Hi ladies,
Well, it's been a long week and I just need to vent. I did really well on one half of my first exam (I'm an MS1), but I did really poorly on the other half (as in, didn't pass). Logically, I'm planning on studying more and differently for the next exam, attending the remedial sessions, and praying that I do better; but, emotionally, I'm feeling really down about it and it's shaking my confidence. Also, I'm terrified that I won't do better. Second, I'm in the middle of my two-week-wait, which is always difficult. Am I pregnant? Am I not?? I just want to know so I can be really excited, or get ready to try again. Errrgggg.... just needed to get this off my chest! Thanks for listening.

The two-week wait drove me NUTS! Best wishes on that.

One thing that always helps me is practice questions re: material. Have you tried testing yourself with some board prep books like Pre-test or BRS? Sometimes I just need something to point out where I'm deficient, because often I'll reread notes etc. and think I have it, but then...I don't. I also like Webpath and Review of Pathology - Robbins - the question book for Path. Not sure what subjects you are struggling in, but I hope those suggestions help.

Ah yes, the first block exams in med school. Disastrous.

I got my first "D" ever. Huge wake up call that this wasn't undergrad anymore.

The BRS series (physiology mostly) saved my semester.

Geez, that was, um, 9 years ago. And I still remember that awful pit-of-the-stomach feeling. Vividly.

For me, studying differently was the trick. It took me awhile to figure it out, though. Hang in there!

One more add - there is BRS Physio (which I definitely use), and something called Costanza - written by the same author, but it is a purple book and I think a little larger - might be entitled Physiology. That is seriously a Bible. My class just calls it Costanza. I can't recommend that one enough also!

Thanks, y'all -- I really appreciate the advice and will definitely take it to heart and go out and get a practice problem book.

I think a LOT of med students fail or nearly fail at least once in the first semester. Consider it a wake up call and go to work like you're already planning. It is certainly not going to keep you from being a doctor.

Agree agree agree!
I used to love reading, but it got so hard for me to retain information from books. What I started to do in med school was take notes from a single hour of lecture and cram them onto one blank white page. Then I would take colored pencils and color code different things. For example, I would draw out the Krebs cycle, then put little notes next to each step in different colors. This worked well for biochem, neuro, devo, and phys. It make studying for the final a breeze. For anatomy, I traced Netter images and labeled them, copied them, and then colored them. For path, I just listened to lectures twice on super speed while following the notes (and Goljan audio--priceless!). It probably sounds goofy and like a lot of work, but the trade-off is that I hardly ever read much from the text.

What class are you struggling in, if I may ask?

Agreed!! I failed the first thing ever in my life-Biochem...and that was after being a bio major in college! I have some more advice-study groups-I study grouped with fellow students-we were serious about it and had a 'study contract' and that really helped! Good luck!

Sure, I'm having trouble with biochem. That makes me feel so much better to hear that others have had trouble too! You have no idea. I think I've been having difficulty seeing the forest through the trees. I've been getting so lost trying to memorize the details that I wasn't seeing the bigger concepts. Also, I got a little behind in studying for the last test, leaving little pre-exam study time, so I'm definitely trying my best to stay on top of everything these next couple of weeks. Thanks, everyone, for the tips!!! Much appreciated.

biochem, me too. seemingly inexcusable given my background.

I did also like study groups, where I was forced to say aloud what I thought I knew (and found out what I didn't); also they were a good check for "what do we need to know" as well as "what will be on the test"

Good luck! (12 years later.. no one will ever know ;-) )