What to do?

[SoyRicoSuave]

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What to do with those pre-med friends you've had since Freshman year that are obviously not going to make it into medical school but still shooting for it and applying this upcoming cycle... Should I tell them not to apply?

 

[slatermd]

... Should I tell them not to apply?

Nope. Let them do as they see fit.

 

[Torr]

What to do with those pre-med friends you've had since Freshman year that are obviously not going to make it into medical school but still shooting for it and applying this upcoming cycle... Should I tell them not to apply?

Why are they "obviously" not going to make it?

Also, if it's a dream of theirs do you wanna be the one to burst their bubble? Maybe get them to try the "what are my chances" forum and let someone else tell them for you.

 

[Barcu]

What to do with those pre-med friends you've had since Freshman year that are obviously not going to make it into medical school but still shooting for it and applying this upcoming cycle... Should I tell them not to apply?

Be a supportive friend if they don't get in somewhere.

 

[slatermd]

Torr, you're sexy. Especially when you listen to AC/DC. Do you like red wine today?

 

[northpenn]

Drop them like its hot..

But seriously, I wouldn't try to impose your suggestions on them UNLESS they ask you for honest advice.

 

[Etorphine]

This pretty much sums up my college experience. 90% of the premed friends from freshman year ended up dropping out, and then the rest have mediocre grades/mcat that they probably won't get in. The entire time, they've been asking me why I work so hard, and now it's all manifesting in the upcoming cycle.

I never brought it up with them, and I suggest you don't either. It really is the type of thing they have to see first-hand and experience to understand, IE when they get rejected across the board. The most important thing though is that they don't influence your own decisions.

 

[Torr]

Torr, you're sexy. Especially when you listen to AC/DC. Do you like red wine today?

😉 Medz, you so crazy.

 

[Geneticist]

Torr, you're sexy. Especially when you listen to AC/DC. Do you like red wine today?

Geez, keep it in your pants...

OP, you should support them either way despite their futile efforts.

 

[mauberley]

What to do with those pre-med friends you've had since Freshman year that are obviously not going to make it into medical school but still shooting for it and applying this upcoming cycle... Should I tell them not to apply?

Not unless they ask for your opinion; it's rather presumptuous otherwise.

 

[Spin]

Here's another reason not to discourage them: it would really suck for them if, ten years later, they still regretted not at least TRYING to get in. Basically, there are three ways things can go down for any pre-med:

1) Apply (once, twice, maybe more times), fail, accept it and move on.

2) Apply, get in!

3) Don't apply, always wonder whether maybe you could have gotten in if you'd applied, can't accept it and move on.

You want options 1 and 2 for your friends. Option 3 is bad. Spending $2000 and one year in futile hope won't be the end of the world if they don't get in, and they owe it to themselves to at least give it a try. Besides, being supportive is what friends do. Parents and adcoms are the ones who tell you you're not good enough.

Finally, you can also refer them to the MCAT vs GPA grid if you really want to give your friends a reality check -- I have a link to it in my signature. Their chances might not be as hopeless as you think, so you should check it out too.

 

[SoyRicoSuave]

Guess I won't tell him then, maybe negative feedback from schools will inspire him to try harder. Low GPA, signed up for the MCAT and hasn't studied at all, and essentially 0 ECs, it'd be some pretty crazy voodoo magic if he gets in.

 

[airplanes]

Telling him he is obviously not gonna make it is not the same as giving a friend good, solid advice.

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

What to do with those pre-med friends you've had since Freshman year that are obviously not going to make it into medical school but still shooting for it and applying this upcoming cycle... Should I tell them not to apply?

Direct them to the WAMC forum, and we'll do the rest.

 

[kexy]

encourage them to poke around SDN or mdapps, or go find a copy of the MSAR together and look at each school's average stats... it's enough to scare anyone straight. also maybe encourage them to learn more about DO (if their stats are competitive for DO schools)

 

[Mazdave]

I've definitely had the thought before that some of my friends who were applying seemed to not really be on top of things as far as their preparation for the application process goes and seem far too relaxed about the whole deal. One of my friends was a little confused when I was surprised that she wasn't planning on submitting her AMCAS as soon as it opens on June 1.

However, I will freely admit that perhaps I am a little overly obsessive about the whole process and trying to do as much research as possible (which, incidentally, is why I fit in so well at SDN), and since certainly nowhere close to everyone who gets a med school acceptance takes that approach, it must be possible to get to apply and succeed even without careful planning of every facet of your application package.

 

[Seven of Nine]

These two questions may come off harsh. I don't mean them to; I'm just curious.

1. Why do you care?

2. What makes you an authority in that situation to tell them not to apply?

 

[slowbutsteady]

OP, I have something to tell you: You're not getting in.

 

[RoseInTheMud]

Some kind of "friend" you are 🙄

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

It depends to what degree they are uncompetitive. If you have friends with a 2.75> you'd be an ass not to tell them that they are below the cut offs and that they are wasting their money. Otherwise I would really not involve myself, unless they are good friends which you care about, i.e part of your inner circle etc.

 

[seelee]

Look at it this way. What would be the worst that would happen if you kept your mouth shut?

They apply and don't get in. You're still friends and you don't come off like a pretentious jerk.

 

[Doctor246853]

These two questions may come off harsh. I don't mean them to; I'm just curious.

1. Why do you care?

2. What makes you an authority in that situation to tell them not to apply?

Why the hell is everyone acting all brand new and simple. You know dam well what the OP means by "obviously not getting in". If you could not figure it out:Well below 3.0gpa, almost no EC, bearly motivated, ect.. There are many people like this we see at every school and know that their chances are very very low. Just sayin

 

[bucks2010]

If you're actually halfway decent friends, you should at least point them "towards the light."

Look at it this way. What kind of friend are you if you see that they're going to drive off a cliff and don't warn them? I'm not saying to "warn" them per se, but pointing towards some accurate information like school websites or the MSAR may be a welcome wake-up call. Let them do what they want, but if they really want to be physicians, it's in their best interest for you to at least show them how to obtain accurate information.

We too were once in the dark about the whole pre-med process. It's time to pass on what you've learned.

 

[mauberley]

Why the hell is everyone acting all brand new and simple. You know dam well what the OP means by "obviously not getting in". If you could not figure it out:Well below 3.0gpa, almost no EC, bearly motivated, ect.. There are many people like this we see at every school and know that their chances are very very low. Just sayin

To be overly pedantic, you go from saying "obviously not getting in" to saying "their chances are very very low." A nonzero chance != not getting in, at least in my book.

To be serious in answering your question -- no, we don't know "damn well" what the OP means. We have our own internal barometers of who's "obviously not getting in," for which there is a high possibility of the existence of anecdotes to prove us wrong. We don't know if the OP's internal standards are too high.

We could avoid all doubt and shoot for the lowest common denominator, which presumably would be so ridiculous that none of us would entertain the notion that such a person existed who thought they had a shot. Thus, if someone thinks they have a shot, they must have a shot; who are we to present our opinions to the contrary as gospel?

"Just sayin'."

 

[Sailor Senshi Dermystify]

I have friends who are interested in medicine and are currently not as competitive as they want to be. I always say everyone path to medicine is different as LONG AS YOU GET that's what matters in my book 🙂

I mean I have friends who have an MCAT score from 14 to 21 and a GPA that's cum 3.1 and sci 3.0> and they are taking a year off to either do a Masters in Public Health or something else and that's perfectly fine. I encourage them all the time and actually ROOT for them.

They were actually surprise when I didn't apply this cycle because they think I am pretty Beastly. I think I am a regular applicant that's pretty unique and plus I didn't take my MCAT as of yet since I just found it that it can last up two years and some schools 3. I thought my score can last up to 5 years lol. I am taking a year off just to relax but more than likely I am relaxing on a Fulbright ETA fellowship to Korea, hopefully I get it
ANd then probably apply to Rhodes or to a program through Oxford as I am preparing right now 🙂

But OP just advice them and tell them your thoughts and asked them Would you accept you if you were on the Admissions Committee. Or would you favor a student like yourself by being completely honest with yourself.

Also even though I am an undergrad, I advise students ALL the time in medicine and I tell them RAW: Either you GO HARD OR YOU GO HOME and you my friend will be packing on a Skymiles Trip on Delta Airlines Going HOME 🙂

But positive criticism must not be construe with negative criticism

 

[Spin]

Guess I won't tell him then, maybe negative feedback from schools will inspire him to try harder. Low GPA, signed up for the MCAT and hasn't studied at all, and essentially 0 ECs, it'd be some pretty crazy voodoo magic if he gets in.

I see where you're coming from. I guess it all depends on how he does on the MCAT, how low his GPA is, and voodoo magic for the lack of ECs. It sounds like he's not very serious about med, or he doesn't know what it takes. I might voice your concerns and show him your MSAR to show why you're concerned (if you have one), if you want to address the subject. It's perfectly fine to say something like, "Man, do you have any idea what you're going to do if you don't get in? These schools have really high stats on average -- check out this web page/MSAR page." Your friend will probably appreciate the heads-up if he actually wants to be a doctor.