The med school psych out game

Being in a low-key public health program and then traveling in East Africa, I have forgotten the intensity of some people who are intent on becoming physicians.

The other day I was sitting in my seat waiting for Anatomy class to start (which was to begin with a pre-class quiz). I couldn't help but overhear an animated conversation of several medical students behind me. They were discussing with confidence how they felt they were doing in the class. They were saying things like, "Yeah, man, this class is so easy!" and "Totally, I have barely studied and I have passed every quiz." and "Of course, everybody is going to pass the class - how could they not?" and "Yeah, I don't get much out of class - just on-line shop during lecture." (You get the idea).

Class started and the quiz (taken on a computer) was quite challenging. At the last minute I got confused and changed 2 correct answers to incorrect answers. When I got my score back at the end of the day it turns out that I failed the quiz. I was devastated. This is the second quiz out of the seven that I have failed.

The next day I was still discouraged and sat down to study with an individual that was in the group talking behind me the day before. She asked me how I was doing and I said that I was OK, but felt a little discourage because it seemed like everybody was doing better than me in the class. Then after a few moments, I confessed that I had failed the quiz the day before. She turned towards me and said quietly, "I haven't told anyone this, not even my lab partners, but I haven't passed a quiz yet." I was quite surprised at this since she had been acting so confident the day before. I had forgotten about the med school psych out game. sigh. maybe someday I will learn about the emotional complexities of medical school.