Do You Tell Other People You're Pre-Med?

[james1988]

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Do you guys tell others that you're pre-med?
Do you try to keep the fact that you're pre-med under wraps?

Unless people try to really dig deep, I generally don't tell people I'm pre-med. Even if people ask what I'm majoring in, I tell people that I'm majoring in humanities, and don't tell them that I'm also pre-med. Why? Because I find that when I tell people I'm pre-med, they are all of the sudden taken back; their countenance suddenly turns harried and their perception of you completely changes. You become "one of those." One of those crazy science hermits for whom any sort of fun or nonacademic activity is as toxic as the venom of mutant african cobras. You don't like having fun, you don't like having friends, and you're only pleasure in life can be found deep in the laboratory staring through the ocular of a microscope. You wear lack of sleep as a badge of pride, you think all non-pre-med's are intellectually inferior, and all feel inferior when around you.

True or not, such is the stigma. This is a stigma that I try my best to escape. Do any of you try as hard as I do to avoid this stigma, or do you find that it's not such a big deal?

I really am very curious about the scope of other people's self-presentation of being pre-med.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Do you guys tell others that you're pre-med?
Do you try to keep the fact that you're pre-med under wraps?

Unless people try to really dig deep, I generally don't tell people I'm pre-med. Even if people ask what I'm majoring in, I tell people that I'm majoring in humanities, and don't tell them that I'm also pre-med. Why? Because I find that when I tell people I'm pre-med, they are all of the sudden taken back; their countenance suddenly turns harried and their perception of you completely changes. You become "one of those." One of those crazy science hermits for whom any sort of fun or nonacademic activity is as toxic as the venom of mutant african cobras. You don't like having fun, you don't like having friends, and you're only pleasure in life can be found deep in the laboratory staring through the ocular of a microscope. You wear lack of sleep as a badge of pride, you think all non-pre-med's are intellectually inferior, and all feel inferior when around you.

True or not, such is the stigma. This is a stigma that I try my best to escape. Do any of you try as hard as I do to avoid this stigma, or do you find that it's not such a big deal?

I really am very curious about the scope of other people's self-presentation of being pre-med.

When people ask me what I want to do with the rest of my life I normally tell them doctor, pornstar, or a combo of the two.

There are TONS of people I know, from both unversities I attend who are slackers, and outright tell people they are premed. I think as a whole people realize not all premeds are crazy just like how not all engineers are crazy lego freaks. I feel most people don't deem you a "crazy premed" unless you give them a good reason to.

 

[dd128]

Do you guys tell others that you're pre-med?
Do you try to keep the fact that you're pre-med under wraps?

Unless people try to really dig deep, I generally don't tell people I'm pre-med. Even if people ask what I'm majoring in, I tell people that I'm majoring in humanities, and don't tell them that I'm also pre-med. Why? Because I find that when I tell people I'm pre-med, they are all of the sudden taken back; their countenance suddenly turns harried and their perception of you completely changes. You become "one of those." One of those crazy science hermits for whom any sort of fun or nonacademic activity is as toxic as the venom of mutant african cobras. You don't like having fun, you don't like having friends, and you're only pleasure in life can be found deep in the laboratory staring through the ocular of a microscope. You wear lack of sleep as a badge of pride, you think all non-pre-med's are intellectually inferior, and all feel inferior when around you.

True or not, such is the stigma. This is a stigma that I try my best to escape. Do any of you try as hard as I do to avoid this stigma, or do you find that it's not such a big deal?

I really am very curious about the scope of other people's self-presentation of being pre-med.

The only stigma I've seen is from other premeds labeling eachother. My friends who didn't got to college or weren't science majors have absolutely no idea about this wondrous "pre-med world" we are all apart of. From what I've seen people think you're smart if you majored in Biology 🙄 If someone's friends feel intellectually inferior around them, it's more than likely because they are making them feel that way. Just my opinion.

 

[moe_4eva]

Yes, although only when I come upon people that may need my pre-med medical expertise. Then, I am more than willing to announce that I am pre-med, because people seem to instantly trust me and allow me to help them. The end result is that I always have something new and exciting to put on my PS, plus I feel that I have made a real difference.

Wait, what thread is this again?

 

[LikeClockWork]

Well, I've graduated, so now everyone I meet wants to know what I'm doing. I just tell them I'm a research assistant which always seems to elicit a response of "So are you going to be a scientist or something?" That's usually the time I tell them I'm applying to med school. I avoid using the word "pre-med" at all costs since people seem to think that's just some major in college.

 

[dd128]

Yes, although only when I come upon people that may need my pre-med medical expertise. Then, I am more than willing to announce that I am pre-med, because people seem to instantly trust me and allow me to help them. The end result is that I always have something new and exciting to put on my PS, plus I feel that I have made a real difference.

Wait, what thread is this again?

OMG, have you ever had someone run into a room screaming, "Quick, somebody tell me the phases of mitosis or I'll die!!!" Quite a rewarding experience if you've ever gone through it.

 

[xanthomondo]

Well, I've graduated, so now everyone I meet wants to know what I'm doing. I just tell them I'm a research assistant which always seems to elicit a response of "So are you going to be a scientist or something?" That's usually the time I tell them I'm applying to med school. I avoid using the word "pre-med" at all costs since people seem to think that's just some major in college.

I agree. I always told people that "I am planning to apply to medical school" if asked what my future plans were or what I wanted to do with my degree. It sounds better than "I'm a pre-medical student" for some reason

 

[tiedyeddog]

I agree. I always told people that "I am planning to apply to medical school" if asked what my future plans were or what I wanted to do with my degree. It sounds better than "I'm a pre-medical student" for some reason

They are the same thing. Why would one sound better?

 

[Adage]

The problem with stating you are a "Pre-Med" student is that for most universities/colleges, there is no such program as "Pre-Med". You could become a doctor from any discipline (Well, depends on medical school requirements, but there are plenty which have no mandatory requirements), and by stating you are "Pre-Med" you are attempting to classify yourself as being in a class of students that are often considered to be mercenaries when it comes to marks and getting into medical school. If you wonder why people have that sort of misconception of you, it's because you claimed yourself as pre-med, attempting to glorify yourself and overstating your ambitions.

 

[xanthomondo]

They are the same thing. Why would one sound better?

If you say "I'm a pre-med" it sounds like you have status - that label means that you're something.

If you're just "planning on applying" (yeah, they mean the same thing) you aren't labeling yourself. it seems more humble. It also seems that people who are quick to say "im gonna be a doctor" or "im pre-med" havent given any thought to what it actually takes to get there

I tutored a girl who was a psychology major, who always claimed herself pre-med and "going to medical school" before she even started undergrad. She changed her mind 2 weeks into the first semester because she decided she is "going to get a PhD in psychology" I asked her if she knew what a PhD meant and what it required to get one, and she asked if I would explain it to her

last i heard, she switched to nursing. i doubt she went through with that, either

 

[kami333]

Well, I've graduated, so now everyone I meet wants to know what I'm doing. I just tell them I'm a research assistant which always seems to elicit a response of "So are you going to be a scientist or something?" That's usually the time I tell them I'm applying to med school. I avoid using the word "pre-med" at all costs since people seem to think that's just some major in college.

Yeah, I'm in the same situation and get the same question. I usually hedge it a bit by saying maybe grad or med school, though in reality I want to do MD/PhD.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I tutored a girl who was a psychology major, who always claimed herself pre-med and "going to medical school" before she even started undergrad. She changed her mind 2 weeks into the first semester because she decided she is "going to get a PhD in psychology" I asked her if she knew what a PhD meant and what it required to get one, and she asked if I would explain it to her

Alright, this is sort of my point. There are so many people who say that they are pre-med and eventually drop out of it somewhere in college that I believe the general population doesn't cast a certain stereotype on anyone who claims "premed". The same thing applies for prevet and prelaw.

Also, my major is microbiology. If someone were to asks me my major I'd say "microbiology". If someone asks me why I am going to college or what I want to do with my life, I'd say "premed, I want to be a doctor."

 

[medisaur]

There's nothing shameful about being pre-med; there's something shameful about being a pretentious a-hole.

 

[JA Prufrock]

yes I wear t-shirts that say things like "i plan to go to med school" and "have sex with me im going to be a doctor"

 

[HumidBeing]

Do I tell anyone that? Never.

I certainly don't think everyone around me is inferior, either. There are a lot of cool people out there.

 

[Hurricane95]

This is such a dumb topic. Who cares what you call yourself?
I'm not bashing you OP, I see you don't agree....im against the idiots who have those dumb ideas.
Being pre-med is not special, and it doesn't mean you are smart. Any idiot can be a self-proclaimed "pre-med," which is not different from being a pre-corporate manager, pre-rock guitarrist, pre-historian. It's not a title you earned or anything. It's what you choose to call yourself. Whoever is seriously obsessing over whether to call themselves this or that, or is all flustered over how other people use the term, is probably him/herself the very same "pre-med" type that other "pre-meds" rant and rave about and hate for being a douche, if that makes any sense. Let's not get started on those who think they are smarter than everyone by majoring in biology and being "pre-med"...yeah those people who proceed to get riddled with C's left and right and then not get accepted anywhere.

If you plan on attending medical school in the future sometime, you are pre-med. That's it. The question then (a valid and ok one), is if you normally tell people when asked what your future plans (tell them you want to be a doctor). That's valid to ask. I myself always told people because honestly I never saw any of this stigmatizing, stereotyping that seems to go on everywhere else but here. Maybe people here are just more normal. No one ever looked at me funny after finding out I wanted to do medicine. No one thought I was some weird science-obsessed hermit with zero social skills. Most people just ask out of curiosity.

 

[Cegar]

This is such a dumb topic. Who cares what you call yourself?
I'm not bashing you OP, I see you don't agree....im against the idiots who have those dumb ideas.
Being pre-med is not special, and it doesn't mean you are smart. Any idiot can be a self-proclaimed "pre-med," which is not different from being a pre-corporate manager, pre-rock guitarrist, pre-historian. It's not a title you earned or anything. It's what you choose to call yourself. Whoever is seriously obsessing over whether to call themselves this or that, or is all flustered over how other people use the term, is probably him/herself the very same "pre-med" type that other "pre-meds" rant and rave about and hate for being a douche, if that makes any sense. Let's not get started on those who think they are smarter than everyone by majoring in biology and being "pre-med"...yeah those people who proceed to get riddled with C's left and right and then not get accepted anywhere.

If you plan on attending medical school in the future sometime, you are pre-med. That's it. The question then (a valid and ok one), is if you normally tell people when asked what your future plans (tell them you want to be a doctor). That's valid to ask. I myself always told people because honestly I never saw any of this stigmatizing, stereotyping that seems to go on everywhere else but here. Maybe people here are just more normal. No one ever looked at me funny after finding out I wanted to do medicine. No one thought I was some weird science-obsessed hermit with zero social skills. Most people just ask out of curiosity.

You're a dumb topic.

 

[Depakote]

Please keep the discussion in this thread civil and refrain from insulting other posters.

Thanks.

 

[HumidBeing]

No need for me to restate the obvious.

 

[sweetlife]

No, I don't tell people in my major that I am pre-med, especially my teachers. Its like being a second class citizen if you are a pre med in my major. Its weird.

 

[LikeClockWork]

They are the same thing. Why would one sound better?

Well, people on this board may know they are the same thing, but there are some pre-conceived connotations that "pre-med" carries out in the real world that I'd just as soon avoid if I can.

 

[james1988]

No, I don't tell people in my major that I am pre-med, especially my teachers. Its like being a second class citizen if you are a pre med in my major. Its weird.

what's your major?
sociology?

 

[135892]

This is such a dumb topic. Who cares what you call yourself?
I'm not bashing you OP, I see you don't agree....im against the idiots who have those dumb ideas.
Being pre-med is not special, and it doesn't mean you are smart. Any idiot can be a self-proclaimed "pre-med," which is not different from being a pre-corporate manager, pre-rock guitarrist, pre-historian. It's not a title you earned or anything. It's what you choose to call yourself. Whoever is seriously obsessing over whether to call themselves this or that, or is all flustered over how other people use the term, is probably him/herself the very same "pre-med" type that other "pre-meds" rant and rave about and hate for being a douche, if that makes any sense. Let's not get started on those who think they are smarter than everyone by majoring in biology and being "pre-med"...yeah those people who proceed to get riddled with C's left and right and then not get accepted anywhere.

If you plan on attending medical school in the future sometime, you are pre-med. That's it. The question then (a valid and ok one), is if you normally tell people when asked what your future plans (tell them you want to be a doctor). That's valid to ask. I myself always told people because honestly I never saw any of this stigmatizing, stereotyping that seems to go on everywhere else but here. Maybe people here are just more normal. No one ever looked at me funny after finding out I wanted to do medicine. No one thought I was some weird science-obsessed hermit with zero social skills. Most people just ask out of curiosity.

Exactly... If people treat you oddly, it probably has more to do with your own personality than it does with them treating you differently because they know that you are pre-med.

 

[175961]

When people ask me what I want to do with the rest of my life I normally tell them doctor, pornstar, or a combo of the two.

A medical pornstar.....I bet there is a lot of money to be made in that field. Just call me Dr. Beaver...

 

[kenmc3]

I never called myself a pre-med (when I was one) because most people believe you will never end up in medical school... Heck, I still think that when I hear a freshmen or sophomore call themselves a pre-med.

 

[thesauce]

Never a peep until after I was accepted to medical school.

 

[kgargar]

I think that the label pre-med needs to be changed. When people would ask me if i was pre-med i would respond that i hope to become a doctor one day. the idea of pre-med is a brutal thought, but a doctor is a noble tradition. so talk about your goal, not what you are going through to get there.

 

[SaveThisLabRat]

I just tell them I'm catwoman and they never question me.

 

[Isoprop]

I think that the label pre-med needs to be changed. When people would ask me if i was pre-med i would respond that i hope to become a doctor one day. the idea of pre-med is a brutal thought, but a doctor is a noble tradition. so talk about your goal, not what you are going through to get there.

i tell people i don't know but i'm thinking about medicine.

 

[DancerDocToBe]

When people ask what I'm studying I usually tell them dance because, well, that's the truth. If they press the question further, I tell them that I'm majoring in dance with concentrations in performance, choreography, and dance science. Usually they then ask what the heck dance science is so I explain, then they ask what it's good for. At that point I explain that I'm planning on applying to med school and they're like "ooooh..."

So I suppose I do tell other people I'm pre-med but only as a means of explaining what the heck I'm doing with my life.

 

[Hurricane95]

You're a dumb topic.

You must be one of THOSE pre-meds. Let's take this outside cegar. *slips on brass knuckles* I'll give you a whoopin' boy.

(kidding, kidding)

 

[Insulinshock]

I used to tell strangers I meet I'm a biomed sci major but then I'd have to go into detail explaining what i wanted to do with that degree cause they always asked.

Now I just tell strangers I'm a pre-medical student. I really don't give two s*its anymore because if they're strangers than I don't really care what they think about me in the first place. I also tell people I know I'm premed cause they know me well enough to know I'm a sociable fun person to be around and I don't fall into that stereotype. I know there's no such thing as a "pre-med" but thats the phrase everyone is familiar with so I use it.

You know what I think is as annoying as people bragging themselves up as a "pre-med"? Pre-meds who have to point out to all of us that there is no such thing as "pre-med." I'll call it whatever the hell I want thank you.