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What makes you outshine everyone else? What do you think makes you unique enough that adcomms will pick you over someone else?
What makes you outshine everyone else? What do you think makes you unique enough that adcomms will pick you over someone else?
Literally my first thought upon reading the OP.Your avatar + interview= acceptance
is the residency application as intense as the med school app?For that matter, you'll be asked again 4 years when you apply for residency.
is the residency application as intense as the med school app?
Are there a lot of medical school applicants who are firefighters? Its something that means a lot to me. I plan on continuing doing this to some extent all of my life. Most likely when I become a doctor it will be for a volunteer department every once in a while. I just love it.
Its a very common question - everyone interviewing should have a prepared answer to it.
Frankly, I think everyone's entire application should have a theme and a direction that follows through to their passion and 'what makes them special.'
For that matter, you'll be asked again 4 years when you apply for residency.
Are there a lot of medical school applicants who are firefighters? Its something that means a lot to me. I plan on continuing doing this to some extent all of my life. Most likely when I become a doctor it will be for a volunteer department every once in a while. I just love it.
I'd say that I qualify. Plus I'm a self-taught guitarist and magician. True story.Confidence without cockiness. Good posture.
Humility and good humor.
Unselfishness, self-denial. No trace of self-pity.
Enthusiasm and optimism.
Compassion. Unwillingness to pass judgment on others.
is the residency application as intense as the med school app?
Nothing yet I'm hoping that in the next year or so I'll do something amazing. Doubt it though.
meh, makes jack sound like a dull boy, if you ask me.Confidence without cockiness. Good posture.
Humility and good humor.
Unselfishness, self-denial. No trace of self-pity.
Enthusiasm and optimism.
Compassion. Unwillingness to pass judgment on others.
Everyone has some sort of unique interest/activity/opportunity. Some people start nonprofits; others are college athletes. Did you do interesting research? Or climb a mountain? Or speak another language (I actually did two interviews solely in my second language)? Perhaps you're a violinist at your church or organized poetry nights at your school. Or you majored in African History. Just find your niche and try to discuss that during your interview if asked about activities... Your passion will show, and it will make a lasting impression, especially if your interviewer shares those interests.
meh, makes jack sound like a dull boy, if you ask me.
I've got a lot of clinical experience.
- I was a former nursing student and I have ~ 300 hours of clinical, up close and personal experience with patients.
- I'm from out of country
- I have a ton of experience with (smaller) children
That's about it so far. I will have some psych research done next semester, all about children.
Is that stand outish?
Unfortunately, no. One semester to one year of research isn't going to impress anyone, and a single semester alone may give the impression that you were just trying to check "do research" off your application to-do list before applying. The 300 hours of clinical experience is good, but remember there are applicants with thousands of hours from previous work or long-term volunteering, so I would be surprised if high hours of clinical experience would ever make someone stand out. Your experience with younger children is too vague to make a call about. Many applicants are from out of the country, so unless you're URM I wouldn't expect that to have any effect.- I was a former nursing student and I have ~ 300 hours of clinical, up close and personal experience with patients.
- I'm from out of country
- I have a ton of experience with (smaller) children
That's about it so far. I will have some psych research done next semester, all about children.
Is that stand outish?
- I was a former nursing student and I have ~ 300 hours of clinical, up close and personal experience with patients.
- I'm from out of country
- I have a ton of experience with (smaller) children
That's about it so far. I will have some psych research done next semester, all about children.
Is that stand outish?
No, in fact, the nursing student thing is going to hurt you (you're going to have to have a really good answer for switching from nursing to MD). Being from out of the country isn't really unique.- I was a former nursing student and I have ~ 300 hours of clinical, up close and personal experience with patients.
- I'm from out of country
- I have a ton of experience with (smaller) children
That's about it so far. I will have some psych research done next semester, all about children.
Is that stand outish?
No, in fact, the nursing student thing is going to hurt you (you're going to have to have a really good answer for switching from nursing to MD). Being from out of the country isn't really unique.
You could do something with the kids thing if you play it right.
Don't sell yourself short, you also stain cell nuclei.I know there are a lot of health stories out there, so I'm not sure how unique this makes me, but I fought cancer between the ages of 12 and 18, had a bone marrow transplant (about 25% survival rate), and have had been through a whole host complications including major joint replacements and whatnot.
I know presentation is important, so I am always super positive about where my experience led me and specific events that shaped me as a person and always avoid the "poor me" side of things.
Am I fooling myself to think this at least makes me somewhat unique?
Edit: BTW I also have all the regular EC's -clinic, volunteer, and research
I do brazilian jiu jitsu
I do Muay Thai
I play the bagpipes
i'm extremely tall (for a mexican), and i have a tattoo on my face. Pretty sure every interviewer remembers me.
It's about showing the committee that you have a wide range of interests/that you have a soul. A lot of success depends not just on your technical prowess but on your ability to present yourself and to understand others of different backgrounds. Besides, who wants to spend time in med school with a bunch of straight-up nerds with no interests?It's funny that most people think that makes an applicant stand out to a medical school admissions committee are qualifications for a differentfield. I don't see what being a musician or a firefighter or an athlete has to do with medicine.
c'mon bro, that is just silliness .It's about showing the committee that you have a wide range of interests/that you have a soul. A lot of success depends not just on your technical prowess but on your ability to present yourself and to understand others of different backgrounds. Besides, who wants to spend time in med school with a bunch of straight-up nerds with no interests?