What does it take to be #1 in your med school class?

[tupac_don]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I think that this thread has gotten out of context from the original question, but i will try to answer it to the best of my ability for those who really do care. I am a fouth year and I was #2 for the preclinical years and #1 for the clinical rotations. The 4th year is not ranked. I go to a school with a modified A/B/C/D/F grading system. I did not go into medical school thinking that I would be top of my class. I did not even get into medical school the first time I applied. I do remember people who went in trying to be number one and they did not turn out to be top students. I remember when I received the top grade for my first block and went in to see if it was actually correct. I think that bigfrank does have it right somewhat. Although I did work hard, I do not consider myself a gunner, someone who studies all the time, or kisses everyone's ass. The preclinical years require studying but they also require not going over the edge so that you can keep your stanima up. As mentioned before, consistency is the key. I know that it might sound cliche, but I think that the most important aspect of the clinical years is to be truly enthusiastic. I loved what I was doing and I think that it showed. There might have been a little luck, but that can only go so far. Also shelf boards do matter at my school and that is what would determine those who get honors from those who do not. So study for the shelf. Hope this helps.

You are the real McCoy.

 

[Dynomite]

Considering all the posts you've made on the pre-dental board, I wonder who the wannabe professional is here. 🙄

Seriously though, I answered your question in post #3. Save the hostility for your future classmates.

Is this your display of professionalism?

Ever hear of a shared computer between roommates in an apartment suite? My roommate is going to dental while I'm going to medical school. Connect the dots.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

You can't really generalize the top students. Some of them (a good friend in particular) do well, are sociable and are exceptionally altruistic (ie all honors, AOA, 270 boards going into family practice). Others are neurotic, kiss asses, gunners, no social skills whats so ever, in medicine for their own egos and I cringe at the idea of them taking care of people. Therefore the top students are characteristically similar to any other type of med student. They do tend to study more (time and efficiency wise) that most of the other students in the class, but that's all relative I guess

 

[Dynomite]

Others are neurotic, kiss asses, gunners, no social skills whats so ever, in medicine for their own egos and I cringe at the idea of them taking care of people.

Your lack of professionalism will be appalling to Law2Doc.

 

[Law2Doc]

Your lack of professionalism will be appalling to Law2Doc.

Touche. 👍

 

[Ypo.]

Is this your display of professionalism?

Ever hear of a shared computer between roommates in an apartment suite? My roommate is going to dental while I'm going to medical school. Connect the dots.

Hmmm...why does this sound familiar? I know! We heard this not too long ago with a certain Harvard grad who was worried about wearing a 'target on his back'.

 

[fun8stuff]

I think there's a pretty huge distinction in their trying to make themselves look good, versus making you look bad (i.e. a true gunner). The former I think you need to just tip your hat to, think "I wish I did that" and get past it. In my experience, the folks who are the latter (the true gunners) never end up #1 in their class anyhow, precisely because they are too focused on others and because their feigned interest is always too transparent. If someone can come across as more gung ho for a sustained period, that is something you can address within yourself without focus on them.
And none of this is unique to medicine, FYI. There will always be people you'd rather not work with in any field, and being able to is a skillset you need to cultivate. (I mean, do you really think all lawyers in a law firm have complementary, nonabrasive personalities? That doesn't even happen on Boston Legal. 🙂 ).

i'm only in the pre-clinical years, but the people who kiss butt are not at the top of my class. in fact, i don't see how it would make a difference. at my school, the profs don't know your name, they don't grade your exams, they don't have any say into your grades (for pre-clinical years).

To the OP: The formula that I found that has worked well for me is consistant studying every day (3-6 hrs) and not wasting time in class. It is all about time management. It is a much better use of my time to stay home and learn the notes (since everything that will best tested is on the notes) and watch lectures at 2x speed. I get more from the lectures after I have a good handle on the notes and it also allows me to watch them at a faster pace. This saves me between 10-15 hrs of lecture a week.

 

[.ellie.]

Hmmm...why does this sound familiar? I know! We heard this not too long ago with a certain Harvard grad who was worried about wearing a 'target on his back'.

Shelley, you get a gold star! I read that and thought, "This seems to be a very familiar excuse," but I couldn't quite place it. 👍

 

[Law2Doc]

Shelley, you get a gold star! I read that and thought, "This seems to be a very familiar excuse," but I couldn't quite place it. 👍

Well, given the exhorbitant rate they charge for accounts on here, it's perfectly reasonable for folks to share.

 

[.ellie.]

Well, given the exhorbitant rate they charge for accounts on here, it's perfectly reasonable for folks to share.

Seems like hackneyed phrases don't come cheap either.

Graduated from Harvard undergrad.....is there a bulleyes target on my back?

Oh, I'm sorry for not disclosing every detail to you. 🙄 Have you ever heard of a common room computer in a suite? One of my suitemates (the one that told me of this here website) is attending Harvard Dental. Shame on me for posting under his already logged in screen name. The horror! I should have known some genius like you would attempt to connect the dots and be so sadly mistaken. Now, what community college do you attend? Good school by the way.

Ever hear of a shared computer between roommates in an apartment suite? My roommate is going to dental while I'm going to medical school. Connect the dots.

 

[deuist]

Ever hear of a shared computer between roommates in an apartment suite? My roommate is going to dental while I'm going to medical school. Connect the dots.

Shared computer? Yep

Shared screen name? Never

 

[liverotcod]

Hah!

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

I don't get it. Who cares about being #1? Shouldn't you care about becoming the best doctor you can be? I'd like to think I'm not the only one that would rather finish middle of the pack and be a good doctor than #1 and a complete asswipe.

If you have good USMLE scores and good recommendations, who cares? Seriously? Is this why you go into medicine? To beat other people? Prove something to yourself? Assuage your own insecurity?

 

[Tiki]

Hmmm...why does this sound familiar? I know! We heard this not too long ago with a certain Harvard grad who was worried about wearing a 'target on his back'.

I feel sorry for whoever is in this guy's class.

 

[Dynomite]

I feel sorry for whoever is in this guy's class.

Don't worry. I go straight for the jugular.

 

[sacrament]

There will be very different characteristics in the first two years and the latter two. For the first two years the folks tend to be impressively bright to start with, with really good memories, are good test takers, and put in very long hours. Lots of recopying notes an umpteenth time etc. The latter couple of years, I've heard, are somewhat personality driven, on top of the sharpness. Calling someone who succeeds a "complete kiss up" (or suck up or brown noser, etc.) reflects an attitude you probably want to lose -- very undregrad -- it suggests a lack of maturity unbecoming of a professional. Once you are in med school, the goal is to be the best physician you can be, and if someone does it better, or finds a way to shine (even if it's not the way you would do it), you tip your hat to them and push on.

I completely disagree with this... a kiss-ass is a kiss-ass, and a kiss-ass is a POS whom I have no respect for. Maturity also involves being your own man (or woman) and not groveling like a pathetic worm. I don't need to respect POS gunners who tell every attending that they have always dreamed of doing surgery/medicine/peds/fill-in-the-blank-depending-on-the-service. They're the ones with a lack of maturity, and rather than tip my hat I'd like to put my foot up their ass.

 

[USArmyDoc]

There will be very different characteristics in the first two years and the latter two. For the first two years the folks tend to be impressively bright to start with, with really good memories, are good test takers, and put in very long hours. Lots of recopying notes an umpteenth time etc. The latter couple of years, I've heard, are somewhat personality driven, on top of the sharpness. Calling someone who succeeds a "complete kiss up" (or suck up or brown noser, etc.) reflects an attitude you probably want to lose -- very undregrad -- it suggests a lack of maturity unbecoming of a professional. Once you are in med school, the goal is to be the best physician you can be, and if someone does it better, or finds a way to shine (even if it's not the way you would do it), you tip your hat to them and push on.

Law2Doc....are you in med school? I thought you were applying. If you are not, how do you know all this stuff?!?

 

[OSUdoc08]

Serious question.

I'm curious what it takes to be #1 in a med school class? Do you have to study 24/7? Is it a combination of hard work and luck? What is it? How does one become the #1 ranked student throughout 4 years?

1. Being an a-hole
2. Stepping on your classmates' toes
3. Sucking up to the faculty/staff
4. Having no social life/quality of life
5. Making many enemies
6. Being someone that I never want to meet

In order to be the best, you have to make sure that others cannot be their best. You should be along the line of thinking that everyone in your class should do well----not that you should be #1. MEDICINE IS A TEAM SPORT!

 

[USArmyDoc]

1. Being an a-hole
2. Stepping on your classmates' toes
3. Sucking up to the faculty/staff
4. Having no social life/quality of life
5. Making many enemies
6. Being someone that I never want to meet

In order to be the best, you have to make sure that others cannot be their best. You should be along the line of thinking that everyone in your class should do well----not that you should be #1. MEDICINE IS A TEAM SPORT![/QUOTE]


👍

 

[Ypo.]

Don't worry. I go straight for the jugular.

See, thats the problem with being predictable. Sooner or later everyone catches on to you and your strategy no longer works. If we can figure you out online, how much easier will it be for your classmates in real life?

 

[Rafa]

Wow. Call me if you're in the mood to play chess, because you just got Pwned! 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

I completely disagree with this... a kiss-ass is a kiss-ass, and a kiss-ass is a POS whom I have no respect for. Maturity also involves being your own man (or woman) and not groveling like a pathetic worm. I don't need to respect POS gunners who tell every attending that they have always dreamed of doing surgery/medicine/peds/fill-in-the-blank-depending-on-the-service. They're the ones with a lack of maturity, and rather than tip my hat I'd like to put my foot up their ass.

I think you give the attendings too little credit for seeing through the fakers. And my experience is the "gunners" (in any field) never get as far with that strategy as folks on this thread seem to be suggesting. But life is too short to let such folks get to you, so yes, I think you really can avoid a lot of stress if you keep your eyes in your own plate, and focus on your own achievements. And it's really not just a medicine thing.

Alternatively, if you become an attending, you can always take it out on the next generation 🙂

 

[anon-y-mouse]

Just curious, what year of med school are you in, law2doc? are you in an MD program?

Law2Doc, are/were you an MD student?

 

[Ypo.]

Law2Doc, are/were you an MD student?

Just PM him. If he doesn't want to answer you, he won't, and then you won't have to keep posting the same question.

 

[8744]

What does it take to be number one?

Can you say "happy ending."

 

[Clemson Doc]

A doctor! Anyways the machine gunner is more appropriate. I can totally visualize that. I think the sniper would be someone who's not doing too hot the first two pre-clinical years but is a pro at clinical stuff and matches well.

I am a sniper, at least if my academic performance a semester and a half into it is any indication.

Seriously, the fact that I excel in clincal skills and in dealing with people is what has kept me going when I do worse than a lot of my classmates on the basic science exams.

 

[Clemson Doc]

vast majority of schools are going to (or have gone to) the 'non-competitive' approach. Many don't tell until the end, many don't even do grades any more and a few never give ranks. You're unlikely to see either of the things you suggested.

I think we have the worst grading system ever here at MUSC. It is even worse than letter grades. Instead of pass/fail, or letter grades, we have quality points. So 95-100 is a 4.0. A 94 is a 3.9, a 93 is a 3.8, etc. So an 85 is a 3.0, an 80 is a 2.5, etc. A 75 is a 2.0, and the points drop 0.2 points from there. So a 70 is a 1.0, and below 70 is failing. This first year, we are not graded on a curve, but second year it is T-scored.

😡

 

[Dynomite]

Law2Doc, are/were you an MD student?

No, he just watches too much ER.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

No, he just watches too much ER.

I don't see why it's so hard for Law2Doc to give a straight yes/no answer. It would qualify all the supposed gospel s/he gives about class dynamics, gunnerism, the clinical years, etc.

 

[idq1i]

1. Being an a-hole
2. Stepping on your classmates' toes
3. Sucking up to the faculty/staff
4. Having no social life/quality of life
5. Making many enemies
6. Being someone that I never want to meet

In order to be the best, you have to make sure that others cannot be their best. You should be along the line of thinking that everyone in your class should do well----not that you should be #1. MEDICINE IS A TEAM SPORT!

Are things just not working out for you in medical school? So much anger and bitterness... You're going to be pretty miserable as a 3rd year if you keep up this attitude

 

[Law2Doc]

I don't see why it's so hard for Law2Doc to give a straight yes/no answer.

LOL - someone with your screen name should better appreciate one's desire for anonymity on a public board.

 

[liverotcod]

Law2Doc is a graduate of Stanford Law and Harvard Med. At the age of 25, he is chief of neurosurgery at UCLA. Hope that helps. 😛

 

[bigfrank]

Are things just not working out for you in medical school? So much anger and bitterness... You're going to be pretty miserable as a 3rd year if you keep up this attitude

👍

 

[anon-y-mouse]

LOL - someone with your screen name should better appreciate one's desire for anonymity on a public board.

Saying whether you're an MD student or not has ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING on your anonymity. Bull**** arguments should be confined to law school. So, yes or no?

 

[QofQuimica]

Saying whether you're an MD student or not has ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING on your anonymity. Bull**** arguments should be confined to law school. So, yes or no?

Look, he obviously doesn't want to tell you where he goes or what year he's in. That's his prerogative, and you guys need to respect that. On the other hand, you're perfectly free to completely disregard his advice if you think he doesn't know what he's talking about. Seems fair.

 

[radioh3ad]

Q, all people are asking is if he's actually an MD. to give credence to his posts.

it would help if he just told us if he's in medical school. sure we could try to find his IP and then reveal where he goes if he confirms he's an MD student. but that doesn't really expose him much since this is ummm SDN?

i'm thinking he's either a first year or currently applying.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

Look, he obviously doesn't want to tell you where he goes or what year he's in. That's his prerogative, and you guys need to respect that. On the other hand, you're perfectly free to completely disregard his advice if you think he doesn't know what he's talking about. Seems fair.

Q, that's not what I'm asking at all! No identifying information, nothing. Not his school or year... just whether he is premed or actually a med student. It makes a huge difference. I personally feel that someone who is not a med student should not be posting about what it's like to be a med student, or from the perspective of a med student without first qualifying his or her statements. It is misleading, especially to the people who haven't been paying attention, and to people who are not used to questioning assertions/advice in good faith. I personally feel that someone like that deserves no respect at all, regardless of prerogative.

 

[Dynomite]

I personally feel that someone like that deserves no respect at all, regardless of prerogative.

He lost my respect with his/her first posting in this thread. If Law2Doc is this paranoid on a messageboard, can you imagine what he/she is like in person?

 

[QofQuimica]

(shrug) I'm not saying it makes sense to *me* for him to not tell you whether he's a med student. But it obviously makes sense to him. Anyway, even if he tells you that he is a med student, what does that prove? You don't know whether he's lying. This whole line of reasoning that somehow his merely saying, "yes, I'm a med student," would give him more credibility with you doesn't make sense to me. You don't like his opinions now; would you like them any more if he starts to claim that he's a med student? 😕

 

[radioh3ad]

(shrug) I'm not saying it makes sense to *me* for him to not tell you whether he's a med student. But it obviously makes sense to him. Anyway, even if he tells you that he is a med student, what does that prove? You don't know whether he's lying. This whole line of reasoning that somehow his merely saying, "yes, I'm a med student," would give him more credibility with you doesn't make sense to me. You don't like his opinions now; would you like them any more if he starts to claim that he's a med student? 😕

while i'm not the one who dislikes law2doc's opinions, i still have to defend anon-y-mouse's questioning.

i put everyone here on the same playing field by giving the benefit of the doubt. i believe people are who they say they are or there would be no point in reading most posts on this forum. (except for blatant trolls)

but law2doc doesnt even say what he/she is. law2doc's posts are well worded and seem informed. which makes it extremely misleading if they don't actually come from someone with relevant experience.

 

[Rafa]

while i'm not the one who dislikes law2doc's opinions, i still have to defend anon-y-mouse's questioning.

i put everyone here on the same playing field by giving the benefit of the doubt. i believe people are who they say they are or there would be no point in reading most posts on this forum. (except for blatant trolls)

but law2doc doesnt even say what he/she is. law2doc's posts are well worded and seem informed. which makes it extremely misleading if they don't actually come from someone with relevant experience.

👍

 

[Law2Doc]

while i'm not the one who dislikes law2doc's opinions, i still have to defend anon-y-mouse's questioning.

i put everyone here on the same playing field by giving the benefit of the doubt. i believe people are who they say they are or there would be no point in reading most posts on this forum. (except for blatant trolls)

but law2doc doesnt even say what he/she is. law2doc's posts are well worded and seem informed. which makes it extremely misleading if they don't actually come from someone with relevant experience.

OK fine. I'm in med school currently, but that's all you get. (I've actually indicated this to quite a few SDN folks in PMs but don't really like to broadcast info on an open board.). I certainly don't ask such info of anyone else. Feel free to dismiss my opinions as you see fit. 🙂

 

[Dynomite]

OK fine. I'm in med school currently, but that's all you get. (I've actually indicated this to quite a few SDN folks in PMs but don't really like to broadcast info on an open board.). I certainly don't ask such info of anyone else. Feel free to dismiss my opinions as you see fit. 🙂

The paranoid gunner. One of the worst kind.

 

[Law2Doc]

The paranoid gunner. One of the worst kind.

I thought you were already revealed as a troll in this thread.
Besides, the one who isn't in med school and already worried about being #1 is not someone who ought to be calling others gunners, dude. 🙄

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
I think you folks have hijacked this thread enough. I am closing.
njbmd (the mod)