hooks?

[jammin06]

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I always hear about people having 'hooks' that make med schools interested. Granted, they should be interested in the applicant in genearl, one a few things should separate them from the rest. One thing that i'm working on is Coordinating a Spring Break trip to mexico to volunteer in urban and rural medical clinics. Would this spark med school's interest?

Also, do med schools like to see 'concentrations' in interest. Yea, i know that's very vague, so lemme try to explain. I am extremely interested in cardiology (initially got interested in it when my father had quadrouple bypass surgery when he was 42). I did research in a cardiac electrophysiology lab over the summer and am now working on cardiac research with a new professor that has just come from the Cleveland clinic.

Ultimately, my question is that:
1) can this hurt me at all
2) If on an interview, they ask "what field of medicine u would want to go into", would i be out of line if i said Cardiology? I've always heard that med schools don't want applicants that go in w. tunnel vision (which i totally understand). Would a more appropriate response be..."i'm open to anything, but if i had to pick just one, then...."

thanks y'all.

 

[drlexygoat]

I think having one or two things that really set you apart certainly helps you in the app process. EVERYONE olunteers at a hospital, most do some research, belong ni pre-med clubs. You need a spark and I think your trip would be a great thing to highlight. IT shows you're a leader and philanthropic.

If I had to say what my hook was, I'd guess it would be the fact that I run marathons for the Leukemia and LYmphoma Society and raise $$$ for them. It's a good conversation piece and something a little different. You're hook doesn't have to be academic or philanthropic, though. Just something different.!

As for the specialty question, if you're really gung ho about cardio, make sure you can back it up when they ask you about it. You may want to say "Well, I'm keeping my options open but I'm really interested in cardio because....." .

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Well I'm interested in cardiology because I had myocarditis when I was in middle school and was on an LVAD for a week and damn near died, how's that for a hook?

 

[dan0909]

i tired the whole "been in a coma" card, but i dont think it helped me in getting in...

 

[Bones2008]

Originally posted by jammin06
Would a more appropriate response be..."i'm open to anything, but if i had to pick just one, then...."

Yes. Say you're interested in X, but mention that you have a lot to learn still and that this may change. You should mean this, because it's true. Three and a half years is a long time, and your interests may change.