I got into a BS/MD program for a pretty good instate medical school. My main goal is to be a Dermatologist. What should I be focusing on to get an edge in residency applications. Thanks.
Help Needed
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This sounds urgent. The title should have been HELP NEEDED! URGENT!!!!!
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If you are referring to getting into BS/MD, then I'm assuming you're in high school. Nothing you do in college will really matter for matching from what I understand. Just have fun and probably do some research as derm is a pretty academic field from what I've read on here. Other than that, the meat of what will make or break your dermatology match will occur in medical school, so just chill til then.
Edit. PS: @DermViser will probably be in here to laugh at you shortly. He knows more about Derm than me and will likely tell you the same thing, but always good to have a more expert opinion.
I'm sorry for not making a great title, and this may not be urgent, but I am looking into the future and I wan't to make a good timeline. I've bought some MCAT prep books, which I will be perusing through this summer. I was also able to get a few step 1 books, so I can gain a general gist. Should I be reading some derm journals?
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I hope you are kidding.
Sorry, I'm not. I've been researching the data, and honestly it is intimidating as it is a competitive specialty to get into. I'm just trying to focus on getting an early step. I'm trying to find a dermatologist to shadow, haven't had any luck yet, hopefully that will change when I start in college. I've started preparing for 2015 MCAT, by reading OChem in my brother's old textbook.
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It is important to acquire the skills necessary to succeed in each of the developmental stages in any long process. Being the best possible college student while expanding your experience as a member of society is your next step. Developing your understanding of physicians in society, communications skills (including languages of patients you are likely to care for), adaptability, social and interpersonal skills are what you need to do at this time.
Premature closure of your pluripotency will not improve your odds of success, rather it will reduce it.
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BS/MD programs make you take the MCAT?
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Yup. You just have to meet a minimum score which is set pretty low (generally mid to low 20s).
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Dear adcoms, I have been accepted to high school and my goal is to become director of the NIH. Unfortunately I can't find any directors or chiefs of medicine to shadow. I have begun to prepare for R01 submission, but don't which grants are open to 17 year-olds. Please advise. Please, urgently.
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I hope you're not serious. But just in case, here you go.
http://www.aad.org/education/medical-student-core-curriculum
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Enhance your repertoire of sponge-bob gifs, apply broadly, and you'll be fine.
D
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Make certain to meet the requirements for your guaranteed acceptance. There is nothing you can do now to prepare yourself to match into dermatology. Satiate your curiosity through shadowing, but don't mess with journals. I'll wager you don't have the education right now to understand any of the material, anyway. Have fun in school. If you are still in high school or a freshman, stop worrying about the MCAT. It could be another 3 years before you even start studying for it.
Yeah, mine requires me to to take it my junior year of undergrad. I have to meet the national average for the new MCAT. Some have yearly GPA requirements as well.
Thanks for the advice.
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Why do they get a free pass?
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It's not really a "free pass". They pretty much have to score at the median ~25. There are students every year in these programs who surprisingly fail to meet that minimum. Also, the requirements to get into these programs are very high, so it's already generally a very select group of high achieving students who enter these programs. The MCAT sucks, but it's really not that bad. You just have to put in the time.
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I don't think you're in a position to tell others that it's not really that bad when you only have to get a 25.....
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Many of these programs are designed to encourage these future medical students to pursue other extracurricular activities rather than focus on the "clinical experience/shadowing/join premed clubs" formula, like student government, social activism, performance arts, sports, etc. which could increase the diversity of the incoming class. Theoretically, at least. Unfortunately, too many BS/MD students treat this as a "freebie" and get lazy to the point where they become sub-par students and risk losing their candidacy.
You don't need to be a stellar student to be a good doctor, though. The reason why numbers are so high for regular students is because the applicant pool is so competitive. But I highly doubt it takes a 32 on the MCAT for a person to be a good doctor.
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I don't think you're in a position to tell others that it's not really that bad when you only have to get a 25.....
Edit - re-read my post and then you response. I never really stated or implied that it's not that bad when you only have to get a 25.
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Edit - re-read my post and then you response. I never really stated or implied that it's not that bad when you only have to get a 25.
Lol, for some reason I thought you were the OP, who needed a 25-ish on the MCAT.
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NIH?! I was shooting for the NBA prior to HS and obviously that didn't work out.
I checked the requirement it is the national average mcat score of people who got into medical school that year, so I think 30 or 31. I've been doing the question of the day and exam crackers, and I may take a few practice tests online. However my mcat is 2015 so I'm most likely going to review psych/ and some biochem this summer.
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Plus check OPs post about three up from this one. Holding these students to at least meet the national average for matriculants isn't necessarily a walk in the park. They still have to put in the time and effort, and know their own abilities so that they can adequately prepare.
