Comments on: Is Low Stress Med School Admissions Possible?

By: trois

trois — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:33:58 +0000

what you have pinpointed are very true

1. i went to a top private college
2. i have to do maths, high maths, physics, chemistry and biology because its the standard set of courses to do in my home country, so i dont get to choose which course to do, however grades are very important here
3. had several positions in high school – but irrelevant in application – included hospital attachment and volunteering work in application forms – they love it!

so basically you have nailed it, for a non-med background person

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:21:16 +0000

Hello everybody! Cal, that was a very thought-provoking article. If this blog is still running, I’d like your opinion on my current college standing. — I’m a first year undergrad Chemistry major. I’ve considered a switch to Biology, however I’ve seriously considered Biomedical Engineering. The latter major is very appealing to me, but I have not (all my life) wanted to be a Biomedical engineer. I’d like to explore this. — What are your feelings on leading a Zen Valedictorian lifestyle as a BME major? Think it’s possible? Also, how would it look to medical schools if a student was a Music/PreMed Major? Thanks!

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Recent Faves Tagged With "med" : MyNetFaves — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:20:52 +0000

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By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:28:05 +0000

I’d be interested to find out how much this applies to vet school. I’ve heard it can be even tougher to get into than med, as there are fewer schools in the US. Any thoughts?

Great question. I don’t know anything about vet school admissions, but if someone out there does, please share…

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:51:43 +0000

I’d be interested to find out how much this applies to vet school. I’ve heard it can be even tougher to get into than med, as there are fewer schools in the US. Any thoughts?

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:41:11 +0000

So if I go to CSUN and do very good that will be ok or go to UCLA and do average in GPA which will work for medical school?

For most major medical schools you can find online a matrix that tells you your chances of getting in for each GPA/MCAT combination. You need scores that give you a relatively high percent here. If you’re at a lesser known college for your undergraduate years you’ll have to do a little better.

By: sonu

sonu — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:23:05 +0000

So if I go to CSUN and do very good that will be ok or go to UCLA and do average in GPA which will work for medical school?

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:12:10 +0000

Want a non-stressed path to medicine? Go to Graduate school after your undergrad and get out of the undergrad panic. It seems so many people think they HAVE to go straight out of Undergrad – NOT TRUE! I really think there should be a requirement of taking a year or two off before med school, just to mature more as a person and to find out if you’re happier without thinking about medicine. My experience of applying was vastly different while in Grad school as compared to Undergrad. It’s just amazing to me the difference between Grad students and Undergrads in the way they (at least for me) think about their career and the medical profession. I realized that it’s not stressful at all if you are doing it with the right motivation and genuinely want to become a great physician (and having an advanced degree on your resume never hurts!)

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:31:27 +0000

From everything I’ve read on this matter (and I’ve read a lot because unfortunately my pre-med advisor has given me a lot of incorrect advise), I’ve discovered that:

1. It does not matter where you went as an undergrad, as long as you do well. If there is a question about your grades compared to another applicant’s grades at a “better” institution, they will look at your MCAT scores. A woman on the admissions committee at the David Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA) said that it doesn’t even matter if you take classes at a community college.

2. I believe you wrote about the difference between being the CEO of your own company and being a club president in one of your articles. The same theory applies to medical school. Do exceptional things that will show the admissions committee who you are as a person. And do them because you enjoy them, not just to get admitted.

3. Chill out. Most pre-meds are way too uptight. Enjoy life. Figure out who you are and what you enjoy doing. That will help you get in more than you think.

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:41:19 +0000

Wait, as someone mentioned earlier, does the undergraduate school you go to really matter? Care to explain why?

I think it matters. But I’m interested in hearing from those who think otherwise…

k, I only plan to be involved in 2 activities during the school year: club (recreational, non-competitive)fencing, and in a school program which hosts students for overnights. The first is purely for fun, and the 2nd one has a requirement of 2 overnights a semester but it is a set your own deadline thing.

That’s absolutely in the spirit of my article, and sounds like an excellent, interesting, relaxed semester is ahead of you.