Can being really passionate towards an EC backfire?

[aayz345]

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So I've currently been working in a clinically based job for 1 year. I work closely with children/teens suffering from autism spectrum disorders. I recently became program manager for the company and am really passionate about this field. I plan to make it a focal point in my PS and secondaries. Will med schools think that I'm unsure about med school since I've shown so much interest/growth in this field?

 

[Student User]

I'm no expert but I think that's a great experience that med schools will appreciate. And especially if you can talk about it with passion, they should appreciate it even more. I'd say, instead of worrying about seeming to have different interests, guide your talk to point out what you enjoyed and how that passion translates to what you expect to experience as a physician and what qualities of your it demonstrates (being caring, etc.).

Disclaimer: I'm just a junior (no med school interview experience)

 

[LizzyM]

I guess that the concern you may be having is whether your interest in medicine will be questioned and/or if you will be asked if you might be more interested in a career that works exclusively with that population. You need to be able to answer "why medicine?" in light of the work you've chosen to do up until now.

 

[DokterMom]

There's also the unfortunate issue of how little medicine can do to help people with autism...

But your interest and passion are great. Answer the "Why medicine?" question and you're golden.

 

[Goro]

So I've currently been working in a clinically based job for 1 year. I work closely with children/teens suffering from autism spectrum disorders. I recently became program manager for the company and am really passionate about this field. I plan to make it a focal point in my PS and secondaries. Will med schools think that I'm unsure about med school since I've shown so much interest/growth in this field?

Do what you love; love what you do.

 

[alyxxs]

I thought the same about my ECs when doing my primary apps but I always found a way to tie what I was passionate about back to medicine. Pm me for examples.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Plenty of physicians volunteer or are involved in advocacy. I had something similar and talked about it extensively in one of my interviews. I talked about how I wanted to tie it into being a physician, but I had other reasons for the why medicine question as well. I got accepted at that school.

 

[freelancePsychic]

There's also the unfortunate issue of how little medicine can do to help people with autism...

I respectfully disagree with this. While interventions for the core symptoms of autism tend to be therapeutic, physicians are involved in managing other conditions like epilepsy, anxiety, or depression that are often comorbid with autism spectrum disorders. Medicine is an excellent field for someone looking to work with people with autism, especially the most impaired populations.

 

[aayz345]

I guess that the concern you may be having is whether your interest in medicine will be questioned and/or if you will be asked if you might be more interested in a career that works exclusively with that population. You need to be able to answer "why medicine?" in light of the work you've chosen to do up until now.

Great to hear this answer, thanks for your help. 🙂