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[BigRedZippo]

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BigRedZippo,

How do you feel about the Med School Admissions Process = Load Of Crap thread on this forum?

Thanks.

I've yet to read it. Will do so and post my thoughts. Although my knee jerk reaction is a sympathetic weariness.

 

[BigRedZippo]

I've always been interested in dentistry and medicine..although medicine has always been my top choice over dentistry. But my advisor scared me by telling me that dental schools will not care about my C+ in organic II as much as medical school would, so she got me to thinking that my only chance is dental school, even though i have a 3.68 GPA and im working on getting a high score on the organic chemisty/ general chem part of the MCAT/DAT...the problem is, however, that my school has an application process with the Health Committee and I have already submitted my application as pre-dental, but I want to go to medical school. I just recently talked to a person on the admissions board of a top ten school, and he told me to apply to both medical and dental school, with dental school being my back-up. But, my question is, should i tell my school and is this a good idea in the first place/will it hurt my chances of getting into medical school?

Yes make sure you tell your school as they will probably write you a letter (if its similar to my schools "PreMed Committee Letter") and will write DENTAL SCHOOL APPLICANT multiple times. The technical term is this happens is that your app is "f**cked". Be sure to let them know you've done some thinking, realized medicine is more for you over dentistry (have reasons) and are going to apply to medical school. Dental school as a backup sounds reasonable but I'd apply ONLY medical school first given the time and expense needed. If it doesn't work out, apply dental later.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Okay that makes sense. One of my interviewers is on the committee, though, and the woman who did our orientation session before interviews told us to mail thank you letters to the admissions office, they would forward them to the interviewers and the interviewers then return them to be included in our files. Would that change your advice? Unless you state otherwise, I'll plan to write the Dean tonight.

Other question, while I'm at it. My MCAT scores were low. Low enough that I was surprised to be interviewed (<27). Interviews are open file at this school, but neither interviewer had my file with them. Neither brought up my scores, and I didn't get the sense at any point in the interview that it was a good time to bring them up. So now, the committee meets, and I'm guessing someone is going to say, "So, what's the story on these scores?" but no one will have anything to say about it. Say something in the letter of intent, or leave it out?

I'd like to meet the folks that return them to the office! It's usually too much hassle for most. I'd still write.

Don't bring up the MCAT in the letter of intent- it can only bring attention to something that can/may hurt you (depending on the averages at that school- some great schools have averages in the 26-28 range). Keep to the basics I wrote about someplace earlier for letters of intent. You want them to know why you WANT to go there over any other place, not why your MCAT isn't great.

 

[LabMonster]

I'm worried that the GPA may keep you out even with a good MCAT and experiences. Talk to your pre-med advisor and ask for honest feedback regarding post-bac, taking an extra year in undergrad, or applying with your app the way it is. Given the state of admissions at the moment, a 3.1 could hurt your chances a great deal.

Not hijacking Zippo - just a quick retort.

I was told the same thing-not to apply, or to apply DO or offshore - and it may ring true. Zippo is right, contact your PreMed advisor for some good honest advice.

However - you may want to look here Underdog Thread for inspiration.

Good Luck

 

[Gut Shot]

I am a bit confused with internships. So, I understand what residencies and fellowships are. I thought that the intern years was the first year of residency, but I've seen CVs where people had different hospitals listed for internship and residency. Can you please explain this to me?

Also, if I go internal medicine, does that mean 1 year of internship and 3 years of residency?

Thanks for your help.

I'm a PGY-1, so allow me to take this one.

Many specialties require a intern year of something before starting specialty training in earnest. ENT, for instance, requires a year of general surgery for its intern year. For radiology, one can do a year of internal medicine, a preliminary year, or a transtional year (there are specific 1 year programs designated as preliminary or transitional - they are usually quite similar). Some residency programs for these specialties have integrated the intern year, so those in training stay at one institution for the duration. Most do not, however, so people end up choosing to do their intern years at places different from where they will undertake the bulk of their training.

Example: one of my classmates matched in neurology. His program integrated the required internal medicine intern year, so he will stay at one institution and do 1 year of IM followed by 3 years of neurology.

Another classmate matched in radiology at our alma mater. For personal reasons he is doing a transitional year (a pretty cushy one, from what I hear) at a private hospital outside of town. Then he will do 4 years of radiology. Situations like this may explain why you have seen different hospital names on peoples' CVs.

To get back to you, internal medicine does not require anything beforehand, so you will start as an IM intern and finish in 3 years total. That's the lingo.

 

[Orthodoc40]

I'd like to meet the folks that return them to the office! It's usually too much hassle for most. I'd still write.

Don't bring up the MCAT in the letter of intent- it can only bring attention to something that can/may hurt you (depending on the averages at that school- some great schools have averages in the 26-28 range). Keep to the basics I wrote about someplace earlier for letters of intent. You want them to know why you WANT to go there over any other place, not why your MCAT isn't great.

Just wanted to thank you for your time & generous assistance!

 

[oceanside]

Last week I got an interview invite by phone then confirmed by e-mail. She gave me a choice between two days and I picked the first one she gave me. Then the next day I realized I needed to change it and I called and did so. I know she is just the application coordinator but now it feels as if maybe she had placed me in the first day for whatever reason and my changing the day may have some slight effect. Also, I just started a PA program at a school and they don't yet know that. I want to be a doctor and would choose an acceptance absolutely. Should I bring PA school up? Will they look at this positively or negatively.

 

[doctor detroit]

I'm a PGY-1, so allow me to take this one.

Many specialties require a intern year of something before starting specialty training in earnest. ENT, for instance, requires a year of general surgery for its intern year. For radiology, one can do a year of internal medicine, a preliminary year, or a transtional year (there are specific 1 year programs designated as preliminary or transitional - they are usually quite similar). Some residency programs for these specialties have integrated the intern year, so those in training stay at one institution for the duration. Most do not, however, so people end up choosing to do their intern years at places different from where they will undertake the bulk of their training.

Example: one of my classmates matched in neurology. His program integrated the required internal medicine intern year, so he will stay at one institution and do 1 year of IM followed by 3 years of neurology.

Another classmate matched in radiology at our alma mater. For personal reasons he is doing a transitional year (a pretty cushy one, from what I hear) at a private hospital outside of town. Then he will do 4 years of radiology. Situations like this may explain why you have seen different hospital names on peoples' CVs.

To get back to you, internal medicine does not require anything beforehand, so you will start as an IM intern and finish in 3 years total. That's the lingo.

Thanks for clearing that up & for the wharehouse joke.

 

[KAI1927]

I am entering med school this fall (2006) I was wondering if I should take any courses or prep work in any way before school starts. I had guessed that I will be taught everything nessesary in med school. I have heard conflicting views on this and I wanted to see what BigRepZippo's opinion is. Thanks

 

[BlinkyCat]

BigRedzippo, is there any correlation between MCAT scores and boards?

 

[Wahina]

Quick questions:

Would a letter of intent over email be frowned upon or less effective?

How much of a difference does the LOI make? I have three schools that I really like, and I am wondering how much it will hurt me at the schools I don't send one to.

Even if I don't send an LOI, should I send some other type of letter (letter of interest, update letter, something like that) just to let them know I'm still interested. Or will they just take for granted that I love the school. These are all top 10 schools, by the way, so they probably know I am interested still.

 

[argonana]

BigRedZippo,

re: the summer following MS1...is it possible to do research at a medical school other than your own? (I'd be looking to do research at a med school in the bay area (CA), near where my folks live.)

also...would you mind answering another question by pm??

thanks for your help.

 

[drmota]

BRZ-
thanks for all the responses. you are quite the humanitarian and will go on to do good things. at least on the internet.

my question-
how hard is it REALLY to get into a competitive residency program (i.e. derm/orthopedics/plastic surgery). just lay it on the table for me. what kind of board scores do you need to be competitive. do almost all applicants do research? any other suggestions. thanks bro.

-mota

 

[drmota]

bump
-mota

 

[bugmenot]

Will withdrawing from a M.S graduate program hurt one's chance when applying for residency? 😕

 

[thatslife]

With your experience on the admissions committee, I was wondering if you could give me your take on the role of race in admissions. Being a south asian male, I fear that I will be held to a higher standard at the "top" medical schools. Clearly there is nothing I can do about this, but I'd like your thoughts on the matter.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

BigRedzippo, is there any correlation between MCAT scores and boards?

I can only answer this from personal experience, but I did only mediocre on my MCAT (due partly to me going out with friends the night before), but did very well on both step I and II of the boards. For me, these was absolutely no correlation. Overall, standardized testing is a poor predictor of any future achievements.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

BRZ-
thanks for all the responses. you are quite the humanitarian and will go on to do good things. at least on the internet.

my question-
how hard is it REALLY to get into a competitive residency program (i.e. derm/orthopedics/plastic surgery). just lay it on the table for me. what kind of board scores do you need to be competitive. do almost all applicants do research? any other suggestions. thanks bro.

-mota

I personally am not going into a competitive field of medicine, but did apply to basically only top tier programs (whatever the ranking really mean anyway). But I would say overall, a competitive board score would be 230 with a better chance in the 240-250 range. Not all applicants do research, though it does help. It's similar to getting into medical school in that residency programs want to see academically strong doctors, but ones with other avenues of interest and involvement, ie research, advocacy programs, volunteer work, etc. However, in the more competitive fields, anything that can differentiate you from the other applicants is a plus.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

BigRedZippo,

re: the summer following MS1...is it possible to do research at a medical school other than your own? (I'd be looking to do research at a med school in the bay area (CA), near where my folks live.)

also...would you mind answering another question by pm??

thanks for your help.

I did a research fellowship through an affiliate of the school I attend, but it is very possible to do research at other programs. A friend of mine did summer research at a school in CA, however to do so, it helps to have connections.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

I am entering med school this fall (2006) I was wondering if I should take any courses or prep work in any way before school starts. I had guessed that I will be taught everything nessesary in med school. I have heard conflicting views on this and I wanted to see what BigRepZippo's opinion is. Thanks

Obviously, I might have a different opinion, but I highly advise against it. You will have plenty of time to study throughout your career in medical school. You don't need to spend what amounts to your last carefree, no responsibility summer studying material that the school is going to teach you anyway. Go out relax, travel, drink heavily... whatever floats your boat.

 

[neovenom]

first of all, zippo, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. my concern about med school right now is finding the right place to live. tell me about your housing experience and any advice you might have to give about that topic. i'm planning to live alone since the cost of living is rather low in georgia.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Last week I got an interview invite by phone then confirmed by e-mail. She gave me a choice between two days and I picked the first one she gave me. Then the next day I realized I needed to change it and I called and did so. I know she is just the application coordinator but now it feels as if maybe she had placed me in the first day for whatever reason and my changing the day may have some slight effect. Also, I just started a PA program at a school and they don't yet know that. I want to be a doctor and would choose an acceptance absolutely. Should I bring PA school up? Will they look at this positively or negatively.

Hmmmm....firstly- will be be able to finish your PA program before matriculating at med school? It doesn't seem like it from the timeline. I would be very cautious about that- academic doctors aren't big fans of applicants that are jumping ship or 'using a springboard' (for want of a better term). By this I mean being seen as someone that started a PA program (and is willing to leave it without completing it) can and probably will be seen as a negative- you know, the 'doesn't follow through', 'why MD over PA', 'why start PA and apply med' etc.

How's your app? You may want to think about deferring the PA school and applying to see if you get in.

 

[BigRedZippo]

I am entering med school this fall (2006) I was wondering if I should take any courses or prep work in any way before school starts. I had guessed that I will be taught everything nessesary in med school. I have heard conflicting views on this and I wanted to see what BigRepZippo's opinion is. Thanks

Don't do anything. If you're like me, you need a bit of the pressure of an exam/practical to really get you going. Spend your time doing stuff you may not be able to for the next few years- hang out with folks who maybe moving away after college, take some road trips, look for a place to live. There's plenty of time to study in the future.

 

[BigRedZippo]

BigRedzippo, is there any correlation between MCAT scores and boards?

Hmmmm...I don't know. I'll look it up and see what i find.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Quick questions:

Would a letter of intent over email be frowned upon or less effective?

How much of a difference does the LOI make? I have three schools that I really like, and I am wondering how much it will hurt me at the schools I don't send one to.

Even if I don't send an LOI, should I send some other type of letter (letter of interest, update letter, something like that) just to let them know I'm still interested. Or will they just take for granted that I love the school. These are all top 10 schools, by the way, so they probably know I am interested still.

eMail to the coordinator will probably (depending on coordinator's dedication) be printed and put into your file or just deleted. eMail to the Dean will probably not get read, or be read by coordinator and (same as above)- be printed or deleted. I'd mail it in.

LOIs I think are one of those things where you'll never know how much they helped- people get in who have sent one and people get in who haven't. I don't think they help that much at a school where one's chances of acceptance are poor, however, they probably make a difference to the 'middle' type of applicant- not amazing with 30 interviews but not on the less competitive side. Like I said- it won't hurt.

On the interest letter, I'm in two minds. Writing a letter to a school just to say "i'm interested" often doesn't mean much (aren't most people interested in most of their schools?)- which is why I think the intents are much stronger.

I'd personally update your top schools with what you've been up to (any awards/thesis/etc) and send your top choice a letter of intent. That way you're keeping in touch and sending messages, but have a clean concience that you've only told one school that they're your number one.

 

[BigRedZippo]

BigRedZippo,

re: the summer following MS1...is it possible to do research at a medical school other than your own? (I'd be looking to do research at a med school in the bay area (CA), near where my folks live.)

also...would you mind answering another question by pm??

thanks for your help.

Yes it's possible. Just get in contact with the school. It maybe 'voluntary' but you want the experience and the possible pubs, the money is secondary.

PM me or if you have, will check and get back to you today.

 

[RxnMan]

Hmmmm...I don't know. I'll look it up and see what i find.

There is another thread that discusses this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=257328&page=6&pp=25

Scroll halfway down and you'll see excerpts from journal articles and references.

 

[BigRedZippo]

BRZ-
thanks for all the responses. you are quite the humanitarian and will go on to do good things. at least on the internet.

my question-
how hard is it REALLY to get into a competitive residency program (i.e. derm/orthopedics/plastic surgery). just lay it on the table for me. what kind of board scores do you need to be competitive. do almost all applicants do research? any other suggestions. thanks bro.

-mota

It is VERY difficult. The total plastics spots (integrated) are about 80 in the WHOLE country. You need at least a 240 to match with any certainty. With these competitive fields (derm, plastics, neurosurg, +/- ortho, urology, ENT) the higher the better, period. Yes, everyone has research.

Other suggestions:
1. As good grades as you can make.
2. Lots of good letters of rec from well known people.
3. Spend a GOOD amount of time on Step 1.
4. Get to know the department and faculty early.
5. Be an all round good guy/girl. This goes a LONG way.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Will withdrawing from a M.S graduate program hurt one's chance when applying for residency? 😕

Residency? Unlikely. They are really only are worried about med school and up. Of course, if the MS was in something intimately related to the residency you wish to persue AND its at the same program you started the MS AND you left on bad terms, that may hurt. But what're the odds of that?

 

[RxnMan]

Does having an M.S. significantly help your chances of landing a competitive residency?

 

[BigRedZippo]

With your experience on the admissions committee, I was wondering if you could give me your take on the role of race in admissions. Being a south asian male, I fear that I will be held to a higher standard at the "top" medical schools. Clearly there is nothing I can do about this, but I'd like your thoughts on the matter.

Unfortunately this is a hot button topic, both at studentdoctor and in the real world of admissions. I'm not going to go too deep into it, but there are studies and stats out there (try google or PM me and I'll try to find it) that show that the averages for asian americans are somewhat higher than those for others. Does that make it more difficult? I don't know- since the averages are higher, one may assume that within a given group, the difficulty of getting in is the same. That's the end of my poorly worded, but somewhat logical statement on race during this thread. Sorry.

 

[BigRedZippo]

first of all, zippo, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. my concern about med school right now is finding the right place to live. tell me about your housing experience and any advice you might have to give about that topic. i'm planning to live alone since the cost of living is rather low in georgia.

This is better posed to current students at the school you're planning to go to. however, some general things to keep in mind: 1) do you like roommates? Some of my friends have terrible experiences with roommates so to keep your sanity you may want to live alone. 2) Family- if you're married/kids, this changes the game totally. 3) Cost- live REASONABLE. Unless you're independently wealthy, money's tight in med school. And if you're on loans, it will add up. Save the "livin' large" for later. 4) Distance- unless travel is easy, try to live a comfortable distance where getting to school won't be a big hurdle. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to skip a non-required class/lecture when it's a PITA to get to school.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Does having an M.S. significantly help your chances of landing a competitive residency?

Probably. Based on my experiences, I think (for whatever reason a residency program committee decides) that an MBA helps the most, then an MPH, then other masters. Basically, it makes you stand out, which is good, and shows you've done other things (remember I know med admissions, less on the residency side- this is based on my talking with program directors/chairmen). Finally I think that given the fact that the business side of medicine is becoming so important, people think an MBA is very helpful.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Folks- sorry for the absense. For some reason I couldn't log onto this site for a few days, then all of a sudden I could. Answered as many questions as had built up, but have a few PMs to get to, which I will in the next day or so. Keep the questions coming- looks like I also have other 4th years giving good advice too!

 

[hot17406]

Hi, I am an undergraduate Neuroscience at UCLA. I have unfortunately gotten a cupple of "C+"s at UCLA. If I took them at a community college and got "A"s does it make a difference when applying to medical school, considering that I have to report all my grades??? What if I do it the opposit way ( if I take a class at UCLA for a C grade at a community college???)
Thanks for your help.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Hi, I am an undergraduate Neuroscience at UCLA. I have unfortunately gotten a cupple of "C+"s at UCLA. If I took them at a community college and got "A"s does it make a difference when applying to medical school, considering that I have to report all my grades??? What if I do it the opposit way ( if I take a class at UCLA for a C grade at a community college???)
Thanks for your help.

Well (depending on the school) the application will show that you had a C+ at UCLA and an A at some CC. Frankly, I don't think this will surprise anyone and other than increasing your BCMP (as you'd count the CC grades as science) won't make a difference. It may come across as a little underhanded to retake the same class at a different place for a higher grade. I'd try to take more UCLA classes in the sciences and do well to offset the Cs.

CC class grades tend to have much less impact on an admissions decision than 4 year college grades. I don't really get the second part- can you clarify?

 

[idillio06]

Hi BigRedZippo,

I was just wondering if you'd met any Baylor med students on the interview trail? And UTSW? I know it's silly to look at the US News rankings, but I'm a little concerned about the "residency directors' ratings" and how Baylor's is 3.9 - not very high compared to the rest of the top 20 schools. Moreover, the match lists of Baylor/UTSW are extremely Texas-centric. Do you think that's due to students wanting to stay in-state, or do Texas med students have a harder time getting interviews/residencies out of state? Especially in competitive fields and locations like California?

Bottom line - Are the TX med schools seen as average by people outside the state? I am sure both are fine places to go, and I'm lucky to have a choice, but I want to leave Texas and need a school that'll help me do so.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks a bunch!! 🙂

 

[Rafa]

What exactly is residency matching?

 

[DoctorPardi]

Ok I just want to post some stuff I am doing and ask if you see any gaping holes in my attempts to prepare myself for being a good applicant.

EC's

- Work in the OR of a hospital 20+ hours a week for pay
- Work in a lab of a different hospital 12-15 hours a week for pay (processing thin prep pap smears)
-I started out shadowing an orthapedic surgeon one day a week about 2-3 hours. Since then (about a year now) I have actually begun to "volunteer" more or less in his office. I now work about 7-8 hours a week one day a week and I work up new patients and get their histories and I also assist him during examinations.
- I plan to graduate with around 15 hours of research hours and probably two research papers written, and hopefully one published but not necessarily.


Ok so my big question here is, I basically don't volunteer anywhere, like H4H like you suggested. But I do volunteer in this doctor's office, however to start with I shadowed the same doctor for about a year. My volunteering of this doctor isn't some great community service, but I think it is great experience and I do help him out a lot. So should I try to go out and do volunteer work also?

Also I have a pretty good overall gpa and a 4.0 bcpm so none of this extra stuff is really detracting from my studying abilities. Anyway, sorry for the huge post but any suggestions you have I'd appreciate and also thanks a lot for even posting this thread has been very interesting!

 

[BigRedZippo]

Hi BigRedZippo,

I was just wondering if you'd met any Baylor med students on the interview trail? And UTSW? I know it's silly to look at the US News rankings, but I'm a little concerned about the "residency directors' ratings" and how Baylor's is 3.9 - not very high compared to the rest of the top 20 schools. Moreover, the match lists of Baylor/UTSW are extremely Texas-centric. Do you think that's due to students wanting to stay in-state, or do Texas med students have a harder time getting interviews/residencies out of state? Especially in competitive fields and locations like California?

Bottom line - Are the TX med schools seen as average by people outside the state? I am sure both are fine places to go, and I'm lucky to have a choice, but I want to leave Texas and need a school that'll help me do so.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks a bunch!! 🙂

Yes, I met plenty of them both. Both are great schools. Frankly, I'm not too sure where these numbers come from (not that i've looked, either). "Residency directors rankings" really means very little to me- do they consider the strength of the general graduate of the medical school, the programs offered (ie. pediatrics, medicine, surgery), or is it a 'gestalt' of what they feel about the school.

I can tell you that both UTSW and baylor match extremely well. It's texas centric as they are both Texas schools, and if I recall correctly from my interviews at Baylor, they are funded by Texas to a degree where the tuition is the same as at UTSW. As a result, people tend to want to stay where they know and like to live.

Bottom line, the texas schools (esp UTSW and Baylor) are terrific and being a grad won't hurt you in the residency application process in any way.

 

[BigRedZippo]

What exactly is residency matching?

That's going to take more time than I have, but it's basically the process by which 4th year med students apply to, and attain residency positions in their chosen field of specialization (medicine, pediatrics, anesthesia, etc).

 

[Zymogen]

Are MD/PhD applicant's more or less likely to be accepted for MD only?(based solely on the fact that they are MD/PhD applicants) 😀

 

[BigRedZippo]

Ok I just want to post some stuff I am doing and ask if you see any gaping holes in my attempts to prepare myself for being a good applicant.

EC's

- Work in the OR of a hospital 20+ hours a week for pay
- Work in a lab of a different hospital 12-15 hours a week for pay (processing thin prep pap smears)
-I started out shadowing an orthapedic surgeon one day a week about 2-3 hours. Since then (about a year now) I have actually begun to "volunteer" more or less in his office. I now work about 7-8 hours a week one day a week and I work up new patients and get their histories and I also assist him during examinations.
- I plan to graduate with around 15 hours of research hours and probably two research papers written, and hopefully one published but not necessarily.


Ok so my big question here is, I basically don't volunteer anywhere, like H4H like you suggested. But I do volunteer in this doctor's office, however to start with I shadowed the same doctor for about a year. My volunteering of this doctor isn't some great community service, but I think it is great experience and I do help him out a lot. So should I try to go out and do volunteer work also?

Also I have a pretty good overall gpa and a 4.0 bcpm so none of this extra stuff is really detracting from my studying abilities. Anyway, sorry for the huge post but any suggestions you have I'd appreciate and also thanks a lot for even posting this thread has been very interesting!

How is your MCAT? Personally, I'd like to see some non-medical volunteer experiences, but other than that you seem to be in fine shape. Best of luck.

 

[mozart_fan]

Well. I really do not know what to think. I am currently a student at a community college and made very stupid mistakes in the past. Just thinking of it scares me. I failed my first quarter of inorganic chemistry, i retook it and continued in the series with B's. Not so good. Furthermore, I have two W's. Thats the worst. I admit it was partially laziness and I was also going through hard times, I was also diagnosed with depression at one point and one quarter only took one class.

I have sinced improve my grades, with my highest grades being in organic chemistry, my favorite class so far. I will be transfering to a university this coming fall with plans for a Biology BA. I have worked in a pharmacy for over a year now and will continue until I transfer schools. I have considered taking organic chemistry, the whole year again, even though I am doing well now. This school requires a certain number of"300 level" credits and organic organic chemistry counts towards this. I also want to take it....partially because I like this class and sometimes I think it may be more challenging there than here, although even now it is demanding. What do you think about this? Have you seen this before?

My GPA now is a 3.2 Not so well. I will most likely spend three years at this university I will transfer to and am determined to do exceptionally well. Have you seen applicants with pharmacy experience, what was the adcoms opinion?

Well...enough of my questions. Thanks.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Are MD/PhD applicant's more or less likely to be accepted for MD only?(based solely on the fact that they are MD/PhD applicants) 😀

I'm not understanding teh question too well- do you mean are MD/PhD (mudphuds in med school terms) likely to be accepted into the MD part if they already have an acceptance in the PhD part? This depends- I've heard of instances where if the MSTP program really wants them, they can "work" the MD admissions side of it.

If that isn't what you were asking, please let me know.

 

[BigRedZippo]

Well. I really do not know what to think. I am currently a student at a community college and made very stupid mistakes in the pass. Just thinking of it scares me. I failed my first quarter of inorganic chemistry, i retook it and continued in the series with B's. Not so good. Furthermore, I have two W's. Thats the worst. I admit it was partially laziness and I was also going through hard times, I was also diagnosed with depression at one point and one quarter only took one class.

I have sinced improve my grades, with my highest grades being in organic chemistry, my favorite class so far. I will be transfering to a university this coming fall with plans for a Biology BA. I have worked in a pharmacy for over a year now and will continue until I transfer schools. I have considered taking organic chemistry, the whole year again, even though I am doing well now. This school requires a certain number of"300 level" credits and organic organic chemistry counts towards this. I also want to take it....partially because I like this class and sometimes I think it may be more challenging there than here, although even now it is demanding. What do you think about this? Have you seen this before?

My GPA now is a 3.2 Not so well. I will most likely spend three years at this university I will transfer to and am determined to do exceptionally well. Have you seen applicants with pharmacy experience, what was the adcoms opinion?

Well...enough of my questions. Thanks.

By pharmacy experience, I guess you mean working in a pharmacy and not being an actual pharmacist. That's great but likely won't help that much in the medical admissions side of 'medical experience'. This is because the work a pharmacist does is very different from that of most doctors, and admissions committees realize this. I'd get some more medical experience- either shadowing, ER or hospital volunteering or some other ways. The pharm is great, but shouldn't be the sum total of your experiences.

 

[Zymogen]

Ok. To restate: If someone is applying MD/PhD...they are denied the PhD part (is this totally seperate?)...thus 😀 are they more competitive for that MD spot for reasons such as:

1) they obviously are highly motivated if applying MD/PhD
2) they intend to do some research in medical school

or...will they be less likely for reasons like:

1) well we aren't going to accept them because they want the combined degree...and we would just be wasting an acceptance on them

2) this person thinks he/she is smarter than she really is...therefore we don't want them in our med school.

If it is any help...I'm really having trouble deciding MD v. MD/PhD...If I do apply MD/PhD I would most certainly like to be accepted for just MD as that might be best for me.

THANKS!

 

[DoctorPardi]

How is your MCAT? Personally, I'd like to see some non-medical volunteer experiences, but other than that you seem to be in fine shape. Best of luck.

Actually I should have mentioned, I am a bit of a weird situation. I started my first year with absolutely no focus and did kind of bad with my grades (first semester 2.75) and it took me pretty much until half way through my sophomore year to realize I wanted to be a bio major and a little later for being a doctor. So I am in my junior year now with a 3.67 (if I make all A's this semester it will shoot above 3.7 woohoo lol) and have yet to take organic chem or physics. So my senior year I will be taking organic and physics and also physiology in fall and mole cell in spring.

So that was the long answer to your question, the short answer is, I have not taken the mcat lol. I also plan on taking the august MCAT of 07 because I don't think I could do as well as I'd like in all my classes and be able to study like a maniac for the MCAT next year.

On a slightly seperate topic, would it be beneficial at all for me to get my emt-b cert this summer and volunteer at the fire station like 1-2 days a week all next year? Also does it help that I worked so much, ie if asked why didn't you do non-medical volunteer work, I could respond I had to work to pay for my living expenses and so I didn't have as much time as I'd liked to do other things. Or is this just a lame excuse and I need to stop being a lazy ass and go out and build some houses? (which btw I've never done and I am somewhat unmotivated to do, but I thinking about it, I bet I would really enjoy the "work")

Again, thank you for responding and also for responding so quickly it was amazing, I refreshed and you had responded to like 5 different people lol.

 

[mozart_fan]

By pharmacy experience, I guess you mean working in a pharmacy and not being an actual pharmacist. That's great but likely won't help that much in the medical admissions side of 'medical experience'. This is because the work a pharmacist does is very different from that of most doctors, and admissions committees realize this. I'd get some more medical experience- either shadowing, ER or hospital volunteering or some other ways. The pharm is great, but shouldn't be the sum total of your experiences.

Any thoughts about taking organic chemistry again, even when I am doing well, at the university I transfer to?

 

[ladyballa1492]

thank you for all the advice that you have given thus far.

so i heard that when applying to residency it is important to have good letters of recommendation, particularly from "well known" physicians in the academic medical community. this may be pretty silly, but for your average medical school, what makes a physician well known? is it better to have a recommendation from someone who is a current/former howard hughes investigator, or a national academy of science member? is that what that means? (i know that i am obviously jumping the gun a bit here, but i figured that since the thread said ask anything i would try it out. 😀 )

thanks in advance.