1) You've had an "oh shit" moment in (insert ridiculously difficult pre-med class here). Probably you failed the mid-term, you are totally behind, or you have no idea what the fuck is going on. You then start awfulizing and realizing that you really only have about 8 chances (your pre-med class grades) to really prove yourself though your GPA. The fact that you are barely passing (or outright failing) Physics and Gen Chem are not good for your overall pre-med momentum. Now you have to work extra hard to pass the classes. And extra hard in your remaining 6 classes to make up for your less than stellar grades. Uh.
2) You may be already in the application process. By October you haven't gotten any interviews, and you no longer can deny that you aren't getting in this year. A cascade of "what the hell am I going to do with my life", "I'm a loser", "I'm going to law school", "I can't think of ANYTHING else I want to do with my life", "F&%$#@G MCAT!!", "My parents are going to kill me", "What am I going to tell everyone????", and a few more rounds of "I'm a loser" all ensue. And repeat.
3) You got your late results back from a summer MCAT, they suck, and now you have to stand around scratching your ass until January to retake. Another year of your life down the drain.
Don't worry. This happens to all of us. It's part of the med school game. Bad news? It doesn't really stop after you get into med school. Good news? In med school you'll NEVER have to do a freakin' physics or o-chem problem EVER!!
This didn't stop when you got into med school? Are you kidding???? After getting in, you're basically going to be a doctor unless you screw up. Before you got in your entire life was in the balance (seemingly).
ReplyDeleteIf you're not feeling better about this kind of thing after you get into med school, you need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and get a little perspective. Or some professional help, if needed.
Bless You!!!
ReplyDeleteMuch, Much <3
Ad2b
What I meant was that there is always going to be something to stress about. Taking Step I, residency applications, fellowship, etc. And while I think I am blessed to not be stressed out about "OMG what if I don't XYZ", I would say that PLENTY of my classmates and upper level med friends are serious stress-baskets.
ReplyDeleteEspecially after failing a test, a course, and entire year, not matching, etc.
Point being, in medicine there is always something to stress about if you want to.
Amen for no longer doing physics problems... ochem is alright...
ReplyDeleteHa, what an appropriately-timed post. Got a C in o-chem and saw my future come crashing down all around me...miserable couple of weeks. I'm starting to pull out of it though, thanks in part to this post. It made me step back a bit and laugh, actually. "Everything gon' be everything," as Rollo Lawson so famously stated time and time again. heh
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. I actually met with my premed advisor yesterday after being accepted to complete a second degree in biology to apply for med school...I'm sure I'll have these moments...but I'm determined to push through and get into medical school!
ReplyDeleteI feel depressed because of the sense of drowning in school and my ever diminishing social life. I see my friends going out having fun, dating, etc. And here I sit alone, studying. I feel like I'm missing out and its killing my motivation to do well. Does anyone else have this problem? How did you cope?
ReplyDelete^ Amen
ReplyDelete