Are You Doing Everything You Should Be as a Premed?

How do you know if you're on the right track as a premed? How do you know if you're ready to apply this year, or if you need to take more time to improve your application? Today, I'm sharing the questions I ask to help premeds grapple with these questions!
If you found this video helpful, be sure to subscribe, hit that notification bell, and check out all our Meded Media podcasts at premedpodcasts.com.
Links I mentioned in the video:
Mappd App: mappd.com
The Premed Years episode 230: premedyears.com/230
The Premed Years episode 370: premedyears.com/370
My video on activity descriptions: • What You're Doing WRON...
Here are some of the topics I cover in today's video:
• How to know who you are and if medicine is really for you.
• The questions you need to ask yourself about the MCAT.
• The purpose of GPA and MCAT screening in med school admissions.
• Which details to look at in your GPA and the trends in your grades.
• Why I disagree with advisors who tell students with bad grades that they can't do this.
• What do you need as far as extracurriculars? Shadowing, clinical, research, leadership, and volunteering.
• What counts as clinical experience? Do you need paid clinical hours, or is volunteer okay?
• Why recency and consistency matters in your extracurriculars.
• Why some students with a 3.9 GPA and 519 MCAT still may struggle getting into med school.
• Do you need research experience as a premed?
• How to make your medical school list.
• Should you apply MD, DO, or both?
• How will Mappd benefit you as a premed?
Check out mappd.com to get notified about this app that will help you on your premed journey!

[@anilnanda5012]

These are all very good traits that you mentioned. I interact with and teach premedical students. As a physician with 20 years experience practicing medicine, I want to just encourage all the premeds to not get discouraged and go for your dreams. Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Gray.

[@luigismedjourney9879]

I submitted my AMCAS Primary App yesterday and I just wanted to say thank you Dr. Gray! All your videos have been of great help in guiding me throughout my undergrad career and during my primary application! I look forward to using your videos to help with my secondaries too!

[@alexishenderson2230]

I'm so excited for Mappd!!!!!

[@vladimyrhilaire3283]

I'm so hyped for this app!

[@DR-fc1ey]

I feel like to give my self tye best chance, is to start a part time career as a medical assistant in the military, it will give me essentially shadowing experience, clinical experience and a whole lot more,

[@richardouellette4041]

I always hear about upward trend and downward trend, but what about basically a U shaped gpa trend? Starting strong because gen eds are not super complicated for many people, struggling when you get to mid level classes or when you transfer to a 4-year, and then learning how to study and improving later in college. I have 1 acceptance this year, but I'm curious if that held me back at all

[@adamkotrous5245]

How can I ask Dr. Gray a question?

[@TheHawksfan16]

Is there a channel like this for dental school? Or can the same strategies be applied?

[@XxKiDCuDiFTWxX]

I would say the same strategies can be applied 😀

[@wordpass05]

Can coaching a youth T-ball team count towards community service? And would that be a good thing to put on an application

[@carolinegrace2239]

Yes it’s a good thing to put on your app! You could prob put it as community service or leadership role.

[@NM-se5ql]

I'm interested in both CS and pre-med, does anyone have experience doing both ? What was applying to med school like while majoring in CS in undergrad, or vice versa?

[@grantgordon4378]

Bioinformatics is a very popular field now. Many people are taking that mix of CS and biology and ending up successful.

[@loganynguyen]

Yes

[@loganynguyen]

Doing that right now but I double majored in biochem. In any case you just need to make sure you take the prerequisite classes and check ahead for schools that need specific classes. It's doable. One of the great things about premed is there is no required major.

[@deepalijuneja2841]

I am doing both right now! The research opportunities are cooler!

[@SamSam-xq6qw]

I’m an EKG tech at a children’s hospital. Does that count as clinical experience. I’m not much involved with patients rather with the doctors and nurses.

[@ThienTruong-iy5ix]

Yes

[@medicalchalupa9928]

Do you think it’s wrong to only apply to DO schools? I vibe with the holistic approach as well as the manual therapy aspect of it because of my history with powerlifting, basketball and my original goal to go into physical therapy. My gpa has an upward trend and I haven’t been able to take the mcat because of covid but I’m signed up for August as of right now

[@kevins.4081]

If you feel that DO fits best with your values and can find a school that will make you happy, then in no way is applying only DO ‘wrong’ However, while DO and MD are for the most part 100% identical, be weary that there are some differences that could play a role in your decision. I highly recommend doing your research on the two. There are plenty of videos out there including one on this channel where Dr. Gray breaks it down nicely!

[@yourlocalnarc]

There are videos on this channel that discuss applying MD and DO and overall his answer is yes. If your goal is to be a doctor you shouldn’t limit your chances at that happening by being selective on how you get there. But watch more videos there are plenty out there about it and talk to your advisor if you have one available

[@richardouellette4041]

I would say it isn't necessarily wrong, but there are far fewer DO schools than MD and you should probably also apply to your state MD school statistically because of the in-state vs out-of-state bias. Also, while it shouldnt be the only factor, cost should be taken into account and you would get in-state tuition. Also worthy to note, while DO schools center their curriculum around the holistic approach, many MDs treat holistically as well. You can do this at either program. All that said, there are still 37 DO programs so if you applied to all, or most of these programs you would be above average for number of schools applied to. Do whatever you feel fits you best. You can absolutely be successful at getting into med school only applying DO programs. Truth be told, I wish I had applied to more of them

[@vivianleenet]

Does clinical experience have to be medically oriented? I'm a mental health clinician (I provide psychotherapy) - does this count? My friend is an occupational therapy assistant - does that count?

[@bw1760]

Vivian Lee. In my opinion it’s more about having a role where you interact with patients directly, so admissions can see that you have a passion to care for people. More medically oriented clinical experience might be more directly related to being a doctor, but it’s also very cookie cutter. So, less medically based experience might actually help you stand out, as long as you can relate it convincingly to why you want to be a doctor. So maybe mention that this clinic showed you that you have a passion for helping people, but these reasons xyz are why I want to be a doctor, and not a mental health expert.

[@StrengthofSalvation]

@@bw1760 I love this advice, and I also agree with what your saying, experiences are more based interacting with patients.

[@richardouellette4041]

I would agree with the previous answers. I had an experience I listed as clinical that was working on a crisis line as a phone counselor. It was never questioned as clinical, at least to me during interviews. I would say you should still get some shadowing hours to show some time around physicians, but I would definitely count this as clinical

[@attabaig6848]

How many hrs would you recommend for clinical/non clinical as well as shadowing experiences?

[@doctorkracko]

The number of hours isn't as important as how it impacted you. If you feel like an experience genuinely impacted your mindset and inspired you on your path to medical school AND you can talk about it confidently, then you should be good. But if you have like 1000 hours volunteering at a hospital and it didn't have a genuine impact on you then it's not even worth mentioning and it might even go against you. Of course, the longer you do something the more likely it will actually impact your path. Everyone is different, do what you love. Good luck!! (Lmao sorry if this felt like a meaningless ramble but I hope it helps!!)

[@user-zl4ch7ux2n]

Rabe's advice is really good. I would add that you should try to keep stories of impactful patient interactions from your clinical experiences recorded in a personal journal (avoid violating HIPAA though 😁). This will help you write your personal statements and secondaries so you can give specific stories that drive you to pursue medicine. Wish you best of luck!

[@chuksrichard3598]

What if I’ve all other extracurricular but no research, would that hurt me? Or must i have a research to apply?

[@MedicalSchoolHQ]

You do not need research to be accepted to med school -MW

[@Xxbeast30xX]

Man, I don't know why I'm even here. 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@RichObiQuan]

Wym?

[@Last2LP]

Every time I watch your videos I feel miserable and like a failure. I'll never get into med school.

[@BonesBelieber1424]

Why? He's realistic but very encouraging + gives the steps to get there no matter what your situation is

[@robfritz622]

well all you can do is give it a shot

[@kanwalraja466]

Never say that again,

[@RichObiQuan]

Don’t do that/ say that to yourself man.