<p>So my first year was pretty bad (check through my other posts cause ive posted that so many times). I need all A’s next sem and the sem after to salvage my gpa and have a shot at med schools. </p>
<p>I am already prepping up over the summer and I am extemely keen on doing well this next sem. I don’t want to do anything that will inhibit my ability to get A’s but at the same time I don’t want to cut myself from society.</p>
<p>To those of you who got straight A’s, how did you get the grades while still having a life?</p>
Definitely possible. It’s been done many times by many people. Evaluate your study habit seriously and think about why something worked and something didn’t. Make sure that you don’t overcommit yourself. Always attend all the lectures and ask if you have a question. Don’t expect to overcome procrastination, that’s impossible because we’re all human. What you can do instead is to minimize it. Talk to people who have successfully completed the courses you’re going to take. Ask them about how to do well in the courses.</p>
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The key is to study smart rather than hard and manage your time well.</p>
<p>While you’re getting yourself established in your new echelon you may have to go overboard at first. As time goes by you’ll be more at ease with how to get the grades you want and still have a life.</p>
<p>it depends on what courses you are taking. for example, freshman year i got straight a’s with bio and chem and other random courses and got extremely drunk nearly every weekend (the latter of which was not the greatest idea and led to some catastrophically terrible mornings that i never want to relive again). However, this past sophomore year i maintained straight a’s in orgo, physics, neurobiology, biochem, etc…i definitely lost much of my social life because of that. so it really is a function of the courses that you take.</p>
<p>I think it depends on your classes. I don’t think it would have been possible for me to get all As in the classes I took last semester, and I didn’t get all A’s, but I sure learned a ton. I had a 4.0 freshman year.</p>
<p>Definately do not overload. 18 - 19 hours with 2 - 3 science classes is probably reasonable, do not take any more. That would be plenty to graduate in 4 years, unless you are in engineering. That one is much tougher than any other. And splurge on taking some fun classes for relaxation in between.</p>
<p>Premeds should expect to take at least two science courses per semester. That would be a very usual load. Otherwise, how could you fulfill your premed requirements on time?</p>
<p>D is not taking calculus based physics, none of pre-meds at her school do. They are taking non-calculus one. However, it should not be a problem. D took Orgo with Cell Bio (she is not sure which one was harder, probably Cell Bio) and one more easier science class for her Neouroscience minor. That was tough because of time consuming Sorority board in addition to job and volunteering. Orgo will need time commitment no matter how you cut it. So far she is all “A”, there is no guarantee though, she is just committed to work hard. By the way she is taking Physics next year (junior). Good luck!</p>
<p>Work hard. Play hard. Don’t waste time sleeping more than 8 hours on a weekend or watching pointless TV. Don’t take an hour to eat lunch. If you’re not enjoying ‘social’ time, you should be studying. It’s really that simple - all about mental toughness. </p>
<p>… which reminds me to sign off this site and get back to my MCAT studying, haha.</p>