hey. Some information/advice

[highschool2009]

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Hi,

My name is Alex and I am a junior in highschool. Right now I have a 3.1GPA but in private school the grading is much different from public schools. But anyways my question is: Do I have a chance in the medical field at all. If so I would like some suggestions of what I should consider doing. I can take critism and advice. So I look forward to hearing from some people.

I appreciate it,

alex

 

[bwells46]

Hi,

My name is Alex and I am a junior in highschool. Right now I have a 3.1GPA but in private school the grading is much different from public schools. But anyways my question is: Do I have a chance in the medical field at all. If so I would like some suggestions of what I should consider doing. I can take critism and advice. So I look forward to hearing from some people.

I appreciate it,

alex

It's hard to say right now. If I were you, I would worry about getting into a good college. Once you're there, then start working towards a great GPA/MCAT and impressive ECs. Write back in about 4 years when you're a college junior and SDN members will probably be able to help you out.

 

[ShyRem]

mods, this thread probably should be moved to something more appropriate than "Re-applicants".

 

[Halligan]

agreed. Re-applicants is not the place for this one.

OP, you've got a great shot. You have a clean slate (as long as you get into a college). So, I equate a clean slate with a greate shot. I was once in your shoes at a private high school, so I understand how competitive it can be compared to public school (I went from private to public in high school).

When you get into college, the fun begins. You said your GPA is 3.1 in high school. So, in college, you need to buckle down and do better than that. I'm sure you are very capable -

Hang in there, and take this one step at a time. The least of your worries right now should be if you "have a shot" at medical school. When you're a junior in college, just took your MCATs, have a good feeling of your overall/sci GPAs . . . then you can start pulling your hair out and worrying about if you have a shot.

Just work hard, start to find out how you study best, and concetrate on getting good grades and getting involved (clinical experience, volunteering, etc.).

If you need anything, feel free to PM me.👍

 

[highschool2009]

agreed. Re-applicants is not the place for this one.

OP, you've got a great shot. You have a clean slate (as long as you get into a college). So, I equate a clean slate with a greate shot. I was once in your shoes at a private high school, so I understand how competitive it can be compared to public school (I went from private to public in high school).

When you get into college, the fun begins. You said your GPA is 3.1 in high school. So, in college, you need to buckle down and do better than that. I'm sure you are very capable -

Hang in there, and take this one step at a time. The least of your worries right now should be if you "have a shot" at medical school. When you're a junior in college, just took your MCATs, have a good feeling of your overall/sci GPAs . . . then you can start pulling your hair out and worrying about if you have a shot.

Just work hard, start to find out how you study best, and concetrate on getting good grades and getting involved (clinical experience, volunteering, etc.).

If you need anything, feel free to PM me.👍

Thank you for your advice. I was wondernig. What should I focus/study right now at my age. Anything I can do online or anything at all?
Thank you

 

[bwells46]

Thank you for your advice. I was wondernig. What should I focus/study right now at my age. Anything I can do online or anything at all?
Thank you

Focus on subjects that inerest you. You'll have plenty of time in college to be bored with pre-reqs that are totally meaningless once you are in medical school. Be sure to make yourself well-rounded with a diverse education in math, science, and the arts and humanities. Also, start getting involved with volunteering, specifically volunteering with patient contact. This will help make you a more attractive candidate for medical school.

Besides, how will you know that medicine is right for you until you seen some other career paths? You may take some computer science courses and decide you really want to be a software engineer or you may take physics and decide you want to devote your life to M-theory.

 

[Phishfood]

Thank you for your advice. I was wondernig. What should I focus/study right now at my age. Anything I can do online or anything at all?
Thank you

some practical advice: if your GPA isn't enough to get you into an ivy or 'public ivy' similarly rigorous academic institute, and you're looking at a very broad range of schools that are 'above average' in academic competitiveness, then its good advice for medical students to go to a school that has its own medical school.

 

[Halligan]

some practical advice: if your GPA isn't enough to get you into an ivy or 'public ivy' similarly rigorous academic institute, and you're looking at a very broad range of schools that are 'above average' in academic competitiveness, then its good advice for medical students to go to a school that has its own medical school.

Where did you hear this at?

 

[Phishfood]

Where did you hear this at?

common knowledge? because you're more competitive at your home institution?

because if you purposefully want to do what you can to raise your competitiveness at every step, then in lieu of going somewhere like, in my case, william and mary, which does not have its own medical school but is known for its academic rigor, and you're instead faced with a long list of other schools that from an academic standpoint would be considered equal, then you should go where there's a medical school.

ETA: Drop the 'at'. Grammar nazi thing to do, I know, but it's better to notice it now than in a situation where it may count against you

ETA again: As an anecdote, it may have been a better decision to go to VCU rather than William and Mary. I could have gotten better grades more easily and been more competitive thereby possibly. However, if I had to choose between JMU and VCU, two schools similar in academic competitiveness, then VCU should win hands down.

 

[Funky]

right now worry about getting into college first. My advice is go to a college where you'll feel comfortable in and have fun. Get good grades in school, don't get into any trouble, and develop a good worth ethic. Come back during your junior year while you're prepping for the MCAT.

 

[nlax30]

Just get into college and then do well there. At that point high school won't mean a thing. I happened to go a health magnet program at my high school but the only advantage it gave me was that I learned early on that I wanted to become a physician. Definitely don't worry about trying to learn anything in preparation for medical school. Just do what you're interested in. Being dedicated to something and sacrificing in order to excel at it comes across really well on applications and shows that you have the ability to focus on something and do well, whether it's sports, music, academics, doesn't need to be health related necessarily. In college you will need to gain clinical experience through shadowing and volunteer work, but don't JUST do that and give up some other extracurricular activity that you enjoy and are good at.

I had a few "non-health hobbies/activities that looked good on my application because they came across as showing that I was able to focus and devote time to something for long periods of time.

 

[Halligan]

common knowledge? because you're more competitive at your home institution?


ETA: Drop the 'at'. Grammar nazi thing to do, I know, but it's better to notice it now than in a situation where it may count against you

How's this for grammar?

BE NICE!!!!!

I wuz at werk, jus tryeng 2 help the OP. Sorree I di'dnt tipe wif teh bes gramma.

Please edit this post.

 

[Phishfood]

How's this for grammar?

BE NICE!!!!!

I wuz at werk, jus tryeng 2 help the OP. Sorree I di'dnt tipe wif teh bes gramma.

Please edit this post.

Sorry. I wasn't trying to be mean, just helpful (to you as well as the OP). I don't have a 'nice voice' so you'll have to excuse me.

 

[Halligan]

Sorry. I wasn't trying to be mean, just helpful (to you as well as the OP). I don't have a 'nice voice' so you'll have to excuse me.

[In my nice voice . . . ]
Well, I appreciate your help. Since you helped me, I'll help you. How about a lesson on professionalism?

Learn to give some constructive feedback privately (i.e. PM). Since you're going to be a doctor, I hope you wouldn't tell at a nurse in front of a patient how to use proper english. That wouldn't be professional now, would it? If you think it is. . . best of luck in your professional career.

Just FYI.👍

 

[Phishfood]

[In my nice voice . . . ]
Well, I appreciate your help. Since you helped me, I'll help you. How about a lesson on professionalism?

Learn to give some constructive feedback privately (i.e. PM). Since you're going to be a doctor, I hope you wouldn't tell at a nurse in front of a patient how to use proper english. That wouldn't be professional now, would it? If you think it is. . . best of luck in your professional career.

Just FYI.👍

don't get embarrassed over the internet.

ETA: cheap shot. since the thread has died aside from our bickering, lets just abandon the thread as well.