If I only knew that (insert time) ago

[HEROWANTABE]

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I will begin U of R med school in August. I have a strong interest in Dermatology (among others) but I must admit I find the competitive nature of this specialty intimidating because I really don't know what med school is all about yet.

Do you have advice for me? What do you wish you knew back when you where in my position. Please share.

Thank you

 

[dermie09]

Don't mean to be curt but this question has been asked several times. Do a search. Short answer: do very well in med school - keeps ur options open. If interested in derm try to meet faculty early and start a project.

 

[phospho]

dude, how can a freakin' premed know that they want dermatology? i'd worry about finishing med school first...😕

 

[bananamed]

dude, how can a freakin' premed know that they want dermatology? i'd worry about finishing med school first...😕

They don't. They're attracted by the lifestyle/$.

 

[sensitive skin]

Don't solely focus on honors, AOA, research. These are a given, a requirement. These will not separate you from the bunch, except in cases of a deficiency.

Worry about everything else you need to do to stand out. 👍

 

[Substance]

dude, how can a freakin' premed know that they want dermatology? i'd worry about finishing med school first...😕

Though this particular sub-forum annoys me since it is comprised of mostly neurotic medical students who are constantly seeking some sort of validation, there is one thing about this forum that annoys me more:

Sanctimonious pre-meds that criticize other people who desire to pursue well-remunerated fields.

I`d say that knowing that derm is a hot field with a great lifestyle -to- work ratio is an advantage for a pre-med. Should these factors be important to him, he can tailor his medical school experience to help him pursue these goals if he gets into medical school.

You are the one who should probably worry about getting into medical school first.

 

[HEROWANTABE]

dude, how can a freakin' premed know that they want dermatology? i'd worry about finishing med school first...😕

You should worry about reading comprehension first. I said strong interest (among others)... I hardly know... Read this to yourself with the most positive tone.

 

[Long Dong]

With most things in life who you know is more important then what you know.

My example: before end of second year of med school I took the CBSE and it said my step 1 would have been 245. Being the neurotic med student that I was I didn't think this was good enough so I spent 10 weeks, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week trying to improve that score with focused boards studying (was out of school at that time before begining of 3rd year). Was only able to squeeze out another 14 points on the real thing. I should've spent that time doing research/publishing and making connections, probably would've gotten more interviews. Moral of the story step 1>240 is good enough, after that research and connections plays a bigger part IMHO.

 

[HEROWANTABE]

Don't mean to be curt but this question has been asked several times. Do a search. Short answer: do very well in med school - keeps ur options open. If interested in derm try to meet faculty early and start a project.

Us neurotic types have already done that... I guess I was looking for the less obvious answers. Perhaps there are none to be had...

 

[HEROWANTABE]

They don't. They're attracted by the lifestyle/$.

To assume that I am interested in Derm soley for the money and lifestyle is an insult to the profession.

 

[HEROWANTABE]

With most things in life who you know is more important then what you know.

My example: before end of second year of med school I took the CBSE and it said my step 1 would have been 245. Being the neurotic med student that I was I didn't think this was good enough so I spent 10 weeks, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week trying to improve that score with focused boards studying (was out of school at that time before begining of 3rd year). Was only able to squeeze out another 14 points on the real thing. I should've spent that time doing research/publishing and making connections, probably would've gotten more interviews. Moral of the story step 1>240 is good enough, after that research and connections plays a bigger part IMHO.

This is exactly the kind of insight I was looking for...

Much appreciated.

 

[phospho]

Though this particular sub-forum annoys me since it is comprised of mostly neurotic medical students who are constantly seeking some sort of validation, there is one thing about this forum that annoys me more:

Sanctimonious pre-meds that criticize other people who desire to pursue well-remunerated fields.

I`d say that knowing that derm is a hot field with a great lifestyle -to- work ratio is an advantage for a pre-med. Should these factors be important to him, he can tailor his medical school experience to help him pursue these goals if he gets into medical school.

You are the one who should probably worry about getting into medical school first.

please tell me you're kidding...

as a premed, there is no possible way s/he can know what dermatology is... i don't care if you've shadowed someone, or if your parents are both derms... there is just no way you can be educated enough to even remotely know what specialty you want...

You are the one who should probably worry about getting into medical school first.

I've gotten into 4 medical schools😉

 

[phospho]

To assume that I am interested in Derm soley for the money and lifestyle is an insult to the profession.

to suggest you know ANYTHING about what it's like to be a dermatologist when you're still a premed is an insult to the profession...

 

[bananamed]

please tell me you're kidding...

as a premed, there is no possible way s/he can know what dermatology is... i don't care if you've shadowed someone, or if your parents are both derms... there is just no way you can be educated enough to even remotely know what specialty you want...

to suggest you know ANYTHING about what it's like to be a dermatologist when you're still a premed is an insult to the profession...

Someone please sticky this. That way, we can ward off the tons of pre-meds every year who claim to love dermatology and then recoil in shock/horror as others accuse of them chasing $/lifestyle.

👍

 

[dermathalon]

/

 

[InertQuail]

Bananamed is a wizened sage. He/she/it knows all the many facets of derm and all the motivations each person has for pursuing a career in said field. Herowantabe, it's really best you listen to Bananamed. He/she/it knows you better than you know yourself.

 

[oracle07]

Not everyone does it for the money. For some people it's a VERY nice incentive/bonus for doing a job they actually enjoy. To say there aren't people in this field who are truly committed and passionate about dermatology is insulting. The people who say that everyone's in it for the money are often in it for the money themselves.

Many of my colleagues I know are in it for other reasons...

 

[brightoats]

Seriously, guys, I've seen med students making less informed decisions to pursue derm. Just because somebody is not yet in med school doesn't mean they can't have as much of an idea as some med student who just sat through two years of science classes! Hell, some people don't even do a derm rotation until fourth year after starting apps

 

[sensitive skin]

With most things in life who you know is more important then what you know.

I must repeat this. None of my interviews were a surprise. Derm is a small world, and a good word from colleague to colleague is very powerful.

Make sure you have a long-lasting, productive, valuable relationship with a chair or PD. If you can, become a good colleague (emphasis on colleague, not BFF or sig. other) to a first-year resident or intern going into derm.

 

[Chemiosmotic]

I think we all need to take a step back - perhaps have a few deep breaths - because this conversation/thread has gotten out of hand.

I don't often post on this board, but I do check it from time to time. The purpose of this, and every, message board is to allow for the free flow of thought/information in the only direction that matters; from those who "have" to those who "desire to have". The OP of this thread used the forum for it's exact purpose and does not deserve to be the target of ridicule.

The pre-med student who started this thread stated an interest (among other fields) in dermatology. It's perfectly natural to have such an interest when starting out. I dare say that 90% or more students in premed have some idea of the field they would like to eventually practice. The beauty of medical school is that you get exposure to multiple fields in order to make a decision. I imagine that when some of the posters above actually enter medical school that they will realize that they both knew more than they thought, and less than they could have ever imagined.

In addition, the idea that many posters consistantly berate others who ask dermatology questions with the "you're only doing it for money and lifestyle" is fairly laughable. In fact, there are probably a lot of lay-people who said the same thing when you entered the field of medicine in general. How sad is it these people feel that only they have the ivory tower perfect reason for entering the most "sacred of fields". It's even more alarming that they feel the need to constantly post these venomous remarks about strangers on a message board in order elevate themselves to a level of perceived actualization. To me, this behavior sounds much more like an act of projection or a reaction formation than anything else.

(No doubt someone will say - "that Chemiosmotic is only doing it for the money and lifestyle" now)

So to wrap this up, in the hopes of having a more humane message board, I would like to thank all of the posters (long dong I'm looking in your direction in particular) that have consistently risen above the fray and have provided countless pieces of advice and support.