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I did notwant this buried in another long thread that already has a large number of responses to the question in the Subject box.
The scene: A new patient comes to you for advice about medical care for her/his illness. You know no details about him/her and the past medical history. What is the first thing you do as a physician?
A. Take a history!
You have that. What next?
A. Based on YOUR medical experience and knowledge, ask some more specific questions and perform some tests to start on a differential diagnosis. Some similar illnesses have different root causes and require different treatments. All who present similarly are not necessarily alike.
What has this to do with topic? Not being able to get into medical school seems to be approached as if it were one disease, requiring one cure-all. It is commonly thought of that: "try harder" "retake some courses" "get more medical experience" "go to a postbac program" and so on.
Failure to be admitted to medical school should not be seen as requiring a cure, where by analogy, "one size fits all."
Differential diagnosis is necessary before offering a prescribed course of treatment! Some may have multiple but different problems for which each must be treated differently
Applicants who have to improve grades/ MCAT scores might go on to take more science courses, whether as a postbac or grad student.
Almost all postbac programs are unsuitable and often do not accept students who had electives in the sciences. For them, an MA/MS in biology/biochemistry may be the way to go.
But think about that for a moment. A student who has not done well-enough in the sciences has to be diagnosed for the cause. Sometimes it is just situational: the specific undergrad college was personally unsuitable, or there were personal problems at home or in a relationship. If those causes are no longer in the picture, go ahead. There may be systemic long-term personal problems getting in the way; if not resolved, what would you expect to happen if a student just continues to on? If you were a physician you would suggest some kind of treatment to help, not a pep talk: "Go on, just get it out your mind"
If the problem is mainly not enough medically related experience, go out an get some. There is a good reason medical schools look for that, and a good reason (other than what the medical schools expect) that you should do that. It is for you to learn about yourself in relation to the profession you are choosing for yourself. It is not about whether you are bright enough; I take it as a given that any premed in college is capable academically.
For some, possibly and hopefully not too many, personality itself may be a problem. I won't open that can of worms here!
This is getting too long so I will stop here. I hope I have made you more aware about how to deal with being unable to convince medical schools that you are a deserving candidate for a medical education. Apply the correct cure/s to the probable cause/s of the illness. One size doesn't fit all.
Good luck all in attaining your dream. If any become medical school faculty, you might find it interesting to sit on the other side of the table: get yourself on an admissions committee.
The scene: A new patient comes to you for advice about medical care for her/his illness. You know no details about him/her and the past medical history. What is the first thing you do as a physician?
A. Take a history!
You have that. What next?
A. Based on YOUR medical experience and knowledge, ask some more specific questions and perform some tests to start on a differential diagnosis. Some similar illnesses have different root causes and require different treatments. All who present similarly are not necessarily alike.
What has this to do with topic? Not being able to get into medical school seems to be approached as if it were one disease, requiring one cure-all. It is commonly thought of that: "try harder" "retake some courses" "get more medical experience" "go to a postbac program" and so on.
Failure to be admitted to medical school should not be seen as requiring a cure, where by analogy, "one size fits all."
Differential diagnosis is necessary before offering a prescribed course of treatment! Some may have multiple but different problems for which each must be treated differently
Applicants who have to improve grades/ MCAT scores might go on to take more science courses, whether as a postbac or grad student.
Almost all postbac programs are unsuitable and often do not accept students who had electives in the sciences. For them, an MA/MS in biology/biochemistry may be the way to go.
But think about that for a moment. A student who has not done well-enough in the sciences has to be diagnosed for the cause. Sometimes it is just situational: the specific undergrad college was personally unsuitable, or there were personal problems at home or in a relationship. If those causes are no longer in the picture, go ahead. There may be systemic long-term personal problems getting in the way; if not resolved, what would you expect to happen if a student just continues to on? If you were a physician you would suggest some kind of treatment to help, not a pep talk: "Go on, just get it out your mind"
If the problem is mainly not enough medically related experience, go out an get some. There is a good reason medical schools look for that, and a good reason (other than what the medical schools expect) that you should do that. It is for you to learn about yourself in relation to the profession you are choosing for yourself. It is not about whether you are bright enough; I take it as a given that any premed in college is capable academically.
For some, possibly and hopefully not too many, personality itself may be a problem. I won't open that can of worms here!
This is getting too long so I will stop here. I hope I have made you more aware about how to deal with being unable to convince medical schools that you are a deserving candidate for a medical education. Apply the correct cure/s to the probable cause/s of the illness. One size doesn't fit all.
Good luck all in attaining your dream. If any become medical school faculty, you might find it interesting to sit on the other side of the table: get yourself on an admissions committee.
