Hello everyone,
Spring has finally come to an end. This semester was the longest semester by far since I decided to go back to school. I am a LVN who I used to work full time. I quit full time hours to focus on my classes since I have plenty of GE’s to take care of. I wanted to get it done fast and start taking core classes.
Last year I was working 6 days a week and going to school at night with 9 credits. My grades were straight B’s but all are GE classes. Started spring this year I decided to turn things opposite and worked two days/week (12 hrs shift) and go to school M-F. Part of the reason behind that decision was my divorce. It was finally official Feb of this year.
So this spring semester I started with trig&precalc (combined 8 units) Anatomy and Chem (into). Those three classes along with going back and forth to the court for my divorce proceeding. That process alone was exhausting. I ended up dropping the combined class because my ex-husband pressured me to move out the condo (his) so he can sell it and he gave me 30 days to evacuate or threatened to haul all my stuff out if I haven’t vacant the place (note: we have two girls too). I needed time to look for a new place so I had to drop some classes. It was mid of the semester and by far all my classes were below C’s.
I didn’t drop everything, I told myself that as soon as I get a new place I will pull my grades up and pass at least my remaining classes. I was able to pull my anatomy, came out with a C. But Lord it broke my heart seeing a D on my chemistry. My extreme hard work didn’t pay off. I drag those classes to the end but I just couldn’t save myself on one of them. Well I actually had a 78% overall which is still a C but the rule was if we don’t get at least 50% in the finals we fail the course. That rule maddened me! I had 83% before the finals. I would at least be a little happy to get a C.
Now, Mr. doubt, whom had been following me wherever I go and whatever I do seems like winning with his “I told you so you wouldn’t make it”.
Personally, I am starting to accept the fact that I am a very slow learner. Almost all the time whenever I take exams at school that involve problems and calculations and stuff like that I’m always the last one to finish. I process these questions very very slow-mo.
What should I do??? I still want to get back up and proceed. Things had gotten better now. I think I just have to really really focus on these classes and really learn it.
Please help 
Based on the tiny bit of info about me I need an honest opinion. Should I proceed? or should I just end all my misery and go back to work full time? But I know myself, I know that I haven’t really tired hard enough. I must admit also that at times I procrastinated on studying and homework because I am just tired. Being a single parent and running a home and everything.
Am I crazy to even thing of going to med school? When I can’t even pass an introductory chemistry.
Helllllllo nurse!
I’m a working RN rolling down the medical road, so always nice to see another nurse in the mix.
Keep in mind that if you’re not opposed to applying D.O. you can take advantage of their grade replacement policy. If you retake those classes you did badly in and pull a higher grade this time, they’ll count the higher one instead.
That said, of course, now the fun starts.
It sounds like you’ve had a lot of stress pulling your focus away from classes. Do you feel like you’re in a position now where you could devote more mental energy and quiet time to studying? It sounds like you might have be having trouble with organizing your time and setting a study schedule for yourself.
Do you use supplementary material? I was scared to death of Gen Chem and so spent the entire summer before Chem I going over the Chemistry for Dummies book and watching Khan Academy videos as they corresponded to what I was doing in my book. Having a general foundation and understanding basic but far-reaching concepts like moles before class started was invaluable. Did the same for Organic Chemistry, results were stunning. Am doing the same for Physics right now.
Do you spend time doing practice problems? It can be grueling but man, it helps. In Gen Chem I had my Chem for Dummies book plus another chem help book, and for each concept I did the problems in my text plus some supplementary ones until I felt comfortable. General Chemistry is mostly algebra – how are your algebra skills? It might help to brush up on that.
Do you have access to tutors? A good tutor, even just an hour a week, can make a difference. Is your professor accessible with office hours?
I don’t think bad grades in the beginning means at all that med school is out of reach – it just means you’ve learned something about your tolerance and what you need to do to get focused. The hard part is figuring out how to overcome that, but it definitely can be done.
Hello Eccesignum!!
Very nice to see you too! I hardly see any nurse here. Thank you for your sweet reply. I do not oppose applying to a D.O. school as a matter of fact, that is the route I’m trying to navigate into (if there is still hope in me). I must say, you hit me right on my weak spot I do have a big trouble with organizing my time and that is what I am working on. I love your idea of having supplementary materials. In my chemistry class I only utilized the textbook and whatever handouts are given to us. I do however use some website whenever I find myself stuck with chemical formulas and balancing equations.I will definitely try your suggested approach and I very much appreciate your time providing such encouraging and self-lifting words.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to repeat that class this summer as I already had planned my summer with another class. I’m going to have to work around it next semester and hopefully I will be able to retain the little information I had on chemistry
Well thank you again for your support 
I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
Khan Academy, Khan Academy, Khan academy, and tutors. Hours of doing calculations repetitively until they become rote and “easy”.
The only thing that works for me…
I agree with the others (use Khan Academy, it really helps with balancing equations and Stoichiometry). I would also make sure that you have taken College Algebra before you take any more Chem and Physics. That way the minor calculations in both sets of classes, will seem second nature and boost your confidence.
I have a suggestion to try. When your life allows you yo follow a reasonable study schedule, you could try what I did for physics. First test I did not come close to fonishing. I figured out how much time I had per problem which was about I minute, with 50 problems per 1 hour and leaving 10 minutes to go back to the more complex ones. I’d take 10 problems from the book of the type we were working on. I’d try to do them as quickly as possible and see how far 1 got in 10 minutes. By then I’d figured how to set up some of them. I practiced those SAME problems till I could solve them on paper in 10 minutes. Then took another 10 problems. Some would be the same type - which I now knew how to set up! The others I’d work on solving as quickly as I could. Doing timed practice helped me become less hesitant, and learn to work more quickly. Applies to any calculation heavy course.
Give up on giving up! Step to the side and pop Mr. Doubt in the face and keep stumbling forward.
Do what Kate recommends because you will only get faster at solving problems the more you do them timed. It’s not just doing problems but doing them timed. That was my mistake. I would do tons of problems but never timed and when the test came I was glacial and never could understand. Classmate told me it’s like training for a marathon and assuming you’ll finish because you walk a lot. It’s about being intentional and if I can get a bit military/gung-ho for a bit, it’s all about training how you will fight…or studying how you will be tested. Your tests are timed with complex problems so your studying should mimic that at the minimum twice a week.
Now get on with it! You got this. You are not the first to not do well and this misstep will be another reason you’ll be a great doctor. Humility is not an attribute to be avoided.
BTW Mr. Doubt will always be around. The thing is the second he opens his mouth pimp-slap the jerk. The issue is not in having Mr. Doubt around but in sitting down and entertaining that rat bastard. You’ll eventually get the message and they’ll be fewer sightings of Mr. Man… 
IHMO, your first order of business needs to be to give yourself a mental break from everything you’re dealing with. And that also means time away from school.
Failing classes is very often more a function of being over burdened than an inability to learn.
First, I’ve never been a big believer in slow or fast learning. I’m more a believer in people have or have not been exposed to material sufficiently enough or not. The first time is difficult. The 2nd time less and the 3rd is easier. So give yourself grace. You’ve gone through a lot physically, mentally, and emotionally. Give yourself a break and give yourself grace. You did the best any human could do under the circumstance. Make this difficulty a learning experience. You can only handle so much at one time. So just realize that and move forward.
One way, as one of the previous posts mentions is Khan Academy. But there are other ways to expose yourself to the information you need ahead of time for Chem. or Phys., etc. I’m taking an online A&P course to help prepare me for the real course. I’ve done the same with Biology. I’m going to do the same with Chem. Then when I take the real-deal, I won’t flounder…as much. 
So take a deep breath, find that online course, or book or whatever you can use to help you that doesn’t give you a grade. Then go back, when you’re ready, and try again.
This is not a race. It’s a marathon.
Do like this girl did and get back up and keep trying. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsOBaV_93yQ. You can do this. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be where you are now. You’ve had the inspiration, now it’s just a matter of perspiration. Keep trying.
Also tell Mr. Doubt, that he needs to shew because you’re giving yourself that grace you need to continue.
Take care NurseMD.
Thank you so very much everyone for the advise and support. This is the only place where I see beautiful people that I never know.
Right now, I’m taking physiology for the summer. I have taken anatomy last spring and although I know that studying anat. is a way different ave from physio. it does kinda help with basic understanding and some medical language. This is going to be really hard and intense but I am dedicated and confident that I will work hard and try to be more focus and just learn from my past failure.
I will be using supplementary materials, definitely will try to evolve my organizational skills and be more focus this time.
Thank you! thank you so much for all the advise. And please, do continue to write if you have any other tips/suggestions. I’m just here listening with my heart smiling because even though I have not one person supporting me through this process I know that I am not alone
snowflakes0446 thanks for the video it’s very inspirational and motivating!
- snowflake0446 Said:
One way, as one of the previous posts mentions is Khan Academy. But there are other ways to expose yourself to the information you need ahead of time for Chem. or Phys., etc. I'm taking an online A&P course to help prepare me for the real course. I've done the same with Biology. I'm going to do the same with Chem. Then when I take the real-deal, I won't flounder...as much.
So take a deep breath, find that online course, or book or whatever you can use to help you that doesn't give you a grade. Then go back, when you're ready, and try again.
This is not a race. It's a marathon.
Do like this girl did and get back up and keep trying. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsOBaV_93yQ. You can do this. Otherwise, you wouldn't be where you are now. You've had the inspiration, now it's just a matter of perspiration. Keep trying.
Also tell Mr. Doubt, that he needs to shew because you're giving yourself that grace you need to continue.
Take care NurseMD.
Couple of things you need to understand —
- As some have said, this is a marathon, not a dash – how you start is nowhere near as important as how you finish.
- You will need a “background” in chemistry in the sense that you’ll need to understand pH and the Henderson-Hasselbach equation (or as we called it, the Anderson-Hasselhoff equation) to a certain degree for acid-base problems…and some other stuff thrown in but once you get past chemistry, I don’t recall using it to any depth or great extent, so don’t sweat it.
- You will be “taught” everything you need to know in med school – more like speed review – I think we reviewed the essentials of chemistry in 1 hour and essentials of orgo chemistry in 1 hour during our biochem class. No worries, those with extreme neuroses actually tried to memorize the values at which the various compounds donated electrons, etc. worth 1 point on the exam.
- The slow learning part is what gives rise to concern – You will be tasked with an incredible amount of information over the course of your medical school/residency. Not saying that slow learners can’t do it but take the following into consideration: – If you haven’t been checked for a learning disability, you may want to consider doing it now. Not a bar from medical school but you can get special accomodations in certain situation. – Experiment now with how you learn best – if it’s by reading/hearing/visual/ki netic, etc. Perhaps your student center can help with that. – get a study pattern/schedule - now while you’re in undergrad. Figure out your best times for learning (for me, it’s around 0900 to 11:30 and then 1-3pm and then 6-10 pm) – your body has cycles and no use in trying to make it do something it’s not prepared for.
Also - consider getting in shape if you’re not – you would not believe how being physically fit can affect your learning just by giving you more mental clarity and focus. I stupidly let my fitness regimen go in medical school feeling that “I don’t have time, I have to study” – would NOT recommend doing that, ever.
And finally – don’t psyche yourself out. You’re just as capable as the next person. Truthfully, if you can walk and chew gum on a level surface into a headwind, you can graduate from medical school – it’s all about whether or not you let them get inside your head (I did)and how freaking determined you are to succeed (they were going to have to carry me out, feet first before I quit).
You’re a single mom – ok, are you going to use that as an excuse for failure? Really, really probe your heart and see if you are afraid of success? You said it yourself, “I didn’t try my hardest.” – well, why not? Why aren’t you going – pardon the phrase – balls to the wall all the time? You’re tired? – join the crowd and get ready for intern year…
Not ragging on you but just want to be sure that you’re not using things as an excuse when the real reason is that you’re afraid to succeed for whatever reason or doing this because others think you should rather than it’s what you REALLY, REALLY want to do…
Good luck – and go kick some ass…
OMT brings up an excellent point. I was Dx with ADD in my mid-40’s and when I remember to take my supplements (NOT scrip meds), I do just fine!