Brb listening to Solange, Chief Keef, Meghan, and Kirk Franklin all at once!!! First generation college student and failed the hell out of gen chem 1. Nothing but the blood of Jesus!!!
I'm three weeks into my first semester at an Ivy League school. It's been kind of overwhelming, both academically and socially, but I've made a good group of friends and a few other friends beyond that. One is another black girl, and it's like we're twins separated at birth- we're both learning to deal with natural hair, extreme pressure, the minefield that is college relationships, etc. together.
I enjoy spending time with them and feel an ease that I've never felt with anyone else besides my family (socializing has never been easy for me and I was betrayed in a major way by abusive "friends" just six months ago), but I'm still kind of dissatisfied with my social life. I want the "college experience", and they're not the kind of people who care about that. Usually if I party, I go out with one girl outside of that group. I'm at ease with her too, but the setting always makes me feel out of place. I'm always afraid that I'll get turned away from the white frat parties because I'm black or not considered attractive enough for them or whatever, and although that hasn't explicitly happened, it is getting harder to get into things as a group of random freshmen without connections. The clubs I'm joining (newspaper, debate, etc.) don't really party, I got rejected from the one "in" that I was hoping I'd have (the dance team), and basically every social opportunity I've been offered hasn't worked out for one reason or another. (Just got asked by a guy in one of my classes if I want to go party- I'm sick as hell and barely have a voice. I missed the first football game and the class pool party today too.)
I also missed Zeta Phi Beta's first event today too. The president of our campus chapter is best friends with the girl who hosted me during the accepted students day, so I've kept in touch with her. Apparently my new best friend met her today too, and she invited us both to another event that's going on next week. Now we're considering pledging (even though that won't happen until next year iirc). I know Zeta Phi Beta has the reputation of being the least "elitist" which is great for us because we both suck at meeting hierarchal standards (I can kinda fake it until I make it if I want to, but after middle and high school, I don't want to waste my time on anyone I can't be myself around. I don't think she's capable of not being herself, though.) Prior to starting college I swore off sororities because I wasn't going to jump through hoops to have some arbitrary s
... keep reading on reddit ➡I will not do an AMA nor will I name the med school and I will not reply to any questions here. I just want to clear this very common misconception.
My child referred me to this sub and I'd like to clear the air about "top 20" or "ivy league" colleges somehow give you an advantage specifically for getting into med school. It doesn't...AT ALL. You are just as likely to gain admission going to a "no name" state college provided you take things seriously.
What counts are grades, mcats, your volunteer/research/clinical experience/life experiences, etc, and I would say how well you "nail" the interview.
If you are serious about a career in medicine, then be serious about all the above.
The panel has countless times chosen people for admission who were excellent qualified candidates, who went to state schools over an ivy league/"top 20" because frankly, they brought more to the table than just attending an ivy league/"top 20".
Is there anything wrong with ivy leagues or top 20's? No. If you can afford to go and want that experience then do so. Just don't think it gives you any advantage in the least to getting into med school. If any counselor tells you it does, switch counselors. They're ignorant of how it really works.
So for those of you young adults out there who didn't go to or didn't get admitted to an ivy league/top 20/whatever and think it has somehow decreased or "ruined" your chances going into medicine, it doesn't. Some of you will put unnecessary pressure into getting into one of these schools and be willing to take on huge amounts of loan debt to do so for the sole reason that the "name" of the institution bears any weight on the decision making process. Don't. It doesn't.
PS: If you do attend an ivy league or top 20/prestigious school, please DON'T name drop it during your interview...EVER. We know where you came from and name dropping "While I was at xyz school, I learned....or Attending xyz really helped me to..." Zip it. Name dropping will absolutely not win you any points and may in fact come off wrong and hurt you. In one particular instance, it cost a candidate who came off smug during their interview their admission and we chose someone from a state school who was equally qualified instead.
Don't let the college you attended or trying to get into define you. Let what you do and your choices define you. Be the best that you can be and bring THAT to your interview.
EDIT: While I appreciate the sentiment and am
... keep reading on reddit ➡I’ve heard that Ivy Leagues are not good for Undergrad if you plan on going to the same one for Graduate. Is this true? I’m hoping to apply to Harvard for undergrad, but I would also like to to attend Harvard Law School for my Masters.
Are my stats and extracurriculars good enough to get into an Ivy? Advice is great!
I am a white female junior at a public high school, and I am the captan of our varsity cross country team and have ranked top 10 in the state for cross country. I have the school record for 300 meter hurdles, and have also composed a book of short piano solos for intermediate players, however none of them are particularly indicative of extreme talent or even competitive talent in composing, but it was still published and dispersed to local piano teachers in my area. I have a 1530 sat (760 math 770 reading/ writing portion) I have taken 9 Ap classes so far (including this year) and on the tests I have taken so far I have achieved a 5 on all of them. I am cofounder of a local tutoring business which is widely known in my town and raises awareness for women in STEM. I know several coding languages and have competed state wide for MUN, Deca, and i am the junior representative for HOSA in my school, a medical oriented club. I am aiming for top 5 in cross country for my state next year and also am an active volunteer and donator to a hospital in my city, which has granted me opportunities for inquiry and the accumulation of knowledge in my desired field. I also have won various writing awards in my school and am in NHS.
