So since I was like 10 I have only wanted to be a doctor. I have hours on hours of volunteering in hospitals. I have numerous hours of shadowing doctors. However my only issue is that I seriously dont test well in my science courses. Its not that I dont know it, just that I dont test well, I think I have a problem applying it. I go to university of Pittsburgh. What do you think I should do, as a sophomore in college with a C in Bio1 C in chem 1 (had to retake it, got a D+ at first) D+ in Bio 2 (have to retake it) B- in bio lab 1 and possibly a B in chem 2, planning on taking calculus and physics in the summer, and next semester im taking bio 2 orgo chem 1?
Please help!!!
You’re going to have to figure out how to test well, because getting into medical school and then passing Step 1 and Step 2 and boards are all going to require that you test reasonably well. Multiple Cs are not going to be good enough, even for DO schools, though they do allow grade replacement for classes that you retake. You should definitely not take calculus and physics over the summer, because if you can’t do well in science classes over a full semester, you will definitely not find success taking them in the shortened time frame of a summer class.
Honestly, you should really consider whether or not you want to continue on the pre-med path. At the very least, you will need to ace every science/math class you take from here on out, and you would still likely need to do very well in some kind of special masters program (SMP) in order for you to have a shot. There are other careers in medicine beside being a doctor, and you should give them some serious consideration.
What grades do you get in non-science courses?
Clearly whatever you do you need to change the way you study.
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Make sure you are reading the text book. Try reading the chapter before the lecture. Use your syllabus to keep track of what is coming up.
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Go to Professor’s office hours early in the semester. Ask this question: “I know this is a really difficult class-- what are some of the common mistakes students make and how can I avoid them?” “How many hours a week do students that do well in this class study?”
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If you have problems with the homework, go to Prof’s office hours. If they have any “help sessions” or “study sessions” or “recitations” or any thing extra, go to them.
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Form a study group with other kids in your dorm/class.
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Don’t do the minimum…for STEM classes do extra problems. You can buy books that just have problems for calculus or physics or whatever. Watch videos on line about the topic you are studying.
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Go to the writing center if you need help with papers/math center for math problems (if they have them)
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If things still are not going well, get a tutor.
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Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.
That’s not good. If you struggled this much with the intro level stuff, 2 semesters of Orgo is going to tear you in half.
Not to mention, probably the most important part of admissions: the MCAT is an exam with lots of science on it.
I think it’s time for a new dream. There are so many jobs in medicine that don’t require you to be a top test-taker. Unfortunately, doctoring isn’t one of them. Have you considered health care admin? Health care public policy? All the many kinds of care-giving that don’t require an MD (physical assistant, nurse, physical or occupational therapist, radiology tech, etc…)?
Why limit yourself to a 10 year old’s dream when there are so many other, better dreams out there? Go to your school career center and find some alums who are working in those occupations. Do some informational interviewing to find out why they didn’t go into doctoring and chose their professions instead. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that there is a better fit waiting for you.
I don’t think you have to give up on your dream just quite yet, however I worry about where your GPA is sitting at this point because it’s only going to get harder to recover. You need to finish out this semester strong, and then do some real soul searching. It’s only wise to have some other backup plan, some alternative in place. If you don’t use it, then awesome, things worked out.
I get it though, I wanted to be a doctor since I was 3 years old. It was the overarching goal of my entire life and was just a part of who I was in so many ways. If you’re at all like me, having a plan is more than just comforting, it grounds you so that you can keep working. I find that even if I just know that there’s a Plan B, regardless if plan A is hopelessly ****** and falling down as we speak, I am much more capable in all aspects of my life. Not having a plan leaves me awash in the abyss and makes it harder for me to focus on anything else going on in my life. Find your plan B, keep working on your Plan A, and if it doesn’t work out, you’ll be prepared. I should have done that sooner in college than I did, it wasn’t until the middle of first semester, senior year - after I’d applied - that I had sort of alternative career. I luckily didn’t need that, but it could have been very problematic had I been rejected.
Lastly, I’ve seen a lot of people have to give up on their doctor dream. If it comes to that for you, figure out how you need closure on that. Some people can just move on, others need to know they never really had a chance. I had one friend who knew her odds were slim, so her goal became just to get an interview. For her, going through the application process and getting a rejection was what she needed. I had other friends who didn’t know how to let it go and spent several years of their early 20’s chasing med school only later to tell me they wish they hadn’t, that it had been a waste and in their heart of hearts they had always known they didn’t have a chance.
So hope for the best, prepare for the worst.