Hi guys, i am lucky enough to have my mother as a doctor in the family. Is there any way this could be advantageous for my journey into med school? if so, how can i make the most of it?
Thanks
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Advantages of a parent as a doctor?
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Through your mom's professional contacts, it should be easy to set up a variety of physician shadowing opportunities. You won't have to make calls to multiple doc's offices trying to cadge an observer's spot.
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I also think the value in having a mom as a doctor is having somebody who can guide you through your undergraduate years and help you make smart decisions between balancing coursework and extracurriculars
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One would hope, however practicing docs not intersecting with medical education may not have a realistic idea of what ECs are expected these days. Twenty to thirty years ago shadowing, nonmedical volunteering, research, and leadership weren't emphasized as much.
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Be prepared for the inevitable question related to how much your mother has influenced you to pursue medicine. Keep in mind, this question is open ended and can be used to deduce whether or not your mom influenced you, or "pushed you". Make sure your answer represents the former..and if by chance it happens to be the latter...push back!!!
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It really depends on their specialty and how familiar they are with med school *now*.
My parent who is a doctor has helped me get access to some really cool experiences but ultimately those aren't probably going to be all that helpful for admissions. They also completely don't understand the current admissions process and they give me terrible advice all the time. It's a double-edge sword.
My parent who is a doctor has helped me get access to some really cool experiences but ultimately those aren't probably going to be all that helpful for admissions. They also completely don't understand the current admissions process and they give me terrible advice all the time. It's a double-edge sword.
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Some schools' secondary applications have a section that asks for your affiliations/ties with their school. So if you plan on going to the same school your mother attended, that might be a tad helpful!
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Let me pass on an SDN story of how legacy can bite you in the butt: One interviewee was castigated as to why her mother hadn't donated more money to her alma mater over the intervening years. It's unbelievable to me that 1) someone actually looked this up, and 2) they yelled, yes yelled, at a child about it.
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My mom is a physician and it absolutely afforded me advantages. We have a great relationship, so growing up I had someone who was always willing to talk about all aspects of their job with me--medical knowledge, the day-to-day life, etc. She never pushed, just fueled my interests.
On the more tangible side, the practice gave me a job working with EHR for several summers and I had an easy in for shadowing. Can't dispute the value of those benefits.
I did have one interviewer say, "Oh, your mom's a doctor? Bet she wasn't around much, huh?" which was annoying, but otherwise no one ever challenged my motivations for pursuing medicine.
On the more tangible side, the practice gave me a job working with EHR for several summers and I had an easy in for shadowing. Can't dispute the value of those benefits.
I did have one interviewer say, "Oh, your mom's a doctor? Bet she wasn't around much, huh?" which was annoying, but otherwise no one ever challenged my motivations for pursuing medicine.
Primary benefit for me was access to shadowing. Got access to some cool experiences that would have been difficult for someone without a doctor in the family.
Wasn't super helpful in actually helping me with the application process. My dad didn't get his MD in the US, so he was even less familiar with it than other doctors his age.
Downsides: You will have some people assume you're going into medicine because your parents pressured you into it (and it's a double whammy if you're Asian)
Wasn't super helpful in actually helping me with the application process. My dad didn't get his MD in the US, so he was even less familiar with it than other doctors his age.
Downsides: You will have some people assume you're going into medicine because your parents pressured you into it (and it's a double whammy if you're Asian)
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They'll probably be more understanding of your career aspirations. You won't have a mom that always says, "Why don't you just become an orthopedic surgeon?" or "Become a plastic surgeon so you can give me plastic surgery"
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My mom is a doctor and she is always telling me to go into plastics lol.
Honestly, this sounds like a pipe dream in most cases (unless your parent is quite young and/or actually works in admissions).
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In all likelihood, your family is in the top 1-2% by income in the US. Don't discount the role that money plays in this process: tutoring, coaching, travel expenses, unpaid internships, etc.
You have a handy answer when asked if you understand the lifestyle & demands of the profession.
You have a foot in the door in getting shadowing opportunities with your parent's colleagues, summer research opportunities, networking.
Frankly, I think that parents are not helpful in the admissions process unless they have first hand knowledge of the process today vs. 25-30 years ago when they applied.
You have a handy answer when asked if you understand the lifestyle & demands of the profession.
You have a foot in the door in getting shadowing opportunities with your parent's colleagues, summer research opportunities, networking.
Frankly, I think that parents are not helpful in the admissions process unless they have first hand knowledge of the process today vs. 25-30 years ago when they applied.
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To answer you question, here are a few threads that could help:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/parents-are-doctors-advantage.1047808/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...-help-when-applying-to-medical-school.911274/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pre-meds-with-parents-as-physicians.215771/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/doctors-kids.691706/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/m-d-s-for-parents-mention-it.938439/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...oes-that-really-mean-i-have-to-shadow.829904/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...ians-does-it-increase-your-acceptance.637550/
On the opposite end of things:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...cians-in-my-family-affect-admissions.1190357/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...-requirements-select-for-the-wealthy.1188149/
Please try utilizing the search function when possible. It helps prevent us from rehashing things that have been discussed a million times before. Bump an old thread if you're really feeling that the information contained therein did not fully answer your question, but there is nothing that will be said in this thread that hasn't bee said a million times before.
https://www.google.com/search?q=doe...ome..69i57.12839j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/parents-are-doctors-advantage.1047808/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...-help-when-applying-to-medical-school.911274/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pre-meds-with-parents-as-physicians.215771/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/doctors-kids.691706/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/m-d-s-for-parents-mention-it.938439/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...oes-that-really-mean-i-have-to-shadow.829904/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...ians-does-it-increase-your-acceptance.637550/
On the opposite end of things:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...cians-in-my-family-affect-admissions.1190357/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...-requirements-select-for-the-wealthy.1188149/
Please try utilizing the search function when possible. It helps prevent us from rehashing things that have been discussed a million times before. Bump an old thread if you're really feeling that the information contained therein did not fully answer your question, but there is nothing that will be said in this thread that hasn't bee said a million times before.
https://www.google.com/search?q=doe...ome..69i57.12839j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Thanks for your reply. Could you elaborate on summer research opportunities? I live in Canada in a small city so i'm not too familiar with that aspect
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Must be nice to have mum or dad or both who are doctors. I can only imagine the conversations / talks on what it's like. Mine works as warehouse assembler and they cried seeing me graduate from college and working a job making over $8/hr.
I went to college with kids who's parents were physicians and the things I worry about like financials, they never had to worry about it. So for me, that was the only benefit I saw first hand by having friends who live that life.
I went to college with kids who's parents were physicians and the things I worry about like financials, they never had to worry about it. So for me, that was the only benefit I saw first hand by having friends who live that life.
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For me, shadowing was stupid easy to do, and it took me about 2 hours to schedule and update all of my immunization records. I also have access to a person who has completed every stage of the medical training that I'm about to undergo. I'd say that it is an advantage
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Students of doctors have many privileges that us people who's parents aren't. You don't have to work, allowing for more accessibility in regards to tutoring times, study time, and unpaid work. This unpaid work can include shadowing and internships as well as just general volunteering. I saw a few friends who parents were dentists and MDs and they enjoyed their college experience and were able to get As because all they did was study and when not studying they partied. Also their parents had friends on the med and dental school adcom so you know "I scratch your back you scratch mine" came into play as well.
Its a gift appreciate it for what it is and use the search button more often.
Its a gift appreciate it for what it is and use the search button more often.
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You definitely have significant advantages if your parent's are doctors. However, keep in mind that you still have to have the right personality and work ethic.
My mom started off working in a factory before she became a doctor, so i know that feeling during my early years. Good for you man! you should be proud
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Was it a stress interview possibly?
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It's the school's fault for not including that as part of the admission requirement when her mother applied to the school. I mean, it's not like they should be shy at asking for crazy things.
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Seems like a good way to be sure the candidate didn't want to attend. And a great strategy to make sure the mom never donated another penny.
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I can see the many advantages, but there are also some obvious disadvantages. I hate to generalize, but I can't imagine someone who grew up with a physician for a parent struggled for much. Probably grew up rarely interacting with lower/middle class people, and I think thats a huge disadvantage. Not to knock anyone with a physician as a parent though.
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Maybe some of your parent's former classmates do research and would have a program for undergrads to do summer research. It is about networking and using contacts to identify opportunities. It might mean going away from home for a summer.
So basically, connections and networking is the advantage you get with having a physician parent? So if my dad owns a group but doesn't have his own outpatient clinic, it's still an advantage?
Also, how important is this in interviews? And is it for the better or worse? It sounds like you need to be very careful when answering these questions.
As someone mentioned earlier, it sounds like coming from a family with higher income is a disadvantage because you never had to struggle money wise. But I feel like proper volunteering and showing dedication to helping the undeserved could make up for that.
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Also, how important is this in interviews? And is it for the better or worse? It sounds like you need to be very careful when answering these questions.
As someone mentioned earlier, it sounds like coming from a family with higher income is a disadvantage because you never had to struggle money wise. But I feel like proper volunteering and showing dedication to helping the undeserved could make up for that.
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Someone that comes from a family of money can't control that. Just don't act like a snob and you'll be fine. Unfortunately though, people might make assumptions I guess.
I think its a really good question. A lot of premeds have a doctor as a parent and they wonder the same thing. Also, he doesn't sound like he's bragging to me. I think you are assuming too much from what he's said.
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As someone who grew up in a very poor family and who continues to "struggle money wise" ... my life was difficult and I would not wish growing up in that type of environment on my worst enemy. Please don't say being from a family with a higher income is a disadvantage. It's an insult to everyone who did not come from wealth. Your statement is honestly on par with the people who complain about URMs having a higher chance of receiving a medical school acceptance than ORMs. I don't want to derail this thread, but I sincerely hope you take a moment to think about what you've said and consider the blessings you've had in your life that many people have not had the opportunity to have. Good luck with your medical school applications.
I was just quoting the person two comments above mine. You're completely right of course. I was just referring to specifically the application process. But yeah I agree with what you say.
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Ah, apologies! I see the comment you're responding to now, I must have missed it on the first pass. While I understand what you and @GoCubsGo20 are trying to say, I think the disadvantages to growing up "comfortably" (though for physicians, that's a generalization, not all physicians are very wealthy of course) don't outweigh the benefits you might find growing up in that kind of situation. However, no one's life is perfect and we can only make the best with hand that we've been dealt.
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But growing up interacting with the people that volunteers serve cannot be replaced. Just my opinion though
Definitely agree! I think life is what you make of it, not how you might start out.Ah, apologies! I see the comment you're responding to now, I must have missed it on the first pass. While I understand what you and @GoCubsGo20 are trying to say, I think the disadvantages to growing up "comfortably" (though for physicians, that's a generalization, not all physicians are very wealthy of course) don't outweigh the benefits you might find growing up in that kind of situation. However, no one's life is perfect and we can only make the best with hand that we've been dealt.
It did come up in my interviews, but not a lot of time was spent on it. From what I remember, I was asked what kind of medicine my dad practiced and whether his being a doctor influenced my decision to pursue medicine.
Just answer the questions like a normal human being and you'll be fine.
