Where do I even start about this one? At my best moments, medicine is inspiring, challenging, humbling… at my worst moments, I figure it’s better than being unemployed.
Comments:
med school
I just finished med school last June, and I went to a small private school in Chicago. Without knowing anything more specific about you, my advice would be to do as well as possible on your academics (at least a 3.5 GPA assuming you go to a reasonably well-known school and 30 on the MCAT would get you a decent number of interviews at US med schools). I had a 3.6 from a well known school and a 34 on the MCAT and I only got into one med school (other people get in with lower numbers but most of them also have more experience, ie, outside of college).
That said, there’s no reason to be afraid. There are many ways to get into med school or be a doctor if your grades aren’t good enough and if you’re willing to wait a year or more after college to improve your experience. Hope this helps; let me know if you have any other questions.
What are ways of impoving experience? I had a 3.8 at a decent school, but after some family problems, I had a bad semester that dropped my gpa to 3.3. Oh yeah, and one of my first C’s just happened to be in Chemistry I!!! But I’m in Chem II now. I got the highest score on the first exam and feel pretty comfortable with the material so far. (Honestly, can I get into med school with that crappy of a grade in baby chem??)
I don’t know if this counts as experience, but I’ve worked in a pharmacy for three years, and am familiar with drug names, classes, sig codes, some of the laws, etc. Also, when my schedule was less chaotic, I volunteered at a bilingual community health center taking vitals and interviewing patients.
Is there anything you wish you had known before med school?
Thank you for any help you can give, and sorry for asking so many questions!!!
