A trend also apparent in my blog-->self- justification for my lack of study. This year has been a slippery slope. Admittedly I study less than a lot of my medical peers, but seeing as I was getting along just fine doing what I was doing, not at the top of class but certainly not at the bottom either, I kept doing it. I chalked my success up to a better study method or perhaps greater undergrad preparation. In the back of my mind I felt like I should work harder, but since I was passing and we're on a pass/fail system, there was really no motivation to work harder... until... last Monday.
I FAILED.
Not only did I fail Monday's exam, I legitimately got the lowest score in the class. Talk about a kick to the crotch, not to mention my ego.
So what's the deal?
I'll admit it was one part lack of study, another part hubris (I really thought I knew the material), another part idiocy (I missed some really stupid questions, eff), and a final part this phase sucks.
We're currently studying Host and Defense (H&D), what my school has termed the block on microbiology (bacteria, viruses, and fungi oh my!), the associated drugs and treatments, and immunology. The catch? All the micro is completely self taught. We don't even get a solid list of the bugs and drugs that we are required to know which left me kind of floundering. I thought I studied the material, but turns out I didn't study all of it and what I did study I didn't know in near enough depth.
The caveat to my failure?
I'm finally a little motivated to succeed and have been studying a lot this week, however as I'm still not certain what I'm supposed to be studying, most of my time has been spent trying to nail down a study method. In the very least, I've found some good resources and I'm a little more directed as to how I'll be tested this phase. I guess we'll see if it's effective... My next exam is in a week, an oral exam with an attending physician... ew.
...Anyway...
Don't worry. Yes I failed a test which means I was below the passing line, but so long as my overall average for the phase is above passing, which it currently is, it's fine. To be honest many of my classmates have failed exams (below passing score), even multiple exams, but as long as you pass overall you're ok... it's just not something I want to make a habit of... or ever let happen again. I'm trying my best to remind myself, there's a lot of material to learn and a fail doesn't necessarily mean I'm not learning anything I just failed to study effectively for that exam. Either way... I'll be entering a relationship with my drug and micro cards, relocating my life to the medical school study rooms, and meals to the hospital cafeteria for the foreseeable future.
Wish me luck.
HC vs H&D... let's go!
Not only did I fail Monday's exam, I legitimately got the lowest score in the class. Talk about a kick to the crotch, not to mention my ego.
So what's the deal?
I'll admit it was one part lack of study, another part hubris (I really thought I knew the material), another part idiocy (I missed some really stupid questions, eff), and a final part this phase sucks.
We're currently studying Host and Defense (H&D), what my school has termed the block on microbiology (bacteria, viruses, and fungi oh my!), the associated drugs and treatments, and immunology. The catch? All the micro is completely self taught. We don't even get a solid list of the bugs and drugs that we are required to know which left me kind of floundering. I thought I studied the material, but turns out I didn't study all of it and what I did study I didn't know in near enough depth.
The caveat to my failure?
I'm finally a little motivated to succeed and have been studying a lot this week, however as I'm still not certain what I'm supposed to be studying, most of my time has been spent trying to nail down a study method. In the very least, I've found some good resources and I'm a little more directed as to how I'll be tested this phase. I guess we'll see if it's effective... My next exam is in a week, an oral exam with an attending physician... ew.
...Anyway...
Don't worry. Yes I failed a test which means I was below the passing line, but so long as my overall average for the phase is above passing, which it currently is, it's fine. To be honest many of my classmates have failed exams (below passing score), even multiple exams, but as long as you pass overall you're ok... it's just not something I want to make a habit of... or ever let happen again. I'm trying my best to remind myself, there's a lot of material to learn and a fail doesn't necessarily mean I'm not learning anything I just failed to study effectively for that exam. Either way... I'll be entering a relationship with my drug and micro cards, relocating my life to the medical school study rooms, and meals to the hospital cafeteria for the foreseeable future.
Wish me luck.
HC vs H&D... let's go!
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