stress levels

I'd get heart attacks too if I tried to study right before an exam. Preparation beforehand is great to avoid unnecessary stress.

Also, I've learned to be okay with B's. Sometimes it's just not worth the extra-stress to shoot for that A in some classes. (Although as we all know, A's are important for getting into medical school)

 

Studying around other people can be really stress-inducing. It seems like either they're underprepared & their panic starts to permeate the atmosphere (stressing everyone out), or they're overprepared (or pretending to be) and they create stress by making you feel like **** for not studying as much as they have. Personally I manage my academic stress by 1) having a rough schedule for studying leading up to an exam, 2) not studying with other people, and 3) hitting the gym on a regular basis. Seems to work pretty well for me, anyway.

 

definitely. I always study alone. always.

but I think stress is good--if you're not stressed, there's a chance you'll take things too lightly and end up screwing yourself over. If the stress prevents you from retaining the information, then it can become a problem, but otherwise just savor the pain.

 

I do a lot of studying alone, but I always either quiz myself by turning to random pages in my notes/lecture slides and making sure I can explain what's on that page, or ask someone to quiz me. If I can explain everything, then I'm convinced that I'm prepared and that there's no need to worry.

 

Studying with other people stresses me out and is a waste of time. I am usually far more productive studying alone and am able to focus my attention in a way that best helps me study without regard to other people and their study habits.
Plus, in groups you will always find that one person who wants to be taught everything over - well, I work my ass off and am not there to teach someone the material they could have learned had they attended class or read the book.

 

I think that a prepared mind is the antidote to having to become stressed out for a test. Do as much as you can, focusing on high-yield material, as early as you can, making sure to fit in other activities that help you maintain a healthy lifestyle (such as exercise and proper rest), and then let go. Practice a lot. Repeat. Keep in mind that spending too much energy pouring over material right before an exam is generally not good practice; some people have success cramming, but I don't like the feeling of it myself. Also, forget about how others are doing; simply do the best YOU can do, for yourself. Remember to breathe normally.

 

It took me a few semester to realize that no matter how hard I try, I'm not going to make an A in most of my classes. (That's just the way engineering majors are.) When you get used to that idea, school doesn't seem too stressful. All A's are not always necessary to get into med school. They sure do help, but it's not all they look at. An upward trend is good too. Once I learned to stop stressing, I actually got better grades. Surprising.

 

I always try to overstudy any material I have and shoot for an A, but the stress levels goes down when you accept the fact that a B is ok and there is more to life than all A's. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack the first time I got a B or worst from all that red bull crap I use to drink trying to be the best. Later on ur gonna find out that good sleep and scheduling is the key to balance a stress-free pre-med life.

 

B's are not the end of the world, and a handful will never keep you out of med school, so this kind of stress is misguided.
But professions are stressful, and if you are not the kind of person who can thrive in stressful situations, then certain careers are not going to be such a good idea. If someone is stressing themselves into chest pains because they think they will be getting a B instead of an A, imagine when the stakes are higher (lives are at stake).

 

Once again my exhausted sky rat friend you are correct......I can't stand studying around other people, just as I can't stand group projects normally (especially when it's something I find ridiculously simplistic and my group thinks it's a challenge). I go to class, take notes (often recording the lecture on a tape recorder), and leave- often without ever speaking to any of my classmates.

I also try to seek out my lab professors to arrange working alone; you'd be amazed what a little schmoozing can get you.....such as being able to talk to the professor the preceding semester about his research....they think you're interested (which I actually often am given my nature) and most times is willing to scratch your back when the time comes because he or she remembers you as a dedicated student, even if you're not a major in their department (sometimes ESPECIALLY if you're not a major in their department. A little forward thinking takes away my biggest source of annoyance- dealing with other students who think they are smarter than everyone else, but are- in fact- about as sharp as a sack of wet mice.

My other tips for when it comes to avoiding stress:
-Work out (I find a punching bag a very useful stress reliever)
-Have sex as often as possible (if you have to be told this, you have more serious problems than SDN can help you with)
-Develop a hobby or two (and not something that is also an EC God damn it)

 

I like doing group reviews a day or so before the test because I find that there are usually a few factoids that I somehow missed while studying, but other than that I prefer to study alone.

 

Most everyone is saying study alone and that's good for some but studying with other people can be very beneficial. I use to have a group of friends in all of my classes and we would go over the material on our own to begin with. Than we would get together a day or two before the test and go over the material. If I didn't understand something, someone else could explain it to me better. Before the test I always looked over my notes on my own though.

I had/have bad stress when it comes to taking tests. I think part of it is the pressure I place on myself to do well. To deal with the stress, the best thing is to feel like I prepared well. I also started going to gym as a way to releave the stress. Sometimes I wouldn't look at my notes before a test, what good will it do besides create more stress?

 

So true! My freshman year I didn't do too hot relative to the average accepted student's gpa..i got a 3.3 gpa my freshman year, including a C+ in calc 2.

 

Very true.

As I said before, I also learned that the extra stress to get an A in some classes is JUST NOT WORTH IT!

Of course it's important to do well and get A's, but that's why you should pick your professors carefully and thoughtfully. Make sure you take some science classes in which you can get an "easy" A. For those classes in which the A is hard to attain, don't sweat it.

I used to get stressed because I wanted to get A's in every class. However one time I decided that I could study 5 hours a week and get a B in a class, or study 20 hours a week and *maybe* get an A in the class. I decided to study 5 hours and use the other 15 for something more productive and less stressful, like a social life for example.

It's all up to you, you decide how much you want to work and if the stress you put yourself under is worth the pain at the end of the road. IMHO, it isn't. A doctor who pulled half A's and half B's in undergrad is probably just as happy (if not more) than the doctor who pulled all A's in undergrad.

 

I like to study by myself, and then go study with other people once I have a solid grasp on the subject matter. I find it's a lot easier to learn the concepts by myself, but easier to learn how to solve problems (which, let's face it, is what is tested on the vast majority of physics / chem exams) with others. I'm picky about who I choose to study with, though.

 

Study with hot girls. If they are interested, they will flirt with you and you will have a good night... If not, at least you will be studying.

 

Then be sure to get the "good night" part on film.

 

Hmmmm... that's hott!

 

This is my strategy too...premeds will give you acute myocardial infarction. Study with them if you need to, and hang with some business majors or something every now and then to relax. Listen to van wilder...."worrying is like a rocking chair...it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." Have a drink (if you drink), go to parties, hang out with your friends. When you are 40, you'll have enough to worry about, and youll be wishing you had relaxed more in these days that you are living now.