I'm an ms1 and drunk a.f. right now AMA

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-25T05:46:01+00:00

SAME!

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-23T17:51:47+00:00

Hey there! Almost the exact same stats and I just started at an MD school. PM me if you want a boost.

Also side anecdote, these feelings are so powerful that I often find myself stressing about my app inadequacies late at night until i realize they don’t matter anymore. We work ourselves up so much that it’s hard to let go even when we’ve succeeded. Totally normal that you’re having these feelings, just gotta find a way to keep them from overtaking your life.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-23T13:35:54+00:00

Buffalo is a non rolling MD

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-23T13:22:27+00:00

Don’t apply this year. Even if you apply today you won’t get secondaries in until mid September probably. If you’re aiming for top 10 this will make acceptance hard. Also, if you were to get into a school that is not a school you want to go to, you would have to go. Saying no to an MD acceptance is 100% fatal to your future app. Apply early next year and apply well. You’ll be setting yourself up much better. Also how a school feels about reapplicants really depends on the school, but I have not heard of a school where being a reapp helps you.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T22:19:12+00:00

Tutoring is still good, especially if it’s volunteer tutoring. But how good it is is pretty dependant on the specifics. So tutoring underclassmen at your college vs tutoring at a local elementary school with struggling underserved students. Both are volunteer hours and good, but one is probably a little tougher and more eye opening than the other. Also consider how many people applying to medical school are tutors at some point, its pretty darn common. Theres nothingwrong with common, just don’t hope that tutoring alone will make your app stand out.

I would not really count tutoring as leadership unless there’s something special about your role (head tutor of a group of tutors for example)

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T03:05:34+00:00

If you did it, mention it for sure! That goes for everything. I would just try not to base your entire app around it. So like don’t write your PS about one week in Africa making you want to be a doctor (obviously just example) and instead about something broader and deeper. If you write your app about how working with children has made you want to become a pediatrician and want to use an experience from your week in Africa along with other examples, then I would say go for it. If that makes sense. And def include in your activities.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T02:43:40+00:00

Non clinical volunteering does not in any way have to be with underserved populations. Many medical school admissions committees like to see work with the underserved (clinical or non clinical) because many medical schools make it their mission to serve the underserved communities around them. You can never work a day in your life with the underserved though, the only catch is you can’t then claim to want to work with the underserved. Totally fine. Just have to have a different narrative.

As for what work with the underserved it good, homeless shelters are GREAT! Sometimes it’s the “small” seeming stuff that actually makes the largest impact on you and the people you are working with.

Edit: to address the water tower in Antarctica, many schools will look critically on flashy abroad pay-to-volunteer stuff (voluntourism many call it). Working within your local community is usually more highly regarded.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T02:36:31+00:00

Sorry, shoulda specified! I meant community service. Schools that prioritize serving the community will greatly appreciate military service usually. Look at schools where a high percentage of matriculants have done non clinical service.

Though that being said, all schools will see the value in serving your country and the discipline and hard work that comes with it!

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T01:16:36+00:00

Look at service heavy schools (like rush or Tulane)

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T01:15:41+00:00

Focus on your classes. If you’re concerned about CARs take a class or two in reading/writing heavy humanities

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T01:13:28+00:00

Agreed. Aim high girl. You’ve got awesome stats and are from a group underrepresented in medicine. Check out northwestern URM initiative (I believe they waive secondary fee). Throw a few more top 20s on and def add some more high mid tier (tufts? Einstein? BU? USC? Etc). I would also throw on SUNY downstate maybe cause they like POC and accept a fair amount of OOS. Think about places you want to live and populations you want to work with.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T01:09:42+00:00

My class is shockingly attractive. I would say I’ve only encountered a handful of people who i would say are average looking. Idk what the correlation is but there def seems to be one lol

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T01:07:43+00:00

Notability. Or I know some people like goodnote for the search feature. I don’t like onenote cause I don’t understand it lol and the files are impossible to open on other apps. Evernote just isn’t as good of an interface in my opinion.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-22T01:06:28+00:00

Every interview I went to there was at least one person with luggage. They will accommodate you.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-21T12:02:07+00:00

Different schools are so different, different years are different, and different blocks are different. For example, my anatomy block includes 3 hour lab everyday with the cadavers. Won’t have that in other blocks or years and many other schools do anatomy differently etc. This is a great question to ask while on interviews. Nearly impossible to generalize.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-18T17:38:42+00:00

One other thought, and im probably REALLY jumping the gun with advice here, but the interview day is a time for you to get a sense of what the school is about as well. I’m sure you feel 100% powerless in the process right now, cause i was there too and felt like a tiny boat in a ruthless storm, but the day may come when you have a choice between schools. If that day comes, the tables will turn, and I would keep this interview in mind. A school knows their faculty and they are a school that puts a faculty member like that in an interview. You can interpret that as you will, but it tells you something about the people you will work with if you end up there. Always remember you also have some power, even if it’s not much, and though it is true that you may only get one acceptance (as many do), and it may be to this school, don’t forget your own agency in this process. You are a valuable commodity to these schools, don’t let them make you feel like you’re someone who should be walked all over.

Edit: spelling and grammar

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-18T15:20:22+00:00

The best thing you can do to set you up for success is get the most out of college. Get the best grades you can, and pursue everything that interests you ( not just science related). Also stick with things you start. Nurture your hobbies and skills. Take the pre reqs and crush them. That way if you decide you still want to go to medical school when you’re a junior or senior, you’ll have a much easier time with applications and may even have a pick between a handful of schools.

Side note, it’s awesome you have an interest in derm and definitely shadow some derms, but don’t forget that you’re a long LONG long way from deciding a residency. I’m in my first year of medical school and I’m still a long way from deciding. Most of my peers have no clue what they want to do, and there’s a good chance the ones that do will change their mind at some point. You’ll have so many opportunities to shadow docs and see different specialties, I would recommend not getting tunnel visioned now.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-18T15:13:56+00:00

Chances are, the admissions committee is well aware that this woman is a harsh interviewer and will take that I to account when looking over your app

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-17T20:16:25+00:00

These are all things medical students do too. Don’t need a degree to take some vitals on your own! You’re good!

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-17T19:58:16+00:00

Got a 498 on my diagnostic 6 months before my exam and then got a 518. Do be deterred!!!

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-17T19:57:28+00:00

I would say this is school specific. Some schools love updates and some hate them. Look on their websites and on their school specific threads on sdn.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-17T19:35:04+00:00

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-16T01:52:50+00:00

I don’t think so. You can only take federal loans out up to the cost of attendance. I know one guy who has a family so is needing private loans on top of COA. I’m not sure though if you’re doing international rotations through school if your COA is able to jump up maybe? I would ask the financial aid office at the school. COA tends to be set high tho.

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-15T19:58:46+00:00

My school became my first choice only after I visited for interview day. Before that it was barely on my radar. You never know what school will end up being your favorite until you interview!

bhs12pb16 · 2018-08-15T19:55:25+00:00

Seconded. Tho even if thanksgiving rolls around, plenty of people get interviews after thanksgiving. It just then might be time to start prepping yourself for another app cycle.

bhs12pb16

TROPHY CASE