Got tips?

[nisarg2010]

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Hi everyone,
I am a senior in high school and will most likely go to University of Georgia(UGA) for pre med. I’m going to major in Biochemical Engineering at UGA. Do you have any tips for getting into med school (other then volunteering, shadowing, doing well on MCAT, and getting a good GPA)?

Thank you everyone I really appreciate your help

 

[RySerr21]

Tip #1 for getting a good GPA. Don't major in biomedical engineering. I kid. Just work hard and you'll be fine.

 

[Veyron]

the most important thing is to do as well as you can. yes that sounds absolutely cliche, and it's because it is. there are no secrets when it comes to getting into med school. of course gpa is important, but i personally feel that a strong mcat covers a multitude of sins. if you end up with >3.5 and 30+ mcat, you'll be picking the school you want to go to. i don't think volunteering is all that it's cracked up to be. you could have all the extracurriculars you want, but shoddy numbers will keep you from getting an interview. finally, enjoy college. it's truly a great time.

cheers.

 

[nisarg2010]

the most important thing is to do as well as you can. yes that sounds absolutely cliche, and it's because it is. there are no secrets when it comes to getting into med school. of course gpa is important, but i personally feel that a strong mcat covers a multitude of sins. if you end up with >3.5 and 30+ mcat, you'll be picking the school you want to go to. i don't think volunteering is all that it's cracked up to be. you could have all the extracurriculars you want, but shoddy numbers will keep you from getting an interview. finally, enjoy college. it's truly a great time.

cheers.

so would you say its better to go to a less prestigious school (University of Georgia) if you could get a higher GPA there then to go to a more prestigious school (georgia Tech) if it was much harder to get the GPA? and how much impact does your Undergrad school really have on your MCAT score? Is it really just how much time you put into studing for the test?

Thanks

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

why not just go to a prestigious school and get a good GPA?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Because the easier route is smarter and lets you enjoy college more. Seems pretty simple. Work smarter, not harder.

Your undergrad won't really have an effect on your MCAT score if you make sure you understand the material and don't just memorize it. Learning your chem and bio and physics properly the first time will dramatically cut down the time you need to study to get your desired MCAT score.

 

[ITreat]

Hi everyone,
I am a senior in high school and will most likely go to University of Georgia(UGA) for pre med. I'm going to major in Biochemical Engineering at UGA. Do you have any tips for getting into med school (other then volunteering, shadowing, doing well on MCAT, and getting a good GPA)?

Thank you everyone I really appreciate your help

My advice first is DO NOT DO biochemical engineering (unless you really love it). For several reasons.

1. Hard to maintain high GPA
2. Hard to find enough time to do other EC and study for MCAT
3. In addition usually you only get to take upperlevel bio electives during your 4th year, which makes it useless as MCAT prep.
4. The schedule is often very inflexble. Required class only offered once a year etc...

I have a 4.0 and 39 MCAT. I was a Biochemical Engineering Major first year but I switched to bio major later. It wasnt hard for me. However, I witnessed too many people who crash and burn. My school's biochemical engineering department keep tell people that medical school is going to view their 3.0 as 3.5 at least.. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!

Oh yea sure it teaches you critical thinking skills, but if you are smart you already have those!

 

[MilkmanAl]

Med school has shown me beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are many very smart people who have weak critical thinking skills. It's pretty amazing.

 

[Mopp22]

so would you say its better to go to a less prestigious school (University of Georgia) if you could get a higher GPA there then to go to a more prestigious school (georgia Tech) if it was much harder to get the GPA? and how much impact does your Undergrad school really have on your MCAT score? Is it really just how much time you put into studing for the test?

Thanks

Prestige of undergraduate schools don't matter, its how hard you work there and your success. There are students from both those schools you mentioned who are currently at quite a prestigous medical school. I'm considering UGA too.

 

[ITreat]

so would you say its better to go to a less prestigious school (University of Georgia) if you could get a higher GPA there then to go to a more prestigious school (georgia Tech) if it was much harder to get the GPA? and how much impact does your Undergrad school really have on your MCAT score? Is it really just how much time you put into studing for the test?

Thanks

Defiantly. My friend, nuclear engineering at Georgia Tech has 3.3. GPA, which is EXCELLENT for engineering major there. I got a 4.0 at my state school. Let me tell you it is going to be much easier for me to get in med school (which is what he wants to do now) While my school is unranked, we have a handful of people going to top 10 medical school every year.

Btw the stuff on MCAT is so basic, so you dont need to go to a school that teach you all the detail. It is like for SAT..you dont need to take calculus to do well on that.

 

[ChiDO]

If I had to do college all over again:

1. Go to a smaller school. (one of those liberal arts - class size of like 500-700 = better grade inflation for "pre-med")
2. Only take pre-reqs for medical school.
3. Take a major that was easy (higher GPA = win).
4. Don't use AP credits from high school (I got 30 credits coming into college...first bio class was like bio 251....NOT FUN..also no easy A's as GPA boosters - Bio 101/Chem 101, ect).
5. Take easy classes and get A's.
6. Don't try to take hard classes to "impress" the admissions committee.
7. HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF FUN.
8. Maintain a 3.6+ GPA (easily doable with easy classes - obviously higher the better).
9. Don't worry about what others are doing or how they are doing, worry about yourself.
10. Volunteer and get involved in things you like, not what you think medical schools want.
11. Did I mention HAVE FUN?

 

[nisarg2010]

If I had to do college all over again:

1. Go to a smaller school. (one of those liberal arts - class size of like 500-700 = better grade inflation for "pre-med")
2. Only take pre-reqs for medical school.
3. Take a major that was easy (higher GPA = win).
4. Don't use AP credits from high school (I got 30 credits coming into college...first bio class was like bio 251....NOT FUN..also no easy A's as GPA boosters - Bio 101/Chem 101, ect).
5. Take easy classes and get A's.
6. Don't try to take hard classes to "impress" the admissions committee.
7. HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF FUN.
8. Maintain a 3.6+ GPA (easily doable with easy classes - obviously higher the better).
9. Don't worry about what others are doing or how they are doing, worry about yourself.
10. Volunteer and get involved in things you like, not what you think medical schools want.
11. Did I mention HAVE FUN?

thank you ChiDo, I just hope college is more fun the High School. I plan on majoring in BioChemical Eng at UGA. I know its not the easiest major but I find it interesting.

 

[fahimaz7]

UGA is a great school. I got my BS there, and I'm now at MCG. Anywho, major in whatever field you are interested in! Don't worry about what anyone else says... But, make sure you get a great GPA.

UGA has >600 medical applicants/year... So if you don't do something really great, you will be an average applicant from that school. If you don't know this by now...

MCG takes 240, Emory ~100, Mercer 90, and Morehouse 60ish students /year.

Oh yea, and another thing.. There's no advantage to going to GA Tech for undergrad, if you're wanting to get into medical school. At MCG, we have ~100 UGA students/medical school class, with the next big group being Ga Tech (<30) and then Georgia state (20ish).

UGA is a very nice school, with some of the best life-science programs in the state. It's quality shows with the number of great medical school applicants/acceptances each year.

 

[nisarg2010]

UGA is a great school. I got my BS there, and I'm now at MCG. Anywho, major in whatever field you are interested in! Don't worry about what anyone else says... But, make sure you get a great GPA.

UGA has >600 medical applicants/year... So if you don't do something really great, you will be an average applicant from that school. If you don't know this by now...

MCG takes 240, Emory ~100, Mercer 90, and Morehouse 60ish students /year.

Oh yea, and another thing.. There's no advantage to going to GA Tech for undergrad, if you're wanting to get into medical school. At MCG, we have ~100 UGA students/medical school class, with the next big group being Ga Tech (<30) and then Georgia state (20ish).

UGA is a very nice school, with some of the best life-science programs in the state. It's quality shows with the number of great medical school applicants/acceptances each year.

just wondering, what did you major in?

 

[fahimaz7]

just wondering, what did you major in?

Cell and Molecular Biology.

Was it good for medical school? So far... it's been spot on. However, if I could go back and do it again I would be "pre-med" and then major in finance with a minor/major in genetics and spanish.

It doesn't matter what your degree is in. Just make sure you take through biochem and genetics and you'll do just fine in medical school.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Get a good GPA no matter how you have to do it. If BME is not working out then change, if the school is not working out, then change that too, but whatever happens ensure that you have a very good GPA. When you study for your Pre-med classes, study the material so well, that you know if like the back of your hand. Not just to know it for the exam, or just enough to get an A, know it so well, that you dont have to study for it deeply when it comes time for the MCAT. This is very important and will help you a lot. On the MCAT ensure a solid score, but as I said, if you study for your Pre-med classes really hard you won't have to study too much for it. Get a 31+ on the MCAT. Also, along with your premed classes, take physiology, genetics, and biochemistry. It will also help you for the MCAT...

 

[nisarg2010]

Get a good GPA no matter how you have to do it. If BME is not working out then change, if the school is not working out, then change that too, but whatever happens ensure that you have a very good GPA. When you study for your Pre-med classes, study the material so well, that you know if like the back of your hand. Not just to know it for the exam, or just enough to get an A, know it so well, that you dont have to study for it deeply when it comes time for the MCAT. This is very important and will help you a lot. On the MCAT ensure a solid score, but as I said, if you study for your Pre-med classes really hard you won't have to study too much for it. Get a 31+ on the MCAT. Also, along with your premed classes, take physiology, genetics, and biochemistry. It will also help you for the MCAT...

Will physiology really help with MCAT?

 

[Limvostov]

thank you ChiDo, I just hope college is more fun the High School. I plan on majoring in BioChemical Eng at UGA. I know its not the easiest major but I find it interesting.

Are you sure about medicine? Because if you are then stay away from engineering. I did BioE and all that crap about medical schools seeing your low GPA as better than it was becasue you were an engineering student is totally false. I'm not the only one from my class that was accepted to medical school, but the only two that had a good selection of schools to choose from had 3.8+ GPA's. Both of them had physicians in their family, no need to work during school as it was all paid by parents, and had connections that helped get them where they are. BioE was hard. All of the students starting the program were very smart. Of the 23 who started only 7 graduated, and of those 7 only 2 made it in 4 years. There were 192 credits required to graduate in BioE and 191 of them were filled with required courses. I finished with 223 credits after 5 years of school just to be able to take some courses that took my mind off of engineering and to get my premed courses taken care of. That's right... you will need to take some other courses not covered in engineering to fulfil your medical school application requirements.

Don't get me wrong, engineering is great. I love it and I plan to get my PhD in Biomechanical Engineering someday after medical school becasue I know I'll get bored with medicine like I get bored with everything. Some of the brightest and coolest people are in engineering programs, but it's insanely hard and the professors for the most part will not care if you struggle to grasp the concepts and you will need to compete to be competitive for professional school after your second year. I finished with a 3.23 which isn't shabby in engineering and just about any college kid with some dicipline and half a brain could pull off a 3.6 in Biology with half the effort and look a lot better on their med school applications.

If you like a challenge, have always had great grades, love math, love research, are unsure about medicine being right for you (engineering can be as good or more lucrative), have family or friends in medicine that can help you get stelar clinical experience, and have full financial support then go for it!

If you know medicine is for you and you don't want to risk not getting in then do yourself a favor and go Biochem or Micro. or something else with some room for electives. You'll have more free time, meet more attractive people of the opposite sex (I did college sports so I had no trouble thus engineering was no setback in that department hehe 😉), have more time for research, more time for fun,...

Well, theres my 2 cents.

P.S. Girls tend to get hotter in the easier science majors... go micro, molecular, zoology... Stay away from the math if you like a good selection of cute girls. (no engineering, absolutely not physics, chemistry, biochem...ect.)

 

[nisarg2010]

Are you sure about medicine? Because if you are then stay away from engineering. I did BioE and all that crap about medical schools seeing your low GPA as better than it was becasue you were an engineering student is totally false. I'm not the only one from my class that was accepted to medical school, but the only two that had a good selection of schools to choose from had 3.8+ GPA's. Both of them had physicians in their family, no need to work during school as it was all paid by parents, and had connections that helped get them where they are. BioE was hard. All of the students starting the program were very smart. Of the 23 who started only 7 graduated, and of those 7 only 2 made it in 4 years. There were 192 credits required to graduate in BioE and 191 of them were filled with required courses. I finished with 223 credits after 5 years of school just to be able to take some courses that took my mind off of engineering and to get my premed courses taken care of. That's right... you will need to take some other courses not covered in engineering to fulfil your medical school application requirements.

Don't get me wrong, engineering is great. I love it and I plan to get my PhD in Biomechanical Engineering someday after medical school becasue I know I'll get bored with medicine like I get bored with everything. Some of the brightest and coolest people are in engineering programs, but it's insanely hard and the professors for the most part will not care if you struggle to grasp the concepts and you will need to compete to be competitive for professional school after your second year. I finished with a 3.23 which isn't shabby in engineering and just about any college kid with some dicipline and half a brain could pull off a 3.6 in Biology with half the effort and look a lot better on their med school applications.

If you like a challenge, have always had great grades, love math, love research, are unsure about medicine being right for you (engineering can be as good or more lucrative), have family or friends in medicine that can help you get stelar clinical experience, and have full financial support then go for it!

If you know medicine is for you and you don't want to risk not getting in then do yourself a favor and go Biochem or Micro. or something else with some room for electives. You'll have more free time, meet more attractive people of the opposite sex (I did college sports so I had no trouble thus engineering was no setback in that department hehe 😉), have more time for research, more time for fun,...

Well, theres my 2 cents.

P.S. Girls tend to get hotter in the easier science majors... go micro, molecular, zoology... Stay away from the math if you like a good selection of cute girls. (no engineering, absolutely not physics, chemistry, biochem...ect.)

Thank you for the tip Limvostov

 

[roseglass6370]

This is a rough poll.

I tend to think that GPA and MCAT are EQUALLY important. Volunteering isn't nearly as crucial. It's definitely important, but you could volunteer 40 hours a week, and if you don't have the GPA and great MCAT scores, you don't stand a chance.

So, (GPA = MCAT) > Volunteering

 

[roseglass6370]

If I had to do college all over again:

1. Go to a smaller school. (one of those liberal arts - class size of like 500-700 = better grade inflation for "pre-med")
2. Only take pre-reqs for medical school.
3. Take a major that was easy (higher GPA = win).
4. Don't use AP credits from high school (I got 30 credits coming into college...first bio class was like bio 251....NOT FUN..also no easy A's as GPA boosters - Bio 101/Chem 101, ect).
5. Take easy classes and get A's.
6. Don't try to take hard classes to "impress" the admissions committee.
7. HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF FUN.
8. Maintain a 3.6+ GPA (easily doable with easy classes - obviously higher the better).
9. Don't worry about what others are doing or how they are doing, worry about yourself.
10. Volunteer and get involved in things you like, not what you think medical schools want.
11. Did I mention HAVE FUN?

This is EXCELLENT advice!!!!! 👍 👍 I couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Prestige of undergraduate schools don't matter, its how hard you work there and your success. There are students from both those schools you mentioned who are currently at quite a prestigous medical school. I'm considering UGA too.

Some schools do carry enough weight to affect Adcomms decisions. Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Princeton students with lower GPAs and MCATs are more likely to get a second glance. This only works for a few select select schools at the top of the spectrum. Most times prestige will not count, however there are exceptions.

 

[Bacchus]

Some schools do carry enough weight to affect Adcomms decisions. Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Princeton students with lower GPAs and MCATs are more likely to get a second glance. This only works for a few select select schools at the top of the spectrum. Most times prestige will not count, however there are exceptions.

To an extent, but not overwhelmingly if at all.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Actually, I hear Princeton and Stanford would not be included in that list since both are known for astronomical grade inflation. The 3 admissions departments I contacted while I was applying all noted how difficult a school UNC is, for whatever that's worth. Conventional wisdom indicates that school name might make a little bit of a difference, but it's mostly just a tie-breaker kind of thing unless you're from somewhere really hardcore, like MIT.

 

[ChiDO]

Actually, I hear Princeton and Stanford would not be included in that list since both are known for astronomical grade inflation. The 3 admissions departments I contacted while I was applying all noted how difficult a school UNC is, for whatever that's worth. Conventional wisdom indicates that school name might make a little bit of a difference, but it's mostly just a tie-breaker kind of thing unless you're from somewhere really hardcore, like MIT.

Didn't Stanford or Princeton publish a pamphlet showing grade deflation (due to inflation over the years and now only xx% can get an "A" in a class)??

a 4.0 form one of the ivies looks really good on your application, however a 4.0 from a state college will trump the 3.6 from the ivy any day. Plus, you probably saved you or your parents a boat load of money.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Oh, maybe they did. I'm only parroting rumors from friends who graduated 2-3 years ago, so it could be bad info.

 

[Cro]

This is a rough poll.

I tend to think that GPA and MCAT are EQUALLY important. Volunteering isn't nearly as crucial. It's definitely important, but you could volunteer 40 hours a week, and if you don't have the GPA and great MCAT scores, you don't stand a chance.

So, (GPA = MCAT) > Volunteering

I would say that you are right about GPA and MCAT being equally important in the eyes of the adcom, but GPA is undoubtedly more difficult to improve. So, GPA is more important in the eyes of a pre-medical student imo. Of course, the MCAT shouldn't be underestimated in terms of difficulty and importance.

 

[WildcatsDoc]

If I had to do college all over again:

1. Go to a smaller school. (one of those liberal arts - class size of like 500-700 = better grade inflation for "pre-med")

I agree with most of your post, but, lol wut? on the your first point. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, but the big schools around me had much greater grade inflation than I did at my LAC. I saw this with multiple other friends at other LAC's as well. I think this is way too broad of a generalization to even be remotely correct.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think he's saying that it's easier to score at the high end of the curve when there are fewer people, but I don't really agree with that. When you have a gen chem class of 300 people, that's a hell of a lot of kids who'll buffer your grade.