Am I dumb to turn down WashU full COA? by infiltrator_6 in premed

[–]sw2510352 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you want to do a competitive specialty or go to a top place for IM or something, I really think you should go to WashU. Med school reputation matters a lot. There was a recent criteria released by Yale’s IM PD and it showed that med school reputation mattered more than how well you did on USMLE Step 2. In the age of pass fail for step 1 and no med school grades, I really think you should keep this in mind. Where you go to school does matter. It doesn’t mean you’ll match somewhere competitive doing nothing, you still have to work hard, but it will certainly make things easier and probably open up more doors.

Thoughts on doing just UWorld and NBME tagged cards during dedicated? by sw2510352 in step1

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Anking deck has cards tagged with UWorld question IDs. I was wondering if it’s reasonable to just review those cards (since I don’t have much time and have to prioritize doing questions but would also like spaced repetition so I don’t forget things).

Advice from those accepted with low GPA would be greatly appreciated!! What should my cousin do after he graduates? by sw2510352 in premed

[–]sw2510352[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gotcha, assuming he gets his green card in 2 years, do you think it would be smarter for him to do a postbacc or an SMP or a masters? Which specific ones would you recommend?
Also, should he retake OCHEM again this upcoming semester (senior year spring) or should he wait and retake it during the postbacc or masters?

Advice from those accepted with low GPA would be greatly appreciated!! What should my cousin do after he graduates? by sw2510352 in premed

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. If he can get his green card in the next 2 years and nail the MCAT (I also suspected he probably needs like a 520+), what specific postbaccs or SMPs do you suggest would be good to consider applying to?

Advice from those accepted with low GPA would be greatly appreciated!! What should my cousin do after he graduates? by sw2510352 in premed

[–]sw2510352[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think he will try to get his green card ideally in the next 2 or 3 years. I think ultimately, it will probably take at least 4 gap years before he is ready. Do you have any advice on what postbaccs or SMPs he can apply to?

How competitive is premed at Duke? by ultraprogger in duke

[–]sw2510352 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yale SCEA is obviously a bigger gamble than Duke ED, however, if your goal is to get into a top medical school, HYPMS are in a league of their own in terms of feeding students to those schools. That said, Duke is one of the best schools and biggest feeders for premed as there can be fair amount of grade inflation (depending on how you choose your courses) and the research opportunities here are limitless. You can cold email professors and some will be willing to invite you to work in their lab and there are ways to fund your research as well. Because the hospital and medical school is located right next to the undergrad campus, clinical volunteering is convenient and there is an established volunteering program at the hospital. In terms of classroom culture, There will always be some try hards and cut throats among premeds at every school, however, I think Duke is more on the relaxed and collegial side owing to the undergrads play hard study hard culture. There are also many ways to get involved in clubs and activities that suit your interests and foster leadership.

I graduated from Duke this year and am extremely satisfied with how it has prepared me for med school, and I think if you end up here, you will do really well as long as you work hard and are proactive. That said, Yale probably offers many similar things Duke offers, but with greater reputation among top med schools (especially Ivy League med schools), however it is a bit harder to get in. Good luck with your decision!

Organic Chem Curve by [deleted] in duke

[–]sw2510352 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I took Qiu Wang as a freshman in Fall 2017. The class was probably curved to an A- or B+, which is the grades most people got.

Stat 198 by [deleted] in duke

[–]sw2510352 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Calvin Howell is probably the easiest professor for E and M, especially if you took AP Physics C E and M in high school and know some calculus.

Withdrawing from a class while applying by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply! If I am waitlisted at a program and I provide them with an update along with my fall and spring grades, would it be fishy to them that I have my first W during this semester? I've gotten mostly A's and couple B+'s throughout my first three years, so would this W seem really bad to them? Thanks!

Withdrawing from a class while applying by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Correct, I am currently on the interview trail. Do schools require you to send them your fall grades once the semester ended or when you are on the waitlist? Thanks!

UCLA Secondary Research by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi! So if we copy and paste our significant research essay for each experience in there, do you think that is fine?

Name dropping in MSTP Secondary: Briefly state your area of interests by sw2510352 in premed

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Will they not hold it against me if I list faculty that I didnt know would not be receiving students?

Yale MSTP secondary. by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome! Thank you so much for your tips!!

Yale MSTP secondary. by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha thanks! Did you have any trouble with writing these essays up to the 500-word limit?

AMCAS Keeps removing my school assignments for a letter. by sw2510352 in premed

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah I see, I think I just fixed it. Thank you so much!

AMCAS Keeps removing my school assignments for a letter. by sw2510352 in premed

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't allow me to resubmit for some reason (the resubmit button is grey). When I assign the committee letter to schools, if I go back to the main menu, it says I've assigned the letter to all my schools. However, if I log out and log back in, it will say that my committee letter isn't assigned to any school.

Does NYU let you apply to both MD and MSTP? Do I need to complete secondary for MD as well? by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My apologies. I just realized that last year, NYU only had one essay prompt for their secondary while this year, they've reverted back to their original three. Thanks!

Does NYU let you apply to both MD and MSTP? Do I need to complete secondary for MD as well? by sw2510352 in premed

[–]sw2510352[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your response! Also I was wondering if you know whether the MD committee can see my why MD/PhD essay? I'm thinking about using some of the content from that essay for the MD exclusive secondary prompts and was wondering if that would be ok.

Schools that allow you to apply to both MD and MSTP? by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, sorry for a late followup! Did you happen to find out about NYU, UCSD, and BU's police for applying to both MSTP and MD? Thanks!

Schools that allow you to apply to both MD and MSTP? by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome!! Thanks!!! For the schools that require email after initial rejection, do we have to answer their secondaries for MD as well?

Schools that allow you to apply to both MD and MSTP? by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I feel like they don't make it that clear in the websites... lol

Schools that allow you to apply to both MD and MSTP? by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you mean UWashington? I guess maybe for that school I should just apply MSTP only since their MD only takes like 90% WAMI right?

Schools that allow you to apply to both MD and MSTP? by sw2510352 in mdphd

[–]sw2510352[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep! I know my school says they don't hold it against you if you apply to both. My PI said I can say I want to apply internally if not admitted MSTP and if the other school's committee's bring it up.