What's your method of getting over bad academic performance?

[PicardAndRoll]

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This has been my roughest semester so far. I've had my first drop, grades are dropping...I know this Fall I took a better load and hopefully I'll recharge (taking 17 hours+/semester of all math/science no blowoff liberal arts/some classes have lab component that's 0 hours, work, research, volunteering, I feel like I'm going to die).

Honestly, sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining but I have some built up steam anyway:

I feel like I'm in hell. My sleep cycle could fit a step function or a sine wave if I modeled it in Excel. 0 hours, 4 hours, 0 hours, 6 hours, 2 hours, 5 hours...then Sunday it's like 9. Two of my professors are huge academic trolls.

My academic performance is slipping, and it's not the fact that I'm a bent up pre-med who wants a good GPA for the sole purpose of being a future medical professional. It's an ego thing, a male complex of not wanting to feel inferior.

Honestly, I feel like after I've taken some exams this week, I just have this aura of being a deadbeat. School and learning coincidentally used to be my outlet to let off steam in my personal life. Now, it's ironic because I'm a very specified individual, and I have no hobbies or passions outside of school. So, when you're trying to find something to keep you happy away from the only thing that keeps you happy (traditionally), it's hard.

I don't do drugs, I don't smoke, I don't drink....so there's no "chemical modifications" I can do to change my state of mind. I don't have a girlfriend or a romantic partner (not at this time). Most of my friends just like to eat, it's weird...and I'm not much of a food person. I'm bad with my hands, so crafting or something is out of the picture. I'm already an audiophile, so music gets boring...

I don't know what to do to keep my mind occupied and nourish myself when I'm feeling upset. I'm just in a state of darkness and gloom.

ALSO: In before that random SDN poster who says they doubt my ability to keep up with medical school based off my "bad" semester. I took 7 classes last semester, 4.0, all math and science, worked a job (albeit at the time it was only like 15 hours a week), volunteered weekly, and did research that won top 3 at my campus for a conference. My classes were no harder. This has just been an off semester.

 

[youmed]

It happens to everyone man. Some semesters just suck. Not your fault. Finish strong.

 

[ponyo]

OP: Echoing @youmed it's definitely understandable to have a ****ty semester--it sounds like you were doing well before, so you are clearly capable of handling the work.

It sounds like you might be a little depressed... Do you exercise regularly? When I had an off semester I started doing p90x and, when I'm with other people, insanity workouts and it made me feel way better (actually think I got slightly addicted to it at one point). That works especially well if you'll have a lighter semester in the fall, since you can establish a routine. I worked out better at night than in the morning, but whatever works--as long as you don't over-exert yourself it definitely helps you focus, and it can be a good group activity to get some social time in as well. Having a routine and a way to vent off steam got me back on my feet, so maybe it'll work for you too.

And also outdoorsy activities can be really therapeutic if you like them! Start with IM sports and meet people who like going hiking etc? I think getting away from campus and getting fresh air can be really good for you. Where I went to school there was a tiny mountain that overlooked the city and it was my spot whenever work got too tired or I just wanted to get away for a sunday morning.

On a really different note, I also love to read books that are not related to school or medicine so that there's more intellectual diversity. Obviously if classes get too stressful don't do that, but as Chekhov says: "Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress. When I get fed up with one, I spend the night with the other." 🙂

You are obviously capable so just hold on to the idea of what you want to do and try to hang in there until this passes. Good luck!!

 

[Womb Raider]

Netflix?

Seriously though, I'm having trouble finding a question in your post... Are you saying you don't know what you like to do for fun?

Go to a party and play beer pong with girls, or quarters, or some card game or hell just go drink with friends.

Start an exercise routine?

 

[Optimus-Prime]

Gym time.. get swoll

 

[lumpyduster]

I exercise/hang out with friends/watch tv more. Whenever something I usually enjoy brings me down I have to step away from it for a little while and ignore any guilt I feel about not doing whatever it is as much as usual until I feel better.

I think you'll be recharged by next semester 🙂 Finish strong

 

[Narmerguy]

I think you have to be kind to yourself and not beat yourself over this. Rough semesters happen to everyone. The feeling will always linger though, and for me I don't really recover fully until I've followed it up with a great semester to remind myself that I'm not an idiot.

 

[Mad Jack]

Never let it reach a whole semester of poor performance. Test-by-test, you should be re-evaluating your study habits and use of time. If I had three As and a C on my first round of exams, I would ease off the two easier classes and focus on the C. If I still couldn't bring the grade up with the added time and ended up with a C or a B on my next test, I would re-evaluate how, I was studying entirely. Should I be using different materials, should I be doing more practice problems, am I not following the study guide/lectures closely enough? Every time you get a grade back, you need to ask yourself "why did I get this?" This applies to your good grades as well. What are you doing in your A classes that you aren't doing in your C classes? One of the most important things you should acquire in undergrad is a realistic assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses, something you learn through over the whole 4 year (or more) series of successes and failures.