<p>I have been reading around this site and have seen a lot of people put an emphasis having motivated peers to help you succeed in college.</p>
<p>Here is my problem:</p>
<p>I recently got very extremely motivated to become a doctor. Through out high school I was always smart but did not apply myself to my full potential. I was one of those kids who didn't need to study too much to get an A, but I didn't study at all and always settled for B's (usually low).</p>
<p>With my HS track record, I will be attending a not so great college. Like I mentioned earlier, people say that the pre-med course is tough and maintaining a high competitive GPA is crucial. They say that this process is possible and easier with the support of peers that are motivated and will keep you on track. But I am afraid that if I am at school where the majority of kids aren't exactly super-driven, I will not be in an environment fit for rigorous studying and dedication.</p>
<p>DISCLAIMER:::</p>
<p>I am not saying that I NEED people to stay focused. The pursuit of a career in medicine is rigorous and requires a lot of hard work, and would want to know what I should if I don't go to a school full of very studious kids.</p>
<p>THANKS in advance for any one taking the time to read and help.</p>
<p>Most schools will have some students who are serious about school. My daughter goes to a large State U and has found a large mixture ranging from students who hardly bother to show up for class to others like her who have certain goals (she is pre med also) and take it seriously. She has been a bit frustrated occasionally like her 1st semester when she was assigned to a lab group of 4 people and she was the only one who gave a damn about grades (2 eventually dropped out of the class and the remaining one rarely came to class). Her science classes are large classes but so far (she is just a sophomore) she has managed to find like minded students in all her harder classes and has formed study groups with those students. Her approach so far is to sit at the front when possible and to go to the professors help and review sessions right from the start of the semester (even when she does not need help). There seems to be a tendency for the more serious students to bother to go to the help/review sessions (often not the ones who are actually failing).</p>
<p>You exactly answered the question I was asking and what I am afraid of. Which is, being the only one who cares enough to try hard. I will take your advice into consideration.</p>
<p>You're welcome. I realized i did not quite finish what I was trying to say - by sitting at the front and going to the review/help sessions she met those like minded students that she started study groups with. Now in her 2nd year she mostly knows people in her classes and the study groups tend to consist of the same people with others sometimes being added. And now that she knows people she can rely on they try to sign up for lab times together.</p>
<p>Fortunately she has only ever had the one lab where her partners were assigned instead of by her choice. She got really stressed at first as the lab grade was mostly based on the group's work - at 1st she tried to do everything herself which did not work at all. After unfortunately going ballistic on her lab partners one day she sat down and apologized (when she goes ballistic it's not pretty) and talked to them and ended up leading the group and assigning tasks which worked out fairly well. It was quite a learning experience for her both in developing patience and finding a way to work with people whose work ethic (or lack of) completely baffled her. And she did end up with an A in the class though 2 partners dropped the class and the 3rd barely passed. </p>