Medical School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you apply to med school in say UK? As l understand it, kids go to med school there in lieu of college…then you would need to pass all the tests to become a resident here…l know a few folks that did UK MD and US residency but l am not sure how it works…
Depending of where you live in US, UK isn’t any worse than CA in terms of distance…

I'm curious about the UK also. Anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

Do you still invite the same number (as in pre-Covid) of kids for interviews? I suspect more kids are accepting interview invites since it's on zoom?? Which makes competition even worse, I think. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

What do you think of community college students who then transfer to a 4 year state school? Is a 4.0 from a community college plus high gpa (above 3.8) at a state school competitive for med school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother went to a top 20 liberal arts college. Ended up with about a 3.7.
Applied to medical schools and did not get in.
Got a master's degree in his field.
Re-took all the pre-med science classes at Northwestern (he was living in Chicago at the time) for a 4.0.
Applied to about 40 medical schools across the US, accepted to one (UIC).

OP, as you can see those are long - and costly - odds. Dismaying that her advisor has not been having a conversation with her about it.

Believe similar for law school. DH had a similar UG GPA. Crushed the LSAT six years after graduating and went to grad school where he netted a 4.0 GPA. Turned down at all T14 schools and got lucky with T15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

Are those who are successful digging themselves out of a hole as deep as a 3.2 GPA? Asking just to make sure that sinking 2-6 years into such a plan are realistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

Are those who are successful digging themselves out of a hole as deep as a 3.2 GPA? Asking just to make sure that sinking 2-6 years into such a plan are realistic.

Not the PP but no guarantees... Since she is a NU grad, she can consider other lucrative careers like health care consulting or health law. Medicine isn't worth it anymore anyway. Especially in this new work from home era, it stinks to have to get up at 5 AM and head to the hospital while everyone else rolls out of bed for work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

You've mentioned the rising number of applications as a result of the pandemic. I'm also reading about a surging demand for physicians.

What do you see happening to meet that need? Will medical schools expand? Will more of them be created?

It doesn't seem that becoming increasingly selective and weeding out strong candidates is good for anyone. My uncle is a renowned surgeon with a storied career of innovation over decades, and he says that he would most likely not have been admitted to medical school these days.

[Anonymous]

Follow up note from PP. Actually, I should have said that extreme selectivity isn't good for anyone except the perceived prestige of some medical schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

You've mentioned the rising number of applications as a result of the pandemic. I'm also reading about a surging demand for physicians.

What do you see happening to meet that need? Will medical schools expand? Will more of them be created?

It doesn't seem that becoming increasingly selective and weeding out strong candidates is good for anyone. My uncle is a renowned surgeon with a storied career of innovation over decades, and he says that he would most likely not have been admitted to medical school these days.

Can't expand if residency spots are limited

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Follow up note from PP. Actually, I should have said that extreme selectivity isn't good for anyone except the perceived prestige of some medical schools.

I guess I disagree. Med school admission is different than college admission games that colleges play. Every single med school in US is extremely competitive and, therefore, extremely selective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

Are those who are successful digging themselves out of a hole as deep as a 3.2 GPA? Asking just to make sure that sinking 2-6 years into such a plan are realistic.

Not the PP but no guarantees... Since she is a NU grad, she can consider other lucrative careers like health care consulting or health law. Medicine isn't worth it anymore anyway. Especially in this new work from home era, it stinks to have to get up at 5 AM and head to the hospital while everyone else rolls out of bed for work.

so change to law school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Follow up note from PP. Actually, I should have said that extreme selectivity isn't good for anyone except the perceived prestige of some medical schools.

I guess I disagree. Med school admission is different than college admission games that colleges play. Every single med school in US is extremely competitive and, therefore, extremely selective.

What I'm trying to say is that this country has a heightened need for medical professionals that the current system isn't supplying.

[Anonymous]

Prior poster on admissions committee -happy to answer some of these posed questions.

1. Interviewing the same amount of applicants despite increased applications.

2. I absolutely agree we have a physician deficit which is why the demand for PA’s, NP’s is so high. Medical schools should be increasing spots, but prior poster is correct-that cannot be done if residency spots are not increased to meet the need. I know so many great medical students who did not match at all to a residency and that is unconscionable to me. The competition for residency has definitely accelerated.

3. The poster who mentioned an applicant at community college who transferred to state school-yes, he/she should consider applying. Clearly they are tenacious and with a great MCAT, work experience, volunteerism, recommendations, would be considered by me for admission speaking personally.

Grateful to hear you all have so many interested applicants despite the current state of medicine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another physician here who sits on a Virginia medical school admissions committee. I agree with most of the comments here. The 3.2 GPA will make it very difficult for this applicant to gain admission given the competition and volume of applicants. Padding the GPA with "easier classes or majors" is also not a strategy as we are really looking at the grades of the pre-medical science requirements. Our program and I think the majority of others like to see non-traditional applicants who don't come right out of college (if they do, they must be very strong candidates). She would likely benefit from taking a year(s) off to improve her application with a post-bacc program, medical mission, or a scribing job that demonstrates a commitment and maturity to the field. I have seen a number of applicants who failed to gain admission on their first try, stepped back and did an EMT program for a year, re-applied, and were accepted on their second or even third try. She should also really try to blow the MCAT away. Good luck to her as it seems the Pandemic has only increased our applications.

Are those who are successful digging themselves out of a hole as deep as a 3.2 GPA? Asking just to make sure that sinking 2-6 years into such a plan are realistic.

Not the PP but no guarantees... Since she is a NU grad, she can consider other lucrative careers like health care consulting or health law. Medicine isn't worth it anymore anyway. Especially in this new work from home era, it stinks to have to get up at 5 AM and head to the hospital while everyone else rolls out of bed for work.

I am surprised at the increase in med school applications. For one, the debt is crushing. Secondly, the lifestlye is harder when comapred to the WFH trends of other industries. What is the positive that students are seeing and why do you think that is?