<p>Hey parents, I had a few question regarding medical school and making it there. I wanted to consult you guys because you guys have made it, and I would like to hear from you what does and does not work. I'm really nervous that I will fall to the high attrition rate and fail. If there is somewhere better to post this (different forum section, even different website if that's allowed--ie studentdoctor), would you please redirect me there? </p>
<p>Help from doctors/med-school students and parents of doctors/med-school students would be greatly appreciated. Also, feel free to message me if needed.</p>
<p>1.) How should you/did you structure your extracurricular activities? (ie research certain summers, service others, etc)</p>
<p>2.) Advantages and disadvantages of a "prestigious" private undergraduate school (top 20) vs state flagship. Currently I'm at Vanderbilt, and I'm considering transferring back to my state flagship to save money and avoid potentially killing myself with competition.
-Some advantages I know of for private college are smaller class size (letter of rec, easier to learn), better adviser system
-disadvantages= cost, WAY more competitive</p>
<p>3.) If you went to a so-called "prestigious" undergrad, what are good ways to know you will do well in your undergrad based off of your high school performance (if there are any?)</p>
<p>4.) Any advantages of a "prestigious" medical school? (easier to get residency? better prepared for the usmle?)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot in advance! Your help means a lot.</p>
<p>There is pre med forum where all your questions have been asked answered many times. I can’t post link from my phone, but if you look under Professional and Graduate School from the main forum you should be able to find it.</p>
<p>The goal is not making it into medical school but becoming a physician.</p>
<p>First- which college/university to attend. Almost any college/U will work. Do not choose your college to beat the odds. Choose your school to best educate yourself. This means attending a school where you enjoy the academics and social environment. You will do your best work if you are happy with your major and your peers. College is not to be endured as a step to the next step. It is to expand your horizons as well as prepare you for your future. Many plan on medical school but decide they would rather do something else. For others, doing well in the prerequisite courses gets in the way. You need to have a plan B. For this plan a major in a field you can see yourself involved with years from now. Many premed students choose a science because that is what they like best. Others choose many other majors for the same reason. College is the only time future physicians will have for a long time to indulge in studying many things- use your undergrad time to do so. Become well rounded. Take courses totally irrelevant to your major just for the fun of it.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt or your state flagship. Depends- some state flagships are better than Vandy. A flagship usually has more students than private schools but may have just as many equally talented students in its top (honors) classes. Some private schools seem to attract many premed students and the science courses are filled with those instead of students who intend to major in the subject. Some U’s have several versions of general chemistry available. The competition for grades can be just as bad at flagships. In upper level courses the class sizes may not be any different. A large lecture suffices for listening, the discussions and labs are usually small. The advising may be better at the flagship- private schools don’t always have better everything. No matter where you attend college you should get to know professors in your major who can write honest, good evaluations. And top professors can be at your flagship.</p>
<p>So- you really want to become a physician and are willing to do the work required, including those courses needed. What is your goal? To be a good primary care doctor?- we need those. To be an MD/PhD?- we need some of those but not as many. If you really want to do research consider getting the PhD alone. You will discover which specialty most appeals to you once you have experiences in medical school. For research plan your major around the field that interests you and obtain research experience in it as an undergrad. This can happen at a state flagship.</p>
<p>For me choosing medicine over a PhD happened based on experiences as an undergrad at a top research flagship. In my day ECs didn’t seem to count that much. Today they seem to. And now there is so much more gender parity- we women were such a small minority in my day. Choose areas you have a passion for, not to “look good on the record”. This in the ideal situation. Many need a summer job for the money. I was not the only future physician working food service in college- and one medical school classmate was a McDonalds manager during medical school as well. You should not structure your life too much- take advantage of opportunities that come your way but don’t expect everything to be orchestrated to the maximum possible. </p>
<p>Of course going to a prestigious medical school will carry weight in some residencies. But any student at any medical school can do well on the tests if they know the material. And, especially with today’s resources, every student can figure out what needs to be learned and fill in any gaps. No matter which medical school you attend there will be advantages/disadvantages. Seeing a lot of patients can be more valuable than hearing lectures from the top experts. The clinical experiences depend on the patient population- frostbite or sunstroke? Complex referrals or common disorders? A lot of independence without much supervision or watching versus doing. </p>
<p>Bottom line. Forget the prestige angle. Consider the financial load. Realize the competition for grades can be just as great at your flagship. Many students go to the flagship who are smarter than you but couldn’t afford Vanderbilt. Any school will do. YOU are the most important variable. How much work you put in determines your results- you can do well on tests regardless of where you go to school. </p>
<p>Remember to live your life for the present as well as the future. </p>
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<p>are you an incoming frosh already considering a transfer to your state school because of cost? if so, dont enroll at vandy. take a gap year and reapply to affordable schools. why waste a bunch of money at a school where you wont get the degree?</p>
<p>If you take a gap and reapply, you could get good merit at your state school or elsewhere.</p>
<p>I am a medical student, and I will touch on extracurricular suggestions. </p>
<p>The gold standard is to have clinical exposure (understanding the doctor’s day, interacting with patients in some capacity), volunteer work (speaks to altruism), and research involvement (understanding research methodology, able to contribute to research). I listed them in order of importance of having them on your resume, but the competitive nature of the process almost requires you to have all. </p>
<p>Do you need to work? If you have to work for money, I would do so over the summer. Easier to skip out on/rearrange some commitments during the year when you are not depending on the money. As you may know, grades and MCAT come first. </p>
<p>For volunteer work, I would get started early in your college career and do something consistently 1-3 hrs/week. </p>
<p>If you want to do a medical mission trip, do it because you want to expand your horizons. Unless your involvement in international volunteer work is substantial, it will probably not matter to the admission committees. Do not depend on doing a medical mission trip to speak to your altruism. You need to spend time volunteering in the community in which you live. </p>
<p>Thanks for the replies!</p>
<p>@worth2try did you gut your clinical exposure through volunteering, or did you shadow a physician? (or do something else?)</p>
<p>I participated in a volunteer program in a hospital and did paid clinical research work after graduating. I did shadowing in high school only and did not list it on my application. You need not only exposure to patients, but exposure to doctors, which is why EMT experience does not solely cut it. </p>