Korean-American medical student
pre-med
Hey Jae: how important is research?
Mar 6th
I’m currently a sophomore at Stanford. My question is about research experience. I noticed that you have a lot of research/publication experience. How important are they? It’s difficult to state how “important” research and publications are. Sure, they look good, and if you end up applying to research-oriented medical schools, then having research experience will…
Hey Jae: Should I give up on pre-med if my GPA is too low?
Dec 28th
I am a sophomore in college and after one and a half years of being a pre-med, my GPA so far is 3.1, which is very low, I know. I don’t know if I should give up pre-med, since my gpa is too low to get in anywhere. But I always liked to become a…
Hey Jae: Is it ok to take pre-med classes at a community college?
Oct 8th
I was wondering if it is OK to take a course sequence (orgo I and II) in the summer in a community college near my home, instead of taking them during regular school year in my college? Do you think that the admission committee will dislike that option? As long as you have your pre-med…
Hey Jae: what's the best mentality to have as a pre-med?
Sep 23rd
It’s pretty simple, actually, and I think what I’m about to share is applicable to any field, whether it’s medicine or engineering or art. Every morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Is what I’m going to do today going to make me happy?” If the answer’s “No” for more than a week, either…
Hey Jae: should I retake a pre-med course I did poorly in?
Aug 25th
I’m not sure if I should retake [insert name of class here]. I took it sophomore year and received a C. Let’s just say personal circumstances weren’t conducive to optimal performance. Would you advise me to re-take the course? My only qualm is that taking it again prevents me from taking other nice classes. General…
Hey Jae: What should I study in college if I want to become a doctor?
Jul 28th
What should I study in college if I want to become a doctor? Whatever you love. I have classmates who majored in everything under the sun, including: French Biochemistry Piano performance Material science engineering Math Biology Chemistry English Neuroscience Take courses in whatever you’re interested in. I would push more for classes that teach you…
10 things I wish I'd known before starting med school
Jul 8th
It’s still a bit weird for me to know that I’m now officially a second-year medical student, but here’s my best shot at some pearls of wisdom! You really have to love medicine. If I offered you $100 million to quit medicine forever, you should be able to say no without looking back. I realize…
Hey Jae: will a master's degree improve my chances?
May 22nd
If someone has a relatively low undergraduate GPA, is it better to go for a master’s degree in a science/public health specialty (and do really well) or take more science classes (to raise the GPA) prior to applying to medical school? This is an extremely tough question, and it’s taken me much longer than usual…
Hey Jae: how should I think about pre-med classes?
May 18th
Hey Jae! It’s scary going into sophomore year hoping that everything will work out for premed. I have absolutely no idea what my reaction will be like to the classes. Since I didn’t take chem this year, I’m basically planning to jump straight into all the premed reqs next year hoping that I will end…
Hey Jae: pre-med GPA concerns
May 18th
Hey Jae, I was talking to an academic advisor and she recommended that if GPA is a concern (which it may be lol), I could major in something other than biology, but fulfill the premed requirements. With med school in mind. Any thoughts? That advice: bull. Changing one’s major does not necessarily imply a boost…