Don't Make Decisions And Don't Give Advice Based on Anecdotal Evidence

[993444]

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I'm making this post because I've seen some bad decisions made and some misfortunes happen because people get a lot of comfort from anecdotal evidence. But the med school admissions process is 1) unpredictable and 2) holistic. So if someone you know got into medical school without PCP shadowing or community service, that doesn't mean you can just ignore those parts of your application.

On the flip side, if you got into medical school without certain things, great for you. But please don't go around claiming that applicants don't need them.

I'm saying this especially because this is so common on SDN.

 

[907914]

I'm making this post because I've seen some bad decisions made and some misfortunes happen because people get a lot of comfort from anecdotal evidence. But the med school admissions process is 1) unpredictable and 2) holistic. So if someone you know got into medical school without PCP shadowing or community service, that doesn't mean you can just ignore those parts of your application.

On the flip side, if you got into medical school without certain things, great for you. But please don't go around claiming that applicants don't need them.

I'm saying this especially because this is so common on SDN.

As an applicant whose volunteering is virtually absent for the last 5 years outside of military roles, I concur this notion - SDN is a good place for seeing what can theoretically work, but not for set-in-stone guidance on what you can and can’t get away with. As you say, this process is holistic and there is much variability and fluidity in both applicants and admissions committees. One should not simply check boxes, but box checking for bare minimums plus doing what you love is not a bad plan.

 

[Select All That Apply]

@TRexLife4 That's a pretty good anecdote, I'll take that advice into future consideration.

 

[MyOdyssey]

I'm making this post because I've seen some bad decisions made and some misfortunes happen because people get a lot of comfort from anecdotal evidence. But the med school admissions process is 1) unpredictable and 2) holistic. So if someone you know got into medical school without PCP shadowing or community service, that doesn't mean you can just ignore those parts of your application.

On the flip side, if you got into medical school without certain things, great for you. But please don't go around claiming that applicants don't need them.

I'm saying this especially because this is so common on SDN.

What other truthy truisms have you noted being espoused on SDN based on the premise that anecdotes equal data?

 

[907914]

What other truthy truisms have you noted being espoused on SDN based on the premise that anecdotes equal data?

That your aptitude to receive an interview invite is directly related to the timeliness of confirmation email receipt.

 

[LizzyM]

What other truthy truisms have you noted being espoused on SDN based on the premise that anecdotes equal data?

"I didn't have any clinical volunteering and I got 7 interviews".... doesn't mention years of paid work experience in a clinical setting.

 

[CidHighwind]

I feel like “holistic” is a bit of a misnomer. Very few schools are actually holistic, most of the time it’s more like “okay you have the grades/scores, what else can you offer” vs being truly holistic.

 

[paimei42]

There are rules and knowing when you can break/bend those rules

 

[Goro]

What other truthy truisms have you noted being espoused on SDN based on the premise that anecdotes equal data?

The most pernicious one is "I know this Carib grad who is a surgeon IM/ER...ect doc"

While there are lots of Carib grads in practice, the mindset express by the sentence is that it's a viable, non-risky career path

 

[Goro]

I feel like “holistic” is a bit of a misnomer. Very few schools are actually holistic, most of the time it’s more like “okay you have the grades/scores, what else can you offer” vs being truly holistic.

Too many pre-meds place magical values in the term, as if holistic means "we'll thoroughly review every piece of crap app we see".

 

[mwsapphire]

Too many pre-meds place magical values in the term, as if holistic means "we'll thoroughly review every piece of crap app we see".

That's why I try not to think that my app will be reviewed "holistically." My colleagues often say that " Well you have the personality and a good MCAT score and it's holistic so!!!!" and it's like....not though. Like people use that optimistically when it should be used pessimistically.