What should you be doing the first year of college?

[xnfs93hy]

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Besides focusing on my major and pre reqs. for med school, what else should I be focusing on to make sure I have the BEST possible chance at getting accepted to medical school?

I had a poor academic experience in middle school and in HS, tons of crappy teachers, etc. I am going to apply broadly and see where I stand.

However, I may just end up going to a CC for a year and then transferring to Ohio State or something. Having said that:

If I choose to go the CC route for a year. Besides studying and making good grades, WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE DOING?

I mean, joining a club would be pointless.

Could I start shadowing and racking up ER volunteer hours? How much is enough for MS?

What about research? Should I hold off on that?

Should I do anything?

I'm just nervous that I will not make it in anywhere because I "Didn't do something when I was supposed to".

I'm not concerned with getting into Harvard or Johns Hopkins. I just want to get in to a GOOD allopathic medical school.

Also, I plan on studying abroad for a semester. Is that a good idea or bad idea?


What is necessary to have on a med school application? I just don't want to go to CC, get accepted, make good grades and have nothing on my app and not get accepted anywhere.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Also, is going to grad school for a year to get a masters and then to med school a good idea if I want to have an extra year to beef up my app?

 

[Maygyver]

I had a poor academic experience in middle school and in HS, tons of crappy teachers, etc. I am going to apply broadly and see where I stand.

If you thought you had crappy teachers in high school, wait until you get into college and have a professor who cares more about research than teaching. First step to doing well in college, stop blaming failures on others and learn to adapt.

 

[xnfs93hy]

If you thought you had crappy teachers in high school, wait until you get into college and have a professor who cares more about research than teaching. First step to doing well in college, stop blaming failures on others and learn to adapt.

Not that you believe me but that is easier said than done at least in my school. It has gotten to the point where my parents are having me home schooled math for this year because in my math class, students from previous years would just walk into the class and start disrupting class.

I reported the teacher and nothing has been done. My parents were shocked.

I guess you could call that "adapting". Blaming failures on others? No. In no way is any of this my fault. Here I am trying to learn, and I can't.
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And not to be rude, although that seems impossible at this point. Could you just answer my question?

 

[TheMagicCookie]

Blaming poor performance on the teachers is not an advisable route to go, you just need to learn to work with them regardless of how "crappy" they may be. Personality and structural differences between people happen all the time, success as a student comes from the ability to adapt and learn despite these differences.

Concerning your freshman year, regardless of where you choose to go, should be spent adjusting to the college life. Try not to join a lot of things or fill your plate too full before you have established your study routine. You don't have to go from 0-150 mph on your first day...take your time, get a feel for the atmosphere, and slowly ease yourself into the pre-med requirements. It's not worth risking your academic success by jumping into your med school aspirations too hastily.

 

[DrYoda]

If I choose to go the CC route for a year. Besides studying and making good grades, WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE DOING?

For your first year make sure that your academic performance is great, academics and adapting to college should be your primary concern. Worry about everything else after that.

I mean, joining a club would be pointless.

I did talk down on clubs a bit in the other thread, but if it's something you enjoy; do it.

Could I start shadowing and racking up ER volunteer hours? How much is enough for MS?

I would definetly start doing this in your first or second year, gives you lots of time to switch gears if you feel that what you see isn't something you would want to do for the rest of your life. Also it's pretty easy to squeeze in, and you don't want it to look like you did it as a last minute after thought.

For amount: the bare minimum is pretty low, I got in with well under 50hrs total done over a relatively short period. However, I do not in any way recommend doing that, I was using poor judgement. I don't think there is really a set minimum, but get a decent amount, and it is better to do the hours slowly over time than to cram them into a small time slot.

What about research? Should I hold off on that?

You can't cram everything into 1st year, I would hold off on research. Start it in the summer or in subsequent years. Figuring out an area you would like to do research in is good idea though.

Should I do anything?

I'm just nervous that I will not make it in anywhere because I "Didn't do something when I was supposed to".


Also, I plan on studying abroad for a semester. Is that a good idea or bad idea?

Beyond good grades/MCAT, clinical experience and research there isn't a set anything you have to do or should do. Leadership qualities and altruism are excellent things to demonstrate, but they can be demonstrated in numberous ways. If you want to study abroad then study abroad. Just be yourself, and do things you like to do. Most activities are neutral at worst from an ADCOM's perspective.

 

[ButImLETired]

Haha hSDNers always get so antsy, like we're withholding the true secret to getting into med school and we're just mollifying them every time we tell them what to do.

We're not. The best thing you can do when you're in the position you are in is get into a good college. Once you're there, pick a major that you love and that you think you'll do well in, and start acing your classes. Add extra-curriculars slowly, and nothing that will get in the way of your academic success. Volunteer at a hospital and make good, long-term contacts. Shadow different kinds of doctors. Look into research in a topic you're interested in. Join clubs you like. HAVE A LIFE, and don't let getting into med school get in the way of it. Just go slowly but surely. This is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Joining 100 different things while taking 5 science classes your first semester will only lead you to be unhealthy, unhappy, and unsuccessful. Just get used to college.

 

[Maygyver]

Not that you believe me but that is easier said than done at least in my school. It has gotten to the point where my parents are having me home schooled math for this year because in my math class, students from previous years would just walk into the class and start disrupting class.

I reported the teacher and nothing has been done. My parents were shocked.

I guess you could call that "adapting". Blaming failures on others? No. In no way is any of this my fault. Here I am trying to learn, and I can't.
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And not to be rude, although that seems impossible at this point. Could you just answer my question?

We always had students walk into our classes too. In order to help answer your question more, as I already gave you a big suggestion that you through away, I will give you some advice that my brother gave me that helped me adapt a lot. First off, the major difference between high school and college, is that in college you do most the learning on your own time, not in class. If you have been getting extra help after school for math, then you are already starting in the right path there. Second, college is a very humbling experience, I'm not sure about community colleges, but being at a big state university, you will be surrounded by people that are much smarter than you in areas which was a big surprise after high school.

Also, about research, I'm not sure how many good research opportunities there are in community colleges, so I would focus on getting clinical hours in and shadowing probably. Once you get to a regular Uni you can do research with faculty and you will have had more experience to narrow down what interests you.

I highly doubt your math class is that bad that students will walk in and jump on desks and run around and disturb class for the entire session. Suck it up. While they are chatting with the teacher, read your book and review what you have been learning. That is adapting. Not adapting is sitting there and getting upset over it. Yeah, it might not be fair that your class time is not being used 100% for you, but that is what adapting is all about. Making bad circumstances into good ones and learning to deal with it.

 

[xnfs93hy]

We always had students walk into our classes too. In order to help answer your question more, as I already gave you a big suggestion that you through away, I will give you some advice that my brother gave me that helped me adapt a lot. First off, the major difference between high school and college, is that in college you do most the learning on your own time, not in class. If you have been getting extra help after school for math, then you are already starting in the right path there. Second, college is a very humbling experience, I'm not sure about community colleges, but being at a big state university, you will be surrounded by people that are much smarter than you in areas which was a big surprise after high school.

Also, about research, I'm not sure how many good research opportunities there are in community colleges, so I would focus on getting clinical hours in and shadowing probably. Once you get to a regular Uni you can do research with faculty and you will have had more experience to narrow down what interests you.

I highly doubt your math class is that bad that students will walk in and jump on desks and run around and disturb class for the entire session. Suck it up. While they are chatting with the teacher, read your book and review what you have been learning. That is adapting. Not adapting is sitting there and getting upset over it. Yeah, it might not be fair that your class time is not being used 100% for you, but that is what adapting is all about. Making bad circumstances into good ones and learning to deal with it.

I hear you out. It wasn't that bad but the teacher would just stop teaching...completely. We would get through literally one worksheet and that would be it.

We do not use a textbook, however we are given one, it is very difficult to understand. I failed last quarter and the final so now my parents are having me home schooled. I dealt with it for a while until I just got so fed up with my teachers stupidity I walked out of class, reported the teacher, and told my parents to have me home school math.

I'm getting straight A's with the guy who is teaching me now. All of this because of one crappy teacher...

 

[tennisball80]

#1 Solid GPA and adapt to college study.
#2 Some clubs and volunteers
#3 Make friends, get to know many people, talk to professors, BBQing.

Research and showing will come to me in 2nd year.

 

[TheMagicCookie]

I hear you out. It wasn't that bad but the teacher would just stop teaching...completely. We would get through literally one worksheet and that would be it.

We do not use a textbook, however we are given one, it is very difficult to understand. I failed last quarter and the final so now my parents are having me home schooled. I dealt with it for a while until I just got so fed up with my teachers stupidity I walked out of class, reported the teacher, and told my parents to have me home school math.

I'm getting straight A's with the guy who is teaching me now. All of this because of one crappy teacher...

Once again Jeff, things are not always going to go smoothly and the way a person handles these difficulties tells a lot about them. Yes, there may have been interruptions that were inconvenient, but I don't think that walking out of the class and reporting the teacher was the correct thing to do. There is a time and a place for everything and there are ways to make negative situations work in your favor. Storming out of class because of frustration is probably why the school has yet to do anything about your complaint. If you had waited it out and approached the situation following class without other students witnessing you walk out, more weight may have been given to your complaint. You basically turned something a problem between you and the teacher into a dramatic display that I'm sure came across as immaturity on your part.

This isn't an attack on you, I'm just saying that in terms of your elders and those in higher positions, there are ways to handle discrepancies.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Once again Jeff, things are not always going to go smoothly and the way a person handles these difficulties tells a lot about them. Yes, there may have been interruptions that were inconvenient, but I don't think that walking out of the class and reporting the teacher was the correct thing to do. There is a time and a place for everything and there are ways to make negative situations work in your favor. Storming out of class because of frustration is probably why the school has yet to do anything about your complaint. If you had waited it out and approached the situation following class without other students witnessing you walk out, more weight may have been given to your complaint. You basically turned something a problem between you and the teacher into a dramatic display that I'm sure came across as immaturity on your part.

This isn't an attack on you, I'm just saying that in terms of your elders and those in higher positions, there are ways to handle discrepancies.

inconvenient? No. This happened EVERY DAY. See this is why I do not post why I hate HS, it turns into a discussion that I do not "win" even though I am telling the flat out truth. Whatever. It is pretty much all the teachers fault. I go to class to learn, not to sit there and do nothing. Yeah, I've pulled out the text a couple of times but there are some things in the book I just didn't understand (nor did my parents). I also ASKED THE TEACHER FOR HELP and she always came up with an excuse to not help me (lazy/wants to go home). I have had a few bad teachers here and there. WE ALL DO. But I have had (at least what I think), a few too many crappy teachers, but this math teacher this year really takes the cake. All of the math teachers stink.

I didn't storm out of the room though, haha, it didn't exactly happen like that. The entire class was screaming (talking loud), and I just couldn't take it anymore. This had been going on for weeks and I just snapped. I picked up my stuff, walked out of the room, and reported the teacher.

The reason my complaint hasn't been dealt with yet? I honestly don't know. My school could care less. I mean, the teacher is nice and everything but she is a flat out ***** who can't teach and I'm suffering. Was suffering.

I know I didn't give the other Math teachers a chance but I have friends in other math classes and they weren't doing much better than myself. I think I handled this very well, to be honest.

I'm not trying to come off as a kid who doesn't get his way which seems like a far cry to me. I go to school to learn, not fool around. Can you blame me for being pissed off?

Ordinarily I wouldn't do something like that (and haven't). This is the only real complaint I told my school about. A lot of my teachers are terrible but I find ways to get around it. This math class was more extreme though. None of the things I mentioned I above would have happened in any other class.

 

[Nantes]

The problem is that being pissed off and complaining doesn't help. I've been dealt enough bad hands (both inside and outside school) to know that, even if the problems you're facing aren't your fault, the best and first thing you should do is find a way to better your situation.

As for the college thing, I'm not sure what I'll be doing yet. I'll probably start volunteering right away because I enjoy it (even if it's not anything that extravagant), and mostly focus on studying just to get a feel of what works, how much time I have to put in, etc. I'll also be doing some sort of sport, likely football in the fall/winter and hopefully rugby in the spring.

I don't think it's likely that you're going to be able to plan out your first college year or semester right now. Even though I'm not in college, I feel as though we should understand that there are too many variables to be saying right now "Oh, I'll be at the hospital on 6 hours for two days, I'll be studying 4 hours a day spread out before and right after lunch, I'll be getting to know all my professors through office hours, and I'll involve myself in no less than 3 clubs".

It's good to know what will be necessary for the med. school application process, but I don't think we should be worrying about it right now. Do what you enjoy, don't worry about EC "quotas" now.

 

[Maygyver]

We do not use a textbook, however we are given one, it is very difficult to understand. I failed last quarter and the final so now my parents are having me home schooled. I dealt with it for a while until I just got so fed up with my teachers stupidity I walked out of class, reported the teacher, and told my parents to have me home school math.

I'm getting straight A's with the guy who is teaching me now. All of this because of one crappy teacher...

Just so you know, a lot of college courses require you to teach yourself quite a bit from text that is not covered in class. Also, I would hope you would get straight A's if you are homeschooled since you get all of the attention. What makes classes hard is the fact that you can't ave the teacher single-handedly teach you. They have to teach the entire class to the best of their ability. Perhaps the better way to handle the situation was not to blow up and give up altogether but rather to just get a tutor and continue in that class. That way you could learn to adapt to her teaching style of not using the book, and have your tutor help you understand how to learn from a text book. I feel like I am beating a dead horse here though...

 

[gabeybaby]

if you dont understand materials that are taught in school & your parents can't help you, there's always a thing called the internet (google your questions/topics, youtube lectures online).... use your resources.

for me, i learn completely different than you: i do my hw in school when teachers do their lessons to stay awake & study w/e i feel like i should know at home.
(that sounds really weird now that i just typed it out. haha)

but trust me, if you're having a hard time in school NOW....imagine what college is going to be like...better buckle up because it'll be a rough ride for you. hahaa.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Just so you know, a lot of college courses require you to teach yourself quite a bit from text that is not covered in class. Also, I would hope you would get straight A's if you are homeschooled since you get all of the attention. What makes classes hard is the fact that you can't ave the teacher single-handedly teach you. They have to teach the entire class to the best of their ability. Perhaps the better way to handle the situation was not to blow up and give up altogether but rather to just get a tutor and continue in that class. That way you could learn to adapt to her teaching style of not using the book, and have your tutor help you understand how to learn from a text book. I feel like I am beating a dead horse here though...

-I understand everything you are saying. The book that they gave us is old, it is a public school. I frequently teach myself Spanish through the book, and English.

-Again, this class is a really weird exception to the rule. It was out of control.

-Yes, it is always easy to get everything perfect one on one.

-I am also aware that you sometimes have to teach yourself material in college.

-When I was still in my math class I WOULD USE THE BOOK but eventually I hit a roadblock, asked the teacher, never really got help and I was pretty much screwed. Again, exception to the rule here, a prof would (I would hope) talk me through it. I just need to be told how to do something correct once and it is in my head and I can move on.

-Tried it. We used a tutor from the school who taught math...didn't help, she was terrible as well (believe it or not).

-I didn't BLOW UP in class, this was going on for weeks and I couldn't take it anymore..


You feel like you are beating a dead horse here? Hmm

Well, let me tell you something. Everything you said, I HAVE ACTUALLY DONE. I do it in a few classes (read out of the book, ask for help, etc.)

If we were talking about THOSE classes, you wouldn't feel that way. However, we are talking about one class I had this year which was literally unlike any other. A class where I have actually tried everything everyone has mentioned above and none of it had worked.

This should clear up all questions regarding ONE SENTENCE in my post.

Let's get back on topic and discuss college and medical school and ignore my high school issues.

 

[xnfs93hy]

if you dont understand materials that are taught in school & your parents can't help you, there's always a thing called the internet (google your questions/topics, youtube lectures online).... use your resources.

for me, i learn completely different than you: i do my hw in school when teachers do their lessons to stay awake & study w/e i feel like i should know at home.
(that sounds really weird now that i just typed it out. haha)

but trust me, if you're having a hard time in school NOW....imagine what college is going to be like...better buckle up because it'll be a rough ride for you. hahaa.

Been there, did that.

I do that sometimes

I'm not having a hard time. I'm actually acing all my classes except for this stupid math thing. You guys fail to understand that. Just forget it and focus on the topic. I'm sick of explaining this.

 

[Maygyver]

Let's get back on topic and discuss college and medical school and ignore my high school issues.

Well, a big part of college is dealing with adversity which you fail to see to be able to do. Don't you wonder why nobody else just got up and left from your class? Also, if that many people are coming to visit, your teacher must be pretty well-liked and at least be a decent teacher. I'm pretty sure other people managed to do well in the class and not everyone failed like you did, so perhaps you should have asked them for help. That's where having friends is useful. If other people can make it through the class...you are expected to as well. I went to a public high school too, and used old textbooks, and I loved it. If I could go back and go to a private high school over a public one I would not do it. Public schools prepare you for life. You will not always be able to be pampered and have your hand held through everything. I already offered you other advice on college too. Maybe you need to reread.

 

[TheMagicCookie]

Even though a textbook is old, the material never changes...math will always be pretty much the same. When new editions are published, it's usually just to get more money from people, very minor changes are made and the overall equations/calculations are the same.

I think we're all focusing on your difficulties in this class because it was your main excuse for not succeeding. I'm sure you wouldn't blame this entire event and your lack of learning solely on the teacher, and if so, then you may need to step back and look at the areas in which you could have contributed to the problem as well. Heck, I'm guilty of wanting to shut down when things get tough, but I've learned that it doesn't get you far. You have to be honest with yourself and focus on what you can do to improve YOU.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Well, a big part of college is dealing with adversity which you fail to see to be able to do. Don't you wonder why nobody else just got up and left from your class? Also, if that many people are coming to visit, your teacher must be pretty well-liked and at least be a decent teacher. I'm pretty sure other people managed to do well in the class and not everyone failed like you did, so perhaps you should have asked them for help. That's where having friends is useful. If other people can make it through the class...you are expected to as well. I went to a public high school too, and used old textbooks, and I loved it. If I could go back and go to a private high school over a public one I would not do it. Public schools prepare you for life. You will not always be able to be pampered and have your hand held through everything. I already offered you other advice on college too. Maybe you need to reread.

Holy lord...

I fail to be able to do?

Oh boy...

No I don't....

This class was a lost cause.

-Maybe it is because it is not an honors class and all we do is goof off? That is why no one left..

She is well liked because all she does is TALK! she doesn't TEACH!

I DID ASK FOR HELP! I NEVER GOT IT! WHAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND???

Friends...here we go again. None of my friends take Alg 2, they are taking pre calc and Calc I. They are doing alright, but the teachers who teach Calc and AP Stat, only teach those classes. From what i hear, they are pretty decent teachers. Everything below that (Alg 2, Alg 1, Geo) are garbage. My friend is I think 35 in the senior class, who is in calc honors who said he has an A now, got an A in pre calc, and a borderline D- C+ in Alg 2 (class I'm in now). Math is his STRONG subject. I am good at math but if you throw a crappy teacher into the mix, I'm doomed. That is what happened. Alg I I had to retake. Crappy teacher. But that was freshman year and i probably could've gotten an A if I TRIED (but that was my fault). Geo was a joke. I'm in Alg 2 and it is like freshman year, except I'm actually busting my butt here BUT I'm not getting help.

So, no, not everyone is/has failed. But most of the people in my class are and it is supposedly worse in the other classes. Again, I know this for a fact because we had another math teacher come to the house for a while and it wasn't helping because she would tell me one thing and my regular teacher wouldn't explain it that way, I would get confused and my grade would still suffer. I would pick up the book, understand most of it, do alright for a while then suffer again and again. I know I am going to community college, which is alright and what happened earlier on in HS was my fault. But if I am going to take Calc I and II in college. I need to know everything in Alg 2. I need to, period. I am paying this guy 1.5k of my own money to freakin teach me a subject (which is a joke, Alg 2 is super easy when you are actually LEARNING IT).

-I agree with you on being prepared for life, and otherwise disagree with everything else on so many levels.

-Alright, I'm just going to say this again, for the third time. You sir, need to re read. I thanked you for the advice you gave me. Seriously, I know what you are talking about. Every..single..thing you said, I tried. None of it worked. The book, after school help, tutor. It was a lost cause, and I had to resort to private schooling. I think you just don't believe me, which seems logical because I do not know of ANY teacher who would not offer help to those asking for it (which is what happened). You are making me look like the bad guy or the pampered kid and that is getting me annoyed because it is simply not true. I am not someone who gives up. I tried everything you said before and all of it has not worked.

I do not have very good teachers this year. A lot of the stuff you mentioned (after school help, asking friends, etc.) I HAVE DONE AND...oh my god..IT HAS WORKED!🙂

Except this math class.

Long story short, I know what you are talking about, I do some of it already, I tried it with the math class, just didn't work out, lost cause, and now I am PAYING someone to privately teach it to me and now I understand. School stink, whatever, I got it done, it's over with.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Can some mod close this thread please?

 

[xnfs93hy]

Even though a textbook is old, the material never changes...math will always be pretty much the same. When new editions are published, it's usually just to get more money from people, very minor changes are made and the overall equations/calculations are the same.

I think we're all focusing on your difficulties in this class because it was your main excuse for not succeeding. I'm sure you wouldn't blame this entire event and your lack of learning solely on the teacher, and if so, then you may need to step back and look at the areas in which you could have contributed to the problem as well. Heck, I'm guilty of wanting to shut down when things get tough, but I've learned that it doesn't get you far. You have to be honest with yourself and focus on what you can do to improve YOU.

I am getting private tutoring and now I am getting it taken care of. For the fourth time, I tried everything and it was a lost cause.

I read the book (for the fourth time...), understood, eh, most of it but it is worded really poorly and I got lost and asked for help and didn't get it and I was screwed. That is what you guys don't understand.

Looking back, I might have been able to ask a friend but honestly, I'm glad I chose private tutoring. THIS WASN'T SOMETHING I NEEDED CLEARING UP ON. It wasn't like "Hey Frank, can you tell me how to do this problem", no, it was "Hey, can you teach me Alg II?"

Again, I'm not one to give up. I only give up when I feel that there really isn't much else I can do to contribute to a bad situation. Although, I haven't really given up because I am being home schooled the subject by a former teacher who actually knows how to teach and actually gives a crap about his students...

I am not one to blame others. I don't. Except this time. My math teacher is really to blame for all of this. She honestly wasn't doing her job. This was the one and only time I reported a teacher. The only reason my report didn't do anything was because I'm a student. They probably though I was doing what Mcgyver said, just being a brat or something.

 

[Depakote]

Can some mod close this thread please?

closing