Do you ever think...

[wlee43]

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SDN is making you more worried/stressed about the application process than other pre meds who don't check these websites?

 

[acb88]

yes! I didn't find SDN until after I applied and now I know how it was so stress free. Everyone here is neurotic

 

[alienshards]

Kind of. I stayed away from SDN until after my interviews were done because I didn't want too much outside influence/ distraction. I'm really only on here at this point to keep track of the waitlist at my first choice school.

 

[toff4l]

I've been on SDN for a month or so and I've learned some stuff on here that I don't think I would have learned anywhere else.

LizzyM's advice alone is worth checking in on.

I don't pay attention to the gunners. A lot of people on here are not going to med school but it's very easy to spot the ones that are. I just take the advice of those people.

 

[fizzgig]

definitely. but through all the junk there's a TON of good info, especially when you're a nontrad and there aren't a ton of places to find it all. trying to make sense of why person x on here (in the school specific threads) or on mdapps did or did not get into a school given their amazing/meh stats etc is a losing battle. i try not to do that anymore and accept that i am not going to figure it out even a little. still, overall great resource.

 

[halethsonofhama]

yes. but it helped get my butt in gear. I thought I was a great applicant but because of SDN I realized I was anything but. It helped me identify weak points which I was able to do some quick fixes to help me in the application process.

 

[CaliGirl14]

I don't mind it. It keeps you on your toes, and even if you fail miserably compared to some people on SDN, you're looking really awesome anyway. If you're one of the worsts of the best here on SDN, you're still golden. Hope that makes sense..

 

[HAV000]

I've been on SDN for a month or so and I've learned some stuff on here that I don't think I would have learned anywhere else.

LizzyM's advice alone is worth checking in on.

I don't pay attention to the gunners. A lot of people on here are not going to med school but it's very easy to spot the ones that are. I just take the advice of those people.

Second all of that!

I tried to take it all as tips to strengthen my app versus if I don't do all the advice that's given, I'm setting myself up for failure.

 

[Torr]

SDN was a great tool for me when I was just lurking on here before my applications were sent in. Now that I'm an incoming MS1 I think it's become counter-productive. I do feel more neurotic and think it might be that SDN is making me overthink everything.

 

[mauberley]

Now that I'm an incoming MS1 I think it's become counter-productive. I do feel more neurotic and think it might be that SDN is making me overthink everything.

What could you be overthinking at this stage of the process?

 

[Torr]

What could you be overthinking at this stage of the process?

I don't want to derail this thing but for someone that isn't usually much of a planner I've just been thinking too far ahead for where I'm at right now (ie: residency etc). At least that's the opinion of most of my MS4 and resident friends. I sort of blame it on how much I've been lurking around the Allo forum but pre-allo can be just as bad.

Cliff knows cause I went on a small rant with him yesterday and his advice was essentially the same; chill 😎.

 

[CerebroDad]

SDN is great since you get so many different viewpoints from people at different stages in this process. However, to avoid unnecessary stress, there are times when you might want to take a short break from SDN or at least limit what you’re reading. For example, I tried to limit reading SDN when I was waiting to find out how I did on the MCAT, or when I was waiting to hear back from a school I just interviewed at, etc.

During times like those where you’re trying to hope for the best, reading some posts on SDN can be like downloading a movie about a plane crash, watching it, then going to board a flight the very next day.

 

[Cinclus]

I think it has, to a degree, added to my worry. For instance, I was pants-crappingly nervous about taking my first AAMC MCAT practice exam after reading some of the stuff on here, since I thought it would be super-hard and that I would get a demoralizing score, but it turned out to be not so difficult, and I got a confidence-boosting score. SDN has also provided me with some great info and advice, too, such as not to become too relaxed after getting a great practice score, info about writing the personal statement, and AMCAS info.

 

[ovenmitts]

SDN is a great resource. There's a lot of helpful information and so many members who have advice to give. Very helpful.

However, it does create unnecessary stress sometimes... particularly when you end up comparing yourself to other members. These forums are great for info and advice, but reading it too much can leave you feeling inferior sometimes. It's important to avoid using other people's accomplishments as an absolute measuring stick for yourself (to a degree).

Moderation.

 

[StudyShy]

I'm sure that SDN has brought our some OCD in me, however it is going to help me avoid some common pitfalls that will eliminated some of the less serious students. I have a lot to thank for SDN.

 

[estradiol9]

Yes. Plus it doesn't help that there are a lot of rude/snotty/obnoxious pre-meds on here that like to hide behind their big bad computer screen and try to make themselves look good with their pretend 40S MCAT 3.98 GPA and made up extracurriculars. I don't understand what people get out of putting other strangers down via the internetz.

 

[StudyShy]

Yes. Plus it doesn't help that there are a lot of rude/snotty/obnoxious pre-meds on here that like to hide behind their big bad computer screen and try to make themselves look good with their pretend 40S MCAT 3.98 GPA and made up extracurriculars. I don't understand what people get out of putting other strangers down via the internetz.

Not every pre-med on SDN is like this. Stick around long enough, and you'll find a lot of nice people with great advice. 🙂

 

[rhesuspieces]

Yes. Plus it doesn't help that there are a lot of rude/snotty/obnoxious pre-meds on here that like to hide behind their big bad computer screen and try to make themselves look good with their pretend 40S MCAT 3.98 GPA and made up extracurriculars. I don't understand what people get out of putting other strangers down via the internetz.

Actually, I think most of the super high stats people 'round here are 4 realz. It becomes pretty obvious pretty quickly when someone is BSing all of their info.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

i was telling my wife the other day that i wish i had never found this site, because than i could be like some of my classmates being happy with horrible apps, 2.5GPAs going into neurosurgery and not worry so much about this upcoming cycle.

 

[kansaskid]

I am definitely more stressed out with SDN than I would be otherwise, but I don't mind. Overall the good outshines the bad here and this is an incredible resource. But sometimes I do have to take a break and deep breath and try to keep things in perspective.

 

[Narmerguy]

I don't get how SDN stresses people out? I feel much less stressed finally knowing the kind of stuff it takes to get into these schools instead of just guessing. You get to see tons of information and experience from others about what they did well, what kind of feedback they got, etc.

If someone looks super awesome than me...have we not all read about the 4.0 43S that gets rejected or the 3.1 31O that gets into a top school?

Either way, I still don't get what's to be stressed about. Sure you may not have what it takes to get into Mayo or Vandy like you originally thought, but at the end of the day if you at least shoot for those kind of strengths of application, you'll get in somewhere else.

I think the stress is a combination of:
1) People putting unnecessary restrictions on themselves (I have to get into WashU or pull a full ride at my state school)
2) People feeling intimidated by the work effort of others (he studied the MCAT for 5 straight months?!!).

Whatever, just do what you gotta do, stop worrying about what other people are doing and just learn what you can from them. If you care enough to get stressed than you should easily be able to put in the work to get accepted somewhere.

 

[NickNaylor]

SDN is a horrible place. Especially during the application season. A lot - a LOT - of useful information is here, but it's just generally stressful to find out that acceptances have gone out and you didn't receive one, etc.

 

[FranzLO]

If anything it has helped relieve a lot of stress. I like hearing about other opinions and experiences. I used to get stressed out as it seemed everyone I knew in my classes all wanted to go to medical school but when it comes down to it I can only worry about how I do and the rest falls into place. It is a competitive field and there is nothing we can do about that if that is our goal. Also, my experience tells me that this obviously isn't the only career that is selective.

I also don't think (at least since I've been checking out the forum) that most premeds on here are that bad. I also don't expect to be coddled on the internet by strangers so I don't take offense very easily but there are some very helpful individuals on SDN. I actually find it really helpful and it has also made me question if I really want to go into medicine as I learned more about the process. Once I came to the realization that getting into medical school is only one part of the battle I feel pretty comfortable. It is a hell of a lot better than my premed advisors.

I forgot what this thread was about as I typed but that's my 2 cents

 

[Propylene]

I can see how this would be a stressful place for people waiting on application statuses! In general, I tend to be a little skeptical of what I read here. I've learned a lot in the year or so I've been reading these boards, and I'm sorry I didn't find SDN earlier. What helps me is realizing that pre-med students are generally stressed out and neurotic.

 

[GooseWing]

SDN has definitely made me a little bit more stressed/neurotic about the whole premed process--but I still think I'm very lucky to have stumbled into this community.

Maybe I was a bit more stressed when I first found out everything I had to do to be a competitive applicant, but now that I've got all my ducks lined up and still have another year to pump up my application, I'm much more grounded and not as frantic as many of the other premeds at my school. They're all constantly stressing and paranoid about something.

 

[deleted357625]

SDN is making you more worried/stressed about the application process than other pre meds who don't check these websites?

No why would it?

just a forum

 

[rhesuspieces]

No why would it?

just a forum

Your avatar makes me worried and stressed out.

 

[LegendaryPunk]

As a non-trad who just recently decided to pursue med school, I have found SDN to be more helpful than stress inducing. I knew next to nothing about the entire process one month ago, and even though I obviously still have quite a bit to learn, I at least have a general outline in my mind.

We'll see how my thoughts change in a couple years from now when I prepare to take the MCAT and submit my applicaiton though.

 

[Kanosha Kid]

Knowledge is power.

 

[HAV000]

SDN was a great tool for me when I was just lurking on here before my applications were sent in. Now that I'm an incoming MS1 I think it's become counter-productive. I do feel more neurotic and think it might be that SDN is making me overthink everything.

I'm also an incoming MS1 but I feel the opposite. SDN doesn't intimidate me quite as much anymore.

Knowledge is power.

+1