Advice to Premeds

[DoctorChris]

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I am going to be a freshman in college this fall and I was wondering if anyone who has already gone through the premed pre-reqs / application process could give me any advice or tell me about their experiences.

Thanks

 

[DD214_DOC]

Most importantly, don't do anything just because you hear it will look good to medical schools. I recently overheard someone saying there were a philosophy/chemistry double minor because med schools liked it. THat's dumb.

Major in what you want, do the ECs you enjoy, and enjoy college. Add in the required medical school stuff on top of it. If you enjoy your undergraduate experience, you should have no problems doing well enough to get into medical school. On the flip side, if you never make it in, then you will already be in the position to get a job you enjoy.

Ignore what others think of you. If you want to be a DO, be one. If you want to go to the caribbean, go there. The redicule others give you only lasts for a few seconds. More than likely, they have already forgotten once you leave. However, you have to live with your choices the rest of your life.

Undergrad overall, regardless of major or whether you're premed or not, isn't that intellectually challenging. The biggest challenge of college is learning all the material in the short amount of time given.

Know how you learn and tailor your study sessions to maximize the efficiency of gaining knowledge. Everyone learns differently; find how you learn and things will be much more productive.

You don't need a 4.0 to get into medical school.

Not everyone gets into medical school. Plan ahead what you will do if you don't get in.

Ultimately, don't be the Biology major who minors in chemistry and volunteers at the hospital. Not only will you absolutely hate your undergraduate experience (unless you truly enjoy those things), you won't have much to talk about with ADCOMS, friends, family, or your future children. Be different. Do what you enjoy, not what is expected of you. Some things you just have to do though, such as clinical experience, but never neglect the things you love for the things that are expected of you.

Most importantly, have fun. You're only an undergrad once.

 

[ArmyDoc1999]

Most importantly, don't do anything just because you hear it will look good to medical schools. I recently overheard someone saying there were a philosophy/chemistry double minor because med schools liked it. THat's dumb.

Major in what you want, do the ECs you enjoy, and enjoy college. Add in the required medical school stuff on top of it. If you enjoy your undergraduate experience, you should have no problems doing well enough to get into medical school. On the flip side, if you never make it in, then you will already be in the position to get a job you enjoy.

Ignore what others think of you. If you want to be a DO, be one. If you want to go to the caribbean, go there. The redicule others give you only lasts for a few seconds. More than likely, they have already forgotten once you leave. However, you have to live with your choices the rest of your life.

Undergrad overall, regardless of major or whether you're premed or not, isn't that intellectually challenging. The biggest challenge of college is learning all the material in the short amount of time given.

Know how you learn and tailor your study sessions to maximize the efficiency of gaining knowledge. Everyone learns differently; find how you learn and things will be much more productive.

You don't need a 4.0 to get into medical school.

Not everyone gets into medical school. Plan ahead what you will do if you don't get in.

Ultimately, don't be the Biology major who minors in chemistry and volunteers at the hospital. Not only will you absolutely hate your undergraduate experience (unless you truly enjoy those things), you won't have much to talk about with ADCOMS, friends, family, or your future children. Be different. Do what you enjoy, not what is expected of you. Some things you just have to do though, such as clinical experience, but never neglect the things you love for the things that are expected of you.

Most importantly, have fun. You're only an undergrad once.

Outstanding advice!

 

[DoctorChris]

Thanks JKDMed that was just what I needed to hear

 

[docbill]

As my 10th year of University Begins.. yeah.. you heard me right.. 10th YEAR.

4 Undergrad + 2 Masters + 3 PhD = JKMED is 99% correct with +/-1% error.. hehehe

One thing I must add... and always people don't realize this. Don't do medicine for other reasons than your own. Not mommy and not daddyyy otherwise you will hat it.

Do something you enjoy in Undergrad.. you can do art history + required courses and get in.. and prob have a better chance.. since you are more interesting than other science applicants.

Undergrad years are for growing up.. making mistakes.. maturing (learning from those mistakes), a few drunken stories... a broken heart or two.. and you become an interesting person not only to your admcom but also to your patients etc..

 

[Talula21]

Undergrad years are for growing up.. making mistakes.. maturing (learning from those mistakes), a few drunken stories... a broken heart or two.. and you become an interesting person not only to your admcom but also to your patients etc..

Good adivce. And if you come to your first med school interview with a...lets say less than perfect GPA, this makes for a pretty good story as to why!!! (I might need it myself!!) Thanks for the inspiration docbill! 😛

 

[sistahnik]

such great advice guys, and to add to the info, make sure to have fun as well as study. 👍 😀

 

[otter1812]

I wish I had this advice when I first started pre-med. 😀 One more thing to add, don't be afraid to change your mind, take your time. You only get to enjoy this point of your life once. Work hard, but make sure you enjoy it.

 

[HoodyHoo]

I am going to be a freshman in college this fall and I was wondering if anyone who has already gone through the premed pre-reqs / application process could give me any advice or tell me about their experiences.

Thanks

Also maybe try to focus on only a few EC's. For example, it is better to do research for four years and have publications than to do a bunch of random things. The pre-meds that are involved with everything but only bits and pieces of each thing are worse off....you won't portray yourself as being very focused. Stick to volunteering/research, or whatever you like, and strive for accomplishments in those areas.

and don't listen to people that say gpa/mcat is everything....there are plenty of people at my school that have <3.3 and <25 MCAT.

I would say you also have to learn to get over your poor grades.....If you get a C on an exam or a class, don't stress too hard and study harder. It's not worth the emotional distress to freak out about grades....if you do poorly, make sure you do well the next time....

I would also say don't ever listen to crazy pre-meds who love to talk about their A+ or the fact that they are applying to Harvard and this & that. I caught myself stressing most when listening to people who constantly talked about getting into med school and grades.

remember there is always hope. I received plenty of C's in my time, had an average MCAT score, and partied my A$$ off like none other in undergrad, and in four years I will be in the same place as someone who busted their butt stressing to get that 4.0/35MCAT so they could get into a top 25 school........hope this helps.

 

[docbill]

Good adivce. And if you come to your first med school interview with a...lets say less than perfect GPA, this makes for a pretty good story as to why!!! (I might need it myself!!) Thanks for the inspiration docbill! 😛

Thanks. I don't know if that worked yesterday at NSUCOM... but either way I told them the truth and if they don't like that... well guess what... someone else will!

One should not regret his/her past... instead they should look at it and laugh and say holy S%^T this has been a fun ride... remember that time in the drunk tank.. hehehehe. Or jumping a bouncer (2 times your size) at a club because he had your drunk best friend by the neck... How about that time when the people next door told us to nock it off it is 4 in the morning and that the balcony is not a motel for wield activity. How about the time you realize you need to smarten up... or the time flying a small airplane across the beautiful straight of georgia in Vancouver or getting to the top of the mountain after a long hike and saying holy Crap.. my cell phone works up here... hehehe etc...

Stay toon will write a good book one of these days. Or just have great stories for the kids who will say.. oh dad your so stiff.. your not cooool.
👍

I am still learning!