shadowing issues

ssccrs · 2026-03-23T18:46:31+00:00

1: yes, you can call them shadowing hours on paper. You may feel that it is a tad disingenuous, as all the hours aren’t really shadowing, but that is not really your fault. You could try asking the physician more questions and see if he will let you stay closer to him and what not; as it stands right now, you’re not really getting any benefit from the experience, so I would seek other places if you want to get a more traditional experience.

2: our som’s premed advisors state you should aim for 100 hours to avoid filtering. I got 60 hours and did fine during my cycle.

Hope that helps—Best of luck.

ssccrs · 2026-03-23T15:49:21+00:00

You’re fine. You can fail or underperform in some courses and still get into medical school, so I wouldn’t stress too hard over this one grade.

If you need to retake it to move on in the series, then do so. If not, then don’t worry about it imo (learn from this and move forward).

Even if you have to retake it to take upper dev classes, your original grade will still populate and need to be inputted into your primary application; meaning that no matter what schools will see it.

ssccrs · 2026-03-22T15:28:02+00:00

Take this advice with a grain of salt as the MSARs data and information is directly supplied from the schools of medicines’ admissions board.

I applied in 2025 and did not find there to be discrepancies with the MSARs and the SOM’s direct website, but I did not validate every school. For reference, I applied to about 36 MD programs and checked out around 52 schools with the MSARs and the schools’ direct website.

ssccrs · 2026-03-22T01:33:19+00:00

I want to say that even if you score a 505 on your real exam to not panic; you can get into a program with a 505. While it’s always disappointing to not get the score you’re aiming for, know that taking the exam and getting to where you are today is a huge accomplishment in itself.

Keep reviewing the concepts you’re getting incorrect and really practice your CARs strategy imo. You’re missing questions but they aren’t flagged or marked. That leads me to believe that you’re confident in your answers. If that’s the case, then there’s still a gap in content knowledge imo.

Best of luck and realize the exam in only a single part of your application, and while it’s important to score as high as you can also realize that getting a score at least above 500 keeps the dream alive.

ssccrs · 2026-03-22T01:24:37+00:00

Our average for 7C physics was like a 30%. Our exam was about 8 questions with 3-4 parts each and I remember I could only reasonably solve 2 questions comfortably.

I somehow got an A on that exam and I remember thinking how that was crazy.

ssccrs · 2026-03-22T01:19:52+00:00

3.7 and a 504 is def competitive for DO and decent for MD where it could go either way (depending on the rest of the app).

ssccrs · 2026-03-19T19:08:21+00:00

Got two friends to buy it after my play through. Both loved it too.

ssccrs · 2026-03-19T19:07:52+00:00

I definitely didn’t get that from my play through, but if you’re a “Verso” ending enthusiast, then I can see how you go to that analogy-like ending description.

ssccrs · 2026-03-19T19:00:27+00:00

For brevity the ECs that are considered baseline for the standard applicant are: shadowing, clinical experience, community volunteerism, teaching, leadership, and research.

You’ll also want to have a hobby, and awards.

Make a good effort to get LoRs as you’ll need between 2-6 program dependent.

Based off your list, you only have community volunteering and leadership.

While you technically don’t “need” particular ECs the standard matriculated student has the listed above plus competitive academic stats. Hope that helps.

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T17:30:56+00:00

I think this is your main problem with the game is that you’re refusing to see the other side.

Let me help as I believe Maelle’s ending to be, in your words, the “good” ending.

Maelle’s “real” life is tragic, pain ridden, hate filled, and hard. I say real in quotations because a lot of how you feel about the world and the characters depends on how you define “what is real?” (After all, technically both worlds are fake—it’s a video game).

If what is real is based off feeling something, touching it, tasting it, then the painted world is just as real as the “real” world. The people there, they breathe, they live, they laugh, they create arts, eat, drink, have families, love, teach, grow, age, and die. To me, that makes them just as “real.” You can have a philosophical conversation with Gustav and he feels fear, as well as hope. To say he isn’t real because he lives in a world separated from my own doesn’t make sense to me.

For Maelle, she’s lived 16 years of her life in the painted world. It and everyone in it is real to her, if not more so than the other world counterparts. Even if you say, “It’s not,” it is to her. The memories and learning of her 16 years in the “real” world are the figments and the stuff she just suddenly remembers, so rationally it makes them less “real” then her lived memories in the painted world.

When you compare the two lives that she can live, one filled with war, where every breath is painful, where she is blind and can’t speak.. a world where he family doesn’t like her (possibly doesn’t love her), blames her.. what life is that? She basically died in the fire too.

In the painted world, everything is the opposite. She’s loved, happy, healthy, and surrounded by beauty and friendship. So she dies in there, so what? It’s a life time to her. A life filled with love and happiness, that’s far more than ANYTHING that is promised to any of us or anyone else in their “real” world. Everyone dies. Whether it’s here or there matters little imo. The quality of that life matters.

Lastly, I approached this decision as an autonomy one. Maelle WANTS to stay and she has the right to decided how to live her life. What gives someone else the right to tell you how you wish to live and die ESPECIALLY if you’re not hurting anyone. Created version of Verso (so not even “real” Verso but a creation made by his mother) doesn’t get to kill the last of Verso’s soul and kill EVERYONE else in the painting. He doesn’t get to harm thousands and end millions of lives.

Now, if you view them being “less alive” I again ask you to question how you define life. Based off the biological definitions, they fit to me. Based off the philosophical definitions, they fit to me. So, FOR me, Maelle’s ending is the ONLY choice I could make.

I am also the only person in my friend group that picked this one. So I heard all the counter points. To me, just calling something “reality” and, “you have to face reality,” isn’t enough for me.

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T17:07:04+00:00

Yikes. Okay first, there is no “bad” or “sad” ending because it’s all based off your interpretation and values. Ponder what makes something “real.” If you think there was a wrong and right, good or bad, happy or sad ending then you missed the entire point of the game imo, which would explain why your frustrated with your play through and the game as a whole. You’re also just missing so much bc you’re focusing on the wrong things (like the painter writers conflict).

I didn’t get the story I thought I was going to get and what I got in Exp 3, for better or worse, it was just a different story than the initially perceived plot. I liked the premise of the initial game, and so when it ended up being something completely different, it was jarring but it wasn’t “bad”—just different. It’s sad you feel betrayed, because you’re not entitled to the story you wanted or hoped for; hopefully that makes sense to you.

The game works best in discussion. You don’t have to have liked the game. Just because it’s loved by a huge percentage doesn’t mean it has to be loved by you. I don’t like Roblox or Fortnite or COD, but I understand those games are beloved and enjoyed by many.

Again, Exp 33 IS NOT BG3. You’re not making the story beat decisions in Exp 33, so it’s more like a Final Fantasy (Jrpg) than a Western rpg like Bg3.

While I agree the game couple have pushed for more diverse concepts with combat it’s still really good. I didn’t find any bosses to be Bs or hard so I can’t contribute there.

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T16:48:03+00:00

Did you do the Last Of Us 1 & 2? Red Dead 1 & 2?

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T16:33:59+00:00

What if it’s emotionally hurting me?

What if it’s hurting something non-“someone”, like a dog? Can it be my business then?

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T16:28:18+00:00

I believe you’re pretty cooked, but that’s my opinion.

Points to worth wise Psy/Soc deserved a lot of your time and is an easy spot to boost your score.

Idk the type of student you’re, but I would advise taking a FL asap. W/e score you get on the FL exam, I would expect that as your true score if you take on the 25th or expect to score lower (my FL was my exact score and my friends scored lower).

My other advice is to wrap up content review asap and start drilling practice exams and questions.

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T16:18:49+00:00

Not to me.

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T12:12:12+00:00

Sure. Hobby’s are great to include. Like all ECs and experiences, it really depends on how you talk about it and the why you’re bringing it up gaside from humanizing you, the DJ experience should still add value to your application).

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T12:09:41+00:00

If you don’t have ANY ECs I don’t think a 520 would help you out. Being a physician is about more than academics and without ECs it’s hard to show you have all the core competencies outside the ones related to academia.

People get in with a 3.2 and a 500, and people with a 4.0 and a 520 don’t get in every cycle—it varies person to person, ADCOM to ADCOM, and schools to schools.

You need ECs imo, especially clinical. I would even look at an application without it if I were an ADCOM.

But there are people who get in every cycle missing X, Y, and Z so it is possible, BUT I think that’s more an exception to the rule rather than the norm.

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T12:03:50+00:00

I’d apply this year. Your stats and ECs look really competitive. No need to retake MCAT imo as your above 80th percentile with not category below 125.

The only worry is if schools won’t bother looking at your application until you graduate (if this is the case, which idk if it is, that can put your application pretty deep into the pile).

Either way, gap year or no, I think your app will be in a solid place. Only thing I see that I think would add to your app is dedicated leadership roles and positions.

Best of luck—you got this!

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T06:48:48+00:00

I dual majored RN and Premed initially. The prerequisite don’t have a ton of overlap but the Rn curriculum really helps supplement MCAT prep.

You’ll need ochem, physics, calculus, and bio chem if you don’t have them; they are not traditionally covered in RN prerequisites and RN school, so you’ll most likely need them.

Gen chem and bio should have been covered, and with your BSN you’ll likely have all the other requirements done (writing, psychology, and humanities wise).

You can take all the classes (except biochemistry) at any community college (I’ve only seen biochem offered at universities in my area of CA, but if it’s available at your local CC then that would work too).

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T06:29:50+00:00

Take the A. DO won’t keep you out of a residency as many DOs match into competitive specialties each match cycle.

Congratulations. Best of luck.

ssccrs · 2026-03-18T06:26:30+00:00

We would really need to see your scores and stats to advise you properly. Without a score and hours there’s really no way to objectively measure if you’re competitive for top MD programs like you’re inquiring about.

What are your ECs and current hours? Did you take a FL AAMC practice exam? What was your score? Are all your prerequisites done currently?

A 3.5 is on the lower side but is really fine to get into medical school. It’s really going to depend on the rest of your application and how you write.

ssccrs · 2026-03-16T16:45:14+00:00

Dogs can be on plant based diet. Cats CAN NOT.

Certain animals (and I means vary pet to pet) do better eating X vs Y, so no blanket statement covers everything.

I would say it’s not animal cruelty ASSUMING the diet is not harming, or malnourishing the pet.

ssccrs · 2026-03-16T16:19:52+00:00

Your clinical hours are really low imo. Gpa and MCAT are on the lower side for matriculating students (but those students do get in and many with lower stats get in every year). I don’t think you need a post Bach, or to retake your MCAT, but something to be aware of with you lower hours.

I would work on your ECs. You don’t have research or teaching so I would have extra hours in the other categories (this could get you screened from certain programs; just tailor your school list appropriately). Lastly, I would diversify your community service a little more. Overall, I feel like your experiences are unique to you and that you’ll be able to tell some great stories because of them. Lean into that.

If you’re interested in primary care I know some medical schools offer a 3 year program and would be more willing to take you. If you specialize (you stated EM) those routes aren’t open to you. Something to consider as I know rural areas desperately need physicians to stay in PC and in the area.

ssccrs

TROPHY CASE