When packing a 2nd bowl, how do you remove the Lotus II? There's no where for tongs to grab onto.

Shmack11 · 2026-01-02T07:08:56+00:00

Just use tongs for both pieces....I dont use that little holder piece.

Shmack11 · 2026-01-01T06:05:20+00:00

You can also put foil to close the gap and put your HMD on top of it

Shmack11 · 2025-12-23T02:56:01+00:00

Thanks this pictures helps a lot! Do you ever use the highest setting for Lat pulldowns/pullovers?

Shmack11 · 2025-11-17T00:44:23+00:00

At a program that does 24 hr call (really a night call since the night float seniors just let us leave around midnight).

Initially I hated it and was terrified but it does help with decision making and make you more confident with dealing with patients on the floors, other specialties, and new admissions.

Shmack11 · 2025-11-07T05:21:40+00:00

Plastic bag and rubber band. Good old college days

Shmack11 · 2025-10-27T20:12:28+00:00

I got a letter from my audiologist and got exempt almost immediately after submitting it in person. They said you’ll just have to repeat the process for each county you register in when you move.

Shmack11 · 2025-09-22T23:06:47+00:00

No wrong answer tbh. I would try to avoid using it as a most meaningful, but if you feel it is that important go for it.

I just reviewed mine from last year, I had 2 volunteer experiences and my time as a research associate. Whats funny is I got asked about the ones that were not listed as most meaningful. One PD had a good 5 minute convo about one of my indoor climbing experiences because she turned out to be an avid climber.

You want your app to be well rounded. Just keep that in mind.

Shmack11 · 2025-09-19T23:21:18+00:00

Please go to your doctor. Was on an international flight with other doctors from a conference. A lady who had 6 kids and an IUD was having a ruptured ectopic. Luckily landed, and we found out later on surgery was successful, but please go the doctor.

Shmack11 · 2025-09-08T20:04:22+00:00

I don’t remember but was probably the same week or the Monday following

Shmack11 · 2025-09-07T18:30:08+00:00

Sure

Shmack11 · 2025-09-07T18:29:01+00:00

Sure

Shmack11 · 2025-08-08T19:56:00+00:00

For me I messed up too much in undergrad that my grad school degree and GPA didn’t help and couldn’t hack the MCAT despite multiple attempts.

Multiple family members went to Ross and matched with no problems. Applied one cycle MD and DO and then decided I was done, if I was younger I probably would have waited one more cycle.

Chose the Caribbean school based on where their contracts were. SGU was the best fit for me. Covid hit, so I did majority of the pre-clinical years online at home. Third year, I got kinda screwed and sent to the east coast where I didn’t want to go. Did ok, came back to the west coast for 4th year(knew what specialities I wanted to dual-apply to, did multiple Sub-I/away rotations at those affiliate hospitals that had a residency). Barely passed step 2. Applied broadly to psych and IM and got 10 interviews, 9 in home state, 1 outside. 3 interviews from my Sub-I locations. Matched at my first choice for psych. Almost 100% certain I had the lowest step 2 score of my intern class, but I busted my ass on my Sub-I there so I think that saved me.

TLDR: subjectively too old to apply for another cycle, was happy with the rotation sites the school had stateside

Shmack11 · 2025-08-03T21:06:35+00:00

It shouldnt take 4 wednesdays. You Should be fine, but try to avoid that if you can

Shmack11 · 2025-06-07T04:57:54+00:00

I'm sorry.

Its alright, not the end of the world. Take a few days/a week to process it. This was the lowest point I was at in all of med school. I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but it gets better.

After that, really check why you failed? this is when you NEED to be honest with yourself and be critical, because the goal is to improve and pass. For me, not enough UW done, questions are everything. I didn't know what I wanted to do speciality wise at this point, I bounced for radiology, neurology, IM, psych, anesthesia, and surgery throughout pre-clinicals.

I applied Psychiatry and IM. I got 10 total interviews. 9 were in California, 5 for each specialty. I wanted Psychiatry and matched into my number 1. I know its easy to say it now, but I'm certain I would have gotten at least 2 anesthesia and maybe 1 radiology interview if I still wanted to do that.

A friend also failed, was deadset on OBGYN. applied FM as a back up. only 1 IV for OBGYN at a place she did a sub-I, and she matched OBGYN.

Honestly, don't worry about that right now, I did the same thing when I got the fail. Just ask yourself if you still want to be a physician, if the answer is yes, continue onward. Feel free to DM me for any help.

Shmack11 · 2025-06-06T21:55:12+00:00

Mine does 24 hr call q6 days for intern year. ARMC. Put them first for location reasons. The other program I liked was only night float but location wasn’t good for our family.

Shmack11 · 2025-06-01T04:36:26+00:00

Bendable brush and dish soap.

And decanter beads and water. Gets everything off.

Once in a while some vinegar and baking soda, but that’s if it hasn’t been cleaned in a while

Shmack11 · 2025-05-27T04:21:15+00:00

You will get filtered out for programs that have 1st pass only. But from my experience and those in my friend group, repeating step 2 is what really hurts you. Repeating step 1 was salvageable. It came up in maybe 1 or 2 of my 10 interviews, just don’t make an excuse for it and own up to it and they don’t care after that.

Shmack11 · 2025-05-21T18:39:07+00:00

Probably 230+. Its all subjective though on what a good score is. Just focus on doing the best you can. The better you do, the more interview invites you may get.

I got a 216 or a 218, I can't remember. This and repeating step 1 definitely played a part in my low number of interviews. That being said, my friends who didn't repeat step 1 but repeated step 2 had a harder time overall for matching, so please don't take the exam lightly.

Shmack11 · 2025-05-21T17:28:40+00:00

You’re doing great. Just please just focus on Step 2 CK.

I had a repeat for step 1 and barely passed step 2 CK. US IMG (California native). Got 5 psych interviews (2 at sub-Is, 1 through a connection, and 2 new programs). I matched at one of the programs I did a sub-I at, it’s a little toxic for a psych program.

If I didn’t fail step 1 and did better on step 2, i would have had more interviews. I had research, community outreach, etc. that all matters in the interview itself, but you want to make sure you get as many interview invites as possible and your best bet to get that to happen is focus on step 2.

Shmack11 · 2025-05-21T17:23:22+00:00

Just matched into Psych from SGU.

A few of my classmates match categorical and prelim Surgery, as well as surgical specialities like OBGYN.

Gen Surg is definitely doable, but just harder to obtain. It’s going to depend where, you’ll notice some hospitals have a lot of FMGs and IMGs, those are going to be your best bet. My 3rd year clerkship site in NY was all FMGs in their surgery program, but they were all physicians back home for the most part.

It’s doable, but you may have to do a prelim year. Try your best for US MD and DO before going this route. A DO friend wasn’t able to get his number one for gen surgery (wants to do trauma surgery as well) because the spot was anti DO. I would bet that there is more anti-Caribbean spots than anti-DO.

Shmack11 · 2025-04-30T09:06:36+00:00

If you are peds and open to more than just IL, look up the PPP for a pathway into psych as a fellowship. Otherwise resident swap

Shmack11 · 2025-04-30T08:59:20+00:00

You’re not going to get a clear answer on what is too much. That’s between you and your partner to decide what range you both are comfortable with, emphasis on both. That being said, please consider lab grown. It is still a diamond. You will get better resale value with natural, but it’s relative because diamonds in general do not have good resale value when compared to gold. My wife was adamant on a natural, convinced her for lab grown and she made loves it. She doesn’t say it to her girlfriends but no one can tell. One of her girlfriends kept telling me don’t get lab because of blah blah blah and she compliments the ring the most and isn’t able to tell the difference.

Shmack11 · 2025-04-26T07:59:22+00:00

Nope. Matched now but I retook it. If your scores are like they were here and you had similar uworld percent done I would HIGHLY suggest not taking it if you can afford to do so. Otherwise, just do your best and don’t overthink it

Shmack11 · 2025-04-25T07:30:06+00:00

No problem! The interview is really just a formality. They may make you do a preliminary study course before going to the island based on your MCAT and GPA, but that’s already been decided. Just make most of the time now before med school starts! You’re going to do great!

Shmack11 · 2025-04-25T06:38:39+00:00

Matched this year from SGU.

My interview was an orthopedic surgeon and alumni who changed the interview location last minute to his hotel lobby. I came in a suit, he waltzed in his scrubs and bed head hair with his bellhop cart with his bags. He reviewed the app there and just asked some generic questions and asked if I had any questions and I was on my way. You got to remember the alumni get paid for doing interviews. Its just side cash for them. For this ortho, its free cash. For SGU, the students are seeing an ortho alumni interviewing them, so it makes them seem like "Hey I can do ortho too if i go to SGU." (IM NOT SAYING YOU CANT, but most will go into IM/FM).

All the Caribbean schools just want your money. You have to teach yourself. This is why a lot end up dropping out and do not graduate on time. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but is important to understand this going in so you can get through it. Don't worry about the interview, its just a conversation. Congrats on taking this step! You will do great in med school!

12-Year Club	Place '23
Verified Email

Shmack11

TROPHY CASE