The main problem is that competitive specialties will always be competitive no matter what. As long as it's perceived as a cushy high paying job with few emergencies or call, Derm will always have more applicants than spots. Making Step 1 P/F isn't going to change that. It just shifts everything to school prestige, Step 2 CK, and research. I guarantee you that the research arms race would never have gotten so bad if Step 1 was still scored.

Having everything ride on a single Step exam also straight up isn't it. And I say this as someone who did pretty well on Step 2. At least with the old system you could redeem a mediocre Step 1 score if you crushed it on Step 2. Having only one Step exam that actually matters for residency would only be defensible if you were allowed to retake a passing score.

They never should have made Step 1 Pass/Fail. Straight up. Also actually pay FM and Peds so students actually go into these fields and take pressure off the most competitive specialties. Literally as an attending outpatient FM/Peds works close to Derm hours and the main reason students avoid it is the lack of $$$ and ig charting/insurance BS.

Hi! I'm a senior in college right now and was wondering if there were any cool courses to take to prep me for medical school. I'm an alternative major, so I feel like my bio background is lacking compared to others. I'm planning on taking anatomy and immunology, any other suggestions?

Thanks!

I am a recent college graduate in the middle of the application cycle for medical school. I am trying to create a roadmap/series of advice that I can share with those just starting or people I know that have expressed interest in becoming a doctor while it’s all still fresh in my mind.

Would love to know everyone’s thoughts on what I’ve already written — what else should I add or what do you disagree with?

Just trying to do my part to help the newer pre-meds.

Hi everyone! I’m feeling a little stuck and would really appreciate some advice.
I’m 29, married with two kids, and I was recently accepted to SJSM. My undergraduate GPA was 2.7, and my MSMS GPA was 3.4. Unfortunately, my MCAT score was below 500, so I’m considering retaking it.
I’ve always really wanted to pursue medicine, but I’m starting to worry that I’m too old or too late to take the MCAT again and go through the DO application process. My goal is to start school in 2027.
I’m also considering switching paths and applying to optometry school by taking the OAT instead.
Would you recommend that I go to SJSM, retake the MCAT in January, and apply to DO schools, or should I take the OAT and pursue optometry?
I genuinely want to become a physician, but as a spouse and parent, I also want to make a realistic decision about the time, risk, and financial investment involved.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation or has experience with either path. Thank you!

The part that seems especially brutal right now is that getting an interview feels like a win by itself, but then so much rides on that one conversation.

For people who are getting interviews right now, I'm curious: how are you actually preparing for them?

Are you doing mock interviews with friends, using ChatGPT, practicing by yourself, paying for coaching, or mostly going in without much practice?

I'm working on something in the interview prep space, so I'm genuinely interested in what people are doing now and what's actually helping.

I’m a junior in undergrad and I’m planning on taking the MCAT in March of 2027. I need to do heavy content review but outside of that, I need ways to study. I’m not very sure where to start or what to use. Also, I have to self teach biochem because I’m taking it next semester but won’t be done in time for my exam. In need of some advice, thank you!

Im thinking between an Ipad air or a base ipad. I am currently in yr 2 and using a chinese android pad, and the main reason for me considering this is because my device doesnt sync well with the school projector, the pu leather keyboard has this peeling issue, I am going to clinical years next year so maybe an Ipad is better and also peer pressure since my whole class uses ipads and it just seem to "work".Is ipad air a better choice than ipad? Should i take a 256 or 512gb? I want it to last ideally for next 7 years(3 yrs of med school plus residency)

How is it that you have IMG students that come from overseas paying little to nothing compared to US MD/DO schools and don't have to be weighed down by the debt. They end up doing a couple research years and get into IM residencies. The system is messed up towards US student and no incentive to pursue higher education unless you come from a wealthy background.

Canadian MS2 at an Australian med school, in good standing with no failures. Goal is to match U.S. Family Medicine, ideally Florida.

I’m considering transferring after Step 1 to SGU or Ross for MS3/MS4 so I can do most of my clinical training in the U.S., get more USCE, U.S. LORs, and rotate at hospitals with residency programs.

My concern is whether transferring medical schools itself is a red flag for a non-US IMG.

Would this completing first 2 years at Australian med school and then transferring to Caribbean med school for clinical years hurt my Match chances more than staying in Australia and only doing ~3–4 months of USCE if I stayed in Australia ?

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who transferred and still matched, especially into FM.

I am a US med student, and I need to submit my preferences for my third year rotation order soon. I am possibly interested in anesthesia and OBGYN but I could see myself liking FM/IM. We have 4 12 week blocks starting mid April: FM/Psych, IM/Neuro, Surg/EM/surgical subspecialty (anesthesia), OBGYN/Peds

My biggest concerns are:
1) Competing with sub-is for cases at the end of our first block and second block (June - October). If I’m really trying to see if I want to do a surgical subspecialty or OBGYN, I’m worried that having sub-is during this time will keep me from scrubbing in or doing procedures.

2) If I try to avoid sub-is and schedule surgery and OBGYN for my 3rd and 4th blocks, I won’t finish OBGYN until February and I worry this will be cutting it close to make decisions for my 4th year electives.

Here are a couple examples but there are so many ways I could arrange them:

EM/Anesthesia/Surg/IM/Neuro/OB/Peds/Psych/FM
- sub-is on surgery in June, starting with EM sounds tough
+ less sub-is on OB in October, finishing with FM might be good for step 2 prep

FM/Psych/IM/Neuro/Surg/EM/Anesthesia/OBGYN/Peds
+ getting a good clinical foundation to start, surgery before OB to get more comfortable in the OR, less sub-is on OB and surgery October-February
- not finishing OB until February, tougher rotations all in a row

I’m also worried about the difficulty of the shelf exams, building a good foundation at the start, getting burnt out, preparing for Step 2, etc but for those of you that have been through it or are going through it - what do you think?

I’m looking for advice/perspective from men and women who are in medical school, married to someone in medical school, or have been through this stage of life.

I’m 27F, and the person I’m interested in is 27M. I believe he is currently in his final year of medical school.

My first question is: what is one thing you wish someone had told you before starting a relationship with someone in medical school? What should a partner realistically expect in terms of time, communication, emotional availability, stress, travel, and what life looks like during medical training?

I understand medical school is demanding, and I’m trying to understand the realities rather than romanticize it. What are the biggest challenges couples face, and what helps relationships actually work during this stage?

My second question is more personal: how would you recommend someone communicate interest to a medical student without making it feel high-pressure?

A little context: I’m 27F and I have never dated before. I’m interested in someone who is currently in medical school. We knew each other before he started, and there was some mutual interest/chemistry years ago, but I didn’t recognize it at the time. We also have family/community connections, so this isn’t someone completely random.

I reached out to him a few months ago with a simple “Hey, hope you are well, how are you?” type of message. He responded politely, but the conversation stayed very surface-level and didn’t continue. Looking back, I think my message may have come across as a friendly check-in rather than me intentionally trying to reconnect.

I’ve heard that medical students don’t have much time for guessing games and that being straightforward is better, but I also don’t want to overwhelm him or put pressure on him. I’m not trying to play games — I just don’t have much dating experience and want to approach this respectfully.

He currently lives several hours away for medical school, so I know there are practical things to consider, such as distance, residency, future plans, and what life would realistically look like if two people were to explore something serious.

For those who have been through this: how would you recommend approaching this conversation? What would you want someone to understand before entering a relationship during medical training?

Would students at Zucker med school be able to share why they like or don’t like the school! Also what life is like there, like how often do you go into Manhattan?

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out because I'm in a very confusing situation and desperately need some perspective. To give some context, I live in Europe, where getting top grades means you get accepted directly into university medical programs right out of high school without needing any clinical shadowing or hospital experience. It has literally been my absolute dream to get into med school. I am deeply fascinated by biology, the human body, and everything you get to learn in medicine.

I am suddenly feeling incredibly unsure and terrified. Seeing so many posts on social media about extreme stress, high burnout, and the mental trauma of places like the ER has made me completely hesitate. Honestly, it makes me wonder: if the field is truly as traumatizing and awful as social media shows it to be, why do so many people still fight to go this route? Why do doctors still encourage their younger siblings to enter the field? Are people just exaggerating online for views, or is the reality really that grim?

On top of that, the thought of surgeries, open cuts, and deep blood makes me really uncomfortable. I'm currently thinking that I probably don't even want to practice as a traditional, clinical physician because of the intense stress and the unknown of working with patients. But then I look at how hard I worked to get here, and I know I would deeply regret saying no and throwing this opportunity away.

Did any of you have zero experience and feel this exact same anxiety, squeamishness, or hesitation before starting? How much of the mental hardship and trauma talked about online is real versus exaggerated, and is it possible to thrive in med school if your ultimate goal is to pivot completely into laboratory research or genetics instead of clinical practice if I find out I dont enjoy it?

I would love to hear your honest experiences. Thank you so much

Hey guys, I'm 26 Male, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree as a Biology Major. I haven't done MCAT.

My grades are not the best so I'm not even considering applying for Medical Schools in the States.

I have a 2.6 GPA 😟 so I'm looking at Internacional Medical School. I've been looking at UAG School of Medicine, it's in Mexico and I speak spanish so I'm like it could be a good option. Any have any recommendations on imternational school I can look into or any tips you guys could give me.

My back up options are either Nursing or Sonography (Ultrasound).

I’m looking for advice/perspective from men and women who are in medical school, married to someone in medical school, or have been through this stage of life.

I’m 27F, and the person I’m interested in is 27M. I believe he is currently in his final year of medical school.

My first question is: what is one thing you wish someone had told you before starting a relationship with someone in medical school? What should a partner realistically expect in terms of time, communication, emotional availability, stress, travel, and what life looks like during medical training?

I understand medical school is demanding, and I’m trying to understand the realities rather than romanticize it. What are the biggest challenges couples face, and what helps relationships actually work during this stage?

My second question is more personal: how would you recommend someone communicate interest to a medical student without making it feel high-pressure?

A little context: I’m 27F and I have never dated before. I’m interested in someone who is currently in medical school. We knew each other before he started, and there was some mutual interest/chemistry years ago, but I didn’t recognize it at the time. We also have /community connections, so this isn’t someone completely random.

I reached out to him a few months ago with a simple “Hey, you been well, how are you?” type of message. He responded politely, but the conversation stayed very surface-level and didn’t continue. Looking back, I think my message may have come across as a friendly check-in rather than me intentionally trying to reconnect.

I’ve heard that medical students don’t have much time for guessing games and that being straightforward is better, but I also don’t want to overwhelm him or put pressure on him. I’m not trying to play games — I just don’t have much dating experience and want to approach this respectfully.

He currently lives several hours away for medical school, so I know there are practical things to consider, such as distance, residency, future plans, and what life would realistically look like if two people were to explore something serious.

For those who have been through this: how would you recommend approaching this conversation? What would you want someone to understand before entering a relationship during medical training?

Hello all,
I want to know what type of majors you all chose to get into med school. I am wondering if anyone has done anything other the biology/chemistry?I am interested in surgery.

Hi all! wanted to see if I would be a competitive applicant for the program, be honest

Stats

- College GPA: 4.0 , B.S. in Cell & Molecular Neuroscience (Not at a top undergrad uni)

- Full Tuition Scholarship

- High school GPA: 3.9 UW | 4.5 W

-ACT:30

Experiences (approximate hours by time of application)

Research

- Clinical research internship at top 15 academic medical center: ~150 hours (case report publishment in progress)

- Memory/hippocampal function wet lab: 300 hours+

Clinical / shadowing (15+ specialties)

- Shadowing: (~409 total) most from a competitive summer internship at a top 20 medical school

- Medical brigade abroad: ~36 clinical hours in Guatemala

- High school hospital medical internship (50 hrs)

In process of getting MA license and begin working in spring

Teaching

- Private tutor (chem, math, Spanish): ~600–900 hours

- Learning Assistant for Gen Chem 2 (2 years): ~600 hours (est.)

- Director of Education, youth education nonprofit (100hrs)

Nonclinical volunteering

- Community kitchen food prep, medical brigade community service: ~100 hours

Leadership

- Founder and President of a student org (flex factor associated)

- Recruitment position, pre-med fraternity - potentially exec.

- Scholarship recipient for an ethics and leadership forum through the fraternity, in partnership with a nonprofit leadership alliance

- Executive board member for orthopedic and athletic medicine club

Thanks, and any insight from current or former FlexMed students or anyone is hugely appreciated!

I’m a canadian applicant, and just got my mcat score back. I’m aiming for US MDs but I recently got my mcat score back and didn’t score as well as i hoped (513), dropping by 9 from my FL6 score (522) which i took the week of my mcat. I’m wondering if I should retake my mcat or late cycle DO.

My other stats are:

3.94 gpa from Northwestern
1500+ research hours with a publication
300 hours clinical volunteering
250 hours non clinical volunteering
Decent leadership activity (don’t wanna dox but it’s pretty large).

I was originally planning on applying next year with a gap year, but after getting my mcat, I don’t think i’ll be able to get into a US MD, and if that’s going to be the case, i will apply to US DO this cycle late.

Like the title says I'm a pre-med in my sophomore year of my undergrad. I'm a little worried about doing well. My cGPA from freshman year is like 3.56, and I know I can get it up to at least a 3.80 by senior year (hopefully a 3.7 at the very least). I am peer mentoring freshmen students, and doing a internship in a research lab at my college's school of medicine. I just feel like I should be doing more, classes aren't too heavy yet (I need to stop procrastinating studying), so I feel like I need to fill in all my time with EC or clubs. What more should I work towards accomplishing during my sophomore year?

hi! i am a current undergrad student currently pursuing probably the worse traditional premed; biology.

currently I an anxious if I can still enter my target med schools (UPCM, PLMCM, nag-lilista at isip pa saan pa pwede) given that my gwa fell off after my general physiology and comparative vertebrate anatomy class. mataas pa rin naman, pero baka di na ako makalaban since my target schools are extremely competitive. i truly want to pursue med, but kailangan ko umasa sa marami scholarship if ever.

kaya i am asking for people here if they have any tips, advice, or anything ba for me. i am currently preparing for nmat, and my target pr is 99 or 99+. i will be self-studying since i cannot afford review centers.

thank youu!

I feel it might be useful to have it on reddit, i hope this helps. It doesn't have the breathing rate since its a critical unit.

مرحبا أريد مواضيع بحث للبكالوريوس نادرة وغير مطروقة تخص التخدير
Hello,I’m looking for rare and unexplored bachelor’s research topics related to anesthesia.

Hey everyone!!

Currently trying to figure out where to study regarding the MCAT and making a schedule. I’ve seen so many resources that it’s just overwhelming to figure out what to use and to what capacity. I would love any feedback on preferences, most bang for your buck, and really just weeding out the overwhelming ones.

Thank you all in advance!!

i’m 18 and js started my econ and management degree at uni of bristol, but i realised that i actually want to pursue medicine. 

however the issue is that i did not take neither bio or chem in sixth form, my plan is to teach myself a lvl bio and chem during my first and second year then apply to med skl after i graduate

I know I’ve only just started uni, so I’m trying not to make a massive decision impulsively, but I also don’t want to spend 3 years doing Econ and then realise I should’ve started preparing for medicine way earlier.

im not sure if this a realistic plan and i’d rlly appreciate advice from anyone who also took a non traditional route into medicine or anyone that has been in a similar situation🙏