Pre-med Student starting in Fall of 2014 --- ADVICE!

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>My name is david. I am a Pre-medical student who is starting in the fall of 2014. I have been wanting to be a doctor ever since I was little. However I have heard how competitive it has gotten to get into medical school. I do not want to fail, and not get into medical school. My question is, What do I need to do in order to get a 38 on the MCAT and maintain a 4.0 GPA all four years? What classes should I take Freshman year? What habits should I develop/skills? </p>

<p>What do I need to do in order to get into a an amazing med school, and how do I do it? Any advice is helpful.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

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<p>1) All US med schools are “amazing”. Be happy to get accepted by any med school. Every year 60% of those who apply to med school, do not receive a single acceptance.</p>

<p>2) Read these threads, especially the first 4</p>

<p><a href=“Premed Resources Thread - Start Here First - Pre-Med Topics - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1486654-premed-resources-thread-start-here-first.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Set your goals very high and do not forget to enjoy the ride. Both are essential for your future.
Ask about all details at your school. Every school is different. Nobody will tell you what passions to develop though. You either have them or not, that is why they are passions. Whatever you have, pursue them, it is rewarding at college level. At some point you might need to drop some, managing time is also essential.<br>
Very very few in the whole nation will be able to answer your question in regard to a 38 and most of them are not on the CC, but you can have few here. I cannot, D. had lower and was very happy with what she had, it allowed her to be at her “amazing” Medical School, where she has been happy.</p>

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<p>…in regard to 4.0, again, D. had 3.98 and was very happy with that also. All it requires is a hard work, there is no tricks, no magic, nothing special to share. She got her A-'s in her minor, if she did not have minor, she would be a 4.0. but she would not trade it, she had fun with her Music minor.</p>

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<p>You dont need a 38 MCAT (or the new equivalent) to get into med school.</p>

<p>balance your schedule, dont take too many hard classes during any semester.</p>

<p>Major in a subject that you love and will do well in. dont just pick something that you think sounds sexy and will impress the adcoms.</p>

<p>dont add in double majors or extra stuff if it will jeopardize your gpa (med schools do not care about dble majors).</p>

<p>dont get behind in your classes. go to tutoring before it is too late.</p>

<p>dont take 8am classes (esp frosh year) unless you are a natural early riser.</p>

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<p>Ditto @mom2collegekids’ advice. Be prepared to have a ruthless work ethic. Unlike high school, college puts a lot of the burden of learning on you. Medical school puts almost all of it on you! When you become a doctor, you are responsible for your own learning.</p>

<p>I recently interviewed a surgeon who graduated from MIT (electrical engineering), Johns Hopkins Medical School, and a prestigious residency. I was impressed with the background. But beyond that, he isn’t going to get the edge for the job at all! I would quickly hire another candidate with great demeanor who was born, raised, and has family in this area. In my area, the academic pedigree means nothing in private practice. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is a common finding around the nation.</p>

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<p>

It appears to me that, the factors like “born, raised, and has family in this area” will become more and more important as a person gets closer and closer to be a practicing doctor, that is, when to get into a residency program and when to get hired after residency. I once read somewhere that, in some area, which church you have been affiliated with for how long could be a factor in some cases too. I think DS once heard from somewhere that when a person gets to the residency stage, the area the residency program is in becomes more important. This is because he or she needs to start to build up the network with the practitioners in the medical community where he or she will eventually practice.</p>

<p>Maybe after about the second year in med school (MS2), getting extremely good grades (still need to be good enough) in the traditional sense in the academic setting you have been in in your whole life all of a sudden becomes less important and “something else” becomes more important. It seems that many non-gunners become better than those gunners in MS3/4 and beyond.</p>

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<p>D. was told by several people in very high positions that being “regioanal” is very important at some places (she is just planning to apply to residencies). In fact, she was told to make sure to mention her hometown, while applying to one residency that was identified as “regional”, but also very very highly ranked (not D’s first choice though). More so, she was told to apply basically "geographically), which was her plan anyway (and has been her plan appying to UG and Med. School). She seems to be on a right horse with this.</p>