for about a month 😉 didn't actually have to know them until the first midterm.

just a thought...

 

[JohnHolmes]

Originally posted by Lunacy4
I know I don't post very much but I just needed some fellow pre-meds to sympathize with. I just started organic, and already on the first day my teacher demanded we know the structures of all the amino acids before the next class (two days!). That in itself wouldn't be so bad, but I have four other classes and First Responder training to get through, as well as volunteering at the hospital to try and fit in. It's the first day of class and I'm already feeling overwhelmed. I just don't know if I can get through it all. I found myself thinking today, more than once, if I am complaining about this, am I truly ready to be a doctor? It has been my dream for as long as I can remember, but I'm really feeling strain that friends of mine with other career paths don't seem to be feeling. I'm not saying I can't handle work, but worrying about the MCAT, my GPA, competition, teachers, volunteering, etc. is just eating away at me. All this ON TOP of having a job and attempting a social life. Anyone else feel this way? It would sure make me feel better if you vented about it.

*Lunacy*

Sounds like the weeding out phase of the weeding out process is revving up ... 🙄

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

Well...there's a reason O-chem is called a "weeder" class. I too, took O-chem I last semester and came out fine...granted that I did study pretty hard for it though. On the first day of class, my professor for O-chem...who was a HORRIBLE teacher...told us..."Don't stress too much...I know people call this a weeder course but I'm not going to teach it that way...a 'C' grade in this class is a GOOD grade!" I think about a good 40% of the students in that class ended up with Cs...it was just devastating for many folks. I just really recommend that you stay focused and DO NOT FALL BEHIND ON ANY O-CHEM MATERIAL...I cannot stress this enough. Do all the hw problems as they are assigned and seek out extra tutoring if you find yourself in need of it...don't be ashamed cuz there are plenty of other students in the same position.

I tutored 2 other students and it not only helped them..but also helped me understand the material even further because I was teaching it. I also recommend using the Wade O-chem textbook (Organic Chemistry by L.G. Wade...4th or 5th edition)...Dr. Wade explains the material very thoroughly in that book and ya might want to look into borrowing it from your university library in case you have trouble with the textbook assigned by your prof. I wish you the best of luck! Don't ever doubt yourself in this process...you CAN do it..just stay focused. Take care.

BP