To be or not to be: Should I just give up??

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bnleong said:
Its 4:00 AM right now and I've got a test in four hours. That leaves me with maybe 2 hours of sleep after I study for another two.

This is a common experience for me as pre-med and it makes me wonder why I am putting myself through all of this. There will be many more restless nights trying to memorize things that I really don't care about; glycolysis, the TCA cycle, RANDOM magnetism equations that are completely useless.

But even if I get into med school, its going to be like this all over again and harder. I wonder to myself; is it really worth it to be a doctor?

Currently, I am most interested in psychiatry/neurology. I have always found human behavior to be very interesting and I am doing research in schizophrenia.

I know after I get some sleep, I will feel differently. But during times like this, I despearately want to give up.
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If you are getting this little sleep on the night before tests you need to drastically alter you study strategies.
 
scarletgirl777 said:
If you are getting this little sleep on the night before tests you need to drastically alter you study strategies.
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Quoted for emphasis.

If you're constantly up that late cramming, then there is something amiss with your study strategies. Perhaps you've taken on too many responsibilities at a time, wait too long to begin studying, or don't study effectively enough. Whatever the case, you need to find the problem and diagnose it now, not later.

Don't give up! Everyone attacks their responsibilities differently, and it sounds like you have not yet found the style that best works for you.
 
bnleong said:
But even if I get into med school, its going to be like this all over again and harder. I wonder to myself; is it really worth it to be a doctor?

Currently, I am most interested in psychiatry/neurology. I have always found human behavior to be very interesting and I am doing research in schizophrenia.

I know after I get some sleep, I will feel differently. But during times like this, I despearately want to give up.
Click to expand...
I am in medical school and I still wonder that on occasion. It lasts about 2 seconds.

Don't make important decisions when you are frustrated and sleep-deprived.
 
the exam is physics, right? dude, sleep will serve you better than a few extra hours of cramming. i'm sure you know that you commit information to memory as you sleep-- and on top of that, you'll need all the cognitive energy you can muster for working problems while taking the exam.
 
The problem is your studying crap that is worthless to you. Yeah, I just got done studying for a huge Bio test involving Glycolysis a few weeks ago. Guess what? I don't remember a damn thing about it anymore. I couldn't even tell you what it is!

It's all about the art of cramming for the moment. None of this (well, most) will be beneficial in med school. When you start learning relevant info (anatomy, for example), then I think (hope for you) that it'll be more interesting to you and easier to study.
 
vin5cent0 said:
The problem is your studying crap that is worthless to you. Yeah, I just got done studying for a huge Bio test involving Glycolysis a few weeks ago. Guess what? I don't remember a damn thing about it anymore. I couldn't even tell you what it is!

It's all about the art of cramming for the moment. None of this (well, most) will be beneficial in med school. When you start learning relevant info (anatomy, for example), then I think (hope for you) that it'll be more interesting to you and easier to study.
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I'd suggest revoking this disinterest in glycolysis, considering how many problems can arrive due to problems with someone's cellular respiration.

OP, no offense but you are on a forum instead of studying. I recommend going somewhere without internet access or a computer when you study (as much is possible at least). I find that I get much more done when I am not tempted to be distracted by the world wide web.
 
vin5cent0 said:
The problem is your studying crap that is worthless to you. Yeah, I just got done studying for a huge Bio test involving Glycolysis a few weeks ago. Guess what? I don't remember a damn thing about it anymore. I couldn't even tell you what it is!

It's all about the art of cramming for the moment. None of this (well, most) will be beneficial in med school. When you start learning relevant info (anatomy, for example), then I think (hope for you) that it'll be more interesting to you and easier to study.
Click to expand...

Expecting that you'll miraculously begin studying like a pro once you've got material that you're interested in is asking for trouble. A lot of what you're expected to learn in medical school isn't particularly relevant to everyday clinical practice, so being able to study material that you view as "unimportant" is a vital skill.
 
I totally understand you OP. I was the same way in college. I was more interested in Psychiatry/Neurology which is a different interest than most who are pre-med. So I did that late night cramming thing and whined about how the material was uninteresting and then graduated with a ****ty gpa (by med school standards).

Now the reality is that you have to get into med school even if you want to do something geared towards psych/neuro and if your gpa sucks, you aren't getting in. I regret it so much! I should have just sucked it up and studied properly.I guess the sooner you realize that there are just things you have to do to get to where you will enjoy what you are learning, the better off you will be.

Also I know you were sleep deprived when you wrote this, but you sound a little depressed and confused. Get into some therapy and/or on an SSRI. That might help you with the stress.

And above all DON'T GIVE UP.
 
bnleong said:
Its 4:00 AM right now and I've got a test in four hours. That leaves me with maybe 2 hours of sleep after I study for another two.

This is a common experience for me as pre-med and it makes me wonder why I am putting myself through all of this. There will be many more restless nights trying to memorize things that I really don't care about; glycolysis, the TCA cycle, RANDOM magnetism equations that are completely useless.

But even if I get into med school, its going to be like this all over again and harder. I wonder to myself; is it really worth it to be a doctor?

Currently, I am most interested in psychiatry/neurology. I have always found human behavior to be very interesting and I am doing research in schizophrenia.

I know after I get some sleep, I will feel differently. But during times like this, I despearately want to give up.
Click to expand...

yes you should give up then. maybe chiropractic school or a business degree or nursing would be better for you.

if all your going to do is whine about it then stop doing it.

its not going to get easier... ive heard this strange rumor that residents don't sleep all that much so... suck it up or leave. Its your life so don't waste it being miserable.
 
saqrfaraj said:
Expecting that you'll miraculously begin studying like a pro once you've got material that you're interested in is asking for trouble. A lot of what you're expected to learn in medical school isn't particularly relevant to everyday clinical practice, so being able to study material that you view as "unimportant" is a vital skill.
Click to expand...


I needed that.

Like OP, I was thinking similar thoughts just yesterday while cramming for a test on glycolysis and photosynthesis (among other things).
 
Try this...no matter how much more you have to cram for, be in bed by 11:00 (or even midnight). Not getting enough sleep is just going to hurt your scores as bad as not studying. Cramming AAAALLLL night might make you feel more hardcore, or that you're remembering more, but the chances are likely that you're forgetting most of it anyway because you're so tired. Try spreading out your studying for a single exam over 3 days before the test and you'll probably feel better.
 
gonj said:
I needed that.

Like OP, I was thinking similar thoughts just yesterday while cramming for a test on glycolysis and photosynthesis (among other things).
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I think it's safe to wipe photosynthesis from your memory banks, at least in terms of knowledge for med school. 😀

Glycolysis is a different story. There are a ton of metabolic disorders, and the first step towards making the diagnosis is knowing the pathways.
 
silverlining1 said:
I am in medical school and I still wonder that on occasion. It lasts about 2 seconds.

Don't make important decisions when you are frustrated and sleep-deprived.
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Save that for residency :meanie:
 
bnleong said:
Its 4:00 AM right now and I've got a test in four hours. That leaves me with maybe 2 hours of sleep after I study for another two.

This is a common experience for me as pre-med and it makes me wonder why I am putting myself through all of this. There will be many more restless nights trying to memorize things that I really don't care about; glycolysis, the TCA cycle, RANDOM magnetism equations that are completely useless.

But even if I get into med school, its going to be like this all over again and harder. I wonder to myself; is it really worth it to be a doctor?

Currently, I am most interested in psychiatry/neurology. I have always found human behavior to be very interesting and I am doing research in schizophrenia.

I know after I get some sleep, I will feel differently. But during times like this, I despearately want to give up.
Click to expand...

Dude, in undergrad, there is no reason that your coursework and studies should keep you up past midnight (unless you have too many other activities, in which case your ECs are the problem, not your courses). After having finished college, I still don't understand why undergrads are willing to make themselves suffer by staying up till 4, 5, or 6 am or pulling all-nighters to study...
 
Bnleong, isn't this the guy making fun of SkinMD because he got accepted into SUNY?? I don't believe in karma...but this would be a great time to say...what goes around....
 
Global Warming said:
Bnleong, isn't this the guy making fun of SkinMD because he got accepted into SUNY?? I don't believe in karma...but this would be a great time to say...what goes around....
Click to expand...

that was someone else, shindotp or something.
 
If you think you can handle it, then by all means go for it. Im not one to keep encouraging people, when its clear they wont hack it. If you cant hack it, maybe start looking elsewhere. You know yourself and your abilities better than anyone else, so its up for you to decide.
 
bnleong said:
Its 4:00 AM right now and I've got a test in four hours. That leaves me with maybe 2 hours of sleep after I study for another two.

This is a common experience for me as pre-med and it makes me wonder why I am putting myself through all of this. There will be many more restless nights trying to memorize things that I really don't care about; glycolysis, the TCA cycle, RANDOM magnetism equations that are completely useless.

But even if I get into med school, its going to be like this all over again and harder. I wonder to myself; is it really worth it to be a doctor?

Currently, I am most interested in psychiatry/neurology. I have always found human behavior to be very interesting and I am doing research in schizophrenia.

I know after I get some sleep, I will feel differently. But during times like this, I despearately want to give up.
Click to expand...

Don't make that decision just get...catch up on your sleep first!!
I don't know what the rest of your schedule is like, but maybe try managing your time better? (Obviously assuming that you put off work like we all do to go on SDN...)
 
(wo)man up

know what you want, and do what you gotta do to get it

you can sleep when you're dead (besides, you only need 2 hours for a REM cycle 😀)
 
i thought it was more like 3-4 for rem? if i get less than 4 hrs im a zombie all day
 
all nighters were bad...but 2 usually did the trick for me
 
docontheroc said:
all nighters were bad...but 2 usually did the trick for me
Click to expand...

I think 1 REM cycle is 1.5 hours for the first, depending on how sleep deprived you are. Then, the subsequent cycles take shorter and shorter amounts of time.

But honestly, 1.5 hours is good for naps but wouldn't last me through 10 AM if I treated it as sleep. I'd make 3 hrs a minimum for late night cramming.
 
MadEvans said:
I think 1 REM cycle is 1.5 hours for the first, depending on how sleep deprived you are. Then, the subsequent cycles take shorter and shorter amounts of time.
Click to expand...

Truth. 90 minutes is a cycle. If you are going to nap, it should be for less than 20 minutes or at least 90 minutes. Otherwise you wake up in the middle of the cycle = groggy, worthless feeling.
 
I pull all nighters all the time, but I just am a huge procrastinator. You need to learn to study sooner if you can't handle staying up. If you don't wanna change but you need sleep you're screwed. The only other advice I have is to study some, get some sleep, then wake up early to study some more so it's fresh in your mind.
 
mrdrdrjp said:
I pull all nighters all the time, but I just am a huge procrastinator. You need to learn to study sooner if you can't handle staying up. If you don't wanna change but you need sleep you're screwed. The only other advice I have is to study some, get some sleep, then wake up early to study some more so it's fresh in your mind.
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I have nothing against all-nighters. 😀 Sometimes they really are necessary, like when writing papers. But it's never a good idea to pull an all-nighter in preparation for a test. Your memory is poorer when tired, and so is your just general cognitive function. Even when you think you are fine, such as when stimulated by caffeine, you really aren't.
 
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