How (And Why) To Stay Positive
There's no need for rudeness or name-calling.
I daresay I know more about being accepted to medical training programs than you.
You do realize that he is a physician and a faculty?
Sup tough brosef. Like many others I myself didn’t get into med school the first time (or the second time for that matter) because I had no idea wtf I was doing with my applications. I came to this site and learned a lot and eventually I got in. It was hard and I struggled a lot because it was the first time I ever failed at anything (had like a 3.8 gpa and a 34 mcat at Cal with research, volunteering and all that jazz). I never gave up though and here I am today.
And right there, you've perfectly captured my motivation for starting this thread. The world is harsh and admission is hard to get, but despair and defeatism help no one.
Interviewer for the admissions process, but not adcom (yet). Curriculum developer and lecturer for MS-3 and -4 rotators on the anesthesiology service. Active clinician directly involved in point-of-care education of both med students and anesthesiology residents. I love my clinical work, but my educational duties are what elevate it from a job to a vocation.
I feel bad for them, not for myself. I remember what it was like to be so anxious about my future, and to have worked so hard and yet be so uncertain that it was enough. But yes, the fact that I'm part of saying "yes" and "no" to people's dreams does sit heavy at times.
Some in each camp, I think. I've seem some people who get flustered and forget how to use their words or who put their foot in their mouth. I've also seen people openly expressing racist and/or sexist ideologies, or passing judgment on others in ways that are completely inappropriate.
I know this quesion is not for me. But..
Pity, no. Patience, yes. By that I mean it doesn't score them pity points, but I also do my utmost not to let it overshadow the content of their answers and impressiveness of their accomplishments.
That's a tough question and I can't really speak to their motivations. But I do think the stress of the interview day beats their defenses down a bit and reveals some attitudes and beliefs that they otherwise might hide more effectively.
I see this on Facebook all the time...Liberal as a descriptor for anything one doesn't like.
Re; the bolded text:
I couldn't agree more. This is one of the principal reasons for the med school admission interview. People skills are integral to the practice of medicine. In my own field, for example, I meet patients mere moments before I ask them to put their lives in my hands. I have precious little time to gather critical information, make decisions, and gain their confidence. Most other specialties similarly require the ability to interact with people.
This type of thing -- whether leveled against liberals or conservatives -- irritates me to no end. It's an ad hominem attack, and a pretty stupid one at that. Reasonable adults can disagree, and conflating all of a person's positive and negative qualities into a single "bad" or "good" label based on their political leanings is about as lazy as it gets.
These people are rare outliers. The large majority of candidates I see are very impressive.Re; the bolded text:
I've never had that happen, except for some guys from paternalistic cultures expressing a worrisome amount of misogyny.
Hmm didn't know being a positive/decent person is a liberal trait. Thought being a positive and decent person was just what good healthy people do. By the way anyone who entered this process is working hard right now with or without their political leaning.
What are you tring to achieve here?
I'm just gonna say it...
It is what it is. As I've said elsewhere, the internet isn't a safe space. Here be trolls.
Why are you so angry... chill
Especially when they turn their heads almost 360I love your owl profile picture
It's adorable!!
