@Jamrock411 Some medical schools will accept courses taken while in high school, but most do not. You also can not use AP credit at many med schools to satisfy the course requirements. It depends on the school, but it’s wise to try to meet all of the more common requirements so you can cast a wide net in med school applications. Upper level classes are not on the MCAT so it makes perfect sense to me to take what IS on it even if it is the second time going through it or you got a 5 on the AP exam. My D also had to do this and although she got a 4 or a 5, and technically placed out, she says she is still learning a lot of new stuff in her 101 level college classes. I can see how at a different institution this may not be the case, though. One of the areas American education is not perfectly aligned…
While I never would have gone so far as to say I was “overqualified” for the college I went to, school had never been a particularly big deal to me, challenge-wise. It was very fortunate position to be in because I had the chance to do a lot of things outside of school that were invaluable to me. I really think you should be taking advantage of your position, instead of moaning about it. This is especially important if you’re planning on going to medical school, where just getting good grades might not be good enough.
So use your free time to get a job, participate in research, get an internship, volunteer at the local hospital (or organization of your choice), tutor, etc. If you can, do multiple of these things. School doesn’t have to be your entire life. It can be just part of what you do, while you engage in a lot more activities that you actually enjoy or that challenge you. This also might be a good way for you to meet serious and like-minded students (who aren’t “vile” or “mean/immature/selfish”), and it will be very helpful if you’re planning on applying to medical school (where many students will have had research experience and hospital exposure).
Also, if classes are so easy for you, could you overload on your classes? That would let you get out of these “easy” classes more quickly and move onto more advanced classes sooner. If you already know all of the material, it shouldn’t be that difficult.
Can you move off campus so that you can cook your own meals, instead of paying for a meal plan? It might be too late this year without losing money, but you could look into it for next year. Even if your school requires students to live on campus, you may be able to get an exception for medical reasons.
Have you looked into doing an internship or other part-time job to interest you? Usually we have students who do poorly in school because they are working too much; the converse should be true as well, if you are having an easy time with schoolwork, then take on a 10 or 20 hour per week job.
Volunteer at a hospital, or with a researcher. Go to the career services office and ask them for advice.
You can also spend time applying for summer programs.
But the ultimate question is whether you should stay where you are, get the easy As hopefully, and use that excellent GPA to get into a top medical school, or go to a different college. The fact is that there will be opportunities where you are, you just need to find them.
If you are 100% devoted to going to med school, what you should do with your boredom is direct it towards making your med school application as perfect as possible. An internship or other part-time job would do just that.
@rhandco Every since I started matriculating, I’m not interested in medicine anymore. Im considering doing computer science with acting, but thanks for your advice.
Interestingly enough, that’s one of the possible faces of Medical practice in the not-too-distant-future.
So I don’t get it - I thought the problem about getting any credit for classes transferred in was related to going pre-med. Are you not pre-med then?
If you aren’t studying what you want to, that certainly can impact being bored or not.
And even if your career target isn’t medicine, the same advice applies:
- go to career services at the university and ask for help finding a part-time job, in computers if that is what you want to study
- or look for a part-time job in computers yourself
If you are no longer pre-med, you can stop taking coursework you already have taken. Either way, you need to have a longish meeting with your advisor to get you in the right classes and right major. If you are truly one of the top students, you also should follow up with some of your professors to see if they can find you a research or job placement that will use your strengths.
And not to be cruel, but you should work on your writing skills. Your original post was very confusing and if you have so much free time, why don’t you write this up again and try to make it say a good blog piece on the struggles of freshman year.
I think someone got their wires crossed with your pre-med advising, regardless of what is on the exam, if you know it really really well, you should have moved on … for example, Calc I could have been replaced with Calc 3 or another high level math class.
Socialize more, volunteer more, get out of the dorm or library if you are blessed to not have to be there to get an A. And don’t get too cocky, high school preparation effect is only really a freshman phenomenon, sophomore possibly in some classes, but at some point very soon, you will stare at a board and have no idea what it means. Also, typically you can take up to 20 credits, including say German, which is more difficult and more interesting in class than self-study.
@PickOne1 Im sorry for making my post confusing and I know what you mean, I was in that position already and my factor of childish cynicism has changed.
Sorry intparent but it’s true; you’re being a jerk.