do "connections" help or hurt?

[karizma098]

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I'm not trying to be a jerk here..but i need to use every outlet possible to get an interview. i absolutely want to go to CCOM...and i was wondering if the following two "connections" would help, or potentially hurt :

Dad's partner rotates students from ccom to his clinic, is willing to make a call to admissions..

D.O. i shadowed is friends / old classmates with the Dean of CCOM.. is making a call as well, and writing my d.o. letter of rec..

i'm not trying to be an ass, but i really really want to go to CCOM. do you guys know of any instances where such things helped? or is it possible these could tick off the admissions people? My gpa is over CCOM's gpa requirements for a secondary, and my MCAT score is over their average admitted student, so im not floundering around with crappy stats but at the same time am not "good to go" either...the school has gotten pretty competitive, and i want to use every outlet i can to increase my chances = what do you guys think? will this stuff help?

 

[poly800rock]

I'm not trying to be a jerk here..but i need to use every outlet possible to get an interview. i absolutely want to go to CCOM...and i was wondering if the following two "connections" would help, or potentially hurt :

Dad's partner rotates students from ccom to his clinic, is willing to make a call to admissions..

D.O. i shadowed is friends / old classmates with the Dean of CCOM.. is making a call as well, and writing my d.o. letter of rec..

i'm not trying to be an ass, but i really really want to go to CCOM. do you guys know of any instances where such things helped? or is it possible these could tick off the admissions people? My gpa is over CCOM's gpa requirements for a secondary, and my MCAT score is over their average admitted student, so im not floundering around with crappy stats but at the same time am not "good to go" either...the school has gotten pretty competitive, and i want to use every outlet i can to increase my chances = what do you guys think? will this stuff help?

why would a connection at all hurt? just reading this board, you know how competitive it is, do what you can to get in is what i say

 

[karizma098]

I just don't want myself coming across as a brat trying to use non academic ventures to squeeze myself into an interview. i just wasnt sure if the admissions committee would look in favor or disfavor of someone trying to use "connections" to get an interview. but i guess generally, it probably shouldn't hurt.

 

[BradenDO]

I just don't want myself coming across as a brat trying to use non academic ventures to squeeze myself into an interview. i just wasnt sure if the admissions committee would look in favor or disfavor of someone trying to use "connections" to get an interview. but i guess generally, it probably shouldn't hurt.

A doctor once told me that 1/2 of getting into med school is by who you know. My brother goes to the school I want to attend so I made sure I mentioned his name in my essay! 🙂 Feel free to use your connections!

 

[poly800rock]

I just don't want myself coming across as a brat trying to use non academic ventures to squeeze myself into an interview. i just wasnt sure if the admissions committee would look in favor or disfavor of someone trying to use "connections" to get an interview. but i guess generally, it probably shouldn't hurt.

i don't know why they would. connections can open a lot of doors in real life. you got to walk through, but the doors are open, i'm not going to hate on that. i wish i was in that position, but good luck!

 

[Kubed]

Totally use your connections, but hold them for helping you get an acceptance, not just getting an interview. If you've got the stats getting an interview should be no problem. I had something similar happen at the school I'm at. A doctor friend of mine was buddies with dean and made a call on my behalf.

 

[Soccer885]

If I had connections I would use them also. I don't think anything bad about you for exploring those connections and seeing where they will get you. It might be unfair to some people like me who don't have connections but that's life! I have a feeling it's a common thing for applicants to do and the adcoms probably don't know how you got your interview. Good luck and hopefully those connections come through for you!

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Connections are helpful; but they arent everything. Just because so and so makes a call, dont necessarily expect an interview.

 

[Dr JPH]

A doctor once told me that 1/2 of getting into med school is by who you know. My brother goes to the school I want to attend so I made sure I mentioned his name in my essay! 🙂 Feel free to use your connections!

Who you know is just as important as what you know.

Sometimes it seems that WHO you know wins out.

The only time people have a problem with using "connections" is when the person doesnt have the goods to back it up.

I know several people who got into medical school with less than average numbers and people mocked "oh their dad is so-and-so". But they rocked good grades and were in the top of the class. No more arguments there.

 

[drwannabe44]

I'm not trying to be a jerk here..but i need to use every outlet possible to get an interview. i absolutely want to go to CCOM...and i was wondering if the following two "connections" would help, or potentially hurt :

Dad's partner rotates students from ccom to his clinic, is willing to make a call to admissions..

D.O. i shadowed is friends / old classmates with the Dean of CCOM.. is making a call as well, and writing my d.o. letter of rec..

i'm not trying to be an ass, but i really really want to go to CCOM. do you guys know of any instances where such things helped? or is it possible these could tick off the admissions people? My gpa is over CCOM's gpa requirements for a secondary, and my MCAT score is over their average admitted student, so im not floundering around with crappy stats but at the same time am not "good to go" either...the school has gotten pretty competitive, and i want to use every outlet i can to increase my chances = what do you guys think? will this stuff help?

What do you mean the school has gotten very competitive? Is it really hard to get into? Do you know people who havent' gotten in because of their stats even though they were above the average?

 

[karizma098]

i know people who havent gotten in with 3.2's and 26's...but i know people who got in with 21's and 3.1's...and others who got waitlisted with 3.3's and 30's..its a crapshoot.