10 tips for succeeding as a premed at Cornell

norcalguy
Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:34:53 +0000

When you apply to a medical school, you have to note if you’ve applied there before. Medical schools will often retain files from applicants dating back a few years. So, they’ll look through your old files and then at your new file and they’ll expect you to make SIGNIFICANT improvements. After all, they’ve already rejected you once, why should they look at your application another time? So, it’s better to apply once and just once.
I might as well answer kiwilemon’s question along with yours. I apologize, kiwilemon, I had missed your post earlier. You should start doing EC’s from your first semester on campus. It is never okay to not have any EC’s. So, while you have to make sure your GPA is okay, it’s perfectly fine to start research quickly. Most professors are more than happy to teach you the techniques. I really don’t think low level (undergrad) research takes much coursework. Most professors I’ve interviewed with have never asked about coursework. And one PI at the NIH even preferred I didn’t have any previous research experience so she could teach me to do things her way. I absolutely would NOT expect a professor to give you your own project immediately. You may start out washing beakers or helping out a grad student. Responsibility is earned. All the more reason to start as early as possible so you can do something substantiative by the time you apply your junior year.