how far can connections take you?

[Dr. Josh]

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One big difference though is that in regards to connections and legacy admissions the rich get richer. For AA, that is not always the case.

the operative word is "always". If AA is used as it was intended gearing to the economically needy or to those who grew up withouit all the asdvanteous othjers had; I'd totally agree. However I do not agree with the black applicant who grew up in an affluent society with one parent as a lawyer and the other as a surgeon. Checking a URM box does not imply needy. What about the poor asian male who grew up in a ghetto and had to raise his 3 younger siblings while his single mom was passed out in an alley on drugs. Things aren't always as they appear by checking or not checking a box. That's all, I didn't want to beat a dead horse or highjack this thread.

 

[Lshapley]

the operative word is "always". If AA is used as it was intended gearing to the economically needy or to those who grew up withouit all the asdvanteous othjers had; I'd totally agree. However I do not agree with the black applicant who grew up in an affluent society with one parent as a lawyer and the other as a surgeon. Checking a URM box does not imply needy. What about the poor asian male who grew up in a ghetto and had to raise his 3 younger siblings while his single mom was passed out in an alley on drugs. Things aren't always as they appear by checking or not checking a box. That's all, I didn't want to open a can of worms or hyjack this thread.

No worries, Dr. Josh. I generally agree with you, I just wanted to clarify the difference there and that is why I said "always". I believe as a country we are moving more towards a system as you are describing which has its eyes open towards an individual's class rather than only their race. This is particularly relevant on this thread since we are talking about a potential advantage an applicant can have due to their connections, which are certainly class-related in regards to med school applications.

 

[TheRealMD]

the operative word is "always". If AA is used as it was intended gearing to the economically needy or to those who grew up withouit all the asdvanteous othjers had; I'd totally agree. However I do not agree with the black applicant who grew up in an affluent society with one parent as a lawyer and the other as a surgeon. Checking a URM box does not imply needy. What about the poor asian male who grew up in a ghetto and had to raise his 3 younger siblings while his single mom was passed out in an alley on drugs. Things aren't always as they appear by checking or not checking a box. That's all, I didn't want to beat a dead horse or highjack this thread.

...

Why do people still to this day equate being a URM as being poor and disadvantaged? Why do people even think there is such a thing as "checking a URM box?" On ANY application you see, you say your race/ethnicity and THAT'S IT. If you were disadvantaged during your upbringing, you can mark that specifically (that IS a yes/no question on TMDSAS and AMCAS). There is no such thing as a URM box.

 

[Dr. Josh]

No worries, Dr. Josh. I generally agree with you, I just wanted to clarify the difference there and that is why I said "always". I believe as a country we are moving more towards a system as you are describing which has its eyes open towards an individual's class rather than only their race. This is particularly relevant on this thread since we are talking about a potential advantage an applicant can have due to their connections, which are certainly class-related in regards to med school applications.

I think this country still has a long way to go. I was speaking to a friend's mom the other day. She had a kid who was just applying to college and the kid's father was born (and maintains citizenship) in some small island (sorry, don't remember which one). It is the custom of that country to easily grant citizenship to all kids of citizens even if they never set foot in the country. The mom's comment is "I know it's not right but I'm doing it; anything to give Johnny an advantage. Also I'm checking URM even though he's Irish blonde." he's applying to yale and she says they give an advantage to someone from unique countries.

 

[Dr. Josh]

...

Why do people still to this day equate being a URM as being poor and disadvantaged? Why do people even think there is such a thing as "checking a URM box?" On ANY application you see, you say your race/ethnicity and THAT'S IT. If you were disadvantaged during your upbringing, you can mark that specifically (that IS a yes/no question on TMDSAS and AMCAS). There is no such thing as a URM box.

I personally have not filled out applications yet, so i really didn't know. But everyone around here says "are you a URM? if so you have an advantage." Therefore I assumed there was a little box to check.

 

[TheRealMD]

I personally have not filled out applications yet, so i really didn't know. But everyone around here says "are you a URM? if so you have an advantage." Therefore I assumed there was a little box to check.

Such a box would cause an extreme uproar from applicants like you see here on SDN. It doesn't exist.

 

[solitude]

I believe as a country we are moving more towards a system as you are describing which has its eyes open towards an individual's class rather than only their race.

Sadly, given the makeup of the Supreme Court, I think we as a country are regressing towards the same antediluvian systems of yore. It's only a matter of time before a group of rich parents challenges socioeconomic affirmative action and Scalia exercises his "authentic judicial restraint" to strike down those types of programs too.

 

[solitude]

Such a box would cause an extreme uproar from applicants like you see here on SDN. It doesn't exist.

semantics. Instead of one "URM box" there are many boxes for each type of URM and for each other group, but it boils down to URM vs. not-URM, even if the actual system for denoting one's under/over-represented status is not as clear-cut as a single box.

 

[MossPoh]

Important to know that many people who have a relation of some sort to the applicant remove themselves from the decision process. It could get a little leniency to get the interview...but in the end you are on your own. Every person they bring in is essentially staking their and the school's reputation. Unless you are building entire wings for the school, they most likely will not risk putting you in if your stuff is sub-par compared to the large majority of applicants. Sorry, but unless your connections have some life debt there really is not any incentive for them to do more than an interview. I have had people suck up to me for connections in other things...really just irritating and I would not say they are a good person unless I legitimately know they are. Getting a recommendation from an upstanding person that went to that school, or being the child of a successful doctor from that school isn't quite the same to me. If you are a strong applicant AND your mom/dad went to the school...there is a slightly increased chance you will attend. Basically, they don't owe you crap unless you saved their life. But that is just my opinion...

 

[voirlesetoiles]

I agree with the post above. And sorry, 24 is low for an US allopathic school. Regardless of the rest of the application. Just retake and kick butt. 🙂

 

[gujuDoc]

I agree with the post above. And sorry, 24 is low for an US allopathic school. Regardless of the rest of the application. Just retake and kick butt. 🙂

I too agree with Mosspoh's post.

I hate when people think they are entitled something.

Here is a funny example of this.

A few years ago a current DO student went on and on about how she could get a 2 on the MCAT and would get into USF. She had a mid 20's score and needed 30 to stay in the 7 year program which she didn't get. She is one of the worst cases of entitlement I've seen.

Then there was a kid I talked about this past year who's dad convinced someone to give him an interview despite his mid 20's score but ended up low tier. He got in the same DO school as the other girl.

Its pretty sad to see the self entitlement amongst 7 year BS/MD students who get weeded out of the program.

OP:

Retake the MCAT. Look at the SDN subforum in the MCAT forum for help and reassess what your weak points were and how ti improve on them.