- Joined
- Jan 12, 2014
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I've worked very hard over the past 4 or 5 years as a non-traditional applicant, to secure an MD acceptance. I have been told by many classmates, peers, co-workers, and colleagues, that my unrelenting zeal and determination place me in a minority of individuals, and that I would likely succeed in any field of my choice if I applied the same talents, skills, and dedication to achieving my goals as a non-traditional pre-med student. I have placed my securing a future in medicine, above all other facets of my life - including friends and family, my passions, my hobbies, and at times even my health and well-being. I've delayed a tremendous amount of gratification, with the intent of enjoying an unprecendented level of happiness and fulfillment many years down the road. Despite the pride I take in my accomplishments and the sacrifices I've made along the way, my success was never a sure thing, and by all accounts I was an underdog in this application cycle. I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend medical school, as compared to say, complacent, which is the case for many medical school applicants who believe they deserve the opportunity to attend medical school instead of remaining in their job as a research technician or a CNA, or who believe they are entitled to an education from an MD school and not a DO school, or who feel entitled to an acceptance at their unequivocal top choice or USNWR top 25 medical school instead of the single acceptance they received from a middle or low tier MD program.
I have known applicants with significantly better grades and MCAT score than mine, who have fared worse than I in the medical school application process - they have either gone off to the carribean or pursued a different career path after a sleuth of rejections in their first application cycle. I have known candidates who I seemed less qualified than I, yet they received scholarships to top MD programs. I've seen the ORM vs URM debacle hashed out more times than there are hairs on my head.
As much as I have sacrificed, I am sure there are others who have given up more to achieve the same goal.
As much effort as I have put into building a strong application, I am sure there are others who have had to work twice or three times as hard or as long to achieve the same level of candidacy as myself in the medical school admissions game. Likewise, I am certain there are others who have had to sacrifice less, or had to put in less effort than myself. I have worked low paying and unsatisying jobs to stay afloat financially, as well as so that I may have something admirable on my application to medical school, such as a research position in an academic lab vs. an industry position, or tutoring inner city children in biology and math on the weekends instead of going out with friends or trying to find wifey. I am sure there are applicants out there who have taken more gratification than these kinds of pursuits or who have genuinely enjoyed the time they spent doing these kinds of things, which many (myself included) regard as a mere hoop through which you must jump to get accepted to medical school. It is my understanding, that many medical schools will tout "we want to see you pursuing jobs, activities, and passions that are meaningful to you, and that you enjoy" yet there seems to be a precedent of things an applicant must have on their application despite what is officially stated. Sure, there will be students in your medical school class with unique experiences, but without fail, every one of your classmates will have some kind of research, clinical volunteering, physician shadowing, medical mission trip, or community service experience. Again, some may have genuinely enjoyed doing those activities, but most on SDN would probably regard these as hoops through which an applicant must jump in order to get more than a glance over of their application from the ADCOMS. I like to call these things "the cost of admission" - they are things you probably need to do, whether you like them or not, in order to realistically be considered for medical school admission. This of course is in addition to demonstrating a capacity for excellence in your studies, be it engineering or anthropology, biochemistry or linguistics, sociology or physics, etc.
Of the tens of thousands of medical school applicants in any given cycle, most will have done these things - the research, the participation in a school club, the clinical volunteering, the community service projects. Some may have made a greater investment of their time into these things than others, either against their personal enthusiasm for something else or because they wanted to, or because these long-term commitments with vast hours tend to make a splash for the application. There could be any number of motivations for what EC's you choose to pursue or not to pursue, and those motivations are your business, not mine, nor anyone elses.
I am writing this post to caution SDNers, to be more careful in how and upon whom they pass judgement. Like me, you cannot know if the personal sacrifices I have made are greater or lesser than those which you have done. You cannot know what adversity I have faced, as I cannot truly know the challenges you have had to overcome, either in number or in magnitude.
You haven't attended medical school. You haven't graduated medical school yet, nor are you a physician. Chances are you haven't worked or been part of an administrative group in a medical school. With these things in mind, you cannot say that the sacrifices you have made are more noble than those of another candidates anonymously posting on SDN, nor can you assert that the research you are involved in is of a greater impact than someone elses, nor can you boast that you make a greater difference in your community than someone else does. A small project in one field may offer more impact for that field of study than a long term project offers to another field, and vice versa. A small, local project in someones community may afford more value and benefit for it's members than a large but temporary project you have contributed to in your community. Likewise, you shouldn't assert that your motivations for a career in medicine are grander, more noble, deeper or more pure than someone elses. There are people who pursue medicine for the prestige, the money, the high social status. There are people who pursue medicine because of an interest in the scientific bases of human medicine. There are people who pursue medicine because of a need in their community which they feel up to task in meeting, or who feel there is some social injustice that they would like to work towards rectificying as a physician. There are people who were motivated by the loss of a parent or friend, or their own personal struggle with an illness, or perhaps that of a collegue. There will be police officers who have lost partners, teachers who have lost students, veterans who have lost someone from their platoon or possibly even a limb. There will be career changers who seek greater fulfillment than their current occupation affords them. Some motivations may resonate with greater appeal than others, but if an individuals motivation serves as a strong enough driving force that they can become a competent physician, and appropriately fulfill the physicians role, then their motivation should be of no concern to you. There will be physicians who are motivated primarily by money, and they may be incredibly talented or frightentingly incompetent. Likewise, someone may have been motivated to pursue a career in medicine because of their lifelong struggle with a chronic inflammatory illness or the permanent disabilities of someone close to them - like the physician motivated by money, this person may one say see much acclaim for their abilties of a physician or become the laughing stock of their department for their ineptitudes in clinical practice. In either case, there is no way to know for sure until that person gets there.
The next time you are thinking about posting how unfair the medical school application process is because you are ORM, save it. The next time you think it might be a good idea to write a disparaging thread about "the URM advantage" save it. The next time you think it's wise to say "my research is REAL" spend less time on SDN and go do another awesome experiment. The next time you want to boast about the sacrifices you have made, ask yourself if you (not your parents, YOU) have immigrated to the United States in search of a better life and opportunity. Was the answer no? Stop complaining - because like everyone else, whether you are a 2nd generation american or a descendant of the mayflower, chances are there is someone who has sacrificed much more and someone who has sacrificed much less than you to assemble a strong application. As special as you like to think you are, you fall in the middle, with the rest of us.
It's time that the olympiad of oppression ended.
If you've been accepted to medical school this year, congratulations. Wherever you have been accepted, if you hold a US MD or US DO acceptance, regardless of where the school may have fallen on your list of choices, be grateful you have the chance to remain stateside and pursue a career that so so few could ever dream of having the capacity and opportunity to. If you are being accepted to your last choice school off a waitlist late in the season, you still get to become a doctor. If you've just barely gotten in by the skin of your teeth or if you've been accepted on October 15th, don't hold your head high and pretend like you are gods gift to medicine and that you deserved that opportunity - chances are luck didn't play an insignificant role in the events which led to your acceptance.
If you haven't been accepted this year, either as a first time applicant, non-traditional applicant, career changer, or as a re-applicant, keep fighting the good fight. Persistence is something that ultimately pays off. If you disagree with that sentiment, then it is possible you do not want to pursue a career in medicine as badly as you had let yourself believe, but there are other ways in which you can use similar talents to contribute to the greater good of healthcare. Keep that head up, stay strong, stay motivated by whatever means is best for you, and remember that you are in full control of your lifes pursuits.
This message was paid for by friends of @baconshrimps .
My name is @baconshrimps and I approve this message.
I have known applicants with significantly better grades and MCAT score than mine, who have fared worse than I in the medical school application process - they have either gone off to the carribean or pursued a different career path after a sleuth of rejections in their first application cycle. I have known candidates who I seemed less qualified than I, yet they received scholarships to top MD programs. I've seen the ORM vs URM debacle hashed out more times than there are hairs on my head.
As much as I have sacrificed, I am sure there are others who have given up more to achieve the same goal.
As much effort as I have put into building a strong application, I am sure there are others who have had to work twice or three times as hard or as long to achieve the same level of candidacy as myself in the medical school admissions game. Likewise, I am certain there are others who have had to sacrifice less, or had to put in less effort than myself. I have worked low paying and unsatisying jobs to stay afloat financially, as well as so that I may have something admirable on my application to medical school, such as a research position in an academic lab vs. an industry position, or tutoring inner city children in biology and math on the weekends instead of going out with friends or trying to find wifey. I am sure there are applicants out there who have taken more gratification than these kinds of pursuits or who have genuinely enjoyed the time they spent doing these kinds of things, which many (myself included) regard as a mere hoop through which you must jump to get accepted to medical school. It is my understanding, that many medical schools will tout "we want to see you pursuing jobs, activities, and passions that are meaningful to you, and that you enjoy" yet there seems to be a precedent of things an applicant must have on their application despite what is officially stated. Sure, there will be students in your medical school class with unique experiences, but without fail, every one of your classmates will have some kind of research, clinical volunteering, physician shadowing, medical mission trip, or community service experience. Again, some may have genuinely enjoyed doing those activities, but most on SDN would probably regard these as hoops through which an applicant must jump in order to get more than a glance over of their application from the ADCOMS. I like to call these things "the cost of admission" - they are things you probably need to do, whether you like them or not, in order to realistically be considered for medical school admission. This of course is in addition to demonstrating a capacity for excellence in your studies, be it engineering or anthropology, biochemistry or linguistics, sociology or physics, etc.
Of the tens of thousands of medical school applicants in any given cycle, most will have done these things - the research, the participation in a school club, the clinical volunteering, the community service projects. Some may have made a greater investment of their time into these things than others, either against their personal enthusiasm for something else or because they wanted to, or because these long-term commitments with vast hours tend to make a splash for the application. There could be any number of motivations for what EC's you choose to pursue or not to pursue, and those motivations are your business, not mine, nor anyone elses.
I am writing this post to caution SDNers, to be more careful in how and upon whom they pass judgement. Like me, you cannot know if the personal sacrifices I have made are greater or lesser than those which you have done. You cannot know what adversity I have faced, as I cannot truly know the challenges you have had to overcome, either in number or in magnitude.
You haven't attended medical school. You haven't graduated medical school yet, nor are you a physician. Chances are you haven't worked or been part of an administrative group in a medical school. With these things in mind, you cannot say that the sacrifices you have made are more noble than those of another candidates anonymously posting on SDN, nor can you assert that the research you are involved in is of a greater impact than someone elses, nor can you boast that you make a greater difference in your community than someone else does. A small project in one field may offer more impact for that field of study than a long term project offers to another field, and vice versa. A small, local project in someones community may afford more value and benefit for it's members than a large but temporary project you have contributed to in your community. Likewise, you shouldn't assert that your motivations for a career in medicine are grander, more noble, deeper or more pure than someone elses. There are people who pursue medicine for the prestige, the money, the high social status. There are people who pursue medicine because of an interest in the scientific bases of human medicine. There are people who pursue medicine because of a need in their community which they feel up to task in meeting, or who feel there is some social injustice that they would like to work towards rectificying as a physician. There are people who were motivated by the loss of a parent or friend, or their own personal struggle with an illness, or perhaps that of a collegue. There will be police officers who have lost partners, teachers who have lost students, veterans who have lost someone from their platoon or possibly even a limb. There will be career changers who seek greater fulfillment than their current occupation affords them. Some motivations may resonate with greater appeal than others, but if an individuals motivation serves as a strong enough driving force that they can become a competent physician, and appropriately fulfill the physicians role, then their motivation should be of no concern to you. There will be physicians who are motivated primarily by money, and they may be incredibly talented or frightentingly incompetent. Likewise, someone may have been motivated to pursue a career in medicine because of their lifelong struggle with a chronic inflammatory illness or the permanent disabilities of someone close to them - like the physician motivated by money, this person may one say see much acclaim for their abilties of a physician or become the laughing stock of their department for their ineptitudes in clinical practice. In either case, there is no way to know for sure until that person gets there.
The next time you are thinking about posting how unfair the medical school application process is because you are ORM, save it. The next time you think it might be a good idea to write a disparaging thread about "the URM advantage" save it. The next time you think it's wise to say "my research is REAL" spend less time on SDN and go do another awesome experiment. The next time you want to boast about the sacrifices you have made, ask yourself if you (not your parents, YOU) have immigrated to the United States in search of a better life and opportunity. Was the answer no? Stop complaining - because like everyone else, whether you are a 2nd generation american or a descendant of the mayflower, chances are there is someone who has sacrificed much more and someone who has sacrificed much less than you to assemble a strong application. As special as you like to think you are, you fall in the middle, with the rest of us.
It's time that the olympiad of oppression ended.
If you've been accepted to medical school this year, congratulations. Wherever you have been accepted, if you hold a US MD or US DO acceptance, regardless of where the school may have fallen on your list of choices, be grateful you have the chance to remain stateside and pursue a career that so so few could ever dream of having the capacity and opportunity to. If you are being accepted to your last choice school off a waitlist late in the season, you still get to become a doctor. If you've just barely gotten in by the skin of your teeth or if you've been accepted on October 15th, don't hold your head high and pretend like you are gods gift to medicine and that you deserved that opportunity - chances are luck didn't play an insignificant role in the events which led to your acceptance.
If you haven't been accepted this year, either as a first time applicant, non-traditional applicant, career changer, or as a re-applicant, keep fighting the good fight. Persistence is something that ultimately pays off. If you disagree with that sentiment, then it is possible you do not want to pursue a career in medicine as badly as you had let yourself believe, but there are other ways in which you can use similar talents to contribute to the greater good of healthcare. Keep that head up, stay strong, stay motivated by whatever means is best for you, and remember that you are in full control of your lifes pursuits.
This message was paid for by friends of @baconshrimps .
My name is @baconshrimps and I approve this message.
