Application advice: work at mom's practice

Started by gogata23
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gogata23

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7+ Year Member
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Hello everyone,

I'm currently working on finishing my application. I am about to write a meaningful experience in the work/activities section and needed some advice..

My mom is a physician and she has her own private practice. I am very fortunate for this, because it has opened me to many opportunities to be around the medical field. I worked for two summers as a file clerk there, and also shadowed in off time. I truly learned a lot and it really affirmed my interest to be a doctor.

My question is is it okay for me to write about this as a meaningful experience? I don't know how medical schools feel about working at a parents practice, but in my opinion I was simply taking advantage of the resources available to me and it would be disappointing if I get penalized for it.

Any input would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
 
I had a very similar experience, my mom is a pediatrician and I worked at her office as a file clerk like you and shadowed her as well. I wrote about it in my PS and as a meaningful experience and all my interviewers saw it as a positive. The consensus was that it showed that I knew what I was getting myself into, and it was seen as great medical experience. I would definitely put it in.
 
I worked at my dad's practice for years and accumulated 1000+ hours of direct patient contact. I think it definitely helped my app and the fact that it was my parent's practice did not seem to raise any flags whatsoever. Go for it.
 
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You should be good to go as long as you can articulate how it was meaningful in your decision to become a physician! I think the biggest thing adcoms might be concerned about with medical experience with a parent is whether you want to go into medicine for you or because of some kind of family pressure/desire to measure up. If you can show that it's about your own passion, I think the parent thing is most often a nonissue.
 
gyngyn said:
I hope you also have clinical experience outside your Mom's office.
Don't have her write a letter of rec!
Click to expand...

What do you think about the office manager writing one? Mine offered to several times but I always felt weird about it.
 
Pasmal said:
What do you think about the office manager writing one? Mine offered to several times but I always felt weird about it.
Click to expand...
If the office manager is employed by your Mother, a letter from him/her is useless (and could be perceived as coercive).
Use them as the contact person for the activities section.
 
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