Anxiety about applying

[premed11464]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I just feel the need to vent or hope someone can quell my fears. Recently I've been feeling very nervous about applying this upcoming cycle. I attend a top 5 private ivy, my stats are strong (4.0 cGPA, 521 MCAT), and I've covered all the standard premed activities (strong research, clinical/nonclinical volunteering, shadowing, etc..) I really want to go to a T20, but i'm worried that I'll be rejected everywhere for not having a crazy "story" and not being exceptional. Is this a normal feeling to have, or am I going crazy lol.

 

[Valtun]

I can't tell if this is a troll or not..... but if it's not it should be lol.

You're 6 months from applying and are arguably in the top 1% of applicants in terms of stats. Stop worrying, especially now.

 

[Master Thinker]

Apply DO to maximize your chances

 

[premed11464]

I can't tell if this is a troll or not..... but if it's not it should be lol.

You're 6 months from applying and are arguably in the top 1% of applicants in terms of stats. Stop worrying, especially now.

I am being totally honest and not trolling. I'm pretty sure being premed at this school has just made me neurotic lol.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

I’ve never understood the obsession with top 20 schools. No one will know or care about where you went to school once you’re an attending.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[premed11464]

I’ve never understood the obsession with top 20 schools. No one will know or care about where you went to school once you’re an attending.

I totally agree with you. I think it's just a way for me to justify working my butt off these past 3 years. Otherwise I feel like I could have just gone to an easier school or worked less and still make it.

 

[DokterMom]

Gotta be habit by now...

 

[efle]

Can pretty much guarantee you a ton of t20 interviews. I did know one guy who had half a dozen t20 interviews and got wait-listed or rejected at them all, but I think he was a nervous wreck every interview day. As long as you're a normal functional human being in your interviews, your odds are good.

 

[JaxJax17]

I’ve never understood the obsession with top 20 schools. No one will know or care about where you went to school once you’re an attending.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

My understanding :T20 school=better chance for a more competitive residency(either name/location/specialty) =better chance for a job in either a favorable location or top institution. So while no one may care where you went, you* will most likely directly benefit. Or is this too generalized?

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

My understanding :T20 school=better chance for a more competitive residency(either name/location/specialty) =better chance for a job in either a favorable location or top institution. So while no one may care where you went, you* will most likely directly benefit. Or is this too generalized?

Very generalized.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

4.0 GPA with 520 MCAT? Are you like a genius or something ? Great job on the MCAT though. Care to share any tips? Your academic stats couldn't get any better than this. How can you be worried?!

I just feel the need to vent or hope someone can quell my fears. Recently I've been feeling very nervous about applying this upcoming cycle. I attend a top 5 private ivy, my stats are strong (4.0 cGPA, 521 MCAT), and I've covered all the standard premed activities (strong research, clinical/nonclinical volunteering, shadowing, etc..) I really want to go to a T20, but i'm worried that I'll be rejected everywhere for not having a crazy "story" and not being exceptional. Is this a normal feeling to have, or am I going crazy lol.

 

[getdown]

My understanding :T20 school=better chance for a more competitive residency(either name/location/specialty) =better chance for a job in either a favorable location or top institution. So while no one may care where you went, you* will most likely directly benefit. Or is this too generalized?

Big generalization because the most important factor is YOU. YOU have to take the exams, YOU have to do well in STEP1, YOU have to do well in clinicals, YOU have to do research. If you somehow believe that your performance will somehow drastically differ in a top 20 vs not a top 20 then the issue is motivation and that's again on YOU. The school name will only carry so far. Ultimately this discussion is moot. Get yourself into a top 20 school first and then we can talk otherwise it's pure conjecture and a waste of everyone's time.

 

[JaxJax17]

Big generalization because the most important factor is YOU. YOU have to take the exams, YOU have to do well in STEP1, YOU have to do well in clinicals, YOU have to do research. If you somehow believe that your performance will somehow drastically differ in a top 20 vs not a top 20 then the issue is motivation and that's again on YOU. The school name will only carry so far. Ultimately this discussion is moot. Get yourself into a top 20 school first and then we can talk otherwise it's pure conjecture and a waste of everyone's time.

Relax- for one, I’m not the OP just lending my thoughts so not exactly a waste of time. Secondly, I in no way implied that intrinsic factors are unimportant and agree that taking the exams/doing well in clinical are on the individual and will shape your opportunities accordingly. However, VERY seldomly (with all things being equal like I previously implied) in a low or even mid tier school, will an applicant have the same opportunities as a T20-during and beyond. So yes, there is a difference. No it does not mean if you don’t get to a T20 the idea of becoming a physician changes, but it does (for some people) validate all of the hard work and sacrifice which I think is what the OP was getting at.

 

[931408]

However, VERY seldomly (with all things being equal like I previously implied) in a low or even mid tier school, will an applicant have the same opportunities as a T20-during and beyond. So yes, there is a difference. No it does not mean if you don’t get to a T20 the idea of becoming a physician changes, but it does (for some people) validate all of the hard work and sacrifice which I think is what the OP was getting at.

First off, what opportunities are different between a T20 and a school beyond the T20? If you're talking about residency placements, sure, I'll agree with you - the name of the institution will carry some weight for residencies at strong academic institutions. I don't buy the idea that the quality of courses and clinical training is better at T20s compared to other schools - what does that even mean? STEP1 is up to you. Clinical training is very much based on the mentors you have. Research? NIH funding is higher at top schools, but no medical student is becoming a professor in their four years. There is plenty of research available at any reputable medical school - you will have to look for the right fit of a lab either way. Hell, you might get more guidance from a school outside of the T20 because mentors might have more time for you compared to a research powerhouse, where everyone is focused on grants. Qualify of research? Possibly, but there are plenty of excellent research institutions outside the T20 that have fantastic labs and are doing cutting-edge research that medical students can pursue.

It frustrates me to see this consistent idea that opportunities are different between the T20 and the rest. Medical education is extremely homogenized. In my honest opinion, the difference lies in the quality of your peers and the ability to have a higher ceiling for residency apps provided you do very well on your boards, rotations, research, etc.

And for your second point, that's tough for them and their loss. People who only base validation of their hard work and efforts from others' perceptions of them will at one point burn-out or feel miserable. @OP, you have done really well based on your stats - the process is somewhat unpredictable but there are patterns to success; rest assured, put your best foot forward and apply with confidence. It is first a stats-driven process and then anything else, and you have that part down.

 

[TeddyBears]

Apply DO to maximize your chances

Too funny but sound advice 🙂

 

[getdown]

Relax- for one, I’m not the OP just lending my thoughts so not exactly a waste of time. Secondly, I in no way implied that intrinsic factors are unimportant and agree that taking the exams/doing well in clinical are on the individual and will shape your opportunities accordingly. However, VERY seldomly (with all things being equal like I previously implied) in a low or even mid tier school, will an applicant have the same opportunities as a T20-during and beyond. So yes, there is a difference. No it does not mean if you don’t get to a T20 the idea of becoming a physician changes, but it does (for some people) validate all of the hard work and sacrifice which I think is what the OP was getting at.

Go ahead and elaborate what differences in opportunity that significantly impacts a medical student's chances in a top 20 vs not top 20. And don't point to match lists because it's a waste of time and fluctuates from year to year. The truth of the matter is that you have no clue which medical schools have strong faculties in which departments. Georgetown routinely matches people in orthopedics in the TEENS. The optho department in USC Keck was very strong about 5-10 years ago before they had a mass exodus. For individuals who want to match in those specific fields, having those particular mentors will play a FAR greater role in matching into those fields than any top 20 name will. Generally speaking yes, the Top 20 name will carry you to some extent but let's not pretend that having gone to a top 20 school makes up for an applicants deficits.

And to your second point. No one cares if it validates their ego. And like I said before, if that's your goal then get into a top 20 and the discussion becomes moot.

 

[Cylinder12]

First off - great job with your MCAT score/GPA. You obviously worked very hard in undergrad. For me, when I get into those negative thinking patterns, I try to remind myself that there are more important things in life than rankings. You can still be a great doc if you attend a school that is slightly lower ranked.

You mentioned getting into a good residency in your other posts. For residency, there are other things that matter. I shadowed an orthopedic surgeon, and one of the key things he said to look for in a surgical residency program is operative volume. Sure - Yale may be more prestigious - but you're not going to see the same amount of interesting cases in New Haven CT as in UTSW in Dallas, a major metropolitan area. Autonomy is another important factor in residency and is not necessarily correlated with prestige.

With that being said - you have great pedigree (top 5 school) so that should help a lot with the T20. Wish you all the best!

 

[LonelyBoi]

I’m going through the same things OP with nearly identical stats. Anxiety is normal for everyone especially when we have so much uncertainty ahead of us. Just focus on making the most out of your time right now and that will ease the anxiety.

 

[JaxJax17]

Go ahead and elaborate what differences in opportunity that significantly impacts a medical student's chances in a top 20 vs not top 20. And don't point to match lists because it's a waste of time and fluctuates from year to year. The truth of the matter is that you have no clue which medical schools have strong faculties in which departments. Georgetown routinely matches people in orthopedics in the TEENS. The optho department in USC Keck was very strong about 5-10 years ago before they had a mass exodus. For individuals who want to match in those specific fields, having those particular mentors will play a FAR greater role in matching into those fields than any top 20 name will. Generally speaking yes, the Top 20 name will carry you to some extent but let's not pretend that having gone to a top 20 school makes up for an applicants deficits.

And to your second point. No one cares if it validates their ego. And like I said before, if that's your goal then get into a top 20 and the discussion becomes moot.

You seem to be getting angry which is not what I intended, this was all, just like every other response an opinion in which you can agree or disagree with. But you argue against my entire point and then say “generally speaking yes T20 name will carry you some extent” which is all I imply within my post-not that it covers deficits, but that it can carry you to an extent and give you some added opportunities(increased NIH funding, potentially better faculty, peers etc-Step1/clinicals is largely based on your own success as you previously stated). And you’re entirely correct that I don’t have much insight other than match lists and talking to multiple residency directors in CA/CT I’m not arguing that fact. And my second point which to some degree is misinterpreted here, is that validation doesn’t need to be only from others. Validation can largely be derived from how you perceive your own success. My own goal was just to get into a US med program and I accomplished that, but I don’t think it’s fair to discourage others from aiming as high as they can