Tips/tricks/advice for mastering pre med??

[asigna]

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Hi guys my name is Anthony. I'm a freshman and bio major/pre med at Loyola University Chicago. I am taking Bio 101 (even though I got the ap credit) with lab, chem 101 with lab, math 131 (calc 1), and philosophy 130 (first level).

I am extremely determined to exceed in pre med, as I know so many people are besides me. I am wondering if you guys could give me any tips for these classes. Maybe some study tips, aids, things that worked for you, some advice, etc. I'm kinda nervous since it's my first semester in college. I really dont want to do bad in any of my classes. I know that I should have A's and B's, as there is a lot of competition out there. In high school, I had a 4.2 gpa, but I know college is a whole different world, especially since your grade is based mostly on tests. One wrong move and you could be done.

Just basically advice on how to exceed in pre med in general or any of the classes would really help. Also, if you guys know any ways that help you stay motivated or strong, please let me know! I'm a positive guy, but everyone can get discouraged.

I'm also trying to get involved. I joined AED and AMSA. I am looking to do research/volunteering/ internships asap! If I'm going to be a doctor, I might as well get used to helping people now!

So overall, if you guys could just help me out here and post things that could help me fro the classes I posted, pre med in general, or anything that could help me! I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

 

[noworkhistory]

Hi guys my name is Anthony. I'm a freshman and bio major/pre med at Loyola University Chicago. I am taking Bio 101 (even though I got the ap credit) with lab, chem 101 with lab, math 131 (calc 1), and philosophy 130 (first level).

I am extremely determined to exceed in pre med, as I know so many people are besides me. I am wondering if you guys could give me any tips for these classes. Maybe some study tips, aids, things that worked for you, some advice, etc. I'm kinda nervous since it's my first semester in college. I really dont want to do bad in any of my classes. I know that I should have A's and B's, as there is a lot of competition out there. In high school, I had a 4.2 gpa, but I know college is a whole different world, especially since your grade is based mostly on tests. One wrong move and you could be done.

Just basically advice on how to exceed in pre med in general or any of the classes would really help. Also, if you guys know any ways that help you stay motivated or strong, please let me know! I'm a positive guy, but everyone can get discouraged.

I'm also trying to get involved. I joined AED and AMSA. I am looking to do research/volunteering/ internships asap! If I'm going to be a doctor, I might as well get used to helping people now!

So overall, if you guys could just help me out here and post things that could help me fro the classes I posted, pre med in general, or anything that could help me! I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

One doctor I had as a professor said that he knows "all the tips and tricks to getting A's in pre-med" and he told me he got a 4.0 GPA undergrad. Unfortunately I never asked him what his tips and tricks are. Personally, I'm just keeping the same mentality that made me successful in high school. It's not that much different really - you're just on your own now - nobody really forcing you to do anything. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who post who have a lot of tips and tricks though. (I've been wanting to post a thread exactly like this, so I'm glad someone did. I'm looking forward to the responses). Best of luck!

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Sit in the library, pull out your books, and study all day, every day. There's really no secret here, unless I missed something in undergrad.

 

[Doctor246853]

Dont worry those classes are relatively easy. For bio, be sure to read ahead and stay ahead of the material. Thats about it. For chem, be sure to understand sig figs., conversions, and naming chemicals. Everything is built off of that basically. For the last class, do the same as for bio. Read ahead so when you go to class it is pretty much review. Start off strong with your tests so you dont have to depend on the finals and youre good.

 

[Freesia88]

On Classes
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=922060 - Tips for Gen Chem and Bio
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=944417 - Some Thoughts on Anatomy and Physiology
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=942984 - Math
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943703 - Biochem

On Extracurriculars
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=900532 - Shadowing
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941154 -Shadowing (More thoughts)

Stuff to think about
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941210 - Studying
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943505 - Since You're Just starting College
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=637081 - Importance of Enjoying College
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941317 - Motivation
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=923032 - Social Media
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=946011 - Time Management
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941708 (Time Management - More Thoughts)
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=944430 - Is Pre-med Challenging?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=945478 - Getting to Know Your Teachers
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943703 - If You're Gonna Misbehave
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=178634 - Just Because This Thread Is Awesome.

I cannot vouch for all of the advice in these threads, but they should give you something to think about, especially the bolded ones. There are other threads out there too. Take a look around.

Best Wishes

 

[ComfortCreature]

This should help, too. 🙂

 

[FSU2013]

You just have to be smarter and work harder than the guy next to you. That's it. There's no perfect science to it.

Premed organizations mean very little. You would be better served by spending your time doing research and/or doing something in medicine (+++if you can get paid for it).

Don't spread yourself too thin this year, try to spend the first year getting used to college. You dont want to dig yourself into a metaphorical GPA hole by being overzealous with your course selection. If you start doing research at the beginning of your 2nd year or getting medical experience, you will still be ahead of the curve.

Keep your options open - a lot of people think medicine is it then change their mind. That's Ok.

Lastly, enjoy undergrad. It's a great time that you can never get back. Study what you're interested in, spend time with loved ones and travel. Relax. Don't be "that guy" - everyone hates "that guy."

 

[FSU2013]

And don't blow off bio because you passed the AP. I took calc in high school so decided to never go to class. I got A's on all the tests, but didn't know there were pop quizzes....long story short - one of only 2 B's in undergrad.....l

Also, don't get arrested.

 

[Liftamulti]

Spend time going over the notes after every class period. It's better to fully understand the material and actually learn it than cramming everything last minute. Use the textbook problems, the textbook websites, and help sites to practice the material even if they are not assigned.

 

[Koosalagoosagoo]

Whatever you do don't underestimate that philosophy class. I took one and we had to write about 30 essays in the semester, and I am at a CC.

 

[PlumBob]

Some advice as a LUC graduate, a great place to volunteer in Chicago is Community Health. Northwestern Memorial is also good, although you'll have a lot less patient contact. Most profs in the bio dept (I worked with several and published while I was there) won't consider you for a research position until you have taken Cell Bio and Genetics. Some may even want orgo. One thing I wish I had done was take LUC EMT-B training class. Also, as was said before, DO NOT underestimate the CORE classes, they can be very time consuming and most of the time they suck.

 

[TheGloaming]

My main advice is start ECs early, especially some type of clinical volunteering/work and research. I started talking to professors junior year about research and many said they like to get undergrads started in their labs as early as possible. Your going to have to work your way up in the lab to get more responsibility and to really get something worthwhile out of it and the best way to do that is start early. The general consensus is that adcoms want to see commitment over a long period of time rather than just shear number of hours. Having said all this, only make major time commitments once you are comfortable with your classes and doing well in them. Your main goal at this point is to keep up the GPA. You'll have to learn what methods work best for you and then once this is accomplished, go after some ECs you are interested in. Lastly, as others have said, ENJOY your time there. Do well in your classes but take time for yourself and DO NOT feel guilty if you are not studying all the time. I did this too often during my freshman year and it was completely unnecessary.

 

[Wubbles]

Don't spend all your time worrying about "mastering pre-med". Live a little. Take some classes that interest you and take some you normally wouldn't consider - you never know what you'll end up enjoying.
Two of my favorite classes I've ever taken were two that I signed up for because others were full. An English class, Autobiography & Biography, where I read some amazing books and met one of my favorite professors and an anthropology class where we made our own lithic tools and observed primate behavior at the zoo.....stuff I wouldn't have done without those classes.

 

[moneytree]

Chill. Chase girls. Get laid. You're only in college once. Have fun.

 

[TheGloaming]

Don't spend all your time worrying about "mastering pre-med". Live a little. Take some classes that interest you and take some you normally wouldn't consider - you never know what you'll end up enjoying.
Two of my favorite classes I've ever taken were two that I signed up for because others were full. An English class, Autobiography & Biography, where I read some amazing books and met one of my favorite professors and an anthropology class where we made our own lithic tools and observed primate behavior at the zoo.....stuff I wouldn't have done without those classes.

Your avatar rocks👍

 

[deleted303591]

1. You need to WORK, not s-t-u-d-y, especially in groups of 3-5 people. Studying is a passive activity and it is not an effective way to use your time.

At my university during my freshman year as an engineering student, a lecturer came and taught the Guaranteed 4.0 Plan. Their website is here . This website is also a good reference for tips if you look through it.

- Get as many old tests/quizzes for your course(s) early on in the semester and collect them (make friends with your pupils and UPPERCLASSMEN!...Engineering students have folders and folders of PDFs of these materials!)

- Use the old tests as practice for the tests and always do the practice tests under normal testing conditions (i.e. time restrictions and after intense working and reading through material)

- When you write formulas down in your notes, define all variables and include units for each variable to prevent mistakes

-KNOW your conversion factors (e.g. 1 inch = 2.54 cm )

- Read assigned material 3-7 days before the material is covered in lecture and do Bullet Point Reading

- Create a schedule for living (i.e. reading, working problems, lecture time, eating, grooming, sleeping, etc.) AND STICK TO IT!

Good luck!

 

[Fedekz]

Sit in the library, pull out your books, and study all day, every day. There's really no secret here, unless I missed something in undergrad.

How do you have 600+ posts and you joined in July 2012.

The sun, have you seen it?

 

[Narmerguy]

On Classes
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=922060 - Tips for Gen Chem and Bio
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=944417 - Some Thoughts on Anatomy and Physiology
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=942984 - Math
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943703 - Biochem

On Extracurriculars
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=900532 - Shadowing
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941154 -Shadowing (More thoughts)

Stuff to think about
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941210 - Studying
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943505 - Since You're Just starting College
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=637081 - Importance of Enjoying College
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941317 - Motivation
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=923032 - Social Media
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=946011 - Time Management
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=941708 (Time Management - More Thoughts)
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=944430 - Is Pre-med Challenging?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=945478 - Getting to Know Your Teachers
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943703 - If You're Gonna Misbehave
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=178634 - Just Because This Thread Is Awesome.

I cannot vouch for all of the advice in these threads, but they should give you something to think about, especially the bolded ones. There are other threads out there too. Take a look around.

Best Wishes

Lord have mercy!! 👍

 

[ShenanigansMD]

How do you have 600+ posts and you joined in July 2012.

The sun, have you seen it?

Secondaries, and yes. And a friend has been using my computer with the same account.

Edit: But still, you have a point. I need to stop devoting my life to applications.

 

[ModernAlchemist]

Best advice I can give for the classes themselves is if someone tells you something is easy or less difficult or ANYTHING that makes you want to lower your studying intensity, don't listen. Worst thing I ever did was listen to someone who told me it's okay to take on more leadership and volunteer during 3rd year because classes aren't as hard.