How much does family related alumni help?

[smsc2009]

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Hi,
I am just curious,

Let's say someone applies to a medical school where they have family related alumni. Does that do anything to improve your application?

(Hypothetical) Situation:

Person A - 3.65 GPA, 30 MCAT, good ammount of EC's (No alumni)

Person B - 3.56 GPA, 28 MCAT, about the same EC's (A couple of alumni from that specific medical school)

How much does this really make a difference? Is person B going to be favored because of his alumni relation?

Again, just curious.
Thanks

 

[Meatwad]

Hi,
I am just curious,

Let's say someone applies to a medical school where they have family related alumni. Does that do anything to improve your application?

Situation:

Person A - 3.65 GPA, 30 MCAT, good ammount of EC's (No alumni)

Person B - 3.56 GPA, 28 MCAT, about the same EC's (A couple of alumni from that specific medical school)

How much does this really make a difference? Is person B going to be favored because of his alumni relation?

Again, just curious.
Thanks

God, I hope so.

 

[Auraraptor]

It may be school specific, but in my experience, the school my father went to flat out rejected me-without an interview... and my stats were above their norms/averages (and good enough to get into other equal schools)

 

[diosa428]

I know that some schools will give you a "courtesy" interview invite, but it won't help you get into the school if your numbers are significantly below their averages.

 

[TheRealMD]

Wouldn't count on any special treatment unless you're like son of the dean or something. But even then, it won't be as favorable.

Get that GPA and MCAT up, pal! Only guaranteed way to get an interview! 😀

 

[maestro1625]

Wouldn't count on any special treatment unless you're like son of the dean or something. But even then, it won't be as favorable.

Get that GPA and MCAT up, pal! Only guaranteed way to get an interview! 😀

hmm, dont know if it helped me since my numbers were well above that of my parent's school, though I did see a 25 mcat get accepted when the parent was MAJOR donor to the school.

 

[Dr2Bee]

It might and it might not. Theres no way of telling exactly. But I can see it might help a whole lot if they were influential alumni members or professors at the school.

 

[TheRealMD]

I remember one person telling me that unless you can call up an adcom and hold an informal conversation right off the bat, then it's not influencing your application enough to count on it helping you out.

 

[MossPoh]

This is one of those things that lots of people believe at first for some reason.... One girl was telling me that she HAD to have a 3.7+ to even stand a chance at getting into a medical school. When I told her that, while that would help tremendously, people DO get in with lower. Her response "yea, but they all know someone at the school." I think we put far too much weight into the situation, unless your parent is donating mass amounts of money OR is just a rockstar in the medical world I am doubting it will have much of an influence. Many people on adcoms will even remove themselves from the selection process if they know a particular applicant. Without a doubt, a recommendation letter from a person previously on an admission committee with a familiar name won't HURT....but the alumni thing is overrated.

 

[Bacchus]

Without a doubt, a recommendation letter from a person previously on an admission committee with a familiar name won't HURT....but the alumni thing is overrated.

I wish I had the last name of Cowley... now that'd be a familiar name to have.

 

[TCIrish03]

It's not the same as undergraduate schools like Notre Dame and Duke, who rely heavily on alumni legacies....unless your dad wants to throw some serious ca$h.

 

[JohnMadden]

I think the alumni assistance is only helpful if the alum is active ($) and prominent in the field. Other than that, I think it's more helpful to have a family member who is currently affiliated with the school.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi,
I am just curious,

Let's say someone applies to a medical school where they have family related alumni. Does that do anything to improve your application?

(Hypothetical) Situation:

Person A - 3.65 GPA, 30 MCAT, good ammount of EC's (No alumni)

Person B - 3.56 GPA, 28 MCAT, about the same EC's (A couple of alumni from that specific medical school)

How much does this really make a difference? Is person B going to be favored because of his alumni relation?

Again, just curious.
Thanks

Let's say (hypothetically) that Person A gets an interview. Person B might get an interview, too, but Person C who has 3.56/28 and no family connections might not get an interview. So it gives you a bump against others with the same stats & ECs but won't put you ahead of people with significantly better numbers.