Ethnic surnames during the application process

[StudyShy]

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It is impossible to remove personal bias entirely from the application process as it is sometimes difficult to look beyond stereotypes about certain cultural populations (i.e., Asians are wicked smart 😛). How do you think that having an undeniably foreign name (i.e., Tishkowski, Wong, Vashista) affects your chances of being admitted either positively or negatively?

 

[unhappytnt]

I have an undeniably foreign last name but it's very uncommon: I'll go ahead and say that I am probably the only person from that ethnicity applying to med schools in US. So yeah, I am hoping that adcomms will be intrigued by my name and give my application a closer look. 😀

 

[akuarys]

Well if you declare UMR status then I guess having a surname/last/first name typical for that culture can only but validate it pre-interview. In my case, I guess my entire name will just be perpetually mispronounced. 🙁

 

[wanderer]

I don't think anyone cares at all.

 

[dmission]

I've wondered this too. What if you're caucasian but your last name is like Lopez-Garcia or something.

 

[StudyShy]

I've wondered this too. What if you're caucasian but your last name is like Lopez-Garcia or something.

This is my situation.

 

[whimsical]

People mispronounce my name, and one person insinuated that maybe I should go back to my home country (yeah wtf).

But other than that? Mostly positive.

 

[nicolemeooow]

I have an ethnic last name AND an ethnic first name 😀

 

[tabascosauce]

well lah dee freakin dah for you 😍

 

[wanderer]

People mispronounce my name, and one person insinuated that maybe I should go back to my home country (yeah wtf).

But other than that? Mostly positive.

I had one interviewer pretty much insinuate (in a judgmental way) that I should have learned a more practical 2nd language such as Spanish rather than the one I currently speak (a language which is neither Germanic or Romanic). I met another applicant on the trail that had a somewhat condescending remark/question directed at her for speaking a little-known language.

It happens, even in the most diverse cities in the country, just don't let these stupid remarks get to you.

 

[CougarMD]

People mispronounce my name, and one person insinuated that maybe I should go back to my home country (yeah wtf).

But other than that? Mostly positive.

Uh.....I'm gonna need to hear that story, lady. Gchat me🙂

 

[karayraisu]

It is impossible to remove personal bias entirely from the application process as it is sometimes difficult to look beyond stereotypes about certain cultural populations (i.e., Asians are wicked smart 😛). How do you think that having an undeniably foreign name (i.e., Tishkowski, Wong, Vashista) affects your chances of being admitted either positively or negatively?

So what do you propose to do about this problem? Change your last name? -_-

 

[StudyShy]

So what do you propose to do about this problem? Change your last name? -_-

Heck no! 🙂 I have a sweet last name. I mean, what white chick can write her name in Chinese (my dad was adopted -long story)? 😀

I can go with my husband's last name, but it's long and I wouldn't want to write that long a55 name on charts 100 X's/day.

 

[serendipity007]

People mispronounce my name, and one person insinuated that maybe I should go back to my home country (yeah wtf).

But other than that? Mostly positive.

Yeah, I've had that happening to me too. It was something on these lines: Go back to your country. Some people can be very sick, just don't let them get to you.

 

[FlowRate]

I'm white, but I knew white kids with ethnic names back in high school who used their ethnic names and deep tans on their college applications to look more ethnic. It definitely helped.

 

[shinee]

I have an ethnic last name AND an ethnic first name 😀

me too 😀

 

[StudyShy]

People always mispronounce my last name. It's gotten to such a point that I have a "fake" last name for unofficial occasions.

People think that my last name is fake because it doesn't "fit." On the first day of class, teachers would be like, "Oh...I was expecting someone different." Gotta keep them guessing. 🙂

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

People think that my last name is fake because it doesn't "fit." On the first day of class, teachers would be like, "Oh...I was expecting someone different." Gotta keep them guessing. 🙂

like this"

[youtube]fWiJM102YCU[/youtube]