How prevalent is getting "preferential treatment" in admissions?

[saveourpens]

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Some doctors I know claim that a large percentage of those accepted are those that have connections. I'm sure this occurs but they made it seem like I'll have an uphill battle because I have no connections. How prevalent is this?

 

[CodeBlu]

Some doctors I know claim that a large percentage of those accepted are those that have connections. I'm sure this occurs but they made it seem like I'll have an uphill battle because I have no connections. How prevalent is this?

While some people do have connections, the vast majority do not.

Like LizzyM has said countless times... they offer courtesy interviews to some "special candidates" with connections. But the adcom has no intent of granting admission. It is what it is. Some people have connections, some don't.

By no means do you need connections to be successful in this process.

 

[aSagacious]

by no means do you need connections to be successful in this process.

+1

 

[AestheticMed]

While some people do have connections, the vast majority do not.

Like LizzyM has said countless times... they offer courtesy interviews to some "special candidates" with connections. But the adcom has no intent of granting admission. It is what it is. Some people have connections, some don't.

By no means do you need connections to be successful in this process.

Oh really? See I was wondering why Rice offered me an interview and I didn't even apply.

 

[aSagacious]

Oh really? See I was wondering why Rice offered me an interview and I didn't even apply.

Sample size of 1 equals prevalance. 🙄

 

[CodeBlu]

sample size of 1 equals prevalance. 🙄

false. Show me your stats you saggy bottomer you!!!! 😉

 

[chrissyxf]

Personally, if i had connections, i wouldn't use them pre-interview. I would always wonder if i had gotten that far on my own merit or because of a letter. But i'm not against people calling on a student's behalf post interview. it's, for better or worse, how the real world works (especially getting fellowships). but this only holds true for genuine connections (like having impressed someone because you worked with them or volunteered with them and they offered to call/write on your behalf and not because you were born into a connection). but that's my personal impression.

 

[Frazier]

Personally, if i had connections, i wouldn't use them pre-interview. I would always wonder if i had gotten that far on my own merit or because of a letter. But i'm not against people calling on a student's behalf post interview. it's, for better or worse, how the real world works (especially getting fellowships). but this only holds true for genuine connections (like having impressed someone because you worked with them or volunteered with them and they offered to call/write on your behalf and not because you were born into a connection). but that's my personal impression.

I see what you're getting at -- but this isn't competing in the Ironman event or racing in the tour de France (instances where one person can overcome extreme odds and come out on top due solely to their own performance/aptitude).

As much as we, as applicants, like to think that we have our ish under control (i.e. I worked hard and got a X.XX GPA, I studied my ass off and earned a YZ mcat score, I did this and that and some of that too. My merits are now astronomical)... it isn't the case. The summation of our efforts essentially boil down to one (or a few people's) subjective opinion of our entirety in a couple paragraphs on a piece of paper. It's all up in the air and no matter how awesome one is, they still might not get admitted to their dream school because of subjective opinion of someone else.

With that said, I would be the counterpoint for your stance: in cases like this, I'd take advantage of my connections if I had them and never look back.

 

[macsta]

Personally, if i had connections, i wouldn't use them pre-interview. I would always wonder if i had gotten that far on my own merit or because of a letter. But i'm not against people calling on a student's behalf post interview. it's, for better or worse, how the real world works (especially getting fellowships). but this only holds true for genuine connections (like having impressed someone because you worked with them or volunteered with them and they offered to call/write on your behalf and not because you were born into a connection). but that's my personal impression.

You have have some awesome stats or balls of made of diamonds. I would use my connections in a heartbeat (pre-interview, post-interview, hell, I would use them during my interview).

 

[Narmerguy]

You have have some awesome stats or balls of made of diamonds. I would use my connections in a heartbeat (pre-interview, post-interview, hell, I would use them during my interview).

Actually I would hate to have gotten into a school through connections because I would constantly be worried that I wasn't as competent as my peers and who knows, it may even be true. No one wants to be the dude at the bottom of the class.

 

[macsta]

Actually I would hate to have gotten into a school through connections because I would constantly be worried that I wasn't as competent as my peers and who knows, it may even be true. No one wants to be the dude at the bottom of the class.

I think you are confusing getting into medical school with doing well in medical schools.

I don't think anyone would (or could) use a "connection" to do better than their peers during med schol.

 

[Frazier]

Actually I would hate to have gotten into a school through connections because I would constantly be worried that I wasn't as competent as my peers and who knows, it may even be true. No one wants to be the dude at the bottom of the class.

Don't worry, guy. If you were at the bottom of your class at Harvard and rocked Step1, I'm sure PD's would be willing to forgive you for being in a class filled with more "competent peers". 😉

Now if one counters that with "well, what if I screw up step 1? Then I'm bottom of my class AND have a crap Step1 score..." Well, that doesn't matter -- you would have sucked at the lesser school come step-time too (that is unless you decide to go all butterfly effect with alternative outcomes).

Perhaps you wouldn't be the bottom of your class at Podunk U, but I'm going to guess you wouldn't be the top of the class there either... So where is the equilibrium point between rank within Harvard vis-a-vis Podunk U? It's an answer that is obviously beyond the scope of this thread lol

 

[golfman]

Use the connections. I'm a 4th-year medical student and have seen the admissions process at my school and know people on the board. One admissions committee member told me they had so many qualified applicants, in the end who they decide to interview and accept is just sometimes who was the most interesting or who stood out over the other in some way or another.

Way too many people across the nation have very similar stats. It's tough to decide who to interview, and schools also want to interview people that would stay there and be good medical students. A connection could A)Assure the school that you are not a weirdo and would be a great med student B) You are interested in the program and not just applying to it because you think you have a shot of getting in there, and C) give the school a reason to interview you over some random kid they know nothing about except a few AMCAS paragraphs.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

I see what you're getting at -- but this isn't competing in the Ironman event or racing in the tour de France (instances where one person can overcome extreme odds and come out on top due solely to their own performance/aptitude).

As much as we, as applicants, like to think that we have our ish under control (i.e. I worked hard and got a X.XX GPA, I studied my ass off and earned a YZ mcat score, I did this and that and some of that too. My merits are now astronomical)... it isn't the case. The summation of our efforts essentially boil down to one (or a few people's) subjective opinion of our entirety in a couple paragraphs on a piece of paper. It's all up in the air and no matter how awesome one is, they still might not get admitted to their dream school because of subjective opinion of someone else.

With that said, I would be the counterpoint for your stance: in cases like this, I'd take advantage of my connections if I had them and never look back.

👍 exactly, because if you don't someone else will.

 

[FattySlug]

Actually I would hate to have gotten into a school through connections because I would constantly be worried that I wasn't as competent as my peers and who knows, it may even be true. No one wants to be the dude at the bottom of the class.

Why? After the first semester you will pretty much know where you stand compare to the rest of the class so whatever doubt you have will be gone after 4 months.

If you have connection go ahead and use it. This entire process is subjective enough that I would not feel guilty if someone's subjective opinion of me gives me a leg up. I will be rejected by someone's subjective feelings and accepted by someone else's subjective feelings, and connection is a form of subjective opinion so it is all fair game. Aren't LORs a mild form of connection?

 

[Essee]

Making useful, real, and actually meaningful connections is a merit of its own. If you're able to do that already, I don't see why you wouldn't use those connections. Not many people have the opportunity or the 'skills'. Its almost analagous in an abstract way to having another EC.

Albeit of course if we're talking about daddy's connections that were born unto you then I can see the arugement 😛.

 

[Donnie1310]

No one wants to be the dude at the bottom of the class.

I'd rather be the dude at the bottom of the class than the dude who isn't even in the class. Bottom of the class dude still gets to be called "doctor" in 4 years time. 😉

 

[macsta]

i'd rather be the dude at the bottom of the class than the dude who isn't even in the class. Bottom of the class dude still gets to be called "doctor" in 4 years time. 😉

+1

 

[FunnyCurrent]

 

[tn4596]

I'd rather be the dude at the bottom of the class than the dude who isn't even in the class. Bottom of the class dude still gets to be called "doctor" in 4 years time. 😉

Medicine isnt like business. If you get where you are solely on connections then you will end up hurting somebody. I would rather be a competent PA or nurse than a incompetent "doctor."

 

[deleted390966]

Medicine isnt like business. If you get where you are solely on connections then you will end up hurting somebody. I would rather be a competent PA or nurse than a incompetent "doctor."

What if they get in, do well in med school and become competent doctors? 🙂

 

[macsta]

Medicine isnt like business. If you get where you are solely on connections then you will end up hurting somebody. I would rather be a competent PA or nurse than a incompetent "doctor."

You would be surprised how many incompetent doctors are out there...most of them didn't get "preferential treatment".

 

[V5RED]

You would be surprised how many incompetent doctors are out there...most of them didn't get "preferential treatment".

Truth.

I remember when I broke my hand in football and the doctor I saw not only didn't bother to reset the bones, but he also put a lousy cast on me.

The school's trainer saw it, said it was crap, and sent me to a proper sports rehab facility. The doctor there said the cast was ****, and he said it was crazy to not reset the bones. He cut the cast off, reset and properly casted my hand, and thanks to him I was able to type this post with both hands. 🙂

 

[paul411]

Medicine isnt like business. If you get where you are solely on connections then you will end up hurting somebody. I would rather be a competent PA or nurse than a incompetent "doctor."

What if they get in, do well in med school and become competent doctors?

While this can happen, it is relatively unlikely if said person made it to med school and beyond based primarily on connections and not merit.

But I don't think such flagrant cronyism occurs that often in the medical field .

 

[nogolfinsnow]

My experience in spending a little time doing applicant interviews for my school was those with some type of connection to the school had an increased likelihood of getting an interview but still had to perform well enough at the interview (interviewees get a number score) to gain admission. Plenty of people who were family friends with Dr. XYZ didn't get admitted. We also had several people in my class who were children of alumni, but they were all very good students. I think a lot of the people are over-estimating the benefits you get from having connections; schools don't want to train people who will fail out or become crappy residents because that reflects poorly back on the school. If you're a solid applicant and a connection helps get you an interview then by all means use the connection.