Ask LizzyM (Almost) Anything 2012 edition

[SilentSoldier]

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Notice the M avatar, what did you think of Skyfall?

 

[stargate16]

Hi LizzyM, thanks so much for answering questions! I would like to know if being 18 vs 17 when applying, makes a large difference? If so, will it be a problem if a student has been having 3 gap years (productive gap years)? Thanks again

 

[Notsureuser]

Thanks Lizzy. Its really nice of you and I think it's amazing to be able to juggle all these questions! I guess its part of being an adcom.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[medicalapp12]

Hey LizzyM,

I have some interviews coming up and some free time. Do you have any medical school interview books you recommend? Also, do you have any advice on how to prepare besides be yourself, know your application well, know why you want to go to that school, and how you would be a good fit?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

 

[ScholarStud]

Thanks for doing this! Do you or any other adcoms you know take particular notice to when someone takes the MCAT? By this I mean: while in school, in the summer, or after graduation and out of school completely.

 

[Midifelder10]

Thanks for the response Lizzy.

 

[LizzyM]

I apologize if this has been asked before (or seem redundant), but other than shadowing and hospital volunteering, what are other instances of clinical experience? Do hospices and free clinics count? Sorry for asking a naive question... (first question tomorrow 😳)

If you are in the vicinity of patients who are actively in the care of a physicians or advanced practice providers (or will be as soon as you stabilize them and get them in the rig 😉 ), it is a clinical experience.

By "in the vicinity", I mean my catch phrase "if you can smell patients". If you are working in a gift shop, then it is likely you aren't close enough.

By patients, I mean people who are seeking medical (or dental or podiatric) care. People with chronic illnesses and healthy kids who you interact with in schools, senior centers and the like are not "patients" in that setting. If you are in such a setting and working under clinical protocols signed off by a physician (giving flu shots in a senior center) then you are dealing with patients. Any opportunity to learn more about the human condition is valuable, even if it is not a "clinical" one.

 

[LizzyM]

I had one interviewer who I wish had felt this way. I was given a distinct impression that it was a negative. All other interviewers I had, either did not mention military service or seemed to think it was good.

That an interviewer does not mention something does not mean that it isn't impressive. It may be that the interviewer has other fish to fry in determining your fit with that school.

Also, the interviewer often is not a decision maker at the table when it comes time to make an offer of admission so the people to whom it really matters are people you may never meet.

 

[LizzyM]

As a gay applicant, who will be out on my application (due to most of my volunteer work being with gay rights organizations), I really want to go to a school in a state that my marriage to my husband will be considered "legal." So places like NY, Washington, Iowa, etc. (I'm not applying for another 2 years, so who knows what the hell will happen between now and then.) If I get a interview at schools in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage, that will automatically be at the top of my list for schools. Is it appropriate to mention this in the interview when they ask "Why this school" question. Obviously you would still research the mission statement and why the school is a good fit academically for you, but is it also appropriate to say something along the lines of "and living in this state would afford my husband and I equal rights."

Well, you might get marked down for bad grammar (it should be "my husband and me") but furthermore, it seems like a very personal reason. I might as well suggest that an applicant mention that the school is close to their preferred house of worship or a supportive faith community and therefore is highly desirable to them.

Obviously I'm aware being out is risky on an application, and you never know how the adcom is going to react to that, but if it truly is something that's drawing you to that school... and if that reason places it at the rank of "If I get an acceptance here, I will not turn it down," could that be a good thing? Or is it better to just lay low? I always here showing extreme interest in a school helps out, and that would be a very sincere way to say "I will come here if you let me."

Well, there are more and more places that fit your criteria so I'm not sure that telling schools in several states that you will choose that school because of the legal status of gay marriage in that state is a good strategy.

I think that it might be better to say "I love [state/city] and could see myself being very happy here. This works best in cities/states that have only one medical school. 😉

 

[LizzyM]

During the entire application process, are applicants ranked based on their profiles and having a score greater than a certain score, somewhat similar to the LizzyM score, gets an acceptance, scholarship, etc?

We use both qualitative and quantitative assessments. In the end, you are in one of three categories: admit/waitlist/deny.

Also, how crucial is the interview? Do factors such as the following impact the interview scores? Height, pretty or not, overall build, hygiene, ability to dress well, etc. I have noticed the vast majority of doctors are tall!

Someone who would embarrass us by their hygiene or inappropriate style of dress in a clinical setting (coming to the interview wearing cargo pants and flipflops) would get weeded out by the interview. This happens very, very rarely (one in a thousand). That said, what you say and how you act, rather than how you look, are very important.

Lastly, does the adcom factor in race as an intrinsic bias? For example, Asians seem to REQUIRE the highest stats to get in, then whites, etc.

Most schools want to choose "the best". Some schools are required to favor students from their state and that influences their decisions, too. All schools want a diverse student body and they will take the best of the pool of applicants to make that happen. As I've said before, be in the top 40% of people like yourself, apply strategically, and you should get in somewhere.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey Lizzy, thanks for doing this!

I am currently a junior considering taking a gap year after undergrad. How would med schools view me spending the summer after my junior year not doing much outside of volunteering a few hours a week at a hospital? I would like to be able to spend this time studying for the MCAT so I don't want to be involved in too many different things this summer. Would my MCAT score be looked down upon compared to those who were able to study for the MCAT during school?

Certainly, a person who can manage a 35 in May during a semester when they carried 17 credits is going to look better than someone who took 12 weeks off and did the same, if anyone even looks that carefully. (Some schools will be delighted to see a 35 in any context, others will think it is on the low side 😱 ). Do what you think is best for you and hope for the best. Don't take the exam until you are sure you are ready and take plenty of practice tests under test-like conditions, and be sure to include the writing section to help build your endurance and give you a more accurate measure of how well you will perform in the bio section when you are tired from all that writing.

How do med schools view gap year students vs rising seniors as applicants? Is one better than the other?

It is a double edged sword. Gap year students have one more hoop to jump through, that being "what are you doing this year?" The answer to that question, again, can make or break the application whereas traditional students have neither the risk nor the benefit of that additional time.

Also is there anything in particular med schools like to see during a gap year? Would it be acceptable if I just found a low paying job just to get by during the year? I also plan to continue volunteering/helping the community during my gap year.

I think that the strongest applicants work in a clinical setting (ER scribe seems to be a common job) or in bench research or in a non-research laboratory setting (quality control in food or drug manufacturing, etc).

Working in a job that requires only a HS diploma (retail, food service) is less desirable but better than nothing at all.

 

[LizzyM]

Originally Posted by LizzyM

Adcoms want to see applicants who are ...willing to take-on leadership responsibilities (and by that I don't mean just school clubs), ...

So what exactly is meant by leadership? How do applicants show that? Do you have any examples from previous apps you've read?

Take leadership roles in a fraternity or sorority or on a varsity team, in a faith community or in a musical group, organize activities on campus or off for Red Cross and similar NGOs (initiating and running blood drives, bone marrow drives, service projects ), be hired or promoted to a supervisory position on a job or in a volunteer position. Not every demonstration of leadership will be listed on your application as "leadership". Some "employment, military", for example, has a huge leadership component but would be listed under the "employment" heading rather than as "leadership".

 

[LizzyM]

I realized that you might be biased as a private school adcom, but I'm grappling between choosing a top 20 school and my state school. At what point is prestige/research opportunities/connections overshadowed by higher cost?

When that becomes more important to you based on your values.

 

[LizzyM]

If you could change anything about how pre-medical undergraduates are prepared for medical school (or about undergraduate education in general) what would you change?

I think that the changes I'd like to see are coming down the pike. Collapse the year of o-chem, year of English, and year of physics to a semester of each and add biochemistry, genetics and a social science (anthro/sociology/psychology).

What would you change about medical education?

Make it less expensive for students.

I can dream, can't I?

 

[LizzyM]

How does age play into an application as well? Is there a cutoff where you would rather not admit someone? Does military service fulfill part of an application that may be lacking, for example leadership/volunteering/etc?

edit: removed part that I saw was asked above and missed.

We aren't suppose to factor age into our decisions but I see us question the maturity of chronologically young students more often than we do the maturity of older candidates.

The same goes for the motivation for medicine of older candidates who are changing careers or who have never found a career after trying several or who have been in school continuously just collecting degrees. They seem to have a harder time than younger applicants who are coming out of school or who have been out just a year or two.

Military service often involves leadership, particularly if the applicant enlisted after college graduation. That type of work often precludes many opportunities for traditional volunteerism but I've seen successful applicants in the military who managed to do a little something while in the service.

 

[LizzyM]

Does it make any difference to Adcoms whether an applicant is graduated (w/ a Bachelors) by the time they apply vs. an applicant that won't graduate until the year after (someone that applies after junior year).

In other words, is there any advantage to me pushing myself to graduate this year (I can do it but it will make my semester hard) if I plan on applying at the end of this year?

Thanks a million!

I'm not sure there is a huge advantage to graduating a few weeks before you submit your application vs. graduating during the application cycle (Dec or April-May-June). In fact, being in school or having just graduated at the time of the interview avoids the sometimes awkward question, "what have you been doing since graduation?".

You need to balance out maximizing your gpa and reducing the cost of your education. Only you know how to make that balancing act work.

 

[LizzyM]

I just read 11 pages yesterday from last years thread and ironically here you are again!! thank you so much for your contribution to all of us.

I know you say avoid the sick grandma story, but would growing up having to physically care for a handicapped parent be something to focus on, it has defenitely shaped the person ive become as well as explains the reason I will be applying in my late 20s early 30s.

Thanks for any help again.

"That's a horse of a different color." to quote the Guardian of the Emerald City Gates in The Wizard of Oz. 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

I have one other question 😳 Thank you so much!!

My university doesn't allow students to take more than the equivalent of 18 credit hours a semester without submitting a petition and paying extra tuition. The average courseload is 16 credits -- so 4 classes worth 4 credits each. However, to be full-time, you only need 12 credits. I've been comparing my schedule to other SDN members, and 16 credits seems awfully light. Will this be counted against me? Will AdComs somehow know that this is the case at my university? Or, if I do well in my classes and get all my pre-reqs and a major done by the time I graduate, will they not care at all?

Thank you! 🙂

Your school sounds like my undergrad... I generally like to see 32-34 credits per academic year to show me that a student is working hard; seeing less than 30 would be a concern for me.

 

[LizzyM]

what would you think of a person who put down video games as a hobby because the person considers it art just like music or movies and is a genuine hobby of the person

Creating video games? That is cool; it's like making music or movies.

Playing video games, listening to music and going to the movies?? Not really worth mentioning.

 

[LizzyM]

Thank you for doing this LizzyM!

I have a few questions. I am a freshman at a small liberal arts college. Until recently, I hadn't even considered a career in research/academic medicine, but now it is interesting me more and more. The only problem is that I have never had any formal research experience. My college does not have any labs that I can work in, and though I will be applying to some SURF programs I know it will be hard for me to get in. How will adcoms see me if I say that I am interested in doing research in medical school/my career if I don't get the opportunity to actually do any?

You have good instincts. It is hard to say that you are interested in X if you've never been exposed to it. Apply broadly and you should find a research gig the summer after sophomore year when you have more lab experience and more skills than you have at this point.

Also, have you seen a bias against overweight applicants? I know that I have some weight to lose, and though I am by no means obese or unhealthy, I'm worried my extra weight might make an interviewer think I'm lazy or unfit for the job.

I've never heard such a bias spoken aloud but you never know what unspoken biases interviewers may have that causes them to give a lower global rating. Making good clothing choices can go a long way to making you look well put together and capable so make choices that fit well and have them tailored if necessary so that you look great.

One last question: how do adcoms know how rigorous your classes actually are, and how to compare your school to other schools? I feel like NOBODY knows my school. My freshman class size is like 600, we send maybe 4 people to medical school every year (rarely OOS). Literally people who go to my school don't even know we have a science department. How could an adcom at say, Vanderbilt have any idea what my school is like if no one from my school has ever applied there?

We can find out about schools through their websites, guidebooks, experiences with grads from that school (which favors the geographic are where your alumni settle), and LORs that detail the academic rigor and scope of the classes you've taken.

 

[LizzyM]

-Will getting a D in a lab almost rule you out of med school? Is it possible to make up for it if your overall GPA is still above 3.5?

A D (1.0) in a 1 credit lab is going to hurt a gpa but not as much as a D in a 3 credit class. I would not see it as a deal breaker if the gpa is at or above the average for the school that interests you.

-Is achieving non-science related goals worth mention on your application? Like winning bodybuilding competitions, pro gaming (made actual money), athletics, ect.

The experience section is the place for anything you might want the adcom to know about in terms of what you have accomplished.

 

[LizzyM]

How common is it for an applicant to have C's on their transcript? Given that the GPA is still satisfactory.

Not that common but I am at a school where some adcom members think that a 3.6 is mediocre.

 

[ModernAlchemist]

This almost goes without saying, but in the 5 years that I have been on these boards, you have been a great source of support and information for me. Thank you very much for everything you do!

My question is: For those of us already accepted to our top choice, what do you suggest we do to prepare? I know not to pre-study, but what other kinds of things would you suggest we do while we still have time?

THANK YOU!

 

[LizzyM]

Do you want me to fix the typo in the thread title?

That's not my question, I just wanted to ask haha.

Yes, please.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi LizzyM,

Do adcoms look at trends seriously on a transcript? I had a fairly low end 3.0 GPA freshman year, however, since then i've been getting 3.6-3.9 every semester and i wanted to know whether or not they would take this into account. Any advice would be appreciated.

We see that straight away, before we even open the AMCAS application. We'll also look at the grades for that year to see if it was all Bs or if it was a D or F that dragged down mostly B+ grades and what classes the poorer grades were in.

No advice. What's done is done... do your best and hope for the best.

 

[LizzyM]

The truth is that I desire not to list my aunt as my parent even though she was the one working, not my grandmother.
It has been absolutely ridiculous every time my aunt has told someone that she raised me.
Life at "home" had been chaotic and stressful ever since I was 2 and until I finally left at 17.

Must I provide my aunt's information in order to accurately show the household income?

Also, I have an older brother who I never grew up with - should I provide his information?

Thanks.

I have never seen a dental school application so I don't know how to answer a pre-dental applicant.

Most of these questions on the AMCAS application are optional and are not factored into decisions about financial aid. Skip those questions if they bother you.

 

[LizzyM]

What if I talked about my political activism stuff in my personal statement? I have an experience with someone being ill due to environmental injustice?

With a Che avatar?? You may be asking for trouble or you may find a sympathetic audience. It is hard to say. If you are applying for med school, focus on your experiences of caring for and wanting to be of service to those who are sick or injured. If you are interested in politics or public health, then the root cause of your "someone's " illness might be relevant but otherwise, how they got sick is of less interest than your motivation for desiring a career that will care for people's physical and/or psychiatric ailments and/or injuries.

 

[LizzyM]

How big of a difference is there in the eyes of an adcom between a 3.85 and a 3.95 for schools whose average GPA is rather high (and likely receive many 4.0s)?

Yes

How do adcoms feel about students whose parent is a physician?

Generally they are considered to have a better idea than most of what is involved in the practice of medicine. On the other hand, there is more concern of "family pressure" than there might be in a family of lawyers or CEOs.

Under what category is any work at a family member's medical practice sorted under?

It is usually "employment, non-military" if it is paid and "volunteer, clinical" if it is not.

What's considered a decent semester workload for a premedical student?

At least 15 credits.

 

[GomerPyle]

Hi Lizzy 🙂

During this application year, assuming I don't get in, I have been doing nothing! I graduated last year, and have been so stressed that I discontinued my volunteering services (I have plenty of hours btw and loads of clinical experiences). I don't have a job either. What do you suggest I do during the remainder of this application season while I wait? Should I find a job (ER scribe or bioengineering related job?) I probably need to retake the MCAT since my verbal score is horrendous (11 7 11). Research? (I have 3 years of intense research experience already)...I just don't know what to do with myself! I definitely feel like I need to be doing something in case I need to reapply so I have something new to talk about. This wait sucks and it is stressing me out. What are some really good things to do while I wait?? I graduated last year already.

 

[dextor2003]

Hey LizzyM, thanks for doing this.

I really feel like I screwed up my interview at my top choice school. It was my first interview, and I know now that I just hadn't prepared well enough. Do you know if it's acceptable for me to ask for another interview? If the school allows it, would it even be worth it? (Would they already have a preconceived negative feeling about me that would be very hard to change?)

 

[LizzyM]

Notice the M avatar, what did you think of Skyfall?

Nada. But don't you think that the moniker "the evil queen of numbers" fits me?

 

[Ansar]

They don't care. If you do it too many times, they'll wonder if you are trying to protect your gpa.


There is an AMCAS table that shows the proportion of applicants by race who get admitted at each various gpa stratified by MCAT score. Check for and see the lowest gpa but keep in mind that sometimes those applicants are non-trads who had rotten gpas in unrelated fields and then did a post-bac some years later but the undergrad gpa is what goes into that table.
https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/app...mcat-gpa-grid-by-selected-race-ethnicity.html



A semester of tech work in a lab, a semester of "child life" volunteering, a year's membership in a campus club and a single hobby like "running".

Thank you so much, LizzyM, especially for the AAMC table. Happy holidays 🙂

 

[stevvo111]

how do you differentiate between those who have done substantial research and those who didn't? I've done a butt load of original (as in my own project/all done by myself, periodically presented, know how to read primary literature, etc) research for 4 years of undergrad, but I have no publications to show for it (will be doing a senior thesis though, and I've presented somewhere). I know other students who have published in highly acclaimed journals (nature, cell, etc.) simply by doing 3-4 figures in an article for a professor... now I'm sure they worked really hard, but I definitely don't think they did "research" that involved more than getting a protocol to work.

Also, 15 credit workload, would you count research credit with this? I take shabby 12 credits of classes pretty much every semester because I also take a 3 credit research thing every semester that gives me time to be in the lab... bad...or reasonable?

 

[spf15]

At the end of interviews, when the interviewer asks, "is there anything else that you'd like to talk about? Anything we missed?" ... are you SUPPOSED to have something else you'd like to bring up? For me, I almost never had anything specific in mind, so I'd just say no. Of course, I could have gone on longer about any one of my activities, but this sort of question almost rang like "do you have any extenuating circumstances or other unique situations we should know about?" sort of thing. Am I correct in thinking this way, or is that final question a way to further sell myself, or what?

 

[lobo.solo]

With a Che avatar?? You may be asking for trouble or you may find a sympathetic audience. It is hard to say. If you are applying for med school, focus on your experiences of caring for and wanting to be of service to those who are sick or injured. If you are interested in politics or public health, then the root cause of your "someone's " illness might be relevant but otherwise, how they got sick is of less interest than your motivation for desiring a career that will care for people's physical and/or psychiatric ailments and/or injuries.

Thank you LizzyM, I appreciate your input. And yes I am interested in public health and in fact that is what I want to do--treat individual health, but also resolve population health issues. I am currently involved in research that is focused on the impact of the environment on people's health. Do you think that those two things (and other similar ones) could give adcoms and idea of what I am about; meaning that there is a coherent theme in my application?

Also, I realize that depending on the tone of my political activism description, I could get in trouble. However I wasn't planning on being overly explicit, but focus more on the interaction with the person ill. This experience truly changed my perspective tremendously and I want to honor this person's story, who influenced me into wanting to go medicine.

 

[HughMyron]

LizzyM,

Do you predict a drop in applications as physician reimbursement falls? Why or why not?

 

[Si Se Puede]

Generally, are teaching experiences, such as private tutoring and teaching assistant classified under Teaching or Employment, Paid?

 

[LizzyM]

Hi LizzyM, thanks so much for answering questions! I would like to know if being 18 vs 17 when applying, makes a large difference? If so, will it be a problem if a student has been having 3 gap years (productive gap years)? Thanks again

I don't answer hypotheticals. If you are asking if you should apply at age 17 or 18 or take some productive gap years, I'd vote for gap years. You need to have some experiences as an adult (because there are so many research and clinical experiences closed to minors) in order to compete with the big boys (and girls).

 

[Aluminum]

If I don't get in this year. Just if, should I do a Masters (I want to end up with an MD/PhD, so if I do an MSc now then an MD/PhD, the MSc would be unnecessary) or simply research without a degree for one year only? or a PhD then an MD (although I'd prefer getting acquainted to areas through an MD before specializing)?

Thanks

 

[LizzyM]

Hey LizzyM,

I have some interviews coming up and some free time. Do you have any medical school interview books you recommend? Also, do you have any advice on how to prepare besides be yourself, know your application well, know why you want to go to that school, and how you would be a good fit?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

No books, but I do recommend the interview feedback link at the top of this page. And I ask you to contribute your experiences after you interview.

Read something completely for your own enjoyment whether it is history, fiction, poetry, etc. Some interviewers like to ask about non-text book most recently read or whatever.

Here are some I've recommended in the past:



The Coast of Chicago by Stuart Dybek (short stories)

The Death of Vishnu: A Novel by Manil Suri

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (short stories)

Bel Canto: A Novel by Ann Patchett

I also like the poems of Mary Oliver.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks for doing this! Do you or any other adcoms you know take particular notice to when someone takes the MCAT? By this I mean: while in school, in the summer, or after graduation and out of school completely.

Yes, I've made note of it myself and I've seen others comment on it. Not much gets by us. 😉

 

[LizzyM]

This almost goes without saying, but in the 5 years that I have been on these boards, you have been a great source of support and information for me. Thank you very much for everything you do!

My question is: For those of us already accepted to our top choice, what do you suggest we do to prepare? I know not to pre-study, but what other kinds of things would you suggest we do while we still have time?

THANK YOU!

Develop good habits. By that I mean: Get enough rest, find a vigorous activity that you enjoy and get at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day, find something that puts your mind to rest and practice it daily (e.g. meditation, knitting, gardening, yoga), hone your skills so that you can efficiently shop and prepare nutritious food from scratch to save your health and your wallet during medical school.

 

[kinner]

What happens to update letters or letters of intent when you send them in? Who reads them? If the admissions committee has already met and "scored" your file, then will these letters have no/minimal effect?

Thanks LizzyM!

 

[LizzyM]

Hi Lizzy 🙂

During this application year, assuming I don't get in, I have been doing nothing! I graduated last year, and have been so stressed that I discontinued my volunteering services (I have plenty of hours btw and loads of clinical experiences).

You didn't move away or become more busy earning a living but you stopped serving your community??😕 Did the needs in your community magically disappear? Quitting as you did makes it look as if you did this for you rather than in service to others.

I don't have a job either.

Try to find one.

What do you suggest I do during the remainder of this application season while I wait? Should I find a job (ER scribe or bioengineering related job?) I probably need to retake the MCAT since my verbal score is horrendous (11 7 11). Research? (I have 3 years of intense research experience already)...I just don't know what to do with myself! I definitely feel like I need to be doing something in case I need to reapply so I have something new to talk about. This wait sucks and it is stressing me out. What are some really good things to do while I wait?? I graduated last year already.

Don't just sit there! Do something productive with at least 40-50 hours of every week. Do NOT count your chickens before they hatch. You are going to be more stressed out if you don't get in anywhere and you have to reapply with nothing to show in your first gap year. Get off the computer and get crackin'.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey LizzyM, thanks for doing this.

I really feel like I screwed up my interview at my top choice school. It was my first interview, and I know now that I just hadn't prepared well enough. Do you know if it's acceptable for me to ask for another interview? If the school allows it, would it even be worth it? (Would they already have a preconceived negative feeling about me that would be very hard to change?)

I don't know how unorthodox it is to ask for a second chance but I think it would be highly unusual to grant such a request. Schools expend enormous amounts of resources (facutly and student time, staff time, spending on interview day food, etc) and going back over some applicants a second time does not seem to be a good uses of their resources.

 

[LizzyM]

how do you differentiate between those who have done substantial research and those who didn't? I've done a butt load of original (as in my own project/all done by myself, periodically presented, know how to read primary literature, etc) research for 4 years of undergrad, but I have no publications to show for it (will be doing a senior thesis though, and I've presented somewhere). I know other students who have published in highly acclaimed journals (nature, cell, etc.) simply by doing 3-4 figures in an article for a professor... now I'm sure they worked really hard, but I definitely don't think they did "research" that involved more than getting a protocol to work.

Boo hoo. The bad news is that whining is very unbecoming.

The good news is that unless they are 1st authors (I doubt it), your thesis and their publications are about the same in my adcom's eyes.

Also, 15 credit workload, would you count research credit with this? I take shabby 12 credits of classes pretty much every semester because I also take a 3 credit research thing every semester that gives me time to be in the lab... bad...or reasonable?

If it is on your transcript as 3 credits, then it counts, even if it isn't graded.

 

[LizzyM]

At the end of interviews, when the interviewer asks, "is there anything else that you'd like to talk about? Anything we missed?" ... are you SUPPOSED to have something else you'd like to bring up? For me, I almost never had anything specific in mind, so I'd just say no. Of course, I could have gone on longer about any one of my activities, but this sort of question almost rang like "do you have any extenuating circumstances or other unique situations we should know about?" sort of thing. Am I correct in thinking this way, or is that final question a way to further sell myself, or what?

If you've got nothing, it is always a good idea to have a question or two about the school. Not bullsh t questions like "what are the school's strengths and weaknesses" but questions like, can you give me some examples of summer research projects students have done, or can you tell me where some of the students have done abroad rotations? based on what most interests you.

This shows that you were interested enough to do your homework and that you are curious enough to want to know more than you could learn from the school's website, viewbook, etc.

 

[wizedw]

Hello! My GPA is just slightly over (.06ish lol) The average GPA at my top choice school. Does that make me above average or average? My MCAT score is pretty much dead on for that school and I thought my interview went well.

I'm really just asking how much above an average do you have to be to be above average?

 

[LizzyM]

Thank you LizzyM, I appreciate your input. And yes I am interested in public health and in fact that is what I want to do--treat individual health, but also resolve population health issues. I am currently involved in research that is focused on the impact of the environment on people's health. Do you think that those two things (and other similar ones) could give adcoms and idea of what I am about; meaning that there is a coherent theme in my application?

Also, I realize that depending on the tone of my political activism description, I could get in trouble. However I wasn't planning on being overly explicit, but focus more on the interaction with the person ill. This experience truly changed my perspective tremendously and I want to honor this person's story, who influenced me into wanting to go medicine.

You could have a very good case for combining a career in medicine and advocacy with a focus on environmental health. You might have a good shot at schools that have a strong program in occupational medicine. google residency occupational medicine and you'll find some good links. I think that you can make a good story that is unusual if not unique and that holds together in an interesting way.

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM,

Do you predict a drop in applications as physician reimbursement falls? Why or why not?

Yes. Because people who are going into medicine for the money will fall away and only the very motivated and the independently wealthy will be left.