How do you get on the admissions committee?

[GA_arYonkees_82]

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Just something I would be interested in doing if I end up getting in/graduating from med school lol

 

[Dr panda]

Based on what I observed here, most adcoms are cat lovers, so first of all, go and get some adorable kitty, and then we can talk about getting you in adcom boat.

 

[Moko]

Just something I would be interested in doing if I end up getting in/graduating from med school lol

I'm sure the specifics differ between schools, but the process may include nominations by peers and supervisors in order to be a medical student and faculty interviewer, respectively. Those who end up serving almost always are well-regarded, and have shown an interest in this sort of thing (through engagement with medical students, etc).

 

[Goro]

Just something I would be interested in doing if I end up getting in/graduating from med school lol

It's one of those service things that Faculty are obligated to do. I was asked to join by our wily old Admissions Dean nearly 20 years ago.

So, you will need to be on a med school Faculty. It may be possible that some schools use outside clinicians to do interviewing.

A fair number of schools allow med student to both interview and serve on the committee.

 

[Moko]

In some schools its considered an obligation that few really want to do but their contracts require committee work

Seems like a great way to attract people to sell the school 😛

 

[Catalystik]

Based on what I observed here, most adcoms are cat lovers, so first of all, go and get some adorable kitty, and then we can talk about getting you in adcom boat.

A backup plan might be to become a turtle lover. I recall LizzyM or gyngyn had that avatar for awhile.

 

[993444]

A backup plan might be to become a turtle lover. I recall @LizzyM had that avatar for awhile.

What about a T-Rex lover?

 

[Catalystik]

How do you get on the admissions committee?
Just something I would be interested in doing if I end up getting in/graduating from med school lol

It may be possible that some schools use outside clinicians to do interviewing.

Especially if you are a practicing physician near the med school where you are an alumnus, you might get a letter of invitation to serve as an interviewer.

 

[Catalystik]

What about a T-Rex lover?

Both turtles and dinos are cold-blooded creatures, potentially an important qualification, so that might do.

 

[and 99 others]

Based on what I observed here, most adcoms are cat lovers, so first of all, go and get some adorable kitty, and then we can talk about getting you in adcom boat.

Moko:

 

[SterlingMaloryArcher]

higheredjobs.com

 

[deleted972488]

My sister is an attending physician. She keeps being asked to be on the admissions committee and keeps declining. She has been told by others that it is a lot of [extra] work without much reward.

 

[Kardio]

Just something I would be interested in doing if I end up getting in/graduating from med school lol

It’s funny that you say this. Several friends of mine are medical students and chose to become involved with admissions. Personally, I don’t get it.

Maybe I’m in the minority here - but I haven’t felt like this process has been particularly fun. I dearly want to play in the arena, but I can’t see myself as the gatekeeper.

 

[Dr panda]

Both turtles and dinos are cold-blooded creatures, potentially an important qualification, so that might do.

Let’s just admit that all animals are lovely creatures😍 (except spiders, screw them)

 

[deleted972488]

all animals are lovely creatures

Mosquitos?

 

[Dr panda]

Mosquitos?

My rule of thumb: as long as something has a fur, then it is cute. I also love lizards, iguanas, etc. ok, everything that has a spine.

 

[993444]

Let’s just admit that all animals are lovely creatures😍 (except spiders, screw them)

And scorpions, and beetles..

 

[Dr panda]

And scorpions, and beetles..

When I read about what is going in southern states in terms of a wild nature, I really think about moving to Alaska at some point...

 

[Catalystik]

Let’s just admit that all animals are lovely creatures😍 (except spiders, screw them)

My rule of thumb: as long as something has a fur, then it is cute.

Uh huh.

 

[Dr panda]

Uh huh.
View attachment 273736

You sound like one of my friends who has such thing in her bedroom (fortunately in a closed aquarium)

 

[993444]

A better approach would be to first become an adcom, then apply to that med school, and accept yourself. You have to work the system.

Rather than spending 10 years doing that, you could just spend 3-4 years building a solid app.

 

[Goro]

It’s funny that you say this. Several friends of mine are medical students and chose to become involved with admissions. Personally, I don’t get it.

Maybe I’m in the minority here - but I haven’t felt like this process has been particularly fun. I dearly want to play in the arena, but I can’t see myself as the gatekeeper.

My students take admissions service very seriously because they are looking at candidates as potential colleagues.

My Faculty colleagues and I have to teach these kids, so we take it even more seriously. We're the last barrier between them and patients, BTW.

 

[Dr panda]

My students take admissions service very seriously because they are looking at candidates as potential colleagues.

My Faculty colleagues and I have to teach these kids, so we take it even more seriously. We're the last barrier between them and patients, BTW.

How do you chose those students who will be allowed to participate? This is pretty serious job.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I do interviews and I have 2 labradors....wait, when they asked for volunteers, I said yes. Apparently I'm as smart as my labradors.

 

[Dr panda]

I do interviews and I have 2 labradors....wait, when they asked for volunteers, I said yes. Apparently I'm as smart as my labradors.

Moko got a mate 🙂 Labradors are really nice! (Yet, I am on the side with cat lovers)

 

[Goro]

How do you chose those students who will be allowed to participate? This is pretty serious job.

The wily old Admission Dean does that. I have no idea what he does. I guess he asks for volunteers among the student body

 

[Kardio]

My students take admissions service very seriously because they are looking at candidates as potential colleagues.

My Faculty colleagues and I have to teach these kids, so we take it even more seriously. We're the last barrier between them and patients, BTW.

It’s definitely got to be taken seriously by people applying and reviewing applications. It doesn’t help anyone to take students who are going to flunk out, cause social friction, be exclusively ‘takers’ instead of ‘givers’, or even mistreat patients. The gatekeeper role exists for a good reason.

From the applicant perspective, I’m aware of all the metrics I’m being judged on. From my grades / ECs and my SES status / ethnicity, to my essays, LORs and (reluctantly) CASPer score.

It appears to me that this process is either selecting for neurotic people, or breeding them. I don’t know - maybe I’m doing this whole thing wrong. I feel midair in a leap of faith - faith that my best efforts will be enough. If I land, I don’t think I’ll want to be reminded of this experience.

 

[deleted688779]

How does one become a Dean of Admissions? Get tenured, join comittee, work your way up?

 

[NickNaylor]

Some schools do offer opportunities for medical students to be involved in admissions. At my medical school, all students were invited and encouraged to interview applicants since all applicants interviewed with at least one current student during the interview day. A limited number of MS4s were also invited to join the admissions committee as a full, voting member.

As far as faculty involvement, many of these things are fairly easy to get involved with by simply expressing interest. As mentioned, many (most?) faculty do not want to be involved in things outside of their direct job description or things that they're specifically interested in. Consequently, getting involved with things like this, if you want to, is relatively easy as long as you make it known that you're interested in doing so.

 

[Goro]

How does one become a Dean of Admissions? Get tenured, join committee, work your way up?

Usually, med school announce the position in educational journals and interview candidates. These usually have experience in students services and some sort of educational background, but clinicians definitely are in this demographic. At least two of our wise MD colleagues here on SDN are, or have been, Admissions Deans.

 

[LizzyM]

Our two most recent deans of admission were "inside hires" meaning selected from existing faculty but, curiously, not having had prior experience on the adcom. It was interesting to see someone with no preconceived ideas about how things should be done or how they had been done come in and shake things up (in a good way).

Most have had experience with residency selection and so know what it is that we are trying to produce (highly desirable residents).

The dean of admissions does clinical care and resident superevision during the "off season" and might have some responsibility for a few lectures, small group sessions, or residency interviews in addition to admission duties from August through April.

 

[GA_arYonkees_82]

Thank you everyone for your insights and comments!

 

[Doctor-S]

Based on what I observed here, most adcoms are cat lovers, so first of all, go and get some adorable kitty, and then we can talk about getting you in adcom boat.

Now you know our real identities ... we ARE the Admissions Committee!

 

[gyngyn]

Now you know our real identities ... we ARE the Admissions Committee!

View attachment 275167

As you can see, I chaired this committee (even when I was quite young).