<p>I would really like to know what the atmosphere for a pre-med student is like. Is it really competitive and requires 24/7 studying or is it more laid back? Are the majority of students accepted to medical school? Are the classes any more difficult than other schools? How are the professors that teach the required courses? Any info would be great especially from current students.</p>
<p>'03 grad... but here goes.</p>
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<li> Pre-med is not rigourous, but not competitive. The students all really help each other out, but the drop rate is very high. There is a ton of work - and, to be honest, wherever you go for pre-med, you'll be working hard. While students don't study 24/7, they really work hard. Most students, when taking organic chemistry, clear out their schedules so they can have a life. They'll take yoga, sociology, and an Ex-college course alongside orgo and call it a day.</li>
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<p>*I believe that about 80-90% of students are accepted to med schools. Nationally, the average is about 50%. </p>
<p>*The classes are very hard. Harvard's orgo is easier. A lot of students end up dropping them. Some will re-take them during the summer or the next year. </p>
<p>*I thought that all of the professors at Tufts were amazing. Also, the required courses are all taught by profs, with TAs teaching recitations and labs. </p>
<p>*Find JJsMom... her son is currently a Tufts pre-med.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! Just in general....why do you think that organic chemistry is so difficult? I am a junior and know absolutely nothing about it.</p>
<p>It's difficult because there are two ways in approaching orgo:
1) straight memorization of EVERYTHING
2) understanding the mechanism concepts in which everything occurs</p>
<h1>1 is easier to do but much more daunting, but #2 takes a lot of understanding and application to fully comprehend. Obviously the most successful orgo student will be able to combine both, but much of the difficulty of organic chemistry comes from "seeing" the solution. Problems are quite simple once you "see" it, but you can spend a great deal of an exam feeling quite panicky because the answer isn't making sense to you fast enough. Organic chemistry is also all pictures - no calculations. I hated general chemistry, but love organic. The course is a stretch of the imagination. It's challenging, but rewarding!</h1>
<p>Hmm. I had heard that the class makes or breaks the pre-med student and that makes me very nervous. Are the majority of people just unable to do it?</p>
<p>Hi, my kid is premed at Tufts. He reports that the course is quite rigorous but doable if you study hard, especially with others in the same boat (study groups). The kids are extremely supportive of one another, not cut throat at all.</p>
<p>He will be taking orgo next semester and will also be taking an advanced bio course at the same time! I questioned the wisdom of doing this but he told me that he's spoken to those who have survived orgo and it isn't as horrible as its reputation. He said, worst case scenario, he'll drop it or bio if he's struggling. Tufts has a very liberal course dropping policy, thankfully!</p>
<p>JJ tells me that most of his profs so far are excellent, especially the chem profs and the TAs are phenomenal. If you just can't figure something out, they will work with you till you get it. But, you have to reach out for help, and JJ will. Others won't. Perhaps that is why so far JJ is doing very well and others are falling behind or end up dropping out of the premed track.</p>
<p>I can't remember the actually med school acceptance percentages, but they were excellent.</p>
<p>FWIW, JJ finds plenty of time for extracurricular activities, including pit orchestra, poker, excursions into Beantown, and going to the gym to work out each day. So, no studying 24/7 but when there's an exam the next day he'll bunker down and study.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.
Jjsmom</p>
<p>Thanks. That really helps. I really want to be pre-med but I have heard so many horror stories about kids having their dreams crushed because of that one class. At least now I know it is possible. I have heard that only a percentage of kids in one class can get an A though. What happens of everyone learns the material just as well? Would they really give a kid a C just because several others got only a few more questions right?</p>