Hi yall, I am very new to this, but I am not sure where to turn for help.
I am about to be a junior at the University of Michigan and have struggled tremendously in coursework my first two years at Michigan. I have just recently decided to major in Psychology and trying my best to go to medical school. My first two years at Michigan did not go well partially because I was suffering with depression and partially because I don’t know how to study well. I am determined to make my next two years at Michigan exceptional by working hard and figuring out the right study habits. I want to do well and succeed.
In terms of science classes I have taken Chem 125, 126 (B-) Chem 130(C+), Chem 210 (C- but retaking in the spring), Chem 211 (B), Chem 215(C-), Chem 216(B), Biology 171(C+), Biology 172(C-), & Biology 173(B+).
I have taken physics 1/2 elsewhere (B+)
I realize these are less than ideal grades for med school or grad school. I was hoping someone could give me insight on how to prepare for biochem 415, pchem, genetics and animal physiology.
Also more importantly can anyone help or suggest any masters or SMP/post bacc programs that I should look into. I am also open to a Masters in Public Health or Health Administration but ultimately I want to still go to med school. I have tried talking with an advisor at Newman but none were helpful whatsoever.
I am doing much better mentally and have been doing well this semester. I am also doing well in my non science classes. Biochem has been going better than any science class I have taken before at Michigan. I have done average or above average on the exams so far. I have changed my study habits and it has helped tremendously. If anyone has any feedback, I would greatly appreciate it .
@umich28 be advised that if you go to a foreign medical school, you are taking a huge risk if you want to come back to the states for residency.
Also if you wouldn’t mind, post your cumulative GPA and your science GPA. Getting to the brunt of it, it’s going to be very difficult for you to recover from your current grades. To be considered competitive for DO, the avg GPA needs to be around 3.3-3.5.
I took MCDB 310, but it should be very similar to Biolchem 415, and the course itself conceptually isn’t the hardest, but it’s a class you need to put the time in. Meaning after every lecture, making sure you understand everything and if you don’t, go to office hours or utilize Piazza/Google/Youtube. Looking at the lectures before class helps too. And make sure to give yourself at least a week and a half (the earlier the better, and the more time the better) before the exam to start studying because it is DENSE material. I also know that Biolchem 415 exams are ALL multiple choice with a cumulative final (the drawback).
P-Chem in a way reminds me of Orgo in the sense that all your practice relies on past exams, but this class is difficult as well. The teacher is great, but the exams definitely require a lot of thinking and are hard. I used the same formula that I used in MCDB 310, but you are welcome to do things differently. Review every lecture within a few days and write down concepts that I don’t understand or key things to remember. Utilizing GSI office hours and going into open discussion when I don’t understand how to do a problem. The key to this class is not memorizing how to do problems on past exams. It’s about understanding how to use concepts for any type of problem that they throw at you. Meaning that it’s a lot better to get things wrong and understand why and the reasons why you do each step versus giving up when you don’t know the answer and just looking it up.
I have yet to take genetics or Animal Phys so I can’t say much about those. Genetics I’ve heard is less to memorize than Biochem but conceptually a lot harder.
