Dear Reader I

Hey K! LOVE YOUR BLOG! Its EXACTLY what I've been googling for these past few months! I have a few questions and concerns, and would love some advice in return! Well, I've been accepted 2 UCB as a fall freshman as a MCB major, on the obvious PREMED path.. I'm definitely, definitely, without a doubt, interested in GOING to med school. Becoming a doctor is my goal and I won't survive without becoming a doctor. I graduated as salutatorian, at a pretty competitive private school, with 4 APS and a 2100 on my SAT. I LOVE Berkeley... its always been my dream school (after Brown- but didn't get accepted :( ). As much as I really want to go to Berkeley, I'm really frightened by premed, as a whole. Premed is just an undetermined path to medicine- I'm constantly worried over whether or not I'll get into med school (ANY MED SCHOOL) after four years of studying hardcore like a maniac. I'm going to take a huge risk, for something that is very out of reach. According to the stats found in UCB's Career Center, only 50/120 students actually get into med school and thats ABOVE THE NATIONAL PERCENTILE! Woowzer! Those statistics are just hard to get over! A safe school, like USC, only accepts 11/100 students that actually apply! You see, I have the chance of going to a 7-year med program (definite entry into medicine the moment I enroll) in an international country. The problem with such a school is that I HATE it! The environment, the people, the quality eduction- is just unbearable! But on the up side, its a straight away ticket to medicine (a huge bonus in my factor)... Now, my problem is this, should I go and risk my career by going to Berkeley (and possibly not get into med school) or go to a 7-year, decent, program that declares me a physician the moment I enter (because failing is not an option!)...? So, to you I ask, how is premed really? Is it possible to get As and maintain a 3.9 gpa at Berkeley, without losing your mind? does grade deflation actually exist? What choice would you make? DETAILS please and thank you! -Erica PS Sorry for the length of the message! and LOVE THE BLOG!

Dear Erica (I hope you don't mind your comment being published ;) 

Everyone is afraid of getting into med school at one time or another because, you're right, it's very difficult to get into (a decent med school anyway). However, you don't need a 3.9 GPA or all A's to get into a med school. And realistically, it's near impossibly to attain it, especially for a pre-med student. If you look at the stats for US med schools, a lot of people get into decent schools with 3.5 GPAs and MCAT scores of over 30. If you're looking to get into, let's say, UCSF or Harvard med, then perhaps higher scores are needed. But keep in mind that GPA and the MCAT aren't everything. Extracurrics and the interviews are also extremely important. That being said, you're not going to want to study like a maniac 24/7. You're going to want to experience what college is really like (I hope :), go to parties, participate in sports/clubs, and do other various activities, including volunteering, research, etc. The dilemma with the 7-year program is a tough call and one that I'm reluctant to answer since this is an extremely important decision that you will have to make and one that will affect your life forever. So my advice is this: don't be afraid to take risks and challenges- be it at berkeley or at the 7-year program. If you feel like you will be miserable for the next 7 years if you decide to go with the program and you will regret not going to berkeley, then perhaps going to that program is not the best idea. Being premed at Berkeley is not a walk in the park. You have to put in a lot of time and effort into it- much more than in high school- because everything is different in college- the way the tests are written, the way the lectures are given, the way you have to study- everything. But you get used to it after a while, and things become less frightening as time goes on. Being a premed doesn't mean the end of a social life. If you're smart enough to get into berkeley, then you're smart enough to manage your time wisely ; ) As for grade deflation, Berkeley is known for its grade deflation, which is to say that getting better grades here might be slightly more difficult than getting good grades at other schools. The curves are difficult since all the premeds take similar classes at once and Berkeley isn't afraid to give you failing grades (whereas some private schools withdraw you from a potentially failing class). Nevertheless, Berkeley has some pretty amazing professors who will blow your mind. The ideas you come across, the environment you are exposed to is quite unlike any other (but then again, i might be slightly bias ;) I chose Berkeley over other schools because it was the best fit for me. Sure, I oftentimes wondered what it would have been like to go to a different school, but in the end, I never regretted my choice of coming to Cal, and for that, I am truly thankful. If you decide to go with the program with the mindset that you will be miserable there, then there is a greater likelihood that you will be. So if you choose that school, then go with an open mind and a positive outlook (you'll thank me for it later ;). Yes, Berkeley will be challenging, but if you REALLY want to go to med school, then I'm sure you'll find a way to make that happen if you decide to come to Cal. Like I said before, don't be afraid- there are so many students who will go through the challenges with you :) My advice is to go where you will be happy and have no regrets later- afterall, you only go through college once :) If you come to Cal, there will be a lot of help waiting for you and you will have to work like you've never worked before. But with that comes the opportunity to see how far you can go, a chance to attend a med school where you will be happy at, even if it's not a great med school (and i'm sure you'll be able to get into A med school ;). And if you choose to go to through with the 7-year program, make sure to go with a positive attitude and an open mind. Wherever you decide to go, you'll have a great experience! Sorry for not being more of a help-I know it's going to be an extremely difficult decision so if you have any other questions or concerns that I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask!  I hope you have a great rest of the summer and good luck with making your decision! 

Wishing you the best,

K