I plan to start medical school in August 2012. I'm keeping an open mind, but I'm 99% certain that I want to specialize in dermatology. I know it's incredibly difficult to match to a derm residency, so I wanted to get as much of a head start as possible. As far as choosing a med school, would I benefit from going somewhere that has a derm residency? I also know I want to get involved in research as soon as possible. Any suggestions/advice? Thanks!
Pre-med student interested in derm...any advice?
- Thread starter JessicaM
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For advice on Matching into Dermatology see here and here to get an idea of what people do to Match in Dermatology.
Head start?
1. Do Dermatology research right now, before going to medical school. Problem: People will probably think you want to do Dermatology.
2. Shadow a Dermatologist right now to make sure it's what you want.
3. Volunteerism is always a good sign, IMO.
Honestly, IMO it starts when you start medical school. Not before. Notice what people on here tend to post with regards to the "What are my chances to Match?" process... Grades in medical school. USMLE STEP 1. Research. Publications. Really nothing having to do anything with prior to starting medical school. I am not trying to discourage you. But honestly, your medical school career will probably have more weight than anything you do right now.
Advice:
1. Get into medical school
2. Do well in medical school
3. While in medical school do some Dermatology research, maybe that first Summer.
4. Do 2 to 3 away rotations and get awesome LORs.
5. Get to know people.
6. Apply EVERYWHERE! 🙂
7. Hold on! It's a crazy ride!
This is borderline sticky-able.
Head start?
1. Do Dermatology research right now, before going to medical school. Problem: People will probably think you want to do Dermatology.
2. Shadow a Dermatologist right now to make sure it's what you want.
3. Volunteerism is always a good sign, IMO.
Honestly, IMO it starts when you start medical school. Not before. Notice what people on here tend to post with regards to the "What are my chances to Match?" process... Grades in medical school. USMLE STEP 1. Research. Publications. Really nothing having to do anything with prior to starting medical school. I am not trying to discourage you. But honestly, your medical school career will probably have more weight than anything you do right now.
Advice:
1. Get into medical school
2. Do well in medical school
3. While in medical school do some Dermatology research, maybe that first Summer.
4. Do 2 to 3 away rotations and get awesome LORs.
5. Get to know people.
6. Apply EVERYWHERE! 🙂
7. Hold on! It's a crazy ride!
This is borderline sticky-able.
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I think right now just focus on getting into medical school. And if/once you get in, probably like the first or second week I'd go introduce myself to the dermatology department and ask if there's any way you can start getting involved. Hopefully they'll steer you from there. Obviously adjusting to medical school is something you'll be doing but if you can start doing a couple things your first year it'll really help get the ball rolling.
Thing is, very few people really know what they want to do that early on, even if they think they know what they wanted to do. So shadowing, or even asking if you can help out in some clinics during your free time first year (might be possible depending on your med school's lecture schedules-we had our afternoons free most of the time our first year) could be an early way to get an idea of whether or not you actually like it.
That's pretty much what I'd do if I could go back in time and know from day one that I wanna do derm.
On the downside you could get involved super early, do a ton of stuff in derm, and then realize once you start 3rd year that you love something else. I mean the only person I know who had done a lot of dermatology research before medical school ended up applying to something else entirely so it's really hard to predict what you'll fall in love with. Or maybe you won't be happy with your STEP 1 score, etc. But it doesn't hurt to get involved as soon as possible. I don't think you need to do anything before you get into med school though and I'd probably focus on MCATs and whatnot if you haven't already done all that.
Thing is, very few people really know what they want to do that early on, even if they think they know what they wanted to do. So shadowing, or even asking if you can help out in some clinics during your free time first year (might be possible depending on your med school's lecture schedules-we had our afternoons free most of the time our first year) could be an early way to get an idea of whether or not you actually like it.
That's pretty much what I'd do if I could go back in time and know from day one that I wanna do derm.
On the downside you could get involved super early, do a ton of stuff in derm, and then realize once you start 3rd year that you love something else. I mean the only person I know who had done a lot of dermatology research before medical school ended up applying to something else entirely so it's really hard to predict what you'll fall in love with. Or maybe you won't be happy with your STEP 1 score, etc. But it doesn't hurt to get involved as soon as possible. I don't think you need to do anything before you get into med school though and I'd probably focus on MCATs and whatnot if you haven't already done all that.
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I have a similar dilemma.
Starting early in undergrad would show long-term commitment, BUT... it may be harder to get into med school in the first place. Some adcoms will suspect you're just there for derm.
What would you do if you were an undergrad freshman?
I'm also wondering why bumblebees are black and yellow, if barrel rollz have any meaningful existence, and how much being asian/male would detract from chances on the amcas vs. eras. I'm somewhat ugly too on a good day.
Starting early in undergrad would show long-term commitment, BUT... it may be harder to get into med school in the first place. Some adcoms will suspect you're just there for derm.
What would you do if you were an undergrad freshman?
I'm also wondering why bumblebees are black and yellow, if barrel rollz have any meaningful existence, and how much being asian/male would detract from chances on the amcas vs. eras. I'm somewhat ugly too on a good day.
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AMCAS vs. ERAS is a very big dilemma indeed. 🙂
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Well, since you asked.....
"Bumblebee's colour makes them very noticeable. They have the typical warning colours of yellow and black. This protects them from being attacked. A bird or mammal need only be stung once by a black and yellow insect to know better, and to learn that black and yellow things are not to be messed with. This works so well that many insects are this colour, not just bumblebees, such as wasps, hornets and even poisonous caterpillars. This is called Mullerian mimicry, after the man who first wrote about it. There is another kind of mimicry and that is called Batesian mimicry, also named after the person who first explained it. This is when a harmless species mimics the protective colouring (or other type of protection) of a harmful species. This can be seen in some hairy hoverflies which mimic bumblebees. These hoverflies have no sting, and cannot bite, but because they look like bumblebees, and some of them also buzz like bumblebees, they escape a certain amount of predation."
Courtesy of bumblebee.org
😉
