I had no clue what I was doing before SDN

[tabascosauce]

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I wasn't sure if it would be considered spam or not.

Also, can't have too many people knowing about her, got to reduce the competition. Just like how I hide SDN from other pre-meds.

come on bra. competition is high but not that high. lets show the world its not hard to be nice. youll make a better doctor and person that way. we can change things forever!

anyways shes coo. it must be a sin for her to look dat good.

 

[gettheleadout]

Why did you delete your earlier post?

Also, I don't think that this sight is completely full of ignorance, but I have talked to adcomms who hate this sight because it is basically a bunch of premeds telling other premeds what adcomms think (yes, I know of and have nothing but adoration for LizzyM and catalystik; I'm referring to the thousands of other members).

I'm sorry, but this thread really turned into a bunch of people talking about how they keep SDN as some sort of secret to leave others in the dust and give you an advantage. You yourself confirmed this in your earlier post...which you deleted. This annoys me, especially because I could start a thread right now about how annoying "gunners" (people who are so competitive that they intentionally screw other people over to fail) are, and everyone in this thread would probably agree.

I deleted my earlier post because I felt it inaccurately conveyed what I was trying to say.

What I did say in that post was that I don't want to be the reason all the students in my school are on here and any anonymity I have is compromised. No one is hiding SDN to try and sabotage others (I don't even know how that would work) but no one is obligated to tell people about all of their resources. And seriously, if you Google "medical school application" MDApps is the 5th result, and from there SDN is linked on every page. It's not hard to find, therefore its reasonable, IMO, to let people find it on their own. If you want to continue to assert that I conceal my use of SDN out of malice in order to "leave others in the dust and give myself an advantage" I can't really persuade you any better than I have attempted to here. I want a level of privacy and anonymity on SDN is part of it.

I have no doubt some adcoms dislike SDN, but I would contend they have a skewed perspective of the user populace on here. Many SDNers are well-informed, whether they're on adcoms or they've simply experienced the application process and can give a few tips on how to make it go more smoothly and be less stressful.

I can easily see someone getting on the site, seeing a couple stupid threads like there are always are littering the front page of Pre-Allo, and making a rash judgment off the bat. How some people feel about SDN doesn't change what it is, and if they choose not to be a part of the learning community established here, they have every right to do so.

 

[Donald Juan]

^ Honestly I think you are misinterpreting a lot of the posts. It seems more like sarcasm then anything else. Most of us don't intentionally hide SDN to mess up our fellow pre-meds. I might joke online and say that I am hiding this website. However SDN is very easy to find and if someone is motivated enough to do even some basic research about medical school admissions they'll probably find this site. There's no need for me to announce it to everyone.

Ok....

I feel like I have an advantage compared to other pre-meds at my school, mainly because of this site. I don't begin undergrad till August, but I'm really glad I've found this site and will be able to use it all four years to help guide me. I asked a few pre-med people who I also know (via Facebook) what they're doing next year and they've said stuff ranging from "medical schools only care about GPA, not volunteering, so I think I'm just gonna study" to "I think I'll party and figure it all out when I'm a Junior." I feel like SDN is my dirty little secret 🙂

I wholeheartedly agree. I feel bad for the pre-meds at my school missing out on the prime information SDN has to offer, but the less competition the better 😉

Same here, part of me feels bad when I hear fellow pre-med acquaintances talk about what their plans are and such because they are SO often backward of what they should be doing, but another part of me knows it'll work to my advantage in the end...

I always feel SO guilty when I talk to other pre-meds and dont tell them about SDN. Of course I've told all my friend pre-meds about it, but the other random ones from classes I get a twinge of competativeness with and tend not to mention it...

Not mee.....The premeds that attend church with me are my good friends, but I do not give 2 hoots and a holler about them to give them that kind of information. They just could not handle it.

I feel similarly. It's really quite selfish. I'm planning on getting an surgery volunteer position at a local hospital, and I don't want to tell any of my soon-to-be friends. The applications are due by August 4 and school starts August 17, so I doubt anybody else will know about it. I only found it by chance, so I'm hoping they're not planning ahead as much as I am. (I wouldn't have if it weren't for SDN).

I guess everyone here is being sarcastic.

No, I don't tell everyone about SDN, but I also don't feel like SDN is a big advantage like everyone else in this thread feels (seriously, I could quote almost the entire thread). I do tell every single lower classmen that I tutor who is a premed student the realities of getting into medical school...for some of them it is harsh truth, for others it is hopefulness for the future. I definitely don't try to keep secrets from them to decrease the competition.

I know that most of the constant contributors here will become doctors someday. That is what makes me sad. I could really care less about a bunch of idiots on a message board, but when they are my future colleagues, it is a little disheartening.

 

[gettheleadout]

No, I don't tell everyone about SDN, but I also don't feel like SDN is a big advantage like everyone else in this thread feels (seriously, I could quote almost the entire thread). I do tell every single lower classmen that I tutor who is a premed student the realities of getting into medical school...for some of them it is harsh truth, for others it is hopefulness for the future. I definitely don't try to keep secrets from them to decrease the competition.

I know that most of the constant contributors here will become doctors someday. That is what makes me sad. I could really care less about a bunch of idiots on a message board, but when they are my future colleagues, it is a little disheartening.

Just so we're clear, I agreed in my previous post that SDN is not some magic advantage: "SDN itself will not make you a better student, applicant, or doctor, but it can help you take advantage of the potential you have by enlightening you to others' experiences and success/failures."

and I also pass on any knowledge I have to other premeds and younger students I know as well, without any attempt or intent at misleading: "I will and do gladly pass on knowledge I find valuable from SDN to my premed friends"

I agree that keeping secrets with the intent of decreasing the competition is a bit malicious, but that's not the motivation here, at least not for me.

I wouldn't doubt all your future colleagues just yet. Posts on SDN don't necessarily reflect one's character, and although yes, there are gunners out there who cut others down to succeed, and probably a handful such people on SDN, I truly think this thread doesn't have the malicious air to it that you're getting.

EDIT: Okay, so some of those posts you quoted really do have the intent of hiding SDN to gain a personal advantage. I still don't want you to get the impression from me that I'm trying to justify that, or that it's my line of reasoning for my actions.

 

[Narmerguy]

Let's not get too out of control here. At the end of the day, this is still a competition and every one of us is in competition with the other. I'm happy with the spirit of helpfulness (mostly) that exists on SDN and that we haven't yet devolved into some premed version of college confidential but is it really that surprising or criminal that some people keep their information to themself?

In many ways, part of the beauty of SDN is that it is populated by people who, for whatever reason, put in the time and research to find it out, even if they weren't looking for it directly. Filling the forum with every premed under the sun is not only unnecessary, but brings down the quality of the forum in general. This is why you see two main groups on SDN: the neurotic ones with super high stats and research and etc, but also the ones that are struggling and just want that one acceptance and are doing everything they can to right the ship. In both cases, we're filled with individuals who are trying hard and doing lots of research.

That's what makes SDN worthwhile. When we stop getting those kinds of members but instead just become a random stop for every premed to check off their list, we cripple ourselves. Even if we ignore the competitive aspect (I've actually always encouraged my friends to look at this website), there are many benefits to keep the population of SDN to those who actively research and stumble upon it...so long as the atmosphere within the forum remains one of support, honesty, and camaraderie.

 

[gettheleadout]

Let's not get too out of control here. At the end of the day, this is still a competition and every one of us is in competition with the other. I'm happy with the spirit of helpfulness (mostly) that exists on SDN and that we haven't yet devolved into some premed version of college confidential but is it really that surprising or criminal that some people keep their information to themself?

In many ways, part of the beauty of SDN is that it is populated by people who, for whatever reason, put in the time and research to find it out, even if they weren't looking for it directly. Filling the forum with every premed under the sun is not only unnecessary, but brings down the quality of the forum in general. This is why you see two main groups on SDN: the neurotic ones with super high stats and research and etc, but also the ones that are struggling and just want that one acceptance and are doing everything they can to right the ship. In both cases, we're filled with individuals who are trying hard and doing lots of research.

That's what makes SDN worthwhile. When we stop getting those kinds of members but instead just become a random stop for every premed to check off their list, we cripple ourselves. Even if we ignore the competitive aspect (I've actually always encouraged my friends to look at this website), there are many benefits to keep the population of SDN to those who actively research and stumble upon it...so long as the atmosphere within the forum remains one of support, honesty, and camaraderie.

👍 x 100

Thank you, you articulated that better I could have. (as you always seem to do, Narmer 🙂)

 

[tabascosauce]

come on bra. competition is high but not that high. lets show the world its not hard to be nice.

👍 x 100

Thank you, you articulated that better I could have. (as you always seem to do, Narmer 🙂)

what bout what i said.....

 

[zeppelinpage4]

come on bra. competition is high but not that high. lets show the world its not hard to be nice. youll make a better doctor and person that way. we can change things forever!

anyways shes coo. it must be a sin for her to look dat good.

I shall agree with you on that, the Star Trek gif has convinced me. 👍 😀

And I agree with the others Narmerguy said it fantastically. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/member.php?u=158818

 

[13132]

I feel like really smart and accomplished applicants don't feel neurotic as much or seek out places like SDN. Two of my friends (4.0 and 40, 3.95 and 37) both had never even heard of SDN.