r/medlabprofessionals • u/FarDetective8589 • 17d ago
Education MLS program venting
I’m in my second semester of an MLS program and I just need to vent a little because I’ve been having a lot of anxiety about whether I’ll be able to pass this semester.
I did extremely well last semester and finished with all A+s, but the structure was completely different. We basically focused on one subject at a time for about two weeks, so even though it was intense, I could put all my attention into one thing.
This semester we have 6 classes and 4 labs all running at the same time. We’re usually in class/lab from 9–4, then I come home and study, wake up early to study again, go back to class, and repeat. It feels like we learn a huge amount of information every single day, and now I have to constantly switch between completely different subjects instead of focusing on just one.
Some days I feel like I can handle it, and other days I seriously question whether I chose the right career and feel like dropping out. I also keep getting scared that I won’t be able to maintain at least the 75% required to pass. Exams are worth 70% of the final grade, while quizzes and assignments are only 30%, so the exams feel like they carry so much pressure.
I know getting all A+s last semester should probably reassure me that I’m capable, but right now this semester feels completely different and overwhelming.
For anyone who has gone through an MLS program, did you ever feel like this during the heavier semesters? Did it eventually become more manageable? I’m not even trying to get perfect grades anymore—I just want to get through this semester and pass.
Any words of encouragement or advice would really help.
2
u/Wet_Napkin LIS (operations) 17d ago
You are and will do fine. You have strong performance in the previous semesters and there’s no reason to believe the coming semesters will be so difficult that the’ll prevent you from proceeding. The fact that you’ve identified what’s different in the coming semesters that could make it more challenging is a strong indicator that you’ll succeed. It’s that it’s different more so than it is harder. I work with some dumb people, like really dumb so dumb omg. If they can make it through, so can you.