Ugh Premed counselors

[physcigirl27]

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So I know this has been talked to death about but I'm still panicking because my counselor was adamant that I was wrong about this. He claims that only the pre-reqs for premeds at our school (the typical chem class, bio classes, math classes, physics) are the only ones that med schools look at. I'm enrolled in a fairly easy BCPM class next quarter and he told me that I was making a mistake taking it because med schools won't even look at it and I'm just taking it for fun.
Any input?
Sorry I know this is like every other thread on this forum but I need an answer.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Uh...time to fire your counselor. Med schools look at all of your grades. They might give special attention to some of the pre-reqs, but your whole record will come under scrutiny.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

So I know this has been talked to death about but I'm still panicking because my counselor was adamant that I was wrong about this. He claims that only the pre-reqs for premeds at our school (the typical chem class, bio classes, math classes, physics) are the only ones that med schools look at. I'm enrolled in a fairly easy BCPM class next quarter and he told me that I was making a mistake taking it because med schools won't even look at it and I'm just taking it for fun.
Any input?
Sorry I know this is like every other thread on this forum but I need an answer.

silly.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Out of 4 pre-med counselors, I have only had one good one.

Med schools will look at all your grades.

 

[eyang22286]

is it just me or do other people also have this very negative stigma about premed counselors. what does that term mean anyway.... are they people that applied to med school and were never accepted? (rhetorical)

anyways, my point is that i've heard from so many people that they've gotten loads of false information from these "premed counselors". i think the majority of the time you will find much better answers on SDN than with them.

of course, i'm sure you will have a handful of very good ones that care and know what they're doing, but my experience was never good. all in all, just be wary of some of the info you get from them... especially if it's something as important as this. oha and also in my opinion..... SDN>>>>"premed counselors"

 

[redlight]

is it..april fools yet? that's a terrible prank your adviser is trying to pull..

 

[LittleRocker]

My premed advisor is an incompetent fool also. He once told me there was no point in applying early. Thank god I'm proactive enough to use resources like SDN. I feel bad for the majority of kids at my school who aren't.

 

[Kaustikos]

So I know this has been talked to death about but I'm still panicking because my counselor was adamant that I was wrong about this. He claims that only the pre-reqs for premeds at our school (the typical chem class, bio classes, math classes, physics) are the only ones that med schools look at. I'm enrolled in a fairly easy BCPM class next quarter and he told me that I was making a mistake taking it because med schools won't even look at it and I'm just taking it for fun.
Any input?
Sorry I know this is like every other thread on this forum but I need an answer.

Your advisor is an idiot. Ask him to go out for drinks and slip some laxative in his drink. After he comes back tell him:
"Did you also give the toilet your advice? Because that's where it belongs"

Seriously, advisors are not screened and no one keeps an eye on what they say so you won't get the best advice from them. Just stay the course.

 

[LittleRocker]

Ask him to go out for drinks and slip some laxative in his drink. After he comes back tell him:
"Did you also give the toilet your advice? Because that's where it belongs"

I see what you did there

 

[eyang22286]

I see what you did there

what did he do? (other than give him laxatives...)

 

[bnleong]

Pre-med Counselor= Random college grad who couldn't find another job.

Yea! great person to get advice from. Wouldn't you rather talk to someone who has actually gone through the whole process.

 

[binko]

Ohio University has an actually helpful, competent pre-med advising office and I actually see the advisor at pre-SOMA and AMSA meetings.

So, my advice is transfer to OU.

 

[pietachok]

Hmm...then all those extra for fun upper level engineering, physics, and math classes I took when I wasn't a pre-med, that dragged down my GPA, wouldn't have led to my getting rejected all around for 2 years in a row.

Don't listen to him.

If you're doing badly in the class, you also shouldn't worry that one class will kill you. You can recover. I have 3 C's and a W and got into USC this year. But, yes, your overall science GPA definitely matters. Your overall GPA definitely matters, too.

 

[jtimmer1]

Luckily, I have a great pre-med counselor. She is actually a doctor of veterinary medicine, and just prefers advising I guess; she has always given me great advice.

But yeah, it sounds like yours is on crazy pills. It is not only the pre-reqs that get attention.

 

[Sarg's kid]

So I know this has been talked to death about but I'm still panicking because my counselor was adamant that I was wrong about this. He claims that only the pre-reqs for premeds at our school (the typical chem class, bio classes, math classes, physics) are the only ones that med schools look at. I'm enrolled in a fairly easy BCPM class next quarter and he told me that I was making a mistake taking it because med schools won't even look at it and I'm just taking it for fun.
Any input?
Sorry I know this is like every other thread on this forum but I need an answer.

Med schools will get all of your grades, however, AMCAS will subjectively decide which classes will be calculated into your science gpa. I know that this process is subjective, because when I applied the first time, I got one gpa. When I reapplied, after having taken some more classes and getting A's in core science classes, my science gpa went DOWN, not up. So, it's all a crap shoot.

 

[Van Chowder]

All Premed counselors I have encountered thus far, are beyong stupid! They have no Freaking CLUE what they are talking about, I guess for those of us that have SDN ( Woot!) its not that big a prob, but If the counselors actually knew what they were talking about I would actually bet money that there would be alot more competition out there!

F***ing ******ed counselors!!! WHY DONT THEY GET REAL JOBS, IN STEAD OF SUCKING AT THE SUCKY JOBS THEY ALREADY HAVE?!?

 

[Kaustikos]

Med schools will get all of your grades, however, AMCAS will subjectively decide which classes will be calculated into your science gpa. I know that this process is subjective, because when I applied the first time, I got one gpa. When I reapplied, after having taken some more classes and getting A's in core science classes, my science gpa went DOWN, not up. So, it's all a crap shoot.

I'm sorry, what?

 

[virusgirl]

My premed advisor has been fantastic. He's a chemistry professor, and I think he sort of became the premed advisor by accident when our other guy left, but I must say he has really stepped up to the plate and has done a great job.

Van Chowder, I think (and I could be wrong) that there is very little in the way of formalized training when it comes to becoming a premedical advisor. There's no one degree or path or even a relatively universal set of qualifications, so I think many people end up as advisors via a fairly arbitrary process. So it makes sense to me that many advisors aren't actually very knowledgeable about the process.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

There's no one degree or path or even a relatively universal set of qualifications, so I think many people end up as advisors via a fairly arbitrary process. So it makes sense to me that many advisors aren't actually very knowledgeable about the process.

haha, sounds like a pre-med test in disguise. Only those, truly ambitious few, that question their advisors find the truth and are able to get accepted to medical school.

My college advisor told everyone that we only needed 2 quarters of gen chem...until end of Junior year when someone finally figured out that that was total BS. Senior year, half the gen chem class was made up of us 4th years...we totally messed up the curve for the freshman...poor freshman.

...all because of the incompentency of an untrained, totally useless premed advisor.

 

[cpants]

Some are good, some are bad. Yours is bad. He is right that you don't have to take anymore courses beyond the prereqs. He is wrong that schools won't look at the grades. They look at all grades in all classes. Any science classes will be calculated into your science GPA along with your prereqs. This can help you if you do well, or hurt you if you do poorly. Just know that going into it.

 

[docontheroc]

why do people use premed advisors?

figure this stuff out on your own...it's not rocket science. you should know plenty of people who have been through the process that could counsel you anyway.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

All Premed counselors I have encountered thus far, are beyong stupid! They have no Freaking CLUE what they are talking about, I guess for those of us that have SDN ( Woot!) its not that big a prob, but If the counselors actually knew what they were talking about I would actually bet money that there would be alot more competition out there!

F***ing ******ed counselors!!! WHY DONT THEY GET REAL JOBS, IN STEAD OF SUCKING AT THE SUCKY JOBS THEY ALREADY HAVE?!?

hahaha woooowoooo calm down, it will be alright😛

 

[Kaustikos]

why do people use premed advisors?

figure this stuff out on your own...it's not rocket science. you should know plenty of people who have been through the process that could counsel you anyway.

Can't really blame us/them. We can't be overtly cynical about the people we get help from and sometimes we just fall prey to their faulty logic because we honestly don't know better. The knowledge people have today, right now, is significantly different than in, say, 2002 such that many people who are just now entering medicine wouldn't have this wealth of information or sources to go to.

And when they call themselves pre-med advisors, we'd think they would at least know their info about some things....

guess not

 

[docontheroc]

i think you're right, i can see how they mightve been useful a decade ago...

but i can still blame people for falling prey to their faulty logic today. i had one really great premed advisor: SDN. made all my dreams come true 😛

 

[Van Chowder]

My premed advisor has been fantastic. He's a chemistry professor, and I think he sort of became the premed advisor by accident when our other guy left, but I must say he has really stepped up to the plate and has done a great job.

Van Chowder, I think (and I could be wrong) that there is very little in the way of formalized training when it comes to becoming a premedical advisor. There's no one degree or path or even a relatively universal set of qualifications, so I think many people end up as advisors via a fairly arbitrary process. So it makes sense to me that many advisors aren't actually very knowledgeable about the process.

Yea, I figured, Idk its not that hard of a process, I feel like people should almsot feel guilty about misleading folks, dont they understand that their ignorance could actually keep qualified candidates out of medical school?

Bleh. I will ALWAYS heart SDN! I cant wait to get some money to donate to it!

 

[Van Chowder]

Can't really blame us/them. We can't be overtly cynical about the people we get help from and sometimes we just fall prey to their faulty logic because we honestly don't know better. The knowledge people have today, right now, is significantly different than in, say, 2002 such that many people who are just now entering medicine wouldn't have this wealth of information or sources to go to.

And when they call themselves pre-med advisors, we'd think they would at least know their info about some things....

guess not

Ok I hear what your saying " who are we to blame them for their ignorance when we are apparently ignorant our selves.. Well, we aren't being paid to NOT be ignorant.. they are.

 

[cbrons]

So I know this has been talked to death about but I'm still panicking because my counselor was adamant that I was wrong about this. He claims that only the pre-reqs for premeds at our school (the typical chem class, bio classes, math classes, physics) are the only ones that med schools look at. I'm enrolled in a fairly easy BCPM class next quarter and he told me that I was making a mistake taking it because med schools won't even look at it and I'm just taking it for fun.
Any input?
Sorry I know this is like every other thread on this forum but I need an answer.

SDN is my pre-medical advisor™

When the hell are they going to make this t-shirt? I've been recommending it forever, damnit. I want it now.

 

[redlight]

lol, make your own! tons of websites for it..

 

[deleted202457]

All your classes definately show up. In my opinion, some upper level sciences are good because they help prepare you for the MCAT and show that you have more than just a slight interest in medicine. It shows you are willing to go above and beyond the requirements. If it comes down to it just tell your advisor you want to take it for fun, just to get him to shut up and leave you alone. Unless he is the advisor for your major I'd try and avoid him.

 

[Virgil]

Pre-med advisors are like professional swimmers who have never been in a pool.

 

[silas2642]

So I know this has been talked to death about but I'm still panicking because my counselor was adamant that I was wrong about this. He claims that only the pre-reqs for premeds at our school (the typical chem class, bio classes, math classes, physics) are the only ones that med schools look at. I'm enrolled in a fairly easy BCPM class next quarter and he told me that I was making a mistake taking it because med schools won't even look at it and I'm just taking it for fun.
Any input?
Sorry I know this is like every other thread on this forum but I need an answer.

Don't argue with him, just nod and say that you're doing it for yourself. You are right-- everything counts and you need to do well in whatever you take.

 

[physcigirl27]

okay so seeing as my premed counselor is an idiot, i might as well ask you guys.
if i was to take random bcpm classes at a jc would med schools look down on that too? I mean, it wouldn't be my premed prereqs...

 

[Projectx]

I've learned more from SDN forums and other student's questions/concerns than any pre-medical advisor can ever possibly teach me. My friend had a 4.0 GPA and a counselor suggested: 1) To take Physiology (not required, but why take a class that you don't really need in Ugrad studies). and 2) Think about a Post-bacc. program (he had all the pre-reqs completed).

Once a Pre-med advisor asked what were my plans for Biochem. and Physical chem. I just got up from my chair and left.

 

[silas2642]

Pre-med advisors are like professional swimmers who have never been in a pool.

Not a bad analogy. Some of them have seen pictures of swimming pools, others have even visited swimming pools. However, none of them have ever actually swam a stroke a day in their lives.

If I had listened to my pre-med adviser, I never would have been accepted into med school--- sdn was an invaluable resource for me. Again, med schools look at everything on your transcript, they especially look at your pre-requisites and science gpa to make sure that you can handle the med school curriculum, but EVERYTHING counts.

 

[tiedyeddog]

In my experience, many premed advisors are failed pre-professional. I have had 2 different ones at my big state school straight up tell me they both tried a pre-professional path and found out their senior years that they were not competitive (one was pre-dent, the other pre-med.) I know this won't be representative of everyone's advisors....

Also, mine knows nothing about MD/PhD programs and won't even attempt to find out more.... I have seen her about 3 times in the 3 years I've been at my school, and one of those times was required for a freshman class...hah.

 

[cgk]

My friend wants to take orgo I&II this summer at a 4 year university near his folks' home instead of at the 4 year university that he attends during the year. His premed advisor adamently says that it would be a greivous mistake because it is highly frowned upon by Adcoms to take premed required courses in the summer. Is this correct or just another example of misguided advise by a premed advisor? What should my friend do? Obviously he doesn't want to jeopordize his chances of getting into med school. Opinions are much appreciated.

 

[MilkmanAl]

That's not true. I think (hope) what the adviser means is that taking pre-reqs at the summer at an easier institution is frowned upon. If anything, summer courses are actually harder since you have so much less time to learn the material.

 

[tiedyeddog]

That's not true. I think (hope) what the adviser means is that taking pre-reqs at the summer at an easier institution is frowned upon. If anything, summer courses are actually harder since you have so much less time to learn the material.

I agree with MilkmanAl. I know some people, who attended a 4 year university during the regular school year, that took prereqs during the summer at community colleges just to avoid taking a harder class at their home institution. Don't do this.

 

[cgk]

I agree with MilkmanAl. I know some people, who attended a 4 year university during the regular school year, that took prereqs during the summer at community colleges just to avoid taking a harder class at their home institution. Don't do this.

Thanks for your opinions. Anyone else with an opinion regarding my friend's dilemma?

 

[virusgirl]

Thanks for your opinions. Anyone else with an opinion regarding my friend's dilemma?

I concur with what's already been said. So long as the schools are of comparable quality, I don't think it will be an issue. I took most of my pre-reqs at my home institution, but I took gen chem I at Brandeis over the summer. It has not been a problem.

 

[turkeyjerky]

I made an appointment to see my school's pre-med advisor after one of my professors told me she was "amazing" and "had a great record" (wtf does that even mean?). So I went in to talk to her and get random advice about a month before I had submitted my amcas. She told me it was doubtful I'd get in anywhere (despite not knowing either my mcat or gpa) because "no one gets in the first time" and that I was way behind in the process because I hadn't visited any schools (who visits med schools prior to applying?). I asked her if she had any advice about writing my personal statement. Her eyes lit up and she told me to to overlook this "most critical part of the application".

When I left, furious that I had just wasted an hour of my life that I'd never get back, I looked her up on the school's website. I found out that she's a professor in the Women's Studies department (wtf?) and serves as the school's pre-med and pre-law (huh?) advisor. I concluded that she knew absolutely nothing about applying to med school.

This at a school that probably had about 500 students applying each year.