Clueless Premed

[shanghaichick20]

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Hey I know these questions normally go on the pre-med boards, but I think you Med students are more knowledgable considering you've already been through the process. I will be attending Princeton University in the Fall ('08) as a pre-med student/ prospective molecular biology major. I'm wondering what kind of stats (i.e. GPA, MCAT scores) I need to maintain in order to gain admission into a competitive medical school (i.e. U. Mich, Wash U, Penn, JHU, etc). Also, how important a part do extra-curriculars play in med school admissions? As important as they did in college admissions? Any advice concerning how I can prepare for med school and still maintain sanity is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DrMom]

moving to pre-allo forum

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Do you speak Shanghainese?

 

[TTSD]

Aim for a 4.0
Aim for a 45
Aim to cure AIDS by your sophomore year
then Cancer the next
Volunteer in Sudan
Make N. Korea a democracy
Find Osama Bin Laden

"If you aim for the moon and fail, at least you'll end up in the stars"

:-D

 

[shanghaichick20]

yes-i do speak shangainese

 

[JDAWG07]

If you're really not even starting college until Fall 2008, then I wouldn't worry about it yet. Just know that you must work hard in classes to get a high GPA and in studying for the MCAT (unless you're like a genius friend of mine that got a 43 with 5 hrs of studying). Enjoy your youth. Since you're going premed in college, know that you have more free time now than you ever will again. Live life to the fullest. 🙂

 

[jeatmonkey]

If you're really not even starting college until Fall 2008, then I wouldn't worry about it yet. Just know that you must work hard in classes to get a high GPA and in studying for the MCAT (unless you're like a genius friend of mine that got a 43 with 5 hrs of studying). Enjoy your youth. Since you're going premed in college, know that you have more free time now than you ever will again. Live life to the fullest. 🙂

I think she meant graduating in 2008 and starting this fall. Still, relax and have fun. If you really want to go into medicine your going to have a lot of stressful times coming up. So go out, have a beer.. Now don't get me wrong, you need to get good grades... but don't start stressing now or you will burn out before you even take the MCAT.. enjoy your summer.. 👍

 

[shanghaichick20]

Yea-I'm Princeton class of 2008-HAHAHA it'd be funny if I really were a high school freshman...:sigh: I wish I still were......

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Yea-I'm Princeton class of 2008-HAHAHA it'd be funny if I really were a high school freshman...:sigh: I wish I still were......

You wont after you spend a year in college.

College = Best years of your life

😀 😀

 

[IndyZX]

ECs are an important, but not the most important part of your application.

MCAT and GPA averages for those schools you mentioned, range from about 33.5-36 and 3.7-3.8.

 

[hy2026]

do not try to work too hard, you Ivy league freak!

Seriously, I would tell you to have fun, discover who you are, what you really want, and take random risks. Sure study hard but also try to be a college student. Especially since you are at the best college where most people can dream of, you should do things that are exciting, new and different.

I did not know I will be pursuing medicine until I was a junior.

Also date a girl. I tried so hard to get a girlfriend but I failed. I am not good looking and I do not have anything that girls notice. I probably have the world's record for getting rejected by girls

 

[shanghaichick20]

I AM a girl (STRAIGHT girl)....grrrr....

 

[willthatsall]

"If you aim for the moon and fail, at least you'll end up in the stars"

But wait, aren't the stars further away than the moon? 😕 If you aim for the moon and fail you might fall all the way back to earth.

 

[hy2026]

well that is even better, he he he

(just a joke, folks)

 

[shanghaichick20]

HAHAHHAHAHA thats pretty goood...btw you people post really fast

 

[TTSD]

I AM a girl (STRAIGHT girl)....grrrr....

..are you 18+ and hot?

 

[Fed Meat]

Just don't get the overblown "I went to an Ivy, so I can get in anywhere I want" attitude. The mighty do fall. I know a Yale grad in the Caribbean, actually.

i.e. don't think you are entitled or have a free pass in life. Work hard. Enjoy yourself.

 

[jmeyers52]

Also, how important a part do extra-curriculars play in med school admissions? As important as they did in college admissions?

I would say EC's are more important in med school admissions than they were in undergrad admissions. just my $.02.

 

[liverotcod]

But wait, aren't the stars further away than the moon? 😕 If you aim for the moon and fail you might fall all the way back to earth.

Depends on your velocity. If you're at less than the earth-moon system escape velocity (~11,180 m/s? Or is that just Earth's?), you'll probably wind up in a complex orbit around the earth and moon, and eventually crash into one or the other. If you're going somewhere between that velocity and the Sun's escape velocity (~618,000 m/s), you'll go into orbit around it. Faster than that, you'll get to the stars. Eventually.

I can't believe I just typed that. Or looked up the escape velocities. My dorkishness is completely out of control, and I apologize.

 

[liverotcod]

shanghaichick20, IndyZX is on the money. But there's no guarantees. If you want a sobering experience, look at mdapplicants.com to see how many with the stats he quotes were rejected at all kinds of schools.

As for me, I was a star in high school and went off to Harvard planning to take over the world, figuratively speaking. Then I discovered drinking, and wound up an alcoholic with a 2.2 GPA. I got better, and 13 years later I'm ready to go again.

I agree with the other posters that you gotta have a good time in college; it's for learning about a lot more than academics. But my advice would be to steer (mostly) clear of the partying. It can really sneak up on you. Best wishes.

 

[hy2026]

As for me, I was a star in high school and went off to Harvard planning to take over the world, figuratively speaking. Then I discovered drinking, and wound up an alcoholic with a 2.2 GPA. I got better, and 13 years later I'm ready to go again.

Hey liverotcod, cheer up, always look on the bright side of life. Since you went to Harvard and became an alcoholic, 30 years from now you can be the president of the United States!!

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

 

[liverotcod]

Hey liverotcod, cheer up, always look on the bright side of life. Since you went to Harvard and became an alcoholic, 30 years from now you can be the president of the United States!!

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Now there's a job I NEVER want to have!. But who says I'm not cheery? I'm having a great time doing this... It's a lot of work, yes, but I'm sanguine about my chances and either way it's very exciting.

 

[TTSD]

Now there's a job I NEVER want to have!. But who says I'm not cheery? I'm having a great time doing this... It's a lot of work, yes, but I'm sanguine about my chances and either way it's very exciting.

It's better to have been an alcoholic and gotten a second chance than to have had no chance at all.. now where's shanghaigirl? I hope she's cute..

 

[liverotcod]

It's better to have been an alcoholic and gotten a second chance than to have had no chance at all.. now where's shanghaigirl? I hope she's cute..

Probably off getting drunk. So much for my advice. 😉

 

[PrettyMz4Christ]

Hey I know these questions normally go on the pre-med boards, but I think you Med students are more knowledgable considering you've already been through the process. I will be attending Princeton University in the Fall ('08) as a pre-med student/ prospective molecular biology major. I'm wondering what kind of stats (i.e. GPA, MCAT scores) I need to maintain in order to gain admission into a competitive medical school (i.e. U. Mich, Wash U, Penn, JHU, etc). Also, how important a part do extra-curriculars play in med school admissions? As important as they did in college admissions? Any advice concerning how I can prepare for med school and still maintain sanity is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

just wait until you get to Princeton. the pre-med office is pretty decent and already has all the stuff you requested. you have two weeks before classes begin to find all this information and the statistics for princeton students specifically.

just so you know...it won't be a walk in the park - wait til MOL 214.

 

[Swack]

Depends on your velocity. If you're at less than the earth-moon system escape velocity (~11,180 m/s? Or is that just Earth's?), you'll probably wind up in a complex orbit around the earth and moon, and eventually crash into one or the other. If you're going somewhere between that velocity and the Sun's escape velocity (~618,000 m/s), you'll go into orbit around it. Faster than that, you'll get to the stars. Eventually.

I can't believe I just typed that. Or looked up the escape velocities. My dorkishness is completely out of control, and I apologize.

We don't take to kindly your MCAT logic around here.

 

[davedavedave]

maybe you should try hemorelief