Gaining confidence?

[deleted862527]

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Currently have a 3.94 GPA. But seeing as how most med schools accept 5-10% of applicants, getting an acceptance almost feels unreal/impossible. I do have a great GPA I have to keep it up though. I love medicine and would love to be a Physician, but seeing the low rate of acceptances is discouraging. I wonder how many had GPA's like mine and got rejected since many people have great apps and still don't get in. Anyone else feel the same way??

Not trying to make this a pity thread. I'm just wondering if it's still realistic to pursue such a career where most don't make it which is sort of scary, lol.

 

[HomeSkool]

Currently have a 3.94 GPA. But seeing as how most med schools accept 5-10% of applicants, getting an acceptance almost feels unreal/impossible. I do have a great GPA I have to keep it up though. I love medicine and would love to be a Physician, but seeing the low rate of acceptances is discouraging. I wonder how many had GPA's like mine and got rejected since many people have great apps and still don't get in. Anyone else feel the same way??

Your GPA is fine, but that's only one part of the equation. What else are you doing to make yourself competitive (ECs, MCAT prep, etc.)?

Not trying to make this a pity thread.

Ummm...



Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Ummm...
Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

Tru Dat...GPA is spectacular...LOL

 

[deleted862527]

Tru Dat...GPA is spectacular...LOL

Well, I mean I hear 4.0's get rejected. And it's intimidating. 😵

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Well, I mean I hear 4.0's get rejected. And it's intimidating. 😵

They get rejected for a variety of reasons:

1) Only have metrics, but their ECs are lacking, and so are one-dimensional,
2) They go into the interview with an arrogance that shouts, "I EXPECT to get an offer!"
3) They don't display a level of maturity that the interviewer expects to see in a physician who will be making life/death decisions, etc.

Make sure you keep up your GPA, smash the MCAT, acquire substantive ECs, and be mature/professional. Then you will find you will be in a better position for an offer than your competition...

 

[deleted877060]

Everything has diminishing returns, even GPA. Anything above a 3.6 is fine. Get off SDN and get a life. People get into med schools by being great people with passions and experiences to support their passions, not 4.0 robots.

 

[greatplainsmed]

Currently have a 3.94 GPA. But seeing as how most med schools accept 5-10% of applicants, getting an acceptance almost feels unreal/impossible. I do have a great GPA I have to keep it up though. I love medicine and would love to be a Physician, but seeing the low rate of acceptances is discouraging. I wonder how many had GPA's like mine and got rejected since many people have great apps and still don't get in. Anyone else feel the same way??

Not trying to make this a pity thread. I'm just wondering if it's still realistic to pursue such a career where most don't make it which is sort of scary, lol.

It definitely can be an intimidating. My best advice is to echo what some have already said in having a well rounded application. But by far the biggest thing I would advise is have a major that you love and would be happy to use in the even that you don't get accepted. I've heard so many stories of people who chose a path that made it easiest to get prerequisites in, but they didn't really like the actual degree and didn't have much of an idea how they would use the degree if med school didn't work out. Almost all, if not all, schools explicitly stated that undergrad major does not matter, so choose something you enjoy and would be willing to fall back on

 

[Goro]

Currently have a 3.94 GPA. But seeing as how most med schools accept 5-10% of applicants, getting an acceptance almost feels unreal/impossible. I do have a great GPA I have to keep it up though. I love medicine and would love to be a Physician, but seeing the low rate of acceptances is discouraging. I wonder how many had GPA's like mine and got rejected since many people have great apps and still don't get in. Anyone else feel the same way??

Not trying to make this a pity thread. I'm just wondering if it's still realistic to pursue such a career where most don't make it which is sort of scary, lol.

Stats only get you to the door. ECs get you through the door.

4.0 automatons are a dime-a-dozen.

 

[HomeSkool]

Well, I mean I hear 4.0's get rejected. And it's intimidating. 😵

What's your point? My brother-in-law got in a few years ago with a 3.2.

What's a little concerning to me is your reticence over the mere possibility of failure. Do you only undertake worthwhile endeavors if you have an absolute assurance of success? If so, medicine isn't for you. In medicine, you have to make life-or-death decisions with imperfect information, and you can't freeze because things may go poorly. To be a good physician, you have to tolerate risk and uncertainty. And that starts today, by accepting the risk that you may not get into medical school. If you really want to get in, then start doing the things that will make you competitive against a whole bunch of smart, motivated all-stars.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

 

[deleted862527]

What's your point? My brother-in-law got in a few years ago with a 3.2.

What's a little concerning to me is your reticence over the mere possibility of failure. Do you only undertake worthwhile endeavors if you have an absolute assurance of success? If so, medicine isn't for you. In medicine, you have to make life-or-death decisions with imperfect information, and you can't freeze because things may go poorly. To be a good physician, you have to tolerate risk and uncertainty. And that starts today, by accepting the risk that you may not get into medical school. If you really want to get in, then start doing the things that will make you competitive against a whole bunch of smart, motivated all-stars.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

I think there is a clear difference between fear of not getting accepted into medical school and saving a patient's life. If you seriously think medicine isn't for me because I am being realistic about how only 5-10% of applicants get accepted then you are being really naive. All I mentioned on this forum was how 4.0 GPA's get rejected and I'm already being bashed on this website with "medicine isn't for you," or "get a life." holy **** some of you take innocent questions too seriously. If someone of you act like this over the internet then I could only imagine how you act in real life as a Physician.

 

[JMilo]

I think there is a clear difference between fear of not getting accepted into medical school and saving a patient's life. If you seriously think medicine isn't for me because I am being realistic about how only 5-10% of applicants get accepted then you are being really naive. All I mentioned on this forum was how 4.0 GPA's get rejected and I'm already being bashed on this website with "medicine isn't for you," or "get a life." holy **** some of you take innocent questions too seriously. If someone of you act like this over the internet then I could only imagine how you act in real life as a Physician.

If you get this upset over a silly comment over the internet, I could only imagine how you will act in an interview when the interviewer is trying to get under your skin...

 

[deleted862527]

If you get this upset over a silly comment over the internet, I could only imagine how you will act in an interview when the interviewer is trying to get under your skin...

Oh yeah totally, because talking to someone online and asking questions is so much more different than trying to an impress an interviewer.

Get real.

 

[boogiecousins94]

Theres literally no difference between at 3.94 and a 4.0 besides probably one or two A- instead of As which is negligible. Yea maybe a 4.0 sounds cooler but doing less than perfect is okay too. A 3.94 won't keep you out of any school and is above average for the majority of them. Just focus on EC stuff and stop worrying about GPA because people with amazing ECs + good MCAT and 3.5s can get accepted. Worry about getting good ECs and a good MCAT score

 

[JMilo]

Oh yeah totally, because talking to someone online and asking questions is so much more different than trying to an impress an interviewer.

Get real.

Good luck..you'll need it, even with a 3.94

 

[Lannister]

I think there is a clear difference between fear of not getting accepted into medical school and saving a patient's life. If you seriously think medicine isn't for me because I am being realistic about how only 5-10% of applicants get accepted then you are being really naive. All I mentioned on this forum was how 4.0 GPA's get rejected and I'm already being bashed on this website with "medicine isn't for you," or "get a life." holy **** some of you take innocent questions too seriously. If someone of you act like this over the internet then I could only imagine how you act in real life as a Physician.

Just under 50% of applicants get accepted, if that makes you feel any better.

 

[deleted862527]

Good luck..you'll need it, even with a 3.94

Yeah you too bud.

 

[Gibbward]

OP if it makes you feel any better, it’s 5-10% acceptance per school, but as a whole the acceptance rate for applicants is I think 40% (? someone should fact check this #). Maybe that’ll ease your mind even a bit. You might not get your top choice school, but you’ll likely get in somewhere.

Edit: @Lannister beat me to it lol

 

[deleted862527]

OP if it makes you feel any better, it’s 5-10% acceptance per school, but as a whole the acceptance rate for applicants is I think 40% (? someone should fact check this #). Maybe that’ll ease your mind even a bit. You might not get your top choice school, but you’ll likely get in somewhere.

Thanks. 🙂

 

[HomeSkool]

Calm down, no one has insulted you. You asked for reassurance and were told to toughen up, and your overreaction suggests that's exactly what you need to do.

I think there is a clear difference between fear of not getting accepted into medical school and saving a patient's life.

You're right: saving a life is much harder.

If you seriously think medicine isn't for me because I am being realistic about how only 5-10% of applicants get accepted then you are being really naive.

I didn't suggest medicine isn't for you because you were "realistic" (which you weren't, as you know from follow-up posts about actual admissions numbers). I said it wouldn't be for you if you were unwilling to commit to something because there's a high chance of failure.

To the point: your post doesn't demonstrate much of a can-do attitude, but you need to cultivate such an attitude if you're going to survive and thrive in the medical world. I once said something to my premed advisor about being "only human," and he replied, "Are you a human undergrad or a superhuman premed student?" I commend his question to you.

As a physician on the faculty of a medical school, I also advise you to curb your attitude and develop a thicker skin.

If someone of you act like this over the internet then I could only imagine how you act in real life as a Physician.

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

If you want to feel better, statistically, with your GPA and a largely average MCAT (~500), 50% get in. That only goes up as you increase your MCAT score. That said, you being unique, genuine, and a cut above average gets you through the door and in.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321508/data/factstablea23.pdf

 

[MoDiddy]

Gain some confidence in yourself or you'll never make it

 

[rg2o3]

How far are you in undergrad? I would suggest trying to have some fun and being a well rounded great person. Life is too short to be sitting here worrying about the what-if's. I know its tough. I was once in your shoes worrying the same way, with a similar GPA. You're clearly intelligent, now just get out there and get some good EC's, life experiences, and make yourself stand out.

 

[Kingsmen2018]

I have a cGPA of 3.9 and a sGPA of 3.93 and I still got axed by most schools I applied to. Apply broadly and get ur MCAT and ECs in check and one will bite

 

[MCATISEZ]

Just under 50% of applicants get accepted, if that makes you feel any better.

Current applicant for this cycle speaking.

If just under 50 percent means 32 percent last cycle and steadily dropping in recent years. Last cycle 27,772 applicants were competing for 8,883 seats. This also takes into account lucky states of residence, URM, and those with exceptional stories or very unique backgrounds.

*AAMC Table A-23 for 2016-2017.

That being said, what do you expect? It’s a competitive career. Spend some time among your fellow applicants and you will see the type-A cutthroat personalities. I can imagine and heard (but do not know) it will be much the same through residency match and our future training.

To answer your question though, it is realistic. I can confirm, it is indeed scary. Whether it’s worth it... well that is up to you. What do you want out of a career? How much risk are you willing to take? How much are you willing to work for it?

Good luck! I’m sure you’ll make the right decision 🙂


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[Lannister]

If just under 50 percent means 32 percent last cycle and steadily dropping in recent years.

😵 wow. I thought it was like 47%.

 

[efle]

^ It was only 32% for the people with the new score. The admit rate for old score, and overall rate, were much higher. Here's my theory on why the phenomenon occurred.

The New MCAT & The Drop in Admit Rate