So you got into a "Top 10"?

[optimistique]

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Now that you are in, tell us your secret!

Aside from the "numbers," what aspect of your application did you play up to get accepted to the most competitive schools?

What are the ADCOMS looking for in their best canditates?

What was the most surprising thing you found when you visited these campuses?

 

[relatively prime]

Ummm... you might want to bump this up in a few weeks... about half of the top ten schools haven't given out decisions yet.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Your questions aren't really going to get you anywhere. Medical schools(especially the top 10) want diverse classes. There is no "secret" to getting into them(certainly you will need the numbers but after that its all about what makes you unique). Putting together a med school class is like putting together a basketball team. You wouldn't want a team full of centers because you also need a point guard to bring the ball up the court. So different people will have "played up" different aspects about themselves. You will have to play up what makes you unique from other premeds as well when you apply. With that said adcoms aren't looking for one specific thing in their best candidates. They are looking for a diverse group of people.

Make sense?

But if you really want to make sure you get into a top 10 take a couple of shots of bacardi 151 before you write your personal statement. 😉 j/k

 

[UCLA2000]

Aside from strong MCAT's and GPA the schools look for applicants with significant volunteer activities, research, and extra curriculars.

You'll find that at the top schools EVERYBODY has amazing numbers. But that's just not enough. With so many exceptional candidates floating around it is the extras that will put you over the top.

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by UCLA2000

You'll find that at the top schools EVERYBODY has amazing numbers. But that's just not enough. With so many exceptional candidates floating around it is the extras that will put you over the top.

That's a direct quote from tonights episode of Gilmore Girls on the WB... 🙂

 

[DocForAll]

I don't know about everyone else, but I know personally for me my drive to go into medicine is to work with underrepresented minority populations (patient advocacy, elimination of healthcare disparities & community education). So in addition to the standard good grades, mcat, scientific research, shadowing experiences I was also able top discuss how I worked with mentoring low-income urban students, researched healthcare disparites & have really been active in the community. Aside from that I personally created my own major which incorporated 3 disicplines - Biology, African American Studies & Chicano/Latino studies. My major (Minority Health Care) resulted in a five year undergrad program & lots of collegiate "hoops" that I had to jump through from the 3 different departments I worked with.

All interviewers were very curious about my major & commented on my dedication.

End result:
Interviews at everywhere I applied.
So far 4 acceptances (including my top choice)
Zero rejections (so far)

My advice follow your drive into medicine. I.e. you are going into medicine because a loved one died of cancer - above & beyond scientific cancer research, could be activeness in a cancer society, creating a cancer awareness seminar at your college, and lecturing local elematery schools with a local M.D. to discuss how smoking contributes to lung cancer. This really shows your drive, allows you to work within your community & enables you to socialize with people who may be a valuable reference to you in the future.

 

[rajneel1]

i would say to do research- try to get fellowships, present it at student conferences, publish it in student journals.
some type of work abroad- any amount of time works, and it doesn't have to be health related
do something with long term critically/chronically ill people like at residential care homes, hospice, etc.
definitely do other types of community service like tutoring, etc.

 

[HouseHead]

When I was younger, listening to stories about applying to undergrad, I started hearing about extracurriculars. I got a little worried because I didn't do much that showed up as a part of my school record. Nonetheless, I eventually applied to the one school to which I wanted to go and got in.

It wasn't until recently that I realized that I had strong extracurriculars all along, even if they weren't the cookie cutter track team, debate team, yearbook, blah blah blah ECs that I heard about on TV. After all, I had studied ballet seriously all through high school, spent more time in dance classes, rehearsals and performances than I did studying (and I studied A LOT), and even choreographed a number of pieces for school shows. Never mind that I later did dance and choreography semi-pro, in h.s. it didn't even click that those things were ECs, and that they quite possibly got me my ticket into my top- only- choice school.

The moral to the story is: Do what you love. You are going into a helping profession, so you'd better love to help. So help. But beyond the typical volunteering, shadowing, and research, a love for running, basketball, sculpture, gardening, or anything else (except certain forms of pop entertainment, I'm sure) should be lived and explored. What makes you you? Then be you, and do those things. And find out what you love in the cookie cutter arena. If you really like working with the elderly, as I do, then don't bother signing up to work with kids, because there are opportunities that will suite you better.

 

[rajneel1]

definitely do what you love. you will be surprised at how better you will be at keeping committments for things you love. adcoms appreciate that too.

 

[optimistique]

Thanks for the advice on the application process for the most sought after schools. I was looking for the general "theme" and thats what I got.

As the admissions process wraps up, hopefully others will share their "Final thoughts." I know there is no magic recipe to getting into our favorite school but a little insight can add to confidence.

So what about the interviews and visiting campuses....was there anything that surprised you, motivated you, or validated your opinion of the top medical schools? A MD from anywhere is a great education, what sets these schools apart from the rest?

 

[DocForAll]

For me I had many pre-conceived notions about the schools I was visiting, but I let them go because just as I expected everything was different once I got there. Harvard was my top choice & it wasn't as stuffy as I imagined it to be. It was really actually relaxed. What really sealed the deal for me was there way of thinking about medicine. Actually they don't wan't you to memorize medicine, but rather to think medicine. Problem solving instead of memorizing text book methodologies. It fits me to the tee. After all Albert Einstein said he never memorized anything that he could look up in a book.
The Mayo also encourages students to work in groups. They are like a machine with all parts working together. Makes sense since you will most likely be consulting other physicians when making medical decisions.
Hopkins as well does not teach to the boards, but rather teaches to the student.

At my age I really don't want to be "lectured to" any more so minimizing lectures for more group and/or clinical experiences really appeals to me.

 

[UCLA2000]

Originally posted by the boy wonder
That's a direct quote from tonights episode of Gilmore Girls on the WB... 🙂

1. Are you kidding?
2. my friend is on that show 🙂

 

[DarkChild]

funny that no one mentioned it, but i think a really important thing is to know why you want to go to that school. then be very enthusiastic and up front about it. i.e. why you like the Yale system and Cornell's PBL or Penn's curriculum2000. i think it wins you beaucoup points if you can state better and more clearly why you like school x that you are interviewing at.