Feeling Very Discouraged....

[FCBarca1990]

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Hey guys,

As a somewhat new member of SDN, I've been browsing the forums lately and feeling discouraged every time I open a thread regarding admissions to top medical schools.

I've had the idea of attending a top medical institution for some time now, and after reading all the comments that members have made, I feel that personally achieving this goal seems more and more impossible.

For reference, I'm currently an uprising junior interested in neurology and cancer prevention, which are the two fields I've had most exposure to. Academically, I'm majoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at a top 20 undergrad institution and have somewhere around a 3.8 science and cummulative GPA.

I was just curious, what does it really take to overcome the seemingly herculean challenge of getting into a top medical school? So far, it looks as though to even have a shot of getting in, you really have to start preparing from the very beginning. Is there no hope for a student who decides he or she wants to go to a top medical institution late into the college experience?

Late last night, while studying for the MCAT, which I plan to take in August, I got back my letter grade in physics II. I thought I had placed in the A range for the class but ended up getting a B+ due to a poor final exam grade. This being my first B in college, I immediately felt a wave of anxiety from a combination of shock of not expecting what I saw and feeling inadequate in the eyes of medical school admissions. I ended up wasting a lot of time yesterday perusing SDN, just to see whether it was possible to get into a top school after getting a B.

After reassessing everything this morning (sleep does wonderful things for the mind), I've decided that my excessive interest in top medical schools might be unhealthy, and I'm currently reconsidering why I want to attend a top institution.

I just feel very confused, because at the top 20 undergrad school that I attend, the health advising department boasts an acceptance rate that hovers around 90% for premedical students. I recently had my first contact and interview with my health adviser, who will be writing a letter for my medical school application, and she had looked over my grades and curriculum vitae and said that I was "Hopkins material", as she put it. However, after seeing the amazing applicants on SDN, I personally don't feel good enough and can't understand how she even thought I'd have a chance.

I'm sorry if I've come off as just ranting, but I would like to know what you think in regards to top medical school admissions and just the process in general. For those of you out there interested in top medical schools, do you ever feel the pressure to succeed and how do you go about dealing with it?

 

[flip26]

Hey guys,

As a somewhat new member of SDN, I've been browsing the forums lately and feeling discouraged every time I open a thread regarding admissions to top medical schools.

I've had the idea of attending a top medical institution for some time now, and after reading all the comments that members have made, I feel that personally achieving this goal seems more and more impossible.

There is your problem. Drop the "goal" of a "top medical institution" and replace it with the goal of "at least one med school" and you will fare much better in this extremely competitive process.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Agree'd with the above poster. The reality is that you got good stats. But good stats are only half the deal. The interview, the EC's and tons of other things all play into this.
Sure you with a 30+ on the mcat will likely get into at least 1 medical school. However the top tier is a strange place. I know people who got in with 3.5/30's and other who got rejected with 3.8/34's.
So my point is simply that don't worry so much. Enjoy and try to worry less. You'll get into a medical school. Which is better then the other 56% of applicants.

 

[mdbound1987]

there is your problem. Drop the "goal" of a "top medical institution" and replace it with the goal of "at least one med school" and you will fare much better in this extremely competitive process.

i

 

[mdbound1987]

There is your problem. Drop the "goal" of a "top medical institution" and replace it with the goal of "at least one med school" and you will fare much better in this extremely competitive process.

I 100% agree with this statement. You shouldn't put that pressure on yourself because wherever you go to medical school, you will be able to accomplish your goals. This isn't like business or law school where the name of the institution means a lot. Also, I will give you the benefit of the doubt, but to think you can't get into a top 20 school because you got a B+ in physics is absolutely ridiculous. There are people who get F's and get accepted to these schools. Your cgpa and sgpa are ridiculous and you can get into any school with a decent mcat score. The thing that will make you or break you is your ECs, shadowing, research, leadership positions, community service, personal statement, secondary essays, and LORs. You do not need to worry about your gpa AT ALL, not even in the least. You need to figure out if you have the stuff outside of the numbers that will get you into medical school so you can apply smartly. Even if you do have excellent outside stuff, you should apply broadly no matter what, but a stronger overall application means you can add more top schools to the mix. The best thing to do is let us know what your ECs and other stuff I named above are so we can make a better assessment of what types of schools you should be applying to. Do not feel discouraged though because with a 3.8 sgpa, you are well ahead of most people, even on this site.

 

[Cytotoxic]

You have an excellent GPA from a top undergrad. Do well on the MCAT (35+), have at least some outside interests, convey your story well, and you'll have a very fruitful application cycle.

And definitely don't drop the goal of attending a top med school. Assuming you don't screw up, you're well-positioned to achieve it.

 

[naijaboi]

If you want top school, aim for top school. If you don't get in, hopefully you will get into another reputable school. Look at people at the top schools and see what they have done - not just academically but extracuricullarly. Hopefully, they will inspire you. Conclude that you will be a doctor and you will get into medical school, then focus your attention on whatever service, research, activity you are passionate about and strive to the best you can be at it. Ultimately, it is your outside classroom experiences that will get you into a top medical school, not your unblemished academic record. As said on HMS website, "Academic excellence is expected." Try not to get any more B's. But spend less time worrying about grades you can't change.

 

[mdeast]

Uh....Let's just say that Mdeast definitely get more than one B in undergrad. His GPA is not a 3.8. And that he doesn't have some ridiculous 40 MCAT score. I am referring to myself in third person...as if my med school applicant persona is separate from the rest of me. Which, it probably is 🙂

I got 5 interviews at Top 20's. Got into 1 one of them, waitlisted at 4. Hoping to get in off one more waitlist to make this already great app cycle even better. I wouldn't say my stats are very strong for top schools (about average or even below average in some areas), but I think I made up for it in research/activities. I'm also a white male. So seriously, anything is possible. You're doing great by the looks of it. Many of the top schools have average GPAs in the 3.7 range (not 3.8) for matriculated students. If anything, a B makes you look more human.

 

[munchymanRX]

Hey guys,

As a somewhat new member of SDN, I've been browsing the forums lately and feeling discouraged every time I open a thread regarding admissions to top medical schools.

I've had the idea of attending a top medical institution for some time now, and after reading all the comments that members have made, I feel that personally achieving this goal seems more and more impossible.

For reference, I'm currently an uprising junior interested in neurology and cancer prevention, which are the two fields I've had most exposure to. Academically, I'm majoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at a top 20 undergrad institution and have somewhere around a 3.8 science and cummulative GPA.

I was just curious, what does it really take to overcome the seemingly herculean challenge of getting into a top medical school? So far, it looks as though to even have a shot of getting in, you really have to start preparing from the very beginning. Is there no hope for a student who decides he or she wants to go to a top medical institution late into the college experience?

Late last night, while studying for the MCAT, which I plan to take in August, I got back my letter grade in physics II. I thought I had placed in the A range for the class but ended up getting a B+ due to a poor final exam grade. This being my first B in college, I immediately felt a wave of anxiety from a combination of shock of not expecting what I saw and feeling inadequate in the eyes of medical school admissions. I ended up wasting a lot of time yesterday perusing SDN, just to see whether it was possible to get into a top school after getting a B.

After reassessing everything this morning (sleep does wonderful things for the mind), I've decided that my excessive interest in top medical schools might be unhealthy, and I'm currently reconsidering why I want to attend a top institution.

I just feel very confused, because at the top 20 undergrad school that I attend, the health advising department boasts an acceptance rate that hovers around 90% for premedical students. I recently had my first contact and interview with my health adviser, who will be writing a letter for my medical school application, and she had looked over my grades and curriculum vitae and said that I was "Hopkins material", as she put it. However, after seeing the amazing applicants on SDN, I personally don't feel good enough and can't understand how she even thought I'd have a chance.

I'm sorry if I've come off as just ranting, but I would like to know what you think in regards to top medical school admissions and just the process in general. For those of you out there interested in top medical schools, do you ever feel the pressure to succeed and how do you go about dealing with it?

1) Why a top institution? Sure, it's good to aim high, but what's your endgame?

2) You're a rising junior. Stop flipping out about 1 B. Your GPA is still more than competitive for the tier you're interested in. Just don't blow the MCAT or the next year of grades.

3) As always, apply early and broadly.

 

[jbz24]

As someone who has gone through the application process three times now (undergrad, med school, residency), the only thing you can do is strive to be the best you can be. This includes understanding your weaknesses, taking advice from others, and trying your best to overcome them.

Be the best you can be and set goals, not expectations.