Discussing “taboo” topic in secondary

[flyon_littlewing9587]

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So the second question asks:

“Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define advocacy as you view it. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate”

Would it be advised against to talk about something like tattoos? The story is I wanted to get one for my dad who passed in undergrad but my gf at the time was very against them and she had a valid reason for it. Whenever talked about I would always defend her side and reasoning. Just curious if I should avoid this because it’s around a somewhat taboo topic lol. And I also ended up getting the tattoo after we broke up.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

This isn’t really advocacy.

 

[TragicalDrFaust]

Tattoos are not a taboo discussion topic, although visible ones are still not considered professional in more conservative industries like medicine. I think a better example of advocacy would involve (a) taking up someone else's cause and (b) there being a measurable benefit to that person.

 

[cj_cregg]

I don't think it's inherently bad to talk about tattoos but I also don't think this is the type of answer they're looking for here.

 

[LizzyM]

Who were you advocating for? For yourself? For your deceased father? This is not what they are looking for with this question.

Tell us about a time you went to bat for someone who is different than yourself or for a cause that was different than your own.

e.g. I'm not Muslim but I think that it is unjust that the dining hall will not permit Muslim students to remove food from the dining hall to eat after sunset and before daybreak during Ramadan. They are paying for the meal plan but not getting any meals. Given the injustice, I lobbied with other students, both Muslin and non-Muslim, to make changes in dining hall policy.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

Who were you advocating for? For yourself? For your deceased father? This is not what they are looking for with this question.

Tell us about a time you went to bat for someone who is different than yourself or for a cause that was different than your own.

e.g. I'm not Muslim but I think that it is unjust that the dining hall will not permit Muslim students to remove food from the dining hall to eat after sunset and before daybreak during Ramadan. They are paying for the meal plan but not getting any meals. Given the injustice, I lobbied with other students, both Muslin and non-Muslim, to make changes in dining hall policy.

I must have phrased the original post wrong but I am fully advocating for her and her reasons . Her grandmother was a holocaust survivor and so when she told me that was the reasoning I fully backed it and supported her.

I know it’s not the best response, but it’s the closest thing I have right now to answer the question

 

[chilly_md]

Your original post was about you getting a tattoo in remembrance of your father and your girlfriend was against it. If it veers off to then being about her grandmother (where you are still not advocating for anybody it seems), then it would be better to come up with something completely different.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

Your original post was about you getting a tattoo in remembrance of your father and your girlfriend was against it. If it veers off to then being about her grandmother (where you are still not advocating for anybody it seems), then it would be better to come up with something completely different.

I advocated and supported her reasoning for not getting it is what I’m attempting to say. I guess it’s coming off not the way it’s supposed to?

 

[GoSpursGo]

I advocated and supported her reasoning for not getting it is what I’m attempting to say. I guess it’s coming off not the way it’s supposed to?

I echo what others are saying--this answer would be nonresponsive to the prompt.

Advocacy isn't just agreeing with someone in a debate or argument, which is what this sounds like to me. It means actively advocating for someone to get support or resources or recognition, or really something tangible that will benefit them, as in @LizzyM 's example.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

I echo what others are saying--this answer would be nonresponsive to the prompt.

Advocacy isn't just agreeing with someone in a debate or argument, which is what this sounds like to me. It means actively advocating for someone to get support or resources or recognition, or really something tangible that will benefit them, as in @LizzyM 's example.

Ok ok I see what you’re saying. I really don’t have an answer then:/

 

[candbgirl]

I must have phrased the original post wrong but I am fully advocating for her and her reasons . Her grandmother was a holocaust survivor and so when she told me that was the reasoning I fully backed it and supported her.

I know it’s not the best response, but it’s the closest thing I have right now to answer the question

You weren’t advocating for her, you just didn’t get your tattoo until after you broke up with her(if I’m reading your post correctly). How do you consider not getting the tattoo in honor of your dad advocating for your girlfriend? What you did was accept her reasoning/feelings and didn’t get the tattoo. There was no advocacy involved(at least as far as I can see).

 

[Bwesternn]

I'm having a difficult time following the train of thought here. I'm sorry your father passed away. However, what you're describing is a normal part of being in a relationship, not advocacy.

 

[LizzyM]

To advocate can mean to take someone's side in an argument but usually it means that you don't have a side but you take someone's side as their advocate (a lawyer does this and you can hear the root word in the Spanish word for lawyer, "abogado"). You took her side in the argument but it was against yourself. What this questions is looking for is something like "when the outcome doesn't affect you, are you willing to make an effort for someone who needs help to receive what is due them or to change an unjust policy?"

 

[GoSpursGo]

Ok ok I see what you’re saying. I really don’t have an answer then:/

What have you done for volunteering? If you've done any sort of non-medical volunteering (i.e. doing something for the less fortunate), you almost certainly would have advocated for someone at some point. You may not have the most exciting or profound example, but as long as you can demonstrate that you know what being an advocate means then your answer at least won't hurt you.

If you really can't think of anything, then this is cheesy, but you've got a little over a month before you're likely to start getting secondaries (assuming you apply on the first day). Look for opportunities to be an advocate in your ongoing activities.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

What have you done for volunteering? If you've done any sort of non-medical volunteering (i.e. doing something for the less fortunate), you almost certainly would have advocated for someone at some point. You may not have the most exciting or profound example, but as long as you can demonstrate that you know what being an advocate means then your answer at least won't hurt you.

If you really can't think of anything, then this is cheesy, but you've got a little over a month before you're likely to start getting secondaries (assuming you apply on the first day). Look for opportunities to be an advocate in your ongoing activities.

I volunteer basically every other weekend at my soup kitchen. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m “advocating” for anything tho.

 

[LizzyM]

I volunteer basically every other weekend at my soup kitchen. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m “advocating” for anything tho.

Was there every a policy at the soup kitchen that needed to be changed? For example, that people could take unlimited bread such that the bread ran out before everyone was served? You would advocate for the people at the end of the line by advocating for a policy change that says one slice of bread per person until everyone is served and then people can come up for seconds.

 

[Goro]

So the second question asks:

“Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define advocacy as you view it. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate”

Would it be advised against to talk about something like tattoos? The story is I wanted to get one for my dad who passed in undergrad but my gf at the time was very against them and she had a valid reason for it. Whenever talked about I would always defend her side and reasoning. Just curious if I should avoid this because it’s around a somewhat taboo topic lol. And I also ended up getting the tattoo after we broke up.

You don't understand the question.
ad·vo·ca·cy
/ˈadvəkəsē/

noun
public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
"their advocacy of traditional family values"

the profession or work of a legal advocate.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

Was there every a policy at the soup kitchen that needed to be changed? For example, that people could take unlimited bread such that the bread ran out before everyone was served? You would advocate for the people at the end of the line by advocating for a policy change that says one slice of bread per person until everyone is served and then people can come up for seconds.

There’s already something like that🙁 tbh it’s very well run. We always make enough food to feed 100-200 people up to our end time and have enough to feed volunteers. So not really much there in regards to this question

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

You don't understand the question.
ad·vo·ca·cy
/ˈadvəkəsē/

noun
public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
"their advocacy of traditional family values"

the profession or work of a legal advocate.

Yeah I know the definition, and I know it’s a reach but it’s the closest thing I can think of when it comes to advocating for something you may have been opppsed to

 

[GoSpursGo]

There’s already something like that🙁 tbh it’s very well run. We always make enough food to feed 100-200 people up to our end time and have enough to feed volunteers. So not really much there in regards to this question

We're not going to be able to write this for you or know what you do in all of your activities. But bottom line, be thoughtful and if necessary be a little creative. If not the soup kitchen, then any place where you've been in a position of leadership also should have given you the opportunity to be an advocate for someone who was working under you.

Again, it doesn't have to be the most amazing example the world has ever heard. Just show that you know what being an advocate is and that you can potentially be an advocate for your future patients.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Might seem somewhat strange, but I didn’t send in some secondaries if I couldn’t think of a good answer to the prompt and applied to a substitute instead,

Though this prompt is pretty common across secondaries so I don’t think it would be possible in this case

 

[cj_cregg]

Have you ever stood up for someone who was being bullied or ignored? Have you fundraised for or educated friends/family about a cause you care about that doesn't affect you directly?

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

Have you ever stood up for someone who was being bullied or ignored? Have you fundraised for or educated friends/family about a cause you care about that doesn't affect you directly?

In a way in which the question is asking? No I just haven’t had the opportunity. The only thing that comes to mind is “defending” my colleague by hearing her side of the situation instead of just trusting my other colleague on what she told me. But that’s even less of advocating than my original post tbh.

I have discussed briefly with my colleague on how the dr we work for should allocate more time for appointments so we aren’t running behind, but that’s all it was and I haven’t and probably won’t bring it up to the Dr.

So there really isn’t anything, which sounds crappy but it’s just lack of opportunity.

 

[chilly_md]

If this is Duke’s secondary that you are pre-writing for, it might be a viable option to not apply and instead choose another reach school if you don’t have a particular reason for applying to them specifically.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

If this is Duke’s secondary that you are pre-writing for, it might be a viable option to not apply and instead choose another reach school if you don’t have a particular reason for applying to them specifically.

I was pming someone who had a very similar app to me and said that they received love from Duke.

 

[chilly_md]

I was pming someone who had a very similar app to me and said that they received love from Duke.

It is a very competitive school with an extensive secondary. So your YMMV.

 

[Talldoctor96]

I mean if you have never advocated for something, you're probably not the student they are looking for then?

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

I was pming someone who had a very similar app to me and said that they received love from Duke.

It’s completely random. 20 other people with equally similar apps were probably rejected.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

I mean if you have never advocated for something, you're probably not the student they are looking for then?

Maybe? But it just sucks that I haven’t had the opportunity to and am being essentially “punished” for it. I mean I advocate and defend people all the time on social media but that’s not something to talk about. I guess it’s just a bummer tho because I can easily answer all the other questions strongly. I’ll keep thinking about it tho to see if I can think of something.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

It’s completely random. 20 other people with equally similar apps were probably rejected.

I know it’s random but that doesn’t mean I should ignore that tho. The whole process is essentially “random” but if there is a school that is more notoriously found of an activity I have that is an “x” factor and an MME. I want to apply myself there.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I mean I advocate and defend people all the time on social media but that’s not something to talk about.

I wouldn't automatically exclude the possibility of using this as a response to the question. Mind you, I don't think it's likely a very good response, but being engaged in social media advocacy is a thing, especially if you can show that something was meaningfully changed as a result of you (or a group of people) shining light on an issue. If this one question is the only one you're struggling with, and that's the best you've got, then just use that, submit, and see what happens.

And ultimately I think you need to be a little more creative here. If you have ever had any position of leadership, I honestly can't believe that you have never advocated for anyone.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

I wouldn't automatically exclude the possibility of using this as a response to the question. Mind you, I don't think it's likely a very good response, but being engaged in social media advocacy is a thing, especially if you can show that something was meaningfully changed as a result of you (or a group of people) shining light on an issue. If this one question is the only one you're struggling with, and that's the best you've got, then just use that, submit, and see what happens.

And ultimately I think you need to be a little more creative here. If you have ever had any position of leadership, I honestly can't believe that you have never advocated for anyone.

I mean I was a leader in my volunteer program and helped with interviewing and training.

There was a applicant who when I was running her through her practical exam for training didn’t do well and I could tell she was nervous. So instead of failing her I spoke to our Program manager and said I how I felt she is nervous and overthinking and that maybe we could have her go again. She ended up walking/talking through with our pm and was ultimately given a spot.

That’s actually a decent one

 

[chilly_md]

Yes, that’s much more along the lines of what the school is looking for.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I mean I was a leader in my volunteer program and helped with interviewing and training.

There was a applicant who when I was running her through her practical exam for training didn’t do well and I could tell she was nervous. So instead of failing her I spoke to our Program manager and said I how I felt she is nervous and overthinking and that maybe we could have her go again. She ended up walking/talking through with our pm and was ultimately given a spot.

That’s actually a decent one

There you go 🙂

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

Yes, that’s much more along the lines of what the school is looking for.

Awesome!

Thanks everyone! Sometimes just need to converse to get to the right answer lol

 

[deleted936268]

I advocated for my lil bro to get pizza instead of burgers the other day.

 

[snooper]

It's not so much how huge the advocacy is, but rather, you saw a problem/injustice, you decided to take a stand for what you saw as right, ideally there was a risk involved (powerful person, institution), you showed empathy, addressed the problem in a rational, calm way, and ideally, you convinced the other person - happy ending.

 

[epple]

The question asked you about advocating for someone who is different from you and none of the examples you provided reflect that at all. This should absolutely be a wake-up call for you.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

The question asked you about advocating for someone who is different from you and none of the examples you provided reflect that at all. This should absolutely be a wake-up call for you.

The person in the second scenario was different from me. And I’m not sure how that’s a “wake up call”, for literally just not having the chances to do so? Lol

 

[LizzyM]

The person in the second scenario was different from me. And I’m not sure how that’s a “wake up call”, for literally just not having the chances to do so? Lol

The wake up call might be the realization that you have not had enough real world experience of the type that a specific medical school wants to see such that it might be too soon for you to apply or you aren't a good fit with that school given what it seems they are looking for (applicants who had been advocates from the time they were old enough to speak up).

 

[Talldoctor96]

The person in the second scenario was different from me. And I’m not sure how that’s a “wake up call”, for literally just not having the chances to do so? Lol

That’s not what different than you means lol. Because they were a different gender?

They mean when did you advocate for someone that was more underserved than you, different culture, impoverished, less access to care… etc.

 

[ethereal_fae]

The person in the second scenario was different from me. And I’m not sure how that’s a “wake up call”, for literally just not having the chances to do so? Lol

Respectfully, most everyone has the chance if they look for one. For example, in response to seeing the news about states passing laws that made schools an unsafe place for LGBTQ kids, I joined a local LGBTQ advocacy group. I helped run fundraisers for them, participated in phone banks, and helped passed local legislation to make our state a more friendly and safe place for LGBTQ kids. I am neither gay nor trans, so I had no personal connection to this group. But this was an opportunity that I sought out myself, I did not wait for one to appear in front of me. Can you think about a time when you sought out a chance to advocate for a cause or for a person from a different background from yours?

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

That’s not what different than you means lol. Because they were a different gender?

They mean when did you advocate for someone that was more underserved than you, different culture, impoverished, less access to care… etc.

I volunteer every weekend at my soup kitchen that serves our homeless community and have been doing so for over a year. But there is not a specific situation where I “advocated” for someone. There program is well run and there hasn’t been anything or any situation where I felt I needed to stand up for anyone. We feed up to 200 people in the hours we are open and every guest gets food and is taken care of.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

Respectfully, most everyone has the chance if they look for one. For example, in response to seeing the news about states passing laws that made schools an unsafe place for LGBTQ kids, I joined a local LGBTQ advocacy group. I helped run fundraisers for them, participated in phone banks, and helped passed local legislation to make our state a more friendly and safe place for LGBTQ kids. I am neither gay nor trans, so I had no personal connection to this group. But this was an opportunity that I sought out myself, I did not wait for one to appear in front of me. Can you think about a time when you sought out a chance to advocate for a cause or for a person from a different background from yours?

But is that “advocating” like the question asks? Could I just write about my experience at the soup kitchen? I volunteer there every weekend basically for over a year. So I am, by your example somewhat, advocating for the homeless and underserved in my community ?

 

[LizzyM]

I volunteer every weekend at my soup kitchen that serves our homeless community and have been doing so for over a year. But there is not a specific situation where I “advocated” for someone. There program is well run and there hasn’t been anything or any situation where I felt I needed to stand up for anyone. We feed up to 200 people in the hours we are open and every guest gets food and is taken care of.

If you care about the hungry, would it occur to you to get involved with efforts to change laws or regulations that would alleviate hunger in your community, your county, your congressional district, your state? Even writing letters to elected officials could be advocacy if you got behind efforts to expand access to food stamps (now called SNAP), get food to kids over the summer months or when schools are closed as they were during the pandemic, that sort of thing.

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

The wake up call might be the realization that you have not had enough real world experience of the type that a specific medical school wants to see such that it might be too soon for you to apply or you aren't a good fit with that school given what it seems they are looking for (applicants who had been advocates from the time they were old enough to speak up).

Even if I have had a handful of other experiences that line up a lot with the school? I’ve had plenty of experiences, especially life and real world. And I volunteer and give back every weekend. There’s just not a specific situation where I “advocated”

 

[ethereal_fae]

But is that “advocating” like the question asks? Could I just write about my experience at the soup kitchen? I volunteer there every weekend basically for over a year. So I am, by your example somewhat, advocating for the homeless and underserved in my community ?

Are you actively helping this organization maybe pass laws or implement legislation to end homelessness? Providing safe shelter or affordable housing? Expanding access to social services or decriminalizing homelessness? Something slightly less passive. I gave my example because I was doing things like showing up to state capitals, school board meetings, and canvassing/cold-calling people all to help make change for this cause. If you can't think of anything then you might just not be a good fit (at least for this question).

 

[flyon_littlewing9587]

Are you actively helping this organization maybe pass laws or implement legislation to end homelessness? Providing safe shelter or affordable housing? Expanding access to social services or decriminalizing homelessness? Something slightly less passive. I gave my example because I was doing things like showing up to state capitals, school board meetings, and canvassing/cold-calling people all to help make change for this cause. If you can't think of anything then you might just not be a good fit (at least for this question).

They aren’t that type of organization. I can maybe ask the leader next time but I know here pretty well and she hasn’t mentioned anything along these lines.

I would but I honestly don’t have the time unfortunately. I can do some things online like send letters or cold call but I can’t go to my state capitol (it’s also 700 miles away from me), I also work 6-7 days a week and so outside of that I just don’t have the time to physically go in. But i can look into something more “remote” like I think you or someone else stated. I was just hoping to have a story that was more direct, something where I had direct change.

 

[LizzyM]

The point is, the schools that ask this question want students who are going to be out there advocating for their patients and for the broader population. Some say that medicine is the three legged stool of clinical care, teaching and research. Some folks, particularly in pediatrics, add a fourth leg: advocacy. So, if advocacy is not your jam, you might not be a good fit for those schools just as someone who has avoided research might not be a good fit for a school that expects its applicants to have had that experience in advance of matriculating at a school that requires thesis research as a graduation requirement.

 

[GoSpursGo]

The question asked you about advocating for someone who is different from you and none of the examples you provided reflect that at all. This should absolutely be a wake-up call for you.

I had the same thought, but honestly I think people are being a little harsh here. So the OP doesn't have the best possible answer for this prompt. It's at least a reasonable response, and as long as the rest of the application passes muster it's not going to disqualify him.

That said OP, I would have an answer ready in case a particularly picky interviewer asks you how that girl was different from you. And maybe reflect on whether or not your experiences have taken you out of your comfort zone or if that is something you should try to work on over the coming year.