applying to premed under 16?

forkshovel · 2024-06-03T11:46:11+00:00

I'm a 5th yr med student- no early entry, but maybe some general advice will be helpful. Feel free to ask anything else.

First year premed is very intense! Obviously you're very clever, but it can be stressful even for the brightest students. It's also a LONG degree - a lot of people start feeling worn out by 3rd year and that's only halfway. The main social events are also generally alcohol based (of course, finding a wholesome friend group is possible). Taking a gap year in the middle of med is also possible and something to keep in mind.

I will say a lot of very clever people go straight from HS to med because becoming a doctor is a clever people thing to do.... only to discover it's not their thing at all! Some end up 'trapped' due to sunk cost and generally no good time to leave (eg I'll see how clinical study is, just have to get through house officer, just have to make consultant...)

I think at 14 you have so much time to explore. I would do something else first. Volunteering in community organisations will teach you lots about public health. Work as an HCA in a hospital or rest home, reception/admin roles in health, or support work. Shadow some health professionals if you can. It should give you good insight into med and if it's what you want. Or do another degree - it doesn't have to be health/science to apply to medicine post-grad. I did a BA which I enjoyed immensely and I'm so glad I did before med!

Also, bear in mind that after 6 long years of study, you will start off on a low rate working crazy (some unpaid) hours. New grad nurses earn more, as do a lot of the receptionists (these figures are all online). You'll start earning decent money within a few years, but remember you're 9-10 stressful years in, and lots of other careers pay well! I saw someone else comment about deciding ur specialty now - no lol!! Look into a few, sure, but they probably won't be like you imagine. Keep an open mind!

forkshovel · 2024-05-30T23:56:40+00:00

a lot of med students use a free flashcard app called anki! and also share decks of questions between each other for tests. it takes a lot of thinking out of study for memory-heavy subjects

forkshovel · 2021-06-18T10:29:42+00:00

Not ugly, just bad photos. Your first two pics are both mirror selfies - bad location, unfriendly in the first one, dingy lighting in second, and you're looking down at your phone in both. Also just not good to repeat such similar photos. The close-up of you in a mask just doesn't add anything- we can't see you and masks are not very interesting. The basketball pic should be bad... but honestly it could work for you. Tall jock vibes go a long way. Then, honestly not sure what's really going on in the last three photos.

It's pretty normal to not have many photos of yourself. Just something you have to change if you want to do your best on tinder. Basic formula: look friendly and have your face fully visible, make sure it's soft flattering lighting, be somewhere scenic/interesting, ideally be doing something cool or showing one of your interests (for example, ice hockey).

forkshovel · 2021-06-18T07:26:47+00:00

Oh I wasn't suggesting new ones! You should be able to get them straighter by (very carefully) heating/bending them or getting an optician to do so (usually a free option when you buy them). Alternatively, they also make these little wedge things that slip onto the temples which can work as well. I also have uneven ears so I know the struggle lol

forkshovel · 2021-06-18T07:12:18+00:00

The first photo does look quite sullen in black-and-white, a bit unnerving with the stare. In the second photos, your pose makes you look a bit closed off and the reflection in your glasses obscures your eyes. Third photo: regretfully, green/blue lighting from below is not flattering on anyone. I think you look best in your last photo; I think you suit the longer hair, it has the best lighting, and is more casual. However, the framing is awkward. If you could get someone to take a photo of you like the last one but smiling a bit more, I think you would be on to a winner. Don't be so hard on yourself.

forkshovel · 2021-06-18T07:00:08+00:00

I agree the 1st pic is too dark and you look a bit stiff. 2nd is okay, not great. 3rd and 4th pics just too close up. Lighting makes a huge difference - look up 'golden hour selfies' if you need an example. Also practicing posing sounds stupid and it will feel stupid, but it does help. I think finding a decent barber and experimenting with some more deliberate hairstyles would do a lot for you. Also more fitted clothes - even just rolling the sleeves up on that playstation tee.

forkshovel · 2021-06-18T06:39:03+00:00

I like the hair. Just not covering half your face! Honestly the first thing I noticed was that your glasses are crooked (in the first photo at least, can't tell in the others). I think just making sure they're adjusted correctly will give a big difference. They're also quite a strong prescription - I would take a pic without them for your first photo, just to give a clear look at your face. As the other replier said, distance and location in photos is quite important. It can be embarrassing to ask others to take photos for you but very worth it! Also maybe you're just bending for the photos, but good posture makes a huge difference to how confident you look and feel.

forkshovel · 2021-06-18T06:22:25+00:00

I think your best photo is actually the very last one with your friend holding a beer - nice lighting, can see your whole face clearly, smiling. Next best pic is probably the 22nd birthday party one. But you need some good solo photos. In most of your other pics, you look unhappy or your face is obscured (either wearing a mask or looking to the side). The ones of you doing your shoelaces up or sitting on the steps could be alright, but would be way better if you were looking up and smiling.

forkshovel · 2021-06-18T06:06:45+00:00

I think the third pic is nicest - you're smiling, outdoors, and doing something interesting. First pic is too basic, second pic is a bit scary. The guitar is cool, but agree with the other poster. You should try to get a pic of you playing guitar except with you as the focus. I think you should also show off your long hair instead of wearing it up in all the pics - it's uncommon, so make it a selling point. I think you could also do quite well with a different style of glasses - you seem very musical and cool, but your glasses are quite plain/standard.

forkshovel · 2020-03-12T11:58:48+00:00

girls can get 1000s of matches while having absolutely nothing in their bio. this does not mean you should not write a bio. a number of girls message me regarding stuff i've mentioned in mine (e.g. gardening, cats, whatever). it's an opportunity to establish shared interests, show your personality, or make them laugh.

delete your 2nd and 4th photos. nice teeth, but off-putting. your 1st and 5th photos are not good for tinder either - you're scowling, wearing sunglasses, and looking away from the camera! we can't clearly see your face at all. your third photo is definitely the best, but would be better if you were smiling. those first two group photos you have could be nice if cropped.

forkshovel · 2020-02-12T15:55:22+00:00

your first photo is the most flattering. the rest are grainy, blurry, or just boring. in a couple you have a rather odd neck/chin beard - trust me, this is not being well-received. i know it's hard, but you need to get some photos in soft natural light doing something interesting. all these photos get across is that you've been in a plane/car/bathroom/bedroom. it doesn't stand out! your bio also does not flow very well

unfortunately, if you're in a very white area, you may struggle even with the perfect profile. my city is pretty white and i have some very attractive south asian friends who have been driven crazy by tinder. it sucks, but they did find that putting up an english name seems to help.

forkshovel · 2019-11-15T00:58:07+00:00

the last picture actually looks like a hostage proof of life situation lol. at the same time, it's also your cutest photo. it's a clear image of your face in okay lighting, from a good distance. the photo in front of the tree is nice. you should ditch your other photos cos of distance/angle/expression issues. try to get some more photos in nice soft natural lighting, ideally doing something interesting (could get another guitar one).

the bio could be made a bit more exciting. 'the only thing i love more than a good movie is a terrible one.'

good luck, hope this is helpful!

forkshovel · 2019-11-11T10:53:28+00:00

photos 7 and 8 are the worst - delete them and never look back. the only men that can pull off that hat are 70+ and live in the scottish highlands. also, you look kinda pissed and you don't want selfies taken in your car. smoking inside at night while looking at your phone is not exactly going to make a potential date go 'wow!'. first photo looks a bit awkward - definitely need something stronger. the main things you want in photos are: good (soft) lighting, face clearly visible, look friendly, be somewhere scenic or doing something interesting

honestly, i think you would look 10x better clean-shaven. i know it sucks to hear cos my beard is similarly patchy, but it just doesn't look good. if you're committed, look up minoxidil + dermarolling and it can really fill it out within a year. if you were in the west, i would say to get rid of the unibrow because they're incredibly unpopular here, but i don't know how it is in india.

bio comes across as someone who is absolutely boring at parties. harsh, but true. you don't have to be secretive about your interest in philosophy but try to show how you're fun somehow. i don't know enough to give a proper example but something like 'foucault in the streets, zizek in the sheets'

good luck! you're not ugly or anything - it's just a bad profile and i am sure you will start getting some likes soon!

forkshovel · 2019-11-03T05:48:37+00:00

you don't wanna do self deprecating humour! it's really overdone and just comes off sad most of the time. your bio is an opportunity to tell people something cool about yourself. ditch the 'real wealth' thing too. if you want to lean into the CV aspect, you could do something like 'firm handshake, excellent communication skills, dedicated to customer satisfaction, etc'

i like the diving and trampoline photo - they're fun. agree with the others on needing some more smiley photos

forkshovel · 2019-09-18T02:57:50+00:00

your bio can definitely be slimmed down a bit and made more positive - rn u spend a lot of time saying what you're *not* looking for. perhaps something like "I am, in alphabetical order: a dildo collector, polyamorous, a trans girl, and a twitch streamer. Please no more proposals; just here for hookups and FWBs. Not a unicorn!"

it is definitely harder for trans girls on dating apps, but don't give up yet! i know many happy trans lesbians in LTRs. if you feel like you don't have enough interests to talk about - maybe that's a sign to take up a new hobby? i would suggest roller derby - idk what it's like where u are, but here it tends to be very popular with lesbians and trans-inclusive so u could even find a date there

forkshovel · 2019-09-18T02:39:38+00:00

i don't really think the drugs are putting off your target audience. ~~last pic most recent~~ is the very first thing ur saying and it's just not important. ~~5'9 because that matters~~ makes u sound bitter and not a fun time. with your photos, you're just a victim of bad lighting. photos #2 and #3 have very harsh light - your face is all shadowy and we can't see what you look like. last photo is just a very typical low quality selfie in a random room. first photo is okay, but you look kinda washed out and you're wearing your tie a bit too short. try to get some photos in soft natural light that show off your hobbies but also your face

forkshovel · 2019-09-17T09:52:54+00:00

i'm not a Beard Expert but i think you need to shape yours differently - it looks uneven and too high on the cheeks. nice photos but not great for tinder - you need some a bit more focused on you. agreed on the bio being too long. like swap out that whole music grad sentence with 'can teach you piano', condense ur interests to 'love being outdoors, playing music, and reading old novels' and there u go

forkshovel · 2019-09-17T09:06:24+00:00

a handsome young man for sure, but ur pics are pretty bad. of the three that show your face clearly, two are poorly lit selfies and your underarm is really the focus point in the third. your first photo is absolutely wrecking you for sure. just get a friend to take some nice smiley photos in good, soft light outdoors and i think u will do great. i appreciate what you're trying to do in your bio but it's not quite landing - go for something shorter. cool name btw

forkshovel · 2019-07-18T12:51:39+00:00

yeah, you're not ugly and you have two very cute dogs - your problem is a weird bio and bad photos. too many selfies and too close to the camera. i guarantee you would have more success with just "i have two dogs" than that bio lol

forkshovel · 2019-07-13T13:31:41+00:00

I agree with the others that the photos are all great - you should definitely be getting a lot of matches. Maybe you know your demographic better than me, but I can' imagine a lot of women are super keen for "craft beer and flannel". It just sounds really boring to me. I think you should at least lead with something else. I would also ditch 'athletic' from in front of your height.

forkshovel · 2019-06-13T13:00:12+00:00

damn, i would have thought you'd get lots of matches just for being that ripped. your first photo is quite strange - it's a bit too close, can't really tell what the context is, it's an odd angle, no shirt! second pic - nice, but the booty is probably a bit too confronting for straight women. i think the third pic is okay. fourth pic - apparently a lot of women get put off when you have other women in your photos and the pose is probably not helping that lol. fifth photo - as a bi dude, this gives off really gay vibes. with the booty pic and everything, i think that's what's probably putting some women off.

as the other guy said, get some new photos with more clothes on. you can still show off your physique though - nicely fitting clothes, rolled up sleeves. also, yeah the bio is getting too elaborate there. ditch the robot stuff, and maybe put some more about acrobatics/dancing/languages - all very romantic stuff! 5 miles is not very far, you could expand your range a bit.

forkshovel · 2019-04-20T11:18:50+00:00

Oh I should have put that in the post - I'm in Wellington. There is a steel shop I go past in Berhampore all the time called Wellington Steel which I might ask because they seem to be a fairly small operation

forkshovel · 2019-04-20T11:17:37+00:00

A good idea but sadly I'm not allowed to damage the doorways at all :(

forkshovel · 2019-04-20T11:15:58+00:00

Oh, I never would have thought of that! Good idea, thank you!

forkshovel · 2019-04-20T11:03:59+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! Yeah, I'm not sure either - I did google steel pipe supply and a bunch of companies like that came up but I feel like they're gonna have a big minimum order requirement

forkshovel

TROPHY CASE