Doctors in the FAMILY!

[WannabeaMD]

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Do you think that it's relevant to tell med schools in my personal statement or interviews about having Doctors in my family and my desire to become a doctor too besides we have two family members who are nurses?
I don't believe I want to be a Doctor because of them, I have wanted to become a Doctor since I was 4 for personal choice and desire and way back before my two brothers and uncle decided to go to med school.

I don't want to look like a follower to people because I am doing what my two brothers and uncle did, but they did it first because they are older than me.
but, what do you think?

 

[Neuron14]

Do you think that it's relevant to tell med schools in my personal statement or interviews about having Doctors in my family and my desire to become a doctor too besides we have two family members who are nurses?
I don't believe I want to be a Doctor because of them, I have wanted to become a Doctor since I was 4 for personal choice and desire and way back before my two brothers and uncle decided to go to med school.

I don't want to look like a follower to people because I am doing what my two brothers and uncle did, but they did it first because they are older than me.
but, what do you think?

You shouldn't write about it in your personal statement, especially if it wasn't an important element in your decision to pursue a career in medicine. However, there are some secondaries that ask about challenges/future issues in the medical profession (interviewers might also ask this) and you could briefly mention that you're familiar with the issues - partly because you have family members who are medical professionals. But, keep the focus on yourself since you're the applicant.

 

[krs881]

You shouldn't write about it in your personal statement, especially if it wasn't an important element in your decision to pursue a career in medicine. However, there are some secondaries that ask about challenges/future issues in the medical profession (interviewers might also ask this) and you could briefly mention that you're familiar with the issues - partly because you have family members who are medical professionals. But, keep the focus on yourself since you're the applicant.

If I recall correctly the amcas asks not only about parents' education but also siblings' highest level of education, no? so there you would put your sibling's MD. This is of interest to AdComs for precisely the reason the above poster mentioned ... familiarity, so to speak, with the profession, lifestyle, etc. (They also gleam things about background of applicants whose parents and sibs are NOT doctors or nurses... i.e. if you are first in your family to go to college, etc).

 

[blueflower77]

I come from a very similar situation as you. I think it really depends on the exact situation of your family and if those people who are your relatives and in medicine had some influence in your decision. Mine did - very much so - so I included them.

The situation is two-fold and this is how a dean of admissions at my local med school told me. If a family member in medicine influenced you in such a positive way that you became interested in medicine, that you started to be curious and loved it and they somehow had a direct link between the interest and the pursuit, then in that light, there is absolutely nothing wrong with including it in your personal statement as well as the entire application. But only in that case.

The dean said that the most annoying people write how their parents/grandparents/brothers/in-laws are physicians and how that would make them a great physician only for that fact. He stated that some people make it sound like having a family member who is a physician somehow makes them privileged and they should "naturally" be accepted, etc. Those are obviously no-no's.

So, the bottom line is that you should only write about your family member(s) who is a physician if you can clearly show a direct link between WHY they were important in your decision making and HOW they relate to you wanting to pursue medicine. Under all other circumstances, I think they don't like it if you include them. Feels like you're bragging, I think.

 

[illegallysmooth]

If it was relevant, talk about it. Did they give you some insight into medicine? Did you shadow them? Did they play any part in your decision to become a doctor BESIDES just wanting to follow in their footsteps?

If not, don't mention it.

 

[TriagePreMed]

As long as when it reads it doesn't come off as some sense of entitlement, you could mention it. However, it doesn't sound like they really influenced you toward your decision.

 

[WannabeaMD]

Thank you guys for all your replies!
They didn't influence my decision so I don't plan on mentioning in my applicattion. 🙂

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Thank you guys for all your replies!
They didn't influence my decision so I don't plan on mentioning in my applicattion. 🙂

When I became in involved with the interview process at my medical school, I was surprised to find out that family members as a physician actually raised a flag (and not in a good way). For these applicants we were specifically told to figure out how much their physician relatives may have pushed them into medicine.

 

[EdLongshanks]

When I became in involved with the interview process at my medical school, I was surprised to find out that family members as a physician actually raised a flag (and not in a good way). For these applicants we were specifically told to figure out how much their physician relatives may have pushed them into medicine.

You know, I love America. In most countries, and even in previous years here, if you and your father were not part of the Good Ole Boys club there was no path to the higher end professions. I'm the grandson of a farmhand; my father and his brothers were blue-collar or low-level managers. My mother was a dust-bowl Okie who never graduated 6 grade, and yet I stand on level, or even slightly higher, ground with the sons of Doctors and Lawyers. Wow.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

You know, I love America. In most countries, and even in previous years here, if you and your father were not part of the Good Ole Boys club there was no path to the higher end professions. I'm the grandson of a farmhand; my father and his brothers were blue-collar or low-level managers. My mother was a dust-bowl Okie who never graduated 6 grade, and yet I stand on level, or even slightly higher, ground with the sons of Doctors and Lawyers. Wow.

Unfortunately there are still Good Ole Boys around, but at least it is not as bad as it used to be. My father was a math teacher and my mother was a secretary, grandfather never went to high school. It keeps me grounded.

 

[TriagePreMed]

You know, I love America. In most countries, and even in previous years here, if you and your father were not part of the Good Ole Boys club there was no path to the higher end professions. I'm the grandson of a farmhand; my father and his brothers were blue-collar or low-level managers. My mother was a dust-bowl Okie who never graduated 6 grade, and yet I stand on level, or even slightly higher, ground with the sons of Doctors and Lawyers. Wow.

LOL This has to be the most misinformed comment I have ever read. While there is opportunity in America, the old boys club is alive and well in almost every profession (e.g. George W Bush and Jeb Bush). If someone is a physician, he'll get his kid into med school through other means: investing in their education or even making a few phone calls or donating directly. This same thing happens with lawyers.

 

[TriagePreMed]

When I became in involved with the interview process at my medical school, I was surprised to find out that family members as a physician actually raised a flag (and not in a good way). For these applicants we were specifically told to figure out how much their physician relatives may have pushed them into medicine.

Do they specifically ask you about this? I have an aunt that I have never met who his a physician in a 3rd world country. I wouldn't want flags raised because of someone whose blood I somewhat share but have no relationship with.

 

[EdLongshanks]

LOL This has to be the most misinformed comment I have ever read. While there is opportunity in America, the old boys club is alive and well in almost every profession (e.g. George W Bush and Jeb Bush). If someone is a physician, he'll get his kid into med school through other means: investing in their education or even making a few phone calls or donating directly. This same thing happens with lawyers.

You know, after having been involved in partisan politics, having a successful career, and being a well-known teacher in a large church fellowship, I think I have earned a little bit more than being called "misinformed" about the good ole boy network. I find that you have pushed my arrogant button. It's unlikely that you have more experience in this area than I. In the last presidential election, I had not only, through the years, met several of the candidates, but I also knew a few personally. You are now receiving a condescending glare from me.

Of course a father will look out for the advancement of his sons and daughters. Who wouldn't? Would you want to take away a father's ability to help his offspring? My point is not that the good old boy network doesn't exist, but that it doesn't CONTROL. Yes, George Herbert Walker Bush is very proud that his sons were able to attain greater heights than he. If you are around him for more than 2 minutes he will tell you so. But we also live in a country where Bill Clinton the son of a (let's face it) trailer park lady can also attain the presidency. Yes, the son of a Doctor has a smoother path than I and my sons have an easier path than I did (I hope). But at the end of the day, a doctor's son and I, the son of a migrant farm worker, stand on equal ground before an admissions committee and that is wonderful.

 

[EdLongshanks]

(i.e. your proud America isn't equal opportunity).

I'm sorry that you consider it my America and I'm sorry that you consider it important to denigrate others accomplishments because some parts of their road was smooth. I'm glad that George HW Bush was able to give his sons opportunity to be greater than him. I'm glad that John McCain, a privileged son of an Admiral showed the character sturdiness to stand up for America, even under torture. And, yes, even though they are not in my party, I'm proud that in America men like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama can overcome a not-so-privileged background to rise to the most honored position in the world.

Sometimes too much training in sociology can overcome thinking.

 

[EdLongshanks]

. You go back to thanking America for not being in the 18th century anymore and praising dubya and mccain.

I hope that you will someday descend from your political pedestal enough to give respect to people who disagree with your politics. Decency outweighs politics.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Do they specifically ask you about this? I have an aunt that I have never met who his a physician in a 3rd world country. I wouldn't want flags raised because of someone whose blood I somewhat share but have no relationship with.

Wow, what happened on this thread?

AMCAS has a section where you fill in your parents' educational level (i.e. highest degree earned). Some secondaries have this question and it can also come up during the interview. Usually these questions are limited to parents, unless someone is doing a lot of unnecessary digging.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I hope that you will someday descend from your political pedestal enough to give respect to people who disagree with your politics. Decency outweighs politics.

Business as usual, right? When you can't win an argument based on facts, you gotta try to turn it into some moral argument where you have the high ground, right? Maybe you should tell your partisan friends to have decency to the rest us Americans.

lol McCain. Last time I checked he did make propaganda videos. I don't blame him for it. I think it's reasonable given his circumstances, but I want to state that fact to the contrary of your opinion. Maybe I should also state the fact that McCain wouldn't have had to be "brave" had he, bottom student of his class and someone that had repeatedly crashed before, been given license to fly again.

Relevant link to this "gawd bless Amerikuh" that you stand "equally" as a rich kid applying to med school: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnVJAkhGyjQ

Wow, what happened on this thread?

AMCAS has a section where you fill in your parents’ educational level (i.e. highest degree earned). Some secondaries have this question and it can also come up during the interview. Usually these questions are limited to parents, unless someone is doing a lot of unnecessary digging.

What happened is reality.

Good thing it only goes that far. Neither of my parents are physicians.

 

[aidama]

Do you think that it's relevant to tell med schools in my personal statement or interviews about having Doctors in my family and my desire to become a doctor too besides we have two family members who are nurses?
I don't believe I want to be a Doctor because of them, I have wanted to become a Doctor since I was 4 for personal choice and desire and way back before my two brothers and uncle decided to go to med school.

I don't want to look like a follower to people because I am doing what my two brothers and uncle did, but they did it first because they are older than me.
but, what do you think?

Umm, so back on track, I personally wrote about my father's influence on my decision. 3 sentences or so. If you would like an example you can PM me. If your family influenced your decision to learn more about the profession, why not write about it? You're going to have to eventually explain it anyway. Just remember it's important to make the distinction that you're doing this for you and not because of family pressure. You need hardcore examples showing your dedication to the profession that thoroughly explain your decision.

 

[Superman1978]

I mentioned my grandfather in mine because he was a great influence. More than that, I wrote about the things that he did that influenced me rather than him just being a doctor. A good chunk of my PS revolved around my influences and how I came to this position in my life. I'm not sure if this will clarify things but I'm a Non-Trad, having spent 10+ years in the Army before deciding to go to college. I was hesitant at first to mention it because I have heard of admissions committees really grill applicants whose family members are doctors.
My vote: If the family member(s) is a huge influence on you, and you can write in such a way as to convey that idea over "entitlement", etc, then go for it. If you think it will give you points: forget it.

 

[brdmadgrl82]

I think this question would be best answered by those who got accepted into medical school (since they got it "right" in their personal statement). My advice comes from what was suggested to me by a physician friend:
It is best not to name drop or write about that so and so in your family was a doctor (like someone said there is a spot for the parents education). You can also leave this to the med school interview, where you can also add or share the fact "so and so" inspired you, just make sure you don't name drop. Make sure to make it about you more, why you are great, how you decided on this journey (I guess you can mention maybe a sentence or two- for e.g. if you had a mentor like a parent of family friend who gave you insight into the medical field through stories of challenges ect...).

 

[bloggerbloggy]

It'snot being a follower. It is about having the accessibility because your family can help you making your studying easier. Also, financially, it will look like they can support you. At the end of the days it is your choice. However, mentioing it doesnt matter at all and wont affect you.

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