Maybe I am slow
...Every single one of my narratives says the same stuff like "good team player", "above average knowledge for level of training", "great with patients", etc....I HONESTLY thought these are basic comments on everyone's narratives and that they seemed kinda of typical and generic. I didn't think that negative comments could come out...
Many times the Dean-designate will cherry-pick the positives, and leave out some of the less complimentary stuff. (BTW, thanks Dr. ___ for leaving out what that Neuro attending said about me back then...
😳 ) OTOH, having interviewed as both resident and attending, I have seen some seriously negative stuff get passed on in Dean's letters. It won't hurt you on one or two rotations, but if they see a pattern of disinterest, insubordination, or nastiness, they tend to let you know. Sometimes you can pick it up in the things that AREN'T said, or when an applicant is damned with faint praise.
To address your original question though, the DL comments are just part of the whole when reviewing the packet. I look at grades, boards, letters, and "personality factors"--e.g interesting work experience, a personal statement that doesn't read like a high school student council campaign speech, etc. The DL however, is a "stand-in" for your eventual diploma--it is a statement from your school that they expect to be granting you an MD soon, and as such, programs may certainly want to make sure it's in hand before offering an interview.
Good luck. (And BTW--being a "team player" and "great with patients" are both key issues in my book!
👍 )
!!!!!
