ADCOM input please?? Could I be discriminated against for this?

[Miss_Premed]

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Hello! I'm am planning on applying in the 2016 cycle and have a question about potential discrimination. I have child who will be four when I (hopefully) attend medical school and I was wondering if I would be looked down upon as a mother applying to medical school. I am not sure whether I should be upfront about it, and potentially mention my son in my PS or if I should just keep that info to myself. I am thinking it could go either way, either I could be seen as determined with good time management or as a liability... Thanks for the input!!!

 

[DermViser]

Could I be discriminated against for this?
No.

 

[Miss_Premed]

No I should not put it in my PS or no I shouldn't worry about it?

Thanks!

 

[LizzyM]

Could I be discriminated against for this?
No.

You might not be discriminated against for having a kid but...

while it would be unseemly to ask you, out of the blue, if you have kids, if you open the door and write about it on your application you could get questions that other applicants don't get, such as your social support network, where you plan to live, what childcare situation you have, how you'll deal with days when your child may be too ill for school/childcare and so forth. This all goes to your ability to manage parenthood and school. If you were denied admission it would be because your "time management skills are lacking" or something like that, not because you have a kid.

 

[SN12357]

No I should not put it in my PS or no I shouldn't worry about it?

Thanks!

Your PS is for explaining why you want to be a doctor. If your child is part of that, then it could fit. But otherwise save it for other places in the application. I imagine the ubiquitous 'challenge' essays might be a good place.

 

[kthxbai]

Here's some anecdotal evidence: I have a friend who interviewed at Hopkins and mentioned his wife and daughter. He was rejected.

He then interviewed at Harvard, avoided any mention of his family, and got in.

Does this prove anything? No. Is it worth considering that the admission process has an inevitable degree of bias? Yes.

 

[gyngyn]

No I should not put it in my PS or no I shouldn't worry about it?

Thanks!

AMCAS asks you to enumerate your dependents.
In answer to your question: we really don't have a preference.

 

[Miss_Premed]

Yes I saw that it asked for dependents and I obviously wouldn't lie about it. At the same time I am nervous that it makes me less competitive. Especially since I am a woman and I feel like there is still a stigma associated with being a mother and having a demanding career.

 

[LizzyM]

AMCAS asks you to enumerate your dependents.
In answer to your question: we really don't have a preference.

I never really paid attention to that line on the application about dependents... and I never heard any application reader or interview make note of it either. On the other hand, an anecdote in an essay is hard to miss.

 

[Miss_Premed]

You might not be discriminated against for having a kid but...

while it would be unseemly to ask you, out of the blue, if you have kids, if you open the door and write about it on your application you could get questions that other applicants don't get, such as your social support network, where you plan to live, what childcare situation you have, how you'll deal with days when your child may be too ill for school/childcare and so forth. This all goes to your ability to manage parenthood and school. If you were denied admission it would be because your "time management skills are lacking" or something like that, not because you have a kid.

Even if I didn't mention this in my PS could I still be asked this based on my dependents answer on my app? I actually don't have a problem answering any of these questions. My family and fiancé is extremely supportive and I am fortunate that my fiancé makes good money (to afford daycare) and also has flexible hours and lots of sick and vacation time. We also are willing to relocate within reason. I have been succeeding in school with a child for 4 semesters now. (3.71 GPA) with almost all science classes and I'm also in my schools honors college. So the questions don't really bother me only that compared to another applicant of similar stats I would be rejected based solely on being a parent.

 

[gyngyn]

Yes I saw that it asked for dependents and I obviously wouldn't lie about it. At the same time I am nervous that it makes me less competitive. Especially since I am a woman and I feel like there is still a stigma associated with being a mother and having a demanding career.

Parenthood as an isolated variable in the medical school application is not stigmatized, in my experience (at least not in this century).

 

[Miss_Premed]

I also run into the issue where I might have to explain my lack of activities over the summer before junior year (and potentially senior). I have been volunteering and shadowing over the summer but nothing too intense because I wanted to be able to spend more time with my son and do lots of activities we don't have time for during the school year. During the summer between my first two years I worked full time. If I didn't explain that I have a child I would not have a real answer why I haven't done summer research or classes or anything of substance. I guess my ultimate question is whether I should just be totally upfront or if I should keep my family too myself as much as I can (besides the dependants question).

 

[gyngyn]

I also run into the issue where I might have to explain my lack of activities over the summer before junior year (and potentially senior). I have been volunteering and shadowing over the summer but nothing too intense because I wanted to be able to spend more time with my son and do lots of activities we don't have time for during the school year. During the summer between my first two years I worked full time. If I didn't explain that I have a child I would not have a real answer why I haven't done summer research or classes or anything of substance. I guess my ultimate question is whether I should just be totally upfront or if I should keep my family too myself as much as I can (besides the defendants question).

Now you are touching on real reasons that some parents appear to have less success. Being a parent doesn't exempt one from all the expectations we have regarding the strength of an application.

 

[Miss_Premed]

I think overall I have decent ECs but the I just don't have a jam packed summer. When I apply I will have:

300+ hours clinical volunteering 3 year commitment
150+ hours shadowing 2 year commitment
A research project with poster presentation at a regional conference as a sophomore
Member of honors college
Senior research thesis
Participant of big brother big sister
7 years as a manager at mcdonalds

Obviously a lot hinges on my MCAT score and GPA but assuming they are competitive will two "calm" summers set me back that much?

 

[gyngyn]

I think overall I have decent ECs but the I just don't have a jam packed summer. When I apply I will have:

300+ hours clinical volunteering 3 year commitment
150+ hours shadowing 2 year commitment
A research project with poster presentation at a regional conference as a sophomore
Member of honors college
Senior research thesis
Participant of big brother big sister
7 years as a manager at mcdonalds

Obviously a lot hinges on my MCAT score and GPA but assuming they are competitive will two "calm" summers set me back that much?

You will be judged on the overall strength of your application. I would not recommend using parenthood as an explanation for any (perceived) deficiencies in your ap.

 

[Miss_Premed]

You will be judged on the overall strength of your application. I would not recommend using parenthood as an explanation for any (perceived) deficiencies in your ap.

Yes this makes sense thank you!

 

[Goro]

Not at my school. I've had single moms as students.

Hello! I'm am planning on applying in the 2016 cycle and have a question about potential discrimination. I have child who will be four when I (hopefully) attend medical school and I was wondering if I would be looked down upon as a mother applying to medical school. I am not sure whether I should be upfront about it, and potentially mention my son in my PS or if I should just keep that info to myself. I am thinking it could go either way, either I could be seen as determined with good time management or as a liability... Thanks for the input!!!

 

[Ismet]

If you are denied acceptance at a school because you have a kid (even though you'd probably never find out if that's the reason for rejection, or a school would never admit it), you wouldn't want to go to that school anyway. You want a school that will support you and be flexible when possible. A few of my classmates have kids, and my school is very supportive and flexible, even if it's the dad who is the med student.

 

[hippocampus503]

I would mention having a son, and if I were asked questions about it I would be sure to answer in a way that shows being a mom is a positive because you already know how to balance many things at once and how to work while stressed and how to be caring and attentive to someone else's needs. I think you can definitely show how being a mom makes you better prepared for med school and a career in medicine. It also depends on where you apply. At my school we have several people with kids and families. Good luck to you!!

 

[hippocampus503]

You can also talk about how having a son to care for makes you even more determined to work hard to succeed because you have more than just yourself to worry about and you know your success also affects him.

 

[shayla1013]

x

 

[Leslie_Knope]

I think it's a personal decision and you will have to go with what feels right to you.

Personally, I decided to talk about becoming a mother. I agree with the poster above me who said if the school rejects you because you're a mother, it's not someplace you want to be.

Of course I just applied and won't know if I'm successful for a while. Maybe I made a mistake.

 

[shayla1013]

x

 

[tantacles]

I think it's a personal decision and you will have to go with what feels right to you.

Personally, I decided to talk about becoming a mother. I agree with the poster above me who said if the school rejects you because you're a mother, it's not someplace you want to be.

Of course I just applied and won't know if I'm successful for a while. Maybe I made a mistake.

Unlikely. ;-)