It Takes All Kinds

I realize that the following are broad generalizations and that not everybody fits into one of these categories. However, these are my observations of the overall population of biology students I currently find myself amongst. As a chemistry major, I noticed a similar division among the students.Take what you will from it. I was going to apologize for offending anyone but then I realized that it's not my fault if you don't have a good sense of humor about life and don't know how to make fun of yourself.

Type 1 - The Pre-Med/Pre-Vet/Pre-Extremely Competitive Healthcare Program Student:

These students are all about getting A's. And I don't mean A-'s. Never trust one of these students when they say they did poorly on an exam because it probably means they received a score of 91%. They are extremely competitive and driven. While they are high-achieving students, they are not necessarily interested in whatever science classes they may be taking at the time. Often, they see these courses as a means to an end. They may get blind sighted by their need for A's and fail to see the big picture. All they want to know is, "Will this be on the exam???" After all, if they aren't going to be tested on it, why learn it? Certainly it must not be important or at all relevant to their future careers. As far as appearance goes, these students come in all varieties. But, typically, they are well -groomed, athletic, and ready to be the next "Dr. McDreamy".

Type 2 - The Field/Wildlife Biologist Student

These students are easy to pick out of the crowd because they are always dressed to be out in the field. Common accessories to their outdoor wear includes Nalgene water bottles or other resusable containers, unlike the pre-med students who sip on lattes and mochas out of non-reusable paper cups. These students tend to be very concerned about the earth and animals, but are less in tune with human concerns. If one of these students were a first responder at an emergency, they would be inclined to save the injured animals before saving any injured humans. While these students may be A students, they are not necessarily concerned with just getting A's and do not cry or become suicidal/homicidal when getting a B or even a C. In fact, they may play hooky a time or two to extend a weekend camping trip and will be able to miss class without any anxiety over their grades.

Type 3 - The Pre-Grad School Student

Students who want to attend grad school are high-achieving like the pre-med types but less driven by grades and more by the material they are learning. These students may be wildlife/field types who want to go on to grad school or may be interested in a grad program that involves lab research. These students are much quieter than the pre-med types and when they do speak up in class they tend to ask questions that nobody but the professor can understand. These are the true science nerds who do science just because they like it. They may be identified by the lap top which they bring to class to furiously type out every word the professor says. Often, these students travel alone. They also tend to silently set the curve on exams which really angers the pre-med students who cannot figure out who the curve setter was.

Type 4 - The Apathetic Student

These students were formerly pre-med or pre-grad school students who somewhere along the way lost hope for themselves. The apathetic students are just as bright as their peers but their grades don't always reflect this. They did not leave science for another major because they have scientific minds and can't imagine themselves doing anything else. These are the students who have somehow lost their way and are no longer sure about their future goals. Because of their lack of direction, they tend to procrastinate, skip class, and appear generally unmotivated. These are the students who sit together and make jokes out of everything while drawing cartoons or doodling instead of taking notes during lecture. Also, these students tend to be bored. They roll their eyes every time they have to hear the basics about photosynthesis and want to poke their eyes out when people ask questions in class like, "Isn't the Calvin Cycle the same as the Kreb's Cycle?" They also make fun of the pre-med students every time they take up 15 minutes of class with questions about the exam. While they have higher expectations for themselves than would appear, they have found comfort in not giving it their all because then they always have an excuse when their performance is less than desired. At one point, they may have cried over a B. These days, they are just happy to pass their classes.