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Medical Student #2
What is the worst part about medical school?
When people are so competitive to the point they no longer collaborate with
their peers because they fear that you might know just as much as they do
(thank god they are the minority). Also the preceptors that don't like to
teach and expect you to be experts at reading their minds. The so called
'COPS' group learning curriculum really needs to have expert tutors who also
teach if it is to be really effective. Another bad part about our medical
school is the ambiguity of the learning objectives.
What surprised you about medical school?
How little teaching we actually get.
What was the strongest part of your application?
My volunteer and extracurricular activities.
What was the weakest part of your application?
Probably my grades
Who did you get to write your letters of recommendation?
1. A pathologist that I had taken a class from and spent some time job shadowing.
2. A basic science researcher who I took a class from.
3. My coach
What advice would you give to people thinking about applying to
medical school?
Spend some time with a clinician. This is often a difficult thing to do but go to the hospital and wander around the doctor's offices and ask people if you
can job shadow them or if they have any research projects you can help them
with. While many will turn you away be persistent. Pathology is a good
specialty to start with simply because they don't have the same legality issues
that other specialties have (and it is a good experience even if pathology will
never be you're future career). This can prove to be a powerful bargaining
chip in you're interview when they say (and they often will): "but you're
parents aren't doctors, how do you even know what a doctor does?"
Do a mock interview with someone who had already been through the interview
process (a medical student, a resident, or a physician). Though it can be
difficult pretend you are answering the questions for real and don't be
embarrassed by what comes out. This will be you're chance for you and someone
else to see how it sounds, from there you can make improvements.