<p>Does anyone else feel that getting into these combined programs is a near impossible task?!?! Literally, ALL i did this whole summer was volunteer work, and i really enjoyed it.. but reading up on all these peoples stats, it seems soo impossible to get into these programs.. DOES EVERYONE FLIPPING HAVE A 1600 ON THEIR SATS and like 3 800's and they intern at the white house and at NIH and a gazillion other places or something.. arggg... is everyone that applies to these programs really that great?!?! i dont know, it seems like almost super human. I understand that becoming a doctor is hard and it requires a lot of intelligence and responsibility, but i mean doctors arent supposed to be SUPERHUMAN are they? so many docors that i meet on a regular basis are so normal and dont even have the same kinds of goals and visions that so many people on this site have, i mean they became doctors right?! Do people exagerate how hard it is to become a doctor or is it really that difficult..AHH lol, ok this is really random.. but arg, its frustrating.. anyone else feel this way?</p>
<p>wutever.. screw it..theres always community college.. lol..</p>
<p>there are a whooooole bunch of overachievers here (<< i know, way to state the obvious)</p>
<p>but if you're anything like me, you'll try your best & lord knows where that'll take you. a lot of the people (note: not everyone) here sound like they sacrifice actually living life in order to go to test prep or take their 8th SAT II.</p>
<p>just because we can't get into a combined med program doesn't eliminate the med school possibility altogether. i'm nowhere near perfect, nor do i ever really want to be. but i'm pretty sure both yours and my "human interest" will help us succeed in the future when test scores don't matter anymore.</p>
<p>I don't think every person that applies to these programs posts their stats. I'm sure there are people who don't have near perfect stats and get in.</p>
<p>lol, thanks, honestly.. thats means a lot.."but i'm pretty sure both yours and my "human interest" will help us succeed in the future when test scores don't matter anymore." You're absoultely correct, its really really nice to have someone else say it. :)</p>
<p>Ever wonder though, maybe our best isnt good enough.. and that THAT really hurts.. because sometimes no matter how hard you try or how hard you work, maybe some people are just meant to be ordinary, no matter how hard you've tried you're whole life to be extraordinary..</p>
<p>Haha. I'm fine now, much more calmer, but i guess thats it, right.. Its life.. You have to accept what you have and find ways to be content with it.. and we will :)</p>
<p>No one is ordinary, because what's ordinary? I don't think you should worry so much about stats, I know I don't have near perfect stats, and I don't care. I don't believe stats dictate whether you become a good doctor or not. You might have some intangibles that these near perfects don't have, you never know.</p>
<p>stats dont dictate whether you become a GOOD doctor or not, but they are huge deciding factor in WHETHER you become a doctor or not.. right?</p>
<p>So if you don't have 1600 sat, 800 sat 2s, 36 act, 1000+ volunteer hours, blah blah blah your not gonna get into a combined program?</p>
<p>Faithful, that seems to be true to an extent. You need the high GPA, MCAT, etc. to get your foot in the door. However, after that, they will look at your research/volunteer (medically-related/helping others) experience, how well you do at the interview, etc. to determine whether they accept you.</p>
<p>Don't worry...I felt exactly that way when I applied to some of these programs. Rochester's, for instance, only takes 10 students - I remember reading it when I went to visit the school, and I was like "whatever, no way am I getting into this." But what do you know, I ended applying to it for kicks...getting an interview...and getting selected! And my stats are no where near perfect - in fact, I was pretty sure I had bombed the essays. Same goes for many of the other programs I applied to; I all felt they were long shots, but in the end, you just have to put your heart into it and go for it. </p>
<p>I felt the interview was a pretty big part of the selection process - once you make it to there, it almost becomes the final deciding factor. But don't get scared away because of all the really "perfect" resumes (and so on) out there. Go for it...everybody has something different to offer.</p>
<p>just like twinklestar146, I felt exactly the same way when I applied to Northwestern's HPME. I was incredibly intimidated by all these people who posted their perfect stats, and I thought it was hopeless as well. but as your screenname says, Faithful101: just have FAITH! I just kept working hard, doing everything I can to get in, and above all, staying true to myself. My interview wasn't perfect, I know my essays weren't that good, but I had the GREATEST desire to be in HPME and be a doctor, and I think that came through for me. Getting into the program was a dream come true, and for a long time it was just a dream. but my advice is don't let everybody on CC intimidate you, and just go for it!</p>
<p>Have faith.</p>
<p>:) Thank you so much</p>