Struggling academically

[StrugglingMS1]

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I'm going to change some details to maintain anonymity, but here's my situation:

I am currently an MS 1, and I have been struggling (to put it mildly) academically. I failed my first block (remediate in summer) and the first exam of my second block.

Extenuating circumstances are that I have a 6 year old child, and I have been working 12 to 15 hours a week (long story - unavoidable). I actually love being in school, and I love the material. But I've had barely enough time to get through the material once, and haven't been able to study enough to commit the details to memory. Working so hard only to see failure after failure is playing havoc with my mental health.

I was finally able to leave my job, but I'm still a mother, and so I still don't have as much time as most of my classmates.

I really want to believe that 12 extra hours will make all the difference, but if I don't do well on the next exam, I think it's time for me to drop out.

Seeking support/advice.

 

[echidna001]

I'm going to change some details to maintain anonymity, but here's my situation:

I am currently an MS 1, and I have been struggling (to put it mildly) academically. I failed my first block (remediate in summer) and the first exam of my second block.

Extenuating circumstances are that I have a 6 year old child, and I have been working 12 to 15 hours a week (long story - unavoidable). I actually love being in school, and I love the material. But I've had barely enough time to get through the material once, and haven't been able to study enough to commit the details to memory. Working so hard only to see failure after failure is playing havoc with my mental health.

I was finally able to leave my job, but I'm still a mother, and so I still don't have as much time as most of my classmates.

I really want to believe that 12 extra hours will make all the difference, but if I don't do well on the next exam, I think it's time for me to drop out.

Seeking support/advice.

There are several mothers in my medical school class. I cannot imagine how stressful it is to have a child and deal with the onslaught of medical school. From what I've seen, being a mother and attending medical school is hard but doable (several of our MD faculty members went to medical school at an older age with children, some as single mothers). I will say though, that I do not know of a single person in my medical school class that is working a job outside of medical school. Even a part time job, I think this would make life impossible. I think those extra 12 hours a week (used correctly) will help you immensely. You also may need to tweak your study methods if you haven't already. I really hope you've reached out to school administration. They're usually open arms with advice and really want you to succeed! Best of luck going forward!

 

[deleted480308]

You shouldn't have been working but it seems like you finally figured that out. Ask about tutoring, hit up office hours, email in extra questions to professors.

You want to build a defensible case that you are pullinf out all the stops in case the school decides the consider mercy killing your career

 

[Darth Doc]

I'm in medical school with kids, but I'm not a single mother. My SO has been a tremendous support. Even so, my kids need me and I have less study time than some of my peers. It helps to be exceptionally organized and rigid in your scheduling. For example, if going to class doesn't help, start just reviewing the recorded videos. Start reviewing recorded classes on 2x-4x speed (as fast as you can process - it'll gradually increase over time). Get as much help from others as you possibly can with child care. Study for 45 minutes and take a 15 minute play break with your kid (you'll need a brain break anyway). Once your child is in bed, your dedicated study time is back. Go to the store as infrequently as possible (it's a huge time waster for me). Study when you're in your car, when you're walking to class, during lunch. If you're an audio learner, record important notes on your phone and listen to them when you're doing anything where you can't be reading a book. Get a tutor through your school. Get as much high yield study material as possible - (sketchy medical when you get to pharm and micro are amazing.) I also really like picmonic - I'm a huge visual learner - and it helps me link syndrome pieces together, and remember which nerve is where in the brachial plexus.

You'll have to work impossibly hard the first 2 years to make it, but it's possible. I thought the first semester was the hardest for me because of the adjustment.

Good luck! (Feel free to PM me if you want. Organization of your schedule is absolutely key, and tutoring.)

 

[Goro]

I can't sugar coat this: You can't work part time and be a med student. Period.

I've had students who were single moms, or were moms with brand new babies. If you can't establish a better support system, and become better at time mgt, then it is indeed time for a new career.

At the minimum, visit your school's counseling center.

Where's your child's dad in all this? He should be picking up more of the slack. The kid will survive.

I'm going to change some details to maintain anonymity, but here's my situation:

I am currently an MS 1, and I have been struggling (to put it mildly) academically. I failed my first block (remediate in summer) and the first exam of my second block.

Extenuating circumstances are that I have a 6 year old child, and I have been working 12 to 15 hours a week (long story - unavoidable). I actually love being in school, and I love the material. But I've had barely enough time to get through the material once, and haven't been able to study enough to commit the details to memory. Working so hard only to see failure after failure is playing havoc with my mental health.

I was finally able to leave my job, but I'm still a mother, and so I still don't have as much time as most of my classmates.

I really want to believe that 12 extra hours will make all the difference, but if I don't do well on the next exam, I think it's time for me to drop out.

Seeking support/advice.

 

[Azete]

I'm in medical school with kids, but I'm not a single mother. My SO has been a tremendous support. Even so, my kids need me and I have less study time than some of my peers. It helps to be exceptionally organized and rigid in your scheduling. For example, if going to class doesn't help, start just reviewing the recorded videos. Start reviewing recorded classes on 2x-4x speed (as fast as you can process - it'll gradually increase over time). Get as much help from others as you possibly can with child care. Study for 45 minutes and take a 15 minute play break with your kid (you'll need a brain break anyway). Once your child is in bed, your dedicated study time is back. Go to the store as infrequently as possible (it's a huge time waster for me). Study when you're in your car, when you're walking to class, during lunch. If you're an audio learner, record important notes on your phone and listen to them when you're doing anything where you can't be reading a book. Get a tutor through your school. Get as much high yield study material as possible - (sketchy medical when you get to pharm and micro are amazing.) I also really like picmonic - I'm a huge visual learner - and it helps me link syndrome pieces together, and remember which nerve is where in the brachial plexus.

You'll have to work impossibly hard the first 2 years to make it, but it's possible. I thought the first semester was the hardest for me because of the adjustment.

Good luck! (Feel free to PM me if you want. Organization of your schedule is absolutely key, and tutoring.)

4x is a thing? Half of our professors are from another country, even 2x sounds like straight gibberish sometimes. I can't even imagine 4x, although it would be pretty amazing to get through a 50 minute lecture in 12 minutes.

 

[DocWinter]

You can't do this and work. There is no substitute for time put in studying.

You may or may not not have the tools to succeed but if you don't get those extra hours you for sure won't be able to.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

How can anyone think of having a 15 hour a week job, be a single parent and expect to do well in medical school? If you can't do medical school because of life, you need to either drop out or go to your school and ask for a leave of absence until you can fix your life to do this.

 

[Yung Kelso]

At my school, there are a few people that work part time, and there are one or two people who have kids, and they still manage to do well. The difference is that NO ONE in their right minds would attempt to do BOTH of those things AND undertake medical school at the same time. Furthermore the people with kids seem to have a good support system, a spouse or family to share childcare responsibilities with, and good time management skills. for you, a support system is crucial. The reason I say this, is because you are a first year and are struggling. Sorry to say, IT GETS WORSE. you need to come up with some solutions, because, even if you make it through 1st and 2nd year, you will screwed 3rd year once rotations start and you need to be at the hospital for 8+ hrs per day and still find time to study.

 

[Darth Doc]

4x is a thing? Half of our professors are from another country, even 2x sounds like straight gibberish sometimes. I can't even imagine 4x, although it would be pretty amazing to get through a 50 minute lecture in 12 minutes.

I can't do 4x. I have one friend who did. My fastest was 3x if the professor talked really slowly and 2.25x with everyone else. It makes it hard to have a conversation though, because everyone starts talking sooooooo slowly.