"Funny quotes from 'less informed' pre-meds," On-Topic Edition

[Eleithyia]

A story about a pre-med friend of mine...

*Recently-waitlisted friend is talking to an acquaintance who is apparently one of the less-informed pre-meds*
Other Guy: How is the app cycle going?
Friend: Okay, I just had my first interview at XSOM in State.
Other Guy: Congratulations! It must be so nice to know that you're going to get to go to med school!
Friend:

---

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[freak7]

A story about a pre-med friend of mine...

*Recently-waitlisted friend is talking to an acquaintance who is apparently one of the less-informed pre-meds*
Other Guy: How is the app cycle going?
Friend: Okay, I just had my first interview at XSOM in State.
Other Guy: Congratulations! It must be so nice to know that you're going to get to go to med school!
Friend:

*Anxiety worsens*

 

[Levrone]

The girl is pre-pharm but she said one of the schools I was interviewing at (and one of my top choices) is "a **** medical school". She also wanted to be my gf lol. We don't talk anymore.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

This might be controversial but does anyone else get annoyed when a premed says "I am going to become a doctor"? I've had multiple people tell me this and I just feel like I'd majorly jinx myself if I said anything more then "I am going to try to get into med school."

 

[chrisjh]

This might be controversial but does anyone else get annoyed when a premed says "I am going to become a doctor"? I've had multiple people tell me this and I just feel like I'd majorly jinx myself if I said anything more then "I am going to try to get into med school."

Hence your sdn screen name??

 

[kay815]

This might be controversial but does anyone else get annoyed when a premed says "I am going to become a doctor"? I've had multiple people tell me this and I just feel like I'd majorly jinx myself if I said anything more then "I am going to try to get into med school."

This. I didn't begin saying "I'm going to be a doctor" until I received my first acceptance. Even then, I realize nothing in life is guaranteed.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

Hence your sdn screen name??

Princeton Medical School doesnt exist ;-;

 

[Saifa]

This might be controversial but does anyone else get annoyed when a premed says "I am going to become a doctor"? I've had multiple people tell me this and I just feel like I'd majorly jinx myself if I said anything more then "I am going to try to get into med school."

My tri-Beta chapter has several freshman brain surgeons + one planning on "majoring in radiology." Honestly I think interested high school students need to be offered more information about the nature of med school from their institutions, I certainly wish I would have been.

 

[JB50]

I echo the stupidity of saying "I'm going to be a doctor." Hell I said "I'm applying to medical school" then "I've got a couple interviews for medical school" before I finally said "I'm going to medical school next fall."

 

[Eleithyia]

Agreed. Knowing about the process, it seems really arrogant for someone who is a pre-med to say they are "going to be a doctor" or are a future doctor.

When I don't feel up to explaining the pre-med slog to a room full of strangers I usually go with "Hi, I'm Eleithyia, and I'm hoping to become a doctor."

 

[PB&Jam]

This might be controversial but does anyone else get annoyed when a premed says "I am going to become a doctor"? I've had multiple people tell me this and I just feel like I'd majorly jinx myself if I said anything more then "I am going to try to get into med school."

This. I didn't begin saying "I'm going to be a doctor" until I received my first acceptance. Even then, I realize nothing in life is guaranteed.

I echo the stupidity of saying "I'm going to be a doctor." Hell I said "I'm applying to medical school" then "I've got a couple interviews for medical school" before I finally said "I'm going to medical school next fall."

I understand what you're all saying, but for most people who say this, I don't think it's stupidity or cockiness. I think usually it's a verbal tic of sorts, or a person who's speaking casually and not putting a whole lot of thought into exactly what they're saying in the moment. Especially for people new to the process, it's understandable and not something I notice or critique.

For some reason, "future doctor" is a bit more cringe-y. Also, of course, there are obviously instances where these phrases are used by cocky and overconfident dinguses. I'm just saying that the majority are not.

 

[bunchesonothing]

Agreed. Knowing about the process, it seems really arrogant for someone who is a pre-med to say they are "going to be a doctor" or are a future doctor.

When I don't feel up to explaining the pre-med slog to a room full of strangers I usually go with "Hi, I'm Eleithyia, and I'm hoping to become a doctor."

I think a lot of people in the pre-med camp are used to being successful and may not be able to yet comprehend a situation in which they might not succeed despite their best possible efforts.

 

[JB50]

I understand what you're all saying, but for most people who say this, I don't think it's stupidity or cockiness. I think usually it's a verbal tic of sorts, or a person who's speaking casually and not putting a whole lot of thought into exactly what they're saying in the moment. Especially for people new to the process, it's understandable and not something I notice or critique.

For some reason, "future doctor" is a bit more cringe-y. Also, of course, there are obviously instances where these phrases are used by cocky and overconfident dinguses. I'm just saying that the majority are not.

Yeah you're probably right.

 

[BunnyMan17]

One year my pre-med club decided to put "physician in training" on the back of the yearly shirt.... I have not worn that bugger in public once. They're not super arrogant, they're great people (mostly). The rest of the exec board just seemed to operate under the premise the world owed them whatever they wanted.

 

[Saifa]

I try to spare younger students a lot of the criticism because there's a great deal of gloom/doom spread about medicine as well (esp from older, disgruntled physicians). Such discourse led to my ignorant young self almost giving up on it for good (edit- was a major contributing factor). It's good to be excited early on.

 

[DiscusKeeper]

This happened in October of this year. It was a conversation between one of my friends and a senior bio major who wants to apply to medical school.

"I'm going to apply this cycle, I'm just waiting on my letters of reference."
"How'd the MCAT go?"
"I got a 498. I was shooting for a 500, but it's so close that I'm not gonna bother retaking it."
"You realize 500 isn't a good score, right?"
"Well, John (me) got a 505 and has interviews!!!!"
"John got a 514."
"Oh..."

This was a senior biology major. No idea how she thinks 500 is a good score or that she can still apply this cycle when she hasn't even started her primary application. Literally the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

No idea how she thinks 500 is a good score

Easy, 500/528=95% that's a pretty killer score to me....

 

[ChrisMack390]

No idea how she thinks 500 is a good score

When they first announced the new scoring system, AAMC was peddling this idea that they wanted medical schools to essentially considered 500+ a "pass" or good enough and not worry about actually comparing scores above that to each other. It was realized fairly quickly that this was never going to happen, but I wonder if this person was led astray?

 

[idontwatchgreysanatomy]

Easy, 500/528=95% that's a pretty killer score to me....

You joke, but I've met several people who think this

 

[BKNbkn]

When they first announced the new scoring system, AAMC was peddling this idea that they wanted medical schools to essentially considered 500+ a "pass" or good enough and not worry about actually comparing scores above that to each other. It was realized fairly quickly that this was never going to happen, but I wonder if this person was led astray?

I think she believed she can get into school with an average score, with 500 being the national average.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You joke, but I've met several people who think this

That's the joke!

 

[stickgirl390]

I've got two good ones:

*Physics professor writes an equation on the board. X is on both sides of the equals sign, so he cancels them out.*
Student: Wait, where did the x go??
Professor: oh that isn't part of the physics, I just did some algebra to simplify the equation.
Student: ....you can do that? But, it's a letter.....


*Microbiology teacher speaking to a Chem major who has already "passed" both ochem 1 and 2*
Teacher: Recall, which element is the major component of organic molecules?
Student: Water.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I've got two good ones:

*Physics professor writes an equation on the board. X is on both sides of the equals sign, so he cancels them out.*
Student: Wait, where did the x go??
Professor: oh that isn't part of the physics, I just did some algebra to simplify the equation.
Student: ....you can do that? But, it's a letter.....


*Microbiology teacher speaking to a Chem major who has already "passed" both ochem 1 and 2*
Teacher: Recall, which element is the major component of organic molecules?
Student: Water.

Oh what our ****ty education system is doing to our poor children.

 

[ed*26]

I understand what you're all saying, but for most people who say this, I don't think it's stupidity or cockiness. I think usually it's a verbal tic of sorts, or a person who's speaking casually and not putting a whole lot of thought into exactly what they're saying in the moment. Especially for people new to the process, it's understandable and not something I notice or critique.

For some reason, "future doctor" is a bit more cringe-y. Also, of course, there are obviously instances where these phrases are used by cocky and overconfident dinguses. I'm just saying that the majority are not.

I think a lot of people in the pre-med camp are used to being successful and may not be able to yet comprehend a situation in which they might not succeed despite their best possible efforts.

I always said that I was hoping to go to med school, but apparently I was being too modest because I had several different adults (mix of physicians and not) tell me I wasn't being confident enough in myself. All of them had just met me, so it wasn't like they were making this judgment based off of actual information.

 

[Kgizzle]

This kid could probably benefit from taking a bioethics course

To be fair though, there's the "right" answer and your first thought answer. Like if you had to choose who got a liver between a mom with 3 kids and an alcoholic... don't tell me your first thought isn't mom should get it. Sure second thought is all life is precious, I don't make the decisions and there is a organ transplant list etc

 

[Boogy'sChick15]

Just had another family member ask me for medical advice. Again, its not an uninformed pre-med but I will share anyway.
My aunt knows I have an interest in Radiation Oncology, and she knows I am only in my undergrad, however I don't know if she is aware of the difference between being a pre-med in undergrad and a med student or resident.
I received a text from her asking for more information about treatment options for stage 3 desmoplastic spindle cell melanoma for a friend who was diagnosed, and before she tells her friend to see a melonama specialist, she would like some info from me before she does so.
I honestly don't know what to say to that lol

 

[Shirafune]

Just had another family member ask me for medical advice. Again, its not an uninformed pre-med but I will share anyway.
My aunt knows I have an interest in Radiation Oncology, and she knows I am only in my undergrad, however I don't know if she is aware of the difference between being a pre-med in undergrad and a med student or resident.
I received a text from her asking for more information about treatment options for stage 3 desmoplastic spindle cell melanoma for a friend who was diagnosed, and before she tells her friend to see a melonama specialist, she would like some info from me before she does so.
I honestly don't know what to say to that lol

boopboop

 

[au_gems_glitter]

I (ORM) remember an encounter with a fellow pre-med (Native American descent) last year or so. We were discussing summer REUs and the convo went something like this:

Me: I wish I could apply to REUs that only consider URMs.
Her: Why don't you? Just say that you're part Indian.
Me: But I'm not.
Her: What if you really like the research? Besides, they don't even check.
Me:

Last I checked in August, she wanted to apply this cycle but didn't start her app yet.

 

[Cotterpin]

I (ORM) remember an encounter with a fellow pre-med (Native American descent) last year or so. We were discussing summer REUs and the convo went something like this:

Me: I wish I could apply to REUs that only consider URMs.
Her: Why don't you? Just say that you're part Indian.
Me: But I'm not.
Her: What if you really like the research? Besides, they don't even check.
Me:

Last I checked in August, she wanted to apply this cycle but didn't start her app yet.

Off topic, but I love your avatar. Turn the other cheek!

 

[Gurby]

Talking to a workplace friend about med school things, he mentions that one of his friends is at a Carib school: "the way it works is you spend your first 3 years over there, then you come back and do your 4th year in the US. She's already a US citizen so she's guaranteed a residency spot when she comes back".

Didn't have the heart to tell him

The fact that he said you spend 3 years over there... Sounds like maybe his friend had to repeat a year, or couldn't find US spots for rotations? I didn't ask too many questions.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

Talking to a workplace friend about med school things, he mentions that one of his friends is at a Carib school: "the way it works is you spend your first 3 years over there, then you come back and do your 4th year in the US. She's already a US citizen so she's guaranteed a residency spot when she comes back".

Didn't have the heart to tell him

The fact that he said you spend 3 years over there... Sounds like maybe his friend had to repeat a year, or couldn't find US spots for rotations? I didn't ask too many questions.

Every other part of your post I agree with. But just wanted to add that the 3 yr thing is because most of the Carib schools set up rotations in the US so the students end up living up here and moving from place to place throughout the US where their schools were able to set up spots. Which is usually a disaster.

One of my friends who I was trying to talk out of going Caribbean was sold on the fact that they "did rotations up here anyway", and one of the sites was Hopkins. He was referring to Trinity and after some light research I noticed it said they get to rotate in "Baltimore hospitals" as "Baltimore is the birthplace of modern medicine", and they let the kids take a pic outside of Hopkins on a tour, but as far as I can tell they don't actually rotate there.


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[sammiesings]

Every other part of your post I agree with. But just wanted to add that the 3 yr thing is because most of the Carib schools set up rotations in the US so the students end up living up here and moving from place to place throughout the US where their schools were able to set up spots. Which is usually a disaster.

One of my friends who I was trying to talk out of going Caribbean was sold on the fact that they "did rotations up here anyway", and one of the sites was Hopkins. He was referring to Trinity and after some light research I noticed it said they get to rotate in "Baltimore hospitals" as "Baltimore is the birthplace of modern medicine", and they let the kids take a pic outside of Hopkins on a tour, but as far as I can tell they don't actually rotate there.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Right, but they start rotating during their third year, correct? Looks like the previous poster is referring to someone who didn't start rotating until their fourth year. Sounds like they failed a pre clinical year or something!

 

[WhittyPsyche]

Right, but they start rotating during their third year, correct? Looks like the previous poster is referring to someone who didn't start rotating until their fourth year. Sounds like they failed a pre clinical year or something!

From the person I know the US rotations were fourth year, the core rotations in third year were on the island. From what I understood is it was intentional because they couldn't get spots for every student in core rotations, instead having them pick their electives and get scattered spots all over was easier.

That's why I was saying 4th year in US is a thing too.


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[Gurby]

From the person I know the US rotations were fourth year, the core rotations in third year were on the island. From what I understood is it was intentional because they couldn't get spots for every student in core rotations, instead having them pick their electives and get scattered spots all over was easier.

That's why I was saying 4th year in US is a thing too.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

TIL!

 

[JB50]

"I wanna do ortho surgery because I just really enjoy being around sports and played them growing up."



One of the greatest head scratchers for me, like I literally have a minor brain hemorrhage whenever this happens, is when people ask what I am going to school for and I say "I'm heading to medical school next fall" the next thing out of their mouth is "so what will you be when you get out? " And they don't mean what kind of doctor, they mean what will my job description be.

I thought medical school was a universal term for the education of physicians

Have had this happen SO many times with coworkers, patients, and patients families.

 

[Cotterpin]

"I wanna do ortho surgery because I just really enjoy being around sports and played them growing up."



One of the greatest head scratchers for me, like I literally have a minor brain hemorrhage whenever this happens, is when people ask what I am going to school for and I say "I'm heading to medical school next fall" the next thing out of their mouth is "so what will you be when you get out? " And they don't mean what kind of doctor, they mean what will my job description be.

I thought medical school was a universal term for the education of physicians

Have had this happen SO many times with coworkers, patients, and patients families.

Yeah, you would think that, but a lot of people hear "medical school" and think it could be school for anything at all related to healthcare. Like a nurse, a medical assistant, a pharmacist, a radiology tech, etc.

I work in an animal hospital right now and whenever I tell a coworker I'm going to medical school next year, we always have to clarify if I mean med school or vet school. It's understandable, since we're in an animal hospital, but it's still a goofy conversation because they're always like, "Wait. Medical school for humans?"

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

"I wanna do ortho surgery because I just really enjoy being around sports and played them growing up."

Well to be fair, I think a lot of orthopods gravitate to the specialty because of an interest in sports. I worked with some who just loved the anatomy and procedures, but there were definitely some who got into it because they love sports and sports medicine.

One of the greatest head scratchers for me, like I literally have a minor brain hemorrhage whenever this happens, is when people ask what I am going to school for and I say "I'm heading to medical school next fall" the next thing out of their mouth is "so what will you be when you get out? " And they don't mean what kind of doctor, they mean what will my job description be.

I thought medical school was a universal term for the education of physicians

Have had this happen SO many times with coworkers, patients, and patients families.

Just got asked that yesterday by a coworker. And then when I say, "a doctor," they act all surprised and impressed like not everyone who graduates from medical school is a doctor.

 

[Gurby]

App Cycle.
II's: 11 -----> Attended: 2 --------> Accepted: 2

 

[ifnotnowwren]

"I wanna do ortho surgery because I just really enjoy being around sports and played them growing up."



One of the greatest head scratchers for me, like I literally have a minor brain hemorrhage whenever this happens, is when people ask what I am going to school for and I say "I'm heading to medical school next fall" the next thing out of their mouth is "so what will you be when you get out? " And they don't mean what kind of doctor, they mean what will my job description be.

I thought medical school was a universal term for the education of physicians

Have had this happen SO many times with coworkers, patients, and patients families.

My roommate had some people over the other night and we were talking and one asked what I do. I told him I was currently in medical school and his response was "What is that, some kind of masters program?". Apparently some people think that "medical doctorate" = "masters in doctoring".

 

[sammiesings]

From the person I know the US rotations were fourth year, the core rotations in third year were on the island. From what I understood is it was intentional because they couldn't get spots for every student in core rotations, instead having them pick their electives and get scattered spots all over was easier.

That's why I was saying 4th year in US is a thing too.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

got it! never knew that. but like gurby, til

 

[JB50]

But I didn't say that so get off my back @Gurby learn how to quote

U are a cheeky little lad

 

[JB50]

Idk where you got those stats gurbster

 

[Gurby]

Idk where you got those stats gurbster

 

[JB50]

I love you

 

[alcoholdehydrogenase69]

A friend of a friend was in my MCAT review class.
She had taken the old MCAT once, the new MCAT once, and was going for a third attempt due to sub 50% scores. It was her second time taking the in person Kaplan review class. I also think she was in her fifth year of undergrad to retake classes she did poorly in. On top of all this, she was not aware that MD schools did not do grade replacement.

I summed up the expenses she had gone through to apply:
Kaplan Review x2 = $4200
MCAT fee x3 = $825
Extra year of classes = $10,000

Altogether she spent at least $15,000 WITHOUT APPLYING.
Last time I checked, she couldn't finish her practice tests due to nervous breakdowns. She also had trouble finding the time to study because she was the president of her sorority, to which I thought "WTF??? Get your priorities in order!!!". I don't know if she even followed through with the third MCAT, but she definitely did not apply again....smh

 

[WhittyPsyche]

A friend of a friend was in my MCAT review class.
She had taken the old MCAT once, the new MCAT once, and was going for a third attempt due to sub 50% scores. It was her second time taking the in person Kaplan review class. I also think she was in her fifth year of undergrad to retake classes she did poorly in. On top of all this, she was not aware that MD schools did not do grade replacement.

I summed up the expenses she had gone through to apply:
Kaplan Review x2 = $4200
MCAT fee x3 = $825
Extra year of classes = $10,000

Altogether she spent at least $15,000 WITHOUT APPLYING.
Last time I checked, she couldn't finish her practice tests due to nervous breakdowns. She also had trouble finding the time to study because she was the president of her sorority, to which I thought "WTF??? Get your priorities in order!!!". I don't know if she even followed through with the third MCAT, but she definitely did not apply again....smh

This is really unfortunate. I hope she gets the anxiety issues figured out before trying again.

 

[alcoholdehydrogenase69]

This is really unfortunate. I hope she gets the anxiety issues figured out before trying again.

I don't think her problem was anxiety (although that may have contributed), but it was her inability to get her priorities in order. If you want to go to medical school and you are taking the MCAT for the third time, make thats all you do for 3-4 months... the fact that you are sorority president will mean nothing if you cant break 500.... she was also always complaining about everything, maybe no intrinsic motivation?

 

[ifnotnowwren]

I don't think her problem was anxiety (although that may have contributed), but it was her inability to get her priorities in order. If you want to go to medical school and you are taking the MCAT for the third time, make thats all you do for 3-4 months... the fact that you are sorority president will mean nothing if you cant break 500.... she was also always complaining about everything, maybe no intrinsic motivation?

Oooof yeah, if you don't do well on the MCAT while you are still in school, the thought process should be that maybe you need to graduate first and then take it when you have time off? I had a little study group for Ochem and we usually did all day friday/all day saturday/all day sunday + all nighter/test monday at 7 AM for our exams (yeah yeah it's a terrible/irresponsible sleep schedule but it worked). One of the guys was in a frat, not even in the "governing body" of the frat, just a member and I remember he often had to leave on Friday or Saturday for mandatory meetings and mandatory parties or he would get kicked out. It made me so glad I didn't do Greek life - mandatory parties, really?? He dropped out of the "pre-med track" and ended up going the business school -> law school route. Hopefully that girl figures something out - whether it's what really makes her happy or she buckles down with respect to school/MCAT.

 

[Skittsie13]

A girl I met at an interview...

"Yeah, I'm from Texas, but I don't really feel Texan, you know? I didn't apply to any of the Texas schools. I was going to apply to Southwestern as a backup, but then I realized I would have to fill out another application, so I decided not to."

She also was wearing a sleeveless dress, no jacket.

 

[Dr. Death]

A girl I met at an interview...

"Yeah, I'm from Texas, but I don't really feel Texan, you know? I didn't apply to any of the Texas schools. I was going to apply to Southwestern as a backup, but then I realized I would have to fill out another application, so I decided not to."

She also was wearing a sleeveless dress, no jacket.

Lol apparently she'd rather pay OOS tuition?