What is your opinion on bilingual applicants? Is it an extra boost?

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Is being bilingual or trilingual a plus?

  • Yes, definitely.

    Votes: 125 66.8%

  • No, I doubt it.

    Votes: 20 10.7%

  • Depends.

    Votes: 51 27.3%
  • Total voters
    187
The Buff OP

The Buff OP

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I speak English and Spanish. I was wondering is this some of the things medical schools are also looking for? You know if you are very fluent speaker, read and write in two languages. I might want to learn another language later, but who knows. 🙄
 
Depends on the language. If you're fluent in Esperanto, only nerds will care.
 
Answer: YES.

It can only be a benefit to your application. Any language can be enormously beneficial, especially if you are fluent. For reasons that reflect the current immigration situation in the country, fluency in Spanish is more widely valued than any other language.
 
Spinach Dip said:
Answer: YES.

It can only be a benefit to your application. Any language can be enormously beneficial, especially if you are fluent. For reasons that reflect the current immigration situation in the country, fluency in Spanish is more widely valued than any other language.
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Thanks for your answer.
 
If you go to school in a city with a high Spanish speaking population, your skillset would be a godsend amongst residents during rotations 😀
 
I don't know if it will help your application, but it should....and it will help you when you start seeing spanish-speaking patients.
 
It's certainly a plus. How big of a plus is the question. In my experience, interviewers seemed pretty impressed with my knowledge in Spanish and how long I've studied it.
 
I feel it's probably only a plus for medical school applications if you actively use it in a patient-related setting, or if you plan to use it in a patient-related setting throughout your career. It's not like bilingualism is something very rare; a lot of people study other languages so I don't think this really sets anyone apart.

Unless you are the last living speaker of your tribe's tongue or something like that lol
 
lostintranscrip said:
I feel it's probably only a plus for medical school applications if you actively use it in a patient-related setting, or if you plan to use it in a patient-related setting throughout your career. It's not like bilingualism is something very rare; a lot of people study other languages so I don't think this really sets anyone apart.

Unless you are the last living speaker of your tribe's tongue or something like that lol
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There's a difference between learning a language in high school and/or college for a couple of years and actually being able to speak in a real life situation.

My thought is that being able to speak another language competently might come more into play when applying to residencies or actual jobs.
 
Doctor Strange said:
There's a difference between learning a language in high school and/or college for a couple of years and actually being able to speak in a real life situation.

My thought is that being able to speak another language competently might come more into play when applying to residencies or actual jobs.
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I guess my point was-- do you use this language to provide better care to patients (regardless of if it was natively acquired or through classes, both are valid)? If not, then I don't see why this would be any special distinction, especially when it comes to residency applications. No one will care if you are fluent in Polish if you don't use it. Spanish is obviously valuable in many places, and might be taken into account because it would be assumed that you would use it.
 
Depends. You speak English and Spanish? Good. You speak English and Estonian? Ehh... good for you.
 
Spanish is definitely needed if you're applying to UMiami. I've heard that it may even be a requirement to become reasonably proficient in communication before clinical rotations, since Jackson has a very representative Spanish-speaking patient demographic.
 
What about bilingualism in English and asian languages such as mandarin/hindi/urdu/taiwanese etc.?
 
lostintranscrip said:
I feel it's probably only a plus for medical school applications if you actively use it in a patient-related setting, or if you plan to use it in a patient-related setting throughout your career. It's not like bilingualism is something very rare; a lot of people study other languages so I don't think this really sets anyone apart.

Unless you are the last living speaker of your tribe's tongue or something like that lol
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On the contrary, if you were the last speaker of a certain language, you would blend in right with everyone else, since no patients will ever benefit from your knowledge of said language. On the other hand, fluency in a second language that is widely used around the schools and residency locations you apply to will be of major help. Like a previous poster mentioned, the grand majority of the students who have taken foreign languages in high school and/or college hardly ever surpass the most basics of the language, unless they majored in it. Out of the hundreds of people I've known who have taken a foreign language, only 3 were able to speak it with acceptable communicational proficiency.
 
Lamel said:
What about bilingualism in English and asian languages such as mandarin/hindi/urdu/taiwanese etc.?
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I mean it's interesting that someone is diverse, but what would be the practical significance? FWIW, I mentioned all the languages I'm fluent/proficient in, but I doubt these played any significant role.
 
If you're applying to a place where that language is spoken (predominantly), yes. It adds, but doesn't make up for, other aspects of your application.
 
Doctor Strange said:
There's a difference between learning a language in high school and/or college for a couple of years and actually being able to speak in a real life situation.

My thought is that being able to speak another language competently might come more into play when applying to residencies or actual jobs.
Click to expand...
You mentioned they may have been impressed by the years you studied it but then spoke about studying for years and not being good in casual situations. I am wondering about this because I am fluent but haven't taken any classes after high school really. I just signed up for a 200-lvl one because I am thinking I need to show some longevity on paper. But idk if the loss of class space is actually worth it, but idk how else to prove my knowledge... Any thoughts about that?
 
WhittyPsyche said:
You mentioned they may have been impressed by the years you studied it but then spoke about studying for years and not being good in casual situations. I am wondering about this because I am fluent but haven't taken any classes after high school really. I just signed up for a 200-lvl one because I am thinking I need to show some longevity on paper. But idk if the loss of class space is actually worth it, but idk how else to prove my knowledge... Any thoughts about that?
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Ehh... I don't think you really have to "prove" it on paper. If you claim to be fluent in Spanish on your application, they'll probably figure out whether or not you're telling the truth in your interview. Unless it's a language that not many people speak, in which case (as other people have suggested), it probably won't really matter.
 
Lamel said:
What about bilingualism in English and asian languages such as mandarin/hindi/urdu/taiwanese etc.?
Click to expand...
I once met a Chinese doctor that spoke really good English and Spanish. I was impressed.
 
BlueCircle said:
On the contrary, if you were the last speaker of a certain language, you would blend in right with everyone else, since no patients will ever benefit from your knowledge of said language. On the other hand, fluency in a second language that is widely used around the schools and residency locations you apply to will be of major help. Like a previous poster mentioned, the grand majority of the students who have taken foreign languages in high school and/or college hardly ever surpass the most basics of the language, unless they majored in it. Out of the hundreds of people I've known who have taken a foreign language, only 3 were able to speak it with acceptable communicational proficiency.
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Spanish was my first language so I wouldn't have a problem it (I'm Mexican-American). It is a lot different learning from a book, than growing up speaking two languages.
 
sinombre said:
Ehh... I don't think you really have to "prove" it on paper. If you claim to be fluent in Spanish on your application, they'll probably figure out whether or not you're telling the truth in your interview. Unless it's a language that not many people speak, in which case (as other people have suggested), it probably won't really matter.
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LOL I have heard of people that put down that they are Spanish speakers to look good. But they can't carry a conversation at all. And they have gotten an interview and fail on that part because some of the people who were conducting the interviews spoke Spanish.
 
I previously said "no" on the poll, but should have picked "depends" instead. I think that if you know a second language, and only put it on your resume and not mention anything else, it won't make a difference. I'm bilingual and it has always been on my resume. Not a single person ever asked anything about it, including ADCOMs.

If you are bilingual and try to play the helping the underserved or helping a specific population card, then you'll probably have an advantage. How great of an advantage? Probably the same as someone who picked a bunch of ECs that are enough to make the underserved card sound legitimate.
 
Make sure if you say you're fluent, you're actually fluent. I had a girl at one of my interviews say she was fluent, and it turned out her interviewer was head of the medical spanish program at the school. She came out in tears.
 
I said I was proficient in Spanish on my app and I had to speak with someone who spoke Spanish. They told me I underestimated myself and that I was actually a little higher than what I noted. I laughed and said I would rather understate than overstate my abilities. The interviewer then proceeded to tell me about all the times he has caught someone who embellished the truth of their foreign language skills. Definitely a big no no.

:nono:
 
I know some programs where there's an actual Spanish language interview. UCIs Prime-LC program requires a Spanish interview. Just remember that anything you put on your app is fair game come interview time so be prepared if you do put your language proficiencies on your app.
 
I'd say yes, it can be somewhat of an advantage but it's not going to substitute for other weaknesses. It's also not that uncommon. Probably 10-20% of my class is bilingual in English/Spanish and maybe another 10% is bilingual/trilingual in another language set.
 
anegron519 said:
I don't know if it'll help an application or not but as a volunteer in the surgery wing, the nurses think I'm a God-send. I only volunteer on Fridays and have had to translate Spanish and Mandarin a few times. I'm the only volunteer walking around with one of those in-hopistal phones with an extension so they can call me. It makes me feel so bad ass compared to the other pre-meds I see a lot. I am in Florida so it might be more beneficial by state.
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Just don't get caught doing that by the big-wigs (or CMS)! 😉

The ability to interpret does make you a precious commodity in the clinical setting, though.
 
Planes2Doc said:
If you are bilingual and try to play the helping the underserved or helping a specific population card, then you'll probably have an advantage. How great of an advantage? Probably the same as someone who picked a bunch of ECs that are enough to make the underserved card sound legitimate.
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Just like any part of your app, knowing a language is more beneficial if you actually use the skill. I studied Spanish in college, but I also worked at an underserved clinic with predominantly Spanish-speakers for two years. That actually made my Spanish a huge part of my app, and I was quite successful because of it.

I did have one interview that I had to do partially in Spanish as well. So, don't lie about that.
 
Planes2Doc said:
I previously said "no" on the poll, but should have picked "depends" instead. I think that if you know a second language, and only put it on your resume and not mention anything else, it won't make a difference. I'm bilingual and it has always been on my resume. Not a single person ever asked anything about it, including ADCOMs.

If you are bilingual and try to play the helping the underserved or helping a specific population card, then you'll probably have an advantage. How great of an advantage? Probably the same as someone who picked a bunch of ECs that are enough to make the underserved card sound legitimate.
Click to expand...
Hmmm in my past job interviews they are always cheesing that I'm bilingual, I guess since I live in Texas.
 
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Goobs said:
Make sure if you say you're fluent, you're actually fluent. I had a girl at one of my interviews say she was fluent, and it turned out her interviewer was head of the medical spanish program at the school. She came out in tears.
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I'm fluent I could read and write Spanish.
 
anegron519 said:
I don't know if it'll help an application or not but as a volunteer in the surgery wing, the nurses think I'm a God-send. I only volunteer on Fridays and have had to translate Spanish and Mandarin a few times. I'm the only volunteer walking around with one of those in-hopistal phones with an extension so they can call me. It makes me feel so bad ass compared to the other pre-meds I see a lot. I am in Florida so it might be more beneficial by state.
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Good deal 👍
 
The Buff OP said:
LOL I have heard of people that put down that they are Spanish speakers to look good. But they can't carry a conversation at all. And they have gotten an interview and fail on that part because some of the people who were conducting the interviews spoke Spanish.
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Well its Spanish, I speak it daily professionally, I have never had any issues communicating with native speakers. I also have a conversationalist from Ecuador who is also teaching me advanced medical spanish and recently a new one from Spain who is helping me understand some Catalan, (my grandmother speaks it, but didn't teach me enough -_-)
I do better with non-central American speakers for some reason... different slang maybe?

Anyways like I said the past few years have been conversation based alone so no "On Paper" beyond Span 240- literature and culture stuff-.
If my interviewer does not speak Spanish, wouldn't they see that class number and say uhhh that's not advance *think*- liar! I thought I would just continue to work with my conversationalists (pretty chap) for the rest of undergrad, but now I don't think that's enough.
 
Daodejing said:
I mean it's interesting that someone is diverse, but what would be the practical significance? FWIW, I mentioned all the languages I'm fluent/proficient in, but I doubt these played any significant role.
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You realize that Mandarin is one of the most frequently spoken languages in the world/country?

I don't know what's with all the skepticism...if you (not you specifically) think you can just snap your fingers and an interpreter will magically appear when your patient starts looking like **** and you have no idea why because of the language barrier, you are wrong. Any language will be practically very helpful when you are practicing (depends on location of course, but better to be prepared).

Again, I don't know how much it will help your application, but it should. And it will be very helpful once you start seeing patients. There have been countless times when a sick patient has come into the hospital I work at and a staff member (physician, nurse, secretary, tech, housekeeper, etc.) who I never knew was bilingual saved the day.
 
WhittyPsyche said:
Well its Spanish, I speak it daily professionally, I have never had any issues communicating with native speakers. I also have a conversationalist from Ecuador who is also teaching me advanced medical spanish and recently a new one from Spain who is helping me understand some Catalan, (my grandmother speaks it, but didn't teach me enough -_-)
I do better with non-central American speakers for some reason... different slang maybe?

Anyways like I said the past few years have been conversation based alone so no "On Paper" beyond Span 240- literature and culture stuff-.
If my interviewer does not speak Spanish, wouldn't they see that class number and say uhhh that's not advance *think*- liar! I thought I would just continue to work with my conversationalists (pretty chap) for the rest of undergrad, but now I don't think that's enough.
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I have had some Central and Southern American friends there is some different word barriers (slang).
 
I'd say it depends on the school. For example, I believe that USC goes as far as to require Spanish fluency for all applicants due to the demographics that their hospital serves.
 
OCDOCDOCD said:
I'd say it depends on the school. For example, I believe that USC goes as far as to require Spanish fluency for all applicants due to the demographics that their hospital serves.
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I'm not sure if they actually require it, at least that's what the MS4 student who led my tour said. It's considered an elective that you can take (Link here)
 
I speak fluent French and Arabic. I thought it was a plus. Not because of the fact but because of the story behind the languages and how I know them. Makes for good interview talk etc.
 
BABSstudent said:
I said I was proficient in Spanish on my app and I had to speak with someone who spoke Spanish. They told me I underestimated myself and that I was actually a little higher than what I noted. I laughed and said I would rather understate than overstate my abilities. The interviewer then proceeded to tell me about all the times he has caught someone who embellished the truth of their foreign language skills. Definitely a big no no.

:nono:
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That's an awesome story BABS
 
Goobs said:
Make sure if you say you're fluent, you're actually fluent. I had a girl at one of my interviews say she was fluent, and it turned out her interviewer was head of the medical spanish program at the school. She came out in tears.
Click to expand...

I too had friends with interviewers randomly switch languages mid-interview.

Be fluent
 
I just want to point out that very few if any people who study a second language in college or high school become "fluent." Your best hope would be "advanced proficiency." If you went to Spain for 12 months and can get around ok but still make mistakes and search for words in everyday speech, you are not fluent. If you cant explain how an enzyme works using correct vocabulary, you are not fluent. If you grew up in an immigrant household, maybe, but probably not at the upper range of the language and if an Asian language, probably not in reading.
 
The Buff OP said:
Anybody else have any opinions? 👍
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There certainly isn't a downside to being multilingual. Many hospitals provide translators anyway so it may not matter down the line but it would save a middle man. Either way, speaking various languages is generally impressive in life, not just on an app. Other than super ethnocentric americans, there aren't many people that wouldn't like to know many languages.
 
I literally searched this topic and read this thread this morning, and then now am seeing it got brought back from the dead after I was done. weirdly ironic.

I am in my 6th year of studying Spanish, actually headed to Spain on Saturday for a four-week study abroad program...pretty pumped

cheers to being bilingual! :highfive: (in the near future)
 
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