Ask dbeast anything! (...while he secretly judges you)

[dbeast]

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Okay people, let's do this. I have a bit of free time so I'll try to stay on top of this thread. Can't always promise I'll have useful answers, and I may lie to you all for my own amusement in response to questions I find silly (which I encourage you to ask, of course).

Current MS3. California resident. Overall good guy (according to my mom). Took 3 years between undergrad and med school to work in journalism... your call if that counts as non-traditional. Size 11 shoes.

 

[Gauss44]

Do adcoms care about your published journalism articles? Or did they? I'm guessing it pales in comparison to published research, if they mentioned it at all. I have a hobby of freelance journalism and was lucky enough to get published here and there. I put more thought and editing into those articles than to my posts on SDN.

 

[dbeast]

Do adcoms care about your published journalism articles? Or did they?

Yeah they most definitely did, it came up in every single one of my interviews. As far as counting as a "publication" specifically, though? I don't think so, although I have no way to confirm this.

Everybody tends to jump on me for my writing experience in their research proposals, though, and it's gotten me into several projects during med school.

 

[Lya]

1) What are some of the most important problems that our world is facing today, in your opinion? How did you address them and how will your medical career be applicable?


2) What do you wish to accomplish ultimately in your life? Why?


3) What does journalism mean to you?


4) Can you describe your transition to medical school and your journey to where you are today? What do you wish you would have done differently? How did you find out your efficient learning style? How did you go about finding out what specialties you might be interested in pursuing for your career?

 

[psswrd]

.

 

[Sammy777]

Do journalists just make things up off the top of their head for some articles?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

In a nutshell, how to succeed in Med school?

Why Amadeus for the avatar?

 

[Koalafied]

Okay people, let's do this. I have a bit of free time so I'll try to stay on top of this thread. Can't always promise I'll have useful answers, and I may lie to you all for my own amusement in response to questions I find silly (which I encourage you to ask, of course).

Current MS3. California resident. Overall good guy (according to my mom). Took 3 years between undergrad and med school to work in journalism... your call if that counts as non-traditional. Size 11 shoes.

Without begging the question, who are you, dbeast, to judge?

 

[dbeast]

1) What are some of the most important problems that our world is facing today, in your opinion? How did you address them and how will your medical career be applicable?


2) What do you wish to accomplish ultimately in your life? Why?


3) What does journalism mean to you?


4) Can you describe your transition to medical school and your journey to where you are today? What do you wish you would have done differently? How did you find out your efficient learning style? How did you go about finding out what specialties you might be interested in pursuing for your career?

1) Syria and Siberia, but not necessarily in that order. But to be serious, if anybody knows the starfish story, I really believe that captures the spirit of medicine. Help your few starfish, and you can grow old knowing your life was worth it. As for being the one person to change the world, through medicine or otherwise? It's fun to dream.

2) I'm a short-term goals type of guy. Right now, it's finish my surgery rotation.

3) The meaning of journalism to me personally doesn't amount to much (it's something along the lines of Almost Famous). In reality? It's how many clicks and ad-sense hits you can score. Hence why I quit.

4) I wouldn't change anything. I got a few years to do a prototypical "cool" job only to get completely disillusioned by it. Med school was a bit of an afterthought, and I'm very lucky how things turned out. Had I gone straight to med school, I probably would've burned out. That rhymed intentionally.

I'd like some proof of this quoted statement.

And on an equally serious note: assuming every med school's got their own unique "fit", what is UCLA's fit?

Send pic. Let's trade.

UCLA tends to like the more "exotic" type of applicant, myself included. See my other post about professional twerking for a better explanation, but GPA and MCAT scores are very just a part of a larger equation in which you really have to have outside interests. That's also one way of justifying UCLA's excrutiatingly slow application process.

Do journalists just make things up off the top of their head for some articles?

Nope. Never.

 

[Aerus]

Which was the more difficult transition, academic wise? High school to undergrad or undergrad to medical school?

 

[joonage]

Any merits of being size 11?

In seriousness, no questions really... haha

Hmmm... any interview tips you would have for everyone? And how did you surviving the waiting? Oh man... the waiting....

 

[dbeast]

In a nutshell, how to succeed in Med school?

Why Amadeus for the avatar?

Don't lie, don't be a dick, and study only as much as you can stand. For the first, medicine is built on trust and the one time you say you checked the labs when you really didn't is the one time the attending will say, "Okay that's fine" and move on. Then you'll stress the rest of the day about whether your patient is going to suddenly die. For the second, people *will* test your patience but arguing gets you nowhere. If somebody is treating you like crap for no reason, just remind yourself that it's likely because somebody else treated them like crap at some point. Be the one to break the chain. For the last one, your brain will eventually shut off, and that's fine, because by then I promise you'll be prepared. Shut your book and go to the beach (but be disciplined and don't shut your books before then).

No idea, great movie and it just stuck. Speaking of avatars, are you like the train guy except with nuts? That sounded weird.

Without begging the question, who are you, dbeast, to judge?

See that 2+ year member badge? Yea, you like it 😎

 

[dbeast]

Which was the more difficult transition, academic wise? High school to undergrad or undergrad to medical school?

Undergrad to med school for sure. Then again, I was an English major who didn't understand the concept of extracellular space until 3 weeks in to medical school.

Any merits of being size 11?

In seriousness, no questions really... haha

Hmmm... any interview tips you would have for everyone? And how did you surviving the waiting? Oh man... the waiting....

I was the worst interviewer ever. Until my medical school interviews, I had never been rejected from a job. Then I ended up on 8 out of 9 waitlists for my med school interviews. My way of speaking and sense of humor was pretty obviously different than most interviewees, and I don't think that resonated well with the medical environment. Be professional, and stand out just enough to be memorable, but not too much. Don't joke around. Sounds lame, but it's true.

While you're waiting, go travel. I was in Bangkok when UCLA invited me to interview... which was scheduled for two weeks later. Fortunately, they rescheduled 😳

EDIT: That's actually bad advice. Had they not rescheduled, I'd be in bad shape. Or, you can travel but make the trips short.

 

[psswrd]

.

 

[SilentSoldier]

How are your twerking skills?

 

[dbeast]

How are your twerking skills?

Dope as ****.

Edit: Okay, good night for now, SDN bretheren. Check back manana.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

No idea, great movie and it just stuck. Speaking of avatars, are you like the train guy except with nuts? That sounded weird.

haha no, i like that train guy, but no way i can be as good as him. anyways, cashew later.

 

[mcloaf]

What can I do about the existential rage that wells up inside me whenever I sit through a histology lecture?

 

[dbeast]

haha no, i like that train guy, but no way i can be as good as him. anyways, cashew later.

What can I do about the existential rage that wells up inside me whenever I sit through a histology lecture?

Start making up diagnoses. Everything for us became esophogenesis. Abnormal kidney? Esophogenesis. Skin biopsy? Esophogenesis.

 

[Catalystik]

UCLA tends to like the more "exotic" type of applicant, myself included. See my other post about professional twerking for a better explanation, but GPA and MCAT scores are very just a part of a larger equation in which you really have to have outside interests. That's also one way of justifying UCLA's excrutiatingly slow application process.

How would you characterize the focus of other California programs for the benefit of those of us living in "fly over" country.

 

[SN12357]

Undergrad to med school for sure. Then again, I was an English major who didn't understand the concept of extracellular space until 3 weeks in to medical school.



I was the worst interviewer ever. Until my medical school interviews, I had never been rejected from a job. Then I ended up on 8 out of 9 waitlists for my med school interviews. My way of speaking and sense of humor was pretty obviously different than most interviewees, and I don't think that resonated well with the medical environment. Be professional, and stand out just enough to be memorable, but not too much. Don't joke around. Sounds lame, but it's true.

While you're waiting, go travel. I was in Bangkok when UCLA invited me to interview... which was scheduled for two weeks later. Fortunately, they rescheduled 😳

EDIT: That's actually bad advice. Had they not rescheduled, I'd be in bad shape. Or, you can travel but make the trips short.

8 out of 9 waitlists is pretty crazy. Can you talk more about what you think you did wrong (defining wrong, for these purposes, as getting waitlisted repeatedly when you were clearly otherwise qualified for acceptance at the schools, since you got the interviews in the first place)?

 

[yehhhboiii]

so you got one acceptance from ucla but the other 8 interviews led to waitlists?

 

[dbeast]

How would you characterize the focus of other California programs for the benefit of those of us living in "fly over" country.

That's a good question, but I'm afraid I can't add much since I'm only experienced with my one program. Friends of mine at UCI, UCSF and USC would probably say similar things to what I said, though. Being a cookie-cutter applicant won't get you too far in California. Tons of research will probably help most with UCSF.

8 out of 9 waitlists is pretty crazy. Can you talk more about what you think you did wrong (defining wrong, for these purposes, as getting waitlisted repeatedly when you were clearly otherwise qualified for acceptance at the schools, since you got the interviews in the first place)?

so you got one acceptance from ucla but the other 8 interviews led to waitlists?

Sorry to freak you guys out, most of those waitlists turned into acceptances eventually (UCLA was one of them). Those of you who have known me via SDN for a while now know that I have a pretty casual attitude toward... well... everything. Not the way to go in interviews, unfortunately. I used to work in an industry where the laid-back personality was a good thing, and I wasn't so great at wearing my ambitions and confidence out there on my sleeve for the medical schools. For example, if an interviewer asks what your biggest strengths are, don't answer, "Well, my parents seem to like me a lot, so I have that going for me".

Believe it or not, I actually am a really hard worker, which comes across on paper much better than through my personality, so I think I got those acceptances on the second review. Come third year, though, my relaxed style has really become a huge asset when my neurotic classmates start going insane.

 

[yehhhboiii]

you sound more like an anesthesiologist than a neuroplastic dermasurgeon

 

[vadeem]

How do you feel about the opportunity costs in medicine? Does investing so much time into training worry you? How happy were you with your journalism job, and how was the lifestyle?

 

[sliceofbread136]

Favorite pizza

Best bowling score

Do you like lazer tag?

Also what do you do when you have a test tomorrow and feel too lazy to review anything even though you probably should.

 

[dbeast]

you sound more like an anesthesiologist than a neuroplastic dermasurgeon

Yea, it's intended to be ironical. Although I find anesthesia pretty boring. (Just me personally, don't jump on me future anesthesiologists! Actually, the anesthesia people I know tend to be really attractive, so maybe you can.)

How do you feel about the opportunity costs in medicine? Does investing so much time into training worry you? How happy were you with your journalism job, and how was the lifestyle?

I'm one of those sappy guys who believes if you're helping sick people feel better, then economic concepts like opportunity costs don't change anything. I'm not into getting rich, and I'll certainly be making enough money to raise a family the way I want to. The time investment is a little tougher, and I'm still coming to terms with spending my prime "fun" years at the hospital. I've lost two long term relationships already in favor of my busy schedule, which is disappointing, to say the least. On the other hand, I had a great time in college plus the three years after graduation basically traveling the world on assignments, so I did get that chance to enjoy my life. I feel terrible for my classmates who went straight from undergrad to medical school. Many of them have already taken a year off during medical school.

The journalism job itself was great in many ways, and terribly depressing in other ways. Human suffering will always make a good story, and I got tired of watching rather than helping. Hence, medical school. So that's my story.

Favorite pizza

Best bowling score

Do you like lazer tag?

Also what do you do when you have a test tomorrow and feel too lazy to review anything even though you probably should.

Hawaiian

I hate bowling. Never broken triple digits.

Best lazer tag score definitely better than best bowling score.

Usually by test time, you've studied so much that one more day won't make a huge difference. Med school is a marathon, so that last day is usually spent at the beach.

 

[RuralPhysician8]

Do you like pinea colodas and getting caught in the rain?

 

[KnuxNole]

What kind of shoes do you wear?

More importantly, did your mom buy it for you?

 

[dbeast]

Do you like pinea colodas and getting caught in the rain?

No but I do like Jimmy Buffet.

What kind of shoes do you wear?

More importantly, did your mom buy it for you?

My mom bought me a pair of KISS vans slip ons that were incredible.

 

[sinombre]

I gained a decent amount of weight last year while applying to medical school which I think caused the arches of my feet to partially collapse. I'm now exactly in between a size 11 and 11.5, and neither size is comfortable. What should I do? I'm thinking of gaining even more weight to further collapse my arches so I can fit into an 11.5. Is this a good idea?

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Depends on how collapsed those arches are

 

[Doudline]

Where do you place yourself on the Kinsey scale?

 

[psswrd]

.

 

[amazing tekkers]

Any merits of being size 11?

In seriousness, no questions really... haha

Hmmm... any interview tips you would have for everyone? And how did you surviving the waiting? Oh man... the waiting....

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge920JptGEs[/YOUTUBE]

 

[amazing tekkers]

When you sit alone in a quiet room, what type of thoughts come to your head?

Do you still deal with alpha's in med school?

 

[getdown]

Dbeast, how can I make my shoe size go to 11... cause you know what they say about guys with big shoes right?

Goddamnit, shoulda read the thread before doing the shoe joke. Jesus...

Played GTA5 yet?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Do you think I'm sexy enough for this shirt? I think I'm too sexy for this shirt

 

[dbeast]

Dbeast, how can I make my shoe size go to 11... cause you know what they say about guys with big shoes right?

Goddamnit, shoulda read the thread before doing the shoe joke. Jesus...

Played GTA5 yet?

Don't own any gaming systems. I prefer to steal blimps and crash them into skyscrapers in real life instead.

Do you think I'm sexy enough for this shirt? I think I'm too sexy for this shirt

1. Take it off. Pants too.

2. How long until there's an ask rogueunicorn thread?

 

[Dandine]

This certainly will sound like a stupid question, but do you ever write for leisure? And if you do, have you had time to do so during medical school?

Also, did you think your major helped you prepare for medical school in any way? Just curious. (I did consider an English major at one point.)

 

[dbeast]

This certainly will sound like a stupid question, but do you ever write for leisure? And if you do, have you had time to do so during medical school?

Also, did you think your major helped you prepare for medical school in any way? Just curious. (I did consider an English major at one point.)

Totally a good question- I still pull some strings every now and then if I want to cover an event in the LA area and will usually be expected to send in a short article in return for the free tickets, although that only really happened during 1st and 2nd year. I was never much of a fiction/poetry guy.

The English major helped in some ways and hurt in others. I'd make the argument that I make fewer "stupid" mistakes on tests, in that I can read questions quickly yet accurately. On the other hand, many of my classmates had several years' worth of a head start in terms of biochemistry/genetics/etc. so their foundation for something like Step 1 was more solid than mine. Scores-wise, I'd say it equals out. If I could go back and do it again, I'd take more upper level science classes, but also keep the English major. Ugh, that sounds exhausting. Maybe I wouldn't.

 

[La Presse]

Do you believe in...ahem...alternative medicine? No need to lie.

 

[speeddemon]

Any advice on studying if you are really behind for a test in medical school?

I have 10 days before the exam, and I barely know anything due to my passive learning strategies.

 

[neusu]

What work did you do in journalism? Print or video?

 

[dbeast]

Do you believe in...ahem...alternative medicine? No need to lie.

Any advice on studying if you are really behind for a test in medical school?

I have 10 days before the exam, and I barely know anything due to my passive learning strategies.

I think I said it earlier in this thread, but med school is a marathon not a sprint. 2 hours a day for 6 weeks destroys 12 hours a day for 6 days in terms of quality.

What work did you do in journalism? Print or video?

Both- video for TV and I wrote for the website of said TV network.

 

[Cartoons]

The English major helped in some ways and hurt in others. I'd make the argument that I make fewer "stupid" mistakes on tests, in that I can read questions quickly yet accurately. On the other hand, many of my classmates had several years' worth of a head start in terms of biochemistry/genetics/etc. so their foundation for something like Step 1 was more solid than mine. Scores-wise, I'd say it equals out. If I could go back and do it again, I'd take more upper level science classes, but also keep the English major. Ugh, that sounds exhausting. Maybe I wouldn't.

That's nice to hear! It came out at a pre-med/dent/vet/voodoo meeting that I was an English major, and the Bio department heads just about lynched me, but I'm picking up some upper level sciences too, so I'm glad to hear it does even out from someone on the inside. Hard to find anyone talking about the major who isn't saying it's either trash or a magic wand.

So, I'm applying to west coast kinda schools as an east coast kinda guy. Do you think the way CA schools view weirdo non-standard applicants in a good light as you say is true for other states in the vicinity? Arizona, maybe even Washington? The latter's one of those in-state sticklers, I hear.

This one's oddly specific, but you might have a good nose for it given your background. I actually just got a job from a smallish publication, and they want me to interview some alternative health docs. My impression is that alternative medicine is in the sub-sludge category to most MDs, do you think an article like this could be a double-edged sword (laced with green tea extract)?

 

[dbeast]

That's nice to hear! It came out at a pre-med/dent/vet/voodoo meeting that I was an English major, and the Bio department heads just about lynched me, but I'm picking up some upper level sciences too, so I'm glad to hear it does even out from someone on the inside. Hard to find anyone talking about the major who isn't saying it's either trash or a magic wand.

So, I'm applying to west coast kinda schools as an east coast kinda guy. Do you think the way CA schools view weirdo non-standard applicants in a good light as you say is true for other states in the vicinity? Arizona, maybe even Washington? The latter's one of those in-state sticklers, I hear.

This one's oddly specific, but you might have a good nose for it given your background. I actually just got a job from a smallish publication, and they want me to interview some alternative health docs. My impression is that alternative medicine is in the sub-sludge category to most MDs, do you think an article like this could be a double-edged sword (laced with green tea extract)?

OHSU (Oregon) loves nontrads. Downside is it's expensive as all hell from out of state.

As for alternative health, my opinion is that as a pre-med you can truly do no wrong by exposing yourself to any MD specialty, even if it's not from one of the more traditional disciplines. There's always a chance that the person reviewing your app is a doctor who strongly believes in alternative medicine. And if not, then at least as a pre-med, you get the benefit of the doubt for "exploring" all that medicine has to offer. You'll have all of medical school to hear surgeons tell you that they think that stuff is nonsense.

Edit: If you're interviewing chiropractors, that won't fly. Make sure they're physicians, at least.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

what have been the most difficult classes you've had so far?

 

[yehhhboiii]

Any advice on studying if you are really behind for a test in medical school?

I have 10 days before the exam, and I barely know anything due to my passive learning strategies.

write important things down on a notecard and memorize it
run through the lecture powerpoints like 4 times

 

[dbeast]

what have been the most difficult classes you've had so far?

In terms of pre-med, calc 2 was super tough. Partially my professor was crazy intense, and partially because you can't just memorize info.

Med school is pretty similar- things like micro, pharm and anatomy are mostly memorization, which isn't too bad if you put in the time. Acid/base chemistry (aka pulm/renal), signal transduction and treatment algorithms are more challenging because there are too many variables to just memorize the facts. Those just require tons and tons of practice problems to really understand.

Honestly, pre-clinical med school isn't that hard. If you're smart enough to get in, then you're smart enough to pass all your classes. Just make sure to budget your time well and you'll be okay.