Does being gay help or hurt admissions?

[iampurestyle]

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I am wondering if one should put that he/she is gay on an app. I could see it being both advantageous and detrimental depending upon the school. Are there any schools which gays should absolutely not go to??

 

[Medikit]

I don't think it would ever help your admissions, I only think it would hurt at some of the conservative schools but not the majority of them.

 

[sacrament]

I am wondering if one should put that he/she is gay on an app. I could see it being both advantageous and detrimental depending upon the school. Are there any schools which gays should absolutely not go to??

How were you planning on slipping that in there? I never mentioned that I was straight on any of my applications. I don't remember there being a box to check. Considering that being gay doesn't have much to do with your potential to be a good doctor, I'm not sure there is a place for it on anybody's application.

 

[Medikit]

How were you planning on slipping that in there? I never mentioned that I was straight on any of my applications. I don't remember there being a box to check. Considering that being gay doesn't have much to do with your potential to be a good doctor, I'm not sure there is a place for it on anybody's application.

UCSF has an optional essay you can fill out if you are gay





















Totally making that up.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

UCSF has an optional essay you can fill out if you are gay

Totally making that up.

hah, you had me for about 2 seconds, then i was like wtf? no way.

jeez its late

 

[alec689]

How were you planning on slipping that in there? I never mentioned that I was straight on any of my applications. I don't remember there being a box to check. Considering that being gay doesn't have much to do with your potential to be a good doctor, I'm not sure there is a place for it on anybody's application.

I'd really prefer not to get into this discussion, but I just feel compelled. First, being gay can certainly have a large impact on an individual's potential to be a good doctor. Often, gay men and women encounter discrimination and hate and show great determination and maturity in the face of adversity, two qualities I'm sure most would agree would affect anyone's potential to be a good doctor. Obviously, many people have similar experiences, and gay men and women have no monopoly on discrimination. Nevertheless, being gay does mean coming to terms with some hard lessons early on, lessons that could certainly affect someone's potential to be a doctor.

Second, the world assumes that an individual is straight as long as s/he doesn't correct that assumption. It's called heterosexual privilege - you can read about it if you want. Would you want adcoms assuming something about you that isn't true? While there's no "box" to check for being gay, it's certainly easy to work into an essay or your personal statement. For many GLBTQ individuals, being open about themselves is very important.

Finally, gay doctors are increasingly important in the medical world. There are certainly issues that I would feel more comfortable discussing with a gay doctor, being gay myself (Look at how subtlety I slipped that in there! Think I could do it in an essay? 😱 ). As HIV/AIDS and TB continue to rise in the GLBTQ population, gay doctors will become ever more important for everyone's general welfare.

Your post is ignorant, uncaring, and unsympathetic to the OP's original post, which was only asking a simple question. You clearly live in a heterocentric and narrow world. I hope GLBTQ patients never have to come to you for medical treatment.

To the OP, most schools have non-discrimination clauses. Check each individual school's clause in MSAR - most say specifically that they don't discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. In terms of schools where being openly gay on your app might hurt you, the only one that comes to mind is Loma Linda, which is Christian. Good luck!

 

[Sparky Man]

👍 alec, good points.

 

[Tony326]

If you do a search, this has been discussed quite a few times.

Here are some of the threads that I found interesting and helpful (that is, if you can weed through all of the comments made by people who don't understand why gay students would want to take this into consideration):


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=159935

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=49977

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=102982


Hope these are useful to you.

 

[Hoberto]

I wish everyone felt like you do Alec. You have spoken the truth.

Unfortunately, so many are bigoted against GLBTQ people that I think it would hurt the OP to mention it in his PS. It might only take one person on the adcom to trash the application simply due to a single sentence. Even gay-friendly schools are going to have jerks who are against GLBTQ individuals becoming doctors.

There was a thread recently about gay-friendly schools. This would be a good source of information.

 

[redsox2004]

If you do a search, this has been discussed quite a few times.

Here are some of the threads that I found interesting and helpful (that is, if you can weed through all of the comments made by people who don't understand why gay students would want to take this into consideration):


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=159935

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=49977

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=102982


Hope these are useful to you.

Also, search for the NYMC threads regarding the banning of their LGBT group.

 

[ipodluva]

This thread showed a very good causal link between habituation in certain regions of our country and the degree of support for people's civil rights. Between the girl / guy from Texas saying "how would you even slip that there -(being a big ol' homo) - I'm straight and I don't put that on" and the fellow from Boston who obviously reflects the (thank nature or probability) New England attitudes towards lesbians, gays, transsexuals, transgendered, bisexual and questioning individuals. Being a gay man who applied and gained admission to several medical schools this year, I must say that dealing with the heteronormative and heterosexist attitudes is by NO MEANS EASY. I decided that in the end, the best fit for me was WashU, so I will be departing the East Coast to go and be an activist. Coming from a state with gay marriage to a state with a ban on the former will be interesting. If there are any other good peeps who KNOW they are going to WashU, PM me and let's figure out how we can start a leftist organization. I am thinking of doing an Atheist club. WashU has a Christian Medical association. I am an Atheist. There are more. Why can't we have a club? Or perhaps a feminist association as well - Feminists United Against Defamation? The Midwest needs to change. So here is a chance! There is a slight chance that I might change my mind for Harvard, but I am set on WashU and I hope that there are more of you lefties out there. Time to unite!

 

[sacrament]

Your post is ignorant, uncaring, and unsympathetic to the OP's original post, which was only asking a simple question. You clearly live in a heterocentric and narrow world. I hope GLBTQ patients never have to come to you for medical treatment.

You're a f---ing lunatic. If you were any more bitter your post would actually be poisonous. I live in a heterocentric world because I don't give a sh1t if my doctor is gay? Yeah that makes sense. I don't know about all GLBTQBBQ patients, but I hope you never come to me for medical treatment because I'd diagnosis you as a headcase and admit you for electroshock.

Nevertheless, being gay does mean coming to terms with some hard lessons early on

One of those hard lessons might be that it isn't going to give you an admissions advantage. Sorry! Life is tough. You should put it on your application anyway so that you can sue any school that dares not to admit your gay self, Mr. Angry Bitterpants. "I found your rejection letter ignorant, uncaring, and unsympathetic! You'll be hearing from my attorney!"

 

[sacrament]

This thread showed a very good causal link between habituation in certain regions of our country and the degree of support for people's civil rights. Between the girl / guy from Texas saying "how would you even slip that there -(being a big ol' homo) - I'm straight and I don't put that on"

I'm a fringe liberal from Oregon, dipwad, who almost threw his TV out the window when the voters of this previously-sane state recently outlawed gay marriage. So much for your "causal link." You dinguses who are trying to paint me as a homophobe can go f yourselves. I'm probably the least homophobic straight man I know, but maybe that's because none of my homosexual friends are total hypervigilant lunatics. "What do you mean, do I want to go out for pancakes? Pancakes, as in two gay men lying on each other? I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT!" Sorry if I don't buy that being gay will make you a better doctor. If that makes me a gay-basher from Texas, then I guess don't mess with Texas.

 

[Prophecies]

*oh, honestly*

I'm gay...you guys are ragging on sacrament for no reason, and I totally agree with him...being gay (despite a few discriminations/conservative med schools) has no impact on the way admissions are today. You guys are talking as if in the FUTURE gay doctors will become more valuable...but as it is right now, I don't think adcoms care one way or the other.

Also, someone mentioned people being "bigoted" against GLBTUVWXYZ...but it seems as though some of you are too hardcore about it. And those are the gay people I don't like...yes, let people know that we do exist and it's wrong to treat us unfairly...but you don't have to shove it down their throats until they vomit.

 

[FutureOrthoDoc]

I am wondering if one should put that he/she is gay on an app. I could see it being both advantageous and detrimental depending upon the school. Are there any schools which gays should absolutely not go to??

Being gay should not have any bearing on whether or not you get into medical school. There are probably a lot of good gay doctors. However, it should not be used as a minority option. That definitely creates an unfair advantage.

 

[Tony326]

Here we go...

 

[ajt2003]

Here we go...

I'm so not getting into this.

Re: the OP. Ready? Here we go, 'straight' and simple: if your being gay is an integral component of who you are and greatly shaped - for some reason or another - your desire to pursue medicine, then mention it. If not, leave it out. If you've showed leadership on some sort of LGBT college/community group, mention it in your secondary experience if it's significant to you.

Also, some schools - Stanford and Mount Sinai - ask you to talk about what makes you unique or special. For me, my sexuality definitely played a part. For you, it might not. Depends, depends, depends!

Can it hurt you? Arguably, yes. But it (again) depends where you're applying. But I also think it can help: During my Penn interview, the fact that sexual orientation was deemed an important component of class diversity really impressed me. How progressive! I knew I would feel really comfortable learning medicine there. And I told the head honchos as much. And now I'm going there. Did it help me? I'd like to think so. But who knows?!

 

[45408]

My opinion is that it would not help you get into med school, and it would only hurt you if you approached it with the wrong tack.

 

[superdevil]

Also, someone mentioned people being "bigoted" against GLBTUVWXYZ...but it seems as though some of you are too hardcore about it. And those are the gay people I don't like...yes, let people know that we do exist and it's wrong to treat us unfairly...but you don't have to shove it down their throats until they vomit.

thank you. 👍 often the "hypervigilant lunatics" that sacrament described mistake the concept of "bigoted" for "annoyed".

i also find it to be highly amusing that someone called sacrament (who has a liberal post history) "ignorant" and "uncaring"! see, liberals are so touchy-feely and sacntimonious they even accuse each other of not being sensitive enough! its a beautiful thing. 👍

 

[LadyJubilee8_18]

I'd really prefer not to get into this discussion, but I just feel compelled. First, being gay can certainly have a large impact on an individual's potential to be a good doctor. Often, gay men and women encounter discrimination and hate and show great determination and maturity in the face of adversity, two qualities I'm sure most would agree would affect anyone's potential to be a good doctor. Obviously, many people have similar experiences, and gay men and women have no monopoly on discrimination. Nevertheless, being gay does mean coming to terms with some hard lessons early on, lessons that could certainly affect someone's potential to be a doctor.

Second, the world assumes that an individual is straight as long as s/he doesn't correct that assumption. It's called heterosexual privilege - you can read about it if you want. Would you want adcoms assuming something about you that isn't true? While there's no "box" to check for being gay, it's certainly easy to work into an essay or your personal statement. For many GLBTQ individuals, being open about themselves is very important.

Finally, gay doctors are increasingly important in the medical world. There are certainly issues that I would feel more comfortable discussing with a gay doctor, being gay myself (Look at how subtlety I slipped that in there! Think I could do it in an essay? 😱 ). As HIV/AIDS and TB continue to rise in the GLBTQ population, gay doctors will become ever more important for everyone's general welfare.

Your post is ignorant, uncaring, and unsympathetic to the OP's original post, which was only asking a simple question. You clearly live in a heterocentric and narrow world. I hope GLBTQ patients never have to come to you for medical treatment.

To the OP, most schools have non-discrimination clauses. Check each individual school's clause in MSAR - most say specifically that they don't discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. In terms of schools where being openly gay on your app might hurt you, the only one that comes to mind is Loma Linda, which is Christian. Good luck!

If the OP is applying in Texas (which is known for discrimination) it is safe to say that being openly gay on apps for any RURAL school is dangerous. A&M and Tech are two schools to be cautious about (I know that these schools are both conveniently situated in smoldering $hit holes, but you gotta get in somewhere right?) I also heard that UT Houston isn't very gay-friendly. I think it’s ok to be open about your sexuality if you are applying to Southwestern or Baylor and maybe even San Antonio but I'm not sure. Good luck 👍

 

[bmcgilligan]

Why would one talk about his/her sex life on their med school application? This makes no sense to me and is quite distasteful whether the person is homosexual or heterosexual.

Think about it: it is not polite to discuss one's sex life in public. Would you tell a total stranger about the time you lost your virginity or about how you are saving yourself for marriage or what satisfies you sexually? Probably not. A person is much more than his/her sexual orientation and sex life.

Your med school app is like a first meeting. Be polite and respectful.

 

[myodana]

Why would one talk about his/her sex life on their med school application? This makes no sense to me and is quite distasteful whether the person is homosexual or heterosexual.

Think about it: it is not polite to discuss one's sex life in public. Would you tell a total stranger about the time you lost your virginity or about how you are saving yourself for marriage or what satisfies you sexually? Probably not. A person is much more than his/her sexual orientation and sex life.

Your med school app is like a first meeting. Be polite and respectful.

yo. sexuality and sex life are two completely different things. if being poor shaped your desire to be a doctor, or being christian helped shape your desire to be a doctor, you'd write about that. go back and read ajt's post. read it and learn.

 

[LadyJubilee8_18]

thank you. 👍 often the "hypervigilant lunatics" that sacrament described mistake the concept of "bigoted" for "annoyed".

i also find it to be highly amusing that someone called sacrament (who has a liberal post history) "ignorant" and "uncaring"! see, liberals are so touchy-feely and sacntimonious they even accuse each other of not being sensitive enough! its a beautiful thing. 👍

When did "Liberal" become such a bad word? It’s really terrible in Texas. I swear, people use the word Liberal to describe me just as they used the word Ni---- like five years ago. Can we give it a rest? Extreme liberal people may be difficult to relate to, but extreme conservatives are f*ckin crazy! Some conservative in Texas actually suggested having teachers and workers in elementary and high schools carry GUNS, as if that would make our schools safer. I mean, even if kids are bringing guns to school, crossfire will not ensure the safety of others! They are also trying to pass a law in Texas so that gay and lesbian couples can not house foster children. So...knowing that the foster system is way over-burdened, we are going to pass a law restricting people who are guaranteed to be unable to have their own children from taking in kids who no one seems to want. Can you name a winner in that situation? It’s like they sit in bed at night thinking, "How can I be a pain in the a$$ tomorrow? There has to be some group of people out there whose lives I've yet to ruin." (and no, I'm not a lesbian...I'm just more observant than the average Texan) I, for one, will be glad when this conservative political climate has passed.

 

[iamoptimusprime]

I hope this doesn't come off wrong but many secondaries and interviews center around some hardship you have overcome(obstacle..disadvantage). I'm guessing that most gay men have overcome significant obstacles if they have come out. In most of america people are openly against homosexuality. It is not uncommon to hear about people waving signs around saying horrible horrible things about gay people. Racism however has become much less main stream and is still around..but just not politically correct to bring up. Because of the open hatred of gays it seems that their experience in some ways could be much worse than a minority. I guess this is why people choose not to come out of the closet. So anyway it could make for a great answer to that question. It is also a question that I assume is often lied about and has lead to some crazy stories.

 

[beep]

i think it may hurt you in some places. in some places it won't make a difference. and in some it will help you, if what you say about being gay shows that you have a depth of empathy or knowledge about minority issues or have struggled to know yourself better or whatever being gay has taught you. i think it is highly dependent on who reads your app which kind of bias you'll encounter, if any. i also think that, while you can make some guesses about which schools will have more gay-friendly adcom members, there are probably people with pro-, anti-, and no- gay bias at most places. med school apps are partly a crapshoot, and coming out on the app will add another random variable to the mix.

if i were you, i would do it if (1) you would be comfortable discussing gay issues (your own and general ones) in an interview and (2) being gay has had a significant impact on you or your activities, i.e. either it's made you grow as a person and/or you've been a leader in gay organizations.

 

[superdevil]

When did "Liberal" become such a bad word? It’s really terrible in Texas. I swear, people use the word Liberal to describe me just as they used the word Ni---- like five years ago. Can we give it a rest? Extreme liberal people may be difficult to relate to, but extreme conservatives are f*ckin crazy! Some conservative in Texas actually suggested having teachers and workers in elementary and high schools carry GUNS, as if that would make our schools safer. I mean, even if kids are bringing guns to school, crossfire will not ensure the safety of others! They are also trying to pass a law in Texas so that gay and lesbian couples can not house foster children. So...knowing that the foster system is way over-burdened, we are going to pass a law restricting people who are guaranteed to be unable to have their own children from taking in kids who no one seems to want. Can you name a winner in that situation? It’s like they sit in bed at night thinking, "How can I be a pain in the a$$ tomorrow? There has to be some group of people out there whose lives I've yet to ruin." (and no, I'm not a lesbian...I'm just more observant than the average Texan) I, for one, will be glad when this conservative political climate has passed.

wow...where the hell did teachers carrying guns come from???

um, i was just making a joke. extremes of both sides are ridiculous--i wouldn't debate that. i wouldn't call myself a liberal or a conservative. i was just poking fun at an observation i made. i'm sorry you had to live in texas. it seems to have made you bitter.

anyway, i'm sorry my three-sentence post was so offensive. i don't think it necessitated that kind of a rant, though...

 

[kdwuma]

I hope this doesn't come off wrong but many secondaries and interviews center around some hardship you have overcome(obstacle..disadvantage). I'm guessing that most gay men have overcome significant obstacles if they have come out. In most of america people are openly against homosexuality. It is not uncommon to hear about people waving signs around saying horrible horrible things about gay people. Racism however has become much less main stream and is still around..but just not politically correct to bring up. Because of the open hatred of gays it seems that their experience in some ways could be much worse than a minority. I guess this is why people choose not to come out of the closet. So anyway it could make for a great answer to that question. It is also a question that I assume is often lied about and has lead to some crazy stories.

my dear friend i am sure you did not mean this in a bad way but let me point a few things out to you.
Do not ever compare what minorities have gone through (especially blacks) to what gays go through because it is not only insulting it shows intellectual laziness for the following reasons
1-you can never hide being black
2-last time i checked there has never been a question about whether being black was a choice
3- last time i checked gays were not enslaved for hundreds of years
4-is it me or have blacks being REALLY able to vote for the past 40 years (not even a generation)
I can go on and on but like i said, i just think it was an oversight on your part and felt like pointing it out. i deplore all forms of discrimination, but lets fight each one on the merits.

 

[JohnnyOU]

The admissionas advisory committee I have spoken with said that you should never try to promote yourself as a homosexual or a christian as a part of your personal statement or interview. It is one of the big taboos and is seen as a sign of immaturity, same as blaming a teacher for your grade, etc.

It is mostly because no one really cares if you're homosexual, christian, democrat, etc. The adcoms see thousands of people and no one is going to think you're unique or be impressed with your "honesty and openess" about your religion or sexual preferences.

Also worth noting, they will ask you everything they really care to know about you.

Good luck
Johnny

 

[Medikit]

2-last time i checked there has never been a question about whether being black was a choice

I've never heard a gay person say that they chose to be gay. I have heard many of them say that they wish they were straight so they wouldn't have to deal with all the crap that many of them go through. Now a bisexual in a gay-relationship is a different story. Maybe that's why no one cares about bisexuals even though they significantly outnumber homosexuals.

 

[ajt2003]

yo. sexuality and sex life are two completely different things. if being poor shaped your desire to be a doctor, or being christian helped shape your desire to be a doctor, you'd write about that. go back and read ajt's post. read it and learn.

word, myodana. word. 😉

PS, next year at Einstein look out for a cool kid from Columbia's postbacc named Evan. You'll like him. He's good people.

 

[ajt2003]

yo. sexuality and sex life are two completely different things. if being poor shaped your desire to be a doctor, or being christian helped shape your desire to be a doctor, you'd write about that. go back and read ajt's post. read it and learn.

word, myodana. word. 😉

PS, next year at Einstein look out for a cool kid from Columbia's postbacc named Evan. You'll like him. He's good people.

 

[Medikit]

word, myodana. word. 😉

PS, next year at Einstein look out for a cool kid from Columbia's postbacc named Evan. You'll like him. He's good people.

word, myodana. word. 😉

PS, next year at Einstein look out for a cool kid from Columbia's postbacc named Evan. You'll like him. He's good people.

A post so good it had to be posted twice!

 

[every1blowz]

-

 

[getunconcsious]

To the OP, I wasn't out during the admissions process and got into two places, neither of which is gay friendly at ALL. But that's a separate issue I'll have to deal with later. I don't think I'd recommend talking about it because I think it rubs some interviewers the wrong way. The only time I even came anywhere near broaching the subject was to ask an interviewer if the atmosphere at the school was tolerant and he seemed taken aback.

Now, sometimes they will stop short of bringing it up with you unsolicited. Here's an example from one of the Texas schools (of course):

Interviewer: Do you plan on being married in medical school?
Me: No. I'm trying to get my career going first before worrying about a personal life.
Interviewer: Do you have a girlfriend?
Me: No.
Interviewer: Hmm...(Gives me a funny look) And what makes you think you would fit in here?

In these types of situations, it's best to just try and change the subject or something, then rank the school dead last in the match. What I've learned is that if a school really has a huge problem with it, it's probably not worth going there. I'd be out about it on secondaries like Stanford's that ask directly how you contribute to diversity...then I think it would be valid to bring up. Also, I wouldn't hide extracurriculars with GLBT groups, especially if it's been a significant experience for you. Bottom line is that it may hurt you or it may help you a little bit at some places, but most likely it won't matter at all. Good luck

 

[myodana]

word, myodana. word. 😉

PS, next year at Einstein look out for a cool kid from Columbia's postbacc named Evan. You'll like him. He's good people.

i definitely will. i'm getting more and more excited for school! (and i love it that i'm not the only one that uses the phrase "he's good people.") 🙂

 

[beep]

Are you all insane?

Being gay does not make you a more empathetic, sensitive, or caring person!

Of course it doesn't. However, experiencing yourself as different from others, struggling to come to terms with your own identity, negotiating the keeping or telling of secrets, fearing judgement by loved ones and strangers, and coping with discrimination are all common experiences for gay people. Any of these experiences may, if viewed the right way, serve as life lessons to help a gay person understand others dealing with similar experiences (including those not related to gayness) and perhaps have more compassion for them.

 

[getunconcsious]

Are you all insane?

Being gay does not make you a more empathetic, sensitive, or caring person!

My God.

I think for some people it does, because it is a difficult experience. But not everyone. That's why my opinion on this subject is that whether being gay is relevant to one's application varies from person to person. For some people it would be relevant, but not for everyone. I don't think that you can universally say 'being gay is irrelevant to medical school and med school applications and interviews.' It IS relevant, for SOME people.

 

[EkLiLiaN]

You can give it a try and let us know what happened! Sometimes you never know how the way you convey your message can affect others' opinion about you. I was a homophobe before I entered college but after meeting my gay pre-med advisor who was very nice and acted "cool" (hahahaha) I realized that you guys aren't ..... and now I am so so comfortable being around gays. I actually studied abroad on Gay health issues in Europe.

So the point is that if you feel comfortable telling others about your sexuality go aheard but be aware that as much as there are people who can't stand gay people, there are at least in my opinion, people who aren't gay but are confortable with them.

Best of luck 🙂 !

 

[JohnnyOU]

Of course it doesn't. However, experiencing yourself as different from others, struggling to come to terms with your own identity, negotiating the keeping or telling of secrets, fearing judgement by loved ones and strangers, and coping with discrimination are all common experiences for gay people. Any of these experiences may, if viewed the right way, serve as life lessons to help a gay person understand others dealing with similar experiences (including those not related to gayness) and perhaps have more compassion for them.

Are those not the same experiences every person experiences?
Is the degree it affects you not the degree to which you worry about what everyone else thinks about you, whether you're straight, black, gay, white, brown, or whatever?

I really don't feel like a gay doctor is going to be better at treating a gay person as you imply. Would you think only a heterosexual doctor could best treat a heterosexual patient? (If so, I'd insist on knowing a doc's sexuality before he treated me, since I want the best treatment available to me). I think you can see the quandary there.

J

 

[diosa428]

To the OP: If any school did reject you because you were openly gay, then that school may not be a place you would want to spend 4 years anyway. (Although being discriminated against in any way sucks, and I wouldn't blame you for trying to avoid it as much as possible).

 

[getunconcsious]

Are those not the same experiences every person experiences?

J

No, no they're not. Straight people can't possibly understand the extent of it for us. Sorry.

 

[45408]

No, no they're not. Straight people can't possibly understand the extent of it for us. Sorry.

🙄 You're assuming you know what life is like for every straight person with that comment.

 

[tigress]

🙄 You're assuming you know what life is like for every straight person with that comment.

And likewise assuming that all gay people have the same experiences. Some gay people are accepted and welcomed into their families, whereas others are not. Some live in communities where homosexuality is accepted and even celebrated, whereas most do not. Every single person of any type has a different experience in life. I "came out" as religious to a secular family when I was a child. Of course it's not the same thing, but to insist that heterosexual people have no understanding of what it's like for a gay person to go through life is just silly. Nobody knows what it's like for anybody else to go through life, but we have to rely to our compassion for others to at least try to understand. Some people have tougher lives than others, and this is true for gay or straight people, black, white, yellow, red or green people, religious or secular people, etc. Getunconcsious, you make it into an us vs. them thing, but it shouldn't be like that at all.

To the OP: Should you put that you're gay in your application? As others have said, if it has contributed significantly to your desire to be a doctor, sure you should. But in some ways I agree with sacrament; it's not like most people talk about their sexual orientation on their application. So that's why you should only talk about it if it's applicable. It may, unfortunately, hurt you some places, but definitely not everywhere. But you shouldn't just put it for no reason, expecting it to help you because you contribute to diversity or because you're different.

Good luck.

 

[rbfiji13]

I am wondering if one should put that he/she is gay on an app. I could see it being both advantageous and detrimental depending upon the school. Are there any schools which gays should absolutely not go to??

Why would you put "I am gay" on your application? That would be like a heterosexual putting "I like women" on their app. like it's some sort of extracurricular activity. Admissions committies shouldn't know your sexual orientation (and they aren't allowed to ask). I hope that this question was a joke.

 

[getunconcsious]

LOL, it's not an us vs. them thing, and if you want to see someone who views it that way, talk to Mateodaspy. The vast majority of my friends are straight. I'm just saying that being gay is a unique experience, while being straight is not. It's like being black is a unique experience, while being white is not. On some level I can't possibly know what it's like to be a black person. Same thing applies here. I'm just annoyed that JohnnyOU acts as though there is nothing unique about being gay, and that straight people get it 100%. But since he is from Oklahoma, I suppose that that's to be expected.

 

[DrBowtie]

LOL, it's not an us vs. them thing, and if you want to see someone who views it that way, talk to Mateodaspy. The vast majority of my friends are straight. I'm just saying that being gay is a unique experience, while being straight is not. It's like being black is a unique experience, while being white is not. On some level I can't possibly know what it's like to be a black person. Same thing applies here. I'm just annoyed that JohnnyOU acts as though there is nothing unique about being gay, and that straight people get it 100%. But since he is from Oklahoma, I suppose that that's to be expected.

There is plenty of things that are unique about being white or black or gay or straight or midwestern or east coast or west coast. Playing up a demographic IMHO is a bad ploy. Illustrate your hard work and dedication to medicine and leave all the other stuff off. The medical school application is a professional process based upon your academic and EC credentials and having a gay lifestyle or a straight lifestyle is just plain irrelevant.

 

[LabMonster]

Interviewer: Do you plan on being married in medical school?
Me: No. I'm trying to get my career going first before worrying about a personal life.
Interviewer: Do you have a girlfriend?
Me: No.
Interviewer: Hmm...(Gives me a funny look) And what makes you think you would fit in here?

The application process starts with a "weeding out" with those souls ADCOMS feel don't have the grey matter to effectively navigate med school.

Then - refer to quote above - it is about matching. If you would be miserable for 4 years, when matriculate there? You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

To relate to the thread: apply to schools you would be happy at AND be successful at. It doesn't make sense to piss away 4 years on what could be a great experience by number-whoring if you absolutely detest the institution and surrounding community's moral ground.

 

[comatose]

ajt2003 is a CUTIE!! that's all i wanted to say....

 

[myodana]

Why would you put "I am gay" on your application? That would be like a heterosexual putting "I like women" on their app. like it's some sort of extracurricular activity. Admissions committies shouldn't know your sexual orientation (and they aren't allowed to ask). I hope that this question was a joke.

come on, man. think. you probably wouldn't put "I AM GAY" (well, i don't know if YOU would or not, but most intelligent people wouldn't...). but one particular situation could involve someone who held a position in an LGBT association, maybe worked for an organization like GMHC doing AIDS research funding stuff, had a very difficult coming out experience which shaped him/her as a person, lost a loved one to AIDS, faced adverse circumstances as a result of being gay, or any number of experience which might be related to their desire to be a doctor, while at the same time outing them on their application. we're not (hopefully) talking about just saying "i'm gay" to the adcom, it's a matter of whether to HIDE it or not bother.

 

[double elle]

I am wondering if one should put that he/she is gay on an app. I could see it being both advantageous and detrimental depending upon the school. Are there any schools which gays should absolutely not go to??

Why do gay people assume that anyone even CARES? I've been called "heterosexualist" so many times because "I assume everyone arround me is heterosexual". No, not that at all - I simply don't CARE. You are a person before you are a GAY person or a STRAIGHT person - and, thus, you will be treated the same by me.

Your search for a medical school is really no different than the rest of us - we all research places to see which ones will best fit us. Those with families are looking for different things than those without families. Women may be looking for different things than men. Older students look for different things than younger students. Just ask others around you - like we all do. We all have things about us that make us unique and different - but those things don't need to be listed in the application process.

Simply do your research - and the best info will come from students that are at, or have attended, the schools you are interested in. Also - if some of the schools are close, arrange a visit - then, you will be able to "feel" if you may/may not be comfortable there. Your application is about YOU - don't make it about one part of you.