<p>Hi guys,
For the last few days I have really enjoyed talking with you guys and giving you whatever wisdom I can offer. I was thinking about holding a live chat this Friday evening at 7pm Eastern. Please let me know if you'd be interesting in participating (both med and premeds welcome). If there's enough interest, I'll post more information within the next couple days.
:)</p>
<p>id be interested</p>
<p>I'd also be interested.</p>
<p>Hey guys,
I will be on for live chat tonight beginning at 7pm Eastern (6 pm Central, 4pm Pacific). I’ll stay on for an hour to see if anyone shows up. If it’s popular I might be able to stay on longer… </p>
<p>Here’s the link: [TinyChat.com</a> - Chatting in #nr71](<a href=“http://www.tinychat.com/nr71]TinyChat.com”>Live video chat rooms, simple and easy. - Tinychat)</p>
<p>we’re on live NOW!</p>
<p>(6:01 PM) Guest94879 has changed their nickname to PrincessND307
(6:01 PM) PrincessND307: Hey guys
(6:01 PM) PrincessND307: is anyone here for the premed chat?
(6:02 PM) PrincessND307: Feel free to ask any questions that you may have
(6:03 PM) Guest94985 has changed their nickname to Danielle
(6:04 PM) Danielle: Hi. thanks for doing this. i want to play a varsity sport (volleyball). how will i fit this into premed?
(6:05 PM) PrincessND307: Danielle, that is a very good question. Many premeds find time to do lots of things that they want to do. You have to prioritize and then it is possible to do whatever you’d like to do
(6:05 PM) PrincessND307: i will warn you, however, that doing a varsity sport is a big commitment, so you’ll really have to work hard and learn time managment skills, but it’s definitely doable.
(6:06 PM) Guest95166 has changed their nickname to fz07
(6:06 PM) Danielle: okay
(6:07 PM) PrincessND307: Hi fz07…feel free to ask any questions you have
(6:07 PM) fz07: k thnx
(6:08 PM) Danielle: how do you pay for medical school?
(6:09 PM) PrincessND307: good question
(6:09 PM) PrincessND307: most students get loans to cover tuition and living expenses
(6:09 PM) PrincessND307: but some schools offer full tuition scholarships and other types of financial aid
(6:10 PM) Danielle: so i will b broke after i finish med school
(6:11 PM) PrincessND307: lol…yeah for a while. but luckily doctors make enough money to pay off the loans and still have a decent quality of life. you don’t have to start paying until after residency
(6:11 PM) Danielle: how much do u get in residency
(6:12 PM) PrincessND307: Most people will make about 50K a year. But you work so many hours that it probably works out to minimum wage per hour.
(6:13 PM) PrincessND307: But every doc goes through it so you will be fine
(6:12 PM) PrincessND307: Most people will make about 50K a year. But you work so many hours that it probably works out to minimum wage per hour.
(6:13 PM) PrincessND307: But every doc goes through it so you will be fine
(6:14 PM) PrincessND307 has changed their nickname to PrincessND30
(6:16 PM) Danielle: what r the things u should look for when choosing a med school?
(6:17 PM) Guest95853 has changed their nickname to madamebovary
(6:17 PM) PrincessND30: Well, once you get into schools, you just need to ask yourself, “which school will make the the best doctor?”
(6:18 PM) PrincessND30: which school will help me to achieve my goals…etc. kinda similar to how you chose your undergrad instititution
(6:18 PM) PrincessND30: Hey Madame Bovary. welcome. feel free to ask questions
(6:18 PM) madamebovary: ok sure
(6:19 PM) Guest95950 has changed their nickname to Guest95950
(6:19 PM) PrincessND30: welcome guest 95950…feel free to ask questions
(6:20 PM) Danielle: okay. how do you get good at interviewing. i mean how should i practice this?
(6:21 PM) PrincessND30: You mean interviewing for medical school?
(6:22 PM) Guest96090 has changed their nickname to oregon
(6:22 PM) oregon: hey
(6:22 PM) PrincessND30: welcome, welcom, ask away guys
(6:22 PM) PrincessND30: hi oregon.
(6:22 PM) madamebovary: do you think transfering to bigger name school with more independent research funding will be beneficial in the long run for applying to med schools?
(6:22 PM) PrincessND30: Madamebovary: Honestly, yes i do.
(6:22 PM) oregon: are we all giving opinions?
(6:22 PM) PrincessND30: sure, go ahead. this is a conversation, so please do.
(6:23 PM) madamebovary: i am doing fine at the LAC i am in with good gpa and research, but i think name will matter in logn run
(6:23 PM) oregon: yes, it definitely does
(6:23 PM) PrincessND30: Is your LAC well known?
(6:23 PM) madamebovary: ok cool
(6:23 PM) PrincessND30: Often times name gets you places.
(6:23 PM) madamebovary: not really
(6:23 PM) PrincessND30: as much as we don’t like to admit it
(6:23 PM) oregon: but you’re success is the panacea
(6:23 PM) oregon: lol
(6:23 PM) madamebovary: lol
(6:24 PM) oregon: (whoops <em>your</em>)
(6:24 PM) oregon: okay, i want to ask…
(6:24 PM) PrincessND30: I definitely think that you need to go somewhere that you can do well though
(6:24 PM) PrincessND30: doesn’t do any good if you transfer and then get Cs
(6:24 PM) Guest96239 has changed their nickname to bluedevilmik
(6:24 PM) oregon: i am thinking of going to University of British Columbia for pre-med
(6:24 PM) PrincessND30: Hi Mike. We meet at last…lol
(6:24 PM) oregon: whoa, i just quoted you
(6:25 PM) Guest96291 has changed their nickname to bluepixies
(6:25 PM) madamebovary: i guess for my case i have applied to transfer from Pitzer college to Pomona college <em>both are in the claremont system
(6:25 PM) PrincessND30: Oh…if you go to Pomona you should apply to Pritzker…we always have Pomonians (??) represented
(6:25 PM) madamebovary: but one is just more reknowned yet we can take each other classes
(6:25 PM) PrincessND30: Welcome blue pixies. ask away
(6:26 PM) oregon: whitman, university of oregon, ubc for pre-med
(6:26 PM) bluedevilmik: Hi PND.
(6:26 PM) oregon: ?
(6:26 PM) bluepixies: Hi everyone!
(6:26 PM) PrincessND30: which do you like the most and why
(6:26 PM) PrincessND30: hola
(6:26 PM) Guest96365 has changed their nickname to Guest96365
(6:27 PM) oregon: i think i will like whitman the most because its campus is really nice and its more personal
(6:27 PM) oregon: but i don’t know if my financial aid will come through and i can’t pay the full tuition price
(6:27 PM) PrincessND30: then go there. honestly, all of those schools will give you a solid education. go where you fall and love and you WILL do better
(6:28 PM) madamebovary: in my college, i think going to a smaller school is very helpful since getting recs will be easier for applying to
(6:28 PM) madamebovary: summer research prgoram
(6:28 PM) PrincessND30: all schools have their pros and cons
(6:28 PM) bluepixies: I have a question… I can take government and english during the school year, however, I don’t want to be distracted by them, so I am thinking about taking these classes during the summer and take upper division science classes during the school year. Is this ok?
(6:28 PM) PrincessND30: i really don’t think i would have done as well at any other undergrad school. mine was perfect for me
(6:28 PM) PrincessND30: Hey blue: what do you mean by “distracted by them”
(6:29 PM) PrincessND30: Mike, what year in med school are you?
(6:29 PM) bluepixies: i guess worry about them, as in writing papers for english when I could be writing up my lab reports for the labs i’m taking
(6:29 PM) oregon: so would it be a problem going to UBC in canada for undergrad, then transferring to a US medical school?
(6:30 PM) PrincessND30: Trust me pixie, you want to be taking classes other than sciences if at all possible. It will give you a good break to think about something else. It might even help you do do better in your science classes
(6:30 PM) oregon: or even continuing and doing med school in canada, then coming back to america?
(6:30 PM) Guest96613 has changed their nickname to tc
(6:31 PM) PrincessND30: You’re not a canadian citizen, right Oregon?
(6:31 PM) bluedevilmik: I’m an MS3 on leave of absence at the moment
(6:31 PM) PrincessND30: I’m so excited for third year…any idea of what you’ll go into?
(6:31 PM) bluedevilmik: haha – a voluntary leave of absence.
(6:31 PM) bluepixies: really?? Well…I was also worried about my GPA, since these classes are not my strongest
(6:31 PM) PrincessND30: lol
(6:32 PM) oregon: i am a canadian citizen
(6:32 PM) PrincessND30: As a canadian citizen you will need to apply as an international student
(6:32 PM) PrincessND30: Which is more competitive
(6:32 PM) oregon: i am also an american citizen
(6:32 PM) oregon: and australian
(6:33 PM) Guest96365: What’s considered to be a “decent” MCAT score?
(6:33 PM) oregon: 30
(6:33 PM) oregon: the average for admits at OHSU is 31
(6:33 PM) Guest96365: Thanks!
(6:33 PM) PrincessND30: Pixies: I really can’t stress enough how important summers are to your well being. If you feel that you will succeed best by taking courses in the summer, then okay. But if you can take a vacation i think that is best
(6:33 PM) oregon: and i think over 35 is really good
(6:34 PM) PrincessND30: Well if you have American citizenship you should be fine going to school in Canada.
(6:34 PM) bluepixies: well I was going to do research and volunteer during the summer anyway and I was going to stay on campus, so I thought that I might as well same summer classes
(6:34 PM) madamebovary: i was wondering how often someone who goes into a md/phd program decides that phd might not be the right choice and just do MD?
(6:35 PM) PrincessND30: Oh yeah, pixies, that should be fine. Just make sure you’re avoiding the burnout
(6:35 PM) madamebovary: is it possible to do that
(6:35 PM) PrincessND30: i’m sure mike and I can tell you a lot about that
(6:35 PM) bluepixies: ok, thanks
(6:35 PM) PrincessND30: A good MCAT score is the highest one you can get
(6:35 PM) oregon: Is 40 the max?
(6:36 PM) PrincessND30: I usually tell students I mentor to aim for a 30, higher if you have a lower GPA
(6:36 PM) Guest96365: How many times can a person take the MCAT?
(6:36 PM) bluedevilmik: I actually don’t have any classmates who switched out of the MD/PhD
(6:36 PM) bluedevilmik: I have two who switched in
(6:36 PM) bluepixies: Just wondering, I read on a thread that you apply to med school at the end of your junior year, but if you do a senior thesis, how would med school know about it?
(6:36 PM) PrincessND30: Madame: i don’t know anyone who dropped the phd, but i do know lots of people who added it.
(6:37 PM) madamebovary: o yea i have been thinking about it
(6:37 PM) madamebovary: going md/phd
(6:37 PM) PrincessND30: So if you’re thinking MD with possible PhD, might be beneficial to enter the MD program then add on a phd later
(6:37 PM) madamebovary: but not sure if its the right choice
(6:37 PM) PrincessND30: like after second year
(6:37 PM) tc: I’ll be heading into City Collge of San Francisco this fall, and was wondering about the math requirement (Calculus) for several of the UC Med schools. Math is not my strongest point, and my CC offers a “Short Calculus” course. Think that’ll fulfill the Calculus requirement?
(6:37 PM) madamebovary: ok thanks
(6:38 PM) PrincessND30: I’m not sure how many times you can take the MCAT because it’s offered so much more now than when i took it
(6:38 PM) tc: And thank you, PrincessND, for taking the time to answer our questions.
(6:38 PM) PrincessND30: No problem. thanks for participating
(6:38 PM) bluedevilmik: it is very frowned upon to switch out, since it might be perceived that you were just trying to scam two years of free tuition out of them
(6:38 PM) Guest97121 has changed their nickname to Harold231
(6:38 PM) PrincessND30: What is “short calculus”
(6:39 PM) bluedevilmik: on the other hand, if that’s honestly where you’re being called, then of course that’s what you have to do
(6:39 PM) Harold231: hi
(6:39 PM) PrincessND30: hi harold, welcome to the room
(6:39 PM) Harold231: thanks for having this
(6:39 PM) PrincessND30: thanks for coming
(6:39 PM) Harold231: i had a question about gpa/major
(6:40 PM) PrincessND30: tc. o
(6:40 PM) Harold231: i’m taking a lot of science/humanities classes right now
(6:40 PM) Harold231: but my gpa is somewhat low
(6:40 PM) Harold231: and we have to choose majors soon
(6:40 PM) PrincessND30: tc, i’m not sure if it will count or not because i’m not sure what the class entails. I would recommend tutoring if you need help calculus is hard for many people
(6:40 PM) tc: “Short Calculus” is the name of some 3 credit course. Other than that, I’m guessing it’s just an introductory course one would take before Calculus.
(6:41 PM) Harold231: i’m thinking of doing engineering because i sort of like it and it would be a good back up
(6:41 PM) tc: Okay.
(6:41 PM) oregon: How can one know what their calling is? As a high school senior, I do not know what my calling is, and I am rather skeptical of anyone knowing. Maybe its just my uncertainty influencing my though, but I think “calling” is just a low level choice, and we choose it. Were you all certain you wanted to be doctors in high school?
(6:41 PM) PrincessND30: if you like it and think you can do well go for it.
(6:41 PM) Harold231: i’m really discouraged for medicine because my grades are low and i don’t think it will be higher in the coming years
(6:41 PM) PrincessND30: you can major in anything and go to med school
(6:41 PM) PrincessND30: what is your GPA harold
(6:41 PM) Harold231: i don’t know right now
(6:42 PM) Harold231: but last semester i got below a 3
(6:42 PM) bluedevilmik: Oregon: I certainly didn’t! it takes time to know. fortunately, you don’t have to decide until your senior year in college.
(6:42 PM) Harold231: i’m a freshman btw
(6:42 PM) PrincessND30: Oregon: i think you know when you meet it. I’ll never forget the first time i helped deliver a baby!!!
(6:42 PM) PrincessND30: Harold, if medicine is your passion you will get there.
(6:42 PM) madamebovary: i believe your interest will continue to grow through the years
(6:42 PM) PrincessND30: Many people do post bac programs to raise their GPAs. Have you heard of these?
(6:43 PM) PrincessND30: very true madame
(6:43 PM) Harold231: also i think i like medicine, but i’m not too sure about it…
(6:43 PM) PrincessND30: Oh harold. you have plenty of time. Work on improving your study and time management skills each quarter. Then let’s see where you are during the last semester of your junior year
(6:44 PM) bluepixies: after the application process, would you notify med schools of your senior thesis (anyone know the answer?)
(6:44 PM) PrincessND30: for anyone interested in medicine i recommend: 1. go to clinic with a doctor and see patients/surgeries; 2. read lots of medical news stories
(6:45 PM) PrincessND30: I would actually put your intent to write a thesis in your application.
(6:45 PM) PrincessND30: After you’ve completed it, you can update your application
(6:45 PM) tc: When would be a good time to start a research project? And does it matter what the project is on?
(6:45 PM) oregon: so are you already a med student princess? i’m curious what the med school application process is like. i know you apply to many, but how do you actually get accepted?
(6:45 PM) PrincessND30: IF WE HAVEN’T ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION AND YOU ASKED A LONG TIME AGO, PLEASE SEND IT AGAIN
(6:45 PM) bluepixies: oh, ok. thanks!
(6:46 PM) madamebovary: tc: i say start research as soon as you can and find a project you will like
(6:46 PM) PrincessND30: tc: whenever you have time
(6:46 PM) Guest96365: When shadowing doctors, how often and for how long should you do it?
(6:46 PM) PrincessND30: Oregon: yes, i’m a 2nd year at the University of Chicago
(6:46 PM) PrincessND30: Applying to medical school is so much fun.
(6:46 PM) oregon: ???!!
(6:47 PM) tc: Fun?
(6:47 PM) PrincessND30: You fill out an application called AMCAS that is sent to the school you want to apply to
(6:47 PM) PrincessND30: then those schools send you another application, called secondaries
(6:47 PM) bluedevilmik: I agree that it’s fun
(6:47 PM) PrincessND30: after reviewing your applications, they invite your for interviews
(6:48 PM) bluepixies: when do the AMCAS applications open up?
(6:48 PM) PrincessND30: then after you go to that school, you try to impress them, they try to impress you
(6:48 PM) tc: Oh, about the interviews. What are they like?
(6:48 PM) oregon: were you guys accepted to multiple schools?
(6:48 PM) Harold231: hello?
(6:48 PM) bluedevilmik: bluepixies: early june
(6:48 PM) PrincessND30: then 6-8 weeks later, you get notification
(6:48 PM) oregon: or did you get interviews at multiple?
(6:48 PM) bluedevilmik: oregon: why do you ask?
(6:49 PM) PrincessND30: Hey harold, what’s up?
(6:49 PM) oregon: i’m curious as to whether the students who do get accepted tend to get accepted at many, or whether some students do only get into one or two
(6:49 PM) PrincessND30: The interviews vary depending on who’s interviewing and what school you’re at
(6:49 PM) bluedevilmik: probably most students only get into one or two
(6:49 PM) bluedevilmik: I mean
(6:49 PM) bluedevilmik: among the kids who get in
(6:50 PM) PrincessND30: Emory had a group interview…that was weird
(6:50 PM) bluedevilmik: Northwestern has the same kind – 3 on 3
(6:50 PM) bluedevilmik: I found them kind of fun
(6:50 PM) tc: Are the usually one on one?
(6:50 PM) tc: they</em>
(6:50 PM) PrincessND30: most of mine were one on one
(6:50 PM) bluedevilmik: usually, yes
(6:50 PM) PrincessND30: and some schools have a student interview too
(6:51 PM) Harold231: hello?
(6:51 PM) Danielle: i’m kind of embarassed to ask this question
(6:51 PM) bluepixies: what type of questions are usually asked?
(6:51 PM) PrincessND30: shoot danielle
(6:51 PM) Guest97884 has changed their nickname to Harold213
(6:51 PM) Harold213: hi
(6:51 PM) Guest97896 has changed their nickname to ifyouseekamy
(6:51 PM) PrincessND30: questions about you, various experiences on your application, your opinions of healthcare, why you want to go to X school, your interests outside of medicine, etc.
(6:52 PM) bluedevilmik: PND: Pritzker was the only school I interviewerd at which had a student interview, actually
(6:52 PM) PrincessND30: oh really?
(6:52 PM) bluedevilmik: yeah, I think they’re pretty common but I must’ve had a weird sample?
(6:53 PM) Danielle: i’m afraid of dissecting the human body and like seeing people dying. how do you get used to that
(6:53 PM) tc: Does the interview weight much when it comes down to being accepted into a med school?
(6:53 PM) PrincessND30: i think the interview is SUpER important
(6:53 PM) bluedevilmik: tc: depends on the school. some don’t pay much attention; some make their decision almost 100% based on interviews
(6:53 PM) tc: wow.
(6:54 PM) PrincessND30: afterwards, your faculty member will make a case for you. If you’re on the borderline, it could really tip you one way or another.
(6:54 PM) Guest98041 has changed their nickname to Guest98041
(6:54 PM) PrincessND30: Hey Danielle. I’m not sure you ever get used to it. It was hard for me during anatomy lab at first, but then you kind of become at peace with it. It’s harder with patients you actually have a relationship with.
(6:55 PM) oregon: what is the process like after you graduate from medical school? is getting a residency as difficult as getting into med school?
(6:55 PM) PrincessND30: depends on which residency program and which specialty you want to enter
(6:55 PM) bluedevilmik: oregon: goodness no. there are something like 35000 applicants for 17000 medical school spots
(6:55 PM) tc: This may or may not pertain to med school, but have any of you guys studied abroad?
(6:55 PM) bluedevilmik: after which there are something like 23000 residency positions
(6:55 PM) bluepixies: danielle: have you dissected the human body yet?? you should practice first with smaller vertebrates
(6:56 PM) Harold213: when do you know if you should give up or still stick with it…?
(6:56 PM) bluedevilmik: more than half of kids get rejected from every single medical school, but nearly every medical student gets a residency of some kind
(6:56 PM) PrincessND30: oh yeah, pretty much everybody gets a residency spot…but if you’re looking to get into plastic surgery, that is ridiculously competitive
(6:56 PM) Danielle: we did fetal pigs and even that was hard for me
(6:56 PM) bluedevilmik: I might have misinterpreted oregon’s question, sorry
(6:57 PM) PrincessND30: tc: i didn’t study abroad, but I wish I had
(6:57 PM) oregon: no, that’s what i was asking, thanks mike. next question: is passing medical school difficult?
(6:57 PM) bluedevilmik: it <em>feels</em> very difficult
(6:57 PM) bluedevilmik: but almost everybody passes everything
(6:58 PM) bluedevilmik: so subjectively it’s very tough, but statistically your odds are very high
(6:58 PM) PrincessND30: I think medical school is very hard. requires your full committment. But i like what i’m learning so that makes it easier
(6:58 PM) PrincessND30: especially this year when we’re actually learning about diseases and treatment
(6:58 PM) Guest98307 has changed their nickname to Berkeley
(6:58 PM) Guest98041: what’s your vote?pre-med or sciences major OR other major with required science courses for med school
(6:59 PM) bluedevilmik: it depends on your interests, guest
(6:59 PM) Guest98320 has changed their nickname to norcalguy
(6:59 PM) PrincessND30: i agree with mike
(6:59 PM) bluedevilmik: percentage-wise, they all perform equally
(6:59 PM) tc: You guys have any ideas of what you might want to specialize in?
(6:59 PM) bluepixies: has anyone actually failed med school?
(6:59 PM) PrincessND30: It’s important for college students to remember that this is your last chance to really experiment academically
(7:00 PM) norcalguy: graduation rate is pretty good but people fail tests, courses, or years all the time
(7:00 PM) PrincessND30: Pixies: yes
(7:00 PM) bluepixies: wow
(7:00 PM) PrincessND30: TC: i’m not sure. I know i’d like to do at least some surgery and also have clinic…so it looks like ob/gyn and urology are possibilities
(7:02 PM) Guest98514 has changed their nickname to Berkeley
(7:02 PM) tc: sounds cool, Princess.
(7:02 PM) PrincessND30: any ideas of what you might like?
(7:02 PM) oregon: in the us news and world report rankings, it listed almost every medical school as costing at least $30,000 a year… do most people pay this much, or can you get the same kind of aid as normal college?
(7:03 PM) norcalguy: very few med schools cost $30,000. most private med schools have year budgets in the $68,000 range with tuition at 40,000+
(7:03 PM) PrincessND30: honestly, most people pay with loans.
(7:03 PM) PrincessND30: loans to cover both living expenses and tuition
(7:03 PM) oregon: wait, so $30,000 is low?
(7:03 PM) PrincessND30: 30K is incomplete
(7:04 PM) PrincessND30: it doesn’t include cost of living (i.e. rent, health insurance, food, bills, etc.)
(7:04 PM) bluepixies: is there a big difference in the number of years for residency for physicians and cardiothoracic surgeons
(7:04 PM) PrincessND30: cardiothoracic surgeons do a general surgery residency and a fellowship in CT surgery I beleive
(7:05 PM) bluedevilmik: “physician” is the term for any kind of doctor
(7:05 PM) bluedevilmik: it includes CT surgeons
(7:05 PM) PrincessND30: it’s about 7 years after med school
(7:05 PM) PrincessND30: There’s a lot of terminology that’s confusing at first
(7:05 PM) norcalguy: not in the old days. hence, columbia’s med school is called the College of Physicians and Surgeons
(7:06 PM) madamebovary: what type of LORs will we need for applying med school process
(7:06 PM) PrincessND30: CT surgerons are in a HUGE demand right now
(7:06 PM) bluepixies: sorry, I meant family practician
(7:06 PM) bluedevilmik: are they?
(7:06 PM) madamebovary: i heard something like two science, 1 humanities, 1 research, and 1 clinical?
(7:06 PM) norcalguy: no way
(7:06 PM) norcalguy: CT surgery is going downhill fast
(7:06 PM) bluedevilmik: family practice takes three years
(7:06 PM) bluedevilmik: MB: it depends on your undergrad school
(7:06 PM) tc: Race and financial background, do these matter in the application process?
(7:07 PM) PrincessND30: tc: yes
(7:07 PM) bluedevilmik: tc: all else being equal, the AAMC charts seem to indicate that race can be as much as 10 MCAT points
(7:07 PM) PrincessND30: can you imagine all the heart surgeries that will need to be performed inthe coming years???
(7:08 PM) norcalguy: the problem is that we aren’t using surgery to correct heart problems
(7:08 PM) bluedevilmik: the reputation is that CT Surgery will be essentially out of work within ten to fifteen years
(7:08 PM) bluedevilmik: of course, people used to say the same about anesthesia
(7:08 PM) PrincessND30: and many argue we need more minority physicians because they tend to serve in minority communities which often have poor access to care
(7:08 PM) tc: That’s pretty crazy, BDM.
(7:08 PM) PrincessND30: hmm…i can’t picture that
(7:08 PM) bluedevilmik: well, PND’s argument is one you’ll hear a lot
(7:09 PM) bluedevilmik: and it’s not ridiculous
(7:09 PM) PrincessND30: so who will do the bypasses?
(7:09 PM) bluedevilmik: the idea is that bypasses will be obsolete eventually
(7:09 PM) PrincessND30: which argument mike?
(7:09 PM) bluedevilmik: the one about needing minority physicians in minority fields
(7:09 PM) norcalguy: i wouldn’t say they’ll be out of work but their case loads have decreased dramatically
(7:10 PM) PrincessND30: hmm…you never know i guess
(7:10 PM) bluepixies: i guess i’ll think about it when I actually go to med school first…
(7:11 PM) PrincessND30: of course…i’m not even sure and I’m in med school
(7:11 PM) bluedevilmik has changed their nickname to bluedevilmik
(7:11 PM) tc: EMT-Basic license, should I go for it? Sounds like fun, but a bit time-consuming.
(7:11 PM) bluedevilmik: hm, I seem to be out of characters
(7:11 PM) norcalguy: these things are often cyclical so it’s hard to predict which specialities will be lucrative 5 or 10 years from now
(7:12 PM) oregon: i have to go now. thanks so much! this is MUCH better than the forum.
(7:12 PM) PrincessND30: tc: that sounds like something fun to do. go for it
(7:12 PM) PrincessND30: thanks oregon. maybe we’ll have another one soon
(7:12 PM) bluepixies: how long does it take for an EMT-basic license?
(7:12 PM) PrincessND30: norcalguy, which specialties do you like?
(7:13 PM) tc: At my CC, a full semester–12 credits.
(7:13 PM) Harold213: EMT you can do in like a summer or like one semester in college
(7:13 PM) Harold213: but only take it if you want to do it for a year or longer
(7:13 PM) Harold213: because much money is spent on you
(7:14 PM) Guest99153 has changed their nickname to Guest99153
(7:14 PM) bluepixies: oh, ok
(7:14 PM) Danielle: after you graduate from med school are you actually a doctor that can like treat patients?
(7:14 PM) Harold213: how do you know if you shoudl keep on trying for medicine or just give up?
(7:14 PM) bluedevilmik: Danielle: officially yes, but probably not in the way you’re thinking
(7:14 PM) bluedevilmik: you certainly are not permitted to take care of patients without oversight
(7:14 PM) norcalguy: i like IR. the future of diagnostic radiology is pretty uncertain with the cutbacks in reimbursement and possible outsourcing. i’m doing research at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology in WashU this summer
(7:15 PM) PrincessND30: Harold, if it is your dream, never give up!
(7:15 PM) PrincessND30: okay
(7:15 PM) Guest98041: would you have done anything differently?
(7:15 PM) PrincessND30: with respect to what?
(7:15 PM) bluedevilmik: PND, I think I’m not sure about that
(7:16 PM) Guest98041: undergrad school you chose, emphasis on ECs, etc.
(7:16 PM) bluedevilmik: 80% of kids who get through the MCAT – an awful lot of awfully smart kids – will never enter medical school
(7:16 PM) bluedevilmik: and I don’t think it’s just because they “gave up”
(7:16 PM) tc: Why’s that, BDM?
(7:17 PM) bluedevilmik: well, medicine’s a tough field
(7:17 PM) bluedevilmik: and medical school admissions is relaly tough
(7:17 PM) PrincessND30: Well, I have seen so many people with MCAT scores so low they couldn’t get in the first time. They went into post bac programs, did research, and then they were able to get into med school.
(7:17 PM) tc: Any tips regarding the MCAT?
(7:17 PM) PrincessND30: i’ve seen to many success stories to say it’s not possible
(7:18 PM) PrincessND30: i also think that so many premeds do it for the wrong reasons (i.e. parental pressures etc.)
(7:18 PM) PrincessND30: tc: Study! do lots of questions and take practice tests. I had the most trouble with pacing.
(7:19 PM) PrincessND30: I don’t know Mike, I just think that these college students need to hear people telling them they can do it because there are so many naysayers outthere.
(7:20 PM) bluepixies: I have to go, but thank you so much for this chat!!
(7:20 PM) PrincessND30: yw pixies. glad we could help
(7:20 PM) Guest98041: Thank you very much for the chat, and for all of your posts on CC!
(7:20 PM) PrincessND30:
(7:20 PM) bluedevilmik: I know that a lot of these kids need encouragement, but med school’s a tough process and I hope people don’t get so fixated on this one career
(7:20 PM) bluedevilmik: because there’es a lot of great ones out there
(7:21 PM) PrincessND30: very true.
(7:21 PM) bluedevilmik: that often times people aren’t willing to consider for whatever reason
(7:21 PM) PrincessND30: And there are definitely other ways to get involved in health care if it doesn’t happen
(7:21 PM) tc: Is the MCAT anything like the SATs? I didn’t study for my SAT I and got a relatively low score ~ 1900. poop.
(7:21 PM) PrincessND30: The MCAT is very different
(7:22 PM) Danielle: so do people call residents doctors?
(7:22 PM) PrincessND30: Yep. but they’re kind of juniors. they’re still in training
(7:23 PM) bluedevilmik: Danielle: yes, they do, but they can only treat patients while under supervision
(7:23 PM) Danielle: oh ok. and then fellows are something different right?
(7:23 PM) bluedevilmik: yes
(7:23 PM) bluedevilmik: the timeline goes
(7:24 PM) bluedevilmik: hs –> undergrad –> medical school –> residency –> fellowship –> “attending”
(7:24 PM) PrincessND30: but some people become generalists and don’t do fellowship
(7:24 PM) bluedevilmik: “attending” physicians are “full-fledged” doctors in that sense
(7:24 PM) norcalguy: my school is encouraging us to introduce ourselves as “student doctors” rather than med students. i don’t like it
(7:24 PM) bluedevilmik: if you are not in a university, sometimes you are just called a practicing physician
(7:25 PM) bluedevilmik: PND is of course right that many people don’t do fellowships, sorry I should have mentione that
(7:25 PM) PrincessND30: where’s the rationale there norcal guy?
(7:25 PM) bluedevilmik: yeah, my school agrees with you there, NCG
(7:25 PM) Danielle: when do you actually get to see patients in medical schol
(7:26 PM) bluedevilmik: throughout, but it doens’t become your main focus until your third year
(7:26 PM) norcalguy: research shows patients are more likely to react positively to you when you emphasize the doctor aspect rather than the student aspect. but i still think it sounds weird because we’re not doctors
(7:26 PM) PrincessND30: yeah…i would almost interpret that as being more like a resident than a medical student
(7:27 PM) bluedevilmik: sometimes patients would also be more likely to react positively if you straight-up lied
(7:27 PM) bluedevilmik: haha
(7:27 PM) bluedevilmik: that doesn’t make it a good idea
(7:27 PM) tc: Kaplan test prep courses–worth it?
(7:27 PM) bluedevilmik: for most students, yes
(7:27 PM) bluedevilmik: but not for everybody
(7:28 PM) tc: If I don’t do so well in Organic Chemistry, am I screwed?
(7:28 PM) PrincessND30: tc: i like the kaplan MCAT course because the books were really good and then we had 5 full-length practice tests to prepare
(7:28 PM) PrincessND30: You need to do as well as you can in everything
(7:29 PM) tc: I’ll probably end up taking that course (Kaplan). thanks, guys.
(7:29 PM) PrincessND30: orgo is hard and dreaded, but who knows, you may be good at it…
(7:29 PM) PrincessND30: i wasn’t…but lots of people are
(7:30 PM) tc: How did you manage?
(7:30 PM) PrincessND30: orgo is a course that you can’t get behind in. you have to make sure you understand everything as you go along because it’s hard to cram for, IMO
(7:31 PM) PrincessND30: any other questions guys?
(7:32 PM) Guest00309 has changed their nickname to Guest00309
(7:33 PM) PrincessND30: Okay…well it looks like this has been a success, so maybe we should do this again in the future
(7:33 PM) tc: Having fun in medical school?
(7:33 PM) PrincessND30: I love it!
(7:33 PM) tc: Awesome.
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30: how do you do that open mouth smilie face?
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30: :0
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30:
(7:34 PM) bluedevilmik:
(7:34 PM) bluedevilmik: haha
(7:34 PM) tc: semi-colon + capital D.
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30: lol
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30:
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30: nice
(7:34 PM) bluedevilmik:
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30: well e1, thanks for coming
(7:34 PM) PrincessND30: i will post the transcript on the site
(7:35 PM) tc: Good luck with your studies, all you smarty med students.
(7:35 PM) PrincessND30: ty tc. best of luck to you. let me know if i can help with anything
(7:35 PM) bluedevilmik: hey PND
(7:35 PM) PrincessND30: yeah?
(7:36 PM) bluedevilmik: I’m available if you have anything you’d like to chat about, too
(7:36 PM) PrincessND30: ok mike, thanks.
(7:36 PM) bluedevilmik: re: getting ready for MS3, boards, etc.
(7:36 PM) PrincessND30: ok, ty for that.
(7:36 PM) bluedevilmik: thanks for spending so much time with the premeds
(7:36 PM) PrincessND30: i love it.
(7:36 PM) bluedevilmik: you can see they’ve been hungry for this sort of thing
(7:36 PM) PrincessND30: you too. you’ve invited me like three times and finally i took you up on the offer.
(7:36 PM) PrincessND30: these kids are so much more active than the ND students
(7:36 PM) bluedevilmik: haha
(7:37 PM) bluedevilmik: you were doin’ such a good job over there I figured we’d want you over here too
(7:37 PM) PrincessND30: aww thanks
(7:37 PM) PrincessND30: alright.
(7:37 PM) PrincessND30: good night e1
(7:37 PM) Danielle: bye
(7:38 PM) tc: Night.
(7:38 PM) Harold213: thanks
(7:39 PM) Harold213: is it a good idea to major in an engineering subject?
(7:39 PM) Harold213: any thoughts?
(7:41 PM) tc: You should just major in whatever you like best. If it’s engineering, go for it.
(7:42 PM) tc: I’ll be doing psychobiology.</p>
<p>Hey Everyone,
We just finished our very first live chat and it was a great success. We will plan on doing another one in the future. Thanks to everyone who participated.</p>
<p>Thanks for setting it up! I liked the “connection” and getting to chat with real live med students.</p>
<p>Oh, yes. Thanks again to PND and the other med students for helping us pre-meds out. :)</p>
<p>Many Thanks PND, BDM, NCG for all your help last night</p>