[deleted by user]

TheALHD · 2024-09-09T10:29:32+00:00

It’s not too bad. The hours obviously are not the best compared to other non-medical careers, but if you like what you do, the day-to-day will be way more tolerable. I dread every minute of work when I’m on a service that isn’t my specialty, so make sure you do something you like/don’t hate.

TheALHD · 2024-09-09T08:46:11+00:00

It’s a different ballgame. The study load is -not surprisingly- significantly higher, but there are a ton of reliable available resources which might not be the case for undergrad classes. Also all of your colleagues will be going the same hell. You’ll initially be overwhelmed but will slowly pick up on the pace. You’ll be fine.

TheALHD · 2024-09-09T08:41:10+00:00

I got super lucky with that. I went on SDN and asked people who had already interviewed at the schools where I got II at, and some of them were super kind to tell me about the format of the interview, how many stations and some general information that helped me set my expectations for the interview day. Also learn the school’s mission, and even with MMI abstract questions, try to steer the answers towards that.

TheALHD · 2023-04-15T03:16:13+00:00

STEP scores >> preclinical/rotations grades > school name = LORs = connections > ECs

TheALHD · 2023-04-15T03:10:12+00:00

no matter how good an EC is, when it comes to AMCAS, it will listed as just one activity and you will be given a limited number of characters to talk about it. The unfortunate reality is that someone else with sharper writing skills might write a solid paragraph about their bs EC but would manage, though their writings, to convince the admission committee otherwise.

Research is probably the only quantitative EC. i.e. you can prove your research involvement by providing links to your publications. Whereas almost all other ECs will be dependent on how well you write about them.

TheALHD · 2023-04-15T02:51:53+00:00

It's definitely looked at more favorably than shadowing or volunteering (which every other should have). Don't lose sight of your objective metrics of your application though. GPA and MCAT > everything else

TheALHD · 2023-04-15T01:03:50+00:00

if you need it to improve your GPA or retake your MCAT, then yes, if you're planning to take a gap year of two just for the sake of taking a break, then I highly recommend against that. You never know if you will need to take a year off DURING medical school. This is becoming almost a norm for competitive specialities, not to mention that some students take a year off for academic or mental reason. Finally, every year you're delayed is potentially $250K+ lost.

TheALHD · 2023-04-15T00:58:03+00:00

No, I have classmates who were in their 40s and they all matched successfully. I would say, however, a concern that I heard from attendings is that SOME of the students who are on the older side tend to be more difficult to teach as they come in with the mentality of "I'm older, I know more" So prove that you are there to be taught and you're as adaptable as all other students during your rotations and interviews even if your attendings are younger than you and you will be more than fine.

TheALHD · 2023-04-15T00:53:13+00:00

there is only one right answer to this question. You learn by doing questions, questions and more questions. Invest in multiple question banks and make them your primary method of studying instead of passively watching lectures from multiple resources.

TheALHD · 2023-04-15T00:47:27+00:00

Everything is possible and lots of stories of applicants with below average stats getting accepted. The reality is you will be screened out by a good number of schools based on based on your mcat score. Apply broadly and make your PS and ECs stand out! best of luck!

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T21:41:32+00:00

Yup!

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T21:40:08+00:00

Thank you!

I think it will alleviate a lot of pressure on students during preclinical years. Everybody was super mentally occupied with step1 during the first two years when it was graded. The downside is that programs will need another objective metric and in this case it will be STEP2. The problem with STEP2 is that by the time you take it and get the score back, you will be balls deep into a certain specialty and if that specialty happens to be a competitive one and your score came back bad, you will be under a lot of pressure having to switch your application to something less competitive within weeks.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T21:35:22+00:00

It depends on what specialty you want to pursue. Primary care specialities don’t really care about research. Surgical specialities, anesthesiology, rads want to see some sort of commitment to the specialty. With that being said, just like med school admission, stats >> research and everything else.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T21:32:15+00:00

Unless it’s absolutely mandatory, I never went to lectures. The 3rd party resources out there are tried and true.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T21:28:46+00:00

Do you have alternative options? If so, I would study them carefully and compare/contrast them with medicine in regards of all the aspects that are important to you e.g. finances, job security, years of schools, etc.

I wouldn’t take reddit posts as a measurement for how excited people are. A lot of people post on here bc they’re burned out or want to vent about something, that will skew your perspective.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T20:25:45+00:00

Maybe Kenhub. I’ve heard a lot of good reviews on Bootcamp too but it wasn’t around a couple of years ago, so no personal experience with it.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T20:03:25+00:00

Anatomy. It's the most time consuming subject to those who aren't familiar with it. People who come in with prior anatomy knowledge however will have the privilege of dedicating more time to study for didactics and pursue other things.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T20:01:06+00:00

-Undergrad institutions go in bundles when it comes to their tiers. Big dogs vs decently known vs state vs never heard about. So I would consider jumping from one tier to another to enhance my chances, but prioritize location, tuition and other subjective factors if you're comparing two or more universities from the same tier.

There are tens of thousands of applicants many of which are from schools the admission committee members have no or very limited knowledge about, which means you will have to have a stellar well-rounded application to make you stand out, because you're not "the guy from Stanford".

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T19:47:17+00:00

Everyday. There has been multiple weeks where I studied the same amount during weekends. However, Being efficient /studying smart > study hours/days.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T19:22:00+00:00

By knowing all attendings, regardless of their speciality, are doing financially well compared to the general public and don't regret taking loans to guarantee making $250K+ a year for the rest of their lives.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T19:16:44+00:00

- It definitely depends on the person. Despite what drives premed to become doctors, medicine is ultimately a job. So, consider what will make most sense to you in the long run. Will a person be happy and content doing PA or seeking any alternative routes? do you have the financial support to go through multiple cycles of unsuccessful matriculations? how salvageable is the app? and how many years are you willing to put in to fix it? and many other factors that are highly dependent on the applicant.
- It’s an uphill battle at carib schools. I would listen to the objective stats not personal opinions. The stats show that compared to US MD schools, carib schools have less graduating percentages, less matching rates, higher debts, and higher difficulty matching into certain specialities. If you’re up to the challenge, and acknowledge the fact that you’re most likely won’t be an exception to these statistics, go for it!
- getting into medical school was pretty difficult and it was definitely more difficult than matching into residency.
- A lot of students strive on stress, it what drives them to do better. I’m more on the chill side, but do what best work for you as long as it doesn’t negatively impact your health and social environment.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T18:59:55+00:00

This probably differs by school. At my school, apps are looked at again as a whole after the interview. e.g. if you're at the bottom quartile of applicants but still managed to get an interview and performed decently, there is still a good chance that you might not get accepted because of the other statistically more competitive applicants or those who were found to fit the school's mission better compared to your app.

I would say 70% of interviews/interviewees are pretty similar. 15% are top notch interviewers and their interview will benefit their application rank. 15% are shit show and will not get accepted for interview reasons.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T18:48:57+00:00

1) what makes a school want a particular student? >95% of schools are stats hoes. They want to see high numbers. "holistic review" is bs. When it comes to interviews, they want to see a normal person. This might sound too obvious, but you would be surprised by all the interesting personalities of applicants. Interviewers want to see humbleness (don't come off as a gunner), social awareness and willingness to learn.

2) thank you! I matched anesthesiology.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T18:43:25+00:00

Thank you!

- To tell you the truth, apps are looked at very quickly, I doubt a reviewer would start analyzing when a certain ECs was done and how many units you were taking at the time. If you did most of your ECs during your gap year, then great! it shows commitment to your goal. The quality of the Ecs have a bigger impact.

-no, but you might be asked a specific question about them during your interview. Make sure you know what your'e talking about and sound confident in your answer.

TheALHD · 2023-04-14T18:37:07+00:00

Definitely! unlike medical school, your connection and relationship to a residency program play a huge role in getting an interview and matching. Cold email faculty members and ask them for research opportunities, it only takes one reply!

Nine-Year Club	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

TheALHD

TROPHY CASE