A little lost/confused. I have a question that anyone can answer.

[mytoesister]

So 95% of people in my classes, who I work with, etc., Are planning on going to med school. But I feel like there is no way they will ALL get in. But all of them are very easily able to say "I'm going to med school" or "I'm going to be a doctor" or "by that time I'll be in med school." I don't understand how they're all so confident and like without a doubt positive that they'll actually get IN to med school. Like the possibility that they won't be able to get into one does not cross anyone's mind. But there is probably a large percentage of them who won't get in (am I wrong?). I don't know if they are actually unaware that they might not get in, or if they just talk about it like they will get in because that's what they want, or what... But even if I knew for sure that I wanted to go to med school, I wouldn't be able to talk about it and my future with the assumption that I'll get in. It's misleading though when I talk to people because it makes it seem like it will be easy. Like, am I confused or do they need a reality check?

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[Skenti]

You're not crazy. The process is very competitive. Something like 5-10% of the people who are premed at some point in college actually end up in medical school. Under 40% of the people who actually get their ducks in a row and go through all the craziness necessary to apply get in. It's not easy. You're better off being cautiously optimistic. The people who are COMPLETELY sure they'll get in are often the ones who don't. (I don't need to study for the MCAT!
I'm great at science! ------>472)

 

[bears1992]

I'm finishing up a DIY postbac and I know exactly what you mean! My first semester I had various students tell me that my 3.1 was not doing to cut it (not saying they are wrong) and I shouldn't even bother doing the prereqs. I'd ask them what their GPA was and they all said around 3.0-3.2 but then told me that it was just freshman year so it doesn't matter. It's funny that those low GPA students were so cocky but yet my lab partner for orgo II had a 3.5 and was worried he wouldn't get in. I think once a student keeps getting a sub 3.3 GPA every semester, they lose interest in med school and move on to something else.