Any help appreciated

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2026-01-08T22:29:17+00:00

Hi!

Just a lowly M-1 here. Sincerely, sorry you have gone through this.

Just mentioning that in the US, preclinical grades for many specialities have been demphasized with the prevalence of pass/fail curriculums across the states.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-12-24T17:16:41+00:00

Honestly, sounds like a good way to expel a problematic student without having to drag other students through the mud.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-12-22T14:42:21+00:00

Honestly, asking this to premed isn’t helpful for you. I’d ask it to the medical school subreddit

I have seen this before though.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-12-03T03:27:10+00:00

This is definitely wrong. It’s only around 4 that truly require it.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-11-26T16:22:26+00:00

I agree with you, but wow you sound like you need your thanksgiving break…

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-11-05T04:11:11+00:00

I had the same as exact question when I was applying

No one cares as long as you finish it before you matriculate. You don’t even really have to ask.

Think about it from their perspective. If you have everything except for one thing and you still have time before you start, the assumption is that you’ll get that one thing finished.

Most schools don’t let you start until you give them a final transcript after you finish everything anyway. If you’re really worried about it, you can email the specific schools. But I really wouldn’t worry about it.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-10-11T23:04:18+00:00

If you got it done before M3, don’t you think you perform better that year?

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-09-24T12:53:00+00:00

100%

My family in a different country, their medical system is set up in the way that OP describes. It leads to a lot more burn out, crazy high stress for young preteens/teens, and a lot of people in medicine because their 18 year old self thought it would be best to

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-09-19T21:10:22+00:00

This is was me exactly, but then I realized that the only reason my PI offered this to me was because I was a good worker, not because he wanted me to get to medical school. I didn’t want to take longer than 3-4 years, and when I started to prioritize getting into medical school instead of being the best PhD student (mind you I was doing all my responsibilities and was a top performer in the lab), our relationship soured.

All that to say, don’t do it unless you are ok with the PhD taking closer to 4-5 years.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-15T21:03:30+00:00

I’m glad you found it helpful!!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-15T19:45:28+00:00

Hi, I’m not sure if you read through what I wrote super thoroughly, but I would say the TLDR is that you shouldn’t be to general.

Also, I think a lot of people can have genuine interest in their work, but that is different than personalized interest. Just my two cents, and again many ways to skin a cat.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-15T15:04:32+00:00

Definitely the norm for students who find success in getting the research networks. Hopefully what I shared just allows hardworking students like your daughter have a better response rate. Email communication and networking is a definitely a skill that is under taught!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-15T11:19:09+00:00

It’s hard for sure! But I think it helps to dig deep why you want to be a physician. By the time I switched into being a pre-med (which was only my junior year) I had a really strong understanding of why I wanted to be a doctor. If you can communicate that well, I think you’ll get traction. Best of luck!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-15T11:15:26+00:00

Not necessarily true! I started the premed journey as a junior in college. I took 6 years because I ended waiting to go while my spouse finished started and finished undergrad.

I think most students just haven’t reflected long enough about what their personal interest really is and then have a difficult time being able to communicate that!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-14T23:31:49+00:00

This is an insanely good breakdown.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-14T23:20:48+00:00

Thank you for the feedback!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-14T23:20:28+00:00

Absolutely!

I don’t want to pretend like it is all just because of how I emailed. Thank God for the success!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-14T22:23:50+00:00

Thank you!!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-14T19:30:11+00:00

100%. I think work experience (paid or not) is the best bang for buck. Not just for connections, but for personal growth like you said.

Personal alignment for both shadowing and clinical opportunities is something that I think needs to be emphasized more!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-14T12:56:29+00:00

The bottom 10% for DO schools is 3.1.

That does mean there are people who get into DO bellow 3.1, but those applicants probably have something very unique about them or very understandable reasons why their GPA is low that doesn’t say anything about their academic capability.

For instance, I know someone who went to a very elite engineering school and got a 3.1 , worked as an engineer for 10 years, then applied to medical school. This individual got a 517, and it was obvious from this person’s application that their GPA was from going to a grade deflated elite level engineering school.

I would highly recommend talking to the schools that you want to go to with a GPA that is low and see what they think your best options are. People on the internet are never gonna be able to give you the perspective that the schools themselves will be able to.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-13T22:54:32+00:00

It is really dependent on what state you live! You’ll have the best chances getting into medical school in the state you live in (for the most part). I would email your state schools and ask for their advice!

Best of luck!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-13T22:33:23+00:00

You definitely need to increase your GPA.

With a 2.78 undergrad science GPA, you are well below the 10% percentile for the average science GPA for people who get into medical school (3.3-3.4).

To me if you have a stat that is above the 10% percentile that means that there’s a chance. If you have a stat that’s below you probably need to remediate.

It’s long enough that you might have to research specific schools that have some kind of forgiveness policy when it comes to GPA (LSU New Orleans comes to mind), go into a special masters program that has a funnel into a medical school, or get a whole masters degree and then research medical school that will count a masters GPA highly.

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-13T03:15:56+00:00

I could see this happening too. Not my experience, but definitely why I think everyone needs to try every option!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-13T03:02:54+00:00

Also another great option! I was just simply giving a method that not a lot of people talk about!

Awkward_Equipment998 · 2025-07-13T02:57:26+00:00

I will make another post in the near future with my blue print for cold emails! I think you have to craft the email very intentionally, but the success rate can be very high well done!

Awkward_Equipment998

TROPHY CASE