Ask me anything

[BigRedZippo]

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A bit of background...I was a lurker back when I was applying to med school (didn't even sign up as a member) but I remember there was a fourth year med student who did a similar post and a lot of people got some good info from him/her. I'm currently a fourth year at a top-10 school, enjoyed my time, and hopefully assured of a match into a competitive specialty in my home town come March. I've been involved with admissions since first year (and have read 1000's of apps ) and am currently cruising in 4th year. I'm on OB/Gyn but am willing to field questions from any premeds out there as my way of giving back. Ask me anything.....should I send a letter of intent to my top choice? (yes)...should I tell them about my DUI? (yes)....should I study during the summer before M1? (no). So ask away. I may take a day or so to get back to everyone, but i'll answer as many qns as possible.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

A bit of background...I was a lurker back when I was applying to med school (didn't even sign up as a member) but I remember there was a fourth year med student who did a similar post and a lot of people got some good info from him/her. I'm currently a fourth year at a top-10 school, enjoyed my time, and hopefully assured of a match into a competitive specialty in my home town come March. I've been involved with admissions since first year (and have read 1000's of apps ) and am currently cruising in 4th year. I'm on OB/Gyn but am willing to field questions from any premeds out there as my way of giving back. Ask me anything.....should I send a letter of intent to my top choice? (yes)...should I tell them about my DUI? (yes)....should I study during the summer before M1? (no). So ask away. I may take a day or so to get back to everyone, but i'll answer as many qns as possible.

Weird question, since you've been involved in admissions-

I've been working 30 hrs/week to support myself through college...how can I list this on my application and make it seem important without seeming desperate for attention. Do I mention the hours? I don't want to sound like "Look here: 30 freakin hours! Thats like full time!" but I also want adcoms to realize that I would have likely had a better GPA If I had had more time to study/live a normal life...

 

[anon-y-mouse]

How do you know where to apply for residencies? (which hospitals, etc.) We have our handy-dandy MSAR for med schools, but there are hundreds of hospitals nationwide. How does one research that information...?

Is research really that important for obtaining a good match? I hardly think that M1 summer is enough to publish...

 

[BigRedZippo]

Weird question, since you've been involved in admissions-

I've been working 30 hrs/week to support myself through college...how can I list this on my application and make it seem important without seeming desperate for attention. Do I mention the hours? I don't want to sound like "Look here: 30 freakin hours! Thats like full time!" but I also want adcoms to realize that I would have likely had a better GPA If I had had more time to study/live a normal life...

Yes, mention the hours, heck...put some emphasis on it. Put it someplace where it'll be seen....the work experience, plus at my school you can add an additional "misc" type of essay/experience. Put it there. I know I pay attention to it as I worked in college and it's tough.

 

[BigRedZippo]

How do you know where to apply for residencies? (which hospitals, etc.) We have our handy-dandy MSAR for med schools, but there are hundreds of hospitals nationwide. How does one research that information...?

Is research really that important for obtaining a good match? I hardly think that M1 summer is enough to publish...

For residency there's also a 'hierarchy' of programs in each field. Often times its published, often times its just word of mouth. You'll know how the programs stack up in your field when you get to applying because either faculty or other students will let you know. It's tough to research on the net, but ask people in that field at your school (esp residents) and they'll fill you in.

Yes, research is important, but do it when you are *sure* you want to go into a field and have met some people in that department. I'd wait until 3rd year.

 

[RayhanS1282]

Is apathy at an interview an indication of a rejection? If your voice breaks during an interview so that you sound like a participant in a maimed boy's choir...is this ground for rejection?

 

[happydays]

Oh Wise-BigRed,
How important is pharmacology for the boards? We won't have it in the curriculum at UM, so I'm wondering how much I'll have to study on my own. Thank you in advance!

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

I do apologize if you (or someone else who actually views applications and works with admissions) have answered this elsewhere, but do schools you interview at get to see which schools you have applied to/interviewed at/been accepted to? If so, how does this affect you? In addition, do you know if applicants have filled out the AMCAS and AACOMAS?

Thanks for sharing your time with us like this! 😀

 

[Shredder]

If your voice breaks during an interview so that you sound like a participant in a maimed boy's choir...is this ground for rejection?

now this i cant say ive seen before

 

[Fermata]

What is your quest?

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

Oh Wise-BigRed,
How important is pharmacology for the boards? We won't have it in the curriculum at UM, so I'm wondering how much I'll have to study on my own. Thank you in advance!

Another M4 here, though on vacation rather than OBGYN (thank God), and with Zippo's blessing (?) I'll chime in.

You honestly don't have pharm? It's sorta important, and when I say sorta I mean very. In addition to being one of the stressed topics on step 1, it also *occasionally* comes up on the wards.

To answer Timmy's ?: no one sees what other programs you've applied to, though they may ask. If this happens you are well within your rights to politely decline to answer, though it probably won't affect anything if you tell them.

 

[happydays]

You honestly don't have pharm? It's sorta important, and when I say sorta I mean very. In addition to being one of the stressed topics on step 1, it also *occasionally* comes up on the wards.

Thanks a lot!

I see Pharmacology in our M1 book list, but when I looked at the M1 curriculum, it's not there. Perhaps pharm is integrated into one of the other classes. I'll have to ask about this.

 

[Ashanti Rock]

Thanks a lot!

I see Pharmacology in our M1 book list, but when I looked at the M1 curriculum, it's not there. Perhaps pharm is integrated into one of the other classes. I'll have to ask about this.

I'm going to look into this as well, I'm glad you brought it up, please post if you find out anything soon! Thanks.

 

[chemwiz14]

If you are put on hold, would a letter of intent to a top 20 school help your status out?

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

Thanks a lot!

I see Pharmacology in our M1 book list, but when I looked at the M1 curriculum, it's not there. Perhaps pharm is integrated into one of the other classes. I'll have to ask about this.

It was part of the M2 curriculum at my school, and I would assume it is at others as well since you need an understanding of traditional M1 materials to fully grasp pharmacology. Maybe it's part of the second year--I highly doubt that they don't teach it at all (that might actually be educational malpractice 🙄 ).

 

[gdbaby]

Thanks a lot!

I see Pharmacology in our M1 book list, but when I looked at the M1 curriculum, it's not there. Perhaps pharm is integrated into one of the other classes. I'll have to ask about this.

Happydays, there's agreat thread on the medical students forum called "I hate my medical school." They really don't hate their schools, but they complain about what they see as flaws in the program. I think I recall a UofM student saying that there is no Pharm in their program. But check it out for yourself, there were too many complaints to remember where they all came from.

 

[happydays]

It was part of the M2 curriculum at my school, and I would assume it is at others as well since you need an understanding of traditional M1 materials to fully grasp pharmacology. Maybe it's part of the second year--I highly doubt that they don't teach it at all (that might actually be educational malpractice 🙄 ).

It's not in the M2 curriculum either (I checked the website). I've asked a couple people, and I'll post what they say.

 

[dumplings]

i'm in the middle of writing a letter of intent to my #1 choice and was wondering what are some of the key points that should be made other than why you want to go to that particular school. thanks so much! 🙂

 

[BigRedZippo]

Is apathy at an interview an indication of a rejection? If your voice breaks during an interview so that you sound like a participant in a maimed boy's choir...is this ground for rejection?

No. Various interviewers have different styles- some just come off more apathetic and some much more excited. Unless it goes *awful* and you get actual bad feedback, I don't think you can base much your chances on an interview.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Oh Wise-BigRed,
How important is pharmacology for the boards? We won't have it in the curriculum at UM, so I'm wondering how much I'll have to study on my own. Thank you in advance!

Honestly, not that important. By that I mean it is tested, but not in the rigorous way that it would be in a medical school class. While I hope pharm isn't TOTALLY gone from the UM curicullum, the pharm section in First Aid for Step 1 is more than adequate for the boards. You'll do fine with that.

 

[BigRedZippo]

I do apologize if you (or someone else who actually views applications and works with admissions) have answered this elsewhere, but do schools you interview at get to see which schools you have applied to/interviewed at/been accepted to? If so, how does this affect you? In addition, do you know if applicants have filled out the AMCAS and AACOMAS?

Thanks for sharing your time with us like this! 😀

To be honest, I don't know about the acceptance thing. As far as I know, i don't think we can tell where else you applied. I believe that after some date, schools know where you are accepted, but by that point, the interviews are over so there's not much that we can see (student-wise). How *would* it affect me? I'm sure that it would- if a gal showed up and had interviews at all the Top-10s, I'd probably see that candidate more favorably. However, that could be a function of a strong candidate getting all those interviews. At the end of the day, a really nice person is a really nice person, and a jerk's a jerk.

Don't think so on the AACOMAS and AMCAS.

 

[BigRedZippo]

If you are put on hold, would a letter of intent to a top 20 school help your status out?

If hold for an interview, it would be less likely to help you out. I feel a letter of intent is strongest when someoen's been here and has seen the place and THEN says "i want to go to your school". Pre-interview LOIs are, IMHO, a bit premature. However, if it's your TOP choice and you KNOW you would go there for whatever reason, send one in- it can't hurt.

 

[BigRedZippo]

i'm in the middle of writing a letter of intent to my #1 choice and was wondering what are some of the key points that should be made other than why you want to go to that particular school. thanks so much! 🙂

I made a post on this a day or so ago- somewhere on this forum. Check it out. Make it from the heart but make it analytical (more solid points and not as much "feel" "philosophy" etc). Good luck

 

[87138]

I originally started undergrad at one school, then transferred after 2 years (due to a variety of factors, including money, program availability [they had a much more specialized program in what I wanted to do at the second school], etc).

My GPA the past 2.5 years at my second school is 3.92. My GPA at the first school was ~3.0 (forget the exact number). Those first two years I really didn't have much in the way of academic direction, didn't know what I wanted to do, and certainly didn't put the kind of time into studying that was necessary. Since transferring, I realized I absolutely love the stuff I'm studying, and therefore have been able to devote huge quantities of time studying for my classes (and obviously doing well).

Now, weight-wise, my overall combined GPA will come out to like 3.5 or a little higher (maybe 3.56 or so) . . . but just from the AMCAS application, will Adcoms see the breakdown? Like will they be able to tell "oh, he didn't do amazingly his first two years, but after transfering and entering a program he liked, he's done exceptionally well, so the last three years he has a 3.92" (assuming I keep on my current course for the rest of this semester). Will this factor into their decision? Or will they only see my GPA of 3.5X and whatever my MCAT score is (I'll be taking it in August)?

How big of a hinderance are those first two years for me? I've obviously shown over the past few years that I evolved and have done very well (not bragging, just saying relative to the first years) in school, so will they take this into account? I know my acceptance will also depend heavily on my MCATs, but assuming a "decent" score, how big of a detriment will my first two years of 3.0 or so be?

 

[CCEMTP2DOC]

Yes, mention the hours, heck...put some emphasis on it. Put it someplace where it'll be seen....the work experience, plus at my school you can add an additional "misc" type of essay/experience. Put it there. I know I pay attention to it as I worked in college and it's tough.

So I should definitely mention the 60+ hours I will have worked throughout
my undergrad and post bacc/pre req's. My GPA is good, but there have been a couple of semesters of 6-9 credits. The rest were 12 or more.

Rob

 

[BigRedZippo]

I originally started undergrad at one school, then transferred after 2 years (due to a variety of factors, including money, program availability [they had a much more specialized program in what I wanted to do at the second school], etc).

My GPA the past 2.5 years at my second school is 3.92. My GPA at the first school was ~3.0 (forget the exact number). Those first two years I really didn't have much in the way of academic direction, didn't know what I wanted to do, and certainly didn't put the kind of time into studying that was necessary. Since transferring, I realized I absolutely love the stuff I'm studying, and therefore have been able to devote huge quantities of time studying for my classes (and obviously doing well).

Now, weight-wise, my overall combined GPA will come out to like 3.5 or a little higher (maybe 3.56 or so) . . . but just from the AMCAS application, will Adcoms see the breakdown? Like will they be able to tell "oh, he didn't do amazingly his first two years, but after transfering and entering a program he liked, he's done exceptionally well, so the last three years he has a 3.92" (assuming I keep on my current course for the rest of this semester). Will this factor into their decision? Or will they only see my GPA of 3.5X and whatever my MCAT score is (I'll be taking it in August)?

How big of a hinderance are those first two years for me? I've obviously shown over the past few years that I evolved and have done very well (not bragging, just saying relative to the first years) in school, so will they take this into account? I know my acceptance will also depend heavily on my MCATs, but assuming a "decent" score, how big of a detriment will my first two years of 3.0 or so be?

It'll be a stretch for someone to figure it out from the AMCAS forms- I'd add it someplace either in your personal statement or as an additional info part. Hopefully you'll have more science classes at your new school and so your science GPA will be higher, which will help.

If you can somehow make it come through that you've matured, have consistently worked hard (with a high MCAT to back it up), are driven and ambitious, and a nice guy to be around, you'll be fine. Good luck.

 

[BigRedZippo]

So I should definitely mention the 60+ hours I will have worked throughout
my undergrad and post bacc/pre req's. My GPA is good, but there have been a couple of semesters of 6-9 credits. The rest were 12 or more.

Rob

Yes. The 6-9 credit sems will probably not come up, but if they do, have your work experience in there to back you up. Good luck.

 

[nimotsu]

Question about the adcom... have you ever seen anything really funny sent into the adcom that actually worked and made the applicant stick out favorably.

 

[SailCrazy]

What have been some of the more interesting/enjoyable aspects of being involved with the admissions process?

 

[BigRedZippo]

Question about the adcom... have you ever seen anything really funny sent into the adcom that actually worked and made the applicant stick out favorably.

Rarely. Most things that the applicant thinks would be awesome end up being either cheesy or pointless. Exceptions- musicians with CDs they've done (professionally)...things of that ilk. If you're thinking of sending something in, run it by at least 5 people first.

 

[BigRedZippo]

What have been some of the more interesting/enjoyable aspects of being involved with the admissions process?

It's a lot of fun, but mostly there's a lot of fun, cool people out there. Girls- dress in a way that they remember you for your app, NOT your clothes/shoes. That's about the only thing that is memorable (ie. too short/too low cut).

 

[happydays]

I'm going to look into this as well, I'm glad you brought it up, please post if you find out anything soon! Thanks.

They do have pharm!

 

[Ashanti Rock]

They do have pharm!

Thanks for checking that out, it is part of an integrated system during the second year?

 

[happydays]

Thanks for checking that out, it is part of an integrated system during the second year?

They have lectures and notes in M1 (I think it's M1), but they don't have a formal text for it. From what I was told, the notes and lectures are pretty good, so we don't have to worry.

 

[BooMed]

It's a lot of fun, but mostly there's a lot of fun, cool people out there. Girls- dress in a way that they remember you for your app, NOT your clothes/shoes. That's about the only thing that is memorable (ie. too short/too low cut).

Eeks, how often does this happen? Interviewing in the South I found the girls to be dressed quite conservatively. I was the only one wearing grey instead of black. 😱

 

[ladyVA]

Ok so here's a question-

say you interview at a school and they ask you about a volunteer position internship that you've said on your aplication will begin in like a week or two.

Now if you get into the medical school say in a few days , and for whatever reason, you have to drop the extracurricular, is there anyway the med school can withdraw your acceptance if they find this out?

I know this sounds really paranoid but I might be in the same position but I dont want to be one of those awful stories you hear about.

Have you ever heard about this happening ?

 

[ladyVA]

Ok so here's a question-

say you interview at a school and they ask you about a volunteer position/ internship that you've said on your aplication will begin in like a week or two.

Now if you get into the medical school say in a few days , and for whatever reason, you have to drop the extracurricular, is there anyway the med school can withdraw your acceptance if they find this out?

I know this sounds really paranoid but I might be in the same position but I dont want to be one of those awful stories you hear about.

Have you ever heard about this happening ?

 

[ladyVA]

Ok so here's a question-

say you interview at a school and they ask you about a volunteer position/ internship that you've said on your aplication will begin in like a week or two.

Now if you get into the medical school say in a few days , and for whatever reason, you have to drop the extracurricular, is there anyway the med school can withdraw your acceptance if they find this out? Should I , as teh applicant let them know this after I am accepted? or is it not a bid deal?

I know this sounds really paranoid but I might be in the same position but I dont want to be one of those awful stories you hear about.

Have you ever heard about this happening ?

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

A few things...

I respectfully disagree with Zippo on the pharm issue (how do you like that--I hitchhike on his thread and then disagree with him/her??). I agree that for step 1, first aid is sufficient. however, i think that it would be difficult to have no pharm background and find the first aid pharm section very useful. also, pharm is obviously vital to practicing medicine (as well as being great pimp fodder) and it would be hard to learn that stuff 3rd year without an established foundation.

As far as the ? about improving your grades as you mature/figure things out, i think it's pretty easy to deduce from AMCAS. it clearly shows where/when you attended different UGs, and your GPA is broken down by year (fr, so, etc) and post-bacc. the trends are pretty easy to see, IMO, and I'll usually ask about it in the interview. its' also likely that you would be able to weave this into the PS fairly easily. this is actually pretty common, and these people tend to interview really well (they've usually put more thought into the medicine thing than the traditional high school-to-college-to med school applicant).

to answer EPO's question: i would suspect that it would be unlikely that a single volunteer activity would play that much of a factor in your acceptance, such to cause withdrawal of an acceptance were the experience to fall through. assuming a reasonable explanation, i doubt that it would be an issue as long as you were up front about it. having said that, i suppose that *technically* it would be possible for the school to recind the acceptance, though i have a hard time imaginging that actually happening. This is all conjecture based on my experiences (I'm interested to see what Zippo thinks). If you are worried about it, I would talk to a pre-med advisor, admissions directors, etc BEFORE it becomes an issue.

 

[Seona]

So I should definitely mention the 60+ hours I will have worked throughout
my undergrad and post bacc/pre req's. My GPA is good, but there have been a couple of semesters of 6-9 credits. The rest were 12 or more.

Rob

60 hrs/week?!?! That's a sh*tload. I only assume you meant 'per week' because 60 hours spread over 4 years is actually not a lot at all . . . actually, 60 hours a year only comes out to around 1 hour a week (I think I spend more time brushing my teeth per week than that).

 

[87138]

Ok, how about this: Because my school does not offer OChem over the summer (which is odd, since it's a huge university), I have to take it elsewhere. Due to geographic and financial constraints, the only place I can take it is at a community college. I will then be taking the MCATs in August (shortly after the second summer session of OChem is finished.

Will the fact that I took OChem at a CC negatively affect me? I had every intention of signing up for it this summer at my current university, but once I found out they weren't offering it, I had to find somewhere else, and could only find this place (although I have to admit it will be nice paying more than half the price at the CC vs. what it would cost at my university, and I really can only JUST BARELY afford to take the classes at CC this summer).

Assuming my MCAT scores are alright, will this be a huge deterrant to Adcoms?

 

[chemwiz14]

It is a post interview hold

 

[rehanyazdani]

Thanks for the info!

 

[sit down lucy]

How important is community service? I have a fair amount of clinical experience (via shadowing) and a lot of research experience (clinical and basic science)... does a lack of community service hours seriously hurt my chances if I've spent most of my time involved in those two things instead?

Thanks!

 

[medicin]

BigRedZippo,


how are the admissions committee's on going abroad? is it looked vavorably upon? Does it depend on what you do abroad?
also, do you knwo if AMCAS counts the grades you get when you go abroad when calculating your GPA? (im sorry if this last question was already asked and answered or if it should be obvious).

Thanks,

 

[Ema]

A bit of background...I was a lurker back when I was applying to med school (didn't even sign up as a member) but I remember there was a fourth year med student who did a similar post and a lot of people got some good info from him/her. I'm currently a fourth year at a top-10 school, enjoyed my time, and hopefully assured of a match into a competitive specialty in my home town come March. I've been involved with admissions since first year (and have read 1000's of apps ) and am currently cruising in 4th year. I'm on OB/Gyn but am willing to field questions from any premeds out there as my way of giving back. Ask me anything.....should I send a letter of intent to my top choice? (yes)...should I tell them about my DUI? (yes)....should I study during the summer before M1? (no). So ask away. I may take a day or so to get back to everyone, but i'll answer as many qns as possible.

I have done some volunteering work in the hospital, about 8-10 months 4hrs/wk, and since it was not satisfying ( i did not do anything there) I quit. Now I am about to start volunteering in a center for abused children, being their mentor. At same time, I have been working 20-35hrs/wk,( 4 years in retail 🙁, and it will be one year in ER by time I apply to med school).Also, I have been doing research, it will be a year by time I apply to med school.Now I will start one more part time job as a assistant in surgical lab(training lab)for surgeons)
I have been really busy with just full load of school each semester and work that I could not do any extra stuff.It seems to me that I do not have enough of the experience in med field, and not much of extra stuff.Do I have reason to worry, or there is a way that admissions will recognise the fact that I have had a job that takes a lot of time.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Eeks, how often does this happen? Interviewing in the South I found the girls to be dressed quite conservatively. I was the only one wearing grey instead of black. 😱

Eh...grey vs. black isn't really an issue. I'd stick to dark colors: grey's/dark blues/or black. I mean cleavage/really short skirts and the like. You are fine with grey, trust me.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Ok so here's a question-

say you interview at a school and they ask you about a volunteer position internship that you've said on your aplication will begin in like a week or two.

Now if you get into the medical school say in a few days , and for whatever reason, you have to drop the extracurricular, is there anyway the med school can withdraw your acceptance if they find this out?

I know this sounds really paranoid but I might be in the same position but I dont want to be one of those awful stories you hear about.

Have you ever heard about this happening ?

Unless it was a totally life changing or application building extracuric, I wouldn't worry about it. I've never heard of it happening. Every has things that just don't pan out. Now, doing this PURPOSELY would be a bad thing...and while you probably wouldn't get caught, karma'll probably get you in the end.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Ok, how about this: Because my school does not offer OChem over the summer (which is odd, since it's a huge university), I have to take it elsewhere. Due to geographic and financial constraints, the only place I can take it is at a community college. I will then be taking the MCATs in August (shortly after the second summer session of OChem is finished.

Will the fact that I took OChem at a CC negatively affect me? I had every intention of signing up for it this summer at my current university, but once I found out they weren't offering it, I had to find somewhere else, and could only find this place (although I have to admit it will be nice paying more than half the price at the CC vs. what it would cost at my university, and I really can only JUST BARELY afford to take the classes at CC this summer).

Assuming my MCAT scores are alright, will this be a huge deterrant to Adcoms?

Unless the grade is significantly different (ie. C's in all the others and A+ in OChem) you'll be OK. Just take the one (at most) class and if it comes up, explain the situation. No one will begrudge a strong record if it has one CC class on it.

 

[BigRedZippo]

How important is community service? I have a fair amount of clinical experience (via shadowing) and a lot of research experience (clinical and basic science)... does a lack of community service hours seriously hurt my chances if I've spent most of my time involved in those two things instead?

Thanks!

VERY important. Medicine is as much about giving back as it is the technical aspects of practice. Frankly if I dont' see at least one H4H/etc, I wonder about the applicant.