For any future pre-meds out there, here are three of the biggest stereotypes I’ve heard about pre-med life, and what my experience has been with them!
#1: Organic Chemistry = DEATH
Okay, so I wanted to start with this one because I had been hearing about this infamous class for years. As someone who took it and survived, I assure you, it doesn’t deserve all the hate it gets. In fact, although I knew many people who felt indifferent about it, it actually ended up being one of my favorite science classes at Tufts! After learning the basics, it became a decent amount of problem-solving, which I’ve always loved. I won’t deny that it took a lot of work, and a solid two notebooks full of practice problems, but if you put in the effort the course merits, it certainly won’t be as terrible as it sounds. And you’ll get really good at drawing hexagons!
Verdict: Myth, thankfully!
#2: All pre-meds are super stressed all the time.
In my opinion, stress is quite honestly what you make of it. I was definitely really stressed during my first two years at Tufts, but looking back at it, I didn’t have to feel that way. You have to figure out what works for you (because I promise, there is something that will work), and once you do, not only will you be happier and less stressed, but your grades will also probably improve! For me, dealing with stress involves eating healthy food and resisting the urge to down a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, watching a movie with my wonderful housemates (who will be featured in a future post!), getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night, and listening to music.
Verdict: Myth!
#3: The MCAT is a beast of a test.
I just took the MCAT recently, and as any of my housemates can tell you, it was definitely a long and arduous process. The good news is that you don’t need to worry about it until about 4-5 months before you take it, so if you’re in high school, that’s a fairly long time away! The other piece of good news is that your pre-med classes will cover a lot of testable material, which is really helpful when doing content review. But when it comes down to it, this is a 7.5-hour exam; it covers a lot, and it takes a lot of motivation and time to properly prepare. The best advice I have for any future pre-med students, whether you go to Tufts or not, is to spend time really mastering the material in your pre-med classes. It will improve your grades and help you in your future MCAT prep!
Verdict: Fact, unfortunately
The great part about being here is that the pre-health advising department is fantastic. They have a wealth of knowledge that even the most prepared student can benefit from, and they have definitely helped guide me through the process so far.