Class of 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

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Well my friend who got her MA there says that BU has this awesome pub on campus for its students that has a ton of beers on tap as well as a full bar so I'd go there 😀

As for me, I'm a bit strapped for cash, haven't taken my MCAT, I'm a CA resident, and my GPA is super uncompetitive so I have no idea of where to apply. I'd love to go to other areas like Chicago, Boston, New York, Philly, and NO but gotta wait til the MCAT is done.


kinda there with you!

:hello: Scored the AAMC 3. 9/4/8
My verbal sucked, mostly because I was tired and in a hurry to finish. I also hadn't practiced in like a month. I haven't looked at the answers, so I'm retaking the verbal section of friday to gauge how I would do with more concentration.
From the topic breakdown, I know what I excel at and where I need to work on. So, I'm going to work on THOSE topics in the PR workbook and Kaplan topical tests. we'll see how this goes. I want to take the next FL on Monday, after I do some practice passages as content review on stuff where I need help. I'll report back. Berries out.
 
kinda there with you!

:hello: Scored the AAMC 3. 9/4/8
My verbal sucked, mostly because I was tired and in a hurry to finish. I also hadn't practiced in like a month. I haven't looked at the answers, so I'm retaking the verbal section of friday to gauge how I would do with more concentration.
From the topic breakdown, I know what I excel at and where I need to work on. So, I'm going to work on THOSE topics in the PR workbook and Kaplan topical tests. we'll see how this goes. I want to take the next FL on Monday, after I do some practice passages as content review on stuff where I need help. I'll report back. Berries out.

You're going to retake the same verbal section? If you do, I wouldn't put too much stock in that result, you know? If you've seen it before, even if you havent looked at the answers, you're giving yourself a big advantage. Keep moving forwards!
 
You're going to retake the same verbal section? If you do, I wouldn't put too much stock in that result, you know? If you've seen it before, even if you havent looked at the answers, you're giving yourself a big advantage. Keep moving forwards!

gah, never looked at it THAT way. maybe taking a EK verbal exam can give me a better look. I really don't want to move ahead with AAMC verbal until monday, so maybe I'll just continue with practice until then.
 
Good luck, berries. You can really glean a lot of information from those tests. I had a notebook where I made notes about all of my wrong answers (why did I get it wrong, what is the correct answer, how will I keep from making the same mistake, etc.). Eventually, you'll start to see patterns in your wrong answers, and you can fix them 🙂
 
You're going to retake the same verbal section? If you do, I wouldn't put too much stock in that result, you know? If you've seen it before, even if you havent looked at the answers, you're giving yourself a big advantage. Keep moving forwards!

+1 on not re-using old material. Passage recall ftl.
 
Beware, long multi-quote, ahead.

Doesn't the packet just get sent to the AAMC, and you can then forward it to as many schools as you want?

Ya, that seems really weird that your school limits you on how many school you can apply too. I guess if your list is under 20, then it doesn't really matter!

You guys are both right, but my premed committee wants a copy of our completed AMCAS, so they would see the number of schools I applied to, right? Dunno. Maybe I can beat the system, lol. Right now, my list is 20 exactly, but like I said in my previous post, I flipping back and forth between some. Boo.

What schools / urban populations are you looking into? I'm the same way, so I'm trying to do the NYC/Chicago/Boston/DC route... but there's too many and none of them are really "safeties" 🙁

I'm interested in schools that serve inner city communities or at least have 'access' to those types of populations. For example, Boston U serves a population of Boston that Harvard doesn't even see. Same with USC and UCLA. UCSF is awesome because it has the best of both worlds with San Francisco and Oakland. I'm applying to all schools in California (except Loma Linda), schools in NYC/Chicago/Boston/Philly/etc. I agree with you, lots of schools in these areas aren't really safeties, which sucks big time. Sigh.

Thanks guys. I dunno how I did that badly. Maybe it was nerves, or something. But I got a 24 when my lowest practice was a 28. My score is almost comical, esp since i got a 7 in verbal when my avg was 11. Oh well

Rescheduled for July 6th or 16th. I'm not gonna let this get me down and keep me from applying! MCAT, you WILL be owned!

I'm glad that you are continuing this cycle 😀. Good luck on your retake, you have a good attitude about it, so I hope you kill it! :xf:

phnerd - I got a 25 my first time and a 33 the second. you will be well prepared and nerves will not be a factor. adjust your plan and keep pushing! we'll all get there if we give it our all!

Inspiration, right there, phnerd. 👍

Thanks! No synthesis because it's a lab exam... honestly I'd take synthesis over the optical rotation of glucose anomers ANY day... ugh.

:scared:

And my school list is a joke; obviously I can't finalize it without an MCAT score but right now it's:
-every private school in the country except hopkins, harvard, wash u, morehouse, howard, and meharry
-every public school in CA and NY

And yes, I'm aware that this is like 70 schools hahaha. 🙄

That's how my list was until a month ago. I just went through and was like, "really now, do I REALLY want to live in Nebraska/Oregon/etc.?.....Didn't think so."

Then it got harder, because I was eliminating schools that I would have considered. 👎

Milwaukee is a decent-sized city. Worst case is that they say no or that you visit and hate it, but if you're not that strapped for cash as far as secondaries go, it's worth applying to as far as midwest schools go.

If I decide to apply and get an interview, I will definitely check out the city and get a feel for it. We'll see.

Debating whether to add BU and Tufts to my school list. What do you think 2016? I'm pretty non-competitive for both >.< Applying to 28 schools right now

Add them!

like my SDN handle says, you never know.....go ahead and apply

This. Haha.

That'll make it an even 30...my vote is yes 👍

Agreed. 30 is a much nicer number than 28.

kinda there with you!

:hello: Scored the AAMC 3. 9/4/8
My verbal sucked, mostly because I was tired and in a hurry to finish. I also hadn't practiced in like a month. I haven't looked at the answers, so I'm retaking the verbal section of friday to gauge how I would do with more concentration.
From the topic breakdown, I know what I excel at and where I need to work on. So, I'm going to work on THOSE topics in the PR workbook and Kaplan topical tests. we'll see how this goes. I want to take the next FL on Monday, after I do some practice passages as content review on stuff where I need help. I'll report back. Berries out.

The first test is always the worst in my opinion. After the first couple of AAMC practice tests, you sort get in a groove and become more familiar with the 'AAMC-style', if you will. I'm sure you'll perform much better on the later exams.

You're going to retake the same verbal section? If you do, I wouldn't put too much stock in that result, you know? If you've seen it before, even if you havent looked at the answers, you're giving yourself a big advantage. Keep moving forwards!

Agreed. Retaking exams you just took doesn't really tell you anything because you know what's coming up and your score will be inflated. I would take some EK passages and take a different AAMC after you practiced a little bit.

I'm hungry. Need to go look for some food.
 
I'm truly impressed by your epic multi-quotes :laugh:

👍 this.


😎

Once classes are over and primaries are submitted, I'll probably be tethered to SDN until next May 🙂lame🙂, so there will be fewer multi-quoting frenzies.

BTW, YNK, what happened to our ncaa fantasy tournament? I must admit after I made my account and chose my brackets, I sort of abandoned it. 😳

Also - i'm pretty impressed with the action this thread is getting these days. 🙂

Same here. 👍
 
Last Ochem lab fo' lyyyyfe...

feels-good-man-goat-squint-12883904505.jpg

Congrats! I despised Orgo lab with a passion. 👎
 
Last Ochem lab fo' lyyyyfe...

feels-good-man-goat-squint-12883904505.jpg

Haha I'm with you. Orgo lab wraps up ALL labs for me. No more labs + no more research next year = 20+ hours of my life back each week next semester. What will I do with the time?
 
just had my interview for my undergrad packet letter and it went a million times better than i feared! but i'm abroad and had to wake up at 4 AM to get ready for it... so back to sleep now...
 
Dude, it's because AMCAS opens in 8 days! 😱 This is actually happening....:scared:

THIS reminds me that I need to write my PS this weekend soi can get it read while I'm in the process of filling the application out!

Also, speaking of action, my friend told me that due to the MCAT I'm getting more action and more loving from professors than from guys actually our own age...

Reason for this is that I received a arm nudge and two hugs from professors (I go to a small school, and those are totally normal). Yeah I found that funny and actually kinda true -_-

Also, socal is two for two, because yet another sunny day and I'm wearing a floral dress! Win!
 
kinda there with you!

:hello: Scored the AAMC 3. 9/4/8
My verbal sucked, mostly because I was tired and in a hurry to finish. I also hadn't practiced in like a month. I haven't looked at the answers, so I'm retaking the verbal section of friday to gauge how I would do with more concentration.
From the topic breakdown, I know what I excel at and where I need to work on. So, I'm going to work on THOSE topics in the PR workbook and Kaplan topical tests. we'll see how this goes. I want to take the next FL on Monday, after I do some practice passages as content review on stuff where I need help. I'll report back. Berries out.

You think that's bad my first computer based FL back in October.
5/7/5 O :scared:

Pretty sure it was a super hard PR exam made to ensure that I was stupid and needed to take their class (this was after I had already paid for it). Of course this is 3-4 years separated from O-chem/Phys/and G-chem

AAMC 10 as of March

7/7/9 Q

So I'm getting there, and I like the AAMC tests more, they really let you able to nitpick the questions to see where your deficits lie. I know I need to work on pacing (especially in the verbal section, missed a whole 6 question passage) and more content in the physical sciences. We can do this, we have plenty of time to beat the crap out of this thing.

In the meantime, I think I'm going to enjoy this weather, the library is really cool when its sunny out 😀
 
Guyssss I really need your help! I am in such a conundrum about what to do. I don't know whether to apply this year or next! Applying this year would require me giving up a really amazing potential summer internship and some other cool ECs. BUT I am so set on applying this year and I have everything ready minus the MCAT

For applying next year, I would have a lot more ECs and leadership. However, the thing is that I already have a ton of ECs and leadership, so do I really need more? Also, this would allow me to keep my summer plans and give me longer to retake the MCAT (although I'm not sure if I need that long to retake since the stuff is still fresh and I think this one was a complete fluke).

HELP!!!!!
 
Better well prepared than rushed IMO. You're so young - its only 365 days. Having said that, if you retook and got a 30+, I guarantee you'd get in somewhere - even if that means you were complete August or September. Also depends on where you want to go to school - are your top choices known for staggering invites? or do they encourage earlier apps?
 
Better well prepared than rushed IMO. You're so young - its only 365 days. Having said that, if you retook and got a 30+, I guarantee you'd get in somewhere - even if that means you were complete August or September. Also depends on where you want to go to school - are your top choices known for staggering invites? or do they encourage earlier apps?

My top choices are basically any school in Chicago....I have no idea about their preference, do you?
 
Guyssss I really need your help! I am in such a conundrum about what to do. I don't know whether to apply this year or next! Applying this year would require me giving up a really amazing potential summer internship and some other cool ECs. BUT I am so set on applying this year and I have everything ready minus the MCAT

For applying next year, I would have a lot more ECs and leadership. However, the thing is that I already have a ton of ECs and leadership, so do I really need more? Also, this would allow me to keep my summer plans and give me longer to retake the MCAT (although I'm not sure if I need that long to retake since the stuff is still fresh and I think this one was a complete fluke).

HELP!!!!!

Here's what I think in earnest.

It is great that you are so motivated when so young (said like a true old timer). If you could crank that MCAT out and have apps sent the day scores go out, you could have a great shot. As you are a fellow 2016 SDN'er, I wish you nothing but the highest level of success- its possible that you can do it and I'm rooting for you.

Many people going into medical school with one year off say they've gained so much perspective on life. Me personally, having started an SMP after a year off (so I started med classes after a year of lots of research, kind of like a year off before med school) - I hit the books hard. It was not like "ok, summer off, new fall semester, same old same old". The people in med school with job experience know how to treat school like a job. There's got to be a reason why the vast majority of people who take one year off say they wouldn't have had it any other way.

You've got a decision on your hands. I hope it works out whichever you choose :luck: If you do take the year off- take full advantage of whatever research or other opportunities you can get your hands on.
 
Guyssss I really need your help! I am in such a conundrum about what to do. I don't know whether to apply this year or next! Applying this year would require me giving up a really amazing potential summer internship and some other cool ECs. BUT I am so set on applying this year and I have everything ready minus the MCAT

For applying next year, I would have a lot more ECs and leadership. However, the thing is that I already have a ton of ECs and leadership, so do I really need more? Also, this would allow me to keep my summer plans and give me longer to retake the MCAT (although I'm not sure if I need that long to retake since the stuff is still fresh and I think this one was a complete fluke).

HELP!!!!!

same boat you're in, except I haven't taken the MCAT yet. After my practice scores we'll see what happens
 
Guyssss I really need your help! I am in such a conundrum about what to do. I don't know whether to apply this year or next! Applying this year would require me giving up a really amazing potential summer internship and some other cool ECs. BUT I am so set on applying this year and I have everything ready minus the MCAT

For applying next year, I would have a lot more ECs and leadership. However, the thing is that I already have a ton of ECs and leadership, so do I really need more? Also, this would allow me to keep my summer plans and give me longer to retake the MCAT (although I'm not sure if I need that long to retake since the stuff is still fresh and I think this one was a complete fluke).

HELP!!!!!

Sounds like you were in my shoes last summer. I would wait on the mcat if the internship is for sure and wait it out. Good luck!
 
Hey 2016. Thought you guys might be interested in something Medscape published today, regarding physician income and satisfaction. The original article has a lot more info (http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2011?src=ptalk&viewreporttext), these are just some highlights.


A timely update: Medscape just published their own survey of physician compensation. Here are some highlights:

fig2.jpg


fig7.jpg


fig8.jpg


fig15.jpg


Who would have guessed that Derm is the most satisfied specialty?

fig16.jpg

fig17.jpg



This is the source (you'll need to create a Medscape account to check it out, if you don't already have one. Medscape is an excellent reference): http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2011?src=ptalk&viewreporttext
 
Thank you medzealot. The more I learn about physician compensation/satisfaction, the more I want to run for the hills... of course, then I hate myself/question what kind of person I am/invoke Burnett's Law on myself for even caring about salary.🙄
 
Thank you medzealot. The more I learn about physician compensation/satisfaction, the more I want to run for the hills... of course, then I hate myself/question what kind of person I am/invoke Burnett's Law on myself for even caring about salary.🙄

Yes. I used to grapple with this but I have reformed my position so that I feel like I am a bad person (and will make a terrible physician) if I accept less than $400K per annum.

In earnestness, I think that we are already headed down a road where very smart, efficient people are opting out of medicine for careers with less training and still reasonable income, albeit not as high as medicine. What we'll be left with on one end is people who fall into the categories of feeling like they "can't care" about salary, being legitimately altruistic enough not to care about it, or being too stupid or stubborn to consider the compensation vs. opportunity cost.

On the other end will be people who realize that choosing medicine could be a very good contrarian play, or who know that they'll be specializing into an income that obliterates the "is it worth it" discussion. Above these people will be the capitalist docs who laugh at the notion of someone else signing their checks.

I don't have a theory on how the middle between those two extremes will evolve, because in all honesty there are a lot of "middle of the road" jobs when you combine EM, Neurology, Gas, and other specialties that pay $200-$350K with less than 6 years of residency.

where's neurosurgery?

I guess they didn't have time to fill out the survey :laugh: Good question though.
 
I'm curious how these satisfaction numbers compare to other careers.
Me too. Really, being a doctor is a job (a very romanticized job). How many people are really satisfied with their jobs, doctor or not? My office and retail work says not many, so 60-80% satisfaction isn't bad :laugh:
 
Me too. Really, being a doctor is a job (a very romanticized job). How many people are really satisfied with their jobs, doctor or not? My office and retail work says not many, so 60-80% satisfaction isn't bad :laugh:

:laugh: Yeah, but I think it just sucks more in medicine. In other careers, you may be dissatisfied, but the hope of future career satisfaction was probably not the one thing that kept you going through 11+ years of crap. If I were to become a business major, graduate, and get a job that it turns out I didn't like... well, that would suck, but at least I didn't invest too much in it. In medicine, after 11+ years and $150,000+ investment, to find out your job isn't satisfying must be like
rage_face.jpeg
 
We're MCAT date twins. Have you started heavy review yet?

Not even a little. I'm taking a class, but not doing any of the homework/assigned reading.... heh. Fortunately, I have no other obligations from May 6 to June 16th so it's gonna be full time MCAT studying (what fun). Have you?
 
Retaking on June 16th here....hoping all that info hasn't gone out of my head in the last month :xf:
 
Ugh. My best wishes to those of you still wrestling the MCAT beast. Study hard, good luck, and crush that test!
I've been lurking this thread for a while and really hope to go out for a beer on the interview trail with a few of you, should we be so lucky! Keep your heads up, realize this whole process is designed to make us question and want to quit medicine, and in the end (acceptance letters in hand), we will look back and laugh, happy we never have to go through it again..... till residency apps.
 
Retaking on June 16th here....hoping all that info hasn't gone out of my head in the last month :xf:

We're MCAT twinnies (I think a lot of us are taking it that day). Its become such a routine for me to study that I'm starting to see how questions can come up with my everyday life. Its maddening :scared:. I've been studying since october (took an extended PR course) and I didn't really do any of the reading/assigned work until now.

Good luck, we've got plenty of time to study before that day :luck:
 
We're MCAT twinnies (I think a lot of us are taking it that day). Its become such a routine for me to study that I'm starting to see how questions can come up with my everyday life. Its maddening :scared:. I've been studying since october (took an extended PR course) and I didn't really do any of the reading/assigned work until now.

Good luck, we've got plenty of time to study before that day :luck:

I hope we rock it in 7 weeks! Its always helpful having others going through it with you!
 
well, i'll have a lot more time to focus on my amcas and future secondaries... and interivews.... now that i just found out the bf is leaving for a 6-month trip with his job this month.

awesome! 🙁
 
well, i'll have a lot more time to focus on my amcas and future secondaries... and interivews.... now that i just found out the bf is leaving for a 6-month trip with his job this month.

awesome! 🙁
That's a long time 🙁

taking AAMC 3 this afternoon, first AAMC FL, let's hope I don't bomb it
Good luck! My heart was beating so fast when I started AAMC 3... then I realized it was nothing compared to the Kaplan tests I had been taking (still got a lower score... darn AAMC curve 😀)
 
What we'll be left with on one end is people who fall into the categories of feeling like they "can't care" about salary, being legitimately altruistic enough not to care about it, or being too stupid or stubborn to consider the compensation vs. opportunity cost.

I definitely fluctuate between these choices on any given day. :laugh:
 
well, i'll have a lot more time to focus on my amcas and future secondaries... and interivews.... now that i just found out the bf is leaving for a 6-month trip with his job this month.

awesome! 🙁

yeah I can definitely relate....my bf is in med school over 1000 miles away. This school year weve only seen each other three times 🙁 its definitely hard, but if its worth it, you'll make it work. Let me know if you need someone to talk to! 🙂
 
^Not bad, how long have you been studying for?

Idk haven't studied in 3 wks, probably cant until exams are over. So much easier than TBR passages, it was incredible. I need to make sheets of simplified concepts to glance over so I can least "look" at concepts while I'm not hardcore studying. I could have done better, but I'm not complaining

edit: I've been studying inconsistently since February
 
I'm told that AAMC 3 is significantly easier than the actual real MCAT, or at least that's what I was it was says on my Princeton Review tests website. I'm more inclined to not agree since the AAMC tests are for the most part from older real MCATs. This isn't to either dishearten those who did well on it or condemn those that did poorly (haven't taken it myself). I'm thinking about taking more of the AAMC tests anyway since I've done better on those than on the Princeton Review ones, I just want to know what you guys think.
 
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