Med School

Paps · #1 06-06-2006, 04:08 PM

Hey Guys,

I am a Junior at Northwestern University and will be applying to Med Schools this summer. I wanted to query those of you in the medical profession if you have any advice for me for the application process etc. and also if any of you have any contacts at medical schools around the country that would help me out or I could speak with. Like all med school applicants I can use all the help I can get. I am mostly lookly to go somewhere around Chicago, but I would be willing to go anywhere. Thank you once again for your time, and as always thanks for all the great info on X5's, I don't know how many times I have come here for answers (I do come everyday to read the latest posts...haha).

Ashmer

gregwx5 · #2 06-06-2006, 04:15 PM

Nice med school!!....I'll be a junior at Boston University studying mechanical engineering...but am considering Dental School when I finish...I've been working at a dental research lab (The Forsyth Institute) for the past 6 years (since high school) and I have seen many people internshipping at the lab before applying to med and dental school...I would say find an internship or some lab experience! Plus you could hang on the WORLD all day and get paid!! LOL

AzX5 · #3 06-06-2006, 04:44 PM

University of Arizona, they have a better softball team, er I mean medical school. I am not in the med profession but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once....

PersonaNonGrata · #4 06-06-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzX5

University of Arizona, they have a better softball team, er I mean medical school. I am not in the med profession but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once....

And unbelievable "scenery". I love August in Tucson when all the fresh new faces are wandering aimlessly down University.

AzX5 · #5 06-06-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

And unbelievable "scenery". I love August in Tucson when all the fresh new faces are wandering aimlessly down University.

Yeah, definitely some awesome "scenery" there.

Congrats to UA on sweeping Northwestern in the College World Series "Cat" fight by a total of 13 runs to ZERO.

statdoc · #6 06-06-2006, 06:40 PM

Be someone interesting, that the interviewer actually cares to meet. What is it about you that makes you interesting to friends and dates/spouse? Push those aspects of yourself.

Just don't give the "standard" answers when you are interviewed. Be honest. They get really tired of the same old responses that you want to be a family doctor in a small town, blah blah blah.

As far as the application is concerned, just remember that they have hundreds of applicants for every spot. High GPA and MCAT scores are required. All the other applicants will have those, too. Make yourself stand out from the crowd (but in a good way!).

JonK · #7 06-07-2006, 01:43 AM

Just in case you don't make it to any med school in the US, you could always go to med school in Pueto Rico. If you do well there they'll let you intern back in the states, and afterward you will walk the same path as any other doctors. I personally know few who went school there. Having said that, I would personally avoid those doctors (and college friends who weren't the sharpest knives in the kitchen) taking care of me or my family members in case of complicated illness. Good luck!

Paps · #8 06-07-2006, 02:19 AM

Well at least we still won the Women's Lax Championship again (and Women's Tennis Doubles)...we don't win much at NU 'cept Nobel Prizes and such.

drex · #9 06-07-2006, 07:46 AM

ashmer-

if you are a high quality student, have good mcats, have great grades, and are a people person, its not a problem getting in. obviously, state schools (some of which are outstanding) are more competitive because they cost less. however, that's not necessarily better. there are 7 med schools in chicago to apply to.

i have found that every applicant wants a contact @ med school. i have never seen that make a difference unless the applicant's family member is on staff at a university. although cronism is a ridiculous facet of the medical profession, at the unveristy and academic level it does not do squat for you (unless a family member donates millions to the school, etc).

some of us were lucky and did not go through this process in college; i watched many friends with below A averages and moderate to below average MCATs struggle for 2-3 years to get in; some eventually did, some didn't.

the more important question is, is 'why to you want to become a doctor?'

more important than that, is, "why do you REALLY want to become a doctor?"

HamannE53 · #10 06-07-2006, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drex

ashmer-

if you are a high quality student, have good mcats, have great grades, and are a people person, its not a problem getting in. obviously, state schools (some of which are outstanding) are more competitive because they cost less. however, that's not necessarily better. there are 7 med schools in chicago to apply to.

i have found that every applicant wants a contact @ med school. i have never seen that make a difference unless the applicant's family member is on staff at a university. although cronism is a ridiculous facet of the medical profession, at the unveristy and academic level it does not do squat for you (unless a family member donates millions to the school, etc).

some of us were lucky and did not go through this process in college; i watched many friends with below A averages and moderate to below average MCATs struggle for 2-3 years to get in; some eventually did, some didn't.

the more important question is, is 'why to you want to become a doctor?'

more important than that, is, "why do you REALLY want to become a doctor?"

unfortuneate for the many who struggle and grow up without mentors or family members that are in the field, nonetheless ...cynical grade advisors and guidance counselors who arent much motivation for the same that deserve to be doctors if they had the push. i tell you...if it means much to you...go for it and dont become a statistic. push come to shov....you go to st. kitts and study on the black sand beaches in the caribean

...a liberal point of view...call it a conspiracy if you like, i call it unfair.
good luck...most likely when you get in, your kid will get the benefit of getting a little word in from his/her parent