The Short Coat (Audio): An Inside Look at Getting Into and Getting Through Medical School

Listener Brett leaves us a voicemail in the hopes he'll receive a Starbucks gift card, and he wins, so we play his message (apparently recorded from the scene of a horrific car accident). Brett, don't forget to send us an address to which we can send your reward, and we hope your injuries heal up nicely. Then Eric Wilson, Lisa Wehr, and Cory Christensen discuss: when doctors try to manage their patients' expectations of what they can accomplish after an illness or injury, are they limiting their patients? Should they encourage them to reach for a great result rather than just a reasonable one?

Listener Brett leaves us a voicemail in the hopes he'll receive a Starbucks gift card, and he wins, so we play his message (apparently recorded from the scene of a horrific car accident). Brett, don't forget to send us an address to which we can send your reward, and we hope your injuries heal up nicely. Then Eric Wilson, Lisa Wehr, and Cory Christensen discuss: when doctors try to manage their patients' expectations of what they can accomplish after an illness or injury, are they limiting their patients? Should they encourage them to reach for a great result rather than just a reasonable one?

This time, Mark Toral, John Pienta, Kaci McCleary and Nick Sparr discuss Medical Student Performance Evaluations and Dave's problem: if you're looking for it to be a recommendation, that's not going to happen; but the good news is that when you start your clinical rotations, you are already starting to write your own MSPE through the comments you get, so we discuss how to get good comments and how to learn from the formative ones. We debate Mt. Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine ongoing program that guarantees admission to college sophomores who have good grades and are humanities majors, no MCAT required. And Nick describes one of his medschool interviews in which he laid out his plans for an end-of-the-world harem.

This time, Mark Toral, John Pienta, Kaci McCleary and Nick Sparr discuss Medical Student Performance Evaluations and Dave's problem: if you're looking for it to be a recommendation, that's not going to happen; but the good news is that when you start your clinical rotations, you are already starting to write your own MSPE through the comments you get, so we discuss how to get good comments and how to learn from the formative ones. We debate Mt. Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine ongoing program that guarantees admission to college sophomores who have good grades and are humanities majors, no MCAT required. And Nick describes one of his medschool interviews in which he laid out his plans for an end-of-the-world harem.

A discussion on StudentDoctor.net made Dave wonder if Kaci McCleary, Alison Pletch and John Pienta are truly prepared for life as a doctor. Are their significant others prepared? What are the correct expectations in terms of money, time, love, raising children, and all the folderol that comes along with living the dream.

A discussion on StudentDoctor.net made Dave wonder if Kaci McCleary, Alison Pletch and John Pienta are truly prepared for life as a doctor. Are their significant others prepared? What are the correct expectations in terms of money, time, love, raising children, and all the folderol that comes along with living the dream.

The commitment required for medical school is well known. But how does that actually affect your life? What are the things that you find out only after you've begun? Will you stop untying your shoes to save time? Will your ethics be challenged during medical school? Will you need to invest in a crockpot? Will you doubt your choice to come to medical school? Yep. Find out how Lisa Wehr, Kaci McCleary, and Nick Sparr have dealt with these inevitable questions on this week's show.

The commitment required for medical school is well known. But how does that actually affect your life? What are the things that you find out only after you've begun? Will you stop untying your shoes to save time? Will your ethics be challenged during medical school? Will you need to invest in a crockpot? Will you doubt your choice to come to medical school? Yep. Find out how Lisa Wehr, Kaci McCleary, and Nick Sparr have dealt with these inevitable questions on this week's show.

You've got the grades under control, right? You've got your extracurriculars all planned, right? You're shadowing, researching, studying, panicking! Is it all going to be okay? Will I get into medical school?! WILL I?! Yes, you will. You know why? Because we're going to reveal the secrets of the admissions process. The process of getting in can be mysterious, and we'll shed some light on it. Aline Sandouk and Kaci McCleary grill our Assistant Director of Admissions Amy A'Hearn, and also a shadowy figure known only as Dr. B, a long-time member of our admissions committee at Iowa. Together we'll answer the question the pre-meds scream into the forums, "What do you people want from me?"

You've got the grades under control, right? You've got your extracurriculars all planned, right? You're shadowing, researching, studying, panicking! Is it all going to be okay? Will I get into medical school?! WILL I?! Yes, you will. You know why? Because we're going to reveal the secrets of the admissions process. The process of getting in can be mysterious, and we'll shed some light on it. Aline Sandouk and Kaci McCleary grill our Assistant Director of Admissions Amy A'Hearn, and also a shadowy figure known only as Dr. B, a long-time member of our admissions committee at Iowa. Together we'll answer the question the pre-meds scream into the forums, "What do you people want from me?"