Future personal challenge in UVA sec app

[Tristy]

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As being a woman, I know that there will be a conflict between career and family, but I was wondering if it would be looked down upon if one the ways I will address this is by choosing a specialty that a) will still be rewarding and something I love to do, and b) that will leave some time to spend with my future family. What do you guys think? Thanks!

 

[Davina3000]

Hey Tristy,

First of all, this was the first response I thought of when I read this question also. So I definitely think it's a valid answer 🙂

That said, I would strongly recommend NOT writing about it. If the person reading your essay takes it slightly the wrong way, it could come across more as a "weakness" rather than a challenge. And they could end up questioning why they should select you over a person who doesn't feel torn between family and work. It also allows them to ask pointed questions about this issue during your interview. If you don't bring it up during your essays, it is pretty much considered a topic that they shouldn't ask you about (i.e. they aren't randomly supposed to ask a woman "what's going to stop you from working part time once you have kids?" and that kind of stuff, although there could be the random interviewer who does so).

In the end, I decided that since there were a bunch of other topics I could write about, I would be better off picking something else.
Good Luck.

Davina

 

[Tristy]

Davina,

Thanks for the tip, sometimes I get lost between "what would look good" to Adcoms, and what I honestly think about some subjects. May I ask you what other topics you thought about? I've been thinking about this question for a long time (it's the last essay I need to send my sec app), and besides the family/career conflict, the only thing that comes to my mind is the problem of the frivolous law suits against some physicians, and the high malpractice insurance premiums that forces some doctors to quit practicing (however, I have no idea how to address this.... 😱 please excuse my ignorance). Thanks,

Cristina

 

[Davina3000]

Davina,

Thanks for the tip, sometimes I get lost between "what would look good" to Adcoms, and what I honestly think about some subjects. May I ask you what other topics you thought about? I've been thinking about this question for a long time (it's the last essay I need to send my sec app), and besides the family/career conflict, the only thing that comes to my mind is the problem of the frivolous law suits against some physicians, and the high malpractice insurance premiums that forces some doctors to quit practicing (however, I have no idea how to address this.... 😱 please excuse my ignorance). Thanks,

Cristina

I PMed you. 🙂

 

[tulips]

I think that if you're comfortable talking about it in your interview, then you should write about it. For that question, I also wrote about how to balance work and family and I did get asked about it during the interview. But I also got my acceptance letter a few weeks later...

 

[Tristy]

I think that if you're comfortable talking about it in your interview, then you should write about it. For that question, I also wrote about how to balance work and family and I did get asked about it during the interview. But I also got my acceptance letter a few weeks later...

Hi Tulips,

COngrats on your acceptance!!! And thanks for your input too 😀 I am actually going to write about something else because I am not sure I'd be confortable if I got asked about it during the interview (hopefully I'll get invited) 🙁 How did you like Charlottesville and the school? My husband is really worried that it's just another college town.. 😉 Enough rambling! Thank you!

Cristina

 

[tulips]

Thanks! I liked Charlottesville a lot; it's very charming. However, I'm also considering someone else in my decision (although we're not married) and it seems like it does not have all that much to offer him. At one point, I asked a student what there was to do not associated with UVA and he responded, "hiking" and then couldn't come up with anything else substantial. So, in my opinion, "college town" is a pretty good definiton of Charlottesville. UVA is wonderful though, I loved it!

 

[vtucci]

Thanks! I liked Charlottesville a lot; it's very charming. However, I'm also considering someone else in my decision (although we're not married) and it seems like it does not have all that much to offer him. At one point, I asked a student what there was to do not associated with UVA and he responded, "hiking" and then couldn't come up with anything else substantial. So, in my opinion, "college town" is a pretty good definiton of Charlottesville. UVA is wonderful though, I loved it!

I took a different approach with this essay. I used dealing with the emotional fallout in a case where I was partially responsible for exacerbating a patient's condition or god forbid, causing their death. What do you say to their loved ones? Would you even admit your mistake? I do not know a doctor alive who has not felt at least partially responsible. However, by acknowledging this fear and being cognizant that the potential for mistakes exist, we can safeguard or at least minimize them. Mistakes in the practice of medicine are inevitable. Thinking we will be perfect is beyond arrogant.

 

[Tristy]

I took a different approach with this essay. I used dealing with the emotional fallout in a case where I was partially responsible for exacerbating a patient's condition or god forbid, causing their death. What do you say to their loved ones? Would you even admit your mistake? I do not know a doctor alive who has not felt at least partially responsible. However, by acknowledging this fear and being cognizant that the potential for mistakes exist, we can safeguard or at least minimize them. Mistakes in the practice of medicine are inevitable. Thinking we will be perfect is beyond arrogant.

Veronica, I totally agree with your view, we're going to be doctors, not all-powerful gods. I think I already got a topic for my essay, although I am little bit hesitant on whether to apply or not. This is because of my husband...this school is in a college town and I am afraid that he will hate it (we already live in a college town 😉 ), and that he won't be able to find a good job. I don't want to let go of the opportunity though, so I don't really know what to do... Thanks for the info though!

Cristina

 

[chocolate-e]

I confess, I did take the career/family topic for my essay. I honestly feel that that <i>will</i> be my "greatest personal challenge," and I'm determined to just be myself (as much as possible) in the admissions process and let the chips fall where they may.

I question, though, whether adcoms would take writing about this topic as a negative. I don't personally know any physicians, men or women, who haven't faced the issue in one way or another; by writing about it, we at least show that we're aware and prepared and have some ideas for how we're going to handle it. At least ... I hope that's how the adcoms will view it. 🙂

For what it's worth ...

 

[hlchess]

I couldn't think of anything to write about other than malpractice, insurance, and financial stuff for this question. But would this qualify as a "personal" challenge?

Does anyone have any other ideas about what I should write about, other than the career/family conflict?