Greetings,
I am a resident, and recently I started a rather inflammatory thread about the opportunity cost of medicine, concluding that in general medicine is a bad choice of a career. Needless to say, was extensively criticized. One critique I agreed with: it was pointed out that I was not constructive. In other words, I did not specify for whom medicine is a good choice.
So here I am to tell you what a truly dedicated medschool applicant should be like. I'll give you profiles of women and men whom I've really met. Those are the people whom I would trust if I were patient. They have 1 thing in common: they have a clear vision of their post-medical school career before they even start medschool.
I will also give examples of their antithesis.
Since I am poised to land medical school faculty position in next several years, and may become part of admission committee, you should listen up... Maybe you'll be my interviewee.
1. Six and a half footer, 230 pounder, rugby captain in an intramural college team. Bound for orthopedic surgery, and that's the only reason why he's going to medschool. MCAT 34. In his essay he speaks about how he was sold to ortho by his uncle, and he's been hanging out with ortho residents every summer during college, literally 'shadowing' them, i.e. they wake up in the middle of the night to piss and check on patients (if they sleep at all), so does he.
2. A woman at 29 week gestational age and impeccable smile. She's been a valedictorian since her kindergarten. MCAT in low 40s. She smiles every 20 seconds during the interview, and shows me pictures of her 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter. She has a PhD and several first author publications in skin research. She wants to do academic dermatology because she wants a balanced life, and her family comes first.
3. A guy with a pony tail and application essay about his experience as an EMT. MCAT 28. He has been in EMT since sophomore in highschool. Dead-bound for emergency medicine. As a former EMT myself, I chat him up about it. He rolls up his shirt and shows me the cross of life tatooed on his wrist.
4. A guy with Armani suit, suitcase, and an engineering degree. He holds several patents and started a company which took off. He sees himself as an enterpreneur, and does not plan to practice medicine, but hopes to use his medical education for project ideas.
5. A biology major with an essay about his birdwatching hobby. He's thinking about radiology or pathology because he likes the diagnostic aspect of it. Runs marathons.
The profiles described above are real people whom I have met and who gained admission into medical schools, although I was not their interviewer.
Now I will give you a profile of a generic applicant who NEVER SHOULD APPLY TO MEDICAL SCHOOL. These applicants tend to have 1 thing in common: they say they 'love science', 'love people', and want to 'improve other people lives'.
A biology major from an Ivy League institution who is a president of local 'premed society'. Did research during college and has a fourth author publication to prove it. Shadowed a family practice physician for 2 weeks. Writes essay how he wants to combine his science interest with helping people. He's thinking about surgery or anesthesia, or radiology, or internal medicine.
Here is how to see BS in this application:
If you truly 'love science', then you would not waste your time reading this post, but right now you would be writing emails to the leaders of your field of interest.
If you truly 'love people', and are 'people person' then you should look into sales, not medicine. In medicine, you should 'love sick people'.
If you 'want to improve other people lives', then you're golden, as pretty much any career out there, with possible exception of a criminal or Bear Stearn CEO would fit the bill.
Best,
