Help me get into a top medical school

[jurmanium]

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I know I'm still very far away from even applying to med school,I'm starting college in the fall and my dream is to one day attend a top 10 med school,preferably Harvard,Duke,Penn,or stanford.The thing is I don't want to be ignorant of all that is needed to get into these schools like I was in highschool,I really messed up my freshman year because I thought nothing of it.I know there's no room for that when applying to med schools.So other than atleast a 3.8 gpa and a high MCATs score what else do I need to get accepted to one of those schools.I want to start off real strong my freshmen year.

 

[riceman04]

I know I'm still very far away from even applying to med school,I'm starting college in the fall and my dream is to one day attend a top 10 med school,preferably Harvard,Duke,Penn,or stanford.The thing is I don't want to be ignorant of all that is needed to get into these schools like I was in highschool,I really messed up my freshman year because I thought nothing of it.I know there's no room for that when applying to med schools.So other than atleast a 3.8 gpa and a high MCATs score what else do I need to get accepted to one of those schools.I want to start off real strong my freshmen year.

How about trying to graduate from high school first. There is no point in thinking about it now b/c it will go in one ear and out the other.

 

[happydays]

start studying for the MCAT. Keep saying to yourself: 44 or BUST!!! If you get a 44+, every school will be fighting for your autograph. (All other "methods" that some of the subsequent people will try to pitch to you will not work 100%.)

 

[jurmanium]

How about trying to graduate from high school first. There is no point in thinking about it now b/c it will go in one ear and out the other.

High school is already over for me,I could've graduated last semester but I chose to stay.Why would you assume that it would go in one ear and out the other,I'm obivously very interested in finding out what it takes since I asked the question.My freshmen year of college starts in about 6 months,I'd like to start preparing now.


What types of EC's do med schools look at; sports,volunteer work,etc??

 

[jurmanium]

start studying for the MCAT. Keep saying to yourself: 44 or BUST!!! If you get a 44+, every school will be fighting for your autograph. (All other "methods" that some of the subsequent people will try to pitch to you will not work 100%.)

Thanks,even though I doubt I'd ever get that I'm going to start studying for it right away instead of waiting a year or two like most people.

 

[red dot]

another thing that will help: don't type your AMCAS statement in bold

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

It's pretty simple but you'de be surprised how many people do otherwise:

Go to classes. All classes. This includes discussion sections
Do the homework. Read the assignments.

Take it easy your first year...focus on your grades, grades, grades. If you don't have any jobs or anything volunteer at a professor's lab. Ask them if you can help out. if you ask a couple, somebody will let you come in and get "research experience". Then your soph/junior year you can maybe do some other EC's. Shadow physicians, get an EMT/Phlebotomy/whatever..something that shows you know what being a doctor really entails.


My point is that as long as you have good grades you won't need a bunch of crazy EC's, just some solid long-term ones. Take one new thing on at a time. When you have that under control, add another.

By your senior year you should have ~3.8, 4 solid years of research, some clinical experience, and hopefully a good MCAT score.

Don't let anyone tell you that extra-currics are more important than grades. If you have a 4.0, good MCATs and proof that you did anything else in addition to studying and acing tests, then you'll get in to a top-10. Its really quite simple, I wish I had had my act together freshman year (and didn't have to work full-time)

 

[Mixtli]

Thanks,even though I doubt I'd ever get that I'm going to start studying for it right away instead of waiting a year or two like most people.

How about starting your research career early. Many students at top medical schools also have very strong research backgrounds, hence many students later go on to become professors of medicine. If that is your true aim, then start pipetting. But, if you want to go and get a good education, then study hard and a top 30 school is just as good as a top 10.

 

[ChocolateKiss]

Thanks,even though I doubt I'd ever get that I'm going to start studying for it right away instead of waiting a year or two like most people.

I'd say one of the best things you can do if you want to get into a top ten school is to join a good lab right away and get to work on a project. The top tens love research, especially if you have some first author publications to show for all your hard work.

Aside from that, do some clinical volunteering and some shadowing, get a leadership position in an extracurricular activity, and do some community service.

 

[phosphorus pet]

Thanks,even though I doubt I'd ever get that I'm going to start studying for it right away instead of waiting a year or two like most people.

How can you study for a test in which you have had no formal training? You will just become frustrated if you begin to early.

My advice:
1). I dont know how your reading skills are, but start reading if you are not. Get into it. The MCAT is a reading test. That is the best - and only - thing you can do for the MCAT right now.

2). Try to start volunteering at a hospital. This will not only look good on paper, it will give you something to talk about in interviews.

3). Try to get into a research lab and work to get publications before you apply.

4). Think of ways to put yourself in leadership positions at your university (i.e. student government, activities council, etc.)

5). BE yourself. Dont just tailor make an application to the schools. Schools I have interviewed have all focused on this tiny program I started at my school which maybe has taken a grand total of 15 hours to do. The more you stand out the better.

6). DONT BURN OUT! If you start stressing already you will burn out. I know you dont believe me, but I had a dream to go to a top medical school in my region, but after visiting I actually like a school that is less reputable and would rather go there.

Hope this helps.

 

[argonana]

publish, publish, publish.

 

[riceman04]

High school is already over for me,I could've graduated last semester but I chose to stay.Why would you assume that it would go in one ear and out the other,I'm obivously very interested in finding out what it takes since I asked the question.My freshmen year of college starts in about 6 months,I'd like to start preparing now.


What types of EC's do med schools look at; sports,volunteer work,etc??

I assumed that this info would go in one ear and out the other b/c you still have alot of time before classes start.

Where will you be going for undergrad?
If anything, start your research career this summer (if possible). Everything else I feel you should wait to do after you matriculate.

Profs will be willing to take you in as a student.

I will say that med schools, for the most part dont care what EC's you get involved with...just as long as you show interest (and longevity) and benevolence. Of course you should gain some clinical experience (volunteering)...and start considering possible summer research programs.

Once you get involved in this stuff you will see that for most things you dont need to start "preparing" 6 months in advance.

I do agree with the reading idea though. Make it a habit to read alot...b/c the MCAT is a reading exam.

MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN IN COLLEGE and dont only participate in activities b/c you feel they will pad your application...adcoms can look right through this.

There is someone with the username "LizzyM" who is actually on an admissions committee. Direct your questions and concerns to her in order to obtain the most balanced insight into the process.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

publish, publish, publish.

translation: Start working in a lab your freshman year so that your professor will put your name on articles he publishes before you apply to med schools. Almost always, time in lab is directly proportional to some sort of publishing.

 

[jurmanium]

Thanks for all the replies

I still don't know where I'm going for undergrad,Hopefully Michigan-Ann Arbor

I don't plan on becoming a professor

How exactly do I get involved in research?

And my dad is a doctor,I don't know if that helps me with shadowing or research?

Oh and this maybe a stupid question,but do sports matter at all?

 

[phosphorus pet]

Thanks for all the replies

I still don't know where I'm going for undergrad,Hopefully Michigan-Ann Arbor

I don't plan on becoming a professor

How exactly do I get involved in research?

And my dad is a doctor,I don't know if that helps me with shadowing or research?

Oh and this maybe a stupid question,but do sports matter at all?

Are you a potential varsity athlete?

 

[happydays]

Thanks for all the replies

I still don't know where I'm going for undergrad,Hopefully Michigan-Ann Arbor

I don't plan on becoming a professor

How exactly do I get involved in research?

And my dad is a doctor,I don't know if that helps me with shadowing or research?

Oh and this maybe a stupid question,but do sports matter at all?

aaahhh. You're a fellow Michigander.

Hahahaha! This makes me laugh Oh-SO much, because you'll be up to your neck in competition as a pre-med.

Here are some numbers to get you thinking: Roughly 4 out of 10 students at Mich start out pre-med. Then after classes, 1/2 drops out. After the MCAT, another half drops out. At the end, 1 out of 10 Mich graduate will be applying to med school with you, and about half will get in somewhere. If UM Med is your goal, then you'll have roughly a 1 in 10 chance of getting in during any particular application cycle. (To give you a concrete idea: ~6000-7000 entering students, ~600 med applications, ~60-80 get into UM. Roughly 10~15 students will also get into other top schools, like Duke, Johns Hopkins, UPenn, etc.) Good luck!

 

[Daichi Katase]

Oh and this maybe a stupid question,but do sports matter at all?

Man, this is nauseating. Get a life.

 

[Mr. Tee]

You can start by halting the bold-faced typing 😛

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Yeah sports are good.

A rule of thumb is if you really like doing it or shows "passion" it is good. If it makes you unique, it is good. If it shows leadership, it is good. A combination of any or all of this is really good.

For example- Being the captain of your varsity skydiving team at Air Force academy, is a keeper. Being a worl-champion bull-fighter might be a good one. Playing club frisbee with Pedro and Napoleon every second sunday might be a distraction from more important stuff. You decide. If it affects your grades, though, make sure it is closer to the former than the latter.

Getting research is pretty easy, but you won't get paid for it. It is only hard to find a lab to work in if you wait around for professors to get back to your emails and stuff. A lot of schools have web sites listing professors by areas of study who need undergraduates to do free labor for them. Find interesting professors. Search their name on your schools web site. They will almost always have a little page that says "Dr. X" with a picture and a list of recent publications. If he wrote 16 articles last year, your odds of getting "published" are pretty good, eventually. Don't worry too much about publishing, though. Just email professors and say something simple and fast like "I would really like to work in your lab, please let me know how I can get involved". I found that this worked a lot better than the strategy everyone will tell you: looking up their research, telling them why you love their research so much, what about their research sounds fun to you, etc. I would also avoid saying "I am a freshman pre-med biology major", although an honest "looking for research experience, ill do whatever you want"-kind of thing worked for me.

 

[phosphorus pet]

...Just email professors and say something simple and fast like "I would really like to work in your lab, please let me know how I can get involved". I found that this worked a lot better than the strategy everyone will tell you: looking up their research, telling them why you love their research so much, what about their research sounds fun to you, etc.

I completely agree. Get your foot in the door then suck up.

 

[snobored18]

All these suggestions suck...do what I should be doing tonight go out and have fun...if you are a complete tool through college and kiss ass like every other pre-med nothing will set you apart from all the cookie cutter applicants just clamoring to get into the "top 10's". My suggestion do the stuff you love to do and do it well. College is for exploration so try some stuff, fail at some stuff (besides school...) and figure out what you learn about yourself from each of these experiences. See different parts of the world by studying abroad if the opportunity presents, do independent research don't clean dishes or run PCRs, get to know your profs in and out of class (going to a small school will do wonders). In the end you can do all the research in the world, be exposed to all kinds of stuff and have stellar grades and MCATs and still not make it into a top 10 so also remember there are plenty of other terrific med schools out there...its great to aim high but don't be one of the pretentious idiots that acts like anything but Harvard isn't good enough...your attitude will often be a big part of your success, if you are humble, hard working and persistent and also personable and compassionate you will be a good physician and the HMS seal isn't the benchmark by which this is measured...best of luck its a much longer road than you can imagine at this point...it will take some sacrifices along the way...but the key always comes back to HAVE FUN. Being able to socialize can't be stressed enough because you need to be able to talk to people...this doesn't happen by locking yourself in a lab or library...

 

[Daichi Katase]

Do the research thing. That is a good idea.

DON'T start studying for the MCAT yet. That will not be a least bit productive.

 

[riceman04]

Thanks for all the replies

I still don't know where I'm going for undergrad,Hopefully Michigan-Ann Arbor

I don't plan on becoming a professor

How exactly do I get involved in research?

And my dad is a doctor,I don't know if that helps me with shadowing or research?

Oh and this maybe a stupid question,but do sports matter at all?

To get involved in research:
1. e-mail profs and express some interest (DONT SAY I AM PREMED and I want to gain research experience b/c it looks good)
2. see if there are any specific postings about a research position around campus
3. check the career services job listing website or sometimes indivdual schools of the university will list the available student positions

Your dad: Is he affiliated with a university hospital/major research hospital?
If so then he can pull strings for you

Sports:
Sports dont help that much...I used to be a team manager of the girls basketball team (D-I NCAA). There were girls on the team who applied to med school and thought their athletic status alone would be of great benefit...they were dead wrong!

 

[SuzieQ3417]

Go out and have fun every now and then....it will give you a personality so you won't be one of those anti-social weirdos that ocassionally pop up at interviews (you all know the kind I am talking about).

 

[riceman04]

All these suggestions suck...do what I should be doing tonight go out and have fun...if you are a complete tool through college and kiss ass like every other pre-med nothing will set you apart from all the cookie cutter applicants just clamoring to get into the "top 10's". My suggestion do the stuff you love to do and do it well. College is for exploration so try some stuff, fail at some stuff (besides school...) and figure out what you learn about yourself from each of these experiences. See different parts of the world by studying abroad if the opportunity presents, do independent research don't clean dishes or run PCRs, get to know your profs in and out of class (going to a small school will do wonders). In the end you can do all the research in the world, be exposed to all kinds of stuff and have stellar grades and MCATs and still not make it into a top 10 so also remember there are plenty of other terrific med schools out there...its great to aim high but don't be one of the pretentious idiots that acts like anything but Harvard isn't good enough...your attitude will often be a big part of your success, if you are humble, hard working and persistent and also personable and compassionate you will be a good physician and the HMS seal isn't the benchmark by which this is measured...best of luck its a much longer road than you can imagine at this point...it will take some sacrifices along the way...but the key always comes back to HAVE FUN. Being able to socialize can't be stressed enough because you need to be able to talk to people...this doesn't happen by locking yourself in a lab or library...

tru dat

 

[DarkFark]

Oh and this maybe a stupid question,but do sports matter at all?

DO IT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT!!!

Seroiusly, med schools arent looking to recruit a class full of biology robots. If theres anything in the world outside of class that you like, then pursue it, because 1) You will have fun and 2) Showing a passion for anything besides, I dunno, satanic rituals, is viewed as highly positive. Academics is priority #1, so once you have the GPA, MCAT, and clinical experience secured, just be impressive at something. Research is especially nice.


Also, you really won't gain much from fixating on making the *top ten* because
1) Besides name (which doesn't mean much except for the people you meet on the street) the differences between #5 and #50 is marginal next to the difference between the #5 undergrad and #50 undergrad.

2) The rankings themselves are extremely suspect for a multitude of reasons.

3) There really isn't much of a recipe for making the 'top ten'. You pretty much put everything together and see what happens.

 

[Rafa]

Don't take any of the advice on this, or any other thread. Graduate high school, go to college, and change your mind a thousand times. If you still want to be a doctor, you'll know. But right now, worrying about a school that's more than four years away is just taking time out of your youth. If you're a senior, this is the last year of your life you'll be considered a minor. Make the most of it. Be happy. It's cliche, but it's true. Most people who post on these boards are already in college, and have already waded through a bunch of ridiculous stuff to get to the 'yes, I still want to be a doctor' stage.

You don't have to worry about this stuff now. Just keep being you, and try to enjoy life. There's more to college than preparing for med school, and there's more to life than grooming yourself for an endless series of Adcoms.

Live.

 

[jurmanium]

Your dad: Is he affiliated with a university hospital/major research hospital?
If so then he can pull strings for you

Yeah he is but it's a plane trip away from where I'm going to be at.So it would have to a be a winter/spring/summer break thing.

Are you a potential varsity athlete?

Yeah,but I'd most likely be warming up the bench the whole time.

DO IT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT!!!

Seroiusly, med schools arent looking to recruit a class full of biology robots. If theres anything in the world outside of class that you like, then pursue it, because 1) You will have fun and 2) Showing a passion for anything besides, I dunno, satanic rituals, is viewed as highly positive. Academics is priority #1, so once you have the GPA, MCAT, and clinical experience secured, just be impressive at something. Research is especially nice.


Also, you really won't gain much from fixating on making the *top ten* because
1) Besides name (which doesn't mean much except for the people you meet on the street) the differences between #5 and #50 is marginal next to the difference between the #5 undergrad and #50 undergrad.

2) The rankings themselves are extremely suspect for a multitude of reasons.

3) There really isn't much of a recipe for making the 'top ten'. You pretty much put everything together and see what happens.

That's why I'm not going to major in anything science related,what I really enjoy is history and political science that's what I'm going to go into.

You're probably right about the top 10 being no more than just a name.My dad even says that if you graduate from ANY med school in the US you're going to be successful.But the name really matters to me for some reason.



Sorry about the bold

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

tru dat

Let's face it, if you are the type of person that needs to be told to have fun then that advice probably won't go very far anyway. This is a tangent, but every time someone asks for advice to get into a top med school and they are told to work hard, etc., someone else feels the need to tell them it is more important to have fun. It's disconcerting living in a country where we are constantly told that college is really about the "social experience". It is kind of sad that motivated students have to be made to feel like outsiders because they don't think universities were founded so that we could all have fun. Given that this is what everyone will be told ad nauseum until they graduate, I think it helps to get a realistic answer. I'm not trying to sound harsh, but I think there is some truth to this.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Don't take any of the advice on this, or any other thread. Graduate high school, go to college, and change your mind a thousand times. If you still want to be a doctor, you'll know. But right now, worrying about a school that's more than four years away is just taking time out of your youth. If you're a senior, this is the last year of your life you'll be considered a minor. Make the most of it. Be happy. It's cliche, but it's true. Most people who post on these boards are already in college, and have already waded through a bunch of ridiculous stuff to get to the 'yes, I still want to be a doctor' stage.

You don't have to worry about this stuff now. Just keep being you, and try to enjoy life. There's more to college than preparing for med school, and there's more to life than grooming yourself for an endless series of Adcoms.

Live.

That is so true. However, if you already do know you wan't to be a doctor, then it woulsn't hurt to have your act together from day one. I wish I did, but hindsight is 20/20 🙄

 

[DrLalich]

Graduate high school, go to college, and change your mind a thousand times. If you still want to be a doctor, you'll know.

This could not be more true. Go to college for a while and see. The discrepancy in number of students that will be pre-med your freshman year vs. the number that take the MCAT vs. the number of students that will matriculate to medical school will amaze you. Do what you really want to do for your undergrad and then figure out medical school later. You only get one chance to have a good undergraduate experience, do not ruin it for something that may not even end up being something that you want to do. Good luck at U MICH.

 

[riceman04]

Yeah he is but it's a plane trip away from where I'm going to be at.So it would have to a be a winter/spring/summer break thing.



Yeah,but I'd most likely be warming up the bench the whole time.



That's why I'm not going to major in anything science related,what I really enjoy is history and political science that's what I'm going to go into.

You're probably right about the top 10 being no more than just a name.My dad even says that if you graduate from ANY med school in the US you're going to be successful.But the name really matters to me for some reason.



Sorry about the bold

Yeah he is but it's a plane trip away from where I'm going to be at.So it would have to a be a winter/spring/summer break thing.

That is what my friend did. He played a major role in a smoking cessation study...he started the summer before his frshman yr and then continued whenever he returned.

 

[jurmanium]

Let's face it, if you are the type of person that needs to be told to have fun then that advice probably won't go very far anyway. This is a tangent, but every time someone asks for advice to get into a top med school and they are told to work hard, etc., someone else feels the need to tell them it is more important to have fun. It's disconcerting living in a country where we are constantly told that college is really about the "social experience". It is kind of sad that motivated students have to be made to feel like outsiders because they don't think universities were founded so that we could all have fun. Given that this is what everyone will be told ad nauseum until they graduate, I think it helps to get a realistic answer. I'm not trying to sound harsh, but I think there is some truth to this.

I could careless about having fun in college and getting the whole college "experience".What am I supposed to learn something from some drunken ****** and stoners at a party.I don't feel that college is the time that you're supposed to have the most fun of your in,it's the time to work your ass off and prepare yourself for the real world,the technical aspect of it.

 

[kirexhana]

I know I'm still very far away from even applying to med school,I'm starting college in the fall and my dream is to one day attend a top 10 med school,preferably Harvard,Duke,Penn,or stanford.The thing is I don't want to be ignorant of all that is needed to get into these schools like I was in highschool,I really messed up my freshman year because I thought nothing of it.I know there's no room for that when applying to med schools.So other than atleast a 3.8 gpa and a high MCATs score what else do I need to get accepted to one of those schools.I want to start off real strong my freshmen year.

hahahaha, for some reason when i'm reading this i'm picturing an ADD chipmunk talking in a helium voice, really quickly.

here's the deal: i'm really happy that you want to be a doctor, but you gotta loosen up, seriously. aside from the obvious GPA, MCAT, volunteering, research, i do have some recommendations of my own.

i think that one thing people are forgetting to talk about is a strong personal statement. know why you want to be a doctor and be able to express it in writing (limited to 5300 characters, these days, including spaces).

also, have some interests outside of medically related things(like sports) that make you seem more human and less... well... ADD chipmunk.

the last, and i think most important thing is, make good premed friends. not only do they keep you sane, they are good to study with, ask for notes/tests from, ask for advice from, bitch and moan with, give you connections to other doctors/med students, and PARTY WITH!

anyway, good luck, and please take it easy. college is supposed to be fun!

 

[DarkFark]

I could careless about having fun in college and getting the whole college "experience".What am I supposed to learn something from some drunken ****** and stoners at a party.I don't feel that college is the time that you're supposed to have the most fun of your in,it's the time to work your ass off and prepare yourself for the real world,the technical aspect of it.

Oh boy. Big trouble.

Don't take life too seriously, kid. You'll never make it out alive.

Also, not everyone who goes to parties is a stoner or a *****. Just because you (presumably) don't fit into that crowd doesn't mean you should lash out at it.

 

[jurmanium]

anyway, good luck, and please take it easy. college is supposed to be fun!

How is college supposed to be fun if you have like 8 hours of studying to do everyday.I could understand if you were maybe a communications major.

 

[riceman04]

How is college supposed to be fun if you have like 8 hours of studying to do everyday.I could understand if you were maybe a communications major.

ok wow!
I can already tell that you will burn yourself out before the end of your 1st yr.

Once you get to college you will see what I am talking about.

I am curious to know why you want to become a physician...besides your father's influence, what made you so aware the fact that you want to enter the field?

It is very easy to have fun in college. You have to manage your time

 

[DarkFark]

How is college supposed to be fun if you have like 8 hours of studying to do everyday.I could understand if you were maybe a communications major.

Who filled your head with such lies?

 

[kirexhana]

I could careless about having fun in college and getting the whole college "experience".What am I supposed to learn something from some drunken ****** and stoners at a party.I don't feel that college is the time that you're supposed to have the most fun of your in,it's the time to work your ass off and prepare yourself for the real world,the technical aspect of it.

wow, someone's a lil jaded. fun doesn't necessarily equal getting drunk/stoned you know. it can mean a dinner and movie with friends, a snowboarding trip, dancing at a local club. believe me, learning how to socially interact is one of the best things you can learn from having fun with other people. if anything, just think about how it'll make you look at your interviews (the many times have i been asked what do i do for fun, im so glad i've had something to say besides study for the mcats 😉 )

 

[kirexhana]

How is college supposed to be fun if you have like 8 hours of studying to do everyday.I could understand if you were maybe a communications major.

haha, try biochem and yea, there are the 8 hr study days, but there're also the 16 hr party days 🙂

 

[snobored18]

wow, someone's a lil jaded. fun doesn't necessarily equal getting drunk/stoned you know. it can mean a dinner and movie with friends, a snowboarding trip, dancing at a local club. believe me, learning how to socially interact is one of the best things you can learn from having fun with other people. if anything, just think about how it'll make you look at your interviews (the many times have i been asked what do i do for fun, im so glad i've had something to say besides study for the mcats 😉 )

Aww we have a wise one in the gallery tonight...people an their jaded definitions...good grief...coffee houses are key my man

 

[jurmanium]

ok wow!
I can already tell that you will burn yourself out before the end of your 1st yr.

Once you get to college you will see what I am talking about.

I am curious to know why you want to become a physician...besides your father's influence, what made you so aware the fact that you want to enter the field?

It is very easy to have fun in college. You have to manage your time

I actually enjoy burning myself out,I do it all the time in highschool(it's not impossible)

Actually my father didn't have much of a direct influence in me becoming a doctor.It's very complicated,and a big reason is money(Please,I don't need a lecture),I really do want to help people.

 

[golftrippy]

How is college supposed to be fun if you have like 8 hours of studying to do everyday.I could understand if you were maybe a communications major.

Pre-frosh-pre-meds make me giggle, and poo my pants a little. You are a strange little man (or woman)...were you a premie?

 

[kirexhana]

Aww we have a wise one in the gallery tonight...people an their jaded definitions...good grief...coffee houses are key my man

i don't get it, did i use jaded wrong? *checks dictionary* oops, i think i meant cynical? 🙂

 

[snobored18]

i don't get it, did i use jaded wrong? *checks dictionary* oops, i think i meant cynical? 🙂

No no you are right...i should have used one-sided but you used jaded previously and its late so I ran with it...I'm just saying people seem to assume fun in college means getting "tanked"...which it does but there are so many other things one can experience...jazz groups, orchestra concerts, poetry slams, open mic nights, student productions, art exhibits...man i love college there is just an endless supply of fun things to do...

 

[super_doc]

All these suggestions suck...do what I should be doing tonight go out and have fun...if you are a complete tool through college and kiss ass like every other pre-med nothing will set you apart from all the cookie cutter applicants just clamoring to get into the "top 10's". My suggestion do the stuff you love to do and do it well. College is for exploration so try some stuff, fail at some stuff (besides school...) and figure out what you learn about yourself from each of these experiences. See different parts of the world by studying abroad if the opportunity presents, do independent research don't clean dishes or run PCRs, get to know your profs in and out of class (going to a small school will do wonders). In the end you can do all the research in the world, be exposed to all kinds of stuff and have stellar grades and MCATs and still not make it into a top 10 so also remember there are plenty of other terrific med schools out there...its great to aim high but don't be one of the pretentious idiots that acts like anything but Harvard isn't good enough...your attitude will often be a big part of your success, if you are humble, hard working and persistent and also personable and compassionate you will be a good physician and the HMS seal isn't the benchmark by which this is measured...best of luck its a much longer road than you can imagine at this point...it will take some sacrifices along the way...but the key always comes back to HAVE FUN. Being able to socialize can't be stressed enough because you need to be able to talk to people...this doesn't happen by locking yourself in a lab or library...

this is by far the best advice. don't focus on studies exclusively. after all, what is the ultimate goal in life if not happiness?

 

[kirexhana]

No no you are right...i should have used one-sided but you used jaded previously and its late so I ran with it...I'm just saying people seem to assume fun in college means getting "tanked"...which it does but there are so many other things one can experience...jazz groups, orchestra concerts, poetry slams, open mic nights, student productions, art exhibits...man i love college there is just an endless supply of fun things to do...

ahhhhh yes, the arts, completely forgot about that end of the spectrum of fun. see, fun makes you more worldly. the mcats do not.

 

[dwave]

Thanks for all the replies

I still don't know where I'm going for undergrad,Hopefully Michigan-Ann Arbor

I don't plan on becoming a professor

How exactly do I get involved in research?

And my dad is a doctor,I don't know if that helps me with shadowing or research?

Oh and this maybe a stupid question,but do sports matter at all?

please don't come to U of M. we're way to cool for you.

 

[snobored18]

ahhhhh yes, the arts, completely forgot about that end of the spectrum of fun. see, fun makes you more worldly. the mcats do not.

hahaha and you know what...GPA and MCATs get you interviews...but its FUN that seals the deal in interviews and gets you those acceptances...people might think im joking but seriously being a "worldy" person and being able to talk about things completely unrelated to science and medicine make you a very appealling applicant and a breath of fresh air to interviewers...

 

[snobored18]

please don't come to U of M. we're way to cool for you.

Please take him...please, please...then again he may want to re-think the whole big ten thing period...the FUN factor...Hopkins, Chicago or Rochester seem like a better fit I will say...maybe Wash U