what to do in high school?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
T

thebadguy1999

Member
10+ Year Member
5+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2005
Messages
35
Reaction score
0
what can i do in high school to have a somewhat significant impact on when i apply to med-school?

for example: will volunteer work now have an impact later on?

what else can i do?
Members don't see this ad.
 
The only thing you can do in high school which will affect your chances of med school is to do well in your classes and take as many science classes as you can to give you a solid foundation for college. High school is too young to think about your med school application. Med schools look at your college application almost exclusively. They dont' care as much about what you did in high school. However, colleges will care about what you did in high school, and how well you did in high school, and the study habits you pick up in high school, can affect your grades in college, which in turn affects your chances of getting into med school.
 
You can always start volunteering, start finding organizations which you can start having long commitments in (red cross, homeless shelter, rec&ed sports), get involved in church, shadow, and everything else that is unrelated to college premed societies and stuff...many of my friends snagged some research time already, so they are ahead of the game. If you really want to get ahead, go to a community college (find out before senior year is over since these classes fill up quickly), and enroll in an EMT or MA class (community college in my area offers this to be completed in three weeks...FOR A CERTIFICATE...this is someone's career, so take advantage of easy opportunities), so you won't have to take it during the summer during college....be ahead of the game, and you will get into medical school.

If this is your passion, it is a good thing to be thinking about it now so you will be prepared to fulfill while nurturing your passion. Just remember to have fun in college but don't have "I'm in the ER getting my stomach pumped" type of fun...lol

hope that helps.

BTW, I am 17, and I going to college in a few weeks! wish me luck!
 
Members don't see this ad :)
thebadguy1999 said:
what can i do in high school to have a somewhat significant impact on when i apply to med-school?

for example: will volunteer work now have an impact later on?

what else can i do?
Click to expand...
There are many of these threads, so do a little searching. Still, I've never replied to one, so here's my two cents. I’ve been a straight A student from High School all the way through college graduation (this coming weekend) with very few exceptions. I've worked 20 hours a week since high school, and never took fewer than 17 credit hours. What I've done very little of, however, is volunteering. The first time I took the MCAT I only got a 27, but that still should have been good enough for some of the schools I applied to. Thus, the primary reason I wasn't accepted was my lack of clinical experience (which I was actually told by rejecting schools). Doing any kind of volunteer work from high school on would be great, including things like habitat for humanity, big brothers/big sisters, etc. Still, if you want to start on the "real" stuff schools look for, you might want to start doing hospital volunteer work now. When you start volunteering though, you should make it clear that you want to be a doctor one day and you're looking to be exposed to medicine. That way you'll hopefully have nurses that are more interested in showing you things and introducing you to doctors. Another thing you might consider is becoming a certified nurse assistant. This you can do by putting in a few credit hours at the local community college. That way you can accomplish two things in one shot; 1) making money! and 2) getting patient care/hospital exposure experience. If I could do one thing differently, it would be that. I would have either done CNA early on, or else done EMT. Both certifications will give you patient contact, and both require similar amounts of training. Basically, take EVERY opportunity you can get to see things, shadow doctors, and be exposed to patients and medicine. Equally important is to keep a running “journal” of your experiences, so that you don’t forget important things you’ve seen and done for when it comes time to apply to medical school, write essays, and prove yourself during interviews.
 
kypdurron5 said:
There are many of these threads, so do a little searching. .
Click to expand...
from high school students?
 
thebadguy1999 said:
from high school students?
Click to expand...
Yes! Start your searching with the words "high school student" and see what you get. I subscribe to the RSS feed, so I read every single topic title that comes through the allo forum.
 
thebadguy1999 said:
what can i do in high school to have a somewhat significant impact on when i apply to med-school?

for example: will volunteer work now have an impact later on?

what else can i do?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't do anything special except for A) getting into a college with a decent science department and preferably a med school, and B) Taking as many sciences as you can...bio, chem, and physics. Having exposure to these topics will help your transition to college and could possibly give you a slight edge over others.

Remember, if you take any classes at a college level your grades will permanently count toward your pre-med gpa...forever! (this does not count APs, just classes taken at an actual college) So, if you're thinking of taking Spanish or cooking or something over at the local community college, make sure not to fail it.
 
thebadguy1999 said:
what can i do in high school to have a somewhat significant impact on when i apply to med-school?

for example: will volunteer work now have an impact later on?

what else can i do?
Click to expand...

Just learn to socialize -- being able to talk to people (all kinds, young and old) is a skill too many applicants lack, and it comes across in interviews. If you have any interesting hobbies, pursue them. Foreign language skills are always useful and can be started at that age. And try to make it to college without a criminal record. Other than that, I would suggest you just focus on and do well in high school and try to get into the best college you can.
 
I made a top 10 list:

10) Enjoy high school. Or not. Most people agree college is better...
9) Don't cheat.
8) Anything where you get to talk to people. This includes friday night keggers. Make yourself known... (also see #1)
7) If you're really inclined to - start some kind of research volonteer stuff and learn the lab procedures/how to read scientific literature. Then in college you can get in on a big project alot easier instead of washing dishes.
6) Language - can someone tell me any language useful for a practicing physician in the US besides spanish? I'm waiting for someone to say French, but I don't think its going to happen...
5) AP Classes, then re-take the AP classes in college i.e. Chem I, Cell bio, Calc I, II. WHY? Because its an easy A so you can take some 200/300 level stuff your freshman year as well, and if you skip them (as I did), sometimes you get in over your head in the next level of classes. Doing well early in the pre-med req's also makes for some good LOR's.
4) Sports - if it interests you, opens up coaching/leadership/all kinds of stuff
If you arn't co-ordinated, do cross country (often times if you look, the cross country team has some of the smartest kids on it too... I think it comes from the sobriety that many coaches impose... but enough on that)
3) EMT - might as well get certified early and have less to do in college
2) Don't get burned out in HS, no matter what, it's not worth going crazy over
1) Don't get arrested
 
If you plan to attend college around your hometown, then you definitely have the option for long term continuous volunteer work. It would sound great for you to say you've volunteered in this particular ER for 6 year, or in a homeless clinic, etc. If not, don't stress too much. I've never seen an app with space to specifically discuss what you did before college. And consider that there are APs that you'll have to repeat (bio, chem, calc BC) because too many med schools don't accept AP credit, so make your course choices with that knowledge in mind.
 
chewsnuffles said:
I made a top 10 list:

10) Enjoy high school. Or not. Most people agree college is better...
9) Don't cheat.
8) Anything where you get to talk to people. This includes friday night keggers. Make yourself known... (also see #1)
7) If you're really inclined to - start some kind of research volonteer stuff and learn the lab procedures/how to read scientific literature. Then in college you can get in on a big project alot easier instead of washing dishes.
6) Language - can someone tell me any language useful for a practicing physician in the US besides spanish? I'm waiting for someone to say French, but I don't think its going to happen...
5) AP Classes, then re-take the AP classes in college i.e. Chem I, Cell bio, Calc I, II. WHY? Because its an easy A so you can take some 200/300 level stuff your freshman year as well, and if you skip them (as I did), sometimes you get in over your head in the next level of classes. Doing well early in the pre-med req's also makes for some good LOR's.
4) Sports - if it interests you, opens up coaching/leadership/all kinds of stuff
If you arn't co-ordinated, do cross country (often times if you look, the cross country team has some of the smartest kids on it too... I think it comes from the sobriety that many coaches impose... but enough on that)
3) EMT - might as well get certified early and have less to do in college
2) Don't get burned out in HS, no matter what, it's not worth going crazy over
1) Don't get arrested
Click to expand...

haha this is a great list. can u really get EMT certified in HS???
 
thebadguy1999 said:
what can i do in high school to have a somewhat significant impact on when i apply to med-school?

for example: will volunteer work now have an impact later on?

what else can i do?
Click to expand...

Get into a good college.... that's it.

Also learn how to drink in preparation for college.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I recommend this to start

Jonnie%20Walker%20Blue%20Level%20.jpg
 
ALSO... you're not allowed to talk about high school on AMCAS (the med school application service) the specifically ask from undergrad years.
 
whiskey?
nah, man
vodka only.
just gimme a bottle of 'goose
 
Is this guy actually referring to highschool? There is a forum for this sort of thing and its called " What is a gunner?" :laugh:
 
Not much you can do for med school until you get to college, and you don't even really need to do much until after your freshman year. Repeating what everyone else said, GRADUATE, GO TO COLLEGE, and DON'T GET ARRESTED. Live it up for the next couple years, it will be time to buckle down before you know it . . .
 
kypdurron5 said:
When you start volunteering though, you should make it clear that you want to be a doctor one day and you're looking to be exposed to medicine. That way you'll hopefully have nurses that are more interested in showing you things and introducing you to doctors. .
Click to expand...

This might seem obvious, but its actually pretty important...especially if you're from an area where high schools have implemented any form of service requirement for all students to graduate.

Hospitals and any other agencies where a student might volunteer get pretty used to having kids come through and, worst case scenario, actually get pretty frustrated by having kids who clearly don't care, aren't interested, and don't try, come through for one week or two at a time to do their service requirements. It takes 3 or 4 days to teach them what they're supposed to do, then they sort of half do it for a day, because, you know, they're on summer break and don't want to be there anyway, then the week's over and they pretty much take the last day off because, you know, it's the last day. Trust me, we were all in high school once too.

If you really care and are really interested, you can get a lot out of volunteering. Most people who work there are more than happy to teach and guide...But the necessary first step is that they know you're interested. Otherwise, it's really easy to end up just doing odd jobs the whole time and never really seeing anything worthwhile.
 
My pieces of advice for high school:

1.) Get some sort of hospital exposure. Normally you can't put this on your application, but it doesn't hurt to get your foot in the door for a good shadowing/research gig.

2.) I've said it once, I'll say it again: break up with any significant others before you start college.
 
Haemulon said:
I see you have very refined taste Tobias. I am going to get some Blue to celebrate med school acceptance. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thats what I did... I had a few drinks with the dad this summer but i am saving it for after exam blocks in school.
 
For Highschool, your goal is to have fun and make sure that you can get into college. That is all.

Oh and Tobias, how about single malt scotch? Or refined bourbons like Baker's or Knob Creek. Or a smooth sweetness of rum like Captain Morgan's Special Reserve?
 
Haemulon said:
For Highschool, your goal is to have fun and make sure that you can get into college. That is all.

Oh and Tobias, how about single malt scotch? Or refined bourbons like Baker's or Knob Creek. Or a smooth sweetness of rum like Captain Morgan's Special Reserve?
Click to expand...

i had a bad experience with rum once... never again.

I like burbons in mixed drinks... a little too rough straight up for me
 
I don't know...you're kind of getting ripped for trying to get started to early, and all you need to do now is get into college, and this stuff doesn't matter for the amcas application to med school anyway...

Volunteering is always worthwhile. Most definitely, all you need to do right now is get into a quality college. But this kind of stuff will help immensely with that. And it is a good way to get ahead...Theres nothing all that impressive about volunteering in college - literally everyone in a first year med school class has. People are deciding on med school, there are more chances, all that kind of thing...Not nearly as many high school kids do. So if you find something you love and are doing it before you actually have to, it shows that you really do like it and your heart's in the right place. (This is assuming that you really do like it and your hearts in the right place...if you're volunteering now for the sole purpose of getting into med school in SIX years, then yeah, thats kind of being a gunner.)

As for you not being able to record it on amcas, that's fine and true if you stop in high school...But if you find something you really do enjoy doing, there's not much more impressive than saying you've been involved with something 5 or 6 years, and have actually reached the point you've been able to advance and create or organize or direct something, as a volunteer.

There's nothing wrong with being involved early...it doesn't make you a gunner. A lot of these are full time premed/med students jaded by the whole thing, and have started to see volunteering as just paying your dues, something you've gotta do to get into school...There are still some people who think it's worthwhile just for the sake of doing it.
 
Haemulon said:
I love the Black label, but cant justify the almost $250.00 for the Blue yet.
Click to expand...

oh black is the standard... i drink it all the time. its fantasitc. Blue is for very special occasions. BTW... if you know someone at a liquor store you can get t for $150 (supplier cost)
 
absinth_vision_1.jpg


for when I graduate

cuz it aint a prize if its easy to get
 
Damn! Blue Label and Grey Goose..........I'm used to drinking Vlad and Bankers Club :laugh:
 
Dr.TobiasFünke said:
oh black is the standard... i drink it all the time. its fantasitc. Blue is for very special occasions. BTW... if you know someone at a liquor store you can get t for $150 (supplier cost)
Click to expand...

Very cool. Scotch is definitely an acquired taste, but I have really grown to love it. I used to play games with my wife where she would pour me one of maybe four different kinds and I would identify the type. Single versus blanded, lower end red lable versus standard black, stuff like that. I think they evenb have a gold now but I havn't tried it. Aged 15 years maybe?

Whooops. Looks like we totally hijacked this thread.
 
ironmanf14 said:
Damn! Blue Label and Grey Goose..........I'm used to drinking Vlad and Bankers Club :laugh:
Click to expand...
Goose isnt really that expensive.

You can get a bottle for under 40.
 
geno2568 said:
absinth_vision_1.jpg


for when I graduate

cuz it aint a prize if its easy to get
Click to expand...

I have tried 2 different kinds of Absinthe. The trick is getting the whole ritual down, setting the sugar on fire to caramelize. Dripping water off spoon slow enough to watch it get just the right amount cloudy. And if its not done right, tasts like A$$. Then again, not the best tasting stuff even when it is done right. And getting a good bottle with good thujone concentration is tricky too.
 
take a shot, straight, with no chasers

thats what seperates the men from the boys
(or, in sdn's case, the accepted from the rejected)
 
geno2568 said:
take a shot, straight, with no chasers

thats what seperates the men from the boys
(or, in sdn's case, the accepted from the rejected)
Click to expand...

Thats cruelty to absinthe. Have you no culture? :eek: Pound cheap tequila, take your time to appreciate a good 140 proof absinthe.
 
Haemulon said:
I have tried 2 different kinds of Absinthe. The trick is getting the whole ritual down, setting the sugar on fire to caramelize. Dripping water off spoon slow enough to watch it get just the right amount cloudy. And if its not done right, tasts like A$$. Then again, not the best tasting stuff even when it is done right. And getting a good bottle with good thujone concentration is tricky too.
Click to expand...

People don't do it for the taste

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thujone
 
Dr.TobiasFünke said:
People don't do it for the taste

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thujone
Click to expand...


Oh I know full well why. But thats also why the ritual was evolved to enhance the experience. Its also how you can tell good absinthe from bad/cheap. At a certain concentration of added water the thujone begins losing solubility and begins to cloud the drink. The absence of that clouding means a cheap drink. And no effects.
 
geno2568 said:
take a shot, straight, with no chasers

thats what seperates the men from the boys
(or, in sdn's case, the accepted from the rejected)
Click to expand...

This is the only shot I know how to take :D

241o2ad.jpg
 
ironmanf14 said:
This is the only shot I know how to take :D

241o2ad.jpg
Click to expand...

Thats how you would drink Johnny Blue too? Now if we're talking Jager or Pepe Lopez, i'm totally on board with you.
 
Haemulon said:
Oh I know full well why. But thats also why the ritual was evolved to enhance the experience. Its also how you can tell good absinthe from bad/cheap. At a certain concentration of added water the thujone begins losing solubility and begins to cloud the drink. The absence of that clouding means a cheap drink. And no effects.
Click to expand...

interesting :)
 
ironmanf14 said:
This is the only shot I know how to take :D

241o2ad.jpg
Click to expand...

That's not a shot, its a bomb.
And there should be Jameson's in that shotglass (along with the Bailey's).
 
Haemulon said:
Thats how you would drink Johnny Blue too?
Click to expand...

most likely :laugh: or at least chase it with some guinness :D

My shot taking days ended freshman year because thats ALL we ever did - complete burnout. I like an occasional tequila shot every once in a while but I can't really do shots anymore
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

B
super low GPA/high MCAT applicant. Soo lost and Unsure what to do?
Replies
9
Views
1K
LindaAccepted
LindaAccepted
chickenloverr5
  • Locked
High School Grant Question
Replies
4
Views
202
wysdoc
wysdoc
C
For premeds who earned a very high science GPA, what did you do?
Replies
13
Views
1K
JAK2-STAT3
J
S
High school and post high school activities
Replies
5
Views
494
senecca
S
C
Do high school grades influence MD/DO admissions?
Replies
12
Views
949
pcm810
P
Top