If they say undergrad doesn't matter that much, then why

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Protagonistic

Protagonistic

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Is it that whenever you view admissions for top med schools, MOST OF their students almost always come from Ivy League schools and other top notch schools and such?

Like I heard on one thread that out of the 120 Columbia med students, 96 or so came from other Ivies.

So on one hand you are telling me that your undergrad doesn't matter for the top med schools (or well, doesn't matter that much), but on the other hand the statistics are clearly showing that it means basically everything. Is the medical field just as obsessed with name brand as the business and law field?
 
Protagonistic said:
So on one hand you are telling me that your undergrad doesn't matter for the top med schools (or well, doesn't matter that much), but on the other hand the statistics are clearly showing that it means basically everything. Is the medical field just as obsessed with name brand as the business and law field?
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There is so much wrong with this 'logic.' You've got to be trolling at this point...

Just because ivy graduates have a high acceptance rate to top medical schools doesn't mean that it's the name on their diploma that got them in -- to be accepted to any ivy in the first place requires a high degree of achievement in high school, and it's likely that these people will perform highly in college as well.

Sorry, but shouldn't you be worried about finding a place to live next year instead of crap like this?
 
Well, as you state, the statistics at top med schools speak for themselves. But going to a top school can only help you so much. Don't expect to get into Columbia P&S if you only managed a 3.2 at Harvard. I think in general, the kinds of people that get accepted to top colleges are also more likely to do better on the mcat and have more impressive resumes for med school. As a result, they tend to fare well in med school admissions. But going to a top school can only really help you if you do well while you are there.
 
Why don't you define "matter?"

In terms of building a resume that will impress pretentious academics and ignorant laymen? Yeah, where you go to undergrad, medical school, and residency matters.

In terms of how good of a physician you'll be? How many people you'll help? How many lives you'll save? How much money you'll make? How happy you'll be? Nope. That's on you.
 
CityLights said:
Just because ivy graduates have a high acceptance rate to top medical schools doesn't mean that it's the name on their diploma that got them in -- to be accepted to any ivy in the first place requires a high degree of achievement in high school, and it's likely that these people will perform highly in college as well.
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Agree...getting into an ivy undergrad usually involves a high degree of academic success in high school as well as being involved in tons of activities and being a very well-rounded, interesting, and unique person who is going to go out and have an impact on the world...i.e. many of the same characteristics that medical schools are seeking

This is like your millionth thread regarding undergrad prestige. I felt sorry for you after I read the last two threads you started, but this is getting ridiculous. Focus on being successful in your undergrad and you will get into medical school no matter what undergrad you are at. Ever heard the saying "Heaven helps those who help themselves" ? Log off SDN, get over your debilitating insecurities about your undergrad institution and start studying so you can actually perform well in undergrad and get into med school.
 
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Haven't you ever taken an ugrad stats class, OP? correlation is not causation, etc. etc.
 
Protagonistic said:
Is it that whenever you view admissions for top med schools, MOST OF their students almost always come from Ivy League schools and other top notch schools and such?

Like I heard on one thread that out of the 120 Columbia med students, 96 or so came from other Ivies.

So on one hand you are telling me that your undergrad doesn't matter for the top med schools (or well, doesn't matter that much), but on the other hand the statistics are clearly showing that it means basically everything. Is the medical field just as obsessed with name brand as the business and law field?
Click to expand...
You've started the exact same thread too many times for this not to be in violation of the terms of use.

I'm going to answer your question now, I understand that you're just insecure and need reassurance, but you've got to get over this inferiority complex if you're gonna make it in any branch of life.

As the others said, people who get into top schools tend to have excellent test taking skills. This means great grades and high MCAT scores. The elite schools also tend to choose students who are self-starters, students who, even in high school, did cool stuff on their own. These students tend to have unique or extraordinary experiences that make them appealing to adcoms.

I say this all as a student who transferred to an elite college. My interviewers did not care where I went to college. In fact, the only ones who brought it up were asking why I transferred.

Does the name mean something? Of course. But adcoms have a lot of ground to cover when they're looking at your application, and if you think the college you went to warrants a longer conversation then, "Hrm, went to Stanford, cool. So what did you make of his PS?," then you simply have no comprehension of what adcoms care about, or what anyone in the real world cares about.

I promise, you'll realize all of this is true with time, and if it doesn't make sense to you now just try to accept that this is coming from people who know a lot more about how the world works than you do.
 
Ivy schools can afford to take the best of the best. If they had two applicants of equal caliber, one from an Ivy and one from a state-school, who do you think they would pick? You'll notice that it's the same thing for residency and fellowship programs. But I'll still have to agree with the above posters because I know of a few Ivy Leaguers who ended up in the Caribbean.
 
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I'm sure you probably have better things to do with your time than keep making threads on common sense topics.
 
Uh, I did post the thread on the same domain but not the same topic.

I talked about how much my undergrad name would matter. This thread I want an explanation for why you have such an over representation of ivy league undergrads at top med schools.

And no, going to an Ivy in my experience simply means your life was easier and you had more handed to you. Better high school = Better environment = Higher chance of getting into a top school, name exceptions if you must but they are just minor exceptions.

Seriously, are you guys e-parenting or something?

And thank god the pre-meds in real life aren't this bad.
 
I recommend you read Outliers: The Story of Success. You really have to realize that you have it better than 99% of people in the world. Stop comparing yourself to the 1% who had it better than you growing up. Be grateful for what you have.
 
muhali3 said:
I recommend you read Outliers: The Story of Success. You really have to realize that you have it better than 99% of people in the world. Stop comparing yourself to the 1% who had it better than you growing up. Be grateful for what you have.
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99% of those who get into the Ivies are those 1%

I guarantee you. Yet I try to be proactive.
 
Protagonistic said:
I talked about how much my undergrad name would matter. This thread I want an explanation for why you have such an over representation of ivy league undergrads at top med schools.
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See my first post?

And no, going to an Ivy in my experience simply means your life was easier and you had more handed to you. Better high school = Better environment = Higher chance of getting into a top school, name exceptions if you must but they are just minor exceptions.
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It's definitely true that there are many students at top colleges that came from good backgrounds/good schools that helped them get to where they are. However, there are also plenty of students from modest backgrounds who achieved what they did through sustained hard work

Again, the point is that you can get into medical school from "no-name" universities if you do everything you can to stand out and succeed. That means an excellent GPA, great MCAT, ECs, LORS, and the like.

And thank god the pre-meds in real life aren't this bad.
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You're right, it would be better if they were all like you 🙄.

I don't mean to be harsh OP but it seems like every thread you start is complaining about something, especially about why you think it will be impossible for you to succeed. I think it would be best if you got off SDN and really started to make improvements in your own life instead of complaining about it online. It's sometimes hard to find motivation to do this but you have to start somewhere. Start working out, volunteer for some worthy causes, and go outside your comfort zone a bit. If you don't take the initiative now nothing's ever going to improve.
 
Why do you care? Just accept that the world isn't fair. Some people are born into wealth and a better fate, some aren't. It's not your fault that you were born to your parents. You're living in America and you have the very real opportunity of making $250K+/yr by the time you're 30. You have it better than most people in the world.
 
The only reason why you think pre-meds in "real life" aren't this bad is because they probably don't know how obsessed you are with topics like these.

I wonder if all of your topics of conversation in person are the same...
 
Protagonistic said:
get lost if you have nothing to contribute and I have clearly just brought up a point which is debatable, not a question
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1300124244308.jpg
 
I got done studying 6 hours for a test on Friday.
I work out every chance I get.
I volunteer at the Red Cross.

Gotta say, least you aren't as bad as 90 percent of the other users but yes, everyone should be like me, true. On this thread I didn't complain, I simply asked for an explanation.
 
phnerd1105 said:
The only reason why you think pre-meds in "real life" aren't this bad is because they probably don't know how obsessed you are with topics like these.

I wonder if all of your topics of conversation in person are the same...
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Nah, maybe the pre-meds and med students in real life are actual med students and pre-meds.
 
Protag you remind me of this person I know who sucks.
 
Protagonistic said:
Is it that whenever you view admissions for top med schools, MOST OF their students almost always come from Ivy League schools and other top notch schools and such?

Like I heard on one thread that out of the 120 Columbia med students, 96 or so came from other Ivies.

So on one hand you are telling me that your undergrad doesn't matter for the top med schools (or well, doesn't matter that much), but on the other hand the statistics are clearly showing that it means basically everything. Is the medical field just as obsessed with name brand as the business and law field?
Click to expand...

Columbia has many more students than 120 and only about 40 to 50% of the total came from ivies I believe.
 
Protagonistic said:
get lost if you have nothing to contribute and I have clearly just brought up a point which is debatable, not a question
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YOOO BROO WHY DO THEY FLAME US? tHEY ARE ALL IDIOTS SOMETIMES LOL WHY DO THEY FLAME? WE ARE JUST INSECURE...
 
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hnw5oBxtuA&NR=1[/YOUTUBE]


Protag. I have no idea why people hate you so much. But I must admit it is very entertaining. You are sort of the Toby of SDN.
 
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