Advice to all premeds from those of us who have applied and been accepted...

[docta123]

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Hey Premeds!

I just wanted to start this thread from those of us who have been accepted to write about some things we have learned now that we have gone through the application process...

ANYONE WHO HAS APPLIED AND BEEN ACCEPTED-- please add to this to help fellow SDNers ! 🙂



These are just my opinions... and I hope they help someone out there 🙂

Undergrad-
- get as many great grades as possible. If you didn't do too well in a class... be sure you can defend yourself/show improvement or you learned something from failure and explain why during an interview or something...
- become involved in science and non-science activities!!! AND GET A LEADERSHIP position--- being involved and having leadership roles gives you things to talk about during your interview. It gives you experience, and material to use when they ask you situational questions (ex: name a time when you failed, or name a challenge) Plus, it can help make you unique (this definitely made a difference in my application-- it helped make up for my MCAT score in top 20 schools bc it made me unique)
- do research- even if it's a semester or a summer. gives you material to talk about during your interview. shows that you understand the process of science and how important it is to stay abreast of new knowledge.
- volunteer- in a hospital and unit you feel passionate about! You should do it for over a year!
- shadow!! - show that you know what you're getting yourself into and you love it.
- read up on SDN- keep up to date with what others are doing. It helps keep you motivated

MCAT-
- try to get above a 30. You don't want that number to get in your way and have you screened out of some schools. It's sad, but that number can really work against you. If you have below a 30, I suggest you retake it, if possible. If not, be sure to have great EC and gpa 🙂
- take every practice exam you can get. review correct and incorrect answers.
- don't ignore verbal
- read the SDN MCAT discussions. They really get you motivated, and you can save money by finding the best books (EK, The Berkeley Review, and TPR are the best!)
- make a schedule, and stick to it!
- make sure you take a light course load.

Personal Statement-
- start brainstorming second semester of your junior year.
- really show why you want to do medicine
- make sure you sound mature and sure of your decision
- bring up unique aspects about you and your life
- be ready to talk about it during your interview
- share with friends, family, and profs and ask them if it pictures you as a person.

Application Process
- SAVE MONEY! IT IS SO SO SO SO EXPENSIVE (AMCAS, secondaries, flights and hotels for interviews)

AMCAS
- DO IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! As you wait, more people turn it in. The more people that turn it in, the longer it takes to verify your app.
- double check and triple check for typos.
- Pick schools - I would say to always apply to your state schools. Then add however many schools you'd like.
- Research the schools- look at rankings but don't base your list on that. Research the school's websites, and really think about where you can fit in and get the education to make you the best doctor you can be.
- be realistic about your scores when picking schools (but still pick a few dream schools... you never know!)
- Check school deadlines

Secondaries
- DO THEM ASAP! Even for non-rolling schools... the longer you wait, the less interview slots there are!
- When answering- "Why our school?"- research the school's website and try to talk to someone who goes to that school if possible.
- just finish them! They're torture... but you have to get them done!!

I will add more about interviews later!

 

[searun]

Hey Premeds!

I just wanted to start this thread from those of us who have been accepted to write about some things we have learned now that we have gone through the application process...

ANYONE WHO HAS APPLIED AND BEEN ACCEPTED-- please add to this to help fellow SDNers ! 🙂



These are just my opinions... and I hope they help someone out there 🙂

Undergrad-
- get as many great grades as possible. If you didn't do too well in a class... be sure you can defend yourself/show improvement or you learned something from failure and explain why during an interview or something...
- become involved in science and non-science activities!!! AND GET A LEADERSHIP position--- being involved and having leadership roles gives you things to talk about during your interview. It gives you experience, and material to use when they ask you situational questions (ex: name a time when you failed, or name a challenge) Plus, it can help make you unique (this definitely made a difference in my application-- it helped make up for my MCAT score in top 20 schools bc it made me unique)
- do research- even if it's a semester or a summer. gives you material to talk about during your interview. shows that you understand the process of science and how important it is to stay abreast of new knowledge.
- volunteer- in a hospital and unit you feel passionate about! You should do it for over a year!
- shadow!! - show that you know what you're getting yourself into and you love it.
- read up on SDN- keep up to date with what others are doing. It helps keep you motivated

MCAT-
- get above a 30. You don't want that number to get in your way and have you screened out of some schools. It's sad, but that number can really work against you. If you have below a 30, I suggest you retake it and work towards a 30.
- take every practice exam you can get. review correct and incorrect answers.
- don't ignore verbal
- read the SDN MCAT discussions. They really get you motivated, and you can save money by finding the best books (EK, The Berkeley Review, and TPR are the best!)
- make a schedule, and stick to it!
- make sure you take a light course load.

Personal Statement-
- start brainstorming second semester of your junior year.
- really show why you want to do medicine
- make sure you sound mature and sure of your decision
- bring up unique aspects about you and your life
- be ready to talk about it during your interview
- share with friends, family, and profs and ask them if it pictures you as a person.

Application Process
- SAVE MONEY! IT IS SO SO SO SO EXPENSIVE (AMCAS, secondaries, flights and hotels for interviews)

AMCAS
- DO IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! As you wait, more people turn it in. The more people that turn it in, the longer it takes to verify your app.
- double check and triple check for typos.
- Pick schools - I would say to always apply to your state schools. Then add however many schools you'd like.
- Research the schools- look at rankings but don't base your list on that. Research the school's websites, and really think about where you can fit in and get the education to make you the best doctor you can be.
- be realistic about your scores when picking schools (but still pick a few dream schools... you never know!)
- Check school deadlines

Secondaries
- DO THEM ASAP! Even for non-rolling schools... the longer you wait, the less interview slots there are!
- When answering- "Why our school?"- research the school's website and try to talk to someone who goes to that school if possible.
- just finish them! They're torture... but you have to get them done!!

I will add more about interviews later!

Well, that about sums it up. There is not much more to add. Perhaps reading the New York Times everday to stay current and doing the crossword puzzle to keep the mind supple, yes, that is about it.

 

[Bernoull]

Hey Premeds!

I just wanted to start this thread from those of us who have been accepted to write about some things we have learned now that we have gone through the application process...

ANYONE WHO HAS APPLIED AND BEEN ACCEPTED-- please add to this to help fellow SDNers ! 🙂



These are just my opinions... and I hope they help someone out there 🙂

Undergrad-
- get as many great grades as possible. If you didn't do too well in a class... be sure you can defend yourself/show improvement or you learned something from failure and explain why during an interview or something...
- become involved in science and non-science activities!!! AND GET A LEADERSHIP position--- being involved and having leadership roles gives you things to talk about during your interview. It gives you experience, and material to use when they ask you situational questions (ex: name a time when you failed, or name a challenge) Plus, it can help make you unique (this definitely made a difference in my application-- it helped make up for my MCAT score in top 20 schools bc it made me unique)
- do research- even if it's a semester or a summer. gives you material to talk about during your interview. shows that you understand the process of science and how important it is to stay abreast of new knowledge.
- volunteer- in a hospital and unit you feel passionate about! You should do it for over a year!
- shadow!! - show that you know what you're getting yourself into and you love it.
- read up on SDN- keep up to date with what others are doing. It helps keep you motivated

MCAT-
- get above a 30. You don't want that number to get in your way and have you screened out of some schools. It's sad, but that number can really work against you. If you have below a 30, I suggest you retake it and work towards a 30.
- take every practice exam you can get. review correct and incorrect answers.
- don't ignore verbal
- read the SDN MCAT discussions. They really get you motivated, and you can save money by finding the best books (EK, The Berkeley Review, and TPR are the best!)
- make a schedule, and stick to it!
- make sure you take a light course load.

Personal Statement-
- start brainstorming second semester of your junior year.
- really show why you want to do medicine
- make sure you sound mature and sure of your decision
- bring up unique aspects about you and your life
- be ready to talk about it during your interview
- share with friends, family, and profs and ask them if it pictures you as a person.

Application Process
- SAVE MONEY! IT IS SO SO SO SO EXPENSIVE (AMCAS, secondaries, flights and hotels for interviews)

AMCAS
- DO IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! As you wait, more people turn it in. The more people that turn it in, the longer it takes to verify your app.
- double check and triple check for typos.
- Pick schools - I would say to always apply to your state schools. Then add however many schools you'd like.
- Research the schools- look at rankings but don't base your list on that. Research the school's websites, and really think about where you can fit in and get the education to make you the best doctor you can be.
- be realistic about your scores when picking schools (but still pick a few dream schools... you never know!)
- Check school deadlines

Secondaries
- DO THEM ASAP! Even for non-rolling schools... the longer you wait, the less interview slots there are!
- When answering- "Why our school?"- research the school's website and try to talk to someone who goes to that school if possible.
- just finish them! They're torture... but you have to get them done!!

I will add more about interviews later!

Good coverage of the mechanics.

My advice is simply stay positive, be persistent and follow ur passion. Don't get discouraged by fellow SDNers who began publishing at 12, hold patents, head 15 clubs, 5.0 gpa etc etc.
It can be demoralizing, but keep in mind that SDNers are NOT representative of the average premed applicant. Therefore focus on urself and ur candidacy and try to become the most competitive applicant ur are capable of being!!!

 

[o Farside o]

Also, for the love of all that is holy, don't combine alcohol and motor vehicles.

 

[o Farside o]

Hey Premeds!

I just wanted to start this thread from those of us who have been accepted to write about some things we have learned now that we have gone through the application process...

ANYONE WHO HAS APPLIED AND BEEN ACCEPTED-- please add to this to help fellow SDNers ! 🙂



These are just my opinions... and I hope they help someone out there 🙂

Undergrad-
- get as many great grades as possible. If you didn't do too well in a class... be sure you can defend yourself/show improvement or you learned something from failure and explain why during an interview or something...
- become involved in science and non-science activities!!! AND GET A LEADERSHIP position--- being involved and having leadership roles gives you things to talk about during your interview. It gives you experience, and material to use when they ask you situational questions (ex: name a time when you failed, or name a challenge) Plus, it can help make you unique (this definitely made a difference in my application-- it helped make up for my MCAT score in top 20 schools bc it made me unique)
- do research- even if it's a semester or a summer. gives you material to talk about during your interview. shows that you understand the process of science and how important it is to stay abreast of new knowledge.
- volunteer- in a hospital and unit you feel passionate about! You should do it for over a year!
- shadow!! - show that you know what you're getting yourself into and you love it.
- read up on SDN- keep up to date with what others are doing. It helps keep you motivated

MCAT-
- get above a 30. You don't want that number to get in your way and have you screened out of some schools. It's sad, but that number can really work against you. If you have below a 30, I suggest you retake it and work towards a 30.
- take every practice exam you can get. review correct and incorrect answers.
- don't ignore verbal
- read the SDN MCAT discussions. They really get you motivated, and you can save money by finding the best books (EK, The Berkeley Review, and TPR are the best!)
- make a schedule, and stick to it!
- make sure you take a light course load.

Personal Statement-
- start brainstorming second semester of your junior year.
- really show why you want to do medicine
- make sure you sound mature and sure of your decision
- bring up unique aspects about you and your life
- be ready to talk about it during your interview
- share with friends, family, and profs and ask them if it pictures you as a person.

Application Process
- SAVE MONEY! IT IS SO SO SO SO EXPENSIVE (AMCAS, secondaries, flights and hotels for interviews)

AMCAS
- DO IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! As you wait, more people turn it in. The more people that turn it in, the longer it takes to verify your app.
- double check and triple check for typos.
- Pick schools - I would say to always apply to your state schools. Then add however many schools you'd like.
- Research the schools- look at rankings but don't base your list on that. Research the school's websites, and really think about where you can fit in and get the education to make you the best doctor you can be.
- be realistic about your scores when picking schools (but still pick a few dream schools... you never know!)
- Check school deadlines

Secondaries
- DO THEM ASAP! Even for non-rolling schools... the longer you wait, the less interview slots there are!
- When answering- "Why our school?"- research the school's website and try to talk to someone who goes to that school if possible.
- just finish them! They're torture... but you have to get them done!!

I will add more about interviews later!

The above a 30 MCAT thing is not entirely accurate. All of my friends and I were accepted with sub 30 scores. It is not the end of the world if you cant break the 30 barrier. Also, this was a tremendous resource to me. Here is a link to Studentdoc.com. There is a GPA/MCAT calculator and using this data alone it determines how competitive you will be at all of the allopathic schools across the country.

http://www.studentdoc.com/medfind.html

 

[CaliGirl14]

Oh and, you know, don't forget to have fun and enjoy life (while kicking -ass)

Getting an MD isn't everything in life. (Ahh, who am I kidding, YES IT IS xD)

 

[7starmantis]

Went through two application cycles. Most important thing I learned...

Dont try to say, write, be involved in, or talk about things you think will impress adcoms. Just be honest, do what you love and be yourself. Relax and build relationships.

 

[Hifey]

LORs- get great ones! One of my letter writers was on an adcom herself and therefore she made the effort to write one that she knew would have impressed her. Don't just ask a professor for a letter of rec for the sake of it, make sure they are willing to write you a GOOD one. This, combined with a great PS and unique experiences can overcome slightly lower scores.

SDN IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AVERAGE APPLICANT. It may represent a good portion of the most neurotic and smart, but not everyone on SDN gets accepted and there are people outside of SDN that do. Basically, don't be discouraged when you see others getting ridiculously high mcats, early interviews etc. They have completely different profiles than you. That doesn't mean that your shot is not coming though!

MCAT- you can get accepted to a decent school with under a thirty ( I have friends with interviews at top 20 schools with that) but you might as well aim high and try to do the best you can. If you can't break the thirty by the time you apply its not the end of the world so stay positive!

Application: another tip I gleaned from my LOR writer was that themes are very important. You are more memorable when you have a theme running through your application. Try to tie everything into one big picture. It will help make you infinitely more memorable.

Get leadership. Physicians are considered community leaders by many. Show that you are capable. You don't need to join a million clubs (from what I've heard its the least important thing in the world). Do something unique that sets you apart though like a long trip abroad or just SOMETHING interesting that will make adcoms want to interview/meet you.

Publication is not necessary at most schools. If you can do it, great. If you can't, don't sweat it!


I think thats it...good luck! Stay optimistic. This is a long process that will literally suck the life out of you and make you go crazy with worry, but when you get that phone call or email...its literally the BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. 😍

 

[magicmage88]

http://www.studentdoc.com/medfind.html

awesome website!! thanks for the suggestion!

 

[docta123]

Yeaa.... now that I think about it I know many people that have gotten in to MD schools with sub-30 scores. I had just heard some schools screen so that's why I had written that. But for those with sub-30s... if you have great extracurriculars and GPA, I have heard of people getting into top-notch med schools! 🙂

 

[MasonPrehealth]

Yep... every single thing is almost always mentioned by prehealth advisors beginning freshman year. Of course, few actually heed our advice (unless they see it again and again on SDN and other places).

I point out my article on LOR's and committees on the "front page"... extremely important to cover this.

Hey Premeds!
These are just my opinions... and I hope they help someone out there 🙂

Undergrad-
- get as many great grades as possible. If you didn't do too well in a class... be sure you can defend yourself/show improvement or you learned something from failure and explain why during an interview or something...
- become involved in science and non-science activities!!! AND GET A LEADERSHIP position--- being involved and having leadership roles gives you things to talk about during your interview. It gives you experience, and material to use when they ask you situational questions (ex: name a time when you failed, or name a challenge) Plus, it can help make you unique (this definitely made a difference in my application-- it helped make up for my MCAT score in top 20 schools bc it made me unique)
- do research- even if it's a semester or a summer. gives you material to talk about during your interview. shows that you understand the process of science and how important it is to stay abreast of new knowledge.
- volunteer- in a hospital and unit you feel passionate about! You should do it for over a year!
- shadow!! - show that you know what you're getting yourself into and you love it.
- read up on SDN- keep up to date with what others are doing. It helps keep you motivated

MCAT-
- try to get above a 30. You don't want that number to get in your way and have you screened out of some schools. It's sad, but that number can really work against you. If you have below a 30, I suggest you retake it, if possible. If not, be sure to have great EC and gpa 🙂
- take every practice exam you can get. review correct and incorrect answers.
- don't ignore verbal
- read the SDN MCAT discussions. They really get you motivated, and you can save money by finding the best books (EK, The Berkeley Review, and TPR are the best!)
- make a schedule, and stick to it!
- make sure you take a light course load.

Personal Statement-
- start brainstorming second semester of your junior year.
- really show why you want to do medicine
- make sure you sound mature and sure of your decision
- bring up unique aspects about you and your life
- be ready to talk about it during your interview
- share with friends, family, and profs and ask them if it pictures you as a person.

Application Process
- SAVE MONEY! IT IS SO SO SO SO EXPENSIVE (AMCAS, secondaries, flights and hotels for interviews)

AMCAS
- DO IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! As you wait, more people turn it in. The more people that turn it in, the longer it takes to verify your app.
- double check and triple check for typos.
- Pick schools - I would say to always apply to your state schools. Then add however many schools you'd like.
- Research the schools- look at rankings but don't base your list on that. Research the school's websites, and really think about where you can fit in and get the education to make you the best doctor you can be.
- be realistic about your scores when picking schools (but still pick a few dream schools... you never know!)
- Check school deadlines

Secondaries
- DO THEM ASAP! Even for non-rolling schools... the longer you wait, the less interview slots there are!
- When answering- "Why our school?"- research the school's website and try to talk to someone who goes to that school if possible.
- just finish them! They're torture... but you have to get them done!!

I will add more about interviews later!

 

[not so calm now]

One thing that I did that was very helpful was starting about 2 years from when I applied, I kept a binder sectioned off into things related to my application. I logged my volunteering hours and wrote a brief description of something new or cool I'd seen/done while volunteering (e.g., "learned how to take blood pressure today", "watched kid get sliced-open finger stitched up"). I wrote layman's descriptions of my research and the possible implications while I was involved with the project. This is important because I did this work 2+ years ago and have since left the lab to work on completely different projects. You tend to forget.

This all made filling out the primary AMCAS much simpler and less stressful, and it was even helpful for some of the secondary applications.

I also write in a journal regularly, and it was helpful to review some particular entries I wrote about why I was motivated, etc. I wrote these entries when I was feeling the feelings, and it was much easier to read them and glean ideas for my essays than try to capture the moment with an essay prompt.

 

[mvenus929]

If you're involved in research, you need to know what you're talking about. Adcoms won't be impressed if you can just vaguely explain what you did in the lab.

If you're not involved with research (I got in without any research experience, it can be done), make sure you have something that stands out about your application. A unique leadership experience, great clinical experience... something.

You don't have to volunteer in a hospital, and if you find it boring, just don't do it. Adcoms will pick up on what you're passionate about, and having something to talk about that you truly love will help your application far more than simply doing obligatory volunteer hours.

Make sure you explore other fields... this is almost as important as figuring out why you want to be a doctor. If you don't know anything about other fields in medicine (or even outside of medicine), how can you know that being a doctor is the best thing for you?

Practice interviewing. There are some people who can rock an interview without practice, but it's far better to be prepared than to screw up an interview and thus miss out on an acceptance. Remember to keep as much eye contact with your interviewer as possible, and check out the most commonly asked questions for each school you interview at.

 

[roseglass6370]

So, I've got the ball rolling on just about everything you guys have listed except a "leadership position." I'm not really involved in any clubs at my college but I volunteer about 2.5 hours weekly at a nursing home and work part-time as a nursing assistant (I've worked a paid job at the hospital, with patient contact, for going on 4 years now.) What's a good way to tag "leadership" onto an application? Is it really that important? (I'm a sophomore, by the way.)

 

[RevMD]

So, I've got the ball rolling on just about everything you guys have listed except a "leadership position." I'm not really involved in any clubs at my college but I volunteer about 2.5 hours weekly at a nursing home and work part-time as a nursing assistant (I've worked a paid job at the hospital, with patient contact, for going on 4 years now.) What's a good way to tag "leadership" onto an application? Is it really that important? (I'm a sophomore, by the way.)

Get involved in a club and be active. Usually there will be at least a few members on their current exec board that graduating. So apply during the next exec application round either at the end of spring or early fall sem and you should be able to get a position.

Alternatively, apply for Resident Advisor position for your dorm or Teaching Assistant position for a gen ed class you did well on and are comfortable teaching. These are just some, but I am sure you can come up with something that fits your interests after looking around.

 

[Tolip]

Went through two application cycles. Most important thing I learned...

Dont try to say, write, be involved in, or talk about things you think will impress adcoms. Just be honest, do what you love and be yourself. Relax and build relationships.

I think that's great advice. Sincerity and honesty are more apparent than some people realize.

 

[theroadtomed]

Watch where you go telling people to be sincere. I know of several people who were proud of the fact that they were sincere when they interviewed and then didn't get anything. You can really only be truly sincere if you already fall in line with all the cliche's. I know people who didn't believe in jumping through the hoop of volunteering, but were otherwise quite strong applicants. They then went on to make this apparent in their application and interview and were rejected to 20+ schools when I'm sure that, otherwise, they would've been sitting on multiple acceptances because otherwise they were stronger applicants than me and I have several. Just saying. Be sincere within reason.

 

[roseglass6370]

Get involved in a club and be active. Usually there will be at least a few members on their current exec board that graduating. So apply during the next exec application round either at the end of spring or early fall sem and you should be able to get a position.

Alternatively, apply for Resident Advisor position for your dorm or Teaching Assistant position for a gen ed class you did well on and are comfortable teaching. These are just some, but I am sure you can come up with something that fits your interests after looking around.

Hmmm...I really like the TA idea. I prefer some of the biological sciences better though. Anatomy is pretty much my favorite subject, would an anatomy TA position be as impressive?

 

[lrkoehle]

Not sure if this has been said already, but when you finally start applying to medical school, enjoy it while you can! I remember being really excited about applying to medical school, getting secondaries, interviews, etc., but now I just hate it. I would never want to have to reapply, and I have a new found respect for those who do it. I guess this holds true for the entire process; make sure you have fun with you classes, volunteering, studying for the MCAT, etc. etc.

 

[Tolip]

Watch where you go telling people to be sincere. I know of several people who were proud of the fact that they were sincere when they interviewed and then didn't get anything. You can really only be truly sincere if you already fall in line with all the cliche's. I know people who didn't believe in jumping through the hoop of volunteering, but were otherwise quite strong applicants. They then went on to make this apparent in their application and interview and were rejected to 20+ schools when I'm sure that, otherwise, they would've been sitting on multiple acceptances because otherwise they were stronger applicants than me and I have several. Just saying. Be sincere within reason.

You don't need to boast about the faults in your application, but claiming to have volunteer experience when you don't in reality (lying) is never a good option.

 

[ahowardmd]

Hmmm...I really like the TA idea. I prefer some of the biological sciences better though. Anatomy is pretty much my favorite subject, would an anatomy TA position be as impressive?

Yes, being an Anatomy TA would be impressive. During one of my interviews, I asked my interviewer what his position was at the medical school, and he said that he was the Anatomy professor, so of course I mentioned that I was an Anatomy TA...he just gave me this smile and said "oh, I noticed". I got accepted to that school btw.

If you can find the time, it is good to spend a year as an RA, do some tutoring, or TA for a class, along with the usual shadowing and volunteering! They all help to make for an overall well rounded application package.

 

[7starmantis]

Yes, being an Anatomy TA would be impressive. During one of my interviews, I asked my interviewer what his position was at the medical school, and he said that he was the Anatomy professor, so of course I mentioned that I was an Anatomy TA...he just gave me this smile and said "oh, I noticed". I got accepted to that school btw.

If you can find the time, it is good to spend a year as an RA, do some tutoring, or TA for a class, along with the usual shadowing and volunteering! They all help to make for an overall well rounded application package.

Had kind of the same experience. My interviewer was head of the anatomy department and when we met on the tour he kept teasing me that he was going to drill me on anatomy during the interview because I had taught A&P. We laughed about it, but no anatomy questions in the interview. Did get an acceptance though. 🙂

 

[werd]

to put it as succinctly as possible... shoot for gpa >3.5 and mcat >30, be mindful you'll need 3-6 letters of rec by the year you apply, apply early in the cycle, be involved in at least a few extracirriculars in college, and have some form of medical volunteerism before you apply.

 

[flip26]

to put it as succinctly as possible... shoot for gpa >3.5 and mcat >30, be mindful you'll need 3-6 letters of rec by the year you apply, apply early in the cycle, be involved in at least a few extracirriculars in college, and have some form of medical volunteerism before you apply.

I agree with all of this - really pretty simple, no need to over think it.

I also recommend applying as broadly as possible to as many schools as you can tolerate. If you are fairly "average" in this game, that means 15+ schools, and not all of them in the USNWR Top 30...find the good ones that aren't even ranked.

And by all means apply EARLY in the cycle, meaning June...the more average you are, the more important this is.

 

[Techmed07]

This kind of thing has been done before. Perhaps you can intergrate both lists.



High School

• Come back in a couple of years.

During School

• Take college grades seriously, you'll be thankful when application time comes.
• If you're asking to do something because it might look good on your application, chances are you aren't interested enough to commit to it right now.
• Go to office hours, even if you are getting an A in the class because rec letters need to come from somewhere.
• Overstudy your freshmen year in college. Better to get an A+ in all your freshmen classes then wonder if that was time well spent than screw up your freshmen grades and wonder whether you have a chance.
• Work hard to get a stellar GPA so you can count on the MCAT as additional evidence of your academic capability, rather than a stressful redeeming factor.
• Don't hesistate to take on a leadership role in your activities. The work you put into it will benefit you twofold, you will learn a lot about time management and build interpersonal skills.
• Don't think that a great MCAT will compensate for a low GPA.
• Clinical extracurricular activities show admission comittees you have been exposed to the realities of medicine and you can handle them.
• Pursue ECs you are passionate about, don't try to do a little of everything.
• Compete ONLY against yourself.
• Time is better spent pursuing a mastery of the course material rather than calculating the minimum grade you can get by with for a 90 or planning how to spread a rumour that the date for the final has been postponed (when in fact it hasn't.)
• Moderation is key. Take the time to enjoy college but keep in mind that your grades and ECs will be important in the future.
• Remember that medical schools do not want a textbook memorizing machine. What you do outside of class is just as important and what you do inside as far as growing into a well rounded, articulate prospective physician - you can't develop socially if you don't put yourself in social situations and some of the best things do talk about in interviews are interesting things you do for fun!

MCAT

• Don't take the MCAT until your full-length practice scores are exceeding your target score (generally accepted to be 30+ total, with nothing less than a 9 in any section).
• It's MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), not MCATs (Medical College Admission Tests) as there is only one test not multiple ones.
• Stop reading SDN when you're studying for the MCAT. It'll stress you out when you're inevitably reading those score report threads, and it seems like everyone's getting 36+.
• If you find yourself asking, "Should I use this book or that book?" it's a good sign that you should probably use both.

Applications

• If you're asking questions about having to "study" after completion of med school, then you shouldn't be applying to doctorville.
• Take things one-step at a time, rewarding yourself along the way as this process is a marathon, not a sprint.
• APPLY EARLY!
• MDApplicants.com should be used to see on average what kind of people get into certain schools, but it's skewed extremely upwards and don't use a single profile as a ray of hope.
• When a school offers you an interview, learn as much as you can about the school, its focus, and its history. They have shown interest in you and you must do the same.
• Look at the mission statements of each school to see if you fit what they are looking for and to answer their secondaries
• Send Transcripts in MAY even if you don't want to start working on the AMCAS application
• A good personal statement takes time to write (1+ months) if it's been thoroughly edited and you've had time to reflect on what you really want to say.

Other

• Show a little cleavage.
• Show a lot of cleavage.
• Use the search feature before asking routine questions
• Take deep breaths.
• Believe in yourself.
• Don't ask other peoples' opinions of your chances unless you're prepared for an honest answer.
• Fat drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
• Slow down! Taking an extra year to do things well is much better than rushing through and having to deal with the consequences later.
• Learn some humility. If you haven't been beaten down to the ground yet, you'll get used to it during this whole process.
• When deciding what kind of prep material to use, sometimes its a good idea to go to amazon.com and read the reviews before you buy your material.
• The farther you go, the more you are in the public's eye. Treat everything you do seriously, respect everyone, and be aware that people will be critiquing you more and more. But don't get paranoid.

 

[corbis11]

Life's a bitch and not everything is fair

 

[theroadtomed]

I love towelie (avatar above me).

 

[bigman225]

Stay off SDN after interviewing while you wait to hear back, it will only increase your stress burden.

 

[MaryLennox]

Yes, being an Anatomy TA would be impressive. During one of my interviews, I asked my interviewer what his position was at the medical school, and he said that he was the Anatomy professor, so of course I mentioned that I was an Anatomy TA...he just gave me this smile and said "oh, I noticed". I got accepted to that school btw.

happened to me too. interviewed by the anatomy professor, talked about how much i loved to TA anatomy . . . acceptance 👍

The only other advice I have to add regarding the MCAT is . . . don't be delusional. If you are scoring poorly on practice exams, POSTPONE! don't just take it 'to see what happens.' then you'll have the bad score to overcome when you inevitably retake it. DO WELL THE FIRST TIME!

 

[elektroshok]

Stay off SDN after interviewing while you wait to hear back, it will only increase your stress burden.

THIS! lol

 

[WNT Signaling]

Take at least a year off between college and med school--I have never emt anyone who has done this that has regretted it, I've only met people who wish they had. Besides, having a real job and living in the real world puts things into perspective, and if you doing something cool or important, it'll make you a stronger applicant

 

[Catalystik]

Avoid legal entanglements and institutional actions. You'll need to pass a background check before you're offered a med school seat.

 

[docta123]

Also, stay up to date with current events and health care reform.
Read as much as possible.
Mock interviews are golden.
Before your interview, make sure you go through potential questions to make sure you remember the points you want to make
I can't emphasize how expensive interviews can really be. Really make sure that the schools you apply to are schools you would realistically attend.

 

[VOP]

Stay off SDN after interviewing while you wait to hear back, it will only increase your stress burden.

wow, wish someone had told me that. I've probably spent 99% of my SDN time post all interviews.

 

[paranoid99]

Take at least a year off between college and med school--I have never emt anyone who has done this that has regretted it, I've only met people who wish they had. Besides, having a real job and living in the real world puts things into perspective, and if you doing something cool or important, it'll make you a stronger applicant

Spot on!!Wish every pre-med reads your advice.I make this tough decision of taking a year off and now I am all smiles!

 

[taciturngirl]

Be prepared to spend a lot of money on apps. Keep up with friends in different cities since you may be bugging them for a couch to stay on during the interview season. Have a warm-weather and cold-weather interview ensemble. For non-rolling schools, schedule your more important interviews for later so that you're relaxed, prepared, and hopefully have an acceptance or two under your belt (I wish I had listened to advice re: the latter point especially). Most importantly, be relaxed and yourself during the interview. Interviewers respond better to confidence and maturity than even the most impressive accolades.

 

[xanthomondo]

I'm going to guess the actual number of pre-meds not accepted at this point and who have read this thread for advice is <10.

 

[docta123]

True! But I thought it would be great for premeds getting ready to apply and other freshmen and sophomore premeds. I sure wish I would have known some of the info people have mentioned even as I started college.

 

[Morsetlis]

Also, for the love of all that is holy, don't combine alcohol and motor vehicles.

I'd have to say that although I might have been reckless in the past, I will never ever drink hard liquor and drive again now that my career is serious.

 

[xanthomondo]

I'd have to say that although I might have been reckless in the past, I will never ever drink hard liquor and drive again now that my career is serious.

It's comforting to know that this is the only reason for stopping. 👎

 

[Morsetlis]

It's comforting to know that this is the only reason for stopping. 👎

Is this how you congratulate a patient who quits smoking? 😛

 

[ElegantWeapon]

LORs- get great ones! One of my letter writers was on an adcom herself and therefore she made the effort to write one that she knew would have impressed her. Don't just ask a professor for a letter of rec for the sake of it, make sure they are willing to write you a GOOD one. This, combined with a great PS and unique experiences can overcome slightly lower scores.

SDN IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AVERAGE APPLICANT. It may represent a good portion of the most neurotic and smart, but not everyone on SDN gets accepted and there are people outside of SDN that do. Basically, don't be discouraged when you see others getting ridiculously high mcats, early interviews etc. They have completely different profiles than you. That doesn't mean that your shot is not coming though!

MCAT- you can get accepted to a decent school with under a thirty ( I have friends with interviews at top 20 schools with that) but you might as well aim high and try to do the best you can. If you can't break the thirty by the time you apply its not the end of the world so stay positive!

Application: another tip I gleaned from my LOR writer was that themes are very important. You are more memorable when you have a theme running through your application. Try to tie everything into one big picture. It will help make you infinitely more memorable.

Get leadership. Physicians are considered community leaders by many. Show that you are capable. You don't need to join a million clubs (from what I've heard its the least important thing in the world). Do something unique that sets you apart though like a long trip abroad or just SOMETHING interesting that will make adcoms want to interview/meet you.

Publication is not necessary at most schools. If you can do it, great. If you can't, don't sweat it!


I think thats it...good luck! Stay optimistic. This is a long process that will literally suck the life out of you and make you go crazy with worry, but when you get that phone call or email...its literally the BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. 😍

most of the other stuff is fairly common knowledge for people who go on SDN, but I think something that is typically ignored far too often is the thematic aspect of the application. I feel that it really ties you together and makes you look more prepared and professional

 

[DrSmooth]

1) Don't underestimate the power of a personal statement. You have the same numbers and ECs as 100s, if not 1000s of other applicants. Make sure your PS helps you standout, and in a good way.
2) Don't count yourself out at any school based solely on numbers or some formula. If there is a school you want to go to, then apply. Of course, apply broadly as well, but you will never regret trying, only not trying.

 

[eatsleeprepeat]

Went through two application cycles. Most important thing I learned...

Dont try to say, write, be involved in, or talk about things you think will impress adcoms. Just be honest, do what you love and be yourself. Relax and build relationships.

👍

Two time applicant here, as well. This is completely what I came here to say, the best way to stand out is to be genuine. Find a few activities that you love, and stick with them.

Also, pick the major YOU want to study, take classes YOU are interested, and, so long as you have a few experiences that justify why you want to go into medicine, spend the rest of your time pursuing the activities that YOU want to be involved in. You'll have a relatively greater amount of time to enjoy life as an undergrad compared to med school, so take advantage!