nervous

[engagement]

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Hi. I'm currently an undergrad in an 8 year program. I found out that the top competitive residency programs look at your undergrad years. I'm incredibly nervous because of this. As a junior, I don't feel like my undergrad years were that great. My GPA isn't that high and I have limited research experience. I'm struggling in my science classes. I feel like I'm already in a disadvantaged position because I'm not a neuro major although I'm considering neurosurgery. I guess I'm need of some counseling and advice. Thanks for your help.

 

[psipsina]

Hi. I'm currently an undergrad in an 8 year program. I found out that the top competitive residency programs look at your undergrad years. I'm incredibly nervous because of this. As a junior, I don't feel like my undergrad years were that great. My GPA isn't that high and I have limited research experience. I'm struggling in my science classes. I feel like I'm already in a disadvantaged position because I'm not a neuro major although I'm considering neurosurgery. I guess I'm need of some counseling and advice. Thanks for your help.

As far as my understanding goes, which is of course limited because I'm a M1, the undergrad years matter very little for residency. If it came down to you and another candidate that were in all other ways equal that might be the tiebreaker, but even your pre-clinical medschool grades aren't that important.

 

[Bertelman]

Hi. I'm currently an undergrad in an 8 year program. I found out that the top competitive residency programs look at your undergrad years. I'm incredibly nervous because of this. As a junior, I don't feel like my undergrad years were that great. My GPA isn't that high and I have limited research experience. I'm struggling in my science classes. I feel like I'm already in a disadvantaged position because I'm not a neuro major although I'm considering neurosurgery. I guess I'm need of some counseling and advice. Thanks for your help.

a) I think you received irresponsible info. At best, your app will contain your undergrad GPA. That's 3 numbers buried in 5-6 pages. Many schools don't even include that. Believe me, by the time you have completed 4 years of med school, their will be plenty of subjective and objective criteria by which to judge you. You didn't exactly go through the same process as many of your future colleagues, but I had to include my SAT and high school rank in my med school app. I doubt they used it. I think at best, it may grant you "disadvantaged" status in the eyes of a med school admissions committee

b) It's WAYYYY to early for you to be thinking about "top competitive residency programs". Even if you do manage to do something to knock yourself out of competitition for a top program, that doesn't mean you won't be a neurosurgeon. You can still get accepted to good programs. You can still be a neurosurgeon. Now, why you would want to become a neurosurgeon, that's another thread. That residency will make this 8 years of your life look like high school. 😉

Bottom line, just do your best, enjoy undergrad, learn a few things. Don't act as though your performance at this stage will affect where you end up as a doctor. heck, you've got it easier than most. You don't even have to worry about med school admissions. You're already in! Just hit the minimum on MCAT, and try to relax for a bit.