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On confidence? On Aptitude?


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Hey everyone, long, long time reader, first time poster (thank you to Ian for making this forum legit, as I couldn't sign up for like 6 months hahaha).

 

First off: Disclaimer: I do not mean to be a troll in ANY way with this thread. Nor do I mean it to be a "what are my chances" thread (they aren't amazing).

 

Oh btw:

 

CGPA - 3.67

First Year - 3.72

Second year - 3.62 (at my school second year is where you learn the ropes IMO, my second semester was a 3.87 while first was a 3.5ish, B+, etc.)

MCAT - 26 (dogsh*t and I was surprised how bad it was getting this back).

 

ECs: First Responder Club, President of a club at school (first reference letter hopefully), doctor shadowing (my attempt at a peer letter), and research with a prof (probably only legit reference letter I'll ask for)

(Although I haven't asked for references yet, I'm still only 2 years in to my degree)

 

So long story short, I received my MCAT after stepping out a long day of watching surgery yesterday. Yesterday was different, yesterday I felt 100x more confidence about my situation. "Alright my first year wasn't bad, I should have tried harder, my second year I learned how to actually study and be a good student and that reflects my second semester of second year. And besides, I definitely had over a 30 on the MCAT."

 

Getting the MCAT back was slightly... well i almost threw my iPhone 4 in the garbage (**** it, this phone is old anyway). I pulled it back out realizing I'll need it until Bell gives me a proper retention plan (not important, another thread.....). That 26 was a huge slap to my face and ego nonetheless. 

 

So here is my question about confidence and aptitude. I realize they are both important, but I'm at that point where I felt like I was just overconfident that last month awaiting the result and week leading up to the MCAT itself. How important is confidence? Is it the be all, end all in this stupid, stupid, race for this stupid saturated job market? Or aptitude? How important is that? I looked all over this forum for a simple "Am I smart enough?" question to come up. And lets be serious, between asking yourselves am I big enough, tall enough, or wide enough (.... or dudes let be serious... big enough?) I am sure we all ask ourselves about being smart enough - it's just these all seem like less sensitive topics (... ok except being big enough) then aptitude itself. So big question: How Important is aptitude here? Do you need to be an absolute G-enius (or just a G) to get into this profession or does confidence, hard work and determination prevail even on an aptitude test like the MCAT? 

 

Honestly I still feel like a confident person (or at least when cracking stupid thread jokes on a forum of just as anxious people... lets be serious guys we totally are), but I honest to God feel dumber - after a day of hanging out with surgeons and anesthesiologist (that job seems awful... and this guy was a d*ck), to getting that result back. I actually don't feel smart enough, that my GPA is lackluster, along with my ECs and that my MCAT is lucky to be called lackluster although I'll label it that just to be categorial.

 

So what do you think guys, about this dichotomy? Aptitude vs. Confidence? Intelligence vs Hard work? I realize this is probably a subjective topic but I'd like to see some opinions. Me personally I feel like confidence and hard work can easily overcome a lack of aptitude (wow, I have an IQ of 125 vs. 130... my life is over #premedproblems), but for a person like me, and most of yourselves even, we can never admit that we need to work that bit harder. And personally, I'm just a lazy person: I want, desperately, to rely on just pure genius and not proper study habits, because even in my latter semester of second year, as well as the MCAT, my study strategy was the following: cover material and practice a tiny bit, perhaps teach a person or two some Organic, but other than that - "don't sweat it, being the genius you are, you'll ace this." And it worked... but only for a while. 

 

Thank you, 

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You can't worry about being not this or that. I know I'm smart enough, great marks for maybe 30% effort. Therein lies my problem: 30% effort. I'm lazy. I lack initiative sometimes. I’m fixing it.

 

 It's not about worrying about dichotomies and more about being introspective enough to understand your deficiencies and more importantly, do something about them. Knowing what you don’t know or aren’t good at is important, it prevents complacency.

 

In the end it’s what you don’t know you don’t know that kills you.

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 It's not about worrying about dichotomies and more about being introspective enough to understand your deficiencies and more importantly, do something about them. Knowing what you don’t know or aren’t good at is important, it prevents complacency.

 

+1, wise words.

 

... as well as the MCAT, my study strategy was the following: cover material and practice a tiny bit, perhaps teach a person or two some Organic, but other than that - "don't sweat it, being the genius you are, you'll ace this." And it worked... but only for a while. 

 

It seems like you're becoming aware of what your weakness is. For the MCAT persistent practice is key as you need to learn how to handle this exam in particular. I'm sure you can improve your score, and even with the change to the 2015 MCAT your journey is far from over :)

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+1, wise words.

 

 

It seems like you're becoming aware of what your weakness is. For the MCAT persistent practice is key as you need to learn how to handle this exam in particular. I'm sure you can improve your score, and even with the change to the 2015 MCAT your journey is far from over :)

 

This is especially important as far as practical advice.

 

My score rose steadily with every AAMC test under strict timed conditions. I did 0 content review between tests. 7 point jump and all I did was practice and review my mistakes. After a while it becomes less about learning the content and more about learning the test.

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you don't need to be genius-level intelligent to get into this profession, imo the majority just comes from hard work and dedication

intelligence often can view 'hard work' as trivial and meaningless because anyone can put in an excess of hours to memorize a line of text/question type and repeat on a test, in my experience, those who are intelligent look for problems to solve that require a unique thought process and not repetitive tasks that 'anyone' can do

those few friends I have who are very 'intelligent' could blow me out of the water if they decided to put in the hours I do, the things those people can do if they discovered work ethic are absolutely amazing...however, working hard to do what anyone else could do becomes too boring

I asked myself that hard work vs intelligence question many times before, and i've always just found that the best route was to put in the work regardless of whether you have some self perception of being intelligent or not.  I had a high gpa and a good MCAT score, but i KNOW im not genius level intelligent like others i know.  Anyone could have gotten those great test scores and quality references if they read the books and reviewed the lectures as many times as I did, literally anyone.  

simple algorithm, work hard, succeed (eventually)....unfortunately, a lot of people dont seem to pick that up until its too late.  Its definitely not too late for you, keep at it and whether you naturally have the aptitude or not shouldnt matter, study hard and develop that aptitude, all will be well.

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 It's not about worrying about dichotomies and more about being introspective enough to understand your deficiencies and more importantly, do something about them. Knowing what you don’t know or aren’t good at is important, it prevents complacency.

It seems like you're becoming aware of what your weakness is. For the MCAT persistent practice is key as you need to learn how to handle this exam in particular. I'm sure you can improve your score, and even with the change to the 2015 MCAT your journey is far from over :)

 

Thanks to both these responses. I agree with this all the way. I definitely know where some of my weaknesses are going to be in terms of GPA and class content, in a way I just avoid these classes: (subjective based learning, poor memorizing, uninteresting and monotonous content).

 

In terms of the MCAT though, my biggest worry now is just not knowing where to go from here? I mean, yes I rescheduled, and yes a LONG time ago, but I scheduled for January. January is 5 months away and I know at this moment, there will be less preparation and time put into doing this test again than there was last month and the two months preceding. I have GPA to worry about in the months leading up and including to December, that gives me two weeks where I can prepare for the second shot at this (and last... at least until the dreaded 2015). My biggest problem with this date, isn't even the three weeks of summer plus two weeks of Christmas i'll be preparing (bye bye golf, soccer, skiing, try to get laid and hello burnout in January or second semester), it's with not knowing how this exam is going to go, especially when I thought I did AMAZING first time around :(

 

An option is going hard 3 weeks now, break for Frosh Week (I am a volunteer, and would like to remain one) and hoping early September opens up. Thoughts?

 

My score rose steadily with every AAMC test under strict timed conditions. I did 0 content review between tests. 7 point jump and all I did was practice and review my mistakes. After a while it becomes less about learning the content and more about learning the test.

I guess it's this that brings me to the big question: how much time is going into improving upon this? I hate to say it, but I'm looking for a, fix the problem fast solution. My practice MCATs leading up went 26 TPR two weeks prior, followed by a 26 AAMC two days later, 30 AAMC a week before (and I was hoping I'd get at least this) and 27 on the Wednesday. I thought for sure I blew all these grades out of the water, including the 30. I ended up with the dreaded lower mark. I felt myself improve and felt that way afterward, and then suddenly dropped off with that feeling today. 

 

I asked myself that hard work vs intelligence question many times before, and i've always just found that the best route was to put in the work regardless of whether you have some self perception of being intelligent or not.  I had a high gpa and a good MCAT score, but i KNOW im not genius level intelligent like others i know.  Anyone could have gotten those great test scores and quality references if they read the books and reviewed the lectures as many times as I did, literally anyone.  

Congrats on getting into Mac! And thanks for the advice here! It's definitely something to look up to.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Quick Edit just to mention TPR: I started with a 24... so much for $2000 buying me two pts on an MCAT. My bio actually went down. Thought I should mention, especially if anyone reading this considers this stupid, stupid prep course. The Verbal was garbage, and I abandoned that strategy two weeks before the MCAT because I hated it that much. Regret not leaving it earlier.

 

Another quick edit: also realize leaving that strategy, about 2-3 weeks (there was a transition phase where I SORT OF used it - ie. where I did 7 passages instead of 6 but used all there other stupid strategies from 5 or 6 weeks back). Reading up on other strategies, I realized how sh*t these guys were. I can't stress how much I wish I left Princeton in the dust and the book in the garbage :(. Sidenote: WC was on too.... ooops.

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try to get laid 

:lol:  :cool:

 

In my experience, there seems to be two types of pre-med students: the ones who try extremely hard (and are intelligent) and the ones who are ridiculously smart but doesn't put in as much effort. 

 

Honestly, either method is good enough to get you into medical school. 

You just have to figure out which category you belong in. You will probably know if you're one of the ridiculously smart people who don't put in as much effort.

 

Either way though, the more effort you put in, the better your results will be, so that would obviously be the first step. 

 

Also, in regards to practice MCATs, I would say that most people do worse on the actual MCAT than the practice tests (why? idk).

I got 3 less on my MCAT than what I would usually get on the practice tests. 

 

Anyways, just keep going for it. You're only 2 years into your undergrad; don't stress! 

Good luck mate. 

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Do you need to be an absolute G-enius (or just a G) to get into this profession or does confidence, hard work and determination prevail even on an aptitude test like the MCAT? 

 

 

The gifted hit the target nobody else can hit. The genius hits the target nobody else can see. 

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Your GPA is lacklustre? Looks good to me. But then again, my school uses the 4.5 system. In not really sure about the 4.0 system.

http://www.ouac.on.ca/docs/omsas/c_omsas_b.pdf

 

Since you're Manitoba this probably won't help you all that much unless your keen on shooting for an Ontario medschool. But yeah I have an A- ishhhhh average. 

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I feel like it´s more of a contiuum between effort vs. intelligence, than a one category or another.

 

Personally, I know so many friends that have put so much more effort into school, etc. than I ever have. But then, they had a decent shot of getting in after third year, and I didn´t. Many of them got in after 4th year. I got one interview after my 5th year, and thank god that worked out. My effort has always been a lot more divided between work, clubs, fitness, etc.

 

Anyway, I spent 10 days studying for my MCAT, and that worked out for me. Many will preach you need to treat it like a full-time job, but everything is so subjective and personal.

 

EDIT: I also always find the whole locus of control angle interesting. With some individuals blaming external events: ¨That was a particularly hard MCAT.¨, ¨I just studied all the wrong things¨, ¨My program is harder than others´¨, etc. vs. those blaming themselves, ¨I´m just not smart enough¨.

 

Apparently, those with ¨greater intellectual abilities¨ or who tend to be more successful, are more likely to blame external events for their failures. I guess this protects their ego in some way when they actually fail.

 

Anyway, I just think it´s relevant here because the responses people will give to this question will also likely vary along this continuum. How do they view their own failures? How do they choose to justify them?

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I feel like it´s more of a contiuum between effort vs. intelligence, than a one category or another.

 

Personally, I know so many friends that have put so much more effort into school, etc. than I ever have. But then, they had a decent shot of getting in after third year, and I didn´t. Many of them got in after 4th year. I got one interview after my 5th year, and thank god that worked out. My effort has always been a lot more divided between work, clubs, fitness, etc.

 

Anyway, I spent 10 days studying for my MCAT, and that worked out for me. Many will preach you need to treat it like a full-time job, but everything is so subjective and personal.

 

EDIT: I also always find the whole locus of control angle interesting. With some individuals blaming external events: ¨That was a particularly hard MCAT.¨, ¨I just studied all the wrong things¨, ¨My program is harder than others´¨, etc. vs. those blaming themselves, ¨I´m just not smart enough¨.

 

Apparently, those with ¨greater intellectual abilities¨ or who tend to be more successful, are more likely to blame external events for their failures. I guess this protects their ego in some way when they actually fail.

 

Anyway, I just think it´s relevant here because the responses people will give to this question will also likely vary along this continuum. How do they view their own failures? How do they choose to justify them?

 

Haha I'm the same way as you in terms of effort. For me I have yet to see the really really smart people blame anything, they're usually either flawless in terms of grades or extremely self-critical. I'm sure there are many cocky geniuses out there but the ones I know are either super hardworking and pretty smart or super-intelligent, and effortlessly and flawlessly get the marks they want in anything that isn't super-subjective (and make up poor marks, as in A- to them, with their non-subjective classes). Either way they are much better candidates than I am :/ 

 

If anything I consider myself smart and lazy. I know I have to pull up the sleeves but I lack the time and motivation, I feel like that will be my downfall :l 

 

Seems like I have a bit over 3.8, which is pretty good I guess. Your average is a little less than 80 then? Around a 79? You could easily bring that up I think. Don't give up. Just get that MCAT higher.

I prefer to think it's closer to an 80 than 79, idk why hahaha. Either way I feel as though it's lacklustre. 

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