Does personally knowing a doctor help in anyway?

[PKU]

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Hey guys,

Canadian student here.

My family personally knows a family doctor in a New York hospital (first cousins on moms side). If I were to apply to a New York medical school, besides the shadowing and or letter of reference, is there anything else that can be used to my benefit. I know it's an odd question but I'm very curious.

 

[mct2762]

Hey guys,

Canadian student here.

My family personally knows a family doctor in a New York hospital (first cousins on moms side). If I were to apply to a New York medical school, besides the shadowing and or letter of reference, is there anything else that can be used to my benefit. I know it's an odd question but I'm very curious.

not really. If he went to the school you are applying to maybe a call from him to the school could help?

 

[WillburCobb]

Hey guys,

Canadian student here.

My family personally knows a family doctor in a New York hospital (first cousins on moms side). If I were to apply to a New York medical school, besides the shadowing and or letter of reference, is there anything else that can be used to my benefit. I know it's an odd question but I'm very curious.

Connections for shadowing opportunities is aboot it.

 

[Plecopotamus]

Hey guys,

Canadian student here.

My family personally knows a family doctor in a New York hospital (first cousins on moms side). If I were to apply to a New York medical school, besides the shadowing and or letter of reference, is there anything else that can be used to my benefit. I know it's an odd question but I'm very curious.

Not unless someone in this picture has enough money to get a name on a building.

No idea what % of med school applicants have a first degree relative who's a doctor, but it's high. Your 4th degree connection to a NYC doctor is unlikely to benefit you other than in the ways you've already noted.

 

[gyngyn]

Connections for shadowing opportunities is aboot it.

Cute.
No, OP, For MD schools, such letters are pretty useless.
DO schools do like physician letters (especially DO letters!).

 

[PKU]

Aww man!

Canadian schools love letters like that 🙁

Cute.
No, OP, For MD schools, such letters are pretty useless.
DO schools do like physician letters (especially DO letters!).

 

[sobored]

Hey guys,

Canadian student here.

My family personally knows a family doctor in a New York hospital (first cousins on moms side). If I were to apply to a New York medical school, besides the shadowing and or letter of reference, is there anything else that can be used to my benefit. I know it's an odd question but I'm very curious.

Maybe for residency. Almost certainly not for med school admissions.

 

[touchpause13]

Connections for shadowing opportunities is aboot it.

I say it like that....

Also Yup I agree.

 

[C.glabrata123]

Nope. I know/worked for someone who was Head of Pediatrics at a certain medical school hospital and she wrote me a letter. It did not affect my chances there.

 

[Goro]

No

Hey guys,

Canadian student here.

My family personally knows a family doctor in a New York hospital (first cousins on moms side). If I were to apply to a New York medical school, besides the shadowing and or letter of reference, is there anything else that can be used to my benefit. I know it's an odd question but I'm very curious.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

Awwww, too bad. I have two cousins (my only family relatives in the field of medicine) who are currently med students. M3 and a fellow.

 

[Frostbite22]

I think it can help in other aspects of life if they get to know you well especially outside your parents. I once interviewed for a job and they called my main reference (she is a veterinarian, but a well known top veterinary surgeon in the state) and they told me after about a year of working there I wouldn't have gotten the job if she wouldn't have said such great things about me. They said it was more personal than other references that they've talked to and she actually knew me as a person instead of just a random person I put down for a reference. I'd go for the opportunity just for that reason alone.

 

[prettyNURSEtoMD]

I took care of a patient whose son happens to be an AdCom for a school here in Texas. He went to medical school there and completed residency. He gave me his business card and said "call me when you apply and we'll interview you"....so I check the msar and I am nowhere competitive for this school... Would any of you still apply and call? Serious question. No trolling!

 

[fhg]

Be careful about using letters of reference from family members. They are often either not accepted at all or looked upon with skepticism because of potential for bias.

 

[elektroshok]

I took care of a patient whose son happens to be an AdCom for a school here in Texas. He went to medical school there and completed residency. He gave me his business card and said "call me when you apply and we'll interview you"....so I check the msar and I am nowhere competitive for this school... Would any of you still apply and call? Serious question. No trolling!

Yes why wouldn't you give it a shot?

 

[mmmcdowe]

If it was someone who was really going to go to bat for you and had strong connections at a specific school, then maybe if you were a qualified applicant they could push you in front of equal candidates.

 

[mct2762]

I took care of a patient whose son happens to be an AdCom for a school here in Texas. He went to medical school there and completed residency. He gave me his business card and said "call me when you apply and we'll interview you"....so I check the msar and I am nowhere competitive for this school... Would any of you still apply and call? Serious question. No trolling!

what school? What are your stats

 

[ImNotBritish]

Awwww, too bad. I have two cousins (my only family relatives in the field of medicine) who are currently med students. M3 and a fellow.

Fellow =/= med student in any way, shape, or form. You might not get a very helpful leg up from them if you tell the fellow that you equate them with a med student!

 

[type12]

Depends on how closely-connected he is with the school. Does he know the president? Is he an alumnus that continues to give money and would be very appreciative to the school for taking you?

It's all about the palm-greasing, or scratching of the backs.