Aoa

[JackMcCoyDA]

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Okay, I've been trying to do some research but what I'm actually looking for is everyone's perspective on this. As a current student or as a student that is soon to be entering, like myself, what are your thoughts on actually be inducted. Is it something someone can say with the utmost confidence that they will achieve? To beat out 85% of your medical school competition? I honestly do not think you can say that.

AOA sounds amazing. It would be a supreme honor to be inducted into a medical honor society but the requirements are to be in the top 10% of your class and I don't think that's something you ALONE work towards. I think a lot of factors that are out of your control go into it. What do you guys think?

I honestly want to go to medical school and learn the information to the best of my ability and be awesome at applying it to saving lives. If that means AOA, great, if it doesn't mean AOA, great. I will still become a great physician. I'm not an underachiever but am I the only one that thinks that becoming AOA probably deals with some sort of superiority complex that some people have and others don't.

Thoughts on this guys?

 

[plauto]

AOA used to be a distinction of great honor at a time when curricula across med schools were inconsistent and incomplete. Now it has lost that aspect in that the standards to which we are held are much higher across the board.
I don't think it's a superiority thing at all, just that if you happen to score in a certain range you're inducted. And no, it has no value in determining how good of a doctor you'll be.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Okay, I've been trying to do some research but what I'm actually looking for is everyone's perspective on this. As a current student or as a student that is soon to be entering, like myself, what are your thoughts on actually be inducted. Is it something someone can say with the utmost confidence that they will achieve? To beat out 85% of your medical school competition? I honestly do not think you can say that.

AOA sounds amazing. It would be a supreme honor to be inducted into a medical honor society but the requirements are to be in the top 10% of your class and I don't think that's something you ALONE work towards. I think a lot of factors that are out of your control go into it. What do you guys think?

I honestly want to go to medical school and learn the information to the best of my ability and be awesome at applying it to saving lives. If that means AOA, great, if it doesn't mean AOA, great. I will still become a great physician. I'm not an underachiever but am I the only one that thinks that becoming AOA probably deals with some sort of superiority complex that some people have and others don't.

Thoughts on this guys?

Yeah, actually AOA is a racket. Instead of being just about that top 16%, it is completely political. Multiple people in my class were top 16% but people lower ranked than them were inducted (we knew our rank). Junior AOA is usually about raw numbers, senior AOA takes all sorts of crap into account. So while it is an honor, it becomes less of an honor when you realize qualified people were kept out of AOA.

Very few people can hack it to get inducted. Almost everyone in your class will have been at the top of their college class. Half of those accepted to med school will be at the bottom of the class. Just do as well as you can and let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Jolt21]

No AOA at my school. it def. eases the mind. (Stanford and Mayo also have no AOA)

 

[mfrizzo3]

You have to get at least 7 of these to get inducted into AOA. Per the secret handbook.

 

[BrainBuff]

Both of my parents are physicians. One was AOA, the other one was not. AOA may only matter when you apply for residency. After that, no one will ever know, nor care. The fact that some top med schools do not even have a chapter, speaks wonders....doesn't it?

 

[NickNaylor]

hi im 12 and wat is aoa

 

[searun]

Both of my parents are physicians. One was AOA, the other one was not. AOA may only matter when you apply for residency. After that, no one will ever know, nor care. The fact that some top med schools do not even have a chapter, speaks wonders....doesn't it?

AOA is signficant if you are applying to competitive residencies. For example, about 40 percent of the applicants who apply to ENT residencies are members of AOA. Residency directors notice AOA.

But I agree that after residency, nobody notices or cares.

 

[fahimaz7]

AOA is an interesting beast. Even with a 4.0/245, you are not guaranteed to get it. At my school, the dean asks for a list of the top 10% of the class (grade wise), then he looks at board scores. if you make the cut, you are asked to submit a few letters and a CV of what you have done since school started.

After all of that, he selects a few students to be AOA (2nd year works this way). Junior AOA takes clinical grades, step 1, and class grades into consideration.

 

[JackMcCoyDA]

Interesting input. BUMP!