Funny quotes from "less informed" premeds

[deleted407021]

I know your views on animal research, but if an animal is going to die by cervical dislocation, wouldn't you prefer its pain be minimized?

To answer your question: Yes, of course. However, the mouse doesn't need to be in that position to begin with. What I meant was the idea of "humane" is mostly a joke, especially in business: if meat is from a "happy" cow, enthralled and slaughtered "humanely", people are going to buy that meat to make themselves feel better. Humane practices clear the conscience of the public.

But this topic gets old and dreary quite fast, so let's keep with the lightheartedness of stories of daft and misinformed college students and those they associate with.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[deleted407021]

I wasn't ever on animal research at my school, but they did it without any CO2 or isofluorane.

They don't have to, under the law. It's up to the institution.

 

[Reckoner]

Alright, I'll re-rail the thread. Was asked by a family friend for advice on the application process. He's a junior, applying right now.

Me: I definitely recommend using SDN to write secondary responses ahead of time. That way you won't get too overwhelmed when they all start rolling in.

Him: Oh that shouldn't be a problem, I'm only applying to one school.

Me: Umm...I think you should probably consider applying to a few more. Which school?

Him: Harvard

Me:

 

[deleted407021]

@Reckoner Poor lad.
I know a guy who refuses to use SDN because he thinks all the information is dubious. He doesn't seem to want to change his mind, even when I tell him about the doctors and adcoms who regularly hang out and advise on the premed forums. Relying on an advisor is certainly more of a risk IMO.

 

[Catman21]

Taylor Swift confirms this.

blink 182 confirmed this way before tswift..

 

[thesauce]

Me: Umm...I think you should probably consider applying to a few more. Which school?

Him: Harvard

Me:

You're not serious...

 

[baxt1412]

Unfortunately, a lot of these happen at my undergrad because our science advisers are a little lackluster in their preparation for how med school and applying will truly be. I definitely don't feel prepared from the actions of my advisers and the school. It's really unfortunate, honestly.

 

[Reckoner]

You're not serious...

Unfortunately I am. I spent the next half hour trying to convince him that no one gets admitted to HMS, that for all we know it's just a myth. At one point I actually referred to it as medicine's Atlantis. He was not convinced. I hope he at least added a few more schools, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't.

 

[mehc012]

Unfortunately I am. I spent the next half hour trying to convince him that no one gets admitted to HMS, that for all we know it's just a myth. At one point I actually referred to it as medicine's Atlantis. He was not convinced. I hope he at least added a few more schools, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't.

Does this mean that, if I've seen an HMS admission letter, I have achieved the premed equivalent to seeing a unicorn?
(PS, obvi not my own)

 

[el_duderino]

If there's such thing as a premed unicorn, it's me. But by "unicorn" I mean small, somewhat deformed pony with a weird growth on its head that somehow just got put in the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby.

 

[Uafl112]

me: So how did you do in organic chemistry?

guy: I ended up with a C but its totally ok cause im gonna explain how awful my teacher is at medical school interviews

me: ahhh........

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Not taking any classes this year and I kind of miss hearing all the ridiculous statements premeds make

 

[Uafl112]

My calculus teacher actually said to my class full of post bac students that she wouldn't want a doctor who didn't know differential calculus.

I had a hs calc teacher tell me that docs needed to know calculus. My uncle, a neurologist, has trouble helping his son with algebra 2

 

[Annabell Lee]

me: So how did you do in organic chemistry?

guy: I ended up with a C but its totally ok cause im gonna explain how awful my teacher at medical school interviews

me: ahhh........

-.-
Seriously why do people do this? What do they expect? "Oh wow that must have been horrible, you poor thing, we'll just ignore that grade and recalculate your GPA just to be fair, since everyone else who applied had really great talented org chem teachers who bent over backwards to make sure everyone understood the material and got good grades."
They are also assuming they are going to get interviews in the first place.

I'd love to watch him explain this, though, especially if the interviewer calls him out on this, or points out other applicants from his school who made A's in that class.

 

[Spinach Dip]

Anybody have experience... ahem... putting down mice? I have heard of just using dry ice in a dessicator and have seen it.. it's about 5 seconds long. My school just grabbed behind the head and yanked on the tail to snap the neck..... I was a little disturbed since we have the dessicator and dry ice availability.

[offtopic]

Dry ice is bad. Should not be used. It can cause death by hypothermia before asphyxiation.

The preferred method is a CO2 cylinder + closed environment. They are out in 10 and in heaven within 30 s.

Other methods include isoflurane sedation, followed by cervical dislocation or rapid decapitation.

[/offtopic]

 

[mehc012]

[offtopic]

Dry ice is bad. Should not be used. It can cause death by hypothermia before asphyxiation.

The preferred method is a CO2 cylinder + closed environment. They are out in 10 and in heaven within 30 s.

Other methods include isoflurane sedation, followed by cervical dislocation or rapid decapitation.

[/offtopic]

I'd rather have my neck snapped than spend 10s feeling like I am suffocating.

 

[Uafl112]

I have a friend who got a 31 on his mcat but had a rather low gpa and didnt get any interviews. My aunt and mom were talking about him and my aunt just wouldnt believe he got a 31 because she assumed that a score like that could get you into Harvard "easily". I was like noooooo it doesnt work like that!

I also had a friend majoring in environmental engineering that INSISTED that waste management engineers do a greater healthcare service than Physicians.

Him, as well as my hs AP computer sci teacher (material engineer), insisted that all doctors do is "memorize" and therefore are inferior to engineers who "really use their brains". They couldnt fathom that not all patients are the same and that doctors have to think critically to devise a proper plan for a patient.

Another engineering major tried to insult me by saying that on average, engineers have an IQ greater than physicians by 10 points. I told him that IQ has such a huge standard deviation and therefore the number isnt entirely accurate. He stared at me without a response.

I really dont understand why everyone has to make it a competition

 

[baxt1412]

[offtopic]

Dry ice is bad. Should not be used. It can cause death by hypothermia before asphyxiation.

The preferred method is a CO2 cylinder + closed environment. They are out in 10 and in heaven within 30 s.

Other methods include isoflurane sedation, followed by cervical dislocation or rapid decapitation.

[/offtopic]

they aren't directly on the dry ice if that matters. they are raised half a foot off of the dry ice

 

[LMBLBM]

[offtopic]

Dry ice is bad. Should not be used. It can cause death by hypothermia before asphyxiation.

The preferred method is a CO2 cylinder + closed environment. They are out in 10 and in heaven within 30 s.

Other methods include isoflurane sedation, followed by cervical dislocation or rapid decapitation.

[/offtopic]

What if you put dry ice into hot water?

 

[Blizzard18]

A girl I knew was planning on applying MD/PhD this cycle had just gotten her scores back and we were talking:

Her: I didn't do as well as I wanted to - I got a 29.

Me: Well you can always retake! You said you did way better on your practice exams.

Her: I'm not retaking, I think I'll be fine.

Me: Oh ok. Well a 29 should be fine for DO and even some MD.

Her: I'm only applying MD/PhD. I don't want to just be a doctor.

Me: (feeling like ) Ok... Have you gotten much clinical experience? Lab experience?

Her: I haven't done any shadowing or hospital volunteering but I've worked in one lab. I don't think the PI will give me a letter of rec though so I'm doing a summer program too.

Me: No clinical experience? I would recommend at least trying to shadow... Are you applying to a bunch of schools?

Her: No, I didn't want to waste money so I'm only applying to about 5. I'm not worried though. I know I'll get in based on my passion.

At this point I just had to stop trying to be even remotely helpful and just listened to her talk about how her passion will shine through and make up for her low MCAT and complete lack of experience for another 20 minutes.

Is a 29 really that bad ? I made over a 30 personally so I'm not saying this to defend myself. I just thought a 29 was decent. Some people just don't rock standardized exams and as long as they did good enough to get in. But I guess that also depends on what kind of school you're looking at too. Mid thirties is about ideal for private school. I think your friend could do MD, just maybe aim for a state school rather than an out of state private. Just my opinion though.

 

[masaraksh]

Is a 29 really that bad ? I made over a 30 personally so I'm not saying this to defend myself. I just thought a 29 was decent. Some people just don't rock standardized exams and as long as they did good enough to get in. But I guess that also depends on what kind of school you're looking at too. Mid thirties is about ideal for private school. I think your friend could do MD, just maybe aim for a state school rather than an out of state private. Just my opinion though.

wat. its harder to aim at state schools if your state has no state schools.

 

[LMBLBM]

Is a 29 really that bad ? I made over a 30 personally so I'm not saying this to defend myself. I just thought a 29 was decent. Some people just don't rock standardized exams and as long as they did good enough to get in. But I guess that also depends on what kind of school you're looking at too. Mid thirties is about ideal for private school. I think your friend could do MD, just maybe aim for a state school rather than an out of state private. Just my opinion though.

I think 29 is good score for MD but definitely not for MD/PhD

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Isn't vet school supposed to be harder to get into than med school?

Veterinary is only harder in that they require a lot of experience to be considered a good candidate, but their GPA is below that of medical school and simply take GRE.

 

[Goro]

I see the "if I can only get an interview, I'll definitely win them over" mentality commonly on SDN. I suppose it reflects a grandiose sense of self-centeredness, and a complete lack of self-awareness.

-.-
Seriously why do people do this? What do they expect? "Oh wow that must have been horrible, you poor thing, we'll just ignore that grade and recalculate your GPA just to be fair, since everyone else who applied had really great talented org chem teachers who bent over backwards to make sure everyone understood the material and got good grades."
They are also assuming they are going to get interviews in the first place.

I'd love to watch him explain this, though, especially if the interviewer calls him out on this, or points out other applicants from his school who made A's in that class.

Good? It's 4 points below the median nationwide!
I think 29 is good score for MD but definitely not for MD/PhD

 

[mehc012]

I see the "if I can only get an interview, I'll definitely win them over" mentality commonly on SDN. I suppose it reflects a grandiose sense of self-centeredness, and a complete lack of self-awareness.

If you'd sit down with me face-to-face, @Goro , I'm sure I could change your mind on that

 

[WedgeDawg]

I see the "if I can only get an interview, I'll definitely win them over" mentality commonly on SDN. I suppose it reflects a grandiose sense of self-centeredness, and a complete lack of self-awareness.



Good? It's 4 points below the median nationwide!
I think 29 is good score for MD but definitely not for MD/PhD

I think it's 2 points below median according to MSAR (31). The 33 is derived from duplicated scores where applicants got multiple acceptances. If you look at unduplicated scores, the median falls to 31.

 

[Blizzard18]

I think 29 is good score for MD but definitely not for MD/PhD

What's a good score for MD/PhD ? Just personal curiosity.

 

[xffan624]

I have a friend who got a 31 on his mcat but had a rather low gpa and didnt get any interviews. My aunt and mom were talking about him and my aunt just wouldnt believe he got a 31 because she assumed that a score like that could get you into Harvard "easily". I was like noooooo it doesnt work like that!

I also had a friend majoring in environmental engineering that INSISTED that waste management engineers do a greater healthcare service than Physicians.

Him, as well as my hs AP computer sci teacher (material engineer), insisted that all doctors do is "memorize" and therefore are inferior to engineers who "really use their brains". They couldnt fathom that not all patients are the same and that doctors have to think critically to devise a proper plan for a patient.

Another engineering major tried to insult me by saying that on average, engineers have an IQ greater than physicians by 10 points. I told him that IQ has such a huge standard deviation and therefore the number isnt entirely accurate. He stared at me without a response.

I really dont understand why everyone has to make it a competition

Well, life expectancy was rising worldwide well before the modern medical advances gave them an extra push. Reducing diarrhea illness through proper waste management has saved countless lives worldwide.

 

[LMBLBM]

What's a good score for MD/PhD ? Just personal curiosity.

I would say at least 34... Most of the schools I researched suggested 34 or higher.

 

[mehc012]

Well, life expectancy was rising worldwide well before the modern medical advances gave them an extra push. Reducing diarrhea illness through proper waste management has saved countless lives worldwide.

OK, this might usually be a good topic, but after the recent ginormously-angry thread where this issue was volleyed back and forth...can we just reread that one? (no, seriously, you should NOT reread that one).
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...wanting-medicine.1066124/page-2#post-15142578

 

[el_duderino]

I also had a friend majoring in environmental engineering that INSISTED that waste management engineers do a greater healthcare service than Physicians.

Your friend was right, to a point. Advances in public health are more responsible for increased life expectancy and decreased morbidity than medicine. Things like water treatment and waste management are critical to public health.

Medicine is a large, large part but if we were still living in conditions like 1890s Chicago we'd all be much worse off no matter how many antibiotics we give out.

 

[xffan624]

OK, this might usually be a good topic, but after the recent ginormously-angry thread where this issue was volleyed back and forth...can we just reread that one? (no, seriously, you should NOT reread that one).
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...wanting-medicine.1066124/page-2#post-15142578

I used to work in environmental health and I am still a Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist by NEHA (National Environmental Health Association), so it is a topic near and dear to my heart.

 

[asw98]

Once in physics II office hours, the TA had to explain to someone how to add/divide fractions. The kid's response was that was so unintuitive. I'm positive that the student was a junior and this was at an ivy league school.

 

[Spinach Dip]

Once in physics II office hours, the TA had to explain to someone how to add/divide fractions. The kid's response was that was so unintuitive. I'm positive that the student was a junior and this was at an ivy league school.

The fact that our high schools are graduating talented individuals like these, and top universities are picking them up, is one of the scariest things in this thread.

 

[el_duderino]

The fact that our high schools are graduating talented individuals like these, and top universities are picking them up, is one of the scariest things in this thread.

Can only be the kid of a legacy/donor. The SAT scores for those Ivy League schools are stupid high, and you don't get a 750+ on the math section of the SAT if you can't do fractions.

 

[Spinach Dip]

they aren't directly on the dry ice if that matters. they are raised half a foot off of the dry ice

What if you put dry ice into hot water?

Not sure.

Where I did my mouse research, we had tanks of CO2 available all the time. If you couldn't find one, simply put a sticker on the cage of the mouse in question and the vet team would take care of it.

We were reminded frequently, using no vague terms, that using dry ice in any form would result in termination and a report to the animal welfare department.

 

[mehc012]

Not sure.

Where I did my mouse research, we had tanks of CO2 available all the time. If you couldn't find one, simply put a sticker on the cage of the mouse in question and the vet team would take care of it.

We were reminded frequently, using no vague terms, that using dry ice in any form would result in termination and a report to the animal welfare department.

How would having a vet team take care of it get you the results that need to be collected at x timepoint?
Besides, is hypothermia really a worse way to go than hypoxia?

 

[chillaxbro]

I have a friend who got a 31 on his mcat but had a rather low gpa and didnt get any interviews. My aunt and mom were talking about him and my aunt just wouldnt believe he got a 31 because she assumed that a score like that could get you into Harvard "easily". I was like noooooo it doesnt work like that!

I also had a friend majoring in environmental engineering that INSISTED that waste management engineers do a greater healthcare service than Physicians.

Him, as well as my hs AP computer sci teacher (material engineer), insisted that all doctors do is "memorize" and therefore are inferior to engineers who "really use their brains". They couldnt fathom that not all patients are the same and that doctors have to think critically to devise a proper plan for a patient.

Another engineering major tried to insult me by saying that on average, engineers have an IQ greater than physicians by 10 points. I told him that IQ has such a huge standard deviation and therefore the number isnt entirely accurate. He stared at me without a response.

I really dont understand why everyone has to make it a competition

Lot's of engineers/phyisics/math people have that sort of elitist attitude

 

[MackandBlues]

Does this mean that, if I've seen an HMS admission letter, I have achieved the premed equivalent to seeing a unicorn?
(PS, obvi not my own)

what about if I know someone that went to HMS?

 

[mehc012]

what about if I know someone that went to HMS?

Well, clearly people go to HMS, it's just that nobody ever gets in, duh
The school is a magical self-sustaining perpetual motion machine.

 

[deleted407021]

Lot's of engineers/phyisics/math people have that sort of elitist attitude

Engineering students going around calling themselves "engineers".
Physics professor who can't stop talking about how she practically invented flat screens and constantly flaunts the size of her academic pernus.
Calc professor who refuses to provide notes for a legally blind student and goes on rants about how our generation doesn't work like he did.

Makes you want to hit them with a stick, saying, "You're not at Dartmouth! Stop thinking you're hot sheit!"

 

[gettheleadout]

I would give anything to be that smart!

Careful what you wish for...

 

[Goro]

33 is median score for matriculants nationawide, not acceptees.

I think it's 2 points below median according to MSAR (31). The 33 is derived from duplicated scores where applicants got multiple acceptances. If you look at unduplicated scores, the median falls to 31.

 

[Annabell Lee]

Lot's of engineers/phyisics/math people have that sort of elitist attitude

I find it so weird because all the people I know who are engineers aren't like that, but I have met students who are pretty cocky. My favorite are people who haven't even gotten accepted to an engineering program yet but want to brag about how they're super smart because they are going to be engineers

 

[WhippleWhileWeWork]

Engineering students going around calling themselves "engineers".

Huge difference.

 

[WhippleWhileWeWork]

I find it so weird because all the people I know who are engineers aren't like that, but I have met students who are pretty cocky. My favorite are people who haven't even gotten accepted to an engineering program yet but want to brag about how they're super smart because they are going to be engineers

You talking high school kids?

 

[milski]

33 is median score for matriculants nationawide, not acceptees.

Incorrect. https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/2013factstable17.pdf

 

[gettheleadout]

33 is median score for matriculants nationawide, not acceptees.

We've covered this before, in your thread where you first made this assertion:

...Table 18 here says 3.69 cGPA and 31.3 MCAT averages for 2013 matriculants.

Taken from msar

*National Median refers to data derived by including MCAT scores from all accepted applications and includes duplicate scores from individuals with multiple acceptances. The national median for each individual test section remains identical when calculated using duplicate scores or a single record from an accepted applicant, except in the case of the national median for the Total MCAT Score, which is 31 when derived using unduplicated scores.

Note that using a single record for each applicant means that 1 accepted applicant = 1 matriculant. The MSAR thus clearly states that the median MCAT for matriculants is 31. Further, the AAMC data linked shows the mean MCAT for matriculants is 31.3.

Since we've presented all of this to you before I think we deserve some response as to why you disagree with our interpretation of the data and statements (which I infer to be the case since the OP in your thread still retains the statement that the "average" matriculant has a 33), especially since misrepresentation of this data can have great impact on applicants' perceived chances (31 vs 33 is a big deal).

 

[Annabell Lee]

You talking high school kids?

Well yes, there are kids in high school like that. But I know someone who dropped out of college and is planning on applying for an engineering program who can be a bit cocky about it. I also know someone who dropped out in the 9th grade, didn't have a GED, but got a job for a company that does contract work in the chemical plants around here. He claims that the company will pay tuition for employees going into chemical engineering (even though the company doesn't actually hire engineers) and constantly brags about how he's going to be a chemical engineer. He (supposedly) got his GED recently and now just has to find the time to go to Texas for a year for the training. *eyeroll*

 

[milski]

We've covered this before, in your thread where you first made this assertion:



Note that using a single record for each applicant means that 1 accepted applicant = 1 matriculant. The MSAR thus clearly states that the median MCAT for matriculants is 31. Further, the AAMC data linked shows the mean MCAT for matriculants is 31.3.

Since we've presented all of this to you before I think we deserve some response as to why you disagree with our interpretation of the data and statements (which I infer to be the case since the OP in your thread still retains the statement that the "average" matriculant has a 33), especially since misrepresentation of this data can have great impact on applicants' perceived chances (31 vs 33 is a big deal).

In all fairness, the last time this was discussed (or at least I was part of it), AAMC claimed [in an email to me] that the 33 median was from non-duplicated entries. Eventually, they put the comment that you quote on the MSAR, contradicting themselves. It is quite likely that the person who answered me did not know all the details, I would consider the disclaimer on the MSAR much more trustworthy.