Help my friend please!

[mwsapphire]

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Hello,
I have mentioned my pre-med friend on here a few times. She has a solid gpa ( ~3.7) , is a Bio major junior, and has been prepping for the MCAT all year, but had not yet taken it. She plans on applying to med school this upcoming cycle.
The issue is, she has almost no EC's. She has a semester of research experience, and did CNA training after her sophomore year, but only worked for about 40 ish hours before deciding it was too much to handle with school ( She didn't decide on medicine until her sophomore year). She is thinking she can continue volunteering at a hospital this summer, the same one she volunteered at while in High School, and include the High School hours . I told her she can't do that, and that her EC's , mainly lack of clinical experience, is going to kill her.

I've been telling her to take a gap year, she can raise her GPA and have a stronger upward trend ( she W'd out of Biochem this semester because she was struggling, so it would be nice if this were not her last semester). I told her she should work as a CNA and have some non clinical volunteering. ( Or work as scribe if she really doesn't want to do CNA. Some kind of clinical work, and get a few hundred hours). Then apply in the same year as me ( I am on track to apply after my junior year. She's a year ahead of me.) I'm telling her the re-applicant label is detrimental, but she just won't listen. I really, really don't want her ruining her chances at med school with something sooo stupid. Please help me convince her not to do this. ( I have her permission to post this on here. She lurks but she doesn't have an account. )

Please help
@Goro @gonnif @LizzyM @gyngyn

 

[Goro]

She sounds like she's going to have to learn the hard way.

Being a re-applicant isn't as lethal as it's made out to be on SDN.

You're a good friend, but you've done your due diligence. Let it go.

Hello,
I have mentioned my pre-med friend on here a few times. She has a solid gpa ( ~3.7) , is a Bio major junior, and has been prepping for the MCAT all year, but had not yet taken it. She plans on applying to med school this upcoming cycle.
The issue is, she has almost no EC's. She has a semester of research experience, and did CNA training after her sophomore year, but only worked for about 40 ish hours before deciding it was too much to handle with school ( She didn't decide on medicine until her sophomore year). She is thinking she can continue volunteering at a hospital this summer, the same one she volunteered at while in High School, and include the High School hours . I told her she can't do that, and that her EC's , mainly lack of clinical experience, is going to kill her.

I've been telling her to take a gap year, she can raise her GPA and have a stronger upward trend ( she W'd out of Biochem this semester because she was struggling, so it would be nice if this were not her last semester). I told her she should work as a CNA and have some non clinical volunteering. ( Or work as scribe if she really doesn't want to do CNA. Some kind of clinical work, and get a few hundred hours). Then apply in the same year as me ( I am on track to apply after my junior year. She's a year ahead of me.) I'm telling her the re-applicant label is detrimental, but she just won't listen. I really, really don't want her ruining her chances at med school with something sooo stupid. Please help me convince her not to do this. ( I have her permission to post this on here. She lurks but she doesn't have an account. )

Please help
@Goro @gonnif @LizzyM @gyngyn

 

[Astra]

If she applies this cycle, she will not get in. Period. She has no shadowing, little to no clinical, non clinical volunteering, no leadership.

 

[efle]

Wait for their MCAT score. If it's borderline you can show them the grid that says they have iffy odds, and point out the people that get in are the ones with strong ECs.

 

[mwsapphire]

She sounds like she's going to have to learn the hard way.

Being a re-applicant isn't as lethal as it's made out to be on SDN.

You're a good friend, but you've done your due diligence. Let it go.

I was literally sitting in the cafeteria, furiously typing at my laptop ( the most recent convo. we had was via texting, b/c the last time we talked she said she would take that gap year), and I was literally furiously typing and practically crying in the middle of the cafeteria. Cheers.

 

[Goro]

Why are YOU crying? It's HER life!

I was literally sitting in the cafeteria, furiously typing at my laptop ( the most recent convo. we had was via texting, b/c the last time we talked she said she would take that gap year), and I was literally furiously typing and practically crying in the middle of the cafeteria. Cheers.

 

[mwsapphire]

Why are YOU crying? It's HER life!

I've been really emotional/anxious lately.
Some of us are sensitive, Dr.Goro.
And somehow, if she got rejected , it would freak me out about my odds?

 

[OnStrings]

When I applied my first time, I had strong scores but only 1 volunteering experience, 1 research experience, and a myriad of extracurricular (music/non-clinical) experiences. I applied because I didn't want to take gap years. Only got one interview, resulting in a waitlist placement, resulting in rejection.

After 2 gap years, I'm currently at the tail end of my second application cycle, with much more in terms of clinical, research, and volunteer experiences, with overall much stronger letters of rec as a result. It's definitely reflected in my application process, with many more interviews as well as several acceptances.

The lesson here: Take the gap years. Don't be proud. This is not about being proud or being hasty or rushing your application. Feel free to PM for more info.

 

[Goro]

You do you.

I've been really emotional/anxious lately.
Some of us are sensitive, Dr.Goro.
And somehow, if she got rejected , it would freak me out about my odds?

 

[LizzyM]

Some people just have to attend the School of Hard Knocks. You hate to see a friend going in that direction but some people are just pig-headed.

 

[mwsapphire]

Some people just have to attend the School of Hard Knocks. You hate to see a friend going in that direction but some people are just pig-headed.

The worst part is she usually isn't a pig-head.
She's also really smol and pure and cute and doesn't deserve this.

 

[Turkishking]

If she gets a job as a scribe, that's more shadowing if anything in my opinion. She should start volunteering at a hospital ASAP, and start with non-clinical volunteering. Being a re-applicant isn't that bad. The only consequence I could see is if you apply right away again without fixing the flaws in your application.

 

[mwsapphire]

^ I was thinking a hospice close to where she lives- not everybody lives right next door to a hospital.

 

[Turkishking]

^ I was thinking a hospice close to where she lives- not everybody lives right next door to a hospital.

That works too. Your friend should apply when she has the best app.

Quoting Goro here "Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.""

 

[tarheelpenner]

you should encourage her to spend more time on SDN. It can be a good reality check/source of anxiety that you aren't good enough.

 

[mwsapphire]

you should encourage her to spend more time on SDN. It can be a good reality check/source of anxiety that you aren't good enough.

The latter is the more accurate description for me.

 

[tarheelpenner]

The latter is the more accurate description for me.

Me as well.

 

[mwsapphire]

^ Are you going to UNC med, by any chance ( they call themselves " Tar Heel Doctors" )

 

[tarheelpenner]

^ Are you going to UNC med, by any chance ( they call themselves " Tar Heel Doctors" )

lol I wish. I went there undergrad. They aren't letting me in so far. I just want them to love me

 

[mwsapphire]

^ But the undergrad school is more prestigious than the med school. You def. have a shot @ T20.

 

[Toutie]

The worst part is she usually isn't a pig-head.
She's also really smol and pure and cute and doesn't deserve this.

Yes she does! If she isn't interested in listening and doing what is necessary to build a quality application, then she will get what she deserves...a rejection, followed by a gap year or 2 to fix her flaws. You have done your part as a friend to try to help her. It's on her now, nothing else you can do.

 

[mwsapphire]

Yes she does! If she isn't interested in listening and doing what is necessary to build a quality application, then she will get what she deserves...a rejection, followed by a gap year or 2 to fix her flaws. You have done your part as a friend to try to help her. It's on her now, nothing else you can do.

I told her I'd show her this thread.

 

[efle]

^ But the undergrad school is more prestigious than the med school

Uhhhhhhhhh no I don't think so

 

[mwsapphire]

Uhhhhhhhhh no I don't think so

Oh God. Let's not debate. You're right- they're about the same.

 

[momo_in_homaha]

I have a friend who's convinced he's going to be an orthopedic surgeon even though he has a really low GPA and MCAT. He's the opposite of your friend - great EC's but terrible scores. At the beginning of last cycle, I tried to convince him to take another year off, study and retake the MCAT, work on fixing his app. He basically said "thanks but no thanks" to my advice. Now, through this cycle, he has received no interviews. He's going to struggle to get in anywhere when he reapplies, let alone match into one of the most competitive specialties.

What have I learned? All you can do is offer advice, which you have. It's not your problem if your friend doesn't listen. Like everyone has said - some people have to learn the hard way! Just make sure you don't make the same mistake yourself, and be humble when other people give you good advice on how to improve your own application.

 

[mwsapphire]

SO I casually mentioned to my Dad that I told my friend to take a gap year, and he was like " If this ruins her life she'll blame you." ( My parents' country has med school admissions based on stats alone, so they don't understand the concept of beefing up your EC's.)
I was like
a- She's an adult. She ultimately chooses what she does and doesn't do.
b- Applying now is more likely to ruin your life ( they also dont understand concept of "reapplicant" label)
God help me.

 

[Turkishking]

SO I casually mentioned to my Dad that I told my friend to take a gap year, and he was like " If this ruins her life she'll blame you." ( My parents' country has med school admissions based on stats alone, so they don't understand the concept of beefing up your EC's.)
I was like
a- She's an adult. She ultimately chooses what she does and doesn't do.
b- Applying now is more likely to ruin your life ( they also dont understand concept of "reapplicant" label)
God help me.

Who cares, you're an adult. I have many Pakistani friends, and they do not have the urge to put on their big boy/girl pants on and think about their futures for themselves. I tell my friends (Pakistani friends), who cares you want to be a physician, you do what you think is right. Of course listen to your parents, but they don't know as much as you do unless they went through the same process.

 

[TXMED_1695]

Why are YOU crying? It's HER life!

 

[tarheelpenner]

^ But the undergrad school is more prestigious than the med school. You def. have a shot @ T20.

I'm WL at all my T20 schools. Commence mental breakdown.