Am I Being an Idiot???

[wizeguy]

So I wrote update letters to the schools I'm waitlisted at - and in them, one of the things that I mentioned was that for a hobby (and basically to give myself a bit of a break) I have begun to take cooking classes (just once a week - again for fun)....anyway, now I"m sitting here thinking

"Will they read that and think, what an idiot? He should be constantly raising his gpa, even during the summer - what's he doing taking cooking class?"

Or do you think its not a big deal and they'll read it as it was intended - which is to say - I'm not just a book nerd - I also do some things for fun....?

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[Apparition]

As long as it's not the only activity you listed, it's fine. It shows that you know how to relax and balance your life, which helps in medicine. Maybe it will grab their attention. They probably go through many of these but they'll read yours and be startled "huh, did it say cooking? that really does say cooking, hmmm.."

 

[wizeguy]

I just hope they read into what I intended - which is, its one night a week for 3 hours - but I didn't write that - and so I hope they don't read into it like "what is he doing? does he want to become a cook???!!!"

and yes, I did mention in there as well my continuing research, along with my clinical volunteering...

 

[jackieMD2007]

I know this is so hard for you...but you already sent it.

The good news is I think the cooking class is something fun and definitely NEW! It is not like you regurgitated all of your EC's again or something.

 

[wizeguy]

I know I already sent it - but is it a terrible thing/big deal or am I just being completely ridiculous and neurotic?

Please, I Hope its the latter of the two! lol...

 

[jackieMD2007]

Relax! If it was well written and positive, I'm sure that its fine. They might not even read it, just pull your file to put it in there. Maybe them pulling your file will bring them closer to making a decision.

I am just supposing here.

 

[wizeguy]

I think I just answered my own question....I'm being ridiculous!!! Anyone who reads that just says "whatever - he's taking cooking classes - something fun to do" - I mean its not like I wrote that I enrolled at a culinary institute!!! .... i'm just being a nervous waitlister.....right? right?! 🙂 lol...thoughts?

 

[foofish]

IMHO, it's fine--something a little different, i.e. a refreshing break from the usual I'm talking calculus XXIIV/stalking 15 doctors/curing cancer updates and makes you a little more multi-dimensional. I'd say at worst they'd just ignore it...I can't see how you doing something fun to expand your horizons a little bit can be a bad thing.

 

[DrA]

IMHO, it's fine--something a little different, i.e. a refreshing break from the usual I'm talking calculus XXIIV/stalking 15 doctors/curing cancer updates and makes you a little more multi-dimensional. I'd say at worst they'd just ignore it...I can't see how you doing something fun to expand your horizons a little bit can be a bad thing.

Exactly...it cant be a bad thing, but probably is a good thing. So stop obsessing about it.

 

[CptCrunch]

You should've sent them some samples. I think some magic brownies would do the trick.

 

[kaat44]

You sound like me--I am convinced that for some reason schools that have accepted me will write me emails saying they made a mistake and that I am not really accepted.

And I am being crazy! We need to chill out. It sounds interesting that you are into cooking. I wrote about how I was training for a marathon and taking Spanish classes in some of my secondaries. It makes you sound like an interesting, well-rounded person (I think) and plenty of people mention hobbies that have nothing to do with medicine. I mean, if you had to pick between the person who studies all the time and racks up meaningless medical experiences, and the person who tries out new things and is genuinely interested in what he/she does, who would you pick?

Worst case scenario, they say, oh, that was awkward of him to mention cooking and then forget it. The overall point of your letter is more important and cooking makes you seem interesting anyway.