Is being a parent a negative factor?

[akamin2k]

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[clinicallabguy]

If I am asked at the interview, should I say honestly?

I don't think that being a parent is a negative factor. I'm a parent, and in my interviews I didn't try and avoid the topic if it came up. But, I didn't actively bring it up either. It's not something that should be considered either a qualification or a negative strike against the applicant and interviewers know that.

If they ask why I want to stay in California,
is it okay to say that a baby girl will be born and my fiance plans to raise her at my parents' house which is in valecia?

The way you phrased it makes it sound like this is your only reason. If this is your personal reason, I don't necessarily think it's a bad one. But, remember that in an interview you're trying to show them why you would be a good fit for their school. I would mention things that would convince them 1) that you're a good fit, and 2) that you really want to attend their school, and not that you only want to go there because your fiance's parents live close.

If I say I want to see her growing up and also say that it's only possible if I go to school in California, would it affect negatively?

So, I don't know your situation. But, it seems like from this question that if you left California your baby girl would stay behind with your fiance (?). This sounds like a complicated situation, as well as a personal one. I think that you should focus on your qualifications and professional aspirations while in your interviews.

While your interviewer will probably want to get to know you on a personal level to some extent, such personal dilemmas should probably not be mentioned in the interview. At least not in the type of tone that you have stated them here. You don't need to be secretive about anything, but I wouldn't state it like "I want to see her growing up and ... that it's only possible if I go to school in California." I don't think it is a good idea to appear like you're trying to make anyone feel sorry for you IMO.

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

I think it's illegal for them to ask about your kid and/or your baby mama.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I think it's illegal for them to ask about your kid and/or your baby mama.

Okay, but what do you do if they ask the question anyway? Call them out on it right there? Turn them into the Dean's office and demand another interviewer? Demand that person not be allowed to sit in on the adcom's discussion of your candidacy? Sue them if you are rejected?

Chances are the interviewer is trying to get at something and asked a poorly worded question. You can turn it around on them, "Are you asking if I can balance my personal and professional time? Absolutely. In fact, ..."

I was asked, quite frankly I might add, if I had children and how I was going to manage that during medical school. It happens so be ready for it and know how you'll respond.

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

I think it's illegal for them to ask about your kid and/or your baby mama.

I believe it's the civil rights act of (around) 1964 that prohibits discrimination based on many areas, including "age, race.. marital status".

There are lots of areas NOT included in this act that some people think should be included as illegal areas, such as weight, possibly being a parent.. can very obese individuals be required to buy 2 airline tickets if they can't fit in one seat, etc. In order to address the needs of parents, the Family Medical Leave act was passed; this allows specific amounts of time off from work (unpaid) in case of family sickness, adoption, etc. provided the employer has more than a certain number of employees and a few other conditions are met. From what I've heard about medicine, hospital environments would not be very sympathetic to a resident needing to take time off for this, however.

Captain Fantistic nailed it, though -- just because something is technically illegal, that doesn't mean it won't be asked, and there's almost no way to prove that a person is treated badly/denied a job/admission to med school/etc because they refused to answer a question -- an experienced interviewer who is biased could say that they selected the individuals who seemed the best fit for their school and not mention the "illegal" question at all.

Back to "being a parent impacting med school eligibility" -- As a person in corporate & business environments for many years, a red flag for me is if a candidate brings up something in an interview that does not need to be there, such as a time a coworker did them wrong, how strongly they believe in their religion, how much time it takes to care for their elderly parents.. my concern would be if I hired this person, that they could hold a grudge, offend others with their prostheletizing, and require frequent time-off accomodations, respectively. All of these areas are reasonable, but if you tell me about them and another candidate is enthusiastic about how committed they are to their job and dedicated to furthering the company mission, guess which one gains the upper hand in the interview process?