Pre-med: what it really means

When I got to Yale, it seemed more like summer camp than school. There were so many things vying for attention, none of which were work: parties, singing groups, IMs, parties, volunteer opportunities, the girls upstairs, parties...You'll soon be able to finish the list. I didn't expect to do difficult work in a pre-med program. I'd whizzed through biology, chemistry, and math in high school and aced those annoying tests. I thought that college could not be that different. I was wrong.

At Yale, you're in a much bigger pond with a lot of brilliant fish. The courses are harder, the tests are tougher, and your classmates are smarter. Although many Yale majors are admittedly hard, pre-med programs have the reputation for being particularly tough. I don't want to scare you--just be aware that science A's are more elusive here than in high school. Although initially I was worried by this competitive atmosphere, every time I've asked for help, my classmates have happily provided it, and vice versa. Here's some concrete advice:

You only go through college once, and you're at the best one in the world. Take advantage of the opportunities available to you. This may be your last chance to learn about history, philosophy, or any other non-science discipline, and Yale has incredible teachers in all of these fields.

You must know about medical school requirements. Attend information sessions and look up schools that you're interested in. Make sure that you don't find yourself scrambling to take 10 courses senior year to fulfill requirements. Beyond that, good luck--and relax!

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