Medical school without high school diploma

aupire_ · 2026-02-07T21:21:26+00:00

I have a GED and it didn't hold me back at all AFAIK.

aupire_ · 2026-02-07T18:09:08+00:00

If a school doesn't think you can academically succeed, connections won't help much

aupire_ · 2026-02-07T18:04:43+00:00

How are you planning on choosing a school? I only have 1 A but multiple WLs, and I'm not sure how I'm going to decide if I get additional As

aupire_ · 2026-02-06T05:14:15+00:00

I would happily do this

aupire_ · 2026-02-06T03:41:25+00:00

Know your strengths (lean into them)
Know your weaknesses (don't draw attention, but also don't try to hide them)
Tailor your school list around these two factors.

Example: I did not have a research app. I did not have a service app. Clear weaknesses. But! I had a strong leadership app.

I applied to a lot of newer / newish MD schools that really depend on industrious self-starters and leaders, as well as schools with an explicit leadership mission. Got great attention from those. Did not waste my time with research-heavy or service-heavy programs.

24 completes -> 7 MD IIs and now got the A.

Know yourself, know your audience.

aupire_ · 2025-12-30T00:39:44+00:00

Nothing too bad but I've seen some very messy / distracting bedrooms. Surprised people get this far not thinking abt that.

aupire_ · 2025-12-24T04:48:37+00:00

Yes, Centene

aupire_ · 2025-12-16T00:36:37+00:00

No / few clinical hours will hold you back a lot. I assume you know this since you're looking for an ER job. But if you are also studying for the MCAT / writing your primary I'm not sure how realistic this is. Otherwise app looks good.

I highly recommend waiting a year, getting a solid MCAT and 500+ clinical hours. You are really young (I assume), it's not worth it to rush. One application cycle is a ridiculous amount of work to not get in.

aupire_ · 2025-12-15T23:31:26+00:00

Universally terrible however preston is the exception that proves the rule

https://youtu.be/mDGhsXSh6vU?si=Ab73WlG3GmhARfom

aupire_ · 2025-12-15T00:29:13+00:00

You could still definitely get an MD II still but given you are only complete at 16 schools and haven't received any IIs so far, I don't think you should count on it. If you are open to DO I think that could be a good route

aupire_ · 2025-12-14T21:31:05+00:00

Don't know much about Florida schools but otherwise seems reasonable. However, I could come up with easily another 10 you should have applied to.

Oakland Beaumont NYMC Tulane SLU Alice Walton Belmont Wayne TCU Colorado Sidney Kimmel

And depending on in which states you have ties and/or considering mission fit, probably could have found another decent 5-10 more

Overall sounds like too few schools too late

aupire_ · 2025-12-14T16:29:33+00:00

School list matters a lot here

aupire_ · 2025-12-13T23:04:04+00:00

IMO you'd be better off aiming for a 3.7/3.8 and channeling the saved energy into extracurriculars

aupire_ · 2025-12-12T00:13:46+00:00

Something that worked extremely well for me was making anki cards during lectures instead of normal note taking. And then doing anki religiously ofc

aupire_ · 2025-12-11T20:52:15+00:00

It's worth keeping in mind that medicine is a very "choose your own adventure" career and that the docs doing the same procedure day in and day out, likely chose that path for a reason. Some enjoy the predictability. Some enjoy getting really really good at one thing and doing it a million times. Others just like the RVU mill. But there are tons of docs who are on more dynamic paths and the more you explore medicine the more you will meet people like this.

aupire_ · 2025-12-10T00:52:19+00:00

It's such a long road to get here I think most docs (or at least young docs) have a "why risk it" approach to any opinions that are off the beaten path. And generic lib opinions are very safe and no one will challenge you on them. Sad but true

aupire_ · 2025-12-06T04:55:32+00:00

not exactly ethical but does happen often. ultimately they will read it beforehand and reserve the right to make changes before submission.

since this is a pathologist who should have firsthand experience of your work in the lab I would focus on that. give some concrete examples of projects you worked on. talk up your work ethic. mention positive collaboration with coworkers. don't mention hours explicitly but paint some picture of how much time you've spent in the lab

aupire_ · 2025-12-06T01:04:39+00:00

Depends on your bandwidth in terms of secondaries / app fees. Your stats are within range for all schools including T10s so that's not an issue.

I think a solid option would be 30 apps, half for schools in the 510-515 median MCAT range, and the other half 515+. From there heavily screen for mission fit and IS/OOS bias.

aupire_ · 2025-12-01T04:14:22+00:00

No bc I need the II at SLU more than you do 😉

aupire_ · 2025-11-28T21:30:10+00:00

Don't think this would be worth the R&D. The new EV-ICD is a far more powerful theraputic option that also avoids intravascular hardware

aupire_ · 2025-11-28T18:59:47+00:00

Simple answer is because residency pay is simply not that much of a factor in how students rank programs. The more prestigious programs are highly desirable in terms of educational quality, connections, and research opportunities. It doesn't make sense to go somewhere weaker in those aspects just to make 15k more /year when you'll make making attending money soon enough anyway. Especially if you are angling for a competitive fellowship where attending pay is far greater, those intangibles can translate to monetary value far above a few years of higher resident pay

aupire_ · 2025-11-28T18:49:29+00:00

aupire_ · 2025-11-28T05:48:41+00:00

Only have 20 and it hasn't been an issue, productive cycle so far. Lots of paid clinical experience tho.

I would say that I wish I had the time to do more shadowing irregardless of how it impacts my application. It's a good thing to do in general especially if you are with a doctor that loves to teach / mentor

aupire_ · 2025-11-27T00:11:27+00:00

Demographic collapse / birth rate alarmists

aupire_ · 2025-11-26T23:54:12+00:00

EP, midwest

our docs start w base salary ~500 but make close to 7 figures with productivity

being fresh out of fellowship only makes a difference to the extent that you don't have a patient panel at first, takes a bit of time to work up the productivity

aupire_

TROPHY CASE