#365rulesforpremeds

[365rulesforpremeds]

Hi! I am currently studying for the MCAT this summer and plan on taking it in August. My GPA, however, has dropped and I am a third year at UC Berkeley. This year was tough for me due to family circumstances. I probably have about a 3.1 or so now. I know I am a bit at a disadvantage but do you have any advice? Much appreciated. Thank you!

Get out of your head and start focusing on the task at hand.  You can’t change what you’ve already done, but you do have complete control of how you handle your academics from this point forward.  Create a detailed study plan starting with your weakest subjects.  Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize.

[365rulesforpremeds]

Hey! I'm a UCLA rising second year majoring in neuroscience and my GPA is soo bad. It's a 3.3 right now and I'm just so discouraged. I feel like the professors for prereqs at UCLA don't want you to succeed and try to weed everyone out but I'm still passionate about medicine. Did you ever feel like this?

When I feel discouraged, I like to stay positive and focus on what I can do to succeed.  I don't personally think that any professors take pride in failing students (because in the end it partially reflects on their ability to teach).  I did find it difficult transitioning at first from high school to college where I felt quite insignificant in classes of over 200 people.  I can say that I enjoyed my upper division classes much more and thus did better academically.

Keep your head up!

[365rulesforpremeds]

Hello. How do you study for the MCAT using the booksets if you have about 5-6 months (along with classes)? I don't know how to plan my studying. Do people study chapter 1 from each subject at the same time? Also, at what point do you take practice exams? Thank you.

Neither of us studied during school, so it would be hard to answer the first part of your question.

I took practice exams almost exclusively during the last 2 weeks before my test date.  

[365rulesforpremeds]

Hi so I've been TRYING IT with this whole pre-med thing and so far the only thing that has happened is that I've have a reallly shitty GPA (probably a 2.5) at a pretty good school (Brown). I'm about to start my 2nd semester as a sophomore and I just need to know: should I just give up now? Is there any hope? I'm willing to do more work, but I just need to know: is it too late? :/ :(

This post may help.

In the end, you have to decide whether or not you LOVE medicine.  If you love it, you won’t let anything stop you.  I have classmates who applied upwards of 4 times before being admitted.  I have great respect for their commitment to pursuing their dreams, and I often see them as inspirations.  If medicine is your passion, it is never too late.

[365rulesforpremeds]

For the Young Doctor About to Burn Out

Professional burnout is the sum total of hundreds and thousands of tiny betrayals of purpose, each one so minute that it hardly attracts notice.

[365rulesforpremeds]

Hi, do you know if your uni takes students from Australia for international study? would love to study there

Yup.  More info here

[365rulesforpremeds]

MORE at the source!

[365rulesforpremeds]

Hi! I'm a junior at a big public university. I am worried about LoRs. So far, I don't have any professors to write any for me. I would go to office hours but I have no idea what to say. Any questions I have I feel like I can just look up in the textbook or online and I don't want to feel like I am there just to kiss up. How do I get professors to know me better?

When you start critically thinking about the subject matter, you may find that  you actually have questions related to the material.  Even though you can look up most of the answers, it is beneficial to use these questions as an opportunity to ask your professor.  The only way to form relationships with your professors is to talk with them.