Where did I go wrong?

[jellybeano]

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Hi Everyone!


I'm a M1 and I just took my exam this Tuesday and afterwards thought I did well--at most 10 or so questions wrong. I got my score back and I got 20 wrong (about 83% or HP). I have yet to see my exam but I am worried.

First of all, I studied quite a bit--kept up with my lectures each day and such. I don't really go to class as we have audio lectures and I use videos online to supplement The main reason I don't go to class is because I can't concentrate during big lecture--whether it's because the prof was talking too slow and I wander off or whatever reason, I lose more than 50% of the lecture if I go. So I go to the library and such and listen to lecture audios, videos and notes.

I workout everyday to clear my head and I spent a lot of time with my family (I'm living at home) and teach my 10 yr old brother swimming and tennis for an hour each day. My point here is I don't feel like I don't have time for other things because I do spend a lot of time outside of med school.

My study method is definitely very different from undergrad--I crammed like most people before exams. I realized I can't do that with med school but it didn't seem to work so well. I feel that the more I study, the lower grades I get (granted it's only been one exam). That is not to say I knew everything forward and back--I know I didn't and I know Glands tripped me up big time, among all others that I don't know yet. I also know, after talking with some fellow students, that I probably didn't read carefully--I have a habit of skimming and not reading directions and a friend of mine told me that some of the professors have a tendency to give partially right answers followed by wrong answers.

So for my future studies, I obviously have to know the material much better--understand not only the concepts and pathways but also every DETAILS (if not for USMLE then at least for the school tests). What is also different this year is that I actually feel the pressure of getting good grades--never felt that before. My scholarship depends on my class grade (HP and above so I'm barely staying afloat). I would like any suggestions on how to deal with this please! And also, what would you suggest that I do differently in terms of studying?

Thank you very much and sorry I wrote so much!


Best,


DumboMD

 

[cbrons]

You got a high pass. What exactly is the problem?

 

[jellybeano]

I wanted honors and I want to know how I can get honors? haha...

 

[cbrons]

I wanted honors and I want to know how I can get honors? haha...

I thought a high pass was honors? What kind of fascist school do you go to?

 

[jellybeano]

haha...we have pass, high pass, and then honors (correlating to C, B, and A, respectively)...😀

 

[moneytree]

Got high pass instead of honors.

Do you feel the need? The need for speed?

 

[duckie99]

1. It's a preclinical grade. Don't beat yourself up. I think your strategy is fine. Just need to touch up on details here and there.

2. A high pass is not a bad grade in medical school (well depending on the total grade distribution). Usually it is average to get a high pass. You are in a class with people who are all just as smart as you. It's just something you'll have to get used to.

 

[jellybeano]

I know I should but I feel like I can do better though...and our class avg was 85...lol

 

[laxplayanumba16]

I know I should but I feel like I can do better though...and our class avg was 85...lol

So you scored 83, below the mean of 85, and earned a 'high pass.' That's interesting. How exactly does your school's grading scale work?

 

[evilbooyaa]

How is 83 a high pass?

And if you want to honor and feel like you know the material, slow down during the test. Are you having trouble finishing questions in the alotted time? If not, re-read every question that you can. Sometimes you'll miss an important detail that changes your answer.

Also, welcome to med school. You were the cream of the crop your entire life before this. Everyone can't be the cream of the cream of the crop.

 

[Wordead]

How is 83 a high pass?

And if you want to honor and feel like you know the material, slow down during the test. Are you having trouble finishing questions in the alotted time? If not, re-read every question that you can. Sometimes you'll miss an important detail that changes your answer.

Also, welcome to med school. You were the cream of the crop your entire life before this. Everyone can't be the cream of the cream of the crop.

High pass = a B, 83 = B. Dont know what the problem is here.

To the OP - study harder. Do practice questions. Or just dont stress out over something thats irrelevant in the long run.

 

[DocHawk117]

I wanted honors and I want to know how I can get honors? haha...

I was going to help you out. Then I read this. 😎

Dude, an 83% is fine. The majority of your classmates were valedictorians, summa cum laude, the best at everything they've ever tried to do, probably just like yourself. When you get an entire class full of smart people, sometimes you're not going to honor. As long as you feel like you're doing your best, then just be pumped about actually being on your way to getting an MD.

 

[DocHawk117]

So you scored 83, below the mean of 85, and earned a 'high pass.' That's interesting. How exactly does your school's grading scale work?

YEAH I'M FEELING TOTALLY JIPPED HERE! 😱😡😱😡 lolol... but seriously

 

[DocHawk117]

High pass = a B, 83 = B. Dont know what the problem is here.

To the OP - study harder. Do practice questions. Or just dont stress out over something thats irrelevant in the long run.

Many schools, mine included, do a top 10% of the class get H, then top 10-30% get NH. Rather than, over 50% getting Near Honors/High Pass, as is the case in this example.

 

[username456789]

Many schools, mine included, do a top 10% of the class get H, then top 10-30% get NH. Rather than, over 50% getting Near Honors/High Pass, as is the case in this example.

My school had A/B/C/D/F grading, with Honors going to people who finished in the top 10% AND scored an A average for the course (you don't get "Honors" on individual tests, you get Honors for the course). So if you end the course with a 91% and you're in the top 10% of the class, you get Honors. If you have a 91% but >10% of the class did better, you're stuck with "just an A." If you got an 88% and finished in the top 10% of your class, you've got a B.

Some schools go crazy handing Honors out like candy.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Many schools, mine included, do a top 10% of the class get H, then top 10-30% get NH. Rather than, over 50% getting Near Honors/High Pass, as is the case in this example.

This.

Honors for most classes in my school were 90 or above, with some of them being 92 and above

High pass was rarely anything lower than 87-90

Pass was 70-85/86

 

[notbobtrustme]

everyone needs a little voice in their head that says "dont be a gunner *****hole"

 

[Wordead]

Many schools, mine included, do a top 10% of the class get H, then top 10-30% get NH. Rather than, over 50% getting Near Honors/High Pass, as is the case in this example.

That's life. We didn't even have HP. Schools are different.

If you guys whine about this now, just wait till you get to 3rd year

 

[jellybeano]

Our school has a set score system: anything above 90 is Honors, anything above 80 is HP and such...And no I got done in an hour and we have 2.5 hrs to do it. I went through my test 3x before turning it in but I don't think I fully read each question over again...

 

[Nymphicus]

ah ha

 

[Craigular]

What does this person getting near class average have anything to do with what the OP asked for help on?

Obviously the class is not based off a curve and this person wants to better their grade is irrelevant of the class average and the rest of you sound like sour grapes.

 

[jellybeano]

I was going to help you out. Then I read this. 😎

Dude, an 83% is fine. The majority of your classmates were valedictorians, summa cum laude, the best at everything they've ever tried to do, probably just like yourself. When you get an entire class full of smart people, sometimes you're not going to honor. As long as you feel like you're doing your best, then just be pumped about actually being on your way to getting an MD.

I appreciate your input. But here is what I think. For my school at least, the score system isn't curved so it doesn't matter how well others do, it doesn't affect the grade I get. I know I know the material but I didn't do well on the exam so the decision to get better is personal.

Do you know what I'm getting at? I'm not competing with my classmates because there is no curve. I'm competing with myself and what I'm trying to get at is to improve my ability to reflect what I know on exams. 😀

 

[jellybeano]

What does this person getting near class average have anything to do with what the OP asked for help on?

Obviously the class is not based off a curve and this person wants to better their grade is irrelevant of the class average and the rest of you sound like sour grapes.

Thanks!!! Any advice? I will pay more attention to reading both the questions and the choices more carefully, which might have been my pitfall this time...

 

[The kitchen sink]

everyone needs a little voice in their head that says "dont be a gunner *****hole"

Boom

 

[Lbgem]

You have to know what you missed - we can't really tell you how to do better than a HP unless we're sitting over your shoulder seeing exactly what you're doing (ie, go over that test and see what questions you missed - did you second guess yourself? did you change right answers to wrong, or wrong to right?). I know it's an uncomfortable feeling thinking the lowest possible grade was -10 and then getting -20 (that's happened to me a couple of times) - it means you definitely didn't know some things you think you did, or you misread the question/answer.

Go over your test. That's the best way to fix your mistakes. Figure out if it's a subject area problem, question style problem, or misreading. If it's fundamental mistakes on the basic principles of the subject then you need to double check what primary source you're using to study off of.

I disagree with the people saying psh HP is good enough. For most people that's great. For you with the scholarship it's a different story. I wouldn't say freak out, but I can understand you probably would feel a lot better sitting on an Honors rather than a HP to be over that scholarship requirement line.

Look at your test. That's the best advice I can give you.

 

[jellybeano]

Thanks! I will get a chance to look at my exam next Thursday!

 

[Lbgem]

Thanks! I will get a chance to look at my exam next Thursday!

Holy crap dude @ response time. Go relax! I'm neurotic too, but it's a Friday 😛. HP is still over the line you need to be, so as long as you keep doing what you're doing you'll be fine. But if you want to do better, then fix the mistakes.

Destressing/relaxing is an important part of doing well in class too. Not too much relaxing mind you, but some. It's why the harder I study, the dumber/mind numbing TV show I watch later.

You also might want to think of things that help you focus and see what resources are working for classmates doing better than you (assuming they are telling you the truth). And don't feel guilty about not going to class. You're keeping up; that's the important part.

 

[jdh71]

OP's story reminds me of the time I got up to make my coffee to find out that I'd run out of my imported, organic, east african coffee beans, and I had to use folgers instead. Luckily, I still had plenty of bottled water so I didn't have to use any tap.

 

[kpcrew]

YEAH I'M FEELING TOTALLY JIPPED HERE! 😱😡😱😡 lolol... but seriously

You probably meant gyped.

 

[jkhanh]

And I thought the biggest reason the OP wanted to do better was to keep his/her scholarship.

 

[Osakhomen]

Maybe try doing practice problems. Like BRS or High Yield.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

OP's story reminds me of the time I got up to make my coffee to find out that I'd run out of my imported, organic, east african coffee beans, and I had to use folgers instead. Luckily, I still had plenty of bottled water so I didn't have to use any tap.

I too feel your pain OP. It's kind of like this one time when I went to wipe my ass with my triple ply Charmin quilted toilet paper but was all out so I had to use the double ply CVS brand instead.

Seriously bro it sounds like this was your first test so just chill out and keep doing what your doing. Sounds like you're on the right track this early in the year and you have a great well balanced home life too so don't take any time away from that to study more. I'm pretty sure I almost failed my first anatomy test.

 

[jellybeano]

Thank you all for the fun responses! I appreciate all your humors...I know I might sound tense but I'm really pretty relaxed. Just wanted to know how everyone is going about their studying and see if the SDN community can give me some advice 😀

 

[J ROD]

Thank you all for the fun responses! I appreciate all your humors...I know I might sound tense but I'm really pretty relaxed. Just wanted to know how everyone is going about their studying and see if the SDN community can give me some advice 😀

yeah, chillax......this is a LONG road.

C=MD

 

[J ROD]

OP's story reminds me of the time I got up to make my coffee to find out that I'd run out of my imported, organic, east african coffee beans, and I had to use folgers instead. Luckily, I still had plenty of bottled water so I didn't have to use any tap.

you were quite fortunate my friend.........👍

 

[Kevin Baker]

Have you taken a class on test strategies and/or how to eliminate answer choices? That's an easy way to increase your score a few points, though it adds nothing to your overall knowledge.

 

[Rendar5]

Thank you all for the fun responses! I appreciate all your humors...I know I might sound tense but I'm really pretty relaxed. Just wanted to know how everyone is going about their studying and see if the SDN community can give me some advice 😀

Well, you got your advice: don't worry about it, just keep it up.

 

[Laryngophed]

OP's story reminds me of the time I got up to make my coffee to find out that I'd run out of my imported, organic, east african coffee beans, and I had to use folgers instead. Luckily, I still had plenty of bottled water so I didn't have to use any tap.

I'm not sure how you could push through that. Your resolve must be unending.

 

[DocHawk117]

Do you know what I'm getting at? I'm not competing with my classmates because there is no curve. I'm competing with myself and what I'm trying to get at is to improve my ability to reflect what I know on exams. 😀

I think one of the scariest things about trying to do better is being brave enough to try new methods and potentially get rid of the methods you used in undergrad, even though they were successful then. Really focus on HOW you learn best. Audio? Visual? Rewriting notes? Drawing schematics? Rewatching lectures? Study groups? Tutors? Reading books? Practice questions?
It may be hard to try something at first, but the best advice anyone can give is to "not listen to what anyone else does, and find out what works for you." Study groups were something I HATED until med school. Before, I disliked working with groups bc I always felt like I was doing all the work or trying to keep ppl on task. Now, I have a group that I work really well studying with. We prepare on our own, then the night before the exam we get together and quiz each other. It is so effective for finding out what our strong and weak areas are, and it's great having ppl there to explain something to me that I may have been iffy about. Personal reflection and trying new strategies will really help you out. We can all share what works for us, but you have to figure out what works for you.

Also, sometimes it will be really hard to reflect your amount of knowledge on exam, solely because of what they choose to test. If you focus more on learning as much as you can and how it will help you in clinic and in the future, that's more important, even though it is a concept that is hard to accept.

 

[DocHawk117]

You probably meant gyped.

hahaha i totally did! i don't think i've ever had to spell that word before. Though, a quick google search showed that "gyped, gipped, jipped" are all on urban dictionary for being ripped off. lol i like "gyped" the best though and I shall use this in the future. thank you.

 

[billybob746]

to the OP, this is not rocket science. you want a better score? study more. the studying you did didnt get you that high score? study more. there's no secret tip anyone on here can give you. just know all the garbage in all the lectures and you'll get the high score. don't know it all? you wont get the high score. is this making sense?

 

[SpecterGT260]

An 83%? Sorry OP looks like you will never match a competitive specialty. May even want to consider dropping out before you stack up all that debt for no reason

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Man, I thought this thread was going to be a lot worse. I just took my first exam Wednesday. Haven't gotten my score back, but I'm just hoping to freaking pass. If I get an 83% I'll crap myself with joy.

 

[DrOwnage]

I feel like I have a responsibility to tell people that pre-clinical honors isn't that important... I mean come on. You've spent your entire life working for the highest grade and now that you are in medical school and finally get handed a P/F system you still strive to be numerically happy.

Look at what residencies are concerned about. The very bottom of the list is pre-clinical honors. What's at the very top? Step 1 and Clerkship grades. Stop stressing out about your numbers and learn to understand. People who are concerned with minutia always end up being horrible at connecting idea (if you noticed this is very important in medicine..). You're going to be a doctor. You're doing fine bro.

 

[kpcrew]

hahaha i totally did! i don't think i've ever had to spell that word before. Though, a quick google search showed that "gyped, gipped, jipped" are all on urban dictionary for being ripped off. lol i like "gyped" the best though and I shall use this in the future. thank you.

Well I thought it was gyped for gypsies. If you want to know why, ask a Romanian.

 

[Frazier]

Well I thought it was gyped for gypsies. If you want to know why, ask a Romanian.

This is the origin.

 

[link2swim06]

This thread is dumb.

 

[notbobtrustme]

An 83%? Sorry OP looks like you will never match a competitive specialty. May even want to consider dropping out before you stack up all that debt for no reason

well, there's always consulting after not matching 2 years in a row.

 

[Dr Love]

OP's story reminds me of the time I got up to make my coffee to find out that I'd run out of my imported, organic, east african coffee beans, and I had to use folgers instead. Luckily, I still had plenty of bottled water so I didn't have to use any tap.

I know what you mean bro. This morning I ate some lucky charms, but I don't think there was enough marshmellows in my bowl. I wanted marshmellows so bad I went to make some smores, but all I had was Hershey's chocolate and not the swiss chocolate I like.

 

[jellybeano]

Thanks! I don't study well in groups...but I will try the group quiz thing where I already studied on my own and then clarify questions and ideas with others. BIG Thanks!!!