siblings applying to medical school

[hopefuldr1]

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I get compared to my brother a lot and my family constantly makes discouraging remarks regarding my success in medicine. The comments have made me start doubting myself. I haven't submitted my application this year, but I am thinking of applying next year so I can increase my chances. we are both taking the MCAT soon and will be applying for the same cycle.

Me:

3.6 GPA, MCAT range 29-32
Research with several poster presentations (off campus) and 2 talks, teaching at a camp during summers, service for 3 years, hospital volunteering for multiple years, shadowing, worked for 20 hours a week for 4 years

Bro:

3.9 GPA, MCAT range 34-37
soup kitchen volunteering for 2 months, president of a club, global brigades, took health assessments at religious center for 1 summer

Is my brother honestly that superior to me in terms of having a successful application cycle?

 

[TipToad]

Ignore your brother and focus on yourself.

 

[sinombre]

Is my brother honestly that superior to me in terms of having a successful application cycle?

If you're not planing on applying until next year, why not spend more time studying for the MCAT?

Also, you need to work on your self esteem. Obviously easier said than done, but try to not depend so heavily on the approval of others. It will only hold you back.

It sounds like you've accomplished a lot, and that's something you should be proud of.

 

[bigbad]

You shouldn't be letting external factors influence your decision.

 

[Dream20er]

Your brother won't be your only competition when you apply. There wil be people with better stats than his who get in. There will be people with lower stats than yours who get in.

The point is, comparing yourself to others is pointless. Focus on doing YOUR best.

Good luck next cycle.

 

[grapepopsicle]

Your ECs are far superior to his. Honestly, his are fairly weak and he may have trouble getting in depending on how instate-friendly your state's public schools are. One could argue that he could use the year off more than you.

 

[nabilesmail]

I agree, his EC's are weak and not enough, hey may not get in based off his EC's. If you apply broadly you should do fine

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Come on people, let him face the facts.

Yeah, if you both do the same on your app he's gonna kick your ass in the application cycle, even with his poorer ECs.

However, this doesn't matter. If you do well on your application, your ECs are good enough to at least warrant some attention from a state school. But, if you compare yourself to him, you're going to do poorly.

If you do well on his application, and he doesn't, there's a good chance you could get in and he doesn't. Then who will feel ****ty?

 

[hopefuldr1]

Hey guys,

I don't compare myself to him, my parents do that enough. we are both actually applying this cycle. my parents have told me to just aim for a pharmacy career since my brother is more likely the better applicant. Just wanted to get some ideas after reading "The perfect applicant" thread. you're all right, I should just focus on myself.

thanks everyone

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Hey guys,

I don't compare myself to him, my parents do that enough. we are both actually applying this cycle. my parents have told me to just aim for a pharmacy career since my brother is more likely the better applicant. Just wanted to get some ideas after reading "The perfect applicant" thread. you're all right, I should just focus on myself.

thanks everyone

If I were an AdCom, if you did a good job on your primary/secondary and he didn't, I would be comparing you two, and I would probably end up picking you.


Unfortunately for you, I'm no adcom 😉

 

[circulus vitios]

Hey guys,

I don't compare myself to him, my parents do that enough. we are both actually applying this cycle. my parents have told me to just aim for a pharmacy career since my brother is more likely the better applicant. Just wanted to get some ideas after reading "The perfect applicant" thread. you're all right, I should just focus on myself.

thanks everyone

Damn, your parents are mean.

 

[hopefuldr1]

If I were an AdCom, if you did a good job on your primary/secondary and he didn't, I would be comparing you two, and I would probably end up picking you.

🙂 here's to hoping an adcom feels the same way

 

[hopefuldr1]

Damn, your parents are mean.

lol...I can't completely blame them. Dealing with setbacks is a challenge for me and something I have to work on. they just don't want to see me disappointed if I don't get in anywhere and my bro does.

 

[circulus vitios]

lol...I can't completely blame them. Dealing with setbacks is a challenge for me and something I have to work on. they just don't want to see me disappointed if I don't get in anywhere and my bro does.

Apply to DO schools in addition to MD schools and I'm sure you'll get in. If your parents give you crap for being "just a DO," screw them. You'll still be a doctor.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

lol...I can't completely blame them. Dealing with setbacks is a challenge for me and something I have to work on. they just don't want to see me disappointed if I don't get in anywhere and my bro does.

 

[Iso4ane]

Kinda wierdly, my stats were very similar to the brothers stats (with slightly better EC's) and I was considered the black sheep of my family. (My older sister applied and got in a few years before I did.)

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Ignore your parents, they sound like the type of parents who view doctor as the only acceptable career for their children despite knowing nothing about being a doctor. I hope their demands haven't influenced your career decisions and that you're going into this because you want to, not because mom and dad will disown you if you don't.

 

[Davidasaurus]

You do surpass him in terms of EC's, but suffice it to say he'll most likely have more success due to his high marks.

Do your best to tune out anything anyone else tells you, you're still competitive in terms of admission and if you apply broadly enough you should see similar success.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

His GPA is better than yours, but I'd say you have stronger ECs. Don't compare your MCAT scores til you both actually take the MCAT. 🙂 And if you need to, keep yourself distant from your family til the application cycle is over if you feel that their negativity is affecting you.

 

[Haislip]

Believe in yourself and never give up. Med schools will take a passionate candidate over an applicant with good stats. Passion is one of the main influences that gets people through med school

 

[DAPI]

I have a feeling your brother is going to have one hell of a time filing out secondaries as it does not seem he has much experience outside of school.

I think you will fair better if you get a balanced 30 on your MCAT, even if he does a little better due to his lack of ECs

 

[hopefuldr1]

thanks everyone, I've decided to apply this cycle and will update about it later

 

[Mornhavon]

.

 

[Gnomo]

I agree, his EC's are weak and not enough, hey may not get in based off his EC's. If you apply broadly you should do fine

No... 3.9, 34+, slightly below average ECs. Assuming he has done some shadowing, the brother will be fine.

 

[grapepopsicle]

No... 3.9, 34+, slightly below average ECs. Assuming he has done some shadowing, the brother will be fine.

His ECs aren't slightly below average, they're very mediocre. He has no research so top schools won't be interested. State schools and mid/low tiers won't like his lack of long-term volunteering. I know people like this who have ended up on waitlists and either get in nowhere, or get in somewhere over the summer.

 

[ur2l8]

One plan, so easy bro:

Study for mcat now, take next may, kick his ass in mcat along w rest of applicants but not me (hehe)

Then who is the loser? Not you with the 45

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Both of you are ok applicants, but not necessarily for the same schools.

 

[blizzah]

If you combine your MCAT scores...

 

[Iso4ane]

Kinda wierdly, my stats were very similar to the brothers stats (with slightly better EC's) and I was considered the black sheep of my family. (My older sister applied and got in a few years before I did.)

Oh yeah, the point is these comparisons don't really matter, just apply broadly and well and play to your strengths and you will go to med school. If you rock out the MCAT you will get into a decent med school so don't worry about it.

 

[NightGod]

If there was one medical school slot open in the world and you both applied, your brother would likely be the one who gets in. Fortunately for you, that's no where near true. I can't imagine there are many adcoms that are going to sit there and think "well, these two are brothers, so we can only accept one of them". You both obviously have different strengths-concentrate on your own and don't worry about his.