Yesterday was the last day of school and my Physics final. I’ve never been so excited to be out of school. I don’t think i was this excited while in grad school. I was concerned about the quality of education at a community college,but boy was i wrong. All those professors made me work hard for all my grades.Quizzes every week, exams every other week. I feel confident about the preparation for MCAT. The only problem i have with the school is the grading system. They only award A,B,C,D,F… no intermediate grades which sucks. I have A in everything else, and i should get a B+ in physics lab. Physics lab professor was not the best. I didn’t care for his teaching style compared to the Physic class professor who was absolutely a blessing as an instructor. I just recently heard that my community college is in talks with the local medical school to establish a partnership. My physics class professor said i could contact her with MCAT prep questions. She is so awesome!
I’ve been questioning myself whether or not to continue on with this journey. I know i can do it, but it’s just so exhausting. I keep questioning myself if it’s worth pursuing this goal. I absolutely enjoy the learning part since i love science. I know, if medical school was easy everyone would be a doctor.It’s still a mentally exhausting. I shouldn’t complain since i am single, compared to other non-trads but, i’m tired.
However, i came to work today and one of the physicians i work with heard i’m planning on going to med school. He has been so encouraging, and suggesting schools to apply to in the Northeast. He gave me his contact info to reach out to him with any questions about the entire preparatory process. It helps to get that positive feedback especially coming from a physician.
Next stop- Chem II w/ lab in the summer. It will be good to just take one class.
Advise for those considering taking Physics I w/ lab and Chem I( Inorganic ) w/ lab together. It’s doable if you plan to only take these two only and if your intend is to understand and retain the information in preparation for MCAT. It’s a tough combo if you add any other science course. The labs especially are ridiculously demanding for just 1 credit, well at my school it is.
hi MsAlexis
I hear you. I am exhausted as well. I had to rack up 21 credit this semester, with a FT job and 2 kids. Of course, I CLEPPED out of 14, but it was some serious work. I am completing OChem 2 and Psychology (both with As, I don’t really care though, I am accepted now).
Perhaps you do not, I teach Gen Chem, and the first thing I say to my student over the summer: don’t take Gen Chem II during the summer, especially if you have a job.
This is no easy class. So unless you feel very confident about your abilities, quite honestly, I can say that Gen Chem 2 kicks butts. Again this is not meant to discourage you, but I have seen too many students thinking they’d do great and after the 1st week they quit or complain. On top of a job, or other courses, it is very difficult to excel in this class.
This is my opinion, as a guy who teaches the class, who took it as well. Usually I’d say that my opinion is not worth much. But here, I think I do know what I talk about. Of course some folks always manage an A, but that’s not the average student, and certainly not the average student who has other responsibilities. Even good students, who would normally score an A during a regular semester, end up with Bs and Cs due to the pace of the class.
In any event, I wish you the best of luck.
- redo-it-all Said:
This is no easy class. So unless you feel very confident about your abilities, quite honestly, I can say that Gen Chem 2 kicks butts. Again this is not meant to discourage you, but I have seen too many students thinking they'd do great and after the 1st week they quit or complain. On top of a job, or other courses, it is very difficult to excel in this class.
Another Chem professor agreeing with this post, with ONE exception. If you had the class the previous semester and are repeating it,that's the only reason I'd suggest you take it over the summer.
Msalexis-
The mental fatigue is very real. I try to remember to take fish oil as need those nutrients when working the brain so hard. Also, I deliberately do some right-brain activity after I’ve been hitting the books hard on science stuff - play my violin or guitar, write something, etc. Find that restores my “brain fatigue” better than anything.
- redo-it-all Said:
I hear you. I am exhausted as well. I had to rack up 21 credit this semester, with a FT job and 2 kids. Of course, I CLEPPED out of 14, but it was some serious work. I am completing OChem 2 and Psychology (both with As, I don't really care though, I am accepted now).
Perhaps you do not, I teach Gen Chem, and the first thing I say to my student over the summer: don't take Gen Chem II during the summer, especially if you have a job.
This is no easy class. So unless you feel very confident about your abilities, quite honestly, I can say that Gen Chem 2 kicks butts. Again this is not meant to discourage you, but I have seen too many students thinking they'd do great and after the 1st week they quit or complain. On top of a job, or other courses, it is very difficult to excel in this class.
This is my opinion, as a guy who teaches the class, who took it as well. Usually I'd say that my opinion is not worth much. But here, I think I do know what I talk about. Of course some folks always manage an A, but that's not the average student, and certainly not the average student who has other responsibilities. Even good students, who would normally score an A during a regular semester, end up with Bs and Cs due to the pace of the class.
In any event, I wish you the best of luck.
After taking Chem I, I agree with you. However, this is my situation and let me know if i am the exception.
So the 2.5 months chem II course is on Tues and Thurs and lab is on the same days. I'm only taking chem course in the summer. I will not work on both of those days. I will be working only M,W,F 8a-5pm. I do not work weekends. I have no responsibilities except paying my rent,utilities and my student loans( on IBR plan). So, I'll have 4 days dedicated to school per week. I do take off for all exams if i feel i need to.I have a pretty decent study habit( utilizing online resources and i plan to consistently read ahead of the class for this course)
Do you think i can make it with a goal of getting an A grade?
Also, if i were not in school, after work i would either be sleeping or just out socializing and participating in any fun adventures( lounges, road trips, beach, vacations). Nothing really productive lol. I have enough ECs for medical school.
Thanks Licia! After working on my dissertation for the past gazillion hours, I think I’ll sit down and play my piano! 
MsAlexis-Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
This poem is one of many things that has given me the motivation to go on when the journey got tough
Don’t Quit
by Anonymous
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit!
Blessings,
Kitty
- Msalexis29 Said:
After taking Chem I, I agree with you. However, this is my situation and let me know if i am the exception.
So the 2.5 months chem II course is on Tues and Thurs and lab is on the same days. I'm only taking chem course in the summer. I will not work on both of those days. I will be working only M,W,F 8a-5pm. I do not work weekends. I have no responsibilities except paying my rent,utilities and my student loans( on IBR plan). So, I'll have 4 days dedicated to school per week. I do take off for all exams if i feel i need to.I have a pretty decent study habit( utilizing online resources and i plan to consistently read ahead of the class for this course)
Do you think i can make it with a goal of getting an A grade?
Also, if i were not in school, after work i would either be sleeping or just out socializing and participating in any fun adventures( lounges, road trips, beach, vacations). Nothing really productive lol. I have enough ECs for medical school.
Hey there,
well if all you take is this class over the entire semester (I thought you were talking about a 1 month semester), I think you will be just fine.
Hit the ground running. Do not let the work pile up. Work as many problems as you can at the end of each chapter. You will get an A if you are diligent. I have no doubt about it.
Good luck.
Just wanted to update this thread. So after freaking out that i may have a B in physics lab, i did not check my final grades for 3 weeks. I finally did and i had all A’s. I actually have a 4.0! Holy crap! I now have another inspiration to keep pushing forward. I’m currently working in an Arrhythmia clinic with Electrophysiology Cardiologists. The experience is so inspiring. We have all these patients with all these crazy cardiac arrhythmias. I want to learn more about the heart everyday i’m at work. I’m convinced becoming a physician is my calling.
- Msalexis29 Said:
Congrats and welcome to the club of freaking out about grads - and then finding out you did well! It's a typical premed/med student scenario!