Another Adcom, ask me (almost) anything

[TREDWISE]

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Time for some scotch, we can pick this up again tomorrow or Saturday.

haha of course I just miss my chance to ask a question! Oh well, thank you!

 

[IgEdoc]

Time for some scotch, we can pick this up again tomorrow or Saturday.

Putting aside a fine Pinot Noir and picking up tomorrow my first single malt, an 18 yo Oban
Pays to be curious...thanks, hushcom

 

[Santana90]

How does being gay affect an applicants chances? (Given that the applicant provides examples of how he faced and overcame challenges from being gay)

 

[kingjameslbj]

.

 

[touchpause13]

How does being gay affect an applicants chances? (Given that the applicant provides examples of how he faced and overcame challenges from being gay)

No. You do NOT get to pull that. You are not gay. You should not fake being gay to get into med school. That is unethical and messed up in the head.

 

[JmsD]

No. You do NOT get to pull that. You are not gay. You should not fake being gay to get into med school. That is unethical and messed up in the head.

Maybe they're talking about their friend again...

 

[touchpause13]

"Friend"

 

[Influence]

Are you going to get verified and give us advice for many years to come like our wonderful adcoms now? This would be the ultimate troll thread if you weren't actually a physician or adcom lol. Nevertheless thanks for taking the time to help guide us.

 

[Chillywilly]

No. You do NOT get to pull that. You are not gay. You should not fake being gay to get into med school. That is unethical and messed up in the head.

Yeah that is messed up. I am actually gay and I can tell you that it really won't increase your chances of acceptance if you bring up adversity of being gay on secondaries and during the interview. In one of my interviews the person asked me to tell him/her something about myself that wasn't on my applications. I panicked and couldn't think of anything, so I said I was gay. It was fine, we had a long convo about how the interviewer had so many gay friends, and how the LGBTQ community is underserved in medicine in some way.

But lying about being gay for sake of acceptance is wrong, and it really won't increase your chances. In fact it can even hurt your chances depending on which schools you apply to. Every school says they don't discriminate on the applicant's background, but if you mention something about yourself that one of the adcom members doesn't like, you'll be rejected...and you'll never explicitly know why.

 

[touchpause13]

I'm queer and I wasn't out in my applications because I didn't want to risk it, although my ECs could have given it away.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

@hushcom
Again thank you for answering these. Should you mention that you visit SDN in your interviews? Is this looked upon positively, negatively or neutral. Feel free to state biases as well.

Thanks!

 

[DokterMom]

Just graduated with a BA in lib arts. Career changing, with no big professional work experience. No EC's. I will be taking my prereqs starting this summer and taking the mcat once i finish. Where should i even start! I am a AA URM from 2 emigrant parents, lived in poverty growing up. Its been very hard to even get where im at today but im ready for the next challenge. What would be the best EC's to do with the short period of time i have and what you recommend to get my application looking good? Is applying with just EC's bad or is shadowing/research an absolute must

Absolutely spend some time in a medical environment first - shadowing, clinic volunteering, etc. First order of business is to make 100% sure you really want to be a doctor. If you can find a volunteer gig in an under-served or disadvantaged area that's something you genuinely care about (for example, in an immigrant community?) then stick with it while you take your pre-reqs, that will go a long way.

 

[bluepeach9]

Hi Hushcom! Thank you so much for this! 🙂

I was wondering...does study abroad make applicants stand out or interesting in any way? I am planning to study abroad to pursue my passion for music and art (so I'm not doing it just for medical school...I just think this will be an incredible experience I don't want to miss!). I also plan to get hospital experience in order to understand the healthcare system in the country I choose to study in.

How is this looked upon?

 

[aspiring20]

Thank you so much for doing this. I have two questions; one is very serious, the other, not so much.

1) How does your school (or you specifically) view/deal with applicants with institutional actions? I am not talking about major infractions like cheating or serious drug offenses; I am talking about things like minor alcohol infractions or other even less serious violations.

2) What kind of car do you drive?

 

[hushcom]

Putting aside a fine Pinot Noir and picking up tomorrow my first single malt, an 18 yo Oban
Pays to be curious...thanks, hushcom

My pleasure? It took me awhile to develop a taste for it, but now there is no going back. Thankfully my unsophisticated palate prevents me from spending too much. For the most part.

 

[hushcom]

How does being gay affect an applicants chances? (Given that the applicant provides examples of how he faced and overcame challenges from being gay)

Depends on the circumstances, but it certainly can present significant challenges, and therefore provides some insight into how a person deals with obstacles. Sexual orientation is only one facet of person, though, and I try to treat it as such.

 

[swolebrah]

How much emphasis do you put in the grades in organic chemistry compared to other science pre requisites as well as upper level 4xxx classes.

 

[Iatro]

Opinions on post interview LOR?

 

[hushcom]

Just graduated with a BA in lib arts. Career changing, with no big professional work experience. No EC's. I will be taking my prereqs starting this summer and taking the mcat once i finish. Where should i even start! I am a AA URM from 2 emigrant parents, lived in poverty growing up. Its been very hard to even get where im at today but im ready for the next challenge. What would be the best EC's to do with the short period of time i have and what you recommend to get my application looking good? Is applying with just EC's bad or is shadowing/research an absolute must

I cannot tell you what ECs to get involved in, it depends on you to decide what you may enjoy and how much time you have to expend. However, offhand I can think of any number of things that could strike your fancy, from tutoring disadvantaged school children, to Habitat for Humanity, to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the local volunteer firefighters or ambulance corps, etc. etc. Many colleges and universities have relationships with local charities and causes, so you may wish to inquire and get some ideas from either your alma mater or the school where you will start this summer. When you find a good one it does not seem like an obligation at all; you look forward to contributing and it gets better with time.

 

[hushcom]

How much emphasis do you put in the grades in organic chemistry compared to other science pre requisites as well as upper level 4xxx classes.

That's a tough one. Ask five adcom members and you'll get seven answers. Some still consider it the gold standard of weed-out classes, others don't care as long as you got above a D. I'm sort of in the middle. An A is great, a B is fine, a C is okay if you perform well in other areas. I consider it troublesome if you retake it and don't improve much. Performing well in upper level science classes is a big plus, even if you had trouble in organic.

 

[awildfandango]

Will the post secondary enrollment option classes that I took at a local community college as a 15-17 year old while in high school be considered by admission committees?

 

[hushcom]

I'm queer and I wasn't out in my applications because I didn't want to risk it, although my ECs could have given it away.

I find that sad. While nobody should feel compelled to disclose their sexual orientation, it's a shame if you withheld because you thought it a risk. If it is germane to your identity and development then you should feel free to include it. While there are certainly exceptions, as a whole I have found physicians to be pretty socially liberal. Perhaps it is just the circles I run in.

 

[hushcom]

Are you going to get verified and give us advice for many years to come like our wonderful adcoms now? This would be the ultimate troll thread if you weren't actually a physician or adcom lol. Nevertheless thanks for taking the time to help guide us.

If this thread does not completely burn me out I will get verified. I know how important street cred is on the interwebs.

 

[hushcom]

@hushcom
Again thank you for answering these. Should you mention that you visit SDN in your interviews? Is this looked upon positively, negatively or neutral. Feel free to state biases as well.

Thanks!

I have never had anyone bring it up, although I have check our school-specific thread here and seen some appalling lack of creativity in user names. If your name is Dave Primrose and your handle is "DPrim1980" it makes me want to try and get your acceptance revoked.

In case anyone is wondering, I made up David Primrose just now, and apologize to anyone with the handle DPrim1980.

 

[hushcom]

Absolutely spend some time in a medical environment first - shadowing, clinic volunteering, etc. First order of business is to make 100% sure you really want to be a doctor. If you can find a volunteer gig in an under-served or disadvantaged area that's something you genuinely care about (for example, in an immigrant community?) then stick with it while you take your pre-reqs, that will go a long way.

Great advice. A lack of ECs can be forgivable, but I consider having no serious exposure to your supposed career choice a deal breaker.

 

[hushcom]

Hi Hushcom! Thank you so much for this! 🙂

I was wondering...does study abroad make applicants stand out or interesting in any way? I am planning to study abroad to pursue my passion for music and art (so I'm not doing it just for medical school...I just think this will be an incredible experience I don't want to miss!). I also plan to get hospital experience in order to understand the healthcare system in the country I choose to study in.

How is this looked upon?

This sounds like a potentially great experience. When I read applications pre-interview I always try to pick out some areas in the applicant's past that are noteworthy and ask about them. Sometimes they lead to very interesting discussions, where a person's time abroad and the insight they gained from experiencing a different society have added to their maturity. Less commonly I have had people with extremely little to report about their time abroad, as if they spent the whole time partying with other Americans in the nearest bar. That is not so impressive.

 

[touchpause13]

I find that sad. While nobody should feel compelled to disclose their sexual orientation, it's a shame if you withheld because you thought it a risk. If it is germane to your identity and development then you should feel free to include it. While there are certainly exceptions, as a whole I have found physicians to be pretty socially liberal. Perhaps it is just the circles I run in.

Thanks for the response. I'm glad to hear that perspective from someone of your stature. I am going to be attending a LGBTQ friendly school and hopefully I will have no problems being out there.

As an aside, have you ever caught someone in a lie during am interview? If so what happened? Thanks

 

[hushcom]

Thank you so much for doing this. I have two questions; one is very serious, the other, not so much.

1) How does your school (or you specifically) view/deal with applicants with institutional actions? I am not talking about major infractions like cheating or serious drug offenses; I am talking about things like minor alcohol infractions or other even less serious violations.

Almost everyone on the committee finds them laughable, and unfortunate that you have to report them at all. While it is theoretically possible to rack up enough alcohol violations to make us think that you really do have a drinking problem, I have not seen it yet. Isolated misdemeanors are usually not much an issue, either, but the ice gets much thinner. A single DUI in an otherwise strong candidate can get overlooked. Multiple convictions, however, require a lot of time and some extraordinary circumstances to be forgiven.

2) What kind of car do you drive?

One that is mostly metal.

 

[hushcom]

Thanks for the response. I'm glad to hear that perspective from someone of your stature. I am going to be attending a LGBTQ friendly school and hopefully I will have no problems being out there.

As an aside, have you ever caught someone in a lie during am interview? If so what happened? Thanks

Not an outright, bald-faced, cannot deny it lie, but I have determined mid-interview that people have embellished parts of their application beyond acceptability. When this happens I spend a lot of time seeking clarification, because I do not want it to be the result of an honest misunderstanding. Failing that the rest of the interview becomes both easy and difficult, because I know the person is toast but I cannot just get up and walk out.

 

[hushcom]

Opinions on post interview LOR?

You mean a fresh LOR after the interview? Unless it's from the governor don't bother.

 

[Chillywilly]

.

 

[solitarius]

If this thread does not completely burn me out I will get verified. I know how important street cred is on the interwebs.

Betting on a burnout.

SDN pre-allo does that to sane people. Most of the questions on this thread don't seem half-bad.

 

[hushcom]

Will the post secondary enrollment option classes that I took at a local community college as a 15-17 year old while in high school be considered by admission committees?

If they appear via AMCAS they will get "considered," but if most of your academic history comes afterward they will likely be of little significance.

 

[aspiring20]

Almost everyone on the committee finds them laughable, and unfortunate that you have to report them at all. While it is theoretically possible to rack up enough alcohol violations to make us think that you really do have a drinking problem, I have not seen it yet. Isolated misdemeanors are usually not much an issue, either, but the ice gets much thinner. A single DUI in an otherwise strong candidate can get overlooked. Multiple convictions, however, require a lot of time and some extraordinary circumstances to be forgiven.



One that is mostly metal.

wow that is good to hear. i have a minor IA that did not involve alcohol violations, academic issues, or any criminal misconduct. i am still angry that i received it to begin with, but at least there's a good chance that it wont derail my app.

 

[Iatro]

You mean a fresh LOR after the interview? Unless it's from the governor don't bother.

It is from a research position I didn't start until after I submitted my application. It would be from a physician associated with the medical school (Professor/Chair)

 

[3rdarmageddon]

Thanks for doing this Hushcom,

You mentioned earlier that this process is not random, but last year I had a pretty dismal season (one late acceptance off a wait list that I had to turn down for personal reasons), yet I have had much more success this year. The adcoms that I talked to about my app last year all couldn't see a reason for my lack of success. I know this question is hard to answer without having my files, but can you think of any reason other than randomness that this might have happened? I ended up attending a professional school in the year off and probably represented myself better this time around, but the lack of clarity from last year is a little mystifying.

 

[hushcom]

Thanks for doing this Hushcom,

You mentioned earlier that this process is not random, but last year I had a pretty dismal season (one late acceptance off a wait list that I had to turn down for personal reasons), yet I have had much more success this year. The adcoms that I talked to about my app last year all couldn't see a reason for my lack of success. I know this question is hard to answer without having my files, but can you think of any reason other than randomness that this might have happened? I ended up attending a professional school in the year off and probably represented myself better this time around, but the lack of clarity from last year is a little mystifying.

I have no profound reason to offer, other than non-random does not mean that some decent applicants will not fall through the cracks. Perhaps your luck just threaded the needle last year. Perhaps you did bring your A game to the interviews this year, and maybe your interviewers decided to advocate for you like they did not last cycle. There are many possibilities, but if this year has gone better then congratulations. Time to move on to the next challenge.

 

[hushcom]

It is from a research position I didn't start until after I submitted my application. It would be from a physician associated with the medical school (Professor/Chair)

If the position did not start until after you submitted then your professional relationship with this person has not lasted very long, which will potentially diminish the impact of his/her LOR. If your new boss knows someone on the committee a phone call might help, but these things can seriously backfire if you push too hard. Tread carefully.

 

[wiloghby]

I'm queer and I wasn't out in my applications because I didn't want to risk it, although my ECs could have given it away.

+1

 

[acslater99]

Do you view applicants who have gone to a community college and transfered to a university the same as a applicant who had atteneded a university for 4 years?

Personally, would you care if a applicant has done "some" prerequisites in the community college? Or would you rather see that person do all of his/hers prerequisites during the university? Thanks.

 

[Iatro]

If the position did not start until after you submitted then your professional relationship with this person has not lasted very long, which will potentially diminish the impact of his/her LOR. If your new boss knows someone on the committee a phone call might help, but these things can seriously backfire if you push too hard. Tread carefully.

It has been for a period of ~6 months.

 

[medschoolmyname]

Has an interview ever made the difference in your experience when a committee is apprehensive about an applicant?

 

[chenzt]

I have never had anyone bring it up, although I have check our school-specific thread here and seen some appalling lack of creativity in user names. If your name is Dave Primrose and your handle is "DPrim1980" it makes me want to try and get your acceptance revoked.

In case anyone is wondering, I made up David Primrose just now, and apologize to anyone with the handle DPrim1980.

Have you ever tried to revoke someone's acceptance because of SDN presence or other internet sites?

 

[TotalDomination]

An odd situation. Most schools I am aware of are sophisticated enough to not interview a lot of people who are considered to have low probability of attending. If you have any more interviews coming up you may consider informing your interviewer up front about the disappointing season. Still being on the market in February/March may cajole somebody into snapping you up. Assuming, of course, that there is not some other reason you are having no luck.

Nope, my app is solid generally speaking. If I let them know that my season has been disapointing, don't you think that will make me look like a loser and raise a red flag?

 

[Goro]

If I may chime in, sexual orientation will be completely irrelevant to Adcoms except at LUCOM and maybe Loma Linda. Don't know about schools like BU, Creighton, Loyola, etc. On the flip side, I routine urge applicants that it be relevant to them if they're considering schools in small rural locations, where the school itself might be welcoming, but the outside community might not.

I'm queer and I wasn't out in my applications because I didn't want to risk it, although my ECs could have given it away.

Touchpause, you're on a roll with some great questions! I have personally seen this happen twice. One guy lied about shadowing a DO whom my colleague actually knew, and thus knew that he was lying because the DO was not at that particular hospital...it's interesting to see someone try to disappear into the back of the chair when caught in a lie.

Both liars were outright rejected.


as an aside, have you ever caught someone in a lie during am interview? If so what happened?

 

[smallbiz2doc]

A genuine career-changer, on the other hand, faces a different set of questions that center around the decision to make such a dramatic shift. It will benefit your chances if you have been successful as an attorney, and can sell the story as a dream deferred rather than a desperate attempt to exit a failing career.

Would initial intentions for going back to school, such as exiting a failing career (or having completely messed up first college experience winding up with a very low level career) overshadow later experiences that provide more noble reasons to continue? While my initial motivations had to do with wanting a more prestigious and intellectually stimulating career, my interest in science and watching myself actually get out and do things in the community is giving this path a whole new meaning. I am really enjoying this journey and do not want to see my less than noble motivations for going back to school in the first place put everything after that in question.

 

[choyphin]

I'm queer and I wasn't out in my applications because I didn't want to risk it, although my ECs could have given it away.

If one were involved in queer activism/demonstrated leadership in the context of their queer identity, I think it's important to talk about it, if not in essays, then during interviews.

 

[hushcom]

Do you view applicants who have gone to a community college and transfered to a university the same as a applicant who had atteneded a university for 4 years?

Personally, would you care if a applicant has done "some" prerequisites in the community college? Or would you rather see that person do all of his/hers prerequisites during the university? Thanks.

If you have done well at community college and done well talking challenging courses at the university then I can see no reason to view that negatively. Many applicants start in CC, particularly those coming from CA, and it has everything to do with money. I would warn against taking all your prereqs in CC and then coasting through university. It may help your GPA but I will see right through it.

 

[hushcom]

It has been for a period of ~6 months.

Is this person offering a LOR or are you thinking of soliciting help?

 

[hushcom]

What are your thoughts on working both as a full-time research technician and a part-time emergency department scribe for my gap year?

I originally thought that doing both would be a productive way to bolster both my research and clinical experiences prior to applying, but a doctor I recently shadowed advised me that this would be a waste of a year and told me to apply as soon as possible. However, I'm a bit disinclined to apply this cycle, as my clinical experiences are rather limited so far. I think scribing would also be a huge confirmation for medicine as a career choice if I end up loving it.

Tough call, and I don't think I can tell you which way to go. If you know you are going to apply eventually there is merit in not waiting (assuming your ducks are otherwise lined up), but if you really do feel that you need some more consideration before taking the plunge then take the gap year. Once you start med school it is difficult to turn around, so be thoughtful before you have to be all in.