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Feels like I’ve hit a wall - anyone else feel this way?

I’m a final year med student and just got the results for my last set of exams. The result was fine, but it now rules out the possibility of graduating with honours. That was never a major goal for me the specialty I’m aiming for doesn’t award any extra points for distinctions, and I’ve already got a national-level surgical prize that holds more weight for applications.
So technically, there’s no real “loss” to my portfolio or career path.
Up until now, I’ve never really cared about my results. But seeing my friends pass with flying colors has meant that emotionally, I still feel quite disappointed. Not that I’m not happy for them, I’m usually seen as the “smart one” in my peer group confident on placement, good clinical knowledge, tend to get things right, often the person people ask for help. But when it comes to results, I’m consistently outperformed by friends who are also very bright and work incredibly hard. It feels like I’ve hit a plateau and that I don’t deserve that reputation.
I’ve been lazy throughout med school, but this year, I did actually try to revise properly put in around a month of PassMed but I still didn’t score as highly as those who had been working steadily throughout the year. It’s made me question whether I’m genuinely as capable as people assume, or if I’ve just been coasting on natural ability and a decent memory. I feel like I’ve wasted my time here and not learned anything, like a child who still lacks discipline and can’t study like any other student should.
I’ve done a lot to work on my portfolio this year, but I also spent a lot of time this year on hobbies like cricket, which I’ve really enjoyed, but I’m now second-guessing whether I should have invested more of that time into things like research, which many of my peers already have under their belt.
I also can’t help but wonder how much of my confidence and past performance has come from background advantages I went to a private school, and I’m starting to think that maybe I’ve benefited more from that than from actual ability. The idea that I might underperform in the MSRA and not even get an interview has been playing on my mind a lot.
Mentally, I find myself falling back on the thought that “I could’ve worked harder” because that’s easier to believe than the idea that I’ve already reached my limit. I think what I’m dealing with is imposter syndrome, but I’m not really sure how to navigate it. If anyone’s felt something similar or has advice, I’d really appreciate hearing it.

Reply 1

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

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Reply 2

Hey there,

My name is Siobhan and I’m a third-year physiotherapy student at the University of Central Lancashire. First of all, thank you for sharing this, it seems like there is a lot on our plate right now and it's completely understandable why you might be feeling down right now. I have been in a similar boat to you as I also went to a private school and seen as one of the “smart people”, but when I went to uni I really struggled with the change of workload and independence.

This pressure of meeting these expectations can make you very self-critical and it can be easy to get trapped in these thoughts. I would focus on the accomplishments that you have received such as the surgical prize which is a massive thing you should be proud of!!

One thing that I always got told by my lecturers is that you are meant to be on that course and you got selected when there are hundreds of applicants each year! You would have been interviewed, and the panel clearly thinks you have potential as you stood out to them 😊 I always say this when I am feeling like an imposter in my course and start comparing myself to others.

You have also mentioned that you have done well on your placements and you’re confident in this which is great. Placements are like job interviews because you get to know potential employers through this which will give you an advantage in your career. The medical world is a lot smaller than you think, so if you can make a good impression then this will help you in the future.

Also, when you are applying for jobs, recruiters are more interested in your personal skills rather than your grades. Ask anyone who works in healthcare, and they will all say that communication, teamwork and leadership skills are much more important than getting the highest grades in your class.

If you are wanting to boost your grades though, I would be open and honest with your lecturers who can advise you on the best course of action to take and see if there is any kind of academic support, they can provide you with.

Finally, if you are interested, I would get in contact with the university wellbeing team who can help you with your concerns and mood. I reached out to mine in second year when I was struggling and it helped so much give me the confidence in myself.

Make sure you are also doing things to look after your self so that you don’t get burnt out. I hope this helps at all and please let me know if you have any questions at all.


Siobhan (Student Ambassador for the University of Central Lancashire)

Reply 3

Original post
by MuffinMan37727
I’m a final year med student and just got the results for my last set of exams. The result was fine, but it now rules out the possibility of graduating with honours. That was never a major goal for me the specialty I’m aiming for doesn’t award any extra points for distinctions, and I’ve already got a national-level surgical prize that holds more weight for applications.
So technically, there’s no real “loss” to my portfolio or career path.
Up until now, I’ve never really cared about my results. But seeing my friends pass with flying colors has meant that emotionally, I still feel quite disappointed. Not that I’m not happy for them, I’m usually seen as the “smart one” in my peer group confident on placement, good clinical knowledge, tend to get things right, often the person people ask for help. But when it comes to results, I’m consistently outperformed by friends who are also very bright and work incredibly hard. It feels like I’ve hit a plateau and that I don’t deserve that reputation.
I’ve been lazy throughout med school, but this year, I did actually try to revise properly put in around a month of PassMed but I still didn’t score as highly as those who had been working steadily throughout the year. It’s made me question whether I’m genuinely as capable as people assume, or if I’ve just been coasting on natural ability and a decent memory. I feel like I’ve wasted my time here and not learned anything, like a child who still lacks discipline and can’t study like any other student should.
I’ve done a lot to work on my portfolio this year, but I also spent a lot of time this year on hobbies like cricket, which I’ve really enjoyed, but I’m now second-guessing whether I should have invested more of that time into things like research, which many of my peers already have under their belt.
I also can’t help but wonder how much of my confidence and past performance has come from background advantages I went to a private school, and I’m starting to think that maybe I’ve benefited more from that than from actual ability. The idea that I might underperform in the MSRA and not even get an interview has been playing on my mind a lot.
Mentally, I find myself falling back on the thought that “I could’ve worked harder” because that’s easier to believe than the idea that I’ve already reached my limit. I think what I’m dealing with is imposter syndrome, but I’m not really sure how to navigate it. If anyone’s felt something similar or has advice, I’d really appreciate hearing it.

Hi @MuffinMan37727,

Totally hear you, it's something a lot of people go through, even if they don’t say it out loud. That feeling of being proud of your peers, but also quietly disappointed in yourself. You’ve clearly done well overall, even if you didn’t get honours. You’ve passed your finals, you’re graduating, and you’ve already got a national-level surgical prize under your belt. It’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re surrounded by other high-achievers, but none of this suggests failure or underperformance.

It also really struck me when you said it feels easier to believe “I could’ve worked harder” than to accept the idea that this might be your limit. That mindset is actually pretty common among high-performing students, especially ones who’ve always been seen as “the smart one.” The idea that your effort might not be enough is scary, so we default to the belief that we just didn’t try hard enough. But the truth is, you did try this year. You put the work in, and you still passed. That’s not failure, that’s progress. It shows that when you put effort behind your ability, you get through tough exams in a demanding course. You’re not coasting, you’re adapting.

You’ll never look back and regret having a life outside of med school. If anything, you’ll be glad you stayed balanced, because burnout is real, and medicine doesn’t get any less intense after finals. You still have time for things like research if you decide it’s something you want. What matters is that you’ve been building a portfolio you value, not just ticking every generic box for the sake of comparison.

You’re allowed to feel disappointed. You’re allowed to question things. But don’t let that inner critic rewrite the truth: you’ve done well, you’re capable, and this result doesn’t undo that.

Rooting for you!
Danish
BCU Student Rep

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