1. Knowing what you know now, what is one thing you would tell someone who is about to matriculate this fall?
2. What did you do between MS1 and MS2? I really don't want to do anymore research once I'm in medical school and it looks like you took that same approach (based on previous post).
3. Breakfast food vs. Dinner food. Pick one.
1. Medical school is a blast--especially the clinical years, and
especially the fourth year. Do not be intimidated by any of your classmates, no matter how smart or hard-working they may seem. Focus on yourself--do not compare yourself to your classmates. I can't tell you how many times I stressed over someone telling me they read 3-4 review books and I hadn't even cracked open one. Still, do not become isolated. Be professional and collegial, help your classmates out when they need it.
2. Between MS1 and MS2, I did a summer of research. I got a publication out of it, so it was worth it (research is important for top academic residencies). I had some research before medical school, but it unfortunately didn't amount to anything substantial despite my best efforts and interest.
3. Easy, dinner.
Also, two of other medical school friends at different schools said they only know a handful of single people in their class. They can count them on one hand.
Thanks so much for doing this,
@gzer0! And congratulations on your interviews!
I am applying to medical school this year with a 3.55 sGPA, 3.65 cGPA, and 32 MCAT. Although the rest of my application is really strong, I am worried that my stats are going to hold me back! What advice do you have for someone like me? How can I help my application stand out so I can get an II? When you were applying to school, what do you think helped land you a spot?
And you may not be able to answer this, but do you think strong letters of recommendation from science professors can help offset a weaker sGPA? (If you can't answer that, I actually might make a new thread to get some AdCom advice!)
Thanks!
You had higher stats than I did (except for your MCAT). Statistically, you have a good chance of matriculating (you'll have to refer to the AAMC statistics for that, but I'm guessing it's >50%). My advice is to have an upward trend and to have a theme to your application. If you do not feel ready, do not apply. This is not a process to rush. Apply broadly. I applied to >25 schools, got 5 interviews and 5 acceptances--a couple off the waitlist. Your experience will be different depending on what state you live in--really look at that MSAR.
I'm not the best interviewee, but I don't put on a show. I prepare, but I do not memorize answers. Afterwards, I wrote thank you letters of interest to update them with my senior term grades.
Do not fluff your application, really tell a story of how you got involved things. Did you volunteer at a nursing home, shadow a geriatrician, and then do research on aging? It doesn't necessarily have to be so formulaic, but you really want to tell a story through your application to be memorable. For me, a lot of my hobbies tied into my extracurricular activities even if they weren't medically related. If you are volunteering somewhere where you aren't getting anything out of it--I'm talking to you in the red vest stapling papers and organizing folders--then ask for a more patient-oriented experience. If you paint a true story, you will hit your interviews and bring your application to life, your passions will show, and they'll like you because you were able to convey your true self.
GPAs help you get past screens. They probably factor into your overall applicant score depending on how that medical school does it. I have heard some medical schools adjust your GPA depending on the rigor of your undergraduate college or previous experience with students from there. Strong letters help, but make sure they really are strong and personal. A phone call also goes a long way. I'd take a strong letter that really knows you over some generic one from a prominent person.
This is awesome! Congrats! You're an inspiration to me! I was fortunate to be accepted with a subpar uGPA. Did you feel like you started with a blank slate? And did undergrad GPA ever come up once you started med school?
I definitely have hopes to get in and rock it once med school starts!
It was a blank slate. Undergraduate GPA doesn't matter. I knew what my potential was. I know a lot of people at the bottom of my class with 4.0s in undergrad. Good luck!
@gzer0,
What are some ways to evaluate schools' clinical training?
What should I look for/avoid during medical school?
Thanks!
This is probably the best question so far and I wish I had a better answer. You should choose a medical school not on its BS preclinical curriculum structure. The whole point of the first two years is just to prepare you for Step 1 and the wards. A school that gives you at least 4-6 weeks of dedicated study time will suffice. Preclinical curriculums are largely the same across all schools regardless of the method of delivery. Some schools will give you earlier patient contact and that might give you an advantage entering third year--but it's a short-lived one. You should choose schools on their clinical training, which is almost impossible to gauge. A good rule of thumb is that a good academic teaching hospital will attract intelligent residents/fellows/faculty who want to teach. It is better to train in that environment than at a school with lackluster, spread out hospitals. At the same time, you want a hospital that will let medical students have some level of autonomy. When you go to your medical school interviews, they usually let you talk to 1st and 2nd years who really don't know anything outside the classroom. You should try to get the contact information for some 4th years, see if they would do it again and if they feel prepared for residency. During residency applications, programs will judge the caliber of your school sometimes on their previous experience with that school's graduates. If a school consistently graduates consistently well-prepared and adjusted students, then they will build a good reputation for you. If your school has a bad reputation or has sent a program a bad resident, you can expect that does not bode favorably for you (even though you're a completely different person). Find support from your mentors. I have been lucky to have fantastic faculty, and even residents, who were in my corner throughout the end of medical school. I couldn't have done this without them, and they know I'm grateful for all their help.
During medical school, you should try to look for a good group of friends. It'll make everything enjoyable. If someone rubs you the wrong way, just smile and move on. Medical school is short and you want to surround yourself with good future colleagues. At the same time, friendships drift apart as you transition from the preclinical years to the clinical years. I haven't seen some of my best friends, roommates for months at a time.
