Trying to Move On

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hey, I havent been on this site since I was a little high schooler looking at my chances for undergrad. Thought I would revisit considering I have worries about my pre-med route at UCLA.</p>

<p>I'm a sophomore and am loving life, which seems to be quite contrary to fellow pre-med students here at UCLA. I've been active in a fraternity so that has been quite a distraction, but it has given me a great social life as well making the large campus of UCLA a smaller, friendlier place. I have a 3.4 gpa after 4 quarters, which is quite abismal. However, I managed an A in both the first chemistry course and renown weeder biology course Life Science 2. I know I can achieve a much higher GPA for future quarters if I actually put some effort in instead of just going to lecture and understanding the material. I just hope that the schoolwork I've completed won't hampen my chances at going to a top med school. I've reached the point where I don't need to be social 24/7 anymore and am ready to start the process towards being a doctor. </p>

<p>Next quarter I'm working in the OR at UCLA as well as being part of liver research in the anesthesia department. All in all...I'll be waking up at 7 am to do this for a total of 12-15 hours a week. I just have so much pressure on me to become a doctor from my relatives as well as myself. I've been in the OR before in hs and have grown up respecting my grandfather and greatgrandfather. I know I have what it takes. I have that self-sacrifice that med school and residency requires. These past 4 quarters have just made me quite disappointed in myself. Knowing that my grandfather is a main editor of the main anesthesia textbook and that my greatgrandfather was dean of ucsf med school inspires me to continue their legacy, yet it also daunting in the fact that I may never live up to them. Sorry for this ranting, but I just am disappointed in my performance because I really havent shown any of the passion that lies within me. Having this 3.4 just makes me feel as if I'm already in a hole I can't climb out of. Might as well try rolling the rock up the mountain (which in this case is Mount Everest).</p>

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<p>Thanks for your post. I'm also interested in premed and UC's. What is your honest opinion on UCLA vs. UCB?</p>

3

<p>First, sometimes it's good just to get things off your chest. I hope you felt better after writing that post, and thank you for doing so.</p>

<p>Second, while a 3.4 is certainly not as high as it could be, it sounds like you are capable of doing the work. Remember that not everyone in medical school has a 4.0 or even a 3.8, the national average GPA for matriculants is around a 3.6, so really, with several good semesters (or even just ones better than you've had thus far), your GPA will go up.</p>

<p>Third, and perhaps more importantly, remember that GPA is not the end all be all of med school admissions. There are many different components of your application, which I think you realize given your clinical experience and research you've lined up. Also, the fraternity likely helped you get more involved on campus (if you don't mind me asking, what org are you in? You can PM me if you don't want to broadcast), as well as probably made you happier, which you can't underestimate. I don't think you should call those guys a distraction. Another demand on your time maybe, but you do want to be there and a part of everything it sounds like.</p>

<p>Fourth, keep in mind you still have time to get involved on campus, find some leadership positions within organizations, continue volunteering, continue your research, and still have fun. And remember, the MCAT is an opportunity for you to show what you can do (if you think of it as an opportunity your attitude will be much better).</p>

<p>Fifth - please ignore the term "top" when discussing medical schools. There are only 125 in the US, all will grant you an MD.</p>

<p>Finally - I was you (without the doctors in the family, without the research or clinical experience) when I was a sophomore - very into the fraternity, decent - but not stellar - grades (~3.45), pre-med and more than slightly worried about my B in Organic and C+ in attached lab. But part of being pre-med is perseverance, and managing the difficulty. I'm sure you've seen plenty of people who started out pre-med as freshmen who are now Business or psychology majors, there's a reason they're not going to be doctors - something they lack. It's not easy and you're coming up to the hard part (admissions) but once you are in, it's smooth sailing towards that MD (not that med school is easy by any means, just that you're unlikely to ever fail out). So hang in there.</p>

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<p>right on bigredmed.</p>

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<p>I'm a UCB premed. Definitely competitive and hard.</p>

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<p>Thanks Bigredmed. Every word of yours is definitely appreciated. </p>

<p>Yes, I know I shouldn't give up all hope because of the gpa. I've just got to suck it up and put my drive and focus in to school. I'm not intimidated by school or grades. A few of my pre-med friends are so stressed about getting straight As and seem to be in a "non-living" state. They can't understand why I'm always smiling and not worrying about school 24/7. While I admit I don't underestimate happiness, I definitely know that if I continue my current lifestyle I will be throwing away my passion and dreams. </p>

<p>I'm a Sigma Nu, which is definitely a social fraternity but it also is one of the last fraternities that really forces one to become a leader, bring out personality, and beat adversity. My father was a Sigma Nu here as well and he feels that he learned more from Sigma Nu than at UCLA. Yet, he was an econ major haha and he said he majored in drinking. He showed his leadership skills later in life and now is a successful CEO so I take his advice seriously. I'm the alumni relations chair and am planning a huge golf tournament over the summer so I'm definitely busy with the fraternity. Living in the house and being with the guys is great, but it is just another challenge that I could have ignored in my pre-med route. One guy in our house did get basically the highest MCAT in the nation and goes to UCLA med school now so I know it can be done. However, it's funny that the one quarter we were on probation for I got a 3.9 haha. </p>

<p>I'm really excited about this research and think it will mend my ways. I remember when I did local anesthetic research through my last years of high school and how happy I was knowing that I could persevere and achieve results. </p>

<p>And yea...top med schools...I know it is an accomplishment in itself getting an MD. It's just hard knowing my grandpa went to Stanford and then UCLA Med School and had his residency at UCSF. It's just like come on...did you really have to put the bar up that high? Or even my grandfather. The award for clinical excellence at UCSF is named after him. It's just hard to feel happy about my achievements when they aren't the best. </p>

<p>The medicine side is my mother's side. The fun business side is my dads. I guess I just find myself being pulled in both directions, yet my inner voice tells me I have it in to succeed in medicine. It's sad that I only have one life.</p>

<p>But thanks again for the advice. </p>

<p>and ky9742, UCLA vs UCB. I had to go through this debate as half my family is UCB and half is UCLA. They are both great pre-med schools and quite competitive. Both are very science-oriented. I chose UCLA because the hostpital (best in the west) is literally across the street from my frat house while UCB doesn't have one. You can go to UCSF, but I didn't want to make the commute. I was going to do that from my house to UCSF over the summer, and quickly realized how nice it is to have resources in close proximity. However, the main reason I chose UCLA was because I grew up a bruin baby and love the weather, sports, and short distance to Malibu surfing breaks. Both have excellent research opportunities so just chose the school on the atmosphere you like better.</p>

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<p>Oh, the Nuer's...I can tell you sorts of stories about those guys at my alma mater (though I'm sure you could dish it right back about the Betas out there)...</p>

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<p>hmmmmmmm...Beta...haven't heard of them...</p>

<p>oh must be the house right across the street that we raid with water ballons (courtesy Sigma Nu super dooper water ballon launcher). Haven't been confronted with any retaliance yet. Is being spine-less a universal Beta trait? haha joking. I have a good friend in Beta from hs.</p>

9

<p>nice work in LS2. I'm definitely not looking forward to that class.</p>

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<p>haha thanks...yea don't worry about it. It's actually quite refreshing. I liked my professor though because his questions asked for more critical thinking and problem solving than basic memorization. He even begged us not to memorize. Professor Schein is his name. As long as you understand the actual workings of metabolic processes, organ sytems, and sensory systems, you will do fine.</p>

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<p>thanks for the heads up, ive heard some bad things about LS2. Im prolly gonna have to take it with Physics 6A :(</p>

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<p>I didn't like professor schein, he tested us on stuff he didn't cover in lecture nor was it in the book. I don't recommend him.</p>

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<p>Ok...if you want to just memorize the lecture notes and read the book...Schein isn't for you.</p>

<p>If you want to take a professor who will give you situations outside of the given material and truly test your problem solving skills, then take him. If you want to be a doctor, then you are going to be given unique problems everyday. Med school interviews will test your ability to add A and B to get C instead of just knowing A and B. </p>

<p>I don't want to sound like a jerk, but all I did for Schein was read the chapters carefully and review the lecture slides before each midterm as well as read the articles in-depth. I don't see it getting any easier than that. He reinforced the fact that understanding the basic processes will give you ability to answer harder questions (which turned out to be not included in lecture or the book).</p>