Very stressed & don't know what to do...

[Ludacris]

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Hey all,

I'm currently in 1st term of Basic Sciences. Just had mid-terms and didn't do so good on them (70% on Histology and still waiting back for Anatomy... possibly a 70%-75% there too - don't think it's lower then that).

The 70 is equivalent to a C, 80-89 is a B, and 90-100 is an A.

I also still have to write my Biochem mid-term... which is worth approximately 40-42% just like Histo and Anatomy.

In order to get a B in Histo (and probably Anatomy too) I'll have to get above 90% on the final exams. I'm hoping to do really well on the Biochem mid-term so I won't be as stressed for that final.

Has anyone been able to get out of this hole and what things did you do?

I'm just feeling really lost now... there's still 9 weeks of this term to go so I need to get all the help possible so I don't burn out or something.

Thanks

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Do you need to get higher than a C to pass or something?

Can you do better? Probably. Try new study methods, see if that helps (prepare earlier, work in groups, make flashcards etc.). But it may just be that this is your level and you might find it hard to get much higher. It's unfortunate, but everyone who gets into medical school is very smart. But among the very smart, someone has to be above, below, and average.

 

[Ludacris]

Do you need to get higher than a C to pass or something?

Can you do better? Probably. Try new study methods, see if that helps (prepare earlier, work in groups, make flashcards etc.). But it may just be that this is your level and you might find it hard to get much higher. It's unfortunate, but everyone who gets into medical school is very smart. But among the very smart, someone has to be above, below, and average.

Thanks for the reply!

A C grade is considered a pass.

I think studying earlier will help me tremendously... I have to work on time management but each time I attempt to, I quickly fall behind. I'm going to speak to an academic advisor on Monday.

I'm also used to getting very little sleep before tests... which I know is very bad. But this has something to do with my time management as well... I can only remember sleeping soundly before maybe a few tests in Undergrad.

I'm just stressed that I didn't fix this earlier but I guess I do still have a lot of time to change things.

 

[HPSPpayissues]

It is March, and you are still in your first term of basic science?
Where do you go to school? Repetition is the key! Go read the notes over and over and over again, until everything sticks

 

[OncoCaP]

Hey all,

I'm currently in 1st term of Basic Sciences. Just had mid-terms and didn't do so good on them (70% on Histology and still waiting back for Anatomy... possibly a 70%-75% there too - don't think it's lower then that).

The 70 is equivalent to a C, 80-89 is a B, and 90-100 is an A.

I also still have to write my Biochem mid-term... which is worth approximately 40-42% just like Histo and Anatomy.

In order to get a B in Histo (and probably Anatomy too) I'll have to get above 90% on the final exams. I'm hoping to do really well on the Biochem mid-term so I won't be as stressed for that final.

Has anyone been able to get out of this hole and what things did you do?

I'm just feeling really lost now... there's still 9 weeks of this term to go so I need to get all the help possible so I don't burn out or something.

Thanks

You may never have made a C in your life, but you're going to be in a class full of people who pretty much made A's all their life and your school is going to redistribute all of you over the grading scale.

First, don't panic and be happy that you passed. A few of your classmates, no doubt, were not so lucky.

Second, unless your daily routine involved challenges such as studying with a blood alcohol level of 0.2 g/dL, not studying until the day before exams, etc., you may want to be careful about making big changes in your study routine or you might do even worse on the next round of exams. Most likely just making incremental adjustments and becoming more efficient will pay off in the long run.

Third, keep in mind that your classmates will also improve. Don't feel like the improvements you are making don't work just because your grades don't change much. What you may find is that you will do best in those courses that make the most sense to you or that you have the most interest in. It's also possible that this is a wake-up call and now you will get serious and do much better.

In any case, don't fret; focus on doing your best and be happy that you are passing. Finally, be sure to talk to friendly classmates and students in classes ahead of you about what worked well for them in terms of study techniques. Sometimes there is a certain book or set of notes that is particularly helpful and efficient for a particular class that you are taking.