admissions secretaries are like waiters...

[bewitched1081]

they are a special group of people. i mean can you imagine working full time as one of them? year after year, you try to do your job, and the whole process is routine to you. but you have to have the patience and friendliness (if you want to be good at what you do) in order to deal with people who view waiting as punishment. it's not punishment. this whole thing supposedly takes 1 year. persistence is key, but your life is not on the line everyday that you don't hear something. and when adcom secreteraries don't seem to be too helpful, then, well, that's probably all that they can do for you. so give 'em a break. and if you have been giving them a break, props to you!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[hardyharhar]

Absolutely. Also, makes your life easier if you treat others with respect.

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

umm. it's just an administrative job, no different than millions of other jobs.

 

[calstudent]

Absolutely. Also, makes your life easier if you treat others with respect.

agreed. and, more enjoyable too. i think there is some chemical released from the brain everytime you smile that is good for you; i don't remember what, though.
simply put: it's the right thing to do.

 

[CoverMe]

I talked to a really nice guy at Rosalind Franklin today... we were joking about the weather there in a few months, and I was joking about figuring out how to pack a dog sled and some Huskies into my luggage... we both agreed that it would be a lot more fun if i just brought the st. bernard and the little keg of brandy 😀

Nice people!! 👍 👍

 

[PreMedAdAG]

umm. it's just an administrative job, no different than millions of other jobs.

READ AGAIN............. feel kind of ******ed because you just made admin. asst. look extremely unimportant 👎

How many phone calls a day do you think they have to deal with :

Student A: "Um, my amcas is 1567897, you lost my transcript"

Student B: "Yes, I got a rejection in the mail and I would like to speak with the Dean... No I can't hold!!!!"

Student C: "My name is Mike Smith, I'm an applicant, I was calling to see if I will be interviewed.... by they way......... how youuuuuuuuuu doin?"

I would hate to deal with awkward and annoyed people on the phone all day, cut them some slack.. in all honesty, how long can you put on a smiley face before you want to kick someone in the head!

 

[IndyZX]

READ AGAIN............. feel kind of ******ed because you just made admin. asst. look extremely unimportant 👎

i think he had a good point. it's not a person you should be intimidated by.

 

[cowgirl]

I think the University of Kentutcky admissions office must have the absolute most gracious secretary ever! I Love Love Love Robin Rankin! And yea I can only imagine all the ---- she has to put up with on a daily basis. I mean I've bugged her before but I always do it real nicely. 🙂

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

READ AGAIN............. feel kind of ******ed because you just made admin. asst. look extremely unimportant 👎

How many phone calls a day do you think they have to deal with :

Student A: "Um, my amcas is 1567897, you lost my transcript"

Student B: "Yes, I got a rejection in the mail and I would like to speak with the Dean... No I can't hold!!!!"

Student C: "My name is Mike Smith, I'm an applicant, I was calling to see if I will be interviewed.... by they way......... how youuuuuuuuuu doin?"

I would hate to deal with awkward and annoyed people on the phone all day, cut them some slack.. in all honesty, how long can you put on a smiley face before you want to kick someone in the head!

it's still just a job. how'de you like to flip burgers all day. how'de you like to be a bean counting accountant. how bout a secretary at any other place of business. let's face it, these pple are working a job that they find agreeable for the salary they're offered. they're nothing unusual.

 

[NubianPrincess]

Everytime I call a school asking if they got my LORs yet, I think of how hard it must be dealing with people like me all the time I heart admissions AAs.

 

[PreMedAdAG]

it's still just a job. how'de you like to flip burgers all day. how'de you like to be a bean counting accountant. how bout a secretary at any other place of business. let's face it, these pple are working a job that they find agreeable for the salary they're offered. they're nothing unusual.

regardless whether or not these individuals see it as a job or whatever, it's not very nice to "downplay" their role. Many of these assistants have selected this as a career. I just think some people on this forum are being a little snooty. Just cuz youre becoming a doc doesn't mean you should be so cocky about it.

I'm sure you'll get annoyed when a patient comes in and B!+<hes about something... so think of how annoying it is for these individuals to deal with anal pre-med students who think they are the coolest thing since sliced bread 🙁 C'mon, have a heart!

 

[automaton]

READ AGAIN............. feel kind of ******ed because you just made admin. asst. look extremely unimportant 👎

How many phone calls a day do you think they have to deal with :

Student A: "Um, my amcas is 1567897, you lost my transcript"

Student B: "Yes, I got a rejection in the mail and I would like to speak with the Dean... No I can't hold!!!!"

Student C: "My name is Mike Smith, I'm an applicant, I was calling to see if I will be interviewed.... by they way......... how youuuuuuuuuu doin?"

I would hate to deal with awkward and annoyed people on the phone all day, cut them some slack.. in all honesty, how long can you put on a smiley face before you want to kick someone in the head!

oh wow, you think that's tough, try dealing with dirty and smelly bat**** crazy patients who try to pee on you and calls you the devil

 

[ShyRem]

Rosewater, you poor ignorant oaf. EVERYONE knows who REALLY runs the office, whether it be for your lawyer, your doctor, your mechanic, or real estate agent, or the mayor. It's the admin assistants/secretary. And, no, I do NOT consider the word "secretary" demeaning. It's a stinkin' difficult profession to deal with ignorami like you every day who treat them like crap. Rather like being an at-home mom. One of the most difficult, thankless, underpaid, underrespected professions EVER. And one of the most looked-down upon by people like you.

Let me tell you something: If you want your car in at the mechanic ASAP, you be NICE to the person who answers the phone and schedules your appointment. You want a fast will drawn up? Just try being mean or nasty to the secretary and you'll find your lawyer is booked up for at least two months. The secretary runs their life, and you better be nice to the person who holds the key to the gate you want to walk through.

Been a long time since I saw a post this self-absorbed, Rosewater. If you don't see anything unusual about anyone else, then obviously there's nothing unusual about you either.

 

[Code Brown]

anal pre-med students who think they are the coolest thing since sliced bread

What do you mean "think" ? 😀

 

[automaton]

Just try being mean or nasty to the secretary and you'll find your lawyer is booked up for at least two months. The secretary runs their life, and you better be nice to the person who holds the key to the gate you want to walk through.

how unprofessional 👎

 

[sacrament]

READ AGAIN............. feel kind of ******ed because you just made admin. asst. look extremely unimportant 👎

HAHAHA

I can't stop reading this.

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

Rosewater, you poor ignorant oaf. EVERYONE knows who REALLY runs the office, whether it be for your lawyer, your doctor, your mechanic, or real estate agent, or the mayor. It's the admin assistants/secretary. And, no, I do NOT consider the word "secretary" demeaning. It's a stinkin' difficult profession to deal with ignorami like you every day who treat them like crap. Rather like being an at-home mom. One of the most difficult, thankless, underpaid, underrespected professions EVER. And one of the most looked-down upon by people like you.

Let me tell you something: If you want your car in at the mechanic ASAP, you be NICE to the person who answers the phone and schedules your appointment. You want a fast will drawn up? Just try being mean or nasty to the secretary and you'll find your lawyer is booked up for at least two months. The secretary runs their life, and you better be nice to the person who holds the key to the gate you want to walk through.

Been a long time since I saw a post this self-absorbed, Rosewater. If you don't see anything unusual about anyone else, then obviously there's nothing unusual about you either.

OMG, you're really killing me. who said not to be nice to them? i'm not referring to them as some kind of untouchables or something. try to comprehend this, the profession of being an admissions secretary is on par with about a thousand other jobs. yes it may be busy, but we all know that most of the premeds that call are exceedingly nice for fear of pissing them off. when pple begin strarting sicophantic threads to plumbers, waitresses, accountants, bus drivers, meter maids and all the other thousands of everyday jobs out there, then i'll let threads like this pass.

 

[PreMedAdAG]

oh wow, you think that's tough, try dealing with dirty and smelly bat**** crazy patients who try to pee on you and calls you the devil

you're still not that important... sorry

 

[PreMedAdAG]

Rosewater, you poor ignorant oaf. EVERYONE knows who REALLY runs the office, whether it be for your lawyer, your doctor, your mechanic, or real estate agent, or the mayor. It's the admin assistants/secretary. And, no, I do NOT consider the word "secretary" demeaning. It's a stinkin' difficult profession to deal with ignorami like you every day who treat them like crap. Rather like being an at-home mom. One of the most difficult, thankless, underpaid, underrespected professions EVER. And one of the most looked-down upon by people like you.

Let me tell you something: If you want your car in at the mechanic ASAP, you be NICE to the person who answers the phone and schedules your appointment. You want a fast will drawn up? Just try being mean or nasty to the secretary and you'll find your lawyer is booked up for at least two months. The secretary runs their life, and you better be nice to the person who holds the key to the gate you want to walk through.

Been a long time since I saw a post this self-absorbed, Rosewater. If you don't see anything unusual about anyone else, then obviously there's nothing unusual about you either.

God, is that you? Cuz that was just the most amazing post! 😀

 

[PreMedAdAG]

What do you mean "think" ? 😀

hah! 😀

 

[PreMedAdAG]

OMG, you're really killing me. who said not to be nice to them? i'm not referring to them as some kind of untouchables or something. try to comprehend this, the profession of being an admissions secretary is on par with about a thousand other jobs. yes it may be busy, but we all know that most of the premeds that call are exceedingly nice for fear of pissing them off. when pple begin strarting sicophantic threads to plumbers, waitresses, accountants, bus drivers, meter maids and all the other thousands of everyday jobs out there, then i'll let threads like this pass.

If we were actually having a conversation, I would tape-record it and make you listen to yourself.. oh wait... it's all in writing.... RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE.... and you are still rude and inconsiderate of other careers. Let me repeat for fear that you just don't understand... BECOMING A PHYSICIAN DOES NOT MAKE OUR JOB ANY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE, OR CHANGES THE BEDS, or whatever!... SO BRING YOUR EGO DOWN A NOTCH OR TWO AND PLEASE COME BACK DOWN TO THE REAL WORLD WHERE EVERYONE WORKS HARD AND HAS TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT CUSTOMERS!!

And for the record, I'm not sure about the rest of you, not a single Admin. Asst. or Coordinator from any adcome has EVER been rude to me. They have all been very helpful. Maybe its the way you're talking to them.

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

Premedag whined:

If we were actually having a conversation, I would tape-record it and make you listen to yourself.. oh wait... it's all in writing.... RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE.... and you are still rude and inconsiderate of other careers. Let me repeat for fear that you just don't understand... BECOMING A PHYSICIAN DOES NOT MAKE OUR JOB ANY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE, OR CHANGES THE BEDS, or whatever!... SO BRING YOUR EGO DOWN A NOTCH OR TWO AND PLEASE COME BACK DOWN TO THE REAL WORLD WHERE EVERYONE WORKS HARD AND HAS TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT CUSTOMERS!!

And for the record, I'm not sure about the rest of you, not a single Admin. Asst. or Coordinator from any adcome has EVER been rude to me. They have all been very helpful. Maybe its the way you're talking to them.
END RANT



wow, plug in the word "secretary" for physician and you've made my argument for me. thanks.
furthermore, if you think being a secretary is as important as being a brain surgeon, than why don't you go do that and leave the medicine for those of us that appreciate the gravity of our chosen profession. seriously, i left a "regular" job for medicine b/c i wanted to do something more meaningful w/ my life. others didn't want to go through 11 yrs. post BA education, i don't knock em, but i'm not out building a shrine to anyone either.

 

[PreMedAdAG]

Premedag whined:

If we were actually having a conversation, I would tape-record it and make you listen to yourself.. oh wait... it's all in writing.... RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE.... and you are still rude and inconsiderate of other careers. Let me repeat for fear that you just don't understand... BECOMING A PHYSICIAN DOES NOT MAKE OUR JOB ANY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE, OR CHANGES THE BEDS, or whatever!... SO BRING YOUR EGO DOWN A NOTCH OR TWO AND PLEASE COME BACK DOWN TO THE REAL WORLD WHERE EVERYONE WORKS HARD AND HAS TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT CUSTOMERS!!

And for the record, I'm not sure about the rest of you, not a single Admin. Asst. or Coordinator from any adcome has EVER been rude to me. They have all been very helpful. Maybe its the way you're talking to them.
END RANT



wow, plug in the word "secretary" for physician and you've made my argument for me. thanks.
furthermore, if you think being a secretary is as important as being a brain surgeon, than why don't you go do that and leave the medicine for those of us that appreciate the gravity of our chosen profession. seriously, i left a "regular" job for medicine b/c i wanted to do something more meaningful w/ my life. others didn't want to go through 11 yrs. post BA education, i don't knock em, but i'm not out building a shrine to anyone either.

there is no use in wasting any more of my energy on you. I always hope that you'll never be my classmate or colleague. Good luck to you, I fear you'll need it

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

there is no use in wasting any more of my energy on you. I always hope that you'll never be my classmate or colleague. Good luck to you, I fear you'll need it

ah "my polite indignation knows no bounds."

i think your megahumble persona is kind of funny. let me ask you, would you be all over someone if they said they wanted to be a teacher b/c they thought it was a "meaningful" or "important" job. what about a preist? or is it that your humble meter only goes off if someone compares it to something else (which, you started btw). as in "i want to work for a nonprofit b/c i think it's more valuable to society than working at OTB." finally, perhaps you think i'm making value judgements about individuals. i am not. i don't think there's anything horrible about making judgements on the relative values of career choices.

 

[adamj61]

oh give them some love, they have to deal with your dorky, neurotic, and cocky asses all day.

 

[PreMedAdAG]

ah "my polite indignation knows no bounds."

i think your megahumble persona is kind of funny. let me ask you, would you be all over someone if they said they wanted to be a teacher b/c they thought it was a "meaningful" or "important" job. what about a preist? or is it that your humble meter only goes off if someone compares it to something else (which, you started btw). as in "i want to work for a nonprofit b/c i think it's more valuable to society than working at OTB." finally, perhaps you think i'm making value judgements about individuals. i am not. i don't think there's anything horrible about making judgements on the relative values of career choices.

you have no right to judge in the first place... how can you be that righteous?
I'm humble because I've been treated like crap in the past and don't appreciate it.

Would I be all over someone if the wanted to be a teacher? I don't really know what you mean. I will respond if you could please explain or re-word it.. it kinda just flew over my head. If you are asking whether those are meaningful jobs.. then yes I agree.. but our society would collapse without all other careers. For example, my dad owns an olive orchard.. just because he is the rancher, doesn't mean that his job is more important that those who pick the olives from the trees. Without them, my dad would have no income and neither would the pickers. You also don't know what people have been through in their lives. Maybe they choose positions like admin. assts because they have a family and need a 9-5 job, maybe they're a single mom or dad and can't afford (financially or emotionally) to go back to school.

"or is it that your humble meter only goes off if someone compares it to something else (which, you started btw)" In regards to this comment... i don't like to compare things, because it only creates competition and egos and territorial behavior, but I do have to laugh at your "which you started btw" comment because you brought me right back to pre-school... so my response to that is............ "neener neener neener, I'm telling on you!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[calstudent]

you have no right to judge in the first place... how can you be that righteous?
I'm humble because I've been treated like crap in the past and don't appreciate it.

Would I be all over someone if the wanted to be a teacher? I don't really know what you mean. I will respond if you could please explain or re-word it.. it kinda just flew over my head. If you are asking whether those are meaningful jobs.. then yes I agree.. but our society would collapse without all other careers. For example, my dad owns an olive orchard.. just because he is the rancher, doesn't mean that his job is more important that those who pick the olives from the trees. Without them, my dad would have no income and neither would the pickers. You also don't know what people have been through in their lives. Maybe they choose positions like admin. assts because they have a family and need a 9-5 job, maybe they're a single mom or dad and can't afford (financially or emotionally) to go back to school.

"or is it that your humble meter only goes off if someone compares it to something else (which, you started btw)" In regards to this comment... i don't like to compare things, because it only creates competition and egos and territorial behavior, but I do have to laugh at your "which you started btw" comment because you brought me right back to pre-school... so my response to that is............ "neener neener neener, I'm telling on you!!!!!!!!!!!"

premedaggg, thanks for posting here and not giving in. your reasoning is brilliant, and i agree with you very much.

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

you have no right to judge in the first place... how can you be that righteous?
I'm humble because I've been treated like crap in the past and don't appreciate it.

Would I be all over someone if the wanted to be a teacher? I don't really know what you mean. I will respond if you could please explain or re-word it.. it kinda just flew over my head. If you are asking whether those are meaningful jobs.. then yes I agree.. but our society would collapse without all other careers. For example, my dad owns an olive orchard.. just because he is the rancher, doesn't mean that his job is more important that those who pick the olives from the trees. Without them, my dad would have no income and neither would the pickers. You also don't know what people have been through in their lives. Maybe they choose positions like admin. assts because they have a family and need a 9-5 job, maybe they're a single mom or dad and can't afford (financially or emotionally) to go back to school.

"or is it that your humble meter only goes off if someone compares it to something else (which, you started btw)" In regards to this comment... i don't like to compare things, because it only creates competition and egos and territorial behavior, but I do have to laugh at your "which you started btw" comment because you brought me right back to pre-school... so my response to that is............ "neener neener neener, I'm telling on you!!!!!!!!!!!"

what i was trying to point out was two fold:
A. your hypocrisy. if your friend said they wanted to become a teacher b/c it was a "meaningful" job, you'd probably encourage and support them. and so would i, b/c it is important. however, by inference, it can only be assumed that it is "important" or "valuable" realative to other professions. in your worldview (or at least the ridiculous one you're trying to pull off here), the job of the President of the US in no more "important" than that of a bartender. now, i don't knock the bartender, the secretary or anyone else for the job they choose. I hope they find satisfaction in that, and if they take a less challenging career so they have more time w/ family or outside interests, than i wish them good fortune w/ that as well. that doesn't mean that the clerk at the track has a JOB which is as important as a teacher or an EMT or a fireman, does it?

B. so, where are you getting all tripped up? you can't seem to differentiate btwn a job and a person. when i'm a doc will i be more "valuable" than a salesman at phillip morris? No. will my job be? I think so. and every single one of us has the right to judge PROFESSIONS. it's one of the ways we choose what we'll do with our lives. I don't judge pple. I don't know which among us is good or bad. Don't know who's going to heaven or hell. However, i do have a fairly reasonable idea of the relative value of various professions to society. do you understand a little better now AG?

 

[PreMedAdAG]

premedaggg, thanks for posting here and not giving in. your reasoning is brilliant, and i agree with you very much.

thanks for your support friend!

 

[PreMedAdAG]

Man, I had to eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich just to get the energy to reply to you.

A. your hypocrisy. if your friend said they wanted to become a teacher b/c it was a "meaningful" job, you'd probably encourage and support them. and so would i, b/c it is important.

My hipocrisy: what? I have never "double-backed" on anything I've said... where do you come up with this? Anyway, yes I would support anyone who wanted to get any type of job, as long as they had a passion for it and thought it would brighten their future (including anything and everything)

however, by inference, it can only be assumed that it is "important" or "valuable" realative to other professions. in your worldview (or at least the ridiculous one you're trying to pull off here), the job of the President of the US in no more "important" than that of a bartender

By inference.. how are you inferring? Have you ever heard the saying, "When you assume, you make an "ass" out of "u" and "me"? I don't even know how you came up with this, but okay, moving on... the point is not to RANK things...as of right now, there may very well be a bartender out there who has a better grasp on politics than our current president. Thank god for bartenders, they will be greatly appreciated, particularly for us Kerry-supporters who will either celebrate tomorrow or drown our sorrows.

if they take a less challenging career

Less challenging.... ? I hardly think that these jobs are less challenging. In fact, they are underpaid and overworked most of the time and honestly, I have to hand it to people who work their behinds off, get paid very little, and try to raise a family on a "single person's" wages. To me, having a job that is difficult in its own ways but also doesn't pay very well, would be so stressful, I'd probably collapse.

you can't seem to differentiate btwn a job and a person. and every single one of us has the right to judge PROFESSIONS. it's one of the ways we choose what we'll do with our lives.

You just said that I can't differentiate.. in other words a person's character is not defined by their job.. okay, fair enough.... however, then you state "it's one of the ways we choose what we will do with our lives"... well in my mind that is a pure expression of self, a definition of character, a true explanation to what drives us and what we have a passion for......... so YES, in my opinion, you are judging people and their interests in alternative careers.

do you understand a little better now AG?

Please, next time, can you be a little more condescending? Just for all of the on-lookers? Let me ask you a personal question. Would you address an interviewer this way? I think not... but alas, on SDN, true colors fly round and round. I am perfectly okay with my cynical, sarcastic and what you call "humble" attitude.. as long as you're okay with yours... then we're good. But can you honestly think that if one of your interviewers read this post, they would give your profile a second look? Hell no.. you know why? Because the interview coordinator would have burned it a LONG ass time ago. 🙂 Cheers mate!

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

ok gold. you've convinced me. every career is absolutely of equal value. the way you chopped up my first paragraph so as to make it seem unclear was great. the way you explained that the job of bartender is equally important as the job of president, even better. btw, did you ever see a bartender F up the world as bad as bush? didn't think so.

anyhow, it's been fun.

 

[PreMedAdAG]

 

[DrYo12]

Nobody is suggesting that one profession is more 'noble' or 'better' than another. The suggestion has simply been made that while you are caught up in the whirlwind of activity that constitutes this application cycle, stop and think outside yourself for a second and realise that for all the craziness that you are going through and the anxiety you are experiencing, there's someone on the other end of the phone that is the recipient of your neuroses. And if only for that brief second that you're on the phone, have alittle respect for the fact that the voice on the phone or the person sending you an e-mail is not communicating exclusively with you and that if you check the MSAR, there are thousands of other people applying, all simultaneously. For every interview you schedule, there are many, MANY hours of preparation, schedule coordinating, and other responsibilities that must be accomplished before you even get there. That's not to say that these people are superhuman by any means, but simply that if you are the humanitarian that you would like your interviewers to think you are, then simply show it when you interact with the many adminstrative assistants and other personnel trying to help you through this process. No need to deify these people, but being an approchable, reasonable human is enough.

Be NICE!