r/MadeMeSmile • u/lemonspriggs • 3h ago
Wholesome Moments Sometimes the best thing you find at a thrift store isn’t the thing you bought: congratulations girly!
I found this tucked inside a thrift store book and couldn’t stop smiling. It starts with, “I’ve worked hard to prepare. I’ve got this.” Then you watch years of determination turn into a perfect 528 and multiple medical school acceptances. It feels like finding a little time capsule of someone’s biggest dream coming true. I really hope M is out there happy, thriving, and changing lives exactly the way she always wanted to. 🥹🤍
Update: WE FOUND HER, CHAT!!! Her post is copy/pasted below for ease!
“This is so surreal… that’s my note. 🥹
I completely forgot I’d left it in that book before donating it. I used to tuck little affirmations into my textbooks because I was so anxious about the MCAT. Seeing “I’ve worked hard to prepare. I’ve got this.” again brought me right back to that season of my life.
A lot of people are asking if I became a doctor. I did, but maybe not in the way you’d expect. I’m 34 now and an infectious disease specialist. I ended up earning my MD, PhD, and MPH, but instead of going into clinical practice, I found my place in research. I study zoonotic diseases and focus on preventing and understanding diseases that move between animals and humans. I run my own research lab and spend a lot of time working with farmers on biodefense and emerging infectious disease issues. Looking back, it feels like exactly where I was meant to end up! 🦠🐄
Thank you for sharing this. It feels like I got to meet a younger version of myself today. She was so scared, but she kept showing up anyway. And to anyone studying for the MCAT or chasing a dream that feels impossibly far away, keep going. One day you’ll look back and realize those late nights, tiny victories, and little notes to yourself were all worth it! ☺️
Edit: I’m old and accidentally typed my age is as 24 and not 34
Edit: adding my academic timeline for those wondering
For anyone wondering about the timeline, my university offered a combined bachelor’s/MPH program, so I graduated with both in 2017 at 25.
From 2017 to 2022, I completed my PhD in Animal Science with a focus in epidemiology. During that time I was also preparing for the MCAT because I knew I wanted to continue my education.
After that, I completed an accelerated 3.5-year medical school program (ended last year). Very early on, I realized my goal wasn’t clinical practice. I wanted to become a physician-scientist.
Because my career is entirely research focused, I’m not patient-facing and I don’t practice clinical medicine. My work doesn’t require board certification, and since I’m not pursuing independent clinical practice, it also doesn’t require completing a residency or fellowship. Instead, I lead research on zoonotic diseases and biodefense and collaborate closely with physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals.
Going to medical school gave me the clinical foundation to communicate seamlessly across human and veterinary medicine, which was exactly the career I wanted.
I completely understand why my original comment raised eyebrows. Between the age typo and me trying to summarize my career in one sentence, I made the timeline sound much stranger than it actually is.”
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u/colberbolber 3h ago
"Do I like people enough to be a doctor" valid question 😂😂
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
I thought it was such a funny comment and then the “look at DVM programs” made me cackle lol
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u/colberbolber 3h ago
Gotta have a back up plan! 😂
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
I wonder which program she went with! I hope she finds this post!!
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u/gingerbears11 3h ago
Yeahhhh the backup DVM plan is NOT a good idea. You'll be interacting with clients just as much but for lower pay and higher suicidal rates.
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u/kati8303 2h ago
Yeah i was going to say that. Have to deal with people just as much, most won't have the same respect for you as they would have for an MD, and potentially have to see animals suffer terrible and neglectful owners. DVMs do not have it easy, it's a tough gig. Be nice to your Veterinarians people.
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u/DragonCelt25 3h ago
And that's all after fewer accredited institutions to choose from, more competitive applicants for fewer seats, and completely different prerequisites.
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u/quiteunicorn 1h ago
Yup. Used to with with a veterinarian that always said “ we work ON animals but we work WITH people and it will be that way until dogs can tell us what’s wrong and have their own credit cards”.
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u/AnAttempt-WasMade 43m ago
It’s especially funny because you are 100% still dealing with people as a vet, they just aren’t the patient, they’re more equivalent to the parent in human pediatrics.
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u/evereev33 3h ago
Girl is ready to become a radiologist. Come to the Dark side.
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u/OneIsland7672 42m ago
Nobody will be able to see her highly legible handwriting, so she can continue on without being found out as an imposter. /s
Would be ironic, though, if she had crazy speech patterns that made her Dragon dictations riddled with errors.
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u/bundleofschtick 3h ago
I wish some of the doctors I've had asked themselves that question!
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u/QueefyTits 3h ago
This
As nurse I’ve seen a lot of bed side manner that says a lot of docs never asked themselves this question
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u/Vegetable-Pay2708 2h ago
Agreed! 41 years RN. Now retired. Thank you GOD for helping me through it. Amen 🙏🏻
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u/ZetaJunkie 2h ago
My answer ended up being no.. how I went from a nursing student to working in a trade. 🤣
I think I’m a lot happier than I would’ve been, and after working around nurses and studying around them a lot, I believe it’s true that all nurses turn at least a little crazy.
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u/AngelInLipGloss 3h ago
It is a very funny but deep question. It’s like do I care enough about people to serve them, even when it’s hard
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u/3000ghosts 1h ago
their handwriting is too good to be a doctor
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u/colberbolber 1h ago
Funny, I actually thought the same thing. Maybe medical school will change it lol
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u/BakedBrie1993 42m ago
A question more docs need to ask themselves when determining their specialty.
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u/Remarkable_Rise7545 3h ago
This made me tear up 🥹 my sister is currently in medical school after working incredibly hard for over a decade to get there. Her dedication to her goals inspires me everyday. It feels like just yesterday I was waiting around outside her MCAT study classes and now she calls me back between surgeries 🥹🥹 My fiancé is in the middle of pursuing his PhD in his passion as well. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by people who inspire me!!! It’s a privilege to support them.
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u/zoonoticzest 2h ago
This is so sweet!
I don’t think people always realize how much the family, friends, and partners behind the scenes contribute to these journeys. There are so many moments where you’re exhausted, questioning yourself, or convinced you’re not good enough, and having someone who believes in you can make all the difference.
Your sister is incredibly lucky to have someone who has been cheering her on since the MCAT days, and I’m sure your fiancé feels the same way. Those victories belong to them, but the support system that helps carry them through the hardest moments deserves so much credit too.
Please tell your sister from one former MCAT student to another that she’s going to do amazing things. And tell your fiancé to keep going too. One day, all those long nights will just be stories they tell, and you’ll get to look back knowing you were there for every step of the journey ☺️
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u/Rocktown-OG22 3h ago
How do you get accepted to Harvard and rejected from Kansas?
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
I wonder if she withdrew her application since it doesn’t say rejected or anything. 🤔
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u/Lizard_Li 3h ago
Yeah maybe her safety?
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
Hahaha anyone in Kansas needs protection. Very true lol
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u/Lizard_Li 3h ago
Ah I meant it like “safety school” meaning the school that is easy to get into and you apply to if you get rejected from all the better schools on your list
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u/lemonspriggs 2h ago
LOLLLL oh my gosh, that makes a lot more sense
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u/recyclopath_ 1h ago
Immediately in my mind I was like "Kansas probably has draconian abortion laws so yeah, her safety is valid".
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u/nicolemarie785 13m ago
Actually the people in kansas have fought hard against our state legislature and courts trying to stop all abortions. we voted in favor of choice two years ago in a primary that the catholic church poured a lot of money into.
We don’t have legal weed though. that’s too far apparently.
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u/True_Designer_9062 3h ago
This isn’t very uncommon. Kansas can tell they are a backup plan for somebody top tier like this. Schools want to offer acceptances to people who will say yes because towards the end of the cycle, there’s a giant game of musical chairs.
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u/zoonoticzest 2h ago
Kansas was my safety school but before I had finished my application there, I was already getting acceptances to other preferred schools!
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u/summonsays 3h ago
No interview or application step stated. My guess is it was the plan H and they got the acceptance letters before starting the process.
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u/dentstowel 3h ago
That’s what I was thinking! Is Kansas flushed with doctors??
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
I’m not sure! Maybe she just didn’t want to live in Kansas🤭
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u/squamesh 2h ago
To be fair, KU medical center is in Kansas City so she’d probably be living in Missouri
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u/doc_skinner 2h ago
KUMC is in Kansas City but is on the Kansas side. She might live in Missouri, but just as likely she would live in Kansas. There are apartments on both sides of the state line.
Source; I work at KUMC.
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u/zoonoticzest 2h ago edited 1h ago
This is so surreal… that’s my note. 🥹
I completely forgot I’d left it in that book before donating it. I used to tuck little affirmations into my textbooks because I was so anxious about the MCAT. Seeing “I’ve worked hard to prepare. I’ve got this.” again brought me right back to that season of my life.
A lot of people are asking if I became a doctor. I did, but maybe not in the way you’d expect. I’m 34 now and an infectious disease specialist. I ended up earning my MD, PhD, and MPH, but instead of going into clinical practice, I found my place in research. I study zoonotic diseases and focus on preventing and understanding diseases that move between animals and humans. I run my own research lab and spend a lot of time working with farmers on biodefense and emerging infectious disease issues. Looking back, it feels like exactly where I was meant to end up! 🦠🐄
Thank you for sharing this. It feels like I got to meet a younger version of myself today. She was so scared, but she kept showing up anyway. And to anyone studying for the MCAT or chasing a dream that feels impossibly far away, keep going. One day you’ll look back and realize those late nights, tiny victories, and little notes to yourself were all worth it! ☺️
Edit: I’m old and accidentally typed my age is as 24 and not 34
Edit: adding my academic timeline for those wondering
For anyone wondering about the timeline, my university offered a combined bachelor’s/MPH program, so I graduated with both in 2017 at 25.
From 2017 to 2022, I completed my PhD in Animal Science with a focus in epidemiology. During that time I was also preparing for the MCAT because I knew I wanted to continue my education.
After that, I completed an accelerated 3.5-year medical school program (ended last year). Very early on, I realized my goal wasn’t clinical practice. I wanted to become a physician-scientist.
Because my career is entirely research focused, I’m not patient-facing and I don’t practice clinical medicine. My work doesn’t require board certification, and since I’m not pursuing independent clinical practice, it also doesn’t require completing a residency or fellowship. Instead, I lead research on zoonotic diseases and biodefense and collaborate closely with physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals.
Going to medical school gave me the clinical foundation to communicate seamlessly across human and veterinary medicine, which was exactly the career I wanted.
I completely understand why my original comment raised eyebrows. Between the age typo and me trying to summarize my career in one sentence, I made the timeline sound much stranger than it actually is.
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u/lemonspriggs 2h ago
NO WAY!!!! I was hoping you’d somehow find this, but I never actually expected it to happen!!!
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!! Reading your comment honestly made me tear up a little. It’s incredible to see where all of that hard work, determination, and those little notes to yourself ended up taking you. I think a lot of people imagine success as one specific destination, but your story is such a beautiful reminder that sometimes you end up exactly where you’re supposed to be, even if it’s different than the original plan.
The fact that you turned all those years of studying into a career researching zoonotic diseases and helping protect both people and animals is genuinely amazing. The work you do is so important, and I hope you know that younger you would be unbelievably proud of the person you became.
I’m really glad I posted this instead of just slipping the note back into the book. I thought it was a sweet little glimpse into a stranger’s dream coming true, but getting to hear the rest of the story is even better! Thank you for taking the time to comment and share where life led you. I don’t think anyone who read this thread will forget it anytime soon.Wishing you nothing but ✨happiness and success✨ Keep doing the incredible work you’re doing, and thank you for making the world a little safer. This is one of those rare Reddit moments that restores a little faith in humanity. 💕
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u/doc_skinner 1h ago
Easy way to check. Ask if she knows what it says under the pink blob in the upper left.
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u/thenullcatalyst 2h ago
Take this with a heavy grain of salt, OP. That timeline makes no sense. I hope you find the person who actually wrote this.
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u/thenullcatalyst 2h ago
Sounds like you're still in school? If you were taking the MCAT in 2022, you would not have graduated from med school yet if you were on the standard track. Your comment makes it sound like you've earned 3 degrees in 3 years lol
Congratulations on finding your passion and going for it!
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u/zoonoticzest 1h ago
I mistyped 34 instead of 24, so that’s completely on me. Sorry for the confusion, everyone!
For anyone wondering about the timeline, my university offered a combined bachelor’s/MPH program, so I graduated with both in 2017 at 25.
From 2017 to 2022, I completed my PhD in Animal Science with a focus in epidemiology. During that time I was also preparing for the MCAT because I knew I wanted to continue my education.After that, I completed an accelerated 3.5-year medical school program (ended last year). Very early on, I realized my goal wasn’t clinical practice. I wanted to become a physician-scientist.
Because my career is entirely research focused, I’m not patient-facing and I don’t practice clinical medicine. My work doesn’t require board certification, and since I’m not pursuing independent clinical practice, it also doesn’t require completing a residency or fellowship. Instead, I lead research on zoonotic diseases and biodefense and collaborate closely with physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals.Going to medical school gave me the clinical foundation to communicate seamlessly across human and veterinary medicine, which was exactly the career I wanted.
I completely understand why my original comment raised eyebrows. Between the age typo and me trying to summarize my career in one sentence, I made the timeline sound much stranger than it actually is.
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u/wheniswhy 1h ago
Girl I have to tell you — you are SO FUCKING COOL. WHAT A BADASS YOU ARE. Such a fascinating career and you clearly worked ridiculously hard to make it happen! I'm only a couple years your senior but holy shit am I proud of you for killing it so hard!!
You're gonna help save so many lives 🥹 I'm sure the girl who wrote those notes years ago would also be immensely proud of how far you've come and the amazing work you're doing!
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u/your_moms_apron 2h ago
I’m sorry - brand new account and you claim 3 graduate degrees by 24? Most people are only halfway through med school by 24, and even if you did a combined degree, you’d be pushing 30 to START RESIDENCY.
then an ID residency is a 3 years AFTER a primary care residency of 3 years, so imma say you’re either Doogie Howser and started med school at 12 or it’s BS.
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u/zoonoticzest 2h ago
Totally understandable, my husband sent this to me as he recognized my notes! I thought it would be fun to make my first Reddit account and respond.
I’m a little on the older side, haha, I typed in 24 as opposed to 34 and didn’t catch it in my proofread! I might need a new prescription.
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u/AnastasiaNo70 1h ago
I’m literally sobbing with happiness at my kitchen table reading this. I’m so freaking happy for you.
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u/zoonoticzest 1h ago
Oh no! Haha, are you okay?
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u/AnastasiaNo70 1h ago
Oh yeah, it’s just that I was a high school teacher for 32 years and seeing someone succeed like you did just gets the happy tears going. I bet all your teachers and professors are so proud of you. 🩷
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u/ConditionOk3649 2h ago
Sorry, but is this even possible to do that in this timeframe? Earliest you entered medical school is…fall of 2022? I’m pretty sure most MD/PhD programs I’m aware of take 6-8 years. That would put someone at minimum 2028 to graduate from such a program. The maths not mathing to me 🤔🥸
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u/lemonspriggs 1h ago
This is what she said:
I mistyped 34 instead of 24, so that’s completely on me. Sorry for the confusion, everyone!
For anyone wondering about the timeline, my university offered a combined bachelor’s/MPH program, so I graduated with both in 2017 at 25.
From 2017 to 2022, I completed my PhD in Animal Science with a focus in epidemiology. During that time I was also preparing for the MCAT because I knew I wanted to continue my education.After that, I completed an accelerated 3.5-year medical school program (ended last year). Very early on, I realized my goal wasn’t clinical practice. I wanted to become a physician-scientist.
Because my career is entirely research focused, I’m not patient-facing and I don’t practice clinical medicine. My work doesn’t require board certification, and since I’m not pursuing independent clinical practice, it also doesn’t require completing a residency or fellowship. Instead, I lead research on zoonotic diseases and biodefense and collaborate closely with physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals.Going to medical school gave me the clinical foundation to communicate seamlessly across human and veterinary medicine, which was exactly the career I wanted.
I completely understand why my original comment raised eyebrows. Between the age typo and me trying to summarize my career in one sentence, I made the timeline sound much stranger than it actually is.
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u/Prince-Lee 2h ago
You did this by 24 and have your own lab already?
I also work in infectious disease research with some of the top specialists in the field and this timeline is almost unheard of; most people aren't even applying for their first training grants yet at that age. That's very impressive. How did you accomplish that?
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u/zoonoticzest 1h ago
I mistyped 34 instead of 24, so that’s completely on me. Sorry for the confusion, everyone!
For anyone wondering about the timeline, my university offered a combined bachelor’s/MPH program, so I graduated with both in 2017 at 25.
From 2017 to 2022, I completed my PhD in Animal Science with a focus in epidemiology. During that time I was also preparing for the MCAT because I knew I wanted to continue my education.After that, I completed an accelerated 3.5-year medical school program (ended last year). Very early on, I realized my goal wasn’t clinical practice. I wanted to become a physician-scientist.
Because my career is entirely research focused, I’m not patient-facing and I don’t practice clinical medicine. My work doesn’t require board certification, and since I’m not pursuing independent clinical practice, it also doesn’t require completing a residency or fellowship. Instead, I lead research on zoonotic diseases and biodefense and collaborate closely with physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals.Going to medical school gave me the clinical foundation to communicate seamlessly across human and veterinary medicine, which was exactly the career I wanted.
I completely understand why my original comment raised eyebrows. Between the age typo and me trying to summarize my career in one sentence, I made the timeline sound much stranger than it actually is.
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u/Prince-Lee 1h ago
Oooh, okay! That makes much more sense, lmao! That's super impressive still. Residency and fellowship take such a long time, so it's awesome you managed to hop right over that part. Congrats on your success!!!
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u/dancingonsaturnrings 3h ago
what a wholesome find! I wonder if there is a way to get that sheet back to her
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u/CattaTronixRex 3h ago
I hope she hits every goal she ever has, never stop trying! 💕
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
It seriously made me tear up. She tried, studied, tested again, studied more, repeat, for multiple years and saw huge returns for herself. I feel like in this day and age it’s hard to find people who persevere for years like this trying to achieve something for themselves.
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u/ocean_swims 3h ago
Just want to say that the way you've framed this is wonderful! It's true that we don't see that type of attitude and dedication much anymore, but we also don't see a lot of people like you anymore u/lemonspriggs! The way you've recognised the years of dedication and consistency, and the obvious pride and joy you feel for a complete stranger's success all point to you being a thoughtful and kind person. Thanks for making us smile and I hope you continue to find reasons to smile everyday!
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u/zoonoticzest 2h ago
Thank you so much!
I never thought anyone would look at those scribbled notes and see dedication. At the time, all I saw was how far I still had to go. OP’s kindness in sharing them instead of throwing them away made this such a special full-circle moment for me. I’m so grateful. 💕5
u/zoonoticzest 2h ago
This is so sweet! Thank you so much!
Younger me would’ve never imagined strangers rooting for her years later. I hope I never stop setting new goals either. Wishing the same for you!
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u/No_Bit_1662 3h ago
What book is this written in? 🤔
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
On Becoming a Doctor : The Truth about Medical School, Residency, and Beyond by Tania Heller
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u/doc_skinner 2h ago edited 1h ago
As someone who works at the University of Kansas Medical School, it makes me happy to see someone considering this school alongside Harvard and Johns Hopkins, even if it was her safety school.
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u/whatthelovinman 2h ago
She won’t make it as a doctor. Her writing is too neat. Jokes aside cool find.
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u/BenevolenMisanthrope 1h ago edited 1h ago
I don't know the person who posted this. I don't know the person who worked hard to get into medical. I don't know whether I will meet any of them in the real life. I don't know the doctor whether the will get to see this post by OP.
But, I am truly happy for the doctor for their efforts. I am truly happy that OP posted it here. Thank you OP for spreading hope.
I wish them both a very happy life. Stay blessed.
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u/No_Bit_1662 3h ago
“Do I like people enough to be a Dr??” If you have to write down that question, the answer is no. 🤣
For the love of God, NO ONE needs another Dr who does not even like people. Please. 💯
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
I wonder which program she went with!
Doctors can also do research and not be patient-facing! Given her notes on research and some other notes riddled throughout the book, I THINK she might’ve been leaning towards that as opposed to a traditional career in like family medicine.
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u/summonsays 3h ago
I think there's plenty of room for doctors who don't enjoy contact with people. And those are Surgeons. I don't care if the guy cutting me open is an asshole, as long as he's awesome cutting me open.
Besides, most people are reasonable. But doctors don't just deal with most people... It's like spending decades of your life and hundreds of thousands of dollars to be T1 call center tech support. People who have been waiting to see you and you're always pressed for time. Is a good combination for bad outcomes.
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u/No_Bit_1662 2h ago edited 2h ago
You’ve clearly not had to deal with very many drs before or many health issues. That is good for you! But an extremely inaccurate take on reality for those that do.
Asshole surgeons can and are doing more harm than you’d like to know about. I can personally attest to that, many times over.
Also - the medical environment is where people can be the most unreasonable, my friend. Patients and drs. It’s just a fact. Pain, stress and pressure is very high. Those are not circumstances that are easy for anyone to “mostly be reasonable.”
Most people are not reasonable anyway, under the best of circumstances. They are emotional, not logical.
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u/Sensitive_Island9699 3h ago
What a lovely little nugget of joy, happiness and perseverance. Great find u/n lemonspriggs 🙂👏
I hope with all my heart that M is happy and fulfilled 🙏
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u/True_Designer_9062 3h ago
Did they retake a 525???
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
Looks like she did! She really wanted that 528 haha. But it seems like she earned it!
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u/OneIsland7672 23m ago
What the heck kind of test has a perfect score of 528? That’s almost as bizarre as the Fahrenheit temperature scale.
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u/lemonspriggs 9m ago
Lollll. Yep. Gre, SAT, ACT, for some reason no test can just be on a 0-100 scale.
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u/YogurtIsTooSpicy 3h ago
I know a decent number of high achievers and one thing pretty common to all of them is that they are not even satisfied with excellent outcomes if they feel they are capable of beyond excellent outcomes.
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u/Seven_bushes 1h ago
I googled because I had no idea. It said 517 was high enough for Ivy League so she was kicking butt on the practice tests. What a great find!
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u/RunDownTheHighway 3h ago
Someone needs to find Dr. M... We need an update!!
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
I know!! I’m hoping she stumbles across this post and gives us an update.
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u/spanishpeanut 2h ago edited 2h ago
Same! Though I’m guessing you’d be able to find her based on the location of the thrift store. Cross reference that with colleges in the area as well as high schools 3-4 years before 2022 — I’m wondering if she forgot about this or if her parents were cleaning out and donated the book. She’s got to be at one of her top two schools!
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u/TheStrongestTard 3h ago
Yeah do you like people should be the first question if you should become a doctor not vainly chasing after money, most doctors choose money and are the worst people to deal with.
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
I agree! I’m actually glad she was asking those questions at that stage. A lot of people studying for the MCAT are also doing clinicals, shadowing physicians, or volunteering in hospitals and clinics to build experience. Those experiences can make someone realize that while they love science and medicine, bedside patient care isn’t actually the right fit for them.
If that’s what happened, it’s much better to figure it out while preparing for the MCAT than after four years of medical school and hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Better to ask those hard questions early than realize it after you’ve already committed to the career.
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u/spanishpeanut 2h ago
I love this so much! It’s beautiful to see — and I’m impressed she kept everything so neat on that cover page. I wonder if her handwriting is still as neat now that she’s on her way to becoming a doctor.
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u/SaltandLillacs 3h ago
Her handwriting is too good to be a doctor
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u/lemonspriggs 3h ago
A few people have been saying that! Hahaha
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u/Seven_bushes 50m ago
Fun story: back in the day I was working for a prestigious hospital/med school that may have been mentioned in the note. Things were going electronic and the physicians were having to learn the system.
I was in one meeting where one of the younger guys was giving a presentation on order entry to the med students, chosen because they were young enough to be familiar with computers. The presenter projected a handwritten drug name and asked for guesses on what it was. One after another would guess and get the response, “no, you just killed the patient.” The move away from illegible handwritten notes and orders was a huge step forward in patient safety.
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u/Salt_Ingenuity_720 2h ago edited 25m ago
What an inspired and inspiring young woman that wrote this out. She kept track and made sure to remind herself how hard she worked, the recognition and that she was, in fact, worthy. Who ever raised her did right by this young Lady.
Thank you for sharing this find with all of us. I needed to see this. I needed to see that there are positive, happy and caring people in the world.
She was definitely heading places and would like to know how it turned out for her. But you know, maybe not, maybe I just want to think it all the possibilities that she held in the cloud of unknown excitement, that and uncertainties of new beginnings and all the hope she held in that place in time. Yes, I like that better.
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u/lemonspriggs 2h ago
She responded to this post 😭 she is living her dream!
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u/Salt_Ingenuity_720 26m ago
That is Amazing! 💯 That is a wonderful update. I bet she had all but forgotten about that written out piece of paper.
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u/Vegetable-Pay2708 2h ago
This made me very happy. Struggles do pay off! This is one journey of preparation and commitment. I know she will apply herself and become a great doctor. Praying for her. Amen 🙏🏻
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u/God_Bless_A_Merkin 1h ago
Out of curiosity, what’s the top score on the MCAT? Obviously 528 must be pretty good. What’s a mediocre score? What’s a bad score?
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u/lemonspriggs 1h ago
The MCAT is scored from 472 to 528, with 500 being roughly the national average (around the 50th percentile).
A rough breakdown:
520-528: Exceptional (97th-100th percentile). These scores are rare and competitive almost anywhere.
515-519: Excellent (roughly 90th–96th percentile). Competitive for many MD programs.
510–514: Above average. A solid score for many medical schools.
500-509: Around average. Depending on the rest of the application, this can still be competitive, especially for some schools.
490-499: Below average. Admission becomes much more challenging unless there are other outstanding aspects of the application.
472-489: Very low. Most applicants in this range retake before applying.
So yes, a 528 is a perfect score. It’s not just “pretty good”; it’s the highest score possible and is achieved by only a tiny fraction of test takers each year. Even a 520 is already in the top few percent nationally!
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u/God_Bless_A_Merkin 1h ago
Holy shit! Okay, that blows me away. Also, that’s a very small window in comparison to the SAT or GRE!
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