<p>I decided to make an account because I really want to learn more about the Pre-med process. I know that GPA and MCAT scores are only pieces to the puzzle and that medical school adcoms want to look for a story. Aside from volunteering, research, extra-curricular activities what else can I do to make myself stand out. Does it entail going to Africa, Vietnam, etc. and doing service projects. What I really want to know is how to set yourself apart. I am sure that this may already have been answered in the long sticky threads above; but, if somebody does have a clue please let me know. </p>
<p>I am a freshman at UNC with 80 credit hours (transferred from high-school with a 4.0) and a 3.88 GPA after my first semester. I know it is way too early to start contemplating this but do I have a shot at top 10 medical schools if I maintained this GPA at UNC excluding everything else (I know that you can get a 4.0 and easily get rejected). I simply want to know if I have as good a shot as say someone from an Undergraduate Ivy League. Just thought someone could be willing to give me a little advice :)</p>
<p>PS: I am not trying to go for prestige; however, in today's job market I feel that it would be easier to get into a good residency program if I get into a good Medical School. </p>
<p>You just need a passion, that’s how you stand out. Yes that GPA is fine. No, going to unc will not prevent you from getting into a top ten, though you are misguided in your reasoning about job opportunities</p>
<p>I appreciate the feedback. What exactly do you mean by displaying passion? Do you mean we should stick mainly towards something we are truly dedicated to?</p>
<p>I believe that whole “stand out” thing is overrated. Just work hard in every class, get your numbers, they are almost whole story. The rest should realy reflect your personal interests. Do not forget to enjoy your life at college, have friends, engage in activities that have meanning to you personally. Do not be afraid to get involved in something that other pre-meds completely overlooked. Follow your heart and you will end up shining! Do not tailor your life to Med. School requirements, it will backfire at the end.
My advice is based on my D’s experience who has been accepted to several Med. Schools, others might have different opinions.</p>
<p>I think you’ve greatly overestimated the importance of going to a “top 10 medical school.”</p>
<p>Residency programs are rather insulated from “today’s economy.” There are residencies; they have a pretty much fixed number of slots annually. There are medical schools; they graduate a pretty much fixed number of new doctors annually. With rare exceptions, only these new doctors are competing for the residencies. There won’t be outside competition from career changers who were laid off from their previous jobs, or even from practicing nephrologists who decide they want to become plastic surgeons.</p>
<p>And if hospitals need to trim budgets, house staff (the term used for interns and residents) seems like the worst place for them to cut. House officers provide hospitals with seemingly limitless hours of service for a relatively low, and fixed, salary.</p>
<p>For the most part, medical school is a trade school, and the kidneys work pretty much the same way whether you study them at Harvard or the University of New Mexico.</p>
<p>I have a related question. I would believe that students from top medical schools would have better chances getting into specialty residency programs. Is it true? on the other hand, would the chance still be good for a student in the bottom 30% of a top medical school?</p>
<p>ace550
I have actually discussed it with one MD who indicated that your “board” is all that counts. Others might have different opinion/experience. </p>
<p>However, my own D. had decided to include top 20 schools on her list and got accepted at couple of them. Not sure where she will end up going, she is not considering ranking in her decision making, since her choices are relatively close in ranking.</p>
<p>Boards, letters of rec/deans letter, grades, and AOA status are the big ones for most. Research and other resume items can also have a significant impact depending on the program.</p>
<p>@BlueDevilMike That is extremely informative and makes complete sense! In terms of the job market, what I meant to say is that to get into a good residency you pretty much have to go to a good medical school or do great things at a sub-par medical school (excluding doing good on USLME step 1.</p>
<p>*what I meant to say is that to get into a good residency you pretty much have to go to a good medical school or do great things at a sub-par medical school (excluding doing good on USLME step 1. *</p>
<p>Hmmmm…</p>
<p>You make it sound like going to a top name med school is a free-pass to a top residency program and that everyone else needs to have some special hook…I don’t think that is how it works. </p>
<p>And…as for American MD medical schools…I wouldn’t call any of them “sub par”. American MD med schools are not like the undergrad world…more like Good, Better, Best. none would be “subpar”.</p>
<p>Being average at a top medical school is not the same as being average at a regular medical school. My school’s average USMLE score this year was close to 240. So, the “average” student my school can easily end up in radiology or anesthesiology. Hence, a greater percentage of students from top med schools end up in competitive specialties. </p>
<p>For the uber competitive specialties like plastics, derm, ENT, etc., attending a prestigious medical school is very helpful. For the less competitive specialties like radiology or anesthesiology, I think it’s helpful if your goal is a big-time academic residency program like Mass Gen or UCSF or whatever. There are plenty of students with 210 or 220 USMLE scores getting into radiology or anesthesiology because there’s a lot of programs in those fields. However, getting into the prestigious residency programs in those fields will require a stellar application. That’s where coming from a prestigious medical school can be helpful.</p>
<p>Remember, all the top undergrads are not going to be going to the “top” medical schools. Many state universities have great programs. Additionally, the low cost to stay instate may trump going private or OOS and having a huge debt.</p>
<p>The REALITY is that the majority of medical school applicants do not get accepted anywhere let alone a “top ten” medical school. As Mom2collegekids said, there are no “subar” American medical schools. They all use the same books, the same cadavers and teach the same material. It would be nice to get into a top medical school but most applicants consider themselves fortunate to get into any medical school.</p>
<p>Off topic, but I thought Rad and Gas specialities were part of the ‘RoAd’. Yet, norcalguy says that they are relatively easy to get into because of the number of spots. Just a little interested. This probably deserves another thread, but I don’t want to make one lol. Has the ROAD changed? Just a little curious.</p>
<p>anesthesia is definitely not that competitive compared to the others. ROAD is a grouping of specialties felt to be a great combination of lifestyle and compensation, so just because anesthesia is in it doesn’t mean it is super hard to get into (in part because there are quite a few spots).</p>
<p>Ortho, like Rads, Anesthesia, and Ophtho is really really hard but not quite as hard as Plastics. I think that’s what NCG meant by “less competitive” – he meant “less than plastics.”</p>
<p>"Additionally, the low cost to stay instate may trump going private or OOS and having a huge debt. "</p>
<p>-I keep stumbling on cost comparison. I have done it myself, state Med. School vs expensive private Med. School. I did not see a huge difference. What I found was about $15k difference in TOTAL tuition (over 4 years). I can hardly call it any difference at all. Scholarships are the only things that might make a real difference in price and there are private Med. Schools that are giving notifications of Scholarship awards (without mentionning amounts) at the time of acceptance. What am I missing, where is a big difference in tuition, besides scholarships awards?</p>