More cautious posting on SDN?

[air bud]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I don't know if what I am going to write is true or not.
First, I think the fact that some school admissions people are on here and answering some great questions is awesome and really helpful.
However, I get the feeling that people are trying to pour too much out on here, and give excuse upon excuse to admin people. Look, I understand it is human nature to do so, but is it really the best place and time to do so?
People are focusing on all the things they messed up, not the accomplishments they have.
Like I said, I am not sure if I am correct on this issue, it just seems like there is a lot of pre-interview complaining on here. This is part of the point of the interview, for them to ask questions about applicants. Why give them more ammo?
Even though admin people on here have been really helpful, I feel like their knowledge could be better utilized in asking more procedural questions, instead of always replying "Your stats are about average for SCHOOL X, the best idea is to go ahead and apply."

 

[RATM2010]

I don't know if what I am going to write is true or not.
First, I think the fact that some school admissions people are on here and answering some great questions is awesome and really helpful.
However, I get the feeling that people are trying to pour too much out on here, and give excuse upon excuse to admin people. Look, I understand it is human nature to do so, but is it really the best place and time to do so?
People are focusing on all the things they messed up, not the accomplishments they have.
Like I said, I am not sure if I am correct on this issue, it just seems like there is a lot of pre-interview complaining on here. This is part of the point of the interview, for them to ask questions about applicants. Why give them more ammo?
Even though admin people on here have been really helpful, I feel like their knowledge could be better utilized in asking more procedural questions, instead of always replying "Your stats are about average for SCHOOL X, the best idea is to go ahead and apply."

I totally diasgree with you. Applying to schools is expensive. Why apply to a school you can't get in. Nice to learn that now instead of pay and the long wait of silence.......rejection. Bottom line is this is a pre-pod forum and the biggest part of pre-pod is pre-interview jitters. The same pre-interview jitters occurs in every other pre-field (md,do, caribbean, dental, physical therapy, etc.) No reason to make pod separate from them. Also, I highly doubt a adcom member is stocking on ammo from a "credible" source like SDN.

 

[dtrack22]

Whether you believe it or not RAT, many people on here are not as anonymous as they'd like to believe. Some of us have no illusions of anonymity, others give out details about their practice, kids soccer teams, work experience, etc and have no idea that some google work will point you right to them...

Thats not entirely the point of air bud's post IMO, but addresses part of yours. As far as interview's costing money; why do you have to tell an open internet forum why you did bad in O-chem...and bio...and physics? I've read about people who were sexually abused, others who had immediate relatives die, and academic dishonesty cases that ruined a GPA. Does anyone need that info to tell you whether you have a shot at podiatry? Better yet, do you want everyone on here to know about it?

The whole "wasting money by applying and interviewing" excuse is bogus. Every program posts stats. the AACPM posts the averages of each years' matriculants. If you are within a few points of the averages (either above or below) then you will get in somewhere. It's that simple. If you still don't believe me then CALL the admissions offices of the programs you're interested in. Then give them as little information as they need to give you an idea of how competitive you are.

Once you're on the forums for awhile, and if you eventually get accepted into school, then maybe you'll realize how not private the internet really is.

 

[AGDPM]

If you feel hesitant of speaking to someone from admission, send them an email. Mind you all SDN posts are public. Google "cautious sdn" and you'll see what airbud and dtrack22 mean.

 

[RATM2010]

I'm not arguing the fact that people should not be posting specific details about their applicantion. GPA/MCAT/LOR questions/...etc are not amongst personal and private information. Seeing that only current students are posting in defense to this, it only proves my point. If you are a student, who cares! I'm glad you all got in and went through the application process okay. For many first time applicants, there are legit questions that are asked on here. If you are tired of the "what are my chances threads," don't read them. I know that schools posts mat stats, but those scores are not accurate. If this is the case, you can bank on ALL pod schools having GPA of >3.4 and a mcat of 23-24. NOT THE CASE. How would you know if a school will accept a 19 or 20 mcat. Some will, some won't. Wasting 50 bucks a school is not bogus in this economy. I assumed that this was the puspose of this website...to blog in privacy about pre-podiatry topics like GPA/MCAT/etc. and get first hand info from current attendings, students, and aspiring students. I'm sorry if my assumption was wrong. Maybe, I'll start a thread about Lebron James in Miami instead!


Bottom Line: People can post what they want and if you don't want to read it, don't! If it is too personal, its that person's responsibility. JMO!

 

[dtrack22]

...

 

[RATM2010]

The students who posted on this thread were only offering advice...and if it makes you feel better, even DMU accepts students with sub 20 MCAT scores (I know Scholl does too). If the top two institutions (statistically speaking) accept those types of scores then you have no reason not to apply to any program given you are within 4-5 points on the MCAT, or .3-.4 points on a GPA scale.

It does make me feel better. Thanks for you input! LOL! So Dtrack , how is pod school treating you so far? I'm hoping to get into CSPM or Temple. Which school do you go to?