Being pre-med is quite a journey. It’s not easy juggling school work, extracurricular activities, volunteering, shadowing, research, and MCAT prep all at the same time. Ever heard of “pain is temporary, but GPA is forever?” Pre-meds don’t just embody that motto; we live and breathe it. Here are 10 symptoms you’re down with the pre-med student syndrome.
1. You have forsaken all your friends for coffee.
Coffee: the sweet nectar of the pre-med gods. One cup used to be enough to keep you awake for as long as you wanted. Now, you cannot get through the night without at least six.
2. 8 hours of sleep? Try 4 instead.
Especially when the MCAT comes around -- the amount of hours you sleep will slowly average out to three every week.
3. Everyone asks you for medical advice, even though you’re not a doctor yet.
Friend: What’s going on with me? What does this look like?
Me: Oh, I don’t know. Might be a tumor. You might as well just check WebMD while you’re at it.
4. Your second home is the library.
You might as well drag your sleeping bag and toothbrush with you and spend the night at the library, considering how often you go there. Pre-medical students spend an average of eight hours a day come midterm and finals season.
5. Almost all of your nightmares are about school and exams.
It’s only a matter of time you start yelling “NO, NOT A C! ANYTHING BUT A C, PROFESSOR!” in your sleep.
6. You don’t see the problem with taking 3 technicals in one semester.
Biology, chemistry, and physics all at once? Or, better yet, why not just throw lab research and clinical volunteering into the mix? If I die, please hire Lorde to sing at my funeral.
7. Research, research, research, research, research.
If you’ve ever been to your school’s pre-med advising, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Ask a professor for a spot on their research team” at least once.
8. You volunteer more than any of your friends.
Pre-med volunteering consists of more than just medical clinics and blood drives. True pre-meds aren’t in it for the money -- we’re in it to save lives. So, community service is a common pastime for us, and we would love to help in any way we can.
9. You like going to labs more than going to lecture.
At least you’re up, out, and about during lab. During lecture, you’re sitting in one spot trying not to fall asleep. And, God forbid your professor calls you to answer a question during class.
10. But, you know it’ll all be worth the struggle the day you don that white coat and call yourself a doctor.
Despite all the whirlwind madness and nervous breakdowns, you know you have to stay strong and power through. Because your future patients depend on it.
