Are people in med school socially competent?

[swearonmemum]

I'm assuming everyone had to be at least somewhat charming and eloquent and smooth during interviews to get accepted.

Does this mean people in med school tend to generally be more socially competent? Is the bar higher? Would someone who is a little awkward and bad at schmoozing stand out and do poorly because of it?

Uh, asking for a friend.

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[piii]

I'm assuming everyone had to be at least somewhat charming and eloquent and smooth during interviews to get accepted.

Does this mean people in med school tend to generally be more socially competent? Is the bar higher? Would someone who is a little awkward and bad at schmoozing stand out and do poorly because of it?

Uh, asking for a friend.

Med schools generally select for people that are sociable, charismatic, and friendly. Doesn't mean the other personalities aren't represented

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

There are both types. Good motto for introverts/socially awkward (me): Fake it till you make it.


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[P0ke]

I'm assuming everyone had to be at least somewhat charming and eloquent and smooth during interviews to get accepted.

Does this mean people in med school tend to generally be more socially competent? Is the bar higher? Would someone who is a little awkward and bad at schmoozing stand out and do poorly because of it?

Uh, asking for a friend.

Remember, you only need to be socially competent for the ~1 hour that you interview. I walk around in circles while talking to myself when I study... But adcoms don't know that ;P

 

[getdown]

You're going to have to learn to be comfortable starting conversations with people (i.e. patients) you've never seen before. It can get really awkward sometimes but a good general trick is to notice little hints that'll help. Generally for guys talk about sports if you notice them wearing a jersey/sports team. For women comment on their handbag or if they have kids with them. The other trick is to know when to strike up small talk and to gauge if they're even interested in small talk. But generally most people in the hospital are nervous so being friendly, open, smiling usually helps with communication.

 

[Law2Doc]

Remember, you only need to be socially competent for the ~1 hour that you interview...

Um, you are going to need to be socially competent after you get into med school you know. This is but the first (and perhaps lowest) hurdle on this career path.

 

[italiancowgirl]

You're going to have to learn to be comfortable starting conversations with people (i.e. patients) you've never seen before. It can get really awkward sometimes but a good general trick is to notice little hints that'll help. Generally for guys talk about sports if you notice them wearing a jersey/sports team. For women comment on their handbag or if they have kids with them. The other trick is to know when to strike up small talk and to gauge if they're even interested in small talk. But generally most people in the hospital are nervous so being friendly, open, smiling usually helps with communication.

As a woman I would be confused if you asked me about my "handbag" (sorry if that offends). Better advice for the OP, be friendly and show interest in others. People generally like talking about themselves and are usually going to like you if you are not pretentious or a jerk. Try saying something friendly to people at the grocery store or something, see if you can get 5 people to smile and or laugh. (try to avoid the creeper vibe if possible). And don't worry there are still plenty of people with awkward vibes because the level of awkward depends on the crowd you are with. What is hilarious in one friend group might leave crickets in another. GL

 

[AlfonsTheGuru]

As a woman I would be confused if you asked me about my "handbag" (sorry if that offends). Better advice for the OP, be friendly and show interest in others. People generally like talking about themselves and are usually going to like you if you are not pretentious or a jerk. Try saying something friendly to people at the grocery store or something, see if you can get 5 people to smile and or laugh. (try to avoid the creeper vibe if possible). And don't worry there are still plenty of people with awkward vibes because the level of awkward depends on the crowd you are with. What is hilarious in one friend group might leave crickets in another. GL

What' if you complement their handbag in a flamboyant manner, hands up like a dinosaur, and shaking your hips?

 

[Goro]

Yes, quite so.

I'm assuming everyone had to be at least somewhat charming and eloquent and smooth during interviews to get accepted.

Does this mean people in med school tend to generally be more socially competent? Is the bar higher? Would someone who is a little awkward and bad at schmoozing stand out and do poorly because of it?

Uh, asking for a friend.

 

[Dr.NickRiviera]

You're going to have to learn to be comfortable starting conversations with people (i.e. patients) you've never seen before. It can get really awkward sometimes but a good general trick is to notice little hints that'll help. Generally for guys talk about sports if you notice them wearing a jersey/sports team. For women comment on their handbag or if they have kids with them. The other trick is to know when to strike up small talk and to gauge if they're even interested in small talk. But generally most people in the hospital are nervous so being friendly, open, smiling usually helps with communication.

I don't know... Whenever you start off a conversation by commenting on a handbag, you only really have one option, which is to say it's cute and then ask where they got it. That's an opening line that requires some gusto and enthusiasm; it'd be really creepy otherwise. Are you sure slightly awkward OP will be able to pull it off?

 

[whatever5]

People who go to medical school can be friendly and charismatic, whether or not they do it when they're not being interviewed is another story.

 

[DrDarce]

I'd say 85% of my class are either socially normal or better. Awkward people do exist but they make an effort for the most part and I don't think anyone really holds it against them (at least I don't). To me it seems like they just get really nervous around people. I honestly don't think small talk is necessary if you're just going to make it awkward. If being social is not something you're good at, then make sure you can talk confidently when you NEED to (talking to patients and colleagues). Being quiet and not making small talk otherwise is fine.

 

[jqueb29]

Med school definitely has the highest percentage of good-looking, socially skilled people of any subset of society I've ever seen. But there are definitely still some goobers, and they are goofier than anybody else I've ever seen.

 

[Glandzburg]

I don't know... Whenever you start off a conversation by commenting on a handbag, you only really have one option, which is to say it's cute and then ask where they got it. That's an opening line that requires some gusto and enthusiasm; it'd be really creepy otherwise. Are you sure slightly awkward OP will be able to pull it off?

We were directly instructed not to give patients compliments like that when trying to develop rapport. It usually comes off as disingenuous and doesn't help things.


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[WedgeDawg]

The vast majority of people in my class are socially competent.

 

[getdown]

lol people really taking this handbag thing really out there. It was just an example to show you can try to start a conversation by just being perceptive. People generally are more interested in talking about themselves and their interests than trying to come up with something else. But yeah, doing anything awkwardly will make your patients feel weird.

 

[frosted_flake]

One of the most awkward doctors visits I have ever had was an orthopedic surgeon who stared at the floor (while talking, during the exam, etc.) and never once made eye contact with me.
Needless to say I never went back to that weirdo again.

Don't be that guy/gal.

 

[DrDarce]

One of the most awkward doctors visits I have ever had was an orthopedic surgeon who stared at the floor (while talking, during the exam, etc.) and never once made eye contact with me.
Needless to say I never went back to that weirdo again.

Don't be that guy/gal.

 

[Glandzburg]

One of the most awkward doctors visits I have ever had was an orthopedic surgeon who stared at the floor (while talking, during the exam, etc.) and never once made eye contact with me.
Needless to say I never went back to that weirdo again.

Don't be that guy/gal.

Ha... I couldn't care less if my ortho surgeon is awkward. The idea of choosing a surgeon based on social skills is quite silly. But it's your joint/bone.

 

[DrDarce]

Ha... I couldn't care less if my ortho surgeon is awkward. The idea of choosing a surgeon based on social skills is quite silly. But it's your joint/bone.

Maybe I would've cared if my doc was awkward before med school. But some of the weirdos in my class are pretty damn smart so I'm cool with it

 

[frosted_flake]

Ha... I couldn't care less if my ortho surgeon is awkward. The idea of choosing a surgeon based on social skills is quite silly. But it's your joint/bone.

Left him and found a better one!

 

[Dr.NickRiviera]

We were directly instructed not to give patients compliments like that when trying to develop rapport. It usually comes off as disingenuous and doesn't help things.


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I was being facetious. The whole "men like sports, women like handbags and children!" thing annoyed me.