trouble with biological sciences

[Krazed_Medic]

Hi all, I have been having a problem with my biological sciences. I guess I just struggle with them is all. I do excellent with physics and chemistry. Do some med schools put more weight into the physical sciences than biological? Any tips for someone stuggling with biology? Any comments would be much appreciated. Thanks

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[DORoe]

are you talking about struggling in Bio classes on the Bio portion of the MCAT?

 

[bigmuny]

Not likely. I never had any school when I was interviewing comment on any particular course or grade. If you are having trouble with bio though you need to work it out now, and find out how to succeed in it. There is not much "math flavored" coursework in med school, it is almost all "bio(volumes of it) flavored" stuff. It is not of the same quality as undergrad though(a lot of material, but not as in depth as upper division bio). At any rate you would be doing yourself a favor, by learning how to study that sort of stuff now.

 

[dollarbincommon]

Originally posted by Krazed_Medic
Hi all, I have been having a problem with my biological sciences. I guess I just struggle with them is all. I do excellent with physics and chemistry. Do some med schools put more weight into the physical sciences than biological? Any tips for someone stuggling with biology? Any comments would be much appreciated. Thanks

The problem is the opposite of yours. I rule at biology. But I suck major butt in physics and general chemistry.

as for tips: I'm a visual leaner. So, for example pathways, I draw lots of pictures and imagine them happening in my head. What part of biology are you having problems with? (I'll be taking the MCAT this April)



pssst, any tips for a physics/chem loser?

 

[DD214_DOC]

No offense, but if you're having such problems with the biology classes how do you intend to survive med school? Med school isn't mostly physics and chemistry.

 

[drbrowneyes]

I must admit, that I am concerned that you struggle in Biology. Then of course, I am not sure what you mean by
"struggle". I mean do you just have to devote more time but still receive good grades or do you devote more time and see no change in your grades. If the latter is true, then due to the volume of biological science you will be covering in med school that does raise some red flags. In medical school you would definitely have to put in some serious study/struggle time. I guess it comes down to if you are admitted are you willing to continue the struggle in hopes of reaching your goal. Or you could maybe look into something combines your interests as well as what you are good at. Those or just some suggestions. If being a physician is your passion, then begin now working on how to better retain biological science concepts. I know I babble all over the place, but I think you get the gist of what i am trying to say. Best wishes.

 

[bigmuny]

To the OP:
Don't get discouraged by posts on these boards. The good thing with being bad the kind of studying required to do well in bio sci is that it can be learned(unlike the kind of thinking required for math based stuff). Med school is just volumes of information, none of which is conceptually difficult, that you have to fit in your brain. Anybody of average intelligence can learn to do it(believe me, i've seen not so bright folks in med school who do good). It is hard work, but not intellectually challenging. Go get some help from your school counselors, they likely have a learning specialist who can help you with study game plan.

 

[DocRadak]

Just curious, are you struggling in Biology I and II or are they upper division biological science classes. I ask because I too struggled in Bio I & II my freshman year. If so, you can get through it, just put in the necessary time to pass the classes and you'll start getting more into the stuff you're interested in and will help you more in med school.

Good luck to you, any more questions... PM me.

 

[moo]

I sucked in bio at undergrad. But I ruled in math and physics and the "hard" sciences. (I majored in math and physics before med school.) What I found out when I got to med school is not that I was stupid or that bio was hard, I just found out how to study. You can't study the same way for bio as for math and physics. In math and physics, you study a proof or a theorem, understand it, and then apply it to solve problems. In bio, and medicine you just have to memorize everything. And I mean everything, even itty bitty details that seem to be "obvious." Also, associations are key. For ex, if you read about disease X, and its pathogenesis, it may make sense to you (after all bio/medicine is not hard to understand at all, whereas in math and physics it may take you forever to understand a proof--if you ever end up understanding it) but the key is to also remember that pathogenesis X is associated with disease X and not disease Y. Professors love these association type questions, esp in med school, and I've discovered how they like to test. Or if you encounter an "obvious" fact and they'll ask something like, "Which of the following is true?" and if you did not actively memorize it, you'll be like "Hmm... did I remember reading about that?" Anyway, if you are good at physics and math there is no reason that you would not be able to succeed in bio/medicine. I am just about to finish my second year at med school, and I have to say that med school is a lot easier than the math and physics I was used to, even at an undergraduate level. It's doable. Good luck!

 

[Krazed_Medic]

Originally posted by moo
In bio, and medicine you just have to memorize everything. And I mean everything, even itty bitty details that seem to be "obvious."

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Just before I read this, I sat down to "study". HAHA, well, now you see what I'm doing. I've come to the conclusion that I just don't apply myself at the bio sciences like I should. I was just trying to remember when I was in Paramedic school, and how much time I spent with that. And, it makes sense, I memorized the books. So, I'm pretty sure...well, not pretty, just sure that I need to study harder than what I have been. Thanks you guys!