My Sophomore Year:
Sophomore year, for me, was the start of being a 'responsible pre-med'. It was the year that I began doing research and volunteer work and started looking toward finishing up my prereqs for my major. It was the year that I moved into an apartment with my previous dorm roommates and made many good memories (as well as some not so good ones haha), and it was the year that I took the one class I most regret taking at Cal- stats... But other than that, my sophomore year was a big blur- I was always tired from school and lab, and I remember panicking a lot that year about gpa and ECs haha.
So if I can give myself some advice for sophomore year, I would say:
-Don't panic/stress so much. The future might seem bleak but it'll get better- just take it day by day and enjoy the time you have with your friends and roommates :)
-Going to lab for 20 hrs a week with a full course load and volunteering might be too much at once, so be wary of time management (either hold off on lab for another semester or find a lab that will be flexible with your schedule/commitment hours)
-Don't take physics 8B that coming summer- it's very accelerated and seemed more difficult that it would've been had I taken it during the semester (take mcb 102 instead perhaps?)
-Use your winter break wisely- it's a unique time to gain more experience in healthcare, whether it's shadowing or applying for an externship/internship (I think I went to Korea that winter, which I don't regret since I got to spend time with my grandparents haha)
-.... don't take stats... (specific advice I would give the old me haha)
I think that's about it for my sophomore year- very short, but once again, sophomore year was a blur so I don't remember doing too much. If you have advice for upcoming sophomores, please don't hesitate to post a comment!
Good luck on midterms!
-K
Sophomore year, for me, was the start of being a 'responsible pre-med'. It was the year that I began doing research and volunteer work and started looking toward finishing up my prereqs for my major. It was the year that I moved into an apartment with my previous dorm roommates and made many good memories (as well as some not so good ones haha), and it was the year that I took the one class I most regret taking at Cal- stats... But other than that, my sophomore year was a big blur- I was always tired from school and lab, and I remember panicking a lot that year about gpa and ECs haha.
So if I can give myself some advice for sophomore year, I would say:
-Don't panic/stress so much. The future might seem bleak but it'll get better- just take it day by day and enjoy the time you have with your friends and roommates :)
-Going to lab for 20 hrs a week with a full course load and volunteering might be too much at once, so be wary of time management (either hold off on lab for another semester or find a lab that will be flexible with your schedule/commitment hours)
-Don't take physics 8B that coming summer- it's very accelerated and seemed more difficult that it would've been had I taken it during the semester (take mcb 102 instead perhaps?)
-Use your winter break wisely- it's a unique time to gain more experience in healthcare, whether it's shadowing or applying for an externship/internship (I think I went to Korea that winter, which I don't regret since I got to spend time with my grandparents haha)
-.... don't take stats... (specific advice I would give the old me haha)
I think that's about it for my sophomore year- very short, but once again, sophomore year was a blur so I don't remember doing too much. If you have advice for upcoming sophomores, please don't hesitate to post a comment!
Good luck on midterms!
-K
