where to apply?

[ellebelle79]

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hey all..I'm new here..and I could use some feedback. I'm taking this coming year off..just graduated with a B.S. in biochem. I'm 24 yrs old..and I'm trying to figure out the best places to apply for me. How do I choose? Aside from geographic location..do I base it on what kind of teaching hospitals are in the area? I know that it's never wise to pick a specialty before you even get into med school..but I do have a big interest in one particular area, and I just don't know if I should apply based on where programs are best for it. I mean, isn't every med school program the same anyway? AHHHHH...I hate decision making! Any info would be very helpful! Thanks!😕

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by ellebelle79
hey all..I'm new here..and I could use some feedback. I'm taking this coming year off..just graduated with a B.S. in biochem. I'm 24 yrs old..and I'm trying to figure out the best places to apply for me. How do I choose? Aside from geographic location..do I base it on what kind of teaching hospitals are in the area? I know that it's never wise to pick a specialty before you even get into med school..but I do have a big interest in one particular area, and I just don't know if I should apply based on where programs are best for it. I mean, isn't every med school program the same anyway? AHHHHH...I hate decision making! Any info would be very helpful! Thanks!😕

It all depends on your stats. You apply to schools whose average stats match yours. I couldn't suggest any schools without knowing the gpa/mcat first

 

[wadoc]

...also depends on your residency. If you're not a Cali resident and don't have mcat scores in the high 30's, you probably won't get an interview. Other out-of-state schools may be a little more feasible to get into, and may tell you the cutoff they have for interviews.
Regarding stats, apply to schools that match your stats; but also apply to some safety schools: no med school is easy to get into.
What does your list look like so far?
Good luck!

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by wadoc
....... but also apply to some safety schools: no med school is easy to get into.
Good luck!

Well if that isn't a contradiction.....🙂

There aren't any safety medical schools in the US, at least in my experience

 

[wadoc]

What I meant was that she should apply to some schools that have lower stats than she does--as "safety" as it gets in the medical app process.

 

[luckygirl]

I have heard it said many times (from med studends and advisors) that where you do your residency is more important than your undergrad medical education, at least where your area of special interest is concerned.

I agree with the above posts. Try to find a bunch of schools with stats similar to yours, plus some with stats lower. Read about the differences in each schools program (some have more emphasis on research, etc) and narrow it down based on your personal preference.

Last piece of advice- do something really impressive with your year off, do research, wilderness medicine, etc. If you just f*** around and blow off steam, med schools won't be exceptionally impressed.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by luckygirl

Last piece of advice- do something really impressive with your year off, do research, wilderness medicine, etc. If you just f*** around and blow off steam, med schools won't be exceptionally impressed.

I took the year off...I didn't do anything really "impressive." I essentially f***** around and blew off steam. Did pretty well this cycle too.

One does not necessarily have to start a free clinic in africa during their year off to get in somewhere. As long as you are keeping yourself busy with some sort of job or extra schooling or something(anything!) then you'll be fine. Chances are you won't be able to sit on your butt doing absolutely nothing for very long anyways because its really really boring!!!! But don't undertake something during the year because it will be really "impressive" for medical school. Do things you enjoy.

 

[luckygirl]

What I was trying to get at was that it would be advisable to continue his/her involvement in studies/medicine. Exactly like you said, continuing coursework, volunteering, etc.
You are infinitely wise.

 

[Sweet Tea]

first of all-- where to apply.
apply to a wide range of schools...all your state schools, schools with stats better than yours (b/c you never know), schools with comparable stats (that you'd actually go to), and schools with lower stats than yours (once again, b/c you never know). there are no safety schools b/c all US medical schools are hard to get into and all are looking for different types of applicants. i applied to 18 schools and got into 1-- which thankfully was my first choice b/c it matches so perfectly with what i want to do.

secondly, your year off.
congrats for taking a year off!! i really think everyone should take at least a year off just for sanity's sake and so that you get to experience life w/out being a student. and if you've already demonstrated a clear interest in medicine though ECs or coursework or whatever, i really see no reason for you to do something science or medically related in your year off. do something that interests you-- not only will you have more fun than if you're stuck in a lab all day, but it will make you more interesting to talk to during your interviews. now if your idea of fun is being stuck in a lab all day and you're really excited about research, more power to you. but if you want to wait tables, bartend, hike the appalachian trail, travel to europe-- DO IT!! you'll probably never have an opportunity like this again so do it now!

caveat: if you have no demonstrated interest in medicine, then you probably should try to work in the science or medical fields (or at least do extensive volunteering). i don't think ad coms are going to buy your story if (just for instance) you were an art history major who has never had any kind of science work beyond the pre-reqs, and has no health care experience.

okay, that's more than 2 cents...that's a whole quarter. best of luck to you!