Having a relative who is a physician

[mnkymn]

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Does anyone know how much influence having a relative who is a physician can have upon acceptance? I have average/above average stats, and a grandparent who attended the school I want to go to. Obviously the application asks about physician relatives, but I was just wondering if anyone knows just how much effect it can have. Is it school-specific?

 

[Goro]

Absolutely ZERO.

Does anyone know how much influence having a relative who is a physician can have upon acceptance? I have average/above average stats, and a grandparent who attended the school I want to go to. Obviously the application asks about physician relatives, but I was just wondering if anyone knows just how much effect it can have. Is it school-specific?

 

[Member 5721720]

admissions offices don't really care who in your family made it to medical school. You're trying to tell them why you're qualified, not who you know that is. I'd limit the spreading of that information as much as possible.

 

[felix2929]

I think the schools that ask about family members who have attended might care, otherwise I dont know why they would bother putting it on the app. I can't remember any DO schools asking about this, though a few MD schools did.

 

[dudeliness]

If you're talking about the question to that effect on AACOMAS, it is purely statistical.

 

[felix2929]

If you're talking about the question to that effect on AACOMAS, it is purely statistical.

Not sure if you meant me, or the OP, but I meant on secondaries. Off the top of my head I remember SLU asking about this. I can't remember which schools did, but it was more than 1.

 

[hallowmann]

Does anyone know how much influence having a relative who is a physician can have upon acceptance? I have average/above average stats, and a grandparent who attended the school I want to go to. Obviously the application asks about physician relatives, but I was just wondering if anyone knows just how much effect it can have. Is it school-specific?

This varies significantly and probably won't tip the scales for you in any direction. Ultimately, if your relative went to a school, you should include it when asked. Also if you are explicitly asked about relatives who are physicians, just include it (i.e. be honest about answering the question).

 

[dudeliness]

Not sure if you meant me, or the OP, but I meant on secondaries. Off the top of my head I remember SLU asking about this. I can't remember which schools did, but it was more than 1.

I guess I could have been more specific, but my comment is for anyone that finds it useful. Lol
I also remember a number of secondaries asking if I had a relative who is a physician.

 

[coolingglasses]

Just write it when prompted to do so. I'm sure it's significant, just not terribly.

Any family connections that give you a boost beyond that mean having a relative that knows someone with significant influence over admissions.

 

[100312]

one benefit you can mention is that you understand the rigorous lifestyle and that you're ready for that kind of commitment

 

[DrEnderW]

Oddly enough, somehow the fact that my father is a physician got brought up in both of my DO interviews. Wasn't brought up in MD interviews.

I think they were curious to see if he had an MD or DO and if that impacted my choice to apply to certain programs.

As for why it's asked on the app, I think it's just for statistical analysis to see the type of demographics applying and matriculating in med school.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

I think it matters a bit more when it's a parent. One interviewer was like "oh your dad's a doc, so you know about the bad of being a doctor." My dad is an MD, and one school framed a lot of "why osteo" questions in reference to him. It was starting to piss me off, and is probably related to my being wait listed.

 

[DrEnderW]

I think it matters a bit more when it's a parent. One interviewer was like "oh your dad's a doc, so you know about the bad of being a doctor." My dad is an MD, and one school framed a lot of "why osteo" questions in reference to him. It was starting to piss me off, and is probably related to my being wait listed.

That's funny you say that, I got a lot of why DO questions after discussion lead to the fact that my dad has an MD.

Fortunately, I could respond that he chose all DOs for my doctors growing up so there is no bias.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

That's funny you say that, I got a lot of why DO questions after discussion lead to the fact that my dad has an MD.

Fortunately, I could respond that he chose all DOs for my doctors growing up so there is no bias.

Oh totally. My dad doesn't care either- he wants his son to be a doctor. The interviewer was like "well your dad only cares about treating the symptoms, whereas DOs blah blah blah." I tried to diplomatically tell him that was an ignorant, asinine question. It didn't go well.

 

[coolingglasses]

Oh totally. My dad doesn't care either- he wants his son to be a doctor. The interviewer was like "well your dad only cares about treating the symptoms, whereas DOs blah blah blah." I tried to diplomatically tell him that was an ignorant, asinine question. It didn't go well.

Sometimes you just have to play the game. Arguing with AdComs over philosophy, right or wrong, is never a good idea.

 

[DrEnderW]

Oh totally. My dad doesn't care either- he wants his son to be a doctor. The interviewer was like "well your dad only cares about treating the symptoms, whereas DOs blah blah blah." I tried to diplomatically tell him that was an ignorant, asinine question. It didn't go well.

Yeah that's rough, sorry to hear that. I would have responded the same way.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

Sometimes you just have to play the game. Arguing with AdComs over philosophy, right or wrong, is never a good idea.

True, but at the same time I'm getting down on my knees and selling out.

 

[DocEspana]

The issue of eliminating the question of "do you have any relatives who went to this medical school" from all applications was heavily debated on the floor of the AMA in the November house of delegates.

Let me make this CRYSTAL clear. A number of admissions directors went up there and said that not only does legacy status *matter* but that they are *actively* looking for students who are the children and grandchildren of graduates. Will it help you? In that one school with a relative: abso-damn-lutely. Will it guarantee your admission: no. Nothing can guarantee an admission.

Anyone who says it is solely statistical is sorely misinformed.

And for those curious. The idea to disallow that question was defeated overwhelmingly by physicians who agreed that identifying and admitting legacy students is a vital part of the medical education process because 1) clinical skills might be heritable 🙂confused🙂 and 2) parents and grandparents who are physicians do donate money at impressively high rates, something that was actually shown and documented on the floor of the debate, and 3) we will find the legacy students anyway, disallowing the question is just disingenuous since it viewed as important enough to be asked in any interview if the answer isn't already known.

 

[felix2929]

The issue of eliminating the question of "do you have any relatives who went to this medical school" from all applications was heavily debated on the floor of the AMA in the November house of delegates.

Let me make this CRYSTAL clear. A number of admissions directors went up there and said that not only does legacy status *matter* but that they are *actively* looking for students who are the children and grandchildren of graduates. Will it help you? In that one school with a relative: abso-damn-lutely. Will it guarantee your admission: no. Nothing can guarantee an admission.

Anyone who says it is solely statistical is sorely misinformed.

And for those curious. The idea to disallow that question was defeated overwhelmingly by physicians who agreed that identifying and admitting legacy students is a vital part of the medical education process because 1) clinical skills might be heritable 🙂confused🙂 and 2) parents and grandparents who are physicians do donate money at impressively high rates, something that was actually shown and documented on the floor of the debate, and 3) we will find the legacy students anyway, disallowing the question is just disingenuous since it viewed as important enough to be asked in any interview if the answer isn't already known.

Reason #4 Children of doctors who grew up listening to someone b*tch and complain about medicine for 18 years yet still decide to go into it are less likely to quit and head into other careers. Interestingly enough they are equally as likely to b*tch and complain about the downsides of medicine. Or such is my experience.

 

[HeyNumber2]

I was told by a few friends in admissions that legacy status will go a long way in getting you the II, but not much more beyond that.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using SDN Mobile

 

[dudeliness]

The issue of eliminating the question of "do you have any relatives who went to this medical school" from all applications was heavily debated on the floor of the AMA in the November house of delegates...

Anyone who says it is solely statistical is sorely misinformed.

Well, I stand corrected. I appreciate doc espana chiming in on this. I didn't realize it was such an important factor.

Yet another reason why I am glad that I actually got in somewhere!

 

[DrEnderW]

Wow. Thanks for that good info.

 

[felix2929]

Well, I stand corrected. I appreciate doc espana chiming in on this. I didn't realize it was such an important factor.

Yet another reason why I am glad that I actually got in somewhere!

Did any of your DO school apps ask about this? I can't recall any of mine asking about legacy.

 

[coolingglasses]

True, but at the same time I'm getting down on my knees and selling out.

Sort of. But there's nothing saying you can't openly believe what you wish once your acceptance is in hand.

 

[pre med 2014]

The Hippocratic oath originally included a clause wherein doctors promised to teach the art of medicine to their colleagues' sons but to no others.

If that is still in effect having a grandparent or parent physician helps a lot.

 

[DocEspana]

The Hippocratic oath originally included a clause wherein doctors promised to teach the art of medicine to their colleagues' sons but to no others.

If that is still in effect having a grandparent physician helps a lot.

It also contained clauses that banned being paid for practicing medicine. Clauses that forbid any surgery to ever be performed. And clauses that forbid abortion.

 

[pre med 2014]

It also contained clauses that banned being paid for practicing medicine. Clauses that forbid any surgery to ever be performed. And clauses that forbid abortion.

I was being sarcastic. Just because it's not there in words anymore does not mean that in reality there is no favoritism towards physician progeny.

 

[DocEspana]

I was being sarcastic. Just because it's not there in words anymore does not mean that in reality there is no favoritism towards physician progeny.

given that almost no graduate recites the hippocratic oath anymore (as removing the clause about money, the one about abortion, and the multiple ones about surgeyr really leaves only a few phrases left and some old greek god names), I generally respond pretty strongly to anyone referencing it. Didnt put my sarcasm filter up.

 

[Dr Yiot]

Doc Espano I honestly had no idea about that.

to me that is utterly disturbing, coming from a family of no doctors that really sux.

its very dissapointing.

 

[hallowmann]

Did any of your DO school apps ask about this? I can't recall any of mine asking about legacy.

Yes, I remember a number of secondaries explicitly asking if members of your immediate family were physicians, and some even had drop down menus for choosing allopathic vs osteopathic. That being said, some only asked if members of your immediate family were DOs or graduates of those schools.

Doc Espano I honestly had no idea about that.

to me that is utterly disturbing, coming from a family of no doctors that really sux.

its very dissapointing.

This is actually a big issue. The strongest arguments I've heard have been related to understanding the time commitment and the way medicine works (i.e. the major negatives associated with the lifestyle), because you were exposed to it all your life. Also, having physicians for parents means that you most likely have strong finacial backing, as well as a support system that understands what you are going through. That at least makes some sense, but that clinical skills being heritable thing sounds like a joke, as if almost everyone couldn't learn to be empathetic.

While its true that it may give you an edge, its not like qualified applicants without a legacy are blocked out of the system (or at least this aspect of the application process won't be the thing blocking them out). Non-legacies get into med school all the time. A legacy has to start somewhere. None of my grandparents were physicians afterall.

 

[dudeliness]

Did any of your DO school apps ask about this? I can't recall any of mine asking about legacy.

Yes. I only applied DO and I seem to remember a few asking, but I couldn't tell you which ones.