Interviewer knew my father

[Hopeful_MD2BE]

Was very fortunate to have just completed my first interview at a local school. I felt like it went very well. One of my talking points was how my father owns a practice nearby. The interviewer (who is a PA) was curious and asked for my fathers name. I gave him his name, and that was that. Afterwards, I gave my father a call to let him know how it went. As a side note, my father and I don't have the best relationship. My parents divorced when I was a child, and we get together maybe twice a year tops. My father asked for the interviewer's name, and after telling him, responded that he knew him. Now, as soon as he had said that, my heart sank. Without boring you with details, my father doesn't have the best reputation amongst many of his peers. I would imagine it has something to do with his misuse of alcohol whenever people in the medical community get together for a night out. After all, his drinking is what led to my parents divorce in the first place. I asked my father if they were on good terms, and his answer after a short pause was "they don't talk often, but they know each other".

Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but I can't shake the thought that my hopes of attending this medical school may have been shattered. I conducted myself extremely professional during the interview, with the PA even telling me that I seemed very mature and knew how to tell a story. Please tell me I'm just overthinking things....

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[Mr.Smile12]

Not much you can do now. The professional world is small.

 

[LizzyM]

There are those situations where I might know a physician's name because it is a small world but there isn't a reason to recuse myself just because the applicant's father has a practice within 100 miles of the medical school. On the other hand, we would certainly be expected to recuse ourselves if the applicant's father is in our group practice or is our supervisor.

The PA may or may not know of your father's drinking. Even if the PA does know, that knowledge should not factor into whether you would be a good candidate for medical school. Don't give it another thought.

 

[Hopeful_MD2BE]

There are those situations where I might know a physician's name because it is a small world but there isn't a reason to recuse myself just because the applicant's father has a practice within 100 miles of the medical school. On the other hand, we would certainly be expected to recuse ourselves if the applicant's father is in our group practice or is our supervisor.

The PA may or may not know of your father's drinking. Even if the PA does know, that knowledge should not factor into whether you would be a good candidate for medical school. Don't give it another thought.

I’m not very familiar with the workings of SDN, but I do recognize your name, & I couldn’t be more thankful for you taking the time to put my mind at ease. As a non-trad applicant with children to provide for, I would hate for something like this to derail my chances. It’s going to be a long wait until at least October 15th, but you’ve given me a little bit of hope back.

 

[LunaOri]

Since you are not close with your father, and you know his reputation might not be the best, it would be a good idea to not mention him in your interviews.

 

[LizzyM]

Since you are not close with your father, and you know his reputation might not be the best, it would be a good idea to not mention him in your interviews.

I guess it is a fine line when you are trying to make a point that you have ties to the area and would like to be there long-term (that goes along with the mission of some schools).

 

[Goro]

Was very fortunate to have just completed my first interview at a local school. I felt like it went very well. One of my talking points was how my father owns a practice nearby. The interviewer (who is a PA) was curious and asked for my fathers name. I gave him his name, and that was that. Afterwards, I gave my father a call to let him know how it went. As a side note, my father and I don't have the best relationship. My parents divorced when I was a child, and we get together maybe twice a year tops. My father asked for the interviewer's name, and after telling him, responded that he knew him. Now, as soon as he had said that, my heart sank. Without boring you with details, my father doesn't have the best reputation amongst many of his peers. I would imagine it has something to do with his misuse of alcohol whenever people in the medical community get together for a night out. After all, his drinking is what led to my parents divorce in the first place. I asked my father if they were on good terms, and his answer after a short pause was "they don't talk often, but they know each other".

Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but I can't shake the thought that my hopes of attending this medical school may have been shattered. I conducted myself extremely professional during the interview, with the PA even telling me that I seemed very mature and knew how to tell a story. Please tell me I'm just overthinking things....

Yes, you're being paranoid. Stop overthinking this. The sins of the fathers do not get placed upon thier children in med school admissions.