Building connections with med schools while in undergrad?

[deleted550985]

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I go to school in Chicago, so I'm lucky enough to have 6 medical schools right in my backyard. I already have some connection to 3 of them, and these connections could potentially be strengthened by research positions, volunteering, shadowing, etc (maybe spread over multiple schools).

My question is, would this help in my applications to these schools? I know a common question is "why do you want to go here", which prior connection would certainly help answer, but could an ongoing relationship help in other ways?

 

[Geebeejay]

I go to school in Chicago, so I'm lucky enough to have 6 medical schools right in my backyard. I already have some connection to 3 of them, and these connections could potentially be strengthened by research positions, volunteering, shadowing, etc (maybe spread over multiple schools).

My question is, would this help in my applications to these schools? I know a common question is "why do you want to go here", which prior connection would certainly help answer, but could an ongoing relationship help in other ways?

Can't hurt, but it's not your golden ticket. Also, your answer to "why you want to go here" definitely needs to elaborate a lot further than your pre-med connection to the school. It's not like you'll ever be working with the registrars, techs or nurses you volunteered/worked with as a medical student.

And don't be that pre-med gunner who name-drops in interviews. Realize that even though you worked alongside "Dr Lovejoy" in the sleep lab, and you smiled, laughed and loved together, that whoever interviews you probably has no idea who Dr. Lovejoy is and likely doesn't care.

 

[LianaStan]

Yes. Knowing the right people will always help you in life. In terms of small connections, like having done research at a school, etc., I would say it only really helps your application in elaborating on questions like "why do you want to go here" as you've mentioned. The connections that really matter are getting to know the adcoms, which isn't as impossible as some people may think.

The important thing is don't settle for shallow connections. Develop your connections until you can reach out to someone of importance and then show them why you're a good fit for that medical school.

Edit: The poster above me is correct. Do not name drop, especially at interviews. This is not the way to use your connections proficiently.

 

[deleted550985]

Can't hurt, but it's not your golden ticket. Also, your answer to "why you want to go here" definitely needs to elaborate a lot further than your pre-med connection to the school. It's not like you'll ever be working with the registrars, techs or nurses you volunteered/worked with as a medical student.

And don't be that pre-med gunner who name-drops in interviews. Realize that even though you worked alongside "Dr Lovejoy" in the sleep lab, and you smiled, laughed and loved together, that whoever interviews you probably has no idea who Dr. Lovejoy is and likely doesn't care.

Thanks for the reply. I know it's definitely not a golden ticket, but I do wonder if it could be enough to make a significant difference if I really focused on one. I assume they'd laugh if I said I'd been set on their school for all of undergrad, but then again, I've seen it done with applying for college.

Name dropping is obviously a mistake, but how would letters of recommendation from physicians who work at these schools or attended them be taken?

 

[LianaStan]

To be honest, they probably receive letters of recommendations all the time from physicians and PIs that work at their schools. Unless that person has a previously strong connection with the adcom reading your application, I do not believe it will have a huge positive effect. You would be in a better position to get a LOR that emphasizes how you were the best undergrad they have ever taken under their wing from someone completely unrelated. At least, this is what I have learned from my personal experience.