Medical School Admissions = Worst Process Ever

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Delete if not allowed
Perhaps this is an inquiry with no value to it, and harbors an answer which is painfully obvious to those wiser than I. However, it can't hurt to at least pose the quandary, in the event there is much to learn.


( Recently I've heard mentions of Medical school students in countries such as Mexico and the UK which accept students out of high-school.....Collapse )

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How is one supposed to even start with answering questions like

i. what do you want to achieve in medicine?
ii. How do you see your career in ten years time?
iii. what impact do you hope to make in the field of medicine?
iv, what do you think the job of being a doctor entails, other than treating patients?
v, imagine you are on comitee able to recommend only one of two new surgical treatments to be made available through the NHS. The treatments are and artificial heart for babies born with heart defects or a permanent replacement hip for people with severe arthritis. Both treatments are permanent, i.e. never need repeating, and are of equal cost. On what grounds should you make your arguments?

I've read quite extensively on the subject of med school entry and yet,
I'm lost!

where can I start to find the answers to these questions?


Thank you
kaz

Cross Posted

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Life as a Doc n MSATS
Hey guys i was wondering if I could get an honest opinion on studying medicine as a degree. In terms of studying to becoming a general consultant. The hours in the degree, to house officer to consultant, the commitment, the enjoyment, the sorrows. Everything. I'm looking at psychiatry so anything relevant to that would be interesting also.

Also does anyone know of anywhere I can get sample MSAT questions 4? I'm thinking of applying from my psych course to a medicine course in the uk and i need to do an msat for that...

Current Mood: impressed

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Advice Needed
Hey, has anyone applied to Case Western Medical School or knows someone that went/currently going there? I'm applying there but I'm torn between the regular 4-year program and the 5-year College Program. Can anyone give me any advice on which is a better choice?

Current Mood: bouncy

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Working in the US, with non US qualifications
I am a UK citizen and my heart is in the UK, I want to study at med school there and work there, and end up there!

But I'd like to do a stint in the US and a few other countries first, I read somwhere that a British medical degree entitles one to work in any country, except the US, and that one has to do conversion exams or something, at a very hefty price in order to be able to work in the US.

What about getting an internship in the US?

Does anybody have any knowledge about this or further information they could direct me to?

Thanks in advance

Cross posted.

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Volunteer placements/Shadowing/Internship
Hello!

Has anybody heard of the organization "Cross Cultural Solutions" or have any tips for me on how I might find reviews of them via the internet?

I'm starting a pre-med year in the UK this September and really want to get as much work experience as possible to get my best shot at getting into med school, so have signed up to volunteer with Cross Cultural Solutions, I'll be helping out a medical practice in China.. and would really like to get some insider information! I'd really like to talk to some peeps that have participated in their programme!

Also.. I find getting any kind of volunteer work unless you either know someone in the game or pay out a lot of money rather difficult.. I'd appreciate any tips!

Thanks


X-posted to many communities

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New member post, old worries.
Hey all,

Just found out about this community while at work, and I felt compelled to post. What I'm looking for I suppose are people to relate to, since there aren't much that I know of who have gone exactly through what I'm going through, or are presently worrying about their future.

So what am I going through anyway? Here's a little bit about me.

I'm a 2004 UCLA graduate with a B.S. in Psychobiology, and am taking my "year off" to apply to medical school. Thing is, I submitted my AMCAS primary all the way back at the end of June/early July, was complete with most secondaries by October, and have only garnered one interview and a couple of pre-interview holds. Well, not to mention a whole lot of rejections as well, as most of you can relate to, especially in this community.

Granted, my interview wasn't as horrible as the other post here, but I'm hoping they'll do some "creative interpretation" with that performance.

Worries about low MCATs, not so spectacular GPA, and would've could've's all around with volunteering have filled my mind ever since I've just been waiting for a response, any response.

Since I've begun this long and arduous application process, I've fallen into a mild depression. I swing in and out of moods all of the time, and when I hear of other people's success (especially co-workers in the lab I work in) or when the subject comes up at the bad time, I can cry on the spot. Happiness always comes with a catch these days, just because my future isn't set like it seemed to be during my undergraduate years. My parents, relatives, and friends have been invaluable to me during this time of need, but I hate burdening them with so many emotional outbursts.

People tell me, "There's always next time," and that I can always go another route. Logical to the brain, yes. To the heart that has yearned for this profession for years and years? Illogical.

Do any of you wish you could do it all over?

Sometimes I wish this whole process were already over so I can start living life again, whether it be as a medical student (crosses fingers) or working toward another goal.

I'd love to be able to talk to any of you who have or are going through this same situation. LJ comments and AIM messages are very welcomed and wanted very much.

Thanks for reading this (long-winded) VENT! (Now off to bettering myself, I suppose)

Current Mood: full

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Hey guys,

Hehe, just thought I'd spam this community with a little more "I-can't-get-in-anywhere-I-have-no-interviews" angst....

I was just wondering: what are the chances of getting in somewhere if you've been waitlisted? I sent in additional letters of rec and an updated transcript along with a letter of intent (reading, basically, "I love you I love your school please please PLEASE let me in!")...

Also...I sent in my AACOMAS primary app sometime in early December, but I haven't received any secondaries from DO schools....does it usually take this long?

Thanks!

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reject stories
Hey all --

Well, I started by applying to University of Colorado because I lived there. Never got an interview, so I applied to DO schools. I was raised from a homeopathic viewpoint, so it wasn't a leap of logic for me, like it is for many misinformed pre-meds. I only applied to CU because it was local (and thus *cheap*).

So anyway, I only got one interview, in Iowa. My dad had a heart attack and was in the hospital still when I flew out for my interview. I left my driver's license at home, so when I got to Omaha (cheaper flight), I couldn't rent a car to drive the remaining 2 hours to Des Moines. During that homeless night in Omaha, waiting for the bus to take me to Des Moines at 6:00 in the morning, I was almost gang raped by a bunch of drunk college boys. I got to Des Moines in one piece, with about 1/2 hour of sleep in the last 36 hours. In the interview they asked, "what has been your greatest challenge in coming to the decision to attend medical school."

I said, "well getting here alive was quite a challenge."

So I got accepted, but my dad needed me so I deferred for a year. I almost lost my spot the following year because they thought I had asked for my deposit back (and thus passed on the opportunity), which I didn't.

I got here in August 2001, then the September attacks happened. That didn't directly affect me, but a month after that, my dad died. I failed Anatomy and Histology because I was gone for so long for the funeral and grieving. I tried to go into the "5 year" program, where you take first year over two years. They wouldn't let me. So I kept going. Then, although my class grades averaged to a B, I failed Step 1 of boards. Twice. I finally passed on the third try (June '04) and haven't looked back since.

I've been told on multiple rotations that I'm the best student my attendings have ever had. I wouldn't have met my husband if anything had happened any differently. I'm happier than I've ever been.

Don't let the standardized tests and people who don't know you tell you that you can't be a good student or a good doctor. Keep going keep trying. You'll get there eventually.

Current Mood: determined

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Happy Holidays!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY FELLOW MED REJECTS :)
May you all have a wonderful holiday season with family, friends, and med rejects across the world.

Love,
LeighBee

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Interview horror stories anyone?
Hey all! So my goal is to eventually have one of those happy buzzing communities where everyone knows each other and everyone is really comfortable....SO. I thought I'd ask a question: anybody have any fun (ie "traumatic/scary/hahaha it's-funny-now-but-I-really-wanted-to-DIE-at-the-time") interviews?

I've personally only had one interview, and it was a trainwreck :)

Would anyone like to share?

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Applying might have been the most horrific experience of my life to date. It was emotionally and physically draining. I was wait-listed and didn't know that I was going to school until a month before classes started, talk about a stressful summer. It did all work out in the end, but there was a sketchy period of time there. I hope I can offer some moral support to others.

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Welcome to Med School Rejects!!
Bombed your MCATs? Flubbed your interviews?? NO interviews??? Rejections piling higher and higher by the day???

We feel your pain.

Post here to vent, bitch, and moan about the application process!

Because you know, misery LOVES company :-D

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