and pull for you? Did it help? What if they are alumni?
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Anyone had/have a Dr call a med school on your behalf?..
- Thread starter jlsrn
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i had a dr call for me... or so she claimed she did. i didnt ask for it. but i dont think it did much good cuz i still dont have an interview there.
i dont think a dr calling in for you is a big help, except if they are on the adm committee, which in that case they wouldnt need to call 😀
i dont think a dr calling in for you is a big help, except if they are on the adm committee, which in that case they wouldnt need to call 😀
Is anyone else sickened by this post?
I guess I am alone...
I guess I am alone...
scooby, you just wanted to use the vomitting graemlin. but, yes, it is a bit disheartening that we've gotten to this level so early in the process.
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My ob/gyn is on the admissons committee at the school I applied to. He also sits on the interview panel. I guess he'll have to excuse himself from my interview for obvious reasons... 🙂
Scooby,
Are you suggesting that connections might taint the meritocracy that is the med school admissions process? Heavens!
Are you suggesting that connections might taint the meritocracy that is the med school admissions process? Heavens!
Unfortunately, connections is the way the REAL world works. Period. It's now what you know, it's.... 🙄
Gotta learn to play sometime or another. Wish I had some.
Gotta learn to play sometime or another. Wish I had some.
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Someone has spent too much time in a liberal college. In the REAL world, success is determined by equal parts hard work, knowing people, and being in the right place at the right time. Screw qualifications. There are more people "qualified" for success than will ever be successful. Grow up; get out into the real world once a week...
Sorry for the rant, but I hate the egalitarian "change the world because its not right" attitude.
Sorry for the rant, but I hate the egalitarian "change the world because its not right" attitude.
You send written recommendations right..what the heck is the difference if you have an oral one? Obviously there is no difference. So for those sickened by this post..don't respond. I hope that your written reccomendations "pull" for you. I didn't say I was getting political here, or I didn't ask if a Dr called and could "just get you in"...I asked if they could pull for you, "put in a good word", a good rec...show your interest in this one particular school.
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I too am sickened. Between this, and the "appealing your rejections" post, I am speechless. 🙁
btw - the reason I am sickened is because having someone (a doc or anyone else) call on your behelf is not part of the admissions process. Maybe it should be, maybe it shouldn't - that's not the issue. The issue is that someone who does this is trying to strengthen their candidacy in a manner that either a) other applicants are not aware of or b)not available to other applicants. What's next, having your doctor mom/dad call the admissions committee? Give me a freakin break. I'm not posting to sound like a jerk here, and believe it or not I am not an ultra-competitive person - I just think that this goes too far and is quite frankly in bad taste. Also, sorry, this is not the way the "real" world works. That's a poor attempt at justification - whenever you appeal to "that's just the way it is" you know it's a bad argument. Just my thoughts, though I am adament (sp?) about them.
btw - the reason I am sickened is because having someone (a doc or anyone else) call on your behelf is not part of the admissions process. Maybe it should be, maybe it shouldn't - that's not the issue. The issue is that someone who does this is trying to strengthen their candidacy in a manner that either a) other applicants are not aware of or b)not available to other applicants. What's next, having your doctor mom/dad call the admissions committee? Give me a freakin break. I'm not posting to sound like a jerk here, and believe it or not I am not an ultra-competitive person - I just think that this goes too far and is quite frankly in bad taste. Also, sorry, this is not the way the "real" world works. That's a poor attempt at justification - whenever you appeal to "that's just the way it is" you know it's a bad argument. Just my thoughts, though I am adament (sp?) about them.
Umm...I think that's a stupid idea. I'm pretty sure most of us know doc's pretty just from going to one every once in a while. If that's the case, why not just let everyone get their Dr to call???
I've gotta agree with TwoSteveSquared and jjbiv on this one, especially after having gone through the med school application process, and having observed the residency and fellowship selection process and the physician hiring process through the applicant and the faculty side. People make use of and rely upon their connections all the time -- to find a job, to find a place to live, to meet potential significant others, etc. Making connections and networking is part of the reason why people attend certain universities, certain law schools, join organizations like fraternities and sororities, professional and pre-professional societies, etc. It's probably the primary reason that most people attend business school! And it's probably a factor for many people in simply choosing a med school -- going to a school where they will have the opportunity to meet well-known faculty in a particular field, and using those contacts when applying for residency.
I'm not sure to what extent connections help during the med school admissions process -- I think to a large extent it depends on the school, and what kind of a connection it is. However, when it comes time for residency and fellowship applications, it does seem to help significantly.
As for med school applications, I think the timing of using a connection is pretty important -- it may backfire on you if it is too early in the process, ie, like trying to get an interview. I think it is probably more helpful post-interview when you are waiting for a decision or if you are waitlisted or being held for further consideration. If you know an alum of the school who would be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation on your behalf at this point, this would probably be the time to do so. However, make sure it's someone who knows you well; if it's just like a friend of your parents who has never really met you, it would probably be more harmful than anything else.
I'm not sure to what extent connections help during the med school admissions process -- I think to a large extent it depends on the school, and what kind of a connection it is. However, when it comes time for residency and fellowship applications, it does seem to help significantly.
As for med school applications, I think the timing of using a connection is pretty important -- it may backfire on you if it is too early in the process, ie, like trying to get an interview. I think it is probably more helpful post-interview when you are waiting for a decision or if you are waitlisted or being held for further consideration. If you know an alum of the school who would be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation on your behalf at this point, this would probably be the time to do so. However, make sure it's someone who knows you well; if it's just like a friend of your parents who has never really met you, it would probably be more harmful than anything else.
jls
i first want to say that you do whatever you have to do to get into medical school...as long as it is within the law.
I worked at a hospital and had doctors write me letters of rec. my family doctor also wrote me one, and unknown to me, called the school on my behalf. I didn't get in that time around, but i did get in this year.
i hope to model my life and my practice after my family doctor. he has helped me immensely in my drive toward medical school and im my personal life. why would i not want such a wonderful person to contact a medical school on my behalf. I consider it a compliment.
have a good day guys. jls, where are you going or applying to? i will be in syracuse next year? maybe i will see you there.
later
i first want to say that you do whatever you have to do to get into medical school...as long as it is within the law.
I worked at a hospital and had doctors write me letters of rec. my family doctor also wrote me one, and unknown to me, called the school on my behalf. I didn't get in that time around, but i did get in this year.
i hope to model my life and my practice after my family doctor. he has helped me immensely in my drive toward medical school and im my personal life. why would i not want such a wonderful person to contact a medical school on my behalf. I consider it a compliment.
have a good day guys. jls, where are you going or applying to? i will be in syracuse next year? maybe i will see you there.
later
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I'll let you guys in on a little secret: All this talk about "the real world" is BULL****! There's NO such place as "the real world"; otherwise I would have bought a plane ticket to this "real world" that everyone seems to be so fascinated by. It's simply a silly perception of the mind that describes conditions different from one's current experiences. Do any of you know anyone that actually lives in "the real world"? I guess not! Highschool students think college is the real world; and med school students think residency is the real world; retail shoe salesmen think the wholesale shoe market is the real world. Anyhow, my suggestion is: Please don't tell a "doctor" to call the med school on your behalf. Only pre-meds think of physicians as arch-angels. You might hurt your chances by getting some people on the adcom very disgusted. Don't do it. Good luck!
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On a serious note- unfortunately there are many applicants to med schools who are well qualifed and as we know admissions are made by very fine distinctions. Extra calls or letters have to be made very carefully. It may help if the call or letter is made by someone who actually is an active alumni or faculty member of the school. A letter etc. will not help at all if the candidate doesn't meet the qualifications. But as in any other situation if someone who is respected by the institution is able to give some feedback about someone they know to someone they know it can help. This is espcially true after an interview and even more true at the waitlist time when initial cuts have already been made. If people are making decisions among a group of closely rated people any additional information could sway them one way or another.
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rikkitikki,
You seem to be giving good advice. I'd like to ask you, and others, how you would handle this hypothetical (which may help me in the future).
I have sent letters of rec already, none of which were written by a physician. I have 3 "dream schools" (I don't dream big; so they aren't Hopkins, Harvard, etc...). If I am asked to interview, should I ask the surgeon I have been shadowing for 8 months to send a letter to the admissions office. He seems to like me and has already offered, without me asking, to write a letter on my behalf. It is my hope that a letter from him will be enough to sway the committee. If you think I should ask him to send the letter, what time do you think is ideal: after the interview invitation but before the interview, after the interview but before the decision, or simply wait to see if I am waitlisted...then ask in an attempt to get off the list? I don't like the last of the three because I may be mailed a rejection.
To all: I've already decided to wait until an interview has been offered, so please don't rag me for trying to weasle my way in. Anyway, this is a hypothetical.
Thanks!
You seem to be giving good advice. I'd like to ask you, and others, how you would handle this hypothetical (which may help me in the future).
I have sent letters of rec already, none of which were written by a physician. I have 3 "dream schools" (I don't dream big; so they aren't Hopkins, Harvard, etc...). If I am asked to interview, should I ask the surgeon I have been shadowing for 8 months to send a letter to the admissions office. He seems to like me and has already offered, without me asking, to write a letter on my behalf. It is my hope that a letter from him will be enough to sway the committee. If you think I should ask him to send the letter, what time do you think is ideal: after the interview invitation but before the interview, after the interview but before the decision, or simply wait to see if I am waitlisted...then ask in an attempt to get off the list? I don't like the last of the three because I may be mailed a rejection.
To all: I've already decided to wait until an interview has been offered, so please don't rag me for trying to weasle my way in. Anyway, this is a hypothetical.
Thanks!
SwampMan,
Keep in mind that some admissions committees meet immediately after your interview, so it may help to know the timing of when the committee meets at those particular schools. However, I would suggest waiting until after the interview -- at that point the surgeon may even be able to include something conveying your interest in that specific school.
Keep in mind that some admissions committees meet immediately after your interview, so it may help to know the timing of when the committee meets at those particular schools. However, I would suggest waiting until after the interview -- at that point the surgeon may even be able to include something conveying your interest in that specific school.
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Swampman- I agree with Lilycat- if you can give specific reasons why you would be good for the school or vice versa that's the best - and you'll know better about what you think of the school after the interview and how it fits into your plans. GOod luck!
Scooby,
What is the TPR board?
What is the TPR board?
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Swampman,
Sending an additional letter is very different from having a physician (or anyone) call the admissions office. I say you don't even have to wait till you're asked to interview - go ahead and have the letter sent as a supplement to the letters you originally sent. I think of it equivalent to updating an extra-cirriculars list in some ways. I don't see ANYTHING wrong or "weasel-like" about sending another letter because that is an option that is available and viable for all of us. Having a physician call is just out of line - that's why I reacted against it before. Anyway, good luck all and happy holidays!
Sending an additional letter is very different from having a physician (or anyone) call the admissions office. I say you don't even have to wait till you're asked to interview - go ahead and have the letter sent as a supplement to the letters you originally sent. I think of it equivalent to updating an extra-cirriculars list in some ways. I don't see ANYTHING wrong or "weasel-like" about sending another letter because that is an option that is available and viable for all of us. Having a physician call is just out of line - that's why I reacted against it before. Anyway, good luck all and happy holidays!
Swampman,
Since you shodowed the physician for 8 months it seems to me he would be in a position to know you and I think that's what matters to admissions committee. I would go for it, not wait, and ask him to send the letters now. It won't hurt--it's not like you are having some random doc write stuff about you--good luck!!
Since you shodowed the physician for 8 months it seems to me he would be in a position to know you and I think that's what matters to admissions committee. I would go for it, not wait, and ask him to send the letters now. It won't hurt--it's not like you are having some random doc write stuff about you--good luck!!
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