University Pet Peeves
I’d like to think that I am pretty happy with my university experience for the most part. But if I’m going to be honest, there are some every day type things or situations that annoy me a bit, and well, today I feel like talking about them! Don’t worry, the list isn’t that long, I’m not that irritable:
Med Hopefuls who Pretend to Be Your Friend
Given how competitive the medical school admissions process is, it’s not surprising to find a few med hopefuls who will do anything to get ahead: including trying to be your friend just so they can take advantage of you. I’m very fortunate that I’ve met only one or two people like that in my three years here, but even one can just be really annoying.
These are the type of people who actively search out people doing well in classes, and if there is a hint that student might be applying to medical school, this type of individual is suddenly your “best friend”. You rarely speak to them, but once you get a medical school interview, for some reason they already know. And, of course, despite the fact that you never talk to them except for the unfortunate few times you run into them in class, they try and pry interview questions out of you!
The amazing thing about these individuals is that they seem to be a bit delusional. You can give them the cold shoulder or make it obvious you are annoyed by the whole act, but they act as if they have no idea you find this irritating. It just blows my mind sometimes.
Seriously, people need to calm down. Honestly, if just the admissions process alone makes you so paranoid that you’re willing to throw your integrity and respect for your peers out the window, I’m worried about how composed you will be if someone’s life is on the line. Chill out!
Med Hopeful’s who Think They are Obligated to Know Your Marks
These people definitely aren’t as annoying as the first type, but can still push my buttons. Honestly, I’ve never been the type to ask other people their marks. You can tell me if you like, but it’s not my business, so I don’t really see any reason to ask you. Also, I would feel pretty bad if you bombed a test and I didn’t.
I’d like to think everyone else would feel the same way, but there are some people who thrive on other people’s failures. These are the people who ace a test, and of course, quickly go around asking people what they got, knowing full well they at least did equal or better. I guess it’s an ego thing, but it’s really annoying and a bit rude and unthoughtful.
Everyone else’s business isn’t your business. I mean, if it’s a close friend of mine who I like and respect, and I know isn’t out to get me or whatever, I have no problem telling him/her my mark if they really care to know. That’s cool, because we’re friends, and I know you don’t hate me or gain pleasure in seeing me do bad.
But if you’re only asking me my mark with the hope that you can tell me how much you owned me on this test, then that’s just super weird and you need to find better ways to have fun.
Professors who Don’t Post Notes / PowerPoint Slides
I really don’t understand the logic in this. There are professors who aren’t willing to post their notes or slides online. But somehow, they expect students to not only copy slides or notes down, but also pick up the information they’re saying at the same time.
But why not post your slides, so that I can give you my full attention instead of copying random bullet points down?
Fortunately, most professors don’t do it, but it just blows my mind when I have to sit through the few that do.
I’ve had one professor justify it by saying that not posting slides/notes forces students to come to class. But seriously, if your slides/notes are so good that having lecture becomes meaningless, then I think that’s saying something…
Hallway Cloggers
Sometimes you have two classes in a row, maybe far apart in location, so you’re in a rush to get from class A to class B. Unfortunately, you run into a hallway clogged by a group of people who are either standing in the middle, or walking as a group at a ridiculously slow place, as if they have no realization that there are other people who need to use the hallway or passageway.
Sometimes it’s a pack of friends, other times it’s a lovey-dovey couple in a tiny 2-person wide passageway. Please, be respectful of those around you, and recognize that every half or full hour, there are generally going to be loads of people trying to go somewhere!
That’s All?
I have a brain fart right now. I’m pretty sure I’m missing something, and if I think of it, I’ll be sure to add it later.
I hope these complaints don’t make me sound like a really angry person, because I’m not… most of the time.
Have something about school that really annoys you? I’d love to hear it!
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Comments
First let me say that I love your blog! It is extremely honest and right to the point and it has some super apps to it!
But I just wanted to let your know that I completely understand the feeling you’ve mentioned for the first irritating thing. Unfortunately I have came across more than one or two of them during my university career.
One other thing that I just hate is when TAs tell you to solve something in a certain way and then they deduct marks because of it!
I’ve been trolling your blog for a while (I know, creepy…) and I’d just like to say this post was hilarious and oh sooo true. I’m still in high school, but I’ve met quite a few people “pretend-friends” and “ego-scavengers.” Unfortunately, these “pretend-friends” will keep coming–as long as you’re at the top, people will try to take advantage of you =(. For the “ego-scavengers,” it’s extremely annoying how they need to step on everyone else just to feel like they’ve accomplished something!
Hey Joshua, I had the exact same thing happen to me. I flipped my test over so that other people couldn’t see what I got and this one guy who hardly ever talks to me walked by my desk and just flipped it over, looked at it, and flipped it back. Like you , I was pretty shocked, but at least he had the decency to flip it back over. LOL. And your list is soo funny and so relevant even tough like Sachiko, I’m only in high school.
Funny…..how some of them are pretty common in high school…well yah i m in high school and i DO read your blog…not only because I’m one of those extra-eager students who start reseraching about universities when they are in grade 11….but also because they are great!!!….well this is the first time im commenting i guess….anyway…its funny how the problems u mentioned ppl blocking hallways…fake friends n stuff….asking for marks….exist in my high school too….I guess high school and university have somethings in common AFTER ALL….LOL
Hey Josh,
If it is any consolation, all of these types of people are pretty much gone when you enter the medicine program. Nobody pretends to be your friend to do well in class because now it is Honours/Pass/Fail, and if you go to UofT next year it will be Credit/No-Credit, so basically the competition with regards to marks is gone. In fact, people are very open about helping each other out. Just a few weeks ago I all the 1st year med students got an e-mail from another 1st year med student who had gotten a hold of all the past Midterm and Finals for the last 5 years for our current block of study. He included all of these exams in his e-mail, with no strings attached for everyone in the class to use.
With regards to those who feel obligated to know your mark, they are definitely gone because very few people ask or talk about each other’s marks. I mean what is the point anyways? With Credit/No-Credit coming soon, marks will not matter. In any case, most people right now are concentrating on making their application amazing for CaRMs selection, and marks are definitely not everything for that.
Fortunately since the government and university are investing a lot of time and money to make sure we become the most competent doctor possible, ALL slides are provided online as well as in paper form at the beginning of each week. They are all neatly stapled and hole punched for the taking 
Lastly, there are no hallway cloggers, mainly because the 1st year med classroom, 2nd year med classroom, the med computer lab, and the med student lounge are all 10 second walking distance from each other, with no other real classrooms nearby. So nobody else roams these halls except us
Basically moral of the story is…all these people will disappear, and a new group of annoying people will arise: People who ask not-so-smart questions during class. Fortunately there are only a couple of those.
Just for the record Josh, you made a mistake in your last post. I think you meant “…where THEIR tax dollars are going”
Might want to get that straightened out before you enter medicine 
Hello Joshua,
I’m only in gr 11 but just want to thank you for writing this amazing blog. It is such a relief to hear someone talking about university classes, medical school applications in a honest way, instead of being all vague and bs. this actually made me a lot less scared about university.
I guess one of my pet peeves is when people who are in a certian program talk about thier program as all “different and well rounded” without giving specific detailed when asked about. it just makes them sound very snobby. I’m in the gifted program but i would never tell someone that my classes are harder or special, instead i actually share what i learn with my friends who are just as capable of doing the project, problem as anyone in gifted.
Also, i’ve a question regarding life science major in general. one of the biggest rumor i hear is that the students are very very competitive and never share notes, tests or study together. but from what i read on your blog, you guys actually study in groups and go over tests together. is it just crazy at u of t, or is it like that every where else.
BTw. jerome is funny.
Hey Chocofusion,
Josh is studying for a test he has tomorrow, so i’ll answer your question since in the mean time.
When I was in undergrad at York doing life science, I found that for the most part people were willing to study together and share past tests and all that stuff. But of course this is most common with the friends you make at university. I never expected someone I didn’t know to be really willing to share any resources. However I rarely met anyone who was competitive to the point that they would not even share notes or not want to study together. I’ve had it occur, more than once, that someone approaches me for notes and I lend it to them, knowing full well that I may never see the notes again, and they return it in perfect condition.
I hear there is definitely more competition at UofT life science when compared to York, but I also know many kind people from UofT life science who would be willing to lend a hand to someone else.
Ultimately you’ll enter university, and no matter which school you are at, you will meet people in your classes that you “click” with, who will want to help you as much as you want to help them, and they’ll probably be the ones you study and share notes with.
And if this is any consolation, at the very least, when you enter medicine and you are learning stuff that is important for being the best doctor you can be, the people in your class will be more than willing to help you out, to share old tests, resources, everything.
Hope that helps!
Haha, I know eh! Once Joshua gets some time, it’ll be exciting to hear how the McMaster interview went!
You know what is really sad? Despite being Joshua’s brother, I ALSO troll this website to read what’s happening next. haha sometimes reading this blog is way more interesting than studying…
hey Joshua and Jerome,
thank you for answering my questions. it was of consolation to me! now i look forward to university more than ever.
also, @ joshua, i got accepted to shad valley at macmaster (is that where u went?)and i’m trying to decide whether i should go cuz it is expensive and the internship would really help pay for it. did you get an internship, where was it? could perhaps tell me what was the most important thing you gained from attending shad valley?
hey joshua,
thnx for the reply. IBM sounds really cool, i got an interview for a consulting firm so i’ll see if i can get an internship. just out of curiosity, what did you do at IBM seeing that it’s not related to medicine, but then u are multitalented enough to do anything.
i can totally imagine the different group dynamic situation, cuz we have to learn to trust others even though shads seem to be the ones doing the project hogging at school. XD.
Wow, I totally agree with the “Med Hopeful’s who Think They are Obligated to Know Your Marks” part (along with the whole post, but that part stuck out to me).
It’s so true even in high school. People are like obligated to know your marks. I know people who have asked me repeatedly what I got and I repeatedly declined until they grabbed my test and flipped it over. And then when they see you studying for a test, they start embarassing you are distracting you so you can’t stay focused. Thanks for the entertainment!
LOL, this was an entertaining read…no doubt those MedHopefuls who need to know your marks/pretend friends are very irritating indeed, haha.
One of the things I can’t stand at university is people who are too greedy/selfish to take some time out of their lives to help you…its mostly people who are extremely competitive and want to have higher marks than everyone, but honestly, it is such a greedy thing to do. Sometimes on MSN, my “friends” refuse to answer any more of my questions because they are too busy studying….ahhh its so irritating sometimes!! lol
MedHopeful @ Premed101
I get super annoyed when students talk with their neighbours through the whole lecture (it’s worse in the back rows) … I can’t imagine why someone would bother coming to class when they don’t plan on actually listening to the material!