That's great, too, Tiki Torch! As for hostility, ReadytoRumble? I am sorry if you think I personally am being hostile to anyone. That's such an attacking word. I think that is exactly the opposite of my personal point. I personally am very against hostility on any "side". But, seriously, whatever motivates "you" is awesome. If fierce competition is your thing, then more power to you. It's just not my thing is all and sometimes I get irritated with immature, strictly competitive comments on some of these forums (not saying this discussion thread or anything). I do very well in classes. I have a 4.0sgpa and a 3.9 overall, but except to make a point right now, I don't really broadcast that fact. I'm proud of my achievements considering some major difficulties I have faced in my life, but it's just my story and we all have them. However, I am more than happy to colloborate in school if approached, and I lean on others with strengths in areas where I am weak. It's just my preferred way of getting by in the world and I hope that I find cooperative classmates in med school and colleagues in practice, too. Some of us are very motivated by competition and I do understand that, too. We are humans with egos! Competition can be a major force of innovation. I just think that most of us are in no way in denial about the inherent competition involved in premed whether it's class curves in Ochem, the MCAT, or vying for medical school seats. It's there. We all know it. We all get it. We shouldn't have to rub each others faces in it. I think as for being upset with less than your best I must say that in my experience, that attitude is probably inherently part of being a premed, too. I beat myself up if I am not on top all the time. I don't think that is the point, though. Most of strive for our personal best, as we should. We wouldn't be here otherwise. This is a serious path requiring major dedication. I would just like to see and hear more premeds helping each other out and cheering each other on. We're all in the same boat afterall.
I am mostly speaking to the general attitudes of some of the forums here and with some of the fellow premeds I encounter in school to purposefully make others feel subpar. That, to me, is not motivating, but I'm just one person. I, do, however, enjoy hearing about the successes of others especially when they back up those successes with a little humility or some advice for others. The triumphs over weaknesses are always nice to hear. I love to hear about hard work paying off. That being said, I wish every well meaning, well deserving, kind hearted, hard working premed the very best. Whatever gets us all there, right? So long as we don't fall prey to too much mean spiritied competition and stomp all over someone else to get our own successes then whatever floats our boats to make us the best possible future physicians is a-ok by me.