<p>mcat 2: About state schools, vs private…this is different for Cal because it is such a superb system…UCSF is tops,UCLA not far behind.</p>
<p>But you can get by, and still do well from any med school, look there are MDs from st George’s…it’s still only one point on the long road, and what is “success” anyway, it’s not just pure academics, that’s for sure. I went to a state school, had some gripes, but I"m happy.</p>
<p>Is clinical experience a requirement for medical school? My pre-med advisor specifically told me that clinical experience is a requirement and my experience last year working in a rehab center does not count because I need to be around sick people. But, I was looking around some admissions requirements and I think most schools say its optional…</p>
<p>RiceBoy, I think you should have some experience. However that being said, the pre med advisor, if quoted correctly, would be wrong in saying that working in a rehab center is not working with “sick people” ( I wouldn’t use that phrase in the interview or app though…too trite, and not very accurate, I mean, everyone in the world is sick to some extent, it’s just a matter of degree ) Myself, I only did a summer in a pathology lab ( waste of time) , and no one ever complained that not only were the patients sick , they were …well…passed on to the wide beyond…not the best interactions to be learned there…</p>
<p>However, that was 25 yers ago, and things have changed. However, the role of the advisor is to help you find you that clinical mentor, if you don’t already have one…that would be the norm, not the exception.</p>
<p>You are right, it is at most schools, optional, this is what Harvard says:</p>
<p>“A study at Harvard Medical School has shown that students are successful in their medical studies regardless of undergraduate concentration, providing that they have had adequate science preparation. Students are urged to strive for a balanced and liberal education rather than specialized training. No preference is given to applicants who have majored in the sciences over those who have majored in the humanities.)”</p>
<p>I always advise you actually get on the phone, and call the school you’re interested in. </p>
<p>On the other hand, here is what Indiana U says: these are stated as "requirements, but seem a little ambiguous to me:</p>
<p>Exploration of medicine through shadowing physicians,
or work, or observation in a clinical setting
Involvement in extracurricular activities, including
community service or volunteerism.</p>
<p>In my opinion, you’ll get enough clinical experience. However, you should somehow demonstrate to the med school that you have a special interest and talent that would pewrtain to medicine , ie, if you state you are interested in finding a molecular medicine to cure diseases, then work in a lab…if you feel that Medicine should be more all inclusive of Native Americans, then demonstrate you have done something for the reservation…about that last idea, very few actually have demonstrated that they have served the disadvatnaged community in a real way…but to find a way to help , and to find the right people takes a little ingenuity, some bravado, and a healthy dose of really caring and sacrifice. Now, wouldn’t this be so much more rewarding than being a candy striper volunteer in some rich private hospital ?</p>
<p>Have you heard of people shadowing a neurologist for clinical experience? I have an interest in this field and I really look up to mine, but again these people aren’t really sick, but they have disabilities. I have already exhibited an interest in this field by working in behavior labs and neurobiology labs during my undergrad so far as well. And my volunteer work in the rehab center was with PT, which is completely unrelated to the field I’m aiming for even though it was a fun experience.</p>
<p>Of the types of ECs, clinical experience is by far the most critical. While I suppose someone has probably gotten in without it at some point, it would leave you with a very limited amount to say in your PS and interviews.</p>
<p>The work in a rehab ctr sounds like it may have been clinical experience. According to SDN’s resident adcom member, LizzyM, clinical experience generally requires “being close enough to pts to smell them” and “having medical prescribers on-site.” UCHSC would add “direct [and partial] responsibility for pt care outcomes” and “need a minimum of 500 hours” to that list. So measure your clinical experience against those 4 points. Does it stand up? I would say you could also measure clinical experience by what it establishes for a school (IMHO):
<h1>1 is probably best fulfilled by actual clinical experience (i.e., work and/or volunteer experience in a healthcare-related field)</h1>
<h1>2 is probably best fulfilled by shadowing (also an important part of clinical exposure)</h1>
<p>Btw, your “area of interest” is likely to change, so nobody really cares if your clinical experience fit that area.</p>
<p>Thanks, Dr. Tarkman. your post is very useful.</p>
<p>Hi, I have a bunch of questions. And a short background. I am a parent of a sophomore who just decided original chosen path did not seem like it would be long term fulfilling and wants to change focus to pre med ( meaning adding sciences, and continuing on to get the original major). So I am helping to gather information. </p>
<p>Would EC out of the US, perhaps dealing with underserved community help? or is it better to have the experience in the States?</p>
<p>If you shadow a physician, what is the normal length of time? a summer? DO you just find a physician and ask them? </p>
<p>Do additional language abilities add anything to an application? </p>
<p>If your personal goals are to eventually work outside the US to provide care for underserved communities (full or part time), would that be well received?</p>
<p>Is there a limit to the number of med schools to which you can apply? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>expatme,</p>
<p>ECs can be out of the states; however, it is important to have long-term, clinical experiences that are in the States as well. Additionally, one should have shadowing experience in the US w/ US docs as well as volunteer experiences. Research is also a plus. Out of country experiences can be great but in-country is crucial.</p>
<p>Add’l languages may be beneficial if they would be in-demand in a hospital setting. To make it truly helpful, one should speak the language well (the AMCAS, IIRC, has a spot for second, third, etc. languages but it is specifically for native-level fluency). This will add to an app but doesn’t substitute for anything.</p>
<p>Working with underserved communities is generally a big plus, although your child must be convincing of this (seem sincere) as many will claim such things to gain an advantage.</p>
<p>No limit. The avg applicant applies to 13.</p>
<p>Only limit is the one on your credit card.</p>
<p>I have a question… I’m a freshman in college and I have great grades so far except I am getting a C in a Biology class that is strictly phylums (only deals with plants, protists, fungi, etc and no photosynthesis or anything) and has nothing to do with medicine at all. I was wondering how much that would hurt my chances of getting into a med school even if I did well on the MCATs and received A’s for the rest of my years of undergrad.
Thanks=]</p>
<p>One C on an otherwise good transcript shouldn’t significantly hurt your chances.Although you will have to know phylae and species in medical microbiology…it’s part of being the good detective a doctor should be…know the footprints of your enemy.</p>
<p>I’m a sophomore in college and my gpa is roughly a 3.6. There is a chance I might receive a C in General Chemistry 2…how badly will that hurt my chances in getting accepted in JHU and/or other medical schools?</p>
<p>Well, with a 3.6 your chances of JHU (average GPA 3.88 I believe or something ridiculous like that) are already somewhat lower, depending on your MCAT score. A 3.6 certainly is doable though. If Gen chem is your only C in a science I wouldn’t sweat it too much.</p>
<p>JHU is highly unlikely no matter your GPA. With a 3.6, you are in the bottom 10% of matriculants to JHU. (The 10th percentile there is 3.7.) To be honest, you probably won’t even get a secondary there with 3.6, much less an interview, unless you have a phenomenal MCAT (average there is a 36 or the top <3-4% of test-takers).
Your GPA is slightly on the low side for any med school but definitely within the acceptable range. Your chances at JHU are probably <<1%. If you apply with the 3.6, you should apply broadly and focus on mid- to “low”-range MD schools.</p>
<p>I don’t plan on applying yet, I’m only a sophmore just finishing Fall semester so I still have a few semesters to go. I’m kind of one of those people who don’t completely count everything out. If I did, I wouldn’t have bothered applying to Howard University…and what do you know, I got accepted! Am I atleast on the right track gpa wise?</p>
<p>If you’re at Howard University, then there might be some other considerations making a 3.6 GPA perfectly acceptable.</p>
<p>Are an under represented minority? Regardless, a 3.6 is “on track”, though I would encourage you to push it up to a 3.7 if possible for a better shot at MD admissions.</p>
<p>3.6 is totally on track if you are willing to apply broadly. A lot depends, though, on where you are from. If you live in IN or WV, a 3.5-3.6 is likely to get you there because those are states where competition is less keen.
OTOH, if you’re from CA, SC, or CO, a 3.6 is going to make it tough as there are so many stronger applicants and so few spots, resulting in your in-state school(s) being extremely competitive. If you look at the AAMC’s data, you’ll notice that some states are as low as 35-40% of applicants getting in whereas others are more in the 55-60% range.
It is also noteworthy at the poster indicated a desire to go to JHU. Someone with a 3.6 is simply not going to make it there as an applicant as the competition is extremely fierce for JHU and similar schools. It makes far more sense for literally any applicant to apply primarily to mid-range schools (apply broadly) than to try and shoot for the moon repeatedly (because with MD admissions, you’re not going to fall among the stars unless you applied to some “lower-ranked stars” as well).</p>
<p>Oh ok. Well I still have a few more semesters to bring my gpa up. So I’m not going to totally give up in JHU yet. I’m afraid that C will taint me but I’m going to try to not let that C be a trend. It can be a bit scary to think about though. Thank you everyone for your feedback.</p>
<p>AsHBas08 said </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You have to ask yourself, why Hopkins? If you absolutely must ( and I would agree, it’s worth it ) , then you’re going to have to think outside the box. Your GPA is not going to do it. First, an honest appraisal, WHY JHU ? Prestige? Premium education? >>not good enough. </p>
<p>Is there an area of research which you particularly must be a part of that is unique to Hopkins? …Now THAT’s a good reason…I went to another med school, didn’t get in to the Hop,but I spent all my UG summers at Hopkins Med school,there in the research labs, and saw the profs prepare their lectures…this guy would go down to the empty lecture hall, with a stopwatch, and practice his lec, down to the second…I can tell you, this never happened at my med school …there is a CULTURE of excellence and devotion to medicine at Hopkins that is there from the nurses to the attendings to the deans that I have not seen elsewhere. By definition, you have to be devoted to work at hopkins, the pay for faculty is so poor. When I was there yrs later,as a fellow, I knew never to talk down to ANYONE, even the lowly subintern or med student…reason being often they had been the chief of medicine in Ecuador or somewhere before coming to JHU…I looked pretty stupid once, learned that the hard way. And you had to really know your stuff…if you’re asked a question, generally, you should be able to quote a bunch of references off the top of your head, and your answer should be publishable, off the top of your head, because if you don’t do it, someone else standng right there will.</p>
<p>Anyway, if your answer is still that you want the hop,and you need to want it real bad… then my suggestion is to do research at the med school…have some guts, ask the big boys …take time off, a year maybe…and do it under someone with clout…how about Peter Agre? or Carol Greieder ? Someone in Dan Nathan’s old lab ( he’s passed on )( might be intimidating, they’re all Nobel winners ),…but I can tell you the adcomm will know you…and get the stuff published…now I’m not an adcomm member, but this is my two cents, and I guess I’m somewhat of an insider.</p>
<p>you need an “in”. But they will see right through you in an instant if you’re not for real…you’d prob do well to transfer there , because you might not get to work with the likes of Peter Agre unless you’re UG there( my roomie did the same, with the same intent, transferred to JHU after soph yr from U Wash)</p>
<p>So you see, it’s not impossible, with your C, but it takes some serious serious effort, and you have to really want it bad.</p>