Those of you who graduated in three years, did you get in without a gap year?

[baratheonfire]

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Okay. You have volunteered in hospitals and shadowed and loved it. Now compare it to some non-medical experience you have. Tell me what you liked about medicine in comparison to the non-medical experience. If you can't answer that question, it is concerning.

Well, my most significant non-clinical experience would be the years I've spent volunteering at my local soup kitchen. I enjoy it, because it is service, but it has nowhere near the level of impact that medicine has. Personally, I feel that there's no greater service than healing people, and saving their lives. Combined with my interest in the biological sciences, and my appreciation for the intricate construction of the human body, there's really no other profession that I find as appealing.

I'd probably be more eloquent during a legitimate interview.

 

[22031 Alum]

Well, my most significant non-clinical experience would be the years I've spent volunteering at my local soup kitchen. I enjoy it, because it is service, but it has nowhere near the level of impact that medicine has. Personally, I feel that there's no greater service than healing people, and saving their lives. Combined with my interest in the biological sciences, and my appreciation for the intricate construction of the human body, there's really no other profession that I find as appealing.

I'd probably be more eloquent during a legitimate interview.

I should've been more specific. Tell me about an activity in which you explored a non-medical career. The idea is, when you say that medicine is for you, what specifically are you comparing it to? Working in a soup kitchen isn't really comparable since it doesn't typically lead to a career.

 

[baratheonfire]

I should've been more specific. Tell me about an activity in which you explored a non-medical career. The idea is, when you say that medicine is for you, what specifically are you comparing it to? Working in a soup kitchen isn't really comparable since it doesn't typically lead to a career.

Like research? I absolutely hate the drudgery of bench research, but I don't think talking about that would help, since I continue to do it to embellish my resume.

 

[phuynh94]

Like research? I absolutely hate the drudgery of bench research, but I don't think talking about that would help, since I continue to do it to embellish my resume.

Think about what attracts you about medicine. Now ask yourself: why not become a nurse? A PA or NP? A teacher? A socially conscious entrepreneaur? A clinical researcher? A health psychologist?

Why, out of all the careers out there that can help people and involve science, do you want to choose the most grueling and financially burdensome career out there?

 

[baratheonfire]

Think about what attracts you about medicine. Now ask yourself: why not become a nurse? A PA or NP? A teacher? A socially conscious entrepreneaur? A clinical researcher? A health psychologist?

Why, out of all the careers out there that can help people and involve science, do you want to choose the most grueling and financially burdensome career out there?

Well they're not the same professions. I can eliminate the last 4 since I actually want to be involved in talking to patients and working in a hospital environment.
Nurses and PA's aren't the same as doctors; they can't get involved to the same degree, can't prescribe medications, can't perform surgeries, and generally cannot take a role of leadership in the healthcare field.

 

[Lost in Translation]

Like research? I absolutely hate the drudgery of bench research, but I don't think talking about that would help, since I continue to do it to embellish my resume.

If you're as gunner gunner about your specialty as you are about matriculating after only 3 UG years, many of the more prestigious (see: competitive) residencies require research.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Nurses and PA's aren't the same as doctors; they can't get involved to the same degree, can't prescribe medications, can't perform surgeries, and generally cannot take a role of leadership in the healthcare field.

At the risk of sounding nit-picky, both NPs and PAs can prescribe medications and PAs can perform some surgeries. (Some NPs may also be able to first assist in surgery.) I think this is what previous posters have been getting at. While it may not be necessary to explore all other health care fields (personally, I think it's a good idea but I digress...), you should at least be somewhat knowledgeable about them. Otherwise, you can't really answer the "Why do you want to become a doctor?" question very knowledgeably.

 

[baratheonfire]

At the risk of sounding nit-picky, both NPs and PAs can prescribe medications and PAs can perform some surgeries. (Some NPs may also be able to first assist in surgery.) I think this is what previous posters have been getting at. While it may not be necessary to explore all other health care fields (personally, I think it's a good idea but I digress...), you should at least be somewhat knowledgeable about them. Otherwise, you can't really answer the "Why do you want to become a doctor?" question very knowledgeably.

I was generalizing bro. There are exceptions but it generally holds that NPs and PAs have limitations in terms of prescribing and performing surgeries that doctors do not. I didn't feel like talking about every single exception.
>inb4 judging based on your internet forum posts I can predict your interview performance

 

[baratheonfire]

If you're as gunner gunner about your specialty as you are about matriculating after only 3 UG years, many of the more prestigious (see: competitive) residencies require research.

??????
I am currently doing research. I just don't like doing it.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I was generalizing bro.

Lol. Generalizing, huh? That's the word for being wrong, eh bro?

 

[baratheonfire]

Lol. Generalizing, huh? That's the word for being wrong, eh bro?

It's the word for being general. Y u cut pieces of my post?

 

[22031 Alum]

I was generalizing bro.

@thatwouldbeanarchy brings up good points that could very well come up in an interview. "I was generalizing" won't work then.

What don't you like about research? Have you looked into any research besides bench so far?

 

[baratheonfire]

@thatwouldbeanarchy brings up good points that could very well come up in an interview. "I was generalizing" won't work then.

I predicted this response. I'll prepare and actually try during an interview, I don't need to do either on an internet forum. Also why are you cutting out parts of my post without context?

@thatwouldbeanarchy What don't you like about research? Have you looked into any research besides bench so far?

It's really boring, slow, and nothing gets done. Might just be my lab, but who knows. Also I don't really like the structure of academia in general.
And nope, I haven't, and I don't think I'll have time to.

 

[22031 Alum]

I predicted this response. I'll prepare and actually try during an interview, I don't need to do either on an internet forum. Also why are you cutting out parts of my post without context?

I didn't need to quote the whole thing to point out that your response wasn't going to fly.

If you don't feel the need to be thoughtful in your responses here that's fine. Waste an opportunity where people who aren't in a position to determine you fate are trying to help you prepare.

 

[baratheonfire]

I didn't need to quote the whole thing to point out that your response wasn't going to fly.

If you don't feel the need to be thoughtful in your responses here that's fine. Waste an opportunity where people who aren't in a position to determine you fate are trying to help you prepare.

If that came off as rude btw, it wasn't my intention. Just saying that it's not entirely fair to expect that people behave the same on the internet (extremely informal) and during an interview (pretty formal).

 

[phuynh94]

For what it's worth, a health psychologist does work in a hospital setting and does talk to patients. But sure, let's move beyond that.

You seem dead set on applying regardless, and there's nothing we say that seems to encourage you to research your options further. Best of luck on your cycle, but don't be surprised if these questions pop up. If you can't provide a thoughtful answer to these questions on an anonymous forum, I don't know what makes you think you can formulate one in a high pressure situation such as a medical school interview.

 

[baratheonfire]

If you can't provide a thoughtful answer to these questions on an anonymous forum, I don't know what makes you think you can formulate one in a high pressure situation such as a medical school interview.

Because they're not the same situation. I knew it would devolve into this.

 

[22031 Alum]

Because they're not the same situation. I knew it would devolve into this.

Well, you're asking how you can avoid being perceived a certain way. If you're going to save your "real talk" for the actual situation, there's nothing we can do to help you figure out how it will come across.

 

[Lost in Translation]

??????
I am currently doing research. I just don't like doing it.

Did you even read my comment? If you want to do ortho or plastics or derm or neurosurg or optho (basically any surgery subspecialty) you need to do research as a med student. And not just 1 project. You'll need to have at least 4 1st or 2nd author publications, in addition to other projects where your name is on the author list.

 

[claduva94]

I think a big reason that helped me get in after 3 years was an engineering major that I was able to directly compare to healthcare...

 

[baratheonfire]

Did you even read my comment? If you want to do ortho or plastics or derm or neurosurg or optho (basically any surgery subspecialty) you need to do research as a med student. And not just 1 project. You'll need to have at least 4 1st or 2nd author publications, in addition to other projects where your name is on the author list.

Yeah, how does that apply to me? I'm not a med student yet. I'll deal with that as I go. Also, 4 publications wat

 

[baratheonfire]

I think a big reason that helped me get in after 3 years was an engineering major that I was able to directly compare to healthcare...

Also a 3.94 gpa, no big deal

 

[Glandzburg]

Comes to Internet forum and asks for advice.

Ignores advice and antagonizes those trying to help.

Repeats in several threads.

What's your goal here, OP? To get real advice, or to selectively seek out only the advice that supports your pre-formed conclusions?

 

[baratheonfire]

Comes to Internet forum and asks for advice.

Ignores advice and antagonizes those trying to help.

Repeats in several threads.

What's your goal here, OP? To get real advice, or to selectively seek out only the advice that supports your pre-formed conclusions?

When did I do any of those things dude