EC Discrimination?

[NUCat17]

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Hi there, I was wondering if any extra curricular activities could potentially be discriminated against by the admissions committee.

For example, as an undergraduate, I was in College Republicans. I left this off my resume when applying for full-time work, but I understand that medical schools would look more at EC's.

FYI, I am applying to all Chicago schools since I can't leave the area, and Chicago is generally liberal. So while I would like to have that activity on my list, I think that it might hurt me.

Also... Is it a good idea to take part in religious EC's? For instance I might do religious learning and volunteer in the community alongside clinical volunteering. Could this also hurt?

Thanks for the help! 😀

 

[Mattabet]

Go U! NU! Get down to Norris lately?

It's hard to say for sure that nobody anywhere would ever discriminate against a given EC. But I think you're pretty safe listing College Republicans. And I'm sure you're safe for the religious one, unless you 'volunteered' at Waco or something.

For one, not all adcoms are going to be liberals, and two, diversity is a good thing, political diversity included.

 

[NUCat17]

Hey thanks for the advice. 🙂 I will most likely go ahead with everything since I did have more of a leadership role in College Republicans, and will go ahead with other types of volunteering since that is something that I will definitely enjoy. 🙄

Haven't actually been to Norris since I graduated back in 2008. I sure miss the campus, but should be close enough to visit when I start my post-bacc at Loyola this summer!

 

[Myuu]

Hey thanks for the advice. 🙂 I will most likely go ahead with everything since I did have more of a leadership role in College Republicans, and will go ahead with other types of volunteering since that is something that I will definitely enjoy. 🙄

Haven't actually been to Norris since I graduated back in 2008. I sure miss the campus, but should be close enough to visit when I start my post-bacc at Loyola this summer!

As long as you're not using the box to advocate a political philosophy, you should be fine. College Republicans/Democrats/Libertarians: fine to list on AMCAS. Active Westboro Baptist member: don't list this anywhere.

 

[Red Leader]

eh I wouldn't list it and I wouldn't put any time into the club or be a member.

I have pretty much stayed away from political/religious clubs during my college career because its common knowledge even the smartest most rational people can turn into emotionally driven ******s when confronted on those issues.

So should I risk some deadbeat hippie, or conservative prick, or Jesus freak being the one reading my application and get shafted? Hell no.

 

[brenster99]

just be prepared for interview questions that might reference it... ie. if you are republican, "what would you do if as a physician your best friends 13 year old daughter came to you asking to go about getting an abortion without her parents finding out" or the like
"what would you do if your daughter got preggers when she was 14?"
and the like, fair game for all, but might be directed at you...

 

[Longshanks]

Don't sweat it. I hope they don't discriminate against you, otherwise I'll have the same problem! Though, I was a member of the other team ;-). Worked myself pretty high up in the college dems ranks.

It depends how you present it. Personally, I'm focusing on the community service/volunteering aspect of it: registering voters, joint events with college republicans, getting speakers to come to the school, helping out at elections, managing several chapters, etc. Don't get into partisan stuff or anything over the top... for example, columbia's college republicans and that "affirmative action brownie sale" that happened a few years ago, that would just be asking for trouble. My university's dems chapter didn't do anything crazy like that anyway, but we had a friendly competitive relationship with the college republican chapter so we got to do some cool and really fun events and debates together during the last election cycle, that was more about getting students active.

 

[kedrin]

i havent read everyones comments but just think about this.


If you are even considering removing those activities off of your resume/application just what does that say about those organizations or conventions of thought that are used in those organizations?

just food for thought.

Triple R syndrome, there should be a nation wide vaccine for it. triple r=******ed religious republicans

 

[Doctura]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you are really concerned, you could always be a little vague. For example:

Highland Baptist Church = Highland Church
College Republicans = Political Society (or something)

You can be a little creative with the name as long as you aren't making up what you actually did, and you list a real contact. If anyone calls you on it, be honest about the change and why you made it.

 

[Pianoman32]

Medicine is also considered largely a very conservative field so based on that, many people reading your app will likely be conservative and possibly Republicans anyway. Read the pre-med forums with all of the liberal ideals and as you progress to the resident and then the attending forums, you will see that the tone becomes much more conservative; these will be the people reading your apps.

What's the old saying...."if you're young and not liberal, you have no heart; if you're old, and not conservative, you have no brain."------or something like that.

 

[witness23]

Medicine is also considered largely a very conservative field so based on that, many people reading your app will likely be conservative and possibly Republicans anyway. Read the pre-med forums with all of the liberal ideals and as you progress to the resident and then the attending forums, you will see that the tone becomes much more conservative; these will be the people reading your apps.

What's the old saying...."if you're young and not liberal, you have no heart; if you're old, and not conservative, you have no brain."------or something like that.

no.

 

[Pianoman32]

i havent read everyones comments but just think about this.


If you are even considering removing those activities off of your resume/application just what does that say about those organizations or conventions of thought that are used in those organizations?

just food for thought.

Triple R syndrome, there should be a nation wide vaccine for it. triple r=******ed religious republicans

I would also think that someone would be just as worried about listing college dems on their app. There are a large portion of physicians who despise the democratic platform because of the possible future of socialized medicine in which physicians will be paid less, have less control over their patients, and have increased paper work responsibilities. They see the future of medicine turning into the military model, which if you have ever been in the military or have ever read any of the forums, you know that the only socialized system that our country has is much worse off than the current civilian system.

Also, I would think that listing college dems would be a turn off for other schools such as Georgetown and other anti-abortion schools.

 

[Pianoman32]

no.

So you're saying medicine is considered a largely liberal field?

 

[witness23]

So you're saying medicine is considered a largely liberal field?

no. I'm saying that the OP is concerned about medical school. Atmosphere in academia will be different from that of private practice. The ADCOM and interviewers at these schools are usually of people that are not of top tier baller status. They are in academia. They are trying to make appointment and get tenure. If they did not have to read your application or interview you, they really would'nt Some members/deans might even be PhD. They are likely to be liberal - socially and fiscally.

second, most medical schools/academic hospitals are located in large cities to draw patients. People who are willing to work in those cities may represent the political view of that city. It is pretty hard to recruit a staunch conservative doctor to NYC, Boston, Philly, LA, SF, DC, etc.

Third. I did interviews during this election. Not only would I characterize all my interviewers to be either indifferent or liberal, I found many were big Hillary supporters. I'll then add that both of my parents are faculty at med school. You get the picture... and i'm pretty moderate (I actually find that most people in medicine really do not know all that much about socioeconomic issues)

I'm not saying medicine is conservative/liberal or to list or not list the activity. Academia, however, is very liberal. Study shows more educated people are more likely to be liberal. There are exceptions. You would expect doctors to be socially liberal and financially conservative. Most probably are. Again, doctors in academic faculty may be different.

There is or could be more to being a part of the college dems or GOP than political idea. I think it is absolutely fine to put it down if you put a lot of effort it to it. I'm sure you did more than throw rocks at gays or scold people who did not agree w/ everything you believed as narrow minded.

If you were involved in fundraisers, community service, mentoring/leadership activities, etc through these clubs, then it is a good idea to put it down and emphasize those specific roles.

While Loma Linda might be reluctant to admit people who are pro choice, pro choice people maybe reluctant to apply to a school that is very pro life. I hope so, the secondaries are not cheap.

 

[Pianoman32]

no. I'm saying that the OP is concerned about medical school. Atmosphere in academia will be different from that of private practice. The ADCOM and interviewers at these schools are usually of people that are not of top tier baller status. They are in academia. They are trying to make appointment and get tenure. If they did not have to read your application or interview you, they really would'nt Some members/deans might even be PhD. They are likely to be liberal - socially and fiscally.

second, most medical schools/academic hospitals are located in large cities to draw patients. People who are willing to work in those cities may represent the political view of that city. It is pretty hard to recruit a staunch conservative doctor to NYC, Boston, Philly, LA, SF, DC, etc.

Third. I did interviews during this election. Not only would I characterize all my interviewers to be either indifferent or liberal, I found many were big Hillary supporters. I'll then add that both of my parents are faculty at med school. You get the picture... and i'm pretty moderate (I actually find that most people in medicine really do not know all that much about socioeconomic issues)

I'm not saying medicine is conservative/liberal or to list or not list the activity. Academia, however, is very liberal. Study shows more educated people are more likely to be liberal. There are exceptions. You would expect doctors to be socially liberal and financially conservative. Most probably are. Again, doctors in academic faculty may be different.

There is or could be more to being a part of the college dems or GOP than political idea. I think it is absolutely fine to put it down if you put a lot of effort it to it. I'm sure you did more than throw rocks at gays or scold people who did not agree w/ everything you believed as narrow minded.

If you were involved in fundraisers, community service, mentoring/leadership activities, etc through these clubs, then it is a good idea to put it down and emphasize those specific roles.

While Loma Linda might be reluctant to admit people who are pro choice, pro choice people maybe reluctant to apply to a school that is very pro life. I hope so, the secondaries are not cheap.

Good Reply. I know that most of academia is largely liberal, but i also thought that a large portion of medical schools selection committees were made up of individuals working at affiliated hospitals? I figured a large portion of these individuals would have conservative views and whether or not they were a democrats/replubicans, would care less if someone applied with an activity that stated college republicans or college democrats.

Studies have also showed that people making more than $150,000 per/year are much more likely to be conservative and because of this vote republican, even if they are college educated. Doctors fall into this category. Most college educated people don't make more than this. Yet if you look at the college-educated professions, that make large sums of money, the classic image of that person is largely conservative: i.e. top business execs, law partners, entrepreneurs, etc.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

If you are even considering removing those activities off of your resume/application just what does that say about those organizations or conventions of thought that are used in those organizations?

just food for thought.

Triple R syndrome, there should be a nation wide vaccine for it. triple r=******ed religious republicans

\👎
It doesn't say anything about the organizations or "conventions of thought". Rather, the OP is worried about the reaction of people such as yourself.

 

[Longshanks]

i havent read everyones comments but just think about this.


If you are even considering removing those activities off of your resume/application just what does that say about those organizations or conventions of thought that are used in those organizations?

just food for thought.

Triple R syndrome, there should be a nation wide vaccine for it. triple r=******ed religious republicans

👎

There's really no need for that crap. There is nothing wrong with being conservative or liberal, or religious or a non-believer. This is a America, and we're entitled to our own beliefs and free to organize with whom we wish. I can care less what political philosophy/ideals or whom some one prays to at night, so long as their working to make our society and country a better place to live.

The problem comes when people make blanket statements like that or others who automatically assume if your liberal you must be some vegan eating pro-choice socialist lunatic and if you're conservative they must be a gun-totting god-fearing cowboy when we all know that is far from the truth and doesn't add any substance to the conversation.

 

[kedrin]

👎

There's really no need for that crap. There is nothing wrong with being conservative or liberal, or religious or a non-believer. This is a America, and we're entitled to our own beliefs and free to organize with whom we wish. I can care less what political philosophy/ideals or whom some one prays to at night, so long as their working to make our society and country a better place to live.

The problem comes when people make blanket statements like that or others who automatically assume if your liberal you must be some vegan eating pro-choice socialist lunatic and if you're conservative they must be a gun-totting god-fearing cowboy when we all know that is far from the truth and doesn't add any substance to the conversation.

i can mostly agree with you. However the "this is america and we're entitled our own beliefs" part....... Try that on a RRR. Im not saying all but i am definately saying that most will shove their beliefs down your throat. I am simply stating that i do not like religious republicans. You are free to believe what you want right?

If my post was reversed and i was a RRR i would try and squash your beliefs and make you eat mine and then i would name call.

I am simply name calling with the RRR statement.

As for the putting this one your application there is great advice from doctura

 

[Doodledog]

The ADCOM and interviewers at these schools are usually of people that are not of top tier baller status. They are in academia. They are trying to make appointment and get tenure. If they did not have to read your application or interview you, they really would'nt

👍 Most of us ADCOMs can barely get ourselves dressed in the morning let alone hold down a decent job or figure out who should get into medical school.😀.

Well, actually I, like all the ADCOMS at my school, volunteer for the job and it has virtually nothing to do with tenure for the overwhelming majority of us. Even if someone does need some service to the school for their tenure application, there are a lot easier and less time-consuming things they could do instead of being an adcom.

You can tell I'm a volunteer, cuz, ya' know, I got tenure 'bout a decade ago. Actually, at my school they force people out of the ADCOM after a while, not into it.

To the OP: Put whatever you want on there. Folks put that sort of thing on their applications all the time.

 

[slowbutsteady]

The only thing worse than admitting you are a Republican on your resume or application is actually BEING one.😱

Advice: give up medicine. You obviously do not care about your fellow man.

 

[Pianoman32]

The only thing worse than admitting you are a Republican on your resume or application is actually BEING one.😱

Advice: give up medicine. You obviously do not care about your fellow man.

Lame

 

[xanthomondo]

i can mostly agree with you. However the "this is america and we're entitled our own beliefs" part....... Try that on a RRR. Im not saying all but i am definately saying that most will shove their beliefs down your throat. I am simply stating that i do not like religious republicans. You are free to believe what you want right?

If my post was reversed and i was a RRR i would try and squash your beliefs and make you eat mine and then i would name call.

I am simply name calling with the RRR statement.

As for the putting this one your application there is great advice from doctura

Prejudice much? You should do well if you carry that attitude into medicine as a doctor. You going to refuse all services and care to "republicans who shove their beliefs down your throat?"

To the OP, I can't imagine why being in the college republicans would be a bad thing. It shows you take an active interest in the country and the political aspect of it, something many med students don't pay attention to.

 

[kedrin]

Prejudice much? You should do well if you carry that attitude into medicine as a doctor. You going to refuse all services and care to "republicans who shove their beliefs down your throat?"

To the OP, I can't imagine why being in the college republicans would be a bad thing. It shows you take an active interest in the country and the political aspect of it, something many med students don't pay attention to.

i just wont let them shove their beliefs down my throat 🙂

People can be as stupid as they want to be, i just wont join them.

 

[xanthomondo]

i just wont let them shove their beliefs down my throat 🙂

People can be as stupid as they want to be, i just wont join them.

Remind me why republicans are so stupid, again?

 

[kedrin]

hmmmm what to choose.... so many to choose from...

overall the most bothersome aspect of conventional republican ideals is the utter disregard for people who are at a disadvantage.

 

[Pianoman32]

hmmmm what to choose.... so many to choose from...

overall the most bothersome aspect of conventional republican ideals is the utter disregard for people who are at a disadvantage.

You know it was the republican party that freed the slaves and the democratic party that opposed right?

 

[KeyzerSoze]

hmmmm what to choose.... so many to choose from...

overall the most bothersome aspect of conventional republican ideals is the utter disregard for people who are at a disadvantage.

Why yes, pointing out the negative aspects of a perpetual welfare society DOES show utter disregard for people who are at a disadvantage.

 

[kedrin]

You know it was the republican party that freed the slaves and the democratic party that opposed right?

So you are trying to point out that the GOP is nothing like it was over 140 yrs ago?

 

[BlitzSleep]

no.

 

[BlitzSleep]

sorry for triple posts comp acting up

 

[BlitzSleep]

.

 

[witness23]

👍 Most of us ADCOMs can barely get ourselves dressed in the morning let alone hold down a decent job or figure out who should get into medical school.😀.

Well, actually I, like all the ADCOMS at my school, volunteer for the job and it has virtually nothing to do with tenure for the overwhelming majority of us. Even if someone does need some service to the school for their tenure application, there are a lot easier and less time-consuming things they could do instead of being an adcom.

You can tell I'm a volunteer, cuz, ya' know, I got tenure 'bout a decade ago. Actually, at my school they force people out of the ADCOM after a while, not into it.

To the OP: Put whatever you want on there. Folks put that sort of thing on their applications all the time.

hahaha, sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I was just commenting on how my parents, their colleagues and PI portrayed it from being on faculty. I can definitely tell some people really enjoy being on the ADCOM. My PI is tenured too and while he's a super nice guy and a great mentor to people, I feel like he would rather spend 100% of his time trying to find ideas for new grants.

 

[NUCat17]

Thanks for the input everyone... I see that this has generated quite abit of controversy. I think that in that case I may just leave this off...

I pretty much answered my own question in the beginning where I found that posting such EC's may be questionable in the first place.

Luckily I did have quite a few EC's during undergrad, and still plan on doing more during the post-bacc! 😀