Post Unifieds, Part 2

I guess I can say I survived unifieds, but not really. I didn't particularly do well on them, and being a deceling student I guess there is more expectation. Even though I have a smaller course load, the bulk of what takes the most time during first term is Anatomy & Biochemistry so it's essentially the same.

The exam went much better than last term, so that's at least a good thing. But the score isn't what I would have liked. I have two/three-ish weeks to bring up my grade - I hope I can do it. I like the material that is covered post-unifieds much more than pre-unifieds.

Good luck to us all!

Time for Round 2

All summer I wanted to come back to the island and get back into it. Now that I'm finally here and classes will be starting in full swing tomorrow, I'm nervous. I want a few more extra days off!! It's scary enough starting med school, but then to add in the factor of repeating a year - there's even more terrifying.

Oh well, here's to August 2012!

How to Study?

The DES office had a meeting with all of us who are deceling. They talked heavily about how psychologically we were feeling and how to get over the state of disappointment. Later they had a couple students who are currently in the program talk to us and their transitioning experience. We were also able to meet other students who are in similar positions. Overall it was a good session - I really was dreading to go, but I'm glad I went. (And, it was required - so I had to go.)

I think I've made my peace with the whole deceling - but what worries me more is making changes to my studying strategies. I wish I could find different options to try - because frankly, I don't know what's out there. Clearly, what I've been doing isn't working, but I don't know what options there are and have worked for others.

If you're reading this - can you please comment on your studying habit that's worked for you, or you can send me an email at: jennmed25 AT me.com. I'd really really appreciate it! 

Update

Lots has happened this past week. But the most important of all, I decided to decel in Anatomy & Biochem. I know it was the best decision considering the circumstances (my current grades), but it's also a very "kick-in-the-crotch" feeling. The feeling you when you have to tell someone, yeah...I'm going to decel, and when you meet your lab members, and they inquire about why you weren't in lab. Pretty much sucks. But, the part that sucks even more, is your own feeling of failure. And no matter what anyone tells you, no matter how many success stories you hear about, this feeling will not go away until next term, you able to prove you can do it (Rocking the midterms).

In a medical school in the US, students repeat a year all the time; it doesn't literally happen all the time, but it's not uncommon. And those students will still be competitive enough to match, because they're at a US medical school. Being a Caribbean med student, it could basically go either way. However, doing amazing on the Step 1 exam is far more important.

I started to dwell on this whole process this past week. Not doing well the first term isn't exactly the confidence booster one would hope, and you really start doubting your ability. In addition, my really awesome, cool sleep schedule (sleep by 11:30/wake up by 6:30) was gone! And it wasn't the fact that I was sleepy/tired, I just couldn't get out of bed. I felt so unmotivated; no reason to get up anymore.

But after my somewhat unproductive week/end, I've decided:

I can keep questioning why this happened or didn't happen, but I don't know and I will never know - but I am going to choose to work very hard and believe and everything happens for a positive reason.