If you are INTENT on becoming a doctor then you MUST read this post

[flatearth22]

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Keep these words in mind as you pick not only the UG school you attend but also your major and your profs and your classes.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=11164729&postcount=152

It is so important I even made it my signature

 

[Gigantron]

I thought going to a school where you can maintain a relatively high GPA was common sense, which is why I can say I'm pretty happy with my UG choice even if it isn't "nationally ranked". Another plus is that I'll be in a BS/MD program, so even though I still need to maintain a certain GPA, it is not going to stop me from trying to get that 4.0. I only see this as a "win-win".

It is good advice, but I don't think you need to quote the ENTIRE post in your signature. 🙄

 

[Lil Mick]

There is some truth in that; if you aren't doing well, something needs to change--university, major, time management. However, I do think that gpa is valid to some extent. Wherever you go, you should be able to get a 3.3-3.5 by graduation (after the aforementioned changes, if you need to make them), and that is usually the cut-off for considering applications/inviting students for interviews. Just do well on the MCAT and apply to schools that are in your range and have the niche you're looking for academically and with respect to extracurriculars.

That being said, major in something(s) you enjoy, go to a school you enjoy, and don't be afraid to take some risks. Personally, I would be miserable taking classes that didn't challenge me to think, and I never did well in introductory classes/"easier" sort of classes. I needed the physical chemistry and social philosophy classes to supplant the pre-recs and core classes that didn't cover much new material. If you're that type of person, don't try to take a bunch of "easy" classes or go to an "easy" university where your advisor/classmates won't understand that constant need to learn. Even at a fairly esteemed program, it was difficult to find others who related to my desire to learn deeply and broadly in many areas and my passion for some of my fields.

You will also be better prepared for medical school by taking upper division classes and challenging yourself--several of my classmates had issues passing when all of the material was new and there was little time to learn it. I think that even the people who don't need to be intellectually challenged all of the time would benefit by taking a course or two in something challenging. That's what medical school will force you to do (try anatomy in less than 2 months or a course that's only 2 weeks with a final), and you need to know that you can do it before investing so much money in your medical education.

 

[NickNaylor]

This post isn't a revelation from a prophet that descended from the skies. This is fairly common sense.

 

[Kaustikos]

This post isn't a revelation from a prophet that descended from the skies. This is fairly common sense.

Agreed. And jesus ****ing christ, OP, did you have to QUOTE the damn thing? Can't you just link the post?🙄

 

[pirouette]

.

 

[Truzzi]

There are some schools that adcoms know are especially difficult in which to maintain a high premed GPA. WashU and Princeton are among those. This does not, however, apply to all high prestige schools. Brown, for example, has an average UG GPA of 3.6 - and adcoms know this as well.

 

[HH Holmes]

This seems like fairly common sense to me as well, but I can't help but get nervous when I read advice like this. I know WashU is difficult, and I didn't choose it because I thought it guaranteed me medical admission or anything silly like that, but how do I reconcile the above advice with the fact that I chose a tough undergrad? I know it's very tough, but it can't be impossible to succeed at tough undergrads...

I'm not going to speak on experience, but I am sure someone can attest to this -- many times when students who do well in high school do not do well in college is due to poor time management and not properly adjusting to the change of learning style. I graduated top of my high school like I am sure you did, and as much as there were some rough patches, it really wasn't THAT bad. You went to class every day, teachers reminded you what to do, and as long as you did your homework, studied a day or two in advance and paid attention once in a while, it was hard NOT to get an A. I'm expecting to take a lot more initiative and studying about a half an hour per credit, per day.

Toto, I'm afraid we're not in high school anymore! But, like everyone else said above, the quoted is not only common sense, but it's way too long and annoying to be in a signature

 

[I'm No Superman]

It is so important I even made it my signature

Liar. 🙂

 

[Missdetermined]

Like more people said, It's common sense I guess but at the same time I never really thought about it/considered it.
Obviously you want to be at a school you can excel at but also challenges you.
Thanks for the post though, it at least reminded me when deciding colleges and my future.
I do however, think you added a little to much emphasis on the topic.

Off Topic lol @ Gamma

 

[45408]

This seems like fairly common sense to me as well, but I can't help but get nervous when I read advice like this. I know WashU is difficult, and I didn't choose it because I thought it guaranteed me medical admission or anything silly like that, but how do I reconcile the above advice with the fact that I chose a tough undergrad? I know it's very tough, but it can't be impossible to succeed at tough undergrads...

Take fewer credits. Graduating in 5 years with a GPA of 3.8 is probably going to be a lot better at most schools than graduating in 4 years with a 3.4.

 

[md88jd98]

Take fewer credits. Graduating in 5 years with a GPA of 3.8 is probably going to be a lot better at most schools than graduating in 4 years with a 3.4.

Whole-heartedly agree with above. Can also graduate in 4, with summer attendance. Classes can be taken on campus the same time you are doing summer research.

 

[CuttingCorneas]

Take fewer credits. Graduating in 5 years with a GPA of 3.8 is probably going to be a lot better at most schools than graduating in 4 years with a 3.4.

Depends. My scholarship says I have to graduate in 4 years, and it's a ton of money. Plus, I'm not sure my parents would be too happy with spending more money on another year of undergrad, plus the thousands of dollars of med school debt that I'll eventually have to pay back. It ultimately comes down to what works best for your situation.

 

[NickNaylor]

Depends. My scholarship says I have to graduate in 4 years, and it's a ton of money. Plus, I'm not sure my parents would be too happy with spending more money on another year of undergrad, plus the thousands of dollars of med school debt that I'll eventually have to pay back. It ultimately comes down to what works best for your situation.

Become doctor at all costs, disregard debt considerations.

 

[45408]

Depends. My scholarship says I have to graduate in 4 years, and it's a ton of money. Plus, I'm not sure my parents would be too happy with spending more money on another year of undergrad, plus the thousands of dollars of med school debt that I'll eventually have to pay back. It ultimately comes down to what works best for your situation.

Getting a crappy GPA because you rushed it doesn't work for anyone's situation.

 

[echolalia16]

While this advice is true to an extent, I don't trust that the easier colleges will properly prepare a prospective med student for a test of the MCAT's magnitude, or the endless nights of studying that become routine in medical school. I didn't go to a top ten university, but it was certainly challenging enough to open my eyes to what kind of work it really takes to be successful in this field. Many of my friends who went to slack-off U still think they're geniuses because they can maintain a 3.7 without studying more than an hour or two here or there, and really haven't established the kind of work ethic to be successful in a vast array of fields, let alone medical school and beyond.
But hopefully this is common sense also.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I don't trust that the easier colleges will properly prepare a prospective med student for a test of the MCAT's magnitude...

So study MCAT materials on your own. Problem solved.

...or the endless nights of studying that become routine in medical school

I have yet to pull an all-nighter in med school. I can only remember a couple times that I stayed up past when I wanted to go to sleep. There were many, many days (especially during second year) when I studied an hour or less. It's not that bad. No college experience is going to prepare you particularly well, anyway.

Many of my friends who went to slack-off U still think they're geniuses because they can maintain a 3.7 without studying more than an hour or two here or there

In a sense, they are. They're going to achieve the same endpoint as you but with much less effort. Working smarter rather than harder is the name of the med school game, whether you're talking admissions or actually getting through med school.

As for work ethic, most people who are willing to go to med school find a way to adapt. I took what most people would likely describe as an extremely difficult course load at UNC and was nowhere near prepared for med school. They just throw you in the ocean, and you do what's necessary to stay afloat.

Basically, the take-home message of this post is that trying to use college as prep for med school is totally pointless. Enjoy your college years as much as you can, and cross the med school bridge when you come to it.