How to Stand Out? Everyone saids it but who does it?

[stifler]

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How to make your application stand out?

I just realized that I'm going to be a run of the mill premed. 3.5 GPA prob ~31 MCAT (if i am lucky or what not lets say 30 to be safe), prestigious college, biochem major, research experience, shadowing experience, leadership in community service club, plays a club sport.

Basically how can I and most people stand out? Being a premed makes your grades better than most people so im thinking some distinguished awards like: like Goldbright or something? What are some others?

Also NIH internships seem pretty bland too. I mean I can get all sorts of research positions because of family and friends. Isn't there something else I can do?

Yea people say do what you want, but you cant really do that and be competitive. At least I cant.

What jobs will be out of the ordinary and beneficial. So yea what have you done that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack or most premeds?

Started an NGO? Rotary scholar? etc... name them and it'll give me ideas for something to strive for since most people here on this forum are very ambitious very diverse group of people. [please dont criticize me for not having goals. i have goals. i just want something some ideas on what else i can do that i might be interested in that woudl also help me for med school. perhaps something that takes me out of the country like working for amnesty international etc]. just name some different jobs youve undertaken and perhaps some advice on how i can attain it. and if you found it helpful and rewarding and why.

thanks for your advice.

 

[wendywellesley]

How to make your application stand out?

I just realized that I'm going to be a run of the mill premed. 3.5 GPA prob ~31 MCAT (if i am lucky or what not lets say 30 to be safe), prestigious college, biochem major, research experience, shadowing experience, leadership in community service club, plays a club sport.

Basically how can I and most people stand out? Being a premed makes your grades better than most people so im thinking some distinguished awards like: like Goldbright or something? What are some others?

Also NIH internships seem pretty bland too. I mean I can get all sorts of research positions because of family and friends. Isn't there something else I can do?

Yea people say do what you want, but you cant really do that and be competitive. At least I cant.

What jobs will be out of the ordinary and beneficial. So yea what have you done that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack or most premeds?

Started an NGO? Rotary scholar? etc... name them and it'll give me ideas for something to strive for since most people here on this forum are very ambitious very diverse group of people.

thanks for your advice.

i don't have the answers you seek but i think your signature is great. that is exactly how i feel.

 

[MoosePilot]

Take 8 years and do another career. I think that helps me stand out. That and my ****ty GPA

 

[masterMood]

you need to believe in yourself, and then you can do anything


this message has been approved by Howard Dean.

 

[MoosePilot]

you need to believe in yourself, and then you can do anything


this message has been approved by Howard Dean.

Rawwwrrrrrrr!!!!!!

 

[stifler]

Take 8 years and do another career. I think that helps me stand out. That and my ****ty GPA

i almost went to the usafa. i think its a good thing i didnt. at least my friends there tell me it is that i decided to back out. that would have definately been different.

see thing is that its not like i hate being on this "premed" track. i just want to make it more interesting. like instead of research on cells i cant see, i do search on hot chicks and their orgasm patterns or something.

or like i scrub in for breast augmentations. haha

just premed stuff with a twist or a hint of prestige.

 

[masterMood]

shadow a proctologist

 

[jon stewart]

How to make your application stand out?

I just realized that I'm going to be a run of the mill premed. 3.5 GPA prob ~31 MCAT (if i am lucky or what not lets say 30 to be safe), prestigious college, biochem major, research experience, shadowing experience, leadership in community service club, plays a club sport.

Basically how can I and most people stand out? Being a premed makes your grades better than most people so im thinking some distinguished awards like: like Goldbright or something? What are some others?

Also NIH internships seem pretty bland too. I mean I can get all sorts of research positions because of family and friends. Isn't there something else I can do?

Yea people say do what you want, but you cant really do that and be competitive. At least I cant.

What jobs will be out of the ordinary and beneficial. So yea what have you done that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack or most premeds?

Started an NGO? Rotary scholar? etc... name them and it'll give me ideas for something to strive for since most people here on this forum are very ambitious very diverse group of people. [please dont criticize me for not having goals. i have goals. i just want something some ideas on what else i can do that i might be interested in that woudl also help me for med school. perhaps something that takes me out of the country like working for amnesty international etc]. just name some different jobs youve undertaken and perhaps some advice on how i can attain it. and if you found it helpful and rewarding and why.

thanks for your advice.

study abroad, do some of those medical internships aborad.

 

[Law2Doc]

Basically how can I and most people stand out? Being a premed makes your grades better than most people so im thinking some distinguished awards like: like Goldbright or something? What are some others?

Audition for a reality show. Or maybe American Idol.

 

[bwells46]

How to make your application stand out?

Here's what I've done to try to stand out:

I started a software and web hosting company during undergrad, went to grad school to earn master's degrees in public health and business, published research on chronic kidney disease and health economics, and now I'm applying to medical school.

My advice - get your application in EARLY! I applied last year around December because I was waiting on a LOR and didn't get in because of this. This year, I've already submitted my AMCAS (June 28) and am waiting for it to be verified.

Just find a variety of things you like to do and do an exceptional job at them. You'll get noticed by someone.

 

[stifler]

aw come on something serious you guys.

yea i want to be on real world but i dont think i look good enough.

yea i am trying to study abroad both to have a great time and to prevent pchem from killing my gpa.

what have you guys done that is remotely different? no one is completely different in this process, but what did you guys do that is...perhaps you had this really prestigious internship. maybe you wanna shed some light on that.

im a regular joe with regular grades for premed. i just want to put a twist on everything i do and perhaps brighten up my life a bit.

 

[Law2Doc]

yea i want to be on real world but i dont think i look good enough.

Try out for next season's Beauty and the Geek -- a Penn med student won this year. Or put on a quick 100lbs and get onto The Biggest Loser. Reality TV isn't just for beautiful people anymore. 🙄

 

[stifler]

Try out for next season's Beauty and the Geek -- a Penn med student won this year. Or put on a quick 100lbs and get onto The Biggest Loser. Reality TV isn't just for beautiful people anymore. 🙄

haha im not exactly ugly. i just dont think im mr stud for real world. i wouldn't qualify for beauty and the geek... remember im very typical... but thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Lindyhopper]

A lot depends on your time frame. If you want to go the medical school at age 22, it is, inherently, more difficult to have outstanding stuff on your app. But, of course, you do not necessarily have to be truly outstanding to get in. Lots of people get in with the "run of the mill" high acheivement background you describe.
If you are willing to take a little longer paramedic training & practice is great. But that experience would take a true commitment & is probably not worth it to only improve your app.
Shorter term I think some kind of overseas experience could broaden ones horizon & impress.

 

[secretasianman]

you need to believe in yourself, and then you can do anything


this message has been approved by Howard Dean.

gotta love the dean scream.

HEEEYEAAHHHHHH!!

anyways here's one example for u sir. i avoided mundane candystriping or hospital work and instead did some respite care for alzheimer's ppls.

 

[xanadont]

How to make your application stand out?

I just realized that I'm going to be a run of the mill premed. 3.5 GPA prob ~31 MCAT (if i am lucky or what not lets say 30 to be safe), prestigious college, biochem major, research experience, shadowing experience, leadership in community service club, plays a club sport.

Basically how can I and most people stand out? Being a premed makes your grades better than most people so im thinking some distinguished awards like: like Goldbright or something? What are some others?

Also NIH internships seem pretty bland too. I mean I can get all sorts of research positions because of family and friends. Isn't there something else I can do?

Yea people say do what you want, but you cant really do that and be competitive. At least I cant.

What jobs will be out of the ordinary and beneficial. So yea what have you done that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack or most premeds?

Started an NGO? Rotary scholar? etc... name them and it'll give me ideas for something to strive for since most people here on this forum are very ambitious very diverse group of people. [please dont criticize me for not having goals. i have goals. i just want something some ideas on what else i can do that i might be interested in that woudl also help me for med school. perhaps something that takes me out of the country like working for amnesty international etc]. just name some different jobs youve undertaken and perhaps some advice on how i can attain it. and if you found it helpful and rewarding and why.

thanks for your advice.

It will be difficult for you to stand out if you don't have a sincere interest in anything. To really do something that makes you stick out, you need to have a true, vested interest and passion; the accolades (ie the Fulbright, Goldwater, Rhodes, Marshall, Soros, etc…) will all come later. My advice is to throw yourself into whatever it is that thrills you; if you like music then go play at Tanglewood, if you play a club sport and you're into community service then go start some instructional youth league for underserved kids, if you like finance then take a year off and go work for JP Morgan, etc ... The idea is to find what you love and do as much as you can with it. If your only motivation is to beef up an application, chances are you won't demonstrate enough passion and involvement to garner the big awards that will make you stand out. Also, unless you're aiming for the top medical schools, you won't need to be a Truman Scholar or a USA Academic All-American. And if you are aiming for a top school, you would need to raise your GPA and inflate that projected MCAT score by several points in any case; big awards won't hide a low GPA/MCAT. (I am going to pre-empt the imminent flame-retort by defining “low” as beLOW avg. for aforementioned top schools). Otherwise, I would tell you not to stress out because your "run-of-the-mill" application will probably get you into a run-of-the-mill med. school.

 

[g3pro]

Try getting a low GPA or low MCAT.


Remember, standing out is not the best thing to do in all cases...

 

[Law2Doc]

Try getting a low GPA or low MCAT.

I think he was asking how to stand out in the application process, not how to ensure standing out on the street... Plus the low GPA/low MCAT thing has been done to death -- it no longer excites the adcoms the way it used to back in the day.

 

[stifler]

truthfully, i dont intend on attending medical school when im 22. there is no way i can do it. i need a break. i would love to work for a financial firm (not jp morgan <they are screwd!) but i cant cuz my scholarship wont cover me then.

i just want to do "premed" stuff but something not so bland. like i dont mind research if im researching the effect of different breast sizes on males during conversation. or like volunteering: shopping for hot supermodels, or shadowing a ob/gyn at beverly hills. haha.

i just feel like ive been doing too many boring things in life. i just need to spice it up. not that most ppl i know do anything exciting, but sometimes i go through md applicants links while browsing this site and i see sometihng interesting like intern at the WHO in geneva, which will be something i will be pursuing in the future. i was just wondering you any of you guys have also done something interesting and different. hopefully i can try to do it too if i find it interesting too.

 

[Indryd]

"Everyone saids it but who does it?"

Use that as the title for your personal statement. No one will forget you.

You could have went the easy route and done a humanities degree alongside your 1337 Biochem degree. Of course, studying a broad range of things is boring and actually makes you ******ed.

At least you have the great MCAT to explain to the adcoms that your low GPA was obviously because you were in such a demanding program. Look how much you learned!

"(not jp morgan <they are screwd!)"

That's funny, I was just thinking, this kid is too good for a place like JP Morgan, and then you said that before I could really articulate how I was feeling...JINKS!

 

[MoosePilot]

i almost went to the usafa. i think its a good thing i didnt. at least my friends there tell me it is that i decided to back out. that would have definately been different.

see thing is that its not like i hate being on this "premed" track. i just want to make it more interesting. like instead of research on cells i cant see, i do search on hot chicks and their orgasm patterns or something.

or like i scrub in for breast augmentations. haha

just premed stuff with a twist or a hint of prestige.

If you want to "stand out", but you want to do it in the same four years everyone else has... do you see the problem there? If you've got a large group of motivated people, you give them the same goal and much of the same information, then they're going to do the same things. So if we all knew some really cool activities that could be accomplished during a traditional undergrad, don't you think as many of us as possible would have done them? So how would they make you stand out?

You have to either do things long term, because few take the time for that, or you have to do things of such quality that few people have the capability or initiative to do that. Since you're ruling out long term, then it looks like you're going to have to come up with something cool and original. Clearly you can't be told how to do that, or it would be something many of the folks on here had done.

 

[dajimmers]

You could start performing surgery in back alleys or something. Maybe free abortions or something like that. I'm sure the adcoms would be thrilled to see someone who's so interested in medicine that they practice before they even know what they're doing, and that they are willing to do it for free. Or at least for a spare kidney.

 

[stifler]

"Everyone saids it but who does it?"

Use that as the title for your personal statement. No one will forget you.

You could have went the easy route and done a humanities degree alongside your 1337 Biochem degree. Of course, studying a broad range of things is boring and actually makes you ******ed.

At least you have the great MCAT to explain to the adcoms that your low GPA was obviously because you were in such a demanding program. Look how much you learned!

"(not jp morgan <they are screwd!)"

That's funny, I was just thinking, this kid is too good for a place like JP Morgan, and then you said that before I could really articulate how I was feeling...JINKS!

obviously someone cant take a joke about jp morgan. you do know their financial status right? or maybe your head is so up your ass that you having sniffed fresh air in over a year.

i dont get why you are ripping about my gpa. i still got a few years to increase it or decrease it. no one else has criticized my gpa except you. if you dont have a 4.0 then you shouldnt be saying anything. why dont you take your unneeded comments out of MY POST and perhaps take your head out of your ass too, its a strain for your neck.

 

[stifler]

If you want to "stand out", but you want to do it in the same four years everyone else has... do you see the problem there? If you've got a large group of motivated people, you give them the same goal and much of the same information, then they're going to do the same things. So if we all knew some really cool activities that could be accomplished during a traditional undergrad, don't you think as many of us as possible would have done them? So how would they make you stand out?

You have to either do things long term, because few take the time for that, or you have to do things of such quality that few people have the capability or initiative to do that. Since you're ruling out long term, then it looks like you're going to have to come up with something cool and original. Clearly you can't be told how to do that, or it would be something many of the folks on here had done.

well i got awhile to do it. just a rising sophomore and also i dont plan on applying after college, prob taking a year or two off. better start this cool interesting thing now than later.

 

[virilep]

How to make your application stand out?

I just realized that I'm going to be a run of the mill premed. 3.5 GPA prob ~31 MCAT (if i am lucky or what not lets say 30 to be safe), prestigious college, biochem major, research experience, shadowing experience, leadership in community service club, plays a club sport.

Basically how can I and most people stand out? Being a premed makes your grades better than most people so im thinking some distinguished awards like: like Goldbright or something? What are some others?

Also NIH internships seem pretty bland too. I mean I can get all sorts of research positions because of family and friends. Isn't there something else I can do?

Yea people say do what you want, but you cant really do that and be competitive. At least I cant.

What jobs will be out of the ordinary and beneficial. So yea what have you done that makes you stand out from the rest of the pack or most premeds?

Started an NGO? Rotary scholar? etc... name them and it'll give me ideas for something to strive for since most people here on this forum are very ambitious very diverse group of people. [please dont criticize me for not having goals. i have goals. i just want something some ideas on what else i can do that i might be interested in that woudl also help me for med school. perhaps something that takes me out of the country like working for amnesty international etc]. just name some different jobs youve undertaken and perhaps some advice on how i can attain it. and if you found it helpful and rewarding and why.

thanks for your advice.

I don't think that there's anything we can tell you to do now that will severly make you stand out. I'm all about excelling in what you're already doing. if you've been in a club for a couple years, run for an office. presidencies of VPs are nice senior year. you could go work in a third world country for a month and maybe that'll open up a lot of insight for ya. I'm always interested in uniqueness and excelling. I know you might say there are a lot of presidents applying but did they really do anything or were they just a figurehead. so when you get to that position, take an active role and make something of the club.

 

[roboyce]

You simply can't go out and find things that will make you seem unique. The fact that you are looking for something that doesn't involve a tremendous amount of time invested (2-3 years) means that the activity is just as easily accessible to thousands of other applicants. Therefore, by participating in that activity, you are just joining he ranks of many other pre-meds. For example, shadowing a doctor, doing weekend volunteer work, working in a lab for year...join the club. If you look at the people that have done amazing things, they dedicated themselves to a cause they were passionate about, whether it be business, service, academics, or in my case the military...I never thought about being unique, the circumstances just happened to take me down that road. I think others would probably agree.

 

[Revolution]

...or like i scrub in for breast augmentations. haha.

I've scrubbed in on breast augmentation and reduction surgeries before. Don't get so excited, it's a medical procedure, and not even remotely hot to be involved in (however nice the results may be.)

With that said, I think the best way to stand out is to never let yourself sit around. Work, volunteer, take classes. Seek out leadership roles, especially in a working environment, because it shows you are responsible. Adcoms are looking for strong leaders and you don't become that way simply by waiting around. You have to push yourself to the very edge of your comfort level and always be striving to do more. If you can show that determination on your application, you'll do fine.

 

[Highclimber]

Circumnavigate the globe in a lawn chair tied to weather balloons...

 

[QofQuimica]

Take 8 years and do another career. I think that helps me stand out. That and my ****ty GPA

I have to agree with good ol' Moose here. 😛 😉 I've done some interesting and unusual things for a pre-med too, but I'm ten years older than those of you applying straight from college, and that's a lot of extra time to do unusual things. As an undergrad applicant, I don't think I particularly stood out in any way, other than not having any grades or GPA.

My advice to you, OP, would be to stop thinking about what will make you stand out to other people, and focus instead on just being an involved, dedicated, and fun person yourself. There has to be some kind of hobby or cause that you believe in strongly and would enjoy devoting your time and energy to pursuing. Doing that will naturally make you more interesting to others, both the kind on admissions committees and the kind that are hot chicks. 😉

 

[jon stewart]

go live in another country for a bit,

 

[sunnyjohn]

If you want to "stand out", but you want to do it in the same four years everyone else has... do you see the problem there? If you've got a large group of motivated people, you give them the same goal and much of the same information, then they're going to do the same things. So if we all knew some really cool activities that could be accomplished during a traditional undergrad, don't you think as many of us as possible would have done them? So how would they make you stand out?

You have to either do things long term, because few take the time for that, or you have to do things of such quality that few people have the capability or initiative to do that. Since you're ruling out long term, then it looks like you're going to have to come up with something cool and original. Clearly you can't be told how to do that, or it would be something many of the folks on here had done.

👍

 

[YFR]

Just do what you want and you'll find your path.

Why try to sell your soul to the admissions committees? It's just not worth it, and you'd be shortchanging yourself.

 

[wetlightning]

Just do what you want and you'll find your path.

Why try to sell your soul to the admissions committees? It's just not worth it, and you'd be shortchanging yourself.

GOOD CALL. could not have said it better.

 

[ablumoon]

yeah dudes, i totally agree. im an english/creative writing and biology double major, but i decided to write for the school paper even though im not affiliated with the journalism school at all. it's been tons of fun and i've learned a lot, so much so that i wrote about it on my personal statement. also i am trying to brace myself not to take things too personally in this whole process, i really just want a school that really wants me. (and i guess that's the bottom line of it all, no?). do what you love! even if you dont know what you love, do something new, fun exciting. i think that's the best advice anyone can tell you. who knows? you may find a passion for something or other. (i sure did). 🙂

 

[ggt187]

become an accomplished musician and record a cd with a major symphony orchestra

 

[Llenroc]

You need to be tall, very tall. Get some growth hormones, and/or stilts.

 

[DrDarwin]

I just posted this in the Best Medical School thread, but it seems to be relevant here as well.

I would caution you all to remember to fulfill the necessities even as you strive to distingiush yourself. I applied last year with 36/3.98, strong LORs (I received feedback saying as much, so I can write this without sounding boastful), a publication, leadership positions, fairly extensive research experiences and conferences, lots of activities--Upward Bound, tutoring, IM sports, etc.--, and a Fulbright grant as well as the traveling experience that came with it. My clinical experience, however, was limited to a week of shadowing while I was in Norway doing my Fulbright. I tried to shake the perception that I was too "sciency" in my PS by describing how my Fulbright experience allowed me to determine that an MD would allow for a much more fulfilling career than a PhD. While I did receive interviews at most of my top choices, I was always asked a version of the question "Why medicine?" during my interviews. At HMS, my interviewer actually said, "So, if the admissions committee asks me to convince them that you have sufficient clinical experience to know what you're getting into, what would you tell me that would allow me to do so?" Despite having very good and conversational interviews, I therefore have a nagging feeling that most schools thought I was a strong and interesting applicant but were unsure about my affinity for medicine, as I had done nothing to demonstrate a sustained commitment to the field. The sincerity of the sentiments expressed in my PS and interviews were likely--and justifiably--called into question when I returned to the States--from my Fulbight research experience--and took a job in a genetics lab . As the tried and true addage goes, "Actions speak louder than words." In truth, I probably should have worked in a hospital setting to gain additional clinical experience, but I could only find phlebotomy positions upon returning, and I would have rather slit my wrists than take one of those. It doesn't matter now because I am going to one of my top choices, but I just want to remind you all to continue to do the essentials. The value of all of the 'extras' in your application will be greatly diminished if you don't. Good luck!

 

[wendywellesley]

or like i scrub in for breast augmentations. haha

funny you should mention that as being "unique". i saw my first surgery this week, penile implantation. it was awsome.

 

[LizzyM]

see thing is that its not like i hate being on this "premed" track. i just want to make it more interesting. like instead of research on cells i cant see, i do research on hot chicks and their orgasm patterns or something...

University of Washington Seattle is doing some functional MRI work that might interest you. See

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/female.html?pg=2&topic=female&topic_set=

 

[anystream]

You need to be tall, very tall. Get some growth hormones, and/or stilts.

what about printing my secondaries on pink paper, like reese witherspoon in legally blonde

 

[stifler]

You need to be tall, very tall. Get some growth hormones, and/or stilts.

i am very tall lol. well much taller than average but not bball center tall, like nba guard tall.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I can speak Klingon.

Kaaahhhrrr-daahhk! toH, tlhIngan Hol DajatlhlaH 'e' DaneH'a'?

learn to speak klingon to be unique!

 

[dajimmers]

I can speak Klingon.[/URL]

You know, I heard awhile back about a psychiatric institute looking for psychiatrists, social workers, etc. that could speak Klingon. Something about patients that refused to/couldn't speak any other language. Don't know if its true, but maybe it actually could help...

 

[63768]

you could become published like me. not many undergrads can say they have a research paper. in the next year, i'll have at least 2 or 3 submitted papers to commonly read journals.

 

[DrDarwin]

you could become published like me. not many undergrads can say they have a research paper. in the next year, i'll have at least 2 or 3 submitted papers to commonly read journals.

True, not many undergrads, but many med school applicants can.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

you could become published like me. not many undergrads can say they have a research paper. in the next year, i'll have at least 2 or 3 submitted papers to commonly read journals.

oh, that's cool... but can you do this? 😛 *sticks out tongue and licks tip of nose*

if that fails then i will simply shave off the tip of my finger and present my fingerprint as a testament to my unique-ness

 

[johno83]

If not having won a major fellowship is freaking you out, one thing to remember is how few people who win these big awards are going to medical school. There are 75 Truman Scholars each year, but only around 8 are pre-med. Goldwater scholarships are typically for people who want PhD's, not MDs. It would help with MD/PHD programs, but for just MD people would likely doubt your sincerity. It goes the same pretty much with all the other major awards so don't freak out if you don't have one because I doubt AdComms really care about these that much anyways.

 

[Law2Doc]

You know, I heard awhile back about a psychiatric institute looking for psychiatrists, social workers, etc. that could speak Klingon. Something about patients that refused to/couldn't speak any other language. Don't know if its true, but maybe it actually could help...

I'm willing to bet that for every school that finds "speaking Klingon" an asset, there are ten others that will consider you an uber-geek and steer away from your app like the plague. It's one thing to watch certain shows or movies but far different to actually start learning made up languages and studying imaginary ship blue prints/skematics. But then again, if you happen to find the one school with a trekkie on admissions, you are golden. 🙄

 

[DrBowtie]

If not having won a major fellowship is freaking you out, one thing to remember is how few people who win these big awards are going to medical school. There are 75 Truman Scholars each year, but only around 8 are pre-med. Goldwater scholarships are typically for people who want PhD's, not MDs. It would help with MD/PHD programs, but for just MD people would likely doubt your sincerity. It goes the same pretty much with all the other major awards so don't freak out if you don't have one because I doubt AdComms really care about these that much anyways.

I read up on the Truman and you have to want to get a MPH or other public policy degree as well as the MD. There aren't many of these fellowships for straight MD's.

 

[45408]

If you have to ask.....😀