not sure anymore if i want to pursue an MD...

[luckyducky87]

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I have already applied this previous cycle for MD programs. I have always loved the sciences, and as cheesy as it might sound, volunteering at hospitals left me feeling so rewarding at the end of the day. Watching doctors at work was like watching super role models at work.

But over the past few months, I've grown lukewarm about pursuing an MD. It might be that I just got discouraged because I didn't get in anywhere (only waitlists, and no news from any of them so far). But in addition, I've also realized this last semester that in stark contrast to an animal physiology class I took and hated, I loved my hardcore chemistry courses.

I keep wondering if I should have considered applying to grad schools for chemistry programs instead.

Another thing that's been on my mind is that I love to teach. And as a PhD, I could pursue a career as a professor. Of course, I know that even as an MD, there is a big teaching component (although nowhere as extensive as teaching a class for a whole semester, I'd imagine), and that's part of what I loved about the medicine career.

The big turn-off I've always had for pursuing a PhD however is that I don't enjoy research work very much and can't see myself committing to research for the rest of my career.

But thinking about the rest of my life, I have other serious hobbies outside of academics that I do not want to give up for my main career. Not saying that this will have to happen if I pursue medicine, but in some ways, it seems like going the PhD route is the "easier" way out. I don't know if that's influencing my thought process also.

Arghhh I don't know what I want to do anymore. I really do think that disappointment of not getting in anywhere is a huge part of it, but I really really do love chemistry.

I keep going back and forth multiple times everyday. Study to retake the MCAT? Or invest the time and money for the GRE?

Any suggestions or comments? 🙁

 

[witness23]

If you enjoyed shadowing doctors and watching the practice of medicine, and you are only discouraged because of the application process and one undergraduate course in comparison to the other, you may want to stick it out. However, if you truly enjoy enjoy chemistry and you want to learn and teach it, do a PhD. Research is an important step in gaining expertise and, hopefully, it will help you become a good mentor/professor.




My advice would be to take off one more year, spending the year in a chemistry lab of academic or industry (which will mostly be QA for entry-level jobs, but well paying) setting. At the same time, you can volunteer and shadow in a healthcare setting in the weekends/evenings along with studying for the MCAT/GRE when you have a better clue of what you want to pursue. Take your time in figuring it out. Best of luck.

 

[Hyperstudyosis]

Have you ever tried doing research? If you think you might be interested in getting a PhD in chemistry, you should probably see if you can get involved doing some research in a chemistry lab. And you can get a PhD in chemistry and still be mainly involved in teaching rather than research. Some of the chemistry professors at my school JUST teach; they don't actually have their own labs. But, on the other hand, you might find that you really like doing research.

 

[ar2388]

how many chem classes have you taken? have you done chem research for a good while? i think you need to experience more of a phd-path lifestyle first.

 

[luckyducky87]

Thanks for the responses!

I have shadowed doctors, and I really enjoyed the experience! When I go home and have cable, the health discovery channel is what I have on 24/7 because I find everything fascinating and inspiring. But of course, tv is no way to judge what career I should pick for life I suppose.

As for research, I have done undergraduate research. But I had such a terrible time in it that that's when I thought I didn't want to pursue a PhD in chemistry. But on hindsight, I unfortunately joined a lab with a terrible reputation and a crazy PI and grad students, so that may have tainted my experience.


I just graduated and I am planning on taking 2 years off at the moment. I've applied to a bunch of research programs/positions (personal top choice) and high school science teaching positions (much better pay).

Right at this second (who knows when I'll change my mind again), I'm thinking that maybe I'll study really hard for the MCAT this summer, re-take it in the fall, see if my new score is where I want it at, and go from there. Sigh...

 

[luckyducky87]

how many chem classes have you taken? have you done chem research for a good while? i think you need to experience more of a phd-path lifestyle first.

I am a chemistry major, and I've taken most of the undergrad chem courses offered at my college and some grad level chem courses as well... orgo, pchem, biochem, inorganic, etc; I actually really loved most of them (haha even if I do pursue PhD, I'd have a really hard time narrowing down my interests within "chemistry")

I only did chemistry research for a little over a year. The craziness of this particular lab and wanting to keep my sanity definitely had something to do with my quitting though. But whatever it was, it just really really turned me off from doing research (although I'm about to give it try #2).

 

[Rendar5]

the other thing to consider (unless someone mentioned and I missed it) is that there are a lot of other professions in the health care industry other than physician. And it doesn't sound like you're super gung ho about being a doctor as the best possible career path for you because otherwise you'd be applying to osteopathic programs and international programs. Pharmacy itself involves a lot of chemistry too. And there's also plenty of careers with patient care responsibilities if that's what you're after. I was a chem major myself in college and loved inorganic and physical chemistry like no one's business (hated orgo). But I am not a researcher and never will be one. Keep in mind that to be a researcher requires a very special way of thinking and requires satisfaction with working hard every day on stuff that is rarely if ever successful in the end.

 

[thoffen]

If you're not sure if you want to be an MD, don't reapply until you are sure. What if you got in? And hated it? You'd have stolen a spot from someone who likely really wanted to be there.

 

[witness23]

If you're not sure if you want to be an MD, don't reapply until you are sure. What if you got in? And hated it? You'd have stolen a spot from someone who likely really wanted to be there.

haha stolen and paid 300k for a spot

 

[sushichopstickz]

Hey Op,

Don't be discouraged. I am confident you will get into one of your waitlisted schools. I've seen some of your posts, and from the looks of it, you seem like a very cool and personable person. Medical school admissions is such a wacked-up process, where predictions based on one's own progress based on statistics and year-to-year trends is almost useless. Before I go off on a tangent, I think you should stick it out a bit more. If worse, take a year off and apply again. However, like I said before I think you will get off the waitlist, perhaps even at your top-choice school.

On a cursory note, I heard some PhD programs are ridiculously hard to get into--some being much harder than admissions to medical school. Remember, PhD is a field of few. Schools only take a selective number of students a year to train, fund, etc. Be certain that PhD and what it entails is what you want to do before you leap head-on into it. I had a friend who's applying for PhD to a psychology program (Columbia, Berkeley, Santa Barbara, UCLA, etc.) and she says the acceptance rate for some schools be as low as 5%, due to the number of applicant vs the very-limited # of spots available per year. Remember you can also teach as an academic phsycian.

In summary, I'm rooting for you. I think I once saw your post on Dartmouth. Hope you get in, if I am right about that Dartmouth. Dartmouth is my dream, but unfortunately I got the axed. Haha

 

[witness23]

phd admissions really varies on the 1. subject 2. school

 

[witness23]

your MCAT cant be that bad if you got interviews at duke nyu dartmouth maryland vcu

 

[starfishprime]

If you don't have any reservations about spending $200k+ and committing yourself to medicine for at least a decade (it's a point of difficult return on the horizon, I mean), you're either lying or self-deluded.

Bravo for carefully considering all your options.

 

[BennieBlanco]

I have already applied this previous cycle for MD programs. I have always loved the sciences, and as cheesy as it might sound, volunteering at hospitals left me feeling so rewarding at the end of the day. Watching doctors at work was like watching super role models at work.

But over the past few months, I've grown lukewarm about pursuing an MD. It might be that I just got discouraged because I didn't get in anywhere (only waitlists, and no news from any of them so far). But in addition, I've also realized this last semester that in stark contrast to an animal physiology class I took and hated, I loved my hardcore chemistry courses.

I keep wondering if I should have considered applying to grad schools for chemistry programs instead.

Another thing that's been on my mind is that I love to teach. And as a PhD, I could pursue a career as a professor. Of course, I know that even as an MD, there is a big teaching component (although nowhere as extensive as teaching a class for a whole semester, I'd imagine), and that's part of what I loved about the medicine career.

The big turn-off I've always had for pursuing a PhD however is that I don't enjoy research work very much and can't see myself committing to research for the rest of my career.

But thinking about the rest of my life, I have other serious hobbies outside of academics that I do not want to give up for my main career. Not saying that this will have to happen if I pursue medicine, but in some ways, it seems like going the PhD route is the "easier" way out. I don't know if that's influencing my thought process also.

Arghhh I don't know what I want to do anymore. I really do think that disappointment of not getting in anywhere is a huge part of it, but I really really do love chemistry.

I keep going back and forth multiple times everyday. Study to retake the MCAT? Or invest the time and money for the GRE?

Any suggestions or comments? 🙁

I feel for you first off and can tell you that everything that happens can work out for your good.

The first advice I would give is to not to listen to anyone on these forums (including me) because only you know your situation and yourself.

I think you are looking for certainty that you chose the right path and there truly is no right path. If you go into medicine there will be things you love and hate, days fulfilled and awful, good and bad. If you chose the PhD the same will occur. YOU will be the difference in getting joy out of your work, the best you can hope to do is something you are interested in and passionate about then go from there. There is no perfect choice.

I would give you one other idea to think on. What if you were 100% guaranteed success 1 year from now? What if you failed miserably this year, but you saw your future and were absolutely 100% guaranteed that the MD path or PhD path would work out? Which one would you do?

I would likely advise you to do that, as this is the thing you really want to do when you have eliminated fear.

BUT understand this, your happiness and satisfaction in life will NOT be based on this decision but instead how you live later on. So although you may not like this answer, it doesn't really matter what you chose.

 

[BJPENNSTATE]

I have already applied this previous cycle for MD programs. I have always loved the sciences, and as cheesy as it might sound, volunteering at hospitals left me feeling so rewarding at the end of the day. Watching doctors at work was like watching super role models at work.

But over the past few months, I've grown lukewarm about pursuing an MD. It might be that I just got discouraged because I didn't get in anywhere (only waitlists, and no news from any of them so far). But in addition, I've also realized this last semester that in stark contrast to an animal physiology class I took and hated, I loved my hardcore chemistry courses.

I keep wondering if I should have considered applying to grad schools for chemistry programs instead.

Another thing that's been on my mind is that I love to teach. And as a PhD, I could pursue a career as a professor. Of course, I know that even as an MD, there is a big teaching component (although nowhere as extensive as teaching a class for a whole semester, I'd imagine), and that's part of what I loved about the medicine career.

The big turn-off I've always had for pursuing a PhD however is that I don't enjoy research work very much and can't see myself committing to research for the rest of my career.

But thinking about the rest of my life, I have other serious hobbies outside of academics that I do not want to give up for my main career. Not saying that this will have to happen if I pursue medicine, but in some ways, it seems like going the PhD route is the "easier" way out. I don't know if that's influencing my thought process also.

Arghhh I don't know what I want to do anymore. I really do think that disappointment of not getting in anywhere is a huge part of it, but I really really do love chemistry.

I keep going back and forth multiple times everyday. Study to retake the MCAT? Or invest the time and money for the GRE?

Any suggestions or comments? 🙁

i'll probably give you the best advice:

it seems like you are into medicine and not the PhD route since you said volunteering in the hospital was so "rewarding" and that you always watch the health discovery channel 24/7.

the plan for you is....if you do not get off the waitlist from the 5 MD schools, then reapply, and apply EARLIER, take a research position, and DO NOT re take the MCAT...

you were invited for interviews at DUKE, DARTMOUTH, NYU..then i'm assuming your MCAT is over 33. so re-taking the mcat will only hurt your chances. the only possible reason why you werent accepted this year is because you didnt apply early and boardly (more OOS friendly schools) or lack research experience since u stated that you hate doing research

 

[luckyducky87]

I was a chem major myself in college and loved inorganic and physical chemistry like no one's business (hated orgo). But I am not a researcher and never will be one.

Cool! 👍 But you ended up choosing medicine?

Getting a PhD is not an easier way out when you consider that you can spend up to ten years before getting a tenure track position at a university. That's not taking into account funding issues, etc....

Actually, you're right. In the midst of this insanity in my head, I totally forgot about some of the stuff I've considered before when I ruled out PhD... I agree - no profession is an "easy way out."

I think my big discouragement this year came from the fact that so many of my friends applied to chemistry grad programs, and they all got such high offers with pampering and praises. Literally, a number of my friends got into almost all of the schools they applied to (Ivys, Berkeley, MIT, etc) and it was so discouraging for me when I didn't get into a single school. And my qualifications were similar to theirs, if not better on an application (and if in-person interviews are what screwed me up, then for grad school, that didn't seem like it was as big a part, if it was even a requirement!). And that just made me think, oh, I might have had an easier time with admissions, at least, had I chosen that route. Haha, sorry, not to spark a debate on this. And I know that can't be entirely true.

Don't be discouraged. I am confident you will get into one of your waitlisted schools. I've seen some of your posts, and from the looks of it, you seem like a very cool and personable person. Medical school admissions is such a wacked-up process, where predictions based on one's own progress based on statistics and year-to-year trends is almost useless. Before I go off on a tangent, I think you should stick it out a bit more. If worse, take a year off and apply again. However, like I said before I think you will get off the waitlist, perhaps even at your top-choice school.

Aww thank you! It is a really whacked up process, and I think that might be why I'm having second thoughts about continuing this path and being a reapplicant (if I don't get off anywhere this year). I feel like it's gonna be "harder" because now on top of everything else, you have to prove them that your application has "significantly improved" since the last time.

I am definitely taking 2 years off, so if I reapply, that won't happen for another full year. Thanks for the reassurance about waitlists - but it's been tough because I've been tracking through the individual schools and at many of them, the classes are already full/oversubscribed (according to the office people who answer the phone anyway...). We'll see...

I would give you one other idea to think on. What if you were 100% guaranteed success 1 year from now? What if you failed miserably this year, but you saw your future and were absolutely 100% guaranteed that the MD path or PhD path would work out? Which one would you do?

BUT understand this, your happiness and satisfaction in life will NOT be based on this decision but instead how you live later on. So although you may not like this answer, it doesn't really matter what you chose.

Haha oh boy... but you do have a good point. Just the uncertainty and the perceived gravity of my decision are what's killing me. But I'll have to think about this more...

the plan for you is....if you do not get off the waitlist from the 5 MD schools, then reapply, and apply EARLIER, take a research position, and DO NOT re take the MCAT...

i'm assuming your MCAT is over 33. so re-taking the mcat will only hurt your chances. the only possible reason why you werent accepted this year is because you didnt apply early and boardly (more OOS friendly schools) or lack research experience since u stated that you hate doing research

Just some clarifications, my MCAT was not 33 or over 33... (But yes, it was in the 30s...). Haha, didn't want to say it but oh well. My MCAT was way below what I wanted or expected and if reapplying, I think I want to retake it, even if for just self-satisfaction. Based on how I felt during hte test day and how terrible my prep was (I took it like 2 week after finals during a semester I had like a 20+ credit course load), I really think I can do better...

I think the reason I managed to get interviews at some of those schools must have been because of the "rest of my package." My science GPA was just average, and my MCAT score was definitely not even average. But I was banking on some life experiences I've had plus many EC's, and I'm grateful they looked beyond the numbers, enough to get me an interview anyway.

Last year, I applied relatively early... I submitted my AMCAS in late June, I think, got verified by mid-July, and submitted all-but-two secondaries before or around late-August. Maybe that's not super-early, but I don't think timing should have been a huge issue...

 

[MossPoh]

I skimmed the first few lines, so I probably missed stuff.

It is a tough decision to pursue a medical degree (MD/DO). There are little hurdles along the way that WILL trip you up and make you doubt yourself. That being said, you have to learn to have a great deal of self-reflection and think about whether it is the process or medicine that is creating the doubts. If you can imagine yourself doing ANYTHING else, you should go and pursue that. I really mean that. Medical school has a way of finding the tiniest little hole and burrowing its finger in there and making it wider and wider. The smallest doubt now will lead to huge doubts later, especially in the midst of boards and late nights. I've seen it a hundred times.

In the end, you know the answer. Only you know whether you can handle it or whether you want to. A Ph.D. isn't "easy" by any means, but there is something at med school that can really change a person. You can teach with either degree. I plan on working at a community hospital residency somewhere because I enjoy teaching too. Just go for a walk, take a breather and think.

 

[BennieBlanco]

Cool! 👍 But you ended up choosing medicine?



Actually, you're right. In the midst of this insanity in my head, I totally forgot about some of the stuff I've considered before when I ruled out PhD... I agree - no profession is an "easy way out."

I think my big discouragement this year came from the fact that so many of my friends applied to chemistry grad programs, and they all got such high offers with pampering and praises. Literally, a number of my friends got into almost all of the schools they applied to (Ivys, Berkeley, MIT, etc) and it was so discouraging for me when I didn't get into a single school. And my qualifications were similar to theirs, if not better on an application (and if in-person interviews are what screwed me up, then for grad school, that didn't seem like it was as big a part, if it was even a requirement!). And that just made me think, oh, I might have had an easier time with admissions, at least, had I chosen that route. Haha, sorry, not to spark a debate on this. And I know that can't be entirely true.



Aww thank you! It is a really whacked up process, and I think that might be why I'm having second thoughts about continuing this path and being a reapplicant (if I don't get off anywhere this year). I feel like it's gonna be "harder" because now on top of everything else, you have to prove them that your application has "significantly improved" since the last time.

I am definitely taking 2 years off, so if I reapply, that won't happen for another full year. Thanks for the reassurance about waitlists - but it's been tough because I've been tracking through the individual schools and at many of them, the classes are already full/oversubscribed (according to the office people who answer the phone anyway...). We'll see...



Haha oh boy... but you do have a good point. Just the uncertainty and the perceived gravity of my decision are what's killing me. But I'll have to think about this more...



Just some clarifications, my MCAT was not 33 or over 33... (But yes, it was in the 30s...). Haha, didn't want to say it but oh well. My MCAT was way below what I wanted or expected and if reapplying, I think I want to retake it, even if for just self-satisfaction. Based on how I felt during hte test day and how terrible my prep was (I took it like 2 week after finals during a semester I had like a 20+ credit course load), I really think I can do better...

I think the reason I managed to get interviews at some of those schools must have been because of the "rest of my package." My science GPA was just average, and my MCAT score was definitely not even average. But I was banking on some life experiences I've had plus many EC's, and I'm grateful they looked beyond the numbers, enough to get me an interview anyway.

Last year, I applied relatively early... I submitted my AMCAS in late June, I think, got verified by mid-July, and submitted all-but-two secondaries before or around late-August. Maybe that's not super-early, but I don't think timing should have been a huge issue...

I sense more hope in your posts.

Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. If your desire is strong then do not give up. If you honestly desire something else then you need to examine what path is best.

Winston Churchill, "Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

The guy who started Kentucky Fried Chicken did it at 64 years old and became wildly successful. How old are you!?

 

[austinap]

The big turn-off I've always had for pursuing a PhD however is that I don't enjoy research work very much and can't see myself committing to research for the rest of my career.

How much research experience are you basing this on? As a current chemistry grad student, I can offer a bit of perspective.

If you haven't done much research, maybe that's something you should try out? You can always do a one-year program or get a tech position in a lab. While it's a bit different than grad school, it will at least give you a good feel for it.

On the other hand, if you have done research and you just don't enjoy it, then do not go to grad school. Grad school is research, period. While in some programs you take some courses, that's only a minor part.

There are also a lot of aspects to grad school that I don't think are always obvious to people considering it as a career path. First, just because you get a PhD doesn't mean you will be able to go into academics. It's insanely competitive, especially at top-tier schools.

Even if you do get a faculty position, you start at the bottom of the barrel. To get tenured, you have to prove that you can bring in large amounts of funding year after year. If you fail at this, it's hard to get a second chance.

Also realize that scientific positions pay pennies as compared to medical positions. Some quick numbers: assistant professorships at top schools start below $100k, and that is after ~5 years of grad school ($25k/yr) and 2-5 years of a fellowship ($40k/yr). While you can live comfortably on an assistant professor's salary, realize that you'll be a pauper for 10 years or so before you get there. The 10-year total financial outlooks are similar, but after that the med degree owns the PhD. Obviously you shouldn't base your decision on finances alone but it's something to consider.



All of that being said, I have really liked grad school. I get the opportunity to work on almost any scientific problem that I find interesting, I learn a ton of new material every day, and I work with some amazing people. I wouldn't take it back. I also plan on doing med after I get my PhD, so take that as you will.

Best,
Austin

 

[luckyducky87]

Austin -- thanks for the info. I had a little over a year's worth of lab experience (2 summers and the academic year in between). So maybe not too much. Also I think my experience was unusual due to the crazy PI/grad students I worked with, and not a fair judgment of how I really feel about research.

I am indeed planning on committing to 2 years of research (unless I can find a high school teaching position that could pay more, because unfortunately, financial situation in my family isn't very good right now). I do want to give research another try.

Yeah, I do realize grad school (for PhD anyway) is few classes during first year but then ~4+ years of just research.

Thanks for the perspective on life after grad school though. I guess I never really considered that far and that getting a position in academics isn't a piece of cake just because you have a PhD and some post-doc experience.

But when you say "insanely competitive," how about in the medical field? I mean, if we're comparing top-tier university positions, any idea how that may compare to say, getting into a top tier medical school; getting a respectable residency program; or getting hired at a top tier hospital?

I personally feel totally blown by the application process for just getting INTO medical school (while... I do think that my friends applying to chemistry programs for PhD had a much easier time, really), but I'm not sure if I'm just being whiny compared to the competitiveness of getting hired at a top tier school for professorship after grad school...

 

[austinap]

But when you say "insanely competitive," how about in the medical field? I mean, if we're comparing top-tier university positions, any idea how that may compare to say, getting into a top tier medical school; getting a respectable residency program; or getting hired at a top tier hospital?

I personally feel totally blown by the application process for just getting INTO medical school (while... I do think that my friends applying to chemistry programs for PhD had a much easier time, really), but I'm not sure if I'm just being whiny compared to the competitiveness of getting hired at a top tier school for professorship after grad school...

Well, you're comparing two significantly different applicant pools. By the time someone is applying for a faculty position, a lot of self-selection has gone on. Grad school attrition is high, and the majority of those that do graduate don't decide to go into academics for one reason or another. Then, most people know where they even stand a chance, so there isn't quite the same problem of being crowded out by the sheer number of other applicants.

If I had to compare them side by side, I would estimate that getting a top academic position is at least tenfold harder than getting into med at a top school.

That being said, I have a few clarifications:

It depends on exactly what you're looking for when you say "academics". If just teaching is your goal, then while competitive, it's within reach for most reasonably good PhD holders. If by academics, you mean academic research or academics at a top tier school, it's a completely different ballgame. Part of the problem is that through 10 years of grad + post doc work, you become quite specialized. If you're good, you end up with a fairly small set of questions that you really want to ask. When you're applying for faculty positions, a large part of your application is trying to convince the rest of the faculty that the questions you want to ask are relevant to their mission statement and that they are really interesting questions. That can be tough, and it includes a creative aspect that is really hard to quantify.

A postdoc and friend of mine was recently in the faculty interview circuit. He did his grad school in synthetic chemistry and his postdoc was a synthetic / materials type project. It's an awesome background overall, and he's an insanely smart guy. This past cycle, there were about four schools nationwide that were hiring for relevant positions, and 20 or so applicants from top schools trying to get the spots. He got lucky and got one, but 16 of the applicants weren't so lucky. Of course, they can try again, but what do you do in the meantime? You can stay in your postdoc for a year or two in most cases, but really long postdocs look bad as well. You could go into industry, but that's usually a longer commitment and if it wasn't what you wanted to do, it can really suck.

I think that last point is especially relevant: there is a giant difference between going into an academic chemistry position vs. being an industrial / pharmaceutical chemist, and if you miss your shot you may find yourself in a career that doesn't suit you well. In medicine, the problem isn't quite the same. If you don't get your dream faculty position, you'll likely still be a practicing doctor and you can move up the chain more gradually. Or, if you don't like medicine for whatever reason, there are a lot of non-patient care needs in industry for medical doctors. As an example, many of the officers at Genentech are MDs.

 

[BluntSurgeon]

Based on your posts it seems like you're just bummed because of your unsuccessful application cycle. You seem to demonstrate some sort of passion for medicine so I would suggest that you reapply next cycle and choose your schools wisely.

I think that last point is especially relevant: there is a giant difference between going into an academic chemistry position vs. being an industrial / pharmaceutical chemist, and if you miss your shot you may find yourself in a career that doesn't suit you well. In medicine, the problem isn't quite the same. If you don't get your dream faculty position, you'll likely still be a practicing doctor and you can move up the chain more gradually. Or, if you don't like medicine for whatever reason, there are a lot of non-patient care needs in industry for medical doctors. As an example, many of the officers at Genentech are MDs.

I also just want to re-emphasize everything austinap has said here. Personally, I think medicine is the best choice since it opens the most doors. I feel like pursuing a PhD in a certain field really narrows the hallway, so to speak.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

Just take the GRE, there's no studying necessary. The people you'd be competing against, and the test you'd be taking, are of much lower quality than the med school people/MCAT. You'll kill it.

 

[austinap]

Just take the GRE, there's no studying necessary. The people you'd be competing against, and the test you'd be taking, are of much lower quality than the med school people/MCAT. You'll kill it.

Sure, if you don't care where you do grad school at. From my experience, the name of the gradschool matters more than the name of the medschool.

It's also a different kind of competition. Grad schools don't seem to care about grades too much because they don't correlate well with intelligence. Unfortunately, the GRE is a terrible test, so that doesn't help much either. Most of it is based on the rigor of the classes you took, previous research experience, and the letters you get. I promise you that every person in my graduate class could have gotten into med school. Many of them, myself included, actually did. I wouldn't be so smug if I were you.

 

[luckyducky87]

Such harsh views! I actually disagree with both, at least looking at my peers, and I don't come from such a bad undergrad institution. But anyway, it doesn't matter.



Austin -- thank you so much for your insight, that actually gave me a big reality check. A lot of things I never considered or knew about!

And thanks everyone! Venting a lot (but at the same time reasoning out some perspectives) and reading everyone's comments made me feel a whole lot better already.

 

[austinap]

You're welcome

 

[BJPENNSTATE]

luckyducky, can you post up the list of medical schools that you applied to this past year? and also, you should do like a post on "what's my chances" on SDN to narrow down the list...hopefully, you're list of medical schools aren't top heavy.