Do you know your adcom members?

[BucsFan813]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I just learned that an adcom member at my state school is the parent of one of my high school sports teammates... In hindsight, I should have passed to his son a little more often. 🙄 I believe that I will gain an acceptance on my own merit, however this got me thinking...

What percentage of acceptances do you think are based on personal or family relationships?

 

[maygrl110]

I think that unless you have a family member who's a major benefactor to the school...it really doesn't matter that much. You have to have the numbers first...then having a connection may not hurt, but that I don't know how much having that alone with bad credentials will really help!

 

[IckeyShuffle]

I think that unless you have a family member who's a major benefactor to the school...it really doesn't matter that much. You have to have the numbers first...then having a connection may not hurt, but that I don't know how much having that alone with bad credentials will really help!

if you have connections it definately helps. doesnt have to necessarily be family. If you know a member on an adcom then they will take you over a similar candidate they dont know. Why risk it on an unknown with equal stats? connections help with everything in this world, not just medical school.

 

[Pkboi24]

Have you guys seen the 20/20 program "Privilege in America"? It's ridiculous how low schools will stoop to get money.

Life may be unfair, but I don't have to like it...

 

[Law2Doc]

What percentage of acceptances do you think are based on personal or family relationships?

Probably not a high enough percentage to worry about. And of those people with connections, many are pretty qualified anyhow. Folks with friends in high places often have had access to good schools, good tutoring, good shadowing and research opportunities, etc.

 

[solitude]

Probably not a high enough percentage to worry about. And of those people with connections, many are pretty qualified anyhow. Folks with friends in high places often have had access to good schools, good tutoring, good shadowing and research opportunities, etc.

Ditto. I have about 10 friends from high school who are all applying to my state school with one or both parents on the faculty and a number on the adcom or in high administrative positions. They will probably all get in, but all are well-qualified and arguably would receive acceptance without that connection. The connections are more beneficial for getting a great education, having easy access to good shadowing/research opportunities, and receiving copious advice about the application process, and less beneficial for actual intervention on the adcom.

 

[maygrl110]

Well, put Law and Solitude! I know that my parents don't have enough money for schools to accept me just to get their donations! How many of us really have to worry about that?!?!

 

[MossPoh]

I think I am one of those people that will get accepted wherever because of my own merit, but parts of the journey were made much easier due to connections and my parents. I have pretty much all access to anywhere at the hospital my dad worked at, as well a few others. On top of that we are good family friends with a guy who was on the adcomm for a school for a number of years....so his recommendation probably won't hurt. We aren't filthy rich or anything...but my dad does donate a fair amount of money to his school which I'm sure won't HURT either.....especially since I wouldn't mind going there and it is within my statistics anyway.