D1 Athlete and Medical School

[cke11]

Hey Guys,

I've been hearing a lot about getting into med school and I'm not too sure what to believe. I've heard it's really not as hard as you think, I've heard it's nearly impossible. I was just wondering how you guys think I'm doing so far. I am a division 1 soccer player, junior, been awarded All-Academic 1st team twice, 2nd Team All-Conference, I have a 3.6 GPA, scienceGPA 3.52, I do plenty of research/volunteering and my other extracurricular involved a international non-profit that I have done trips for the past couple years. I am planning on taking the MCAT next year, after I graduate because I want to take a year off. So what do you guys think? And any other information about athletes in medical school would be great too.

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[palatopharyngeus]

1. get a 30+ mcat
2. interview well
3. enjoy the multiple acceptances

you have a solid application, and being a D1 athlete is HUGE

 

[PlaqueBuster]

Do some shadowing, make sure you get good LOR, and make sure you rock the MCAT.

 

[Goro]

You're a very good candidate.

Hey Guys,

I've been hearing a lot about getting into med school and I'm not too sure what to believe. I've heard it's really not as hard as you think, I've heard it's nearly impossible. I was just wondering how you guys think I'm doing so far. I am a division 1 soccer player, junior, been awarded All-Academic 1st team twice, 2nd Team All-Conference, I have a 3.6 GPA, scienceGPA 3.52, I do plenty of research/volunteering and my other extracurricular involved a international non-profit that I have done trips for the past couple years. I am planning on taking the MCAT next year, after I graduate because I want to take a year off. So what do you guys think? And any other information about athletes in medical school would be great too.

 

[Hospitalized]

Medicine is a team sport. Sports are invaluable life experience. Keep doing what your doing, score well on the MCAT, and you will have an extremely good chance at matriculation.

 

[hydroxyurea]

Once you get to the interview, it's about being personable and interesting. D1 athlete = interesting.

Get 30+ on MCAT, have a decent personal statement, apply early and to a reasonable number of schools, you will do fine.

 

[WedgeDawg]

The captain of our D1 soccer team a few years back is now a neurosurgeon at NYP. It's definitely doable, perhaps just requires more planning than for non-athletes.

 

[The Milkman]

I think adcoms understand the time commitment and attributes involved with collegiate sports, so if you're keeping up your grades and doing other ECs while being an athlete, that is very impressive! Keep doing what you're doing and focus on the MCAT, maybe get some shadowing. One thing I will say is that even though you seem to be an excellent applicant and everyone is telling you you're great, do not take it easy and do not relax/lose sight of your goal. You can't bet on anything because med school admissions are a world of unknowns.

 

[keevwu]

.

 

[cke11]

Do some shadowing, make sure you get good LOR, and make sure you rock the MCAT.

I think adcoms understand the time commitment and attributes involved with collegiate sports, so if you're keeping up your grades and doing other ECs while being an athlete, that is very impressive! Keep doing what you're doing and focus on the MCAT, maybe get some shadowing. One thing I will say is that even though you seem to be an excellent applicant and everyone is telling you you're great, do not take it easy and do not relax/lose sight of your goal. You can't bet on anything because med school admissions are a world of unknowns.

Do you guys think shadowing is absolutely necessary? I nearly grew up in my grandfather's practice and although, it wasn't "shadowing" I was there all the time talking to him about his patients and his daily routine.

 

[The Milkman]

Do you guys think shadowing is absolutely necessary? I nearly grew up in my grandfather's practice and although, it wasn't "shadowing" I was there all the time talking to him about his patients and his daily routine.

Well, ya never mentioned that!

 

[gettheleadout]

Do you guys think shadowing is absolutely necessary? I nearly grew up in my grandfather's practice and although, it wasn't "shadowing" I was there all the time talking to him about his patients and his daily routine.

Absolutely necessary, even with family exposure. Your grandfather didn't practice all medical disciplines in all settings and with all patient populations, and you want to demonstrate that you've seen multiple perspectives on modern medicine.

 

[NonTradJp]

I'm just a pre-med but I think you should still shadow. It shows you have a wider exposure and inquiry. Plus it may be a wonderful experience. It was for me so I would highly recommend it for personal experience more than for applications.

And I concur on the above. 30+ MCAT (average matriculation was 31 I believe).
Good LoR's (anything from okay to great is about the same value. Awesome is above that and meh is below.)
Lastly, be yourself in your applications and interviews.

 

[Omppu27]

Based on what I've seen around here, ADCOMs are jersey chasers. Do well on the MCAT and I'm sure you'll have a great shot at success.

 

[Donald Juan]

Definitely think you need a little bit of shadowing outside of family sources, and like others have said, with a decent mcat you should be golden.

 

[ErbB1]

[Deleted]

 

[V5RED]

Given that the MCAT range is now 472 to 528, I suspect OP will score above 30 🙂

 

[rhino184]

D1 wrestler here admitted this cycle. Good luck, you'll surely be asked about how being an athlete impacted you and what you have taken from it at interviews. Hopefully you find success

 

[bruwin2011]

also an athlete, they love it as long as the rest of your numbers and app is good (seems like it is). Do well on the MCAT, apply early and stay active with volunteering/clinical during your time off and you should have multiple acceptances.

 

[Willy38]

Former D-1/ pro athlete here. Just finishing up my application cycle. Feel free to PM me.

I think it definitely helps, however it doesn't make up for weaknesses on your app (especially at top tiers). A lot of it comes down to who reads your app and whether or not they understand what we go through. Sounds like you've still managed to do some other significant things in addition to being an athlete and doing well in school so I think you should be solid. Just perform well on the MCAT as others have said and continue with all of your ECs.

Good luck ! I'm rooting for you.

 

[Willy38]

Anyone know if there's a significant difference in how AdComs view D1 vs DIII athletes? I play DIII ice hockey and would be curious if DI is considered significantly better even though they're both "varsity athletics"

I think it is still highly valued. My guess would be they view it as less time intensive and therefore expect you to have more experiences outside of your sport.

 

[rhino184]

Former D-1/ pro athlete here. Just finishing up my application cycle. Feel free to PM me.

I think it definitely helps, however it doesn't make up for weaknesses on your app (especially at top tiers). A lot of it comes down to who reads your app and whether or not they understand what we go through. Sounds like you've still managed to do some other significant things in addition to being an athlete and doing well in school so I think you should be solid. Just perform well on the MCAT as others have said and continue with all of your ECs.

Good luck ! I'm rooting for you.

Absolutely agree with this. While wrestling had an enormous amount of hours on my application, it did not cover for inadequacies I had, which hurt me for those top tier schools. I'm lucky enough to be admitted to multiple schools though, and I know my wrestling's helped adcoms gain better insight into the character I possess and my ability to manage time

 

[Hospitalized]

http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/011015aab.html

Posting for relevance.

 

[breakintheroof]

http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/011015aab.html

Posting for relevance.

Similarly relevant.

 

[ridethecliche]

Insert comment about SDN applicant having 500 hours of shadowing and 1000 hours of community service.

 

[rhino184]

Insert comment about SDN applicant having 500 hours of shadowing and 1000 hours of community service.

People tried to bash my application when I didn't have as much as this due to more than that combined for my NCAA playing career. I think I put in a lot of the necessary time and being accepted was a nice way to push it back at them

 

[cs24]

D1 wrestler here admitted this cycle. Good luck, you'll surely be asked about how being an athlete impacted you and what you have taken from it at interviews. Hopefully you find success

*fist bump*

 

[aymar]

Any advice for a D1 athlete in their last year of undergrad? I medically retired in May, so I have this full academic year sports free. So far I have been using the time to get clinical experience and fit in shadowing hours. I am also taking a gap year because I wasn't able to fit in the MCAT in time. 3.6 GPA, 3.4 sGPA if that helps. Unfortunately I can only take classes in my major from here on out, so it doesn't look like the sGPA will be moving.

Also, do any of you think prestige of athletic program matters to ADCOMs? I played for a program that was Top 3 nationally every year.

 

[Cookie04]

Any advice for a D1 athlete in their last year of undergrad? I medically retired in May, so I have this full academic year sports free. So far I have been using the time to get clinical experience and fit in shadowing hours. I am also taking a gap year because I wasn't able to fit in the MCAT in time. 3.6 GPA, 3.4 sGPA if that helps. Unfortunately I can only take classes in my major from here on out, so it doesn't look like the sGPA will be moving.

Also, do any of you think prestige of athletic program matters to ADCOMs? I played for a program that was Top 3 nationally every year.

Work on improving your GPA in anyway you can (a higher GPA can only help you), and although you retired from sports make sure you keep filling that time with other activities, volunteering, research, hobbies ect...and don't get lazy!

Prestige in athletics may or may not help you. I don't think it really matters because being an athlete at any 4-yr university looks good (as long as you have a good GPA/ MCAT). However with that being said, always use your accomplishments to your advantage. If you were on a championship team use that in your app. I'm a former All- American D1 athlete that just graduated as the student-athlete of the year and had numerous other team and individual accomplishments, and trust me I put every single one of them in my app.

 

[aymar]

Work on improving your GPA in anyway you can (a higher GPA can only help you), and although you retired from sports make sure you keep filling that time with other activities, volunteering, research, hobbies ect...and don't get lazy!

Prestige in athletics may or may not help you. I don't think it really matters because being an athlete at any 4-yr university looks good (as long as you have a good GPA/ MCAT). However with that being said, always use your accomplishments to your advantage. If you were on a championship team use that in your app. I'm a former All- American D1 athlete that just graduated as the student-athlete of the year and had numerous other team and individual accomplishments, and trust me I put every single one of them in my app.

Thank you so much for the advice! Also best of luck to you- are you applying this cycle?

 

[Cookie04]

Thank you so much for the advice! Also best of luck to you- are you applying this cycle?

thank you! And yes, I applied in May and have a couple more interviews left to go!