For SmokeThis and others who are curious, I am a recently retired Professor of Biology, and was a premed advisor for 32 years, before AMCAS was even born. Like many advisors, I attended professional meetings with admissions officers, not only from medical schools but the other doctoral health professions schools. I know many admissions deans personally and I have often called on behalf of my students, as have other advisors. Advisors are privy to information that is unknown to others except admissions personnel.
I always suggest speaking to advisors, whether you like them personally or not. I also must say that many of my former colleagues do not share my philosophy of being proactive on behalf of students, but many others are like me. Other advisors get such little support from their colleges that they can't do th job properly. I learned that having high grades and high MCAT scores is not always the hallmark of someone who will become a top-flight physician. There are other signs, too many and too complex to detail here. Medical schools know this as well.
Like any human, I make errors of judgement, understanding and prophecy. On the whole, I have been correct more often than not.
It is not necessary to have a medical education to know how to deal with admission to medical school or any other health professions school. Many admissions people are not MDs.
I am well aware of the opinion that students have of premedical advisors and sometimes it is justified. Would you make a blanket condemnation of all physicians because of the bad attitudes, misdeeds and errors of some? I don't.
For many reasons, I have never been a premed and never had the slightest interest in being a physician. Beginning early in high school my interest was always biology, specifically genetics, systematics and evolution. I never did and still do not look down my nose at those who choose other professions. An outstanding characteristic of being human is diversity and understanding that one's own profession or occupation is not necessarily superior to, or suitable for, others. It takes all kinds, especially including non-scientists and physicians, to make a society work, and we should welcome that.
I say this because I am tired of hearing that biology teachers teach only because they did not get into medical school. Premedical students ought to be thankful that there are all those dumb PhDs who became dumb professors and didn't compete for the available seats. And yet, many have contributed through research to what enables physicians to work their magic.
I liked my students, even the ones most faculty heartily despised. There are a few physicians out there who think they were accepted to medical school because of their good looks, charm and brilliance. I know better. I also know that some of those who just squeaked into medical school became excellent physicians, often enough better than the science aces. The medical schools know that too.
I regret having written so much but venting is always good as long as we move on after getting it out of our system.
Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, respect for others, responsibility for all your actions. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risks. [I wish I could let you believe I said that, but it is among the aphorisms that the Dalai Lama offered on the arrival of the new millenium.] I also like his "Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." That is a lesson hard to appreciate when you are looking with high hopes to the future you have chosen.
All of you, have a happy and satisfying life.
