MD Struggled as an MS1, can I turn this around?

[happyanon]

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So I just completed my first year in med school and didn't do as well as I would've liked. Performed really well on a few exams but barely managed to get a passing score in many others. As far as I know, our school uses the true P/F, and I'm glad to have passed all courses, but the fact that I performed poorly even when I actually put in the effort and enjoyed the learning concerns me.

I am interested in internal med and/or pediatrics, and like anyone else, I would like to end up at a strong residency program in a desirable location. I try to convince myself that I will be fine as long as I do reasonably well on Step 1 and work my butt off in my 3rd year, but at the same time I question how can I do well on Step when I was in the bottom quarter of my med school class.

I go to a top 30 school and got a 36 (13/9/14) on the old MCAT. English is not my first language.

What can I do to turn this around? Can I?

 

[cutari]

Of course you can! First year is usually the time when you're still adjusting, learning how to cope with all the information and sorting out your study techniques. It might reflect in your grades until you sort it out, and this takes time. Personally, I had the same problems and yet I managed to bump up my grades in second year.

You're still learning, focus on ameliorating your study techniques, and don't be too harsh on yourself. Set goals, and pat yourself on the back when you achieve them (as small as they may be). Some say that confidence can also improve your grades. Goodluck!

 

[LyMed]

That's common in the first year. Many times, students are adjusting and trying to find out the best way to study. I say the vast majority of these students improve naturally as time goes on and they get more comfortable with things.

 

[Styrene]

So I just completed my first year in med school and didn't do as well as I would've liked. Performed really well on a few exams but barely managed to get a passing score in many others. As far as I know, our school uses the true P/F, and I'm glad to have passed all courses, but the fact that I performed poorly even when I actually put in the effort and enjoyed the learning concerns me.

I am interested in internal med and/or pediatrics, and like anyone else, I would like to end up at a strong residency program in a desirable location. I try to convince myself that I will be fine as long as I do reasonably well on Step 1 and work my butt off in my 3rd year, but at the same time I question how can I do well on Step when I was in the bottom quarter of my med school class.

I go to a top 30 school and got a 36 (13/9/14) on the old MCAT. English is not my first language.

What can I do to turn this around? Can I?

Because of the good score on the MCAT, I would rule out my number one suspicion in these cases, which is test anxiety. I would ask other students what they used to study. You may be learning, but you may not be learning what is going to be on the tests. It is impossible to learn everything in med school, so without a focus on the high-yield info, test scores are often not as high as one would like. If your schools tests via NBME, perhaps more Qbank questions. If your school is in-house testing stuff, then maybe there are circulating old exams.

 

[Goro]

So I just completed my first year in med school and didn't do as well as I would've liked. Performed really well on a few exams but barely managed to get a passing score in many others. As far as I know, our school uses the true P/F, and I'm glad to have passed all courses, but the fact that I performed poorly even when I actually put in the effort and enjoyed the learning concerns me.

I am interested in internal med and/or pediatrics, and like anyone else, I would like to end up at a strong residency program in a desirable location. I try to convince myself that I will be fine as long as I do reasonably well on Step 1 and work my butt off in my 3rd year, but at the same time I question how can I do well on Step when I was in the bottom quarter of my med school class.

I go to a top 30 school and got a 36 (13/9/14) on the old MCAT. English is not my first language.

What can I do to turn this around? Can I?

Read this:
Goro’s guide to success in medical school-v.2016