As interview season gets underway, many med school hopefuls will be religiously checking this forum, searching for hope. I know, because I was there 4 years ago. Going even further back, for as long as I could remember, med school wasn't a viable option for me. I was on the pre-med track as an undergrad, just like you. Science wasn't my strong suit and I struggled, to say the least. I was told - no, urged - by my academic advisor to voluntarily remove myself from the pre-med track. Based on her many years of experience, she was adamant that a student with my stats wouldn't make it. The doctor I worked with at the hospital where I volunteered (like any good pre-med would) told me I was going to have to seek out another career path because med school just wasn't interested in students who struggle academically. Some years later, after I'd graduated college and went into the real world to earn a living - at a medical institution, no less - the doctor I worked for told me he would happily write a letter of recommendation for me to apply to medical school; when I told him my MCAT scores and GPA, he immediately retracted his offer. Instead, he offered the advice that I should save my money by not applying because I had no chance in hell. They were all trying to help, I get it.
I saw my friends apply once, twice, three times...and after the third attempt, they quit and forged ahead with an alternative plan. And they all had higher MCATs and GPAs, mind you. I took MCAT after MCAT after MCAT...and kept getting the same low score...you know, the one that they tell you will never get you into med school? All the sign posts were there, so why didn't I just turn around already? Because I never believed for a second that any of those people were right. And 4 years later, I came back on SDN, as I'd vowed to, to make this statement because I want to encourage you all to believe the impossible.
You're probably wondering what formula I used. None. There is no formula. What is the secret then? The secret is to believe the impossible. If I had believed any of those people who told me no, I wouldn't be living my dream today. I am in an LCME-accredited M.D. program that based in the United States proper. Did I know the dean? Are my parents doctors who generously donate to the school? Did I apply as a disadvantaged student? Am I one of those "underrepresented minorities" in medicine? Did I apply 3+ times? The answer to all of these questions you may be thinking is NO. (Let's be honest - as a pre-med struggling to land a spot at any med school, we've thought these things...it's part of the culture and you can't help but be influenced by what other pre-meds write and talk about). I'm just an ordinary person with a big dream and a heart that knew it wanted to become a doctor. I applied ONCE, I received multiple interview offers, and I was eventually accepted. So, what did I do that was so special that got me in when there was absolutely no chance (when there was a greater chance of pigs flying)? I believed the impossible...and the impossible happened.
So why am I writing all of this now? Because today someone told me NO. They told me I won't make it into my desired residency program. I smiled at them and said, thank you. Instead of telling them my story, I decided that there will be others better served by it than someone who doesn't even deserve another minute of my time. So, during this season, when you're struggling to find some hope or you start to question yourself, I hope you think of my story and know that it is never impossible. It's only impossible when you give up because you've basically eliminated any possibilities.
If you are one of those people who just need a formula, here's one: Take care of yourself. Be a nice person. Try to be a good person every day. Believe in the impossible.
I saw my friends apply once, twice, three times...and after the third attempt, they quit and forged ahead with an alternative plan. And they all had higher MCATs and GPAs, mind you. I took MCAT after MCAT after MCAT...and kept getting the same low score...you know, the one that they tell you will never get you into med school? All the sign posts were there, so why didn't I just turn around already? Because I never believed for a second that any of those people were right. And 4 years later, I came back on SDN, as I'd vowed to, to make this statement because I want to encourage you all to believe the impossible.
You're probably wondering what formula I used. None. There is no formula. What is the secret then? The secret is to believe the impossible. If I had believed any of those people who told me no, I wouldn't be living my dream today. I am in an LCME-accredited M.D. program that based in the United States proper. Did I know the dean? Are my parents doctors who generously donate to the school? Did I apply as a disadvantaged student? Am I one of those "underrepresented minorities" in medicine? Did I apply 3+ times? The answer to all of these questions you may be thinking is NO. (Let's be honest - as a pre-med struggling to land a spot at any med school, we've thought these things...it's part of the culture and you can't help but be influenced by what other pre-meds write and talk about). I'm just an ordinary person with a big dream and a heart that knew it wanted to become a doctor. I applied ONCE, I received multiple interview offers, and I was eventually accepted. So, what did I do that was so special that got me in when there was absolutely no chance (when there was a greater chance of pigs flying)? I believed the impossible...and the impossible happened.
So why am I writing all of this now? Because today someone told me NO. They told me I won't make it into my desired residency program. I smiled at them and said, thank you. Instead of telling them my story, I decided that there will be others better served by it than someone who doesn't even deserve another minute of my time. So, during this season, when you're struggling to find some hope or you start to question yourself, I hope you think of my story and know that it is never impossible. It's only impossible when you give up because you've basically eliminated any possibilities.
If you are one of those people who just need a formula, here's one: Take care of yourself. Be a nice person. Try to be a good person every day. Believe in the impossible.
Or else they figured it was impossible to work hard enough to get into a reasonable shape in 2yrs.
