Bragging about Undergrad achievements ??

[OCPreMed]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Do med students talk about their GPA and MCAT and how they published 400 papers while being an EMT in Kenya holding 3 babies in their left hand and taking vitals with the right??

You get my point.. does it ever end? Do med students still talk about their scores and their undergrad institution or does it all get left at the door?? I am assuming this will have some variance, but indulge me.

 

[MarzMD]

At my school, I havent heard anyone mention anything about undergrad other than where they went and what classes they might have already taken. Med school is a whole new ballgame.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

No, no one cares. The only undergrad mention is how the school was, and where you went when you're meeting people.

Everyone had to do reasonably well to get where they are, so its kind of pointless to discuss.

 

[Law2Doc]

Do med students talk about their GPA and MCAT and how they published 400 papers while being an EMT in Kenya holding 3 babies in their left hand and taking vitals with the right??

You get my point.. does it ever end? Do med students still talk about their scores and their undergrad institution or does it all get left at the door?? I am assuming this will have some variance, but indulge me.

Prior stuff is meaningless. If they aren't honoring each class, they have no bragging rights. Even then, if they talked smack like that they'd probably get stuffed into a locker with some very ripe scrubs.

 

[Blade28]

In med school, no one really cares what you did in undergrad.

In residency, no one really cares what you did in med school.

In fellowship, they may care where you did your training, but that's about it.

 

[vwhan]

Do med students talk about their GPA and MCAT and how they published 400 papers while being an EMT in Kenya holding 3 babies in their left hand and taking vitals with the right??

Yes, the ones that are incredibly brilliant with poor social skills do this. You will find at least one person in every med school class. This person becomes well known in the class as the person to avoid being partnered with or paired in groups or even on rotations, and the one that argues with the attending during rounds. This person will also graduate from med school having maybe 1 friend.

PS. no, it's not me.

 

[StevenRF]

Everyone kind of talked about their undergrad a little during the first couple weeks after school started just because no one had much else to talk about when introducing themselves etc. No one really does it anymore cause everyone knows no one cares.

 

[indo]

After the first drunken hookups there will be plenty to talk about other than bio 222.

 

[NonTradMed]

Most people try to avoid talking about how 'great' their undergrad was or how they aced every exam....that's just rude and very obnoxious. If you went to a well known undergrad, people may mention it or look impressed. If you studied something that was way out there, that may impress or surprise people. But for the most part, people kind of assume you were smart and did well in undergrad. No one can brag until the first exams comes out and even that may just be a fluke. Best to just play it modest even if you think everyone is dumber than you. 🙂

 

[Megalofyia]

Occationally someone will say something like, " I USED to be smart... used to be ... like the time I made a 32 on the MCAT. Guess that was a fluke."

 

[Moto]

You will find at least one person in every med school class.

Yes, I encountered only one person who brought up his graduate expertise in one of our group discussions. "Dear god," I thought, "is this joker for real?"

He wanted a more detailed discussion and was dissapointed that he wasn't given the opportunity to show off just how much he knew about the subject matter😱

 

[akpete]

After the first drunken hookups there will be plenty to talk about other than bio 222.

👍 Especially if you have a good orientation week. 😉

 

[Mixtli]

In my class, once you get to know people, you get to make fun each other's school in light banter.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

Yes, I encountered only one person who brought up his graduate expertise in one of our group discussions. "Dear god," I thought, "is this joker for real?"

He wanted a more detailed discussion and was dissapointed that he wasn't given the opportunity to show off just how much he knew about the subject matter😱

i hate those people. They get a useless phd degree that they can't get a job with, and all they can do is pretend to be important.

 

[Moto]

i hate those people. They get a useless phd degree that they can't get a job with, and all they can do is pretend to be important.

How can PhD in basketweaving have nothing to do with medicine?
We are fools for not seeing what is such an obvious connection.
In fact it should be prerequisite to medical school

 

[45408]

we've had a few MCAT discussions, but I'd say bragging about undergrad has been pretty minimal.

 

[sphincter tone]

We have a couple who wax nostalgic about the good old days of undergrad where they knew everything and effortlessly rose to the top of their class... 😴
Has a high correlation with the obnoxious people who ask stupid obscure questions in class so that all of us have to stay late (ummm proffessor, how does this mechanism compare to this other one that I did a research project on in undergrad?)

 

[mtDNA]

Do med students talk about their GPA and MCAT and how they published 400 papers while being an EMT in Kenya holding 3 babies in their left hand and taking vitals with the right??

You get my point.. does it ever end? Do med students still talk about their scores and their undergrad institution or does it all get left at the door?? I am assuming this will have some variance, but indulge me.

In my experience, the MCAT and GPA do not come up much at all (in fact, I don't know anyone else's MCAT or GPA, even my closest friends in the class). But, I have noticed that the people who went to Kenya and held 3 babies as an EMT enjoy talking about that. THis has come up several times with people in my class.

 

[45408]

We have a couple who wax nostalgic about the good old days of undergrad where they knew everything and effortlessly rose to the top of their class... 😴
Has a high correlation with the obnoxious people who ask stupid obscure questions in class so that all of us have to stay late (ummm proffessor, how does this mechanism compare to this other one that I did a research project on in undergrad?)

I'd say it was a lot more effortless to rise to the top of your class in undergrad - in fact, most people in med school did just that. Now, getting the high score on the exams now keep dreaming, Rip van Winkle.

 

[RxnMan]

I never brag about what I did before med school. (Ignore the link below my signature!)

I think it's more interesting if you're a parent or if your anatomy notes are good. However, there's still an element of one-up-manship in my class, but it's more irratating than anything else. I agree with Blade and Law: it's much more of "What have you done lately" than anything else. I mean, does anyone care what your classmates got on their SATs?

 

[OCPreMed]

I never brag about what I did before med school. (Ignore the link below my signature!)

I think it's more interesting if you're a parent or if your anatomy notes are good. However, there's still an element of one-up-manship in my class, but it's more irratating than anything else. I agree with Blade and Law: it's much more of "What have you done lately" than anything else. I mean, does anyone care what your classmates got on their SATs?

Putting it into perspective with the SAT scores helped alot RxnMan... I am glad to hear that undergrad stays at undergrad... HOWEVER, I am still waiting for some one in my lecture or group saying something about how rediculous the conditions in (favorite 3rd world country insert here), and how simple their MCAT experience was with their (standard MCAT score insert here). Blahhh, I guess I'm just tired of hearing all about it now and looking forward to the world of tomorrow. ahhh

 

[Ashers]

Most of my friends try to figure out what we used to do for fun since we had so much more free time. Like "What was it we used to do? I know I didn't study more than 2 hours before any given exam..."

 

[DMB41]

We have a couple who wax nostalgic about the good old days of undergrad where they knew everything and effortlessly rose to the top of their class... 😴
Has a high correlation with the obnoxious people who ask stupid obscure questions in class so that all of us have to stay late (ummm proffessor, how does this mechanism compare to this other one that I did a research project on in undergrad?)

As for the above statement...we have completely got one of those people in our class. Everytime she talks I want to throw a pen at her head! The entire class groans when she starts to ask a question. Of course she is in the front row so she can't see the entire class respond to her statements. And that is the thing...they are only statements. She never truly asks a question, she simply restates what the prof has said. It is like she needs a pat on the head for correctly understanding each concept we have been taught!! uggggh!! She makes lectures quite trying!

As far as the bragging thing goes. I think a lot of it depends on how secure you are in your achievements. I for one am a non-traditional student. I did not go to a well renowned school. I was not an overachiever in under-grad. But I did well enough. So when I hear of my class mates who went to Duke or Notre Dame for under-grad, I feel like they are bragging but I don't think that is the case...I think it is my just my insecurities.

I think it depends on how you feel that you did.

 

[njbmd]

Do med students talk about their GPA and MCAT and how they published 400 papers while being an EMT in Kenya holding 3 babies in their left hand and taking vitals with the right??

You get my point.. does it ever end? Do med students still talk about their scores and their undergrad institution or does it all get left at the door?? I am assuming this will have some variance, but indulge me.

There were a couple of people who started doing this at orientation. After the first week of classes, they were blissfully quiet and after the first set of exams, everyone quickly realized that we were all in the same boat.

Chalk the bragging up to immaturity and concentrate on getting the material mastered. Nothing done before medical school counts for much more than "hot air".