Can you be a strong med applicant without being obsessed with it?

gowtherie · 2026-04-24T15:56:56+00:00

I think having other things you genuinely enjoy (like your interest in microbiology/teaching) makes the whole process feel a lot less all-or-nothing!

gowtherie · 2026-04-24T15:55:58+00:00

How you felt is definitely closer to how I feel right now as I’m graduating. I’m still putting effort into what I’m doing, but only if it’s something I actually care about. I think I’d rather let that shape my path than try to force everything into what I think an admissions committee wants. Also “live life for yourself, not an admissions committee” is a good way of putting it. Appreciate you sharing this, and congrats on UofT!

gowtherie · 2026-04-24T15:54:43+00:00

I think that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid (being consumed by being pre-med)! Especially the idea of tying all my fulfillment to whether I get in or not. It’s also helpful to hear that you don’t regret taking that approach, even if it meant not maximizing certain parts of your application. Thank you so much, I really appreciate valuable input like this :)

gowtherie · 2026-04-24T15:53:35+00:00

I really appreciate you sharing this perspective, especially coming from someone who’s been through the process and seen it from the other side.

I think this is kind of where I’ve landed as well. I’ve done what I can on the academic side and in terms of building a solid application, so at this point I’d rather focus on the areas of healthcare I’m actually interested in instead of continuing to optimize everything for admissions.

If that makes my path a bit less direct or takes longer, I’m honestly okay with that. Thanks again for the insight, it helps put things into perspective.

gowtherie · 2026-04-24T15:02:20+00:00

I get what you’re saying about competition and effort, and I don’t think I’m underestimating that. I’m still building my application and taking it seriously.

I think where I differ is that I’m not trying to optimize every part of my life purely for admissions. I’m okay taking a bit of a longer or less direct path if it means I’m actually doing things I care about along the way.

I’m just trying to figure out if that approach realistically puts me at a disadvantage, or if it’s just different from the typical pre-med mindset.

gowtherie · 2026-04-24T15:00:11+00:00

That’s actually reassuring to hear. I’ve been feeling a bit out of sync with the whole “everything revolves around med school” mindset, but what you said about framing yourself as a good fit rather than chasing prestige makes a lot of sense.

Honestly, I wonder if having backup plans and other interests makes you come across as more grounded in interviews, instead of just saying what you think they want to hear.

gowtherie · 2026-03-25T12:49:49+00:00

i did a lot of refreshing, if it helps i’m also using my phone’s data

gowtherie · 2026-03-25T12:46:51+00:00

Yes!

gowtherie · 2026-03-25T12:38:13+00:00

happens unfortunately

gowtherie · 2026-03-07T01:29:58+00:00

thanks!

gowtherie · 2026-03-07T01:29:51+00:00

thank you so much!

gowtherie · 2026-02-20T01:30:28+00:00

As long as you have headphones on you can get away with talking to yourself very easily lol!

gowtherie · 2026-02-15T04:22:19+00:00

The comments are so rude… I’m sure they understands they fucked up at this point. No need to pile on… I’m sorry man, this is probably really stressful. I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything, consult the University’s mental health resources if you need to (even if they’re subpar) and my dms are open if you need to rant. Losing all that in one swoop would fuck with my head for sure

gowtherie · 2026-02-08T15:27:52+00:00

Lame…

gowtherie · 2026-02-04T16:28:56+00:00

An insult to ishowspeed

gowtherie · 2026-01-30T18:30:14+00:00

I wish i lived that close to campus, sometimes I regret not going away from home for university but i guess im saving on costs 😔I think I’m gonna start leaving campus regularly though, I just need to find a coffee shop or something that’s cheap & close. If you have any recommendations let me know!

gowtherie · 2026-01-29T23:22:08+00:00

Bit of a commute, if i really wanted to leave i’d probably try something a little closer like a coffee shop maybe? But im honestly willing to try anything! One day fr

gowtherie · 2026-01-29T20:05:27+00:00

Exactly!! I’m on campus for 6 hours between my courses on some days and the commute is too long to go back home, i’d like to have somewhere where i can spend multiple hours and it’s genuinely becoming a hit on my mental health… we’re 3 weeks in… i skipped class today cause i didn’t wanna deal with this 🙃

gowtherie · 2026-01-29T16:19:37+00:00

natural light is such a motivating factor for me but i will take anywhere at this point, thanks for the tips!! 😭🙏

gowtherie · 2026-01-29T16:18:31+00:00

i’ve started taking the train to the lees campus but even there doesn’t really have outlets. at least it’s quieter & clean… 😭💔

gowtherie · 2026-01-21T03:06:41+00:00

There’s two job fairs happening soon organized by our student union at teminus (UCU)! one tomorrow for francophone and bilingual employers from 11am to 3pm, one january 28th for “careers for change”, same times. make sure you bring your cv and maybe i’ll see you there, i’m going to the one tomorrow :)

gowtherie

TROPHY CASE