Are med students part of the admissions committee?

[moto_za]

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Just wondering if some schools have their med students serve as members of the admissions committee?

 

[Vanguard23]

Yes, some can serve on admissions committee.

 

[moto_za]

I know they can be involved in interviewing students, but what about in the actual decision making process and review of applications?

 

[JokerMD]

yes. otherwise they wouldn't have student interviews

 

[Superfrost]

Some serve on the decision making adcom too.

 

[JJMrK]

Yes, at many schools they are.

 

[mvenus929]

All the schools I interviewed at make it a point to emphasize that student interviewers had just as much power as the faculty in the decision making process.

 

[LizzyM]

They may read applications and forward recommendations to interview applicants. They may conduct interviews and write up reviews. They may review interview commentaries & applications and make recommendations regarding admission.

 

[boaz]

Depends on the school. Some have students with full voting power, some have students who do less important stuff (e.g. read app, conduct interview), others may not even have any students involved (very rare I think).

 

[PinkIvy08]

Really depends on the school... Why are you curious about this? Just don't shrug off or get too lax with the student interview part, if that's what you're concerned about, otherwise, their input is completely out of your hands.

 

[thesauce]

Depends on the school. Some have students with full voting power, some have students who do less important stuff (e.g. read app, conduct interview), others may not even have any students involved (very rare I think).

I love your examples of "less important stuff."

 

[ThaliaNox]

I think at most schools students are involved in admissions decisions. The reason they gave us during training was that often interviewees are more open with students and their real personalities come out more. Think about it, if someone is arrogant, for example, it is more likely to show to someone near their age than to a 75 year old professor.

 

[deedave33]

What happens if the med student in the committee is your best friend?

 

[boaz]

I love your examples of "less important stuff."

Reviewing apps and conducting interviews are very important, but still not quite as important (as far as the applicant per se is concerned) as voting on the committee.

 

[armybound]

What happens if the med student in the committee is your best friend?

They aren't involved, then. Even senior committee members who know someone who is being discussed will remove themself from the conversation.

 

[thesauce]

I gotcha and I agree. It was just funny.

 

[boaz]

I gotcha and I agree. It was just funny.

Anyhow, I'd imagine doing admissions stuff is fun, right?

 

[armybound]

I think being involved is a lot of fun. Try to get involved at your school if you can. I mean you're helping recruit the best & brightest to the school that's going to give you the diploma hanging on your office wall for the rest of your life. You want that degree to mean something. The better your school is known for great students, the better it makes you look.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

Yes. I was told by a current student at one of the schools I visited that no student had been accepted if the student interviewer did not like them.

 

[mvenus929]

I think at most schools students are involved in admissions decisions. The reason they gave us during training was that often interviewees are more open with students and their real personalities come out more. Think about it, if someone is arrogant, for example, it is more likely to show to someone near their age than to a 75 year old professor.

As a side note, one of my student interviewers was probably as old as some professors I've interviewed with... she was definitely a non-trad student. I wouldn't exactly consider that someone near my age, especially since I'm on the lower end of interviewees.