Is it really true about who you know to get into a school?

[mma4life]

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Is this really how it goes? I just had a conversation with a family friend who informed me that he is a clinical professor and chief of (his specialty) at a teaching hospital/university near me and offered to help me with an LOR and a good word to his "friends". I know its not fair but is this how it really goes down?
If this is not fair and offends anyone by hurting other peoples or their chances I apologize and will certainly decline the offer.....oh wait no I wont lol, just curious guys and thnx for the info.

 

[kelley201]

Its worth a try, but it depends on the committee. Wherever there are people there will be politics and sometimes a name can work in your favor but at the same time it can also kill your app if the recommender is at odds with some people on the committe. In other cases if you havent done any research or shadowing with the person endorsing your application the committee can see right through it and use it against you. Most often all you will get is a courtsey interview, if your stats are not at a level the school usually accepts. This is all info I have picked up from people who have served on admissions committees.

 

[fever5]

as the above poster said, it may help or it may hurt. Depends on the individual - i.e. do people like him or does he come off as a jerk.

Lol, my family knows the dean of medicine at the school where I am applying...but it won't make a difference. Admission is based on interview + MCAT not connections....although it might be good to get to know him better for matching into a residency later...*evil laugh*...just kidding

Either way you're probably okay.

 

[bigdan]

Medical school or not, many things are made much easier - fair or unfair - depending on who you know.

If you can, use it to your advantage, because others will for sure.

dc

 

[musiclink213]

one of my dad's friends is the admissions chair at a medical school. i used to say i would never go there becaues i want to get in on my own merits, but the truth is, the further i start to get in this whole process, the more i'm thinking of her offer.

 

[wendywellesley]

one of my dad's friends is the admissions chair at a medical school. i used to say i would never go there becaues i want to get in on my own merits, but the truth is, the further i start to get in this whole process, the more i'm thinking of her offer.

i think there is no shame in that. that is an awsome connection to have, take advantage of it. i think it's a part of life, who you know. it will also be important once we start applying for residencies.

i wish i had a connection 🙁

 

[AsianDoc816]

I think that in every field, it is about who you know. There is no exception in the medical world. This is kind of disappointing to those of us who don't have a connection, but it's important to realize that it DOES go on, and if I had one, I think I'd take advantage of it.

Keep in mind the strength of the connection though...having a grandfather or father on the admissions committee is different than having your dad's friend's friend on the admissions committee. Just my two cents 👍

 

[VPDcurt]

If you can, use it to your advantage, because others will for sure.

So true.

 

[LiNk]

I think that in every field, it is about who you know. There is no exception in the medical world. This is kind of disappointing to those of us who don't have a connection, but it's important to realize that it DOES go on, and if I had one, I think I'd take advantage of it.

Definitely. I've heard now from 3 alumni from 3 different schools who all teach at those schools that it is in fact, who you know - to a degree of course. If a school has say 4,000 applicants, 500 get interviews, 120 get accepted, I think your connections can get you out of the 4,000 pile and get you an interview, at which time it's in your hands.

 

[mma4life]

well gang, thanks for the replies I appreciate it! I will take advantage of it and then its up to me to kick a** on the interview...thats if I get one 👍

 

[PostalWookie]

There are also different degrees of this. I work in the lab of a well-known professor at one of the med schools i'm applying to, and I've been told that his rec will pretty much get me in. Connections are an important part of life, and if you weren't born into a family that has them, there are always opportunities to cultivate some on your own (and I don't mean sleeping with a dean).

 

[Damnit Jim!]

Is this really how it goes? I just had a conversation with a family friend who informed me that he is a clinical professor and chief of (his specialty) at a teaching hospital/university near me and offered to help me with an LOR and a good word to his "friends". I know its not fair but is this how it really goes down?
If this is not fair and offends anyone by hurting other peoples or their chances I apologize and will certainly decline the offer.....oh wait no I wont lol, just curious guys and thnx for the info.

Hey, even if your skills weren't up to par , but Brazilian Top Team offered you a training spot because you knew someone on the team, you would take it wouldn't you? Because it would be the chance of a lifetime.

 

[mma4life]

Hey, even if your skills weren't up to par , but Brazilian Top Team offered you a training spot because you knew someone on the team, you would take it wouldn't you? Because it would be the chance of a lifetime.

lol nice! since you put it that way...of course! Thnx again guys and Damnit Jim are you into B.Jiu-jitsu?

 

[Damnit Jim!]

lol nice! since you put it that way...of course! Thnx again guys and Damnit Jim are you into B.Jiu-jitsu?

Used to be. I still follow it somewhat.

 

[fotolilith]

(and I don't mean sleeping with a dean).

well, damnit, there goes my path to greatness.

 

[trying]

I took an EMT class with this real cocky 4th year guy who told us that his dad graduated from Stanford, had really strong ties and that his dads attending from residency was now the admissions director and that he was sure to get in. That was 2 years ago. Last week I saw him studying for the Bio class that we 3rd years took last year.

 

[SailCrazy]

as the above poster said, it may help or it may hurt. Depends on the individual - i.e. do people like him or does he come off as a jerk.

Lol, my family knows the dean of medicine at the school where I am applying...but it won't make a difference. Admission is based on interview + MCAT not connections....although it might be good to get to know him better for matching into a residency later...*evil laugh*...just kidding

Either way you're probably okay.

It will make a difference if the family friend helps to assure that you are at least chosen for an interview out of the many qualified applicants who might be selected...

If I had an opportunity to lean on similar connecitons, I'd certainly use them. They probalby can't guarantee that you'll get in, but they can help!

 

[Pembleton]

one of my dad's friends is the admissions chair at a medical school. i used to say i would never go there becaues i want to get in on my own merits, but the truth is, the further i start to get in this whole process, the more i'm thinking of her offer.

I have a similar connection. One of my mother's half-cousins claims to have a lot of pull with a certain school. I don't know if it's true. He's a huge loudmouth and I didn't want to be in his debt but I still applied to his school.

 

[FS-Pro]

what about legendary status? that is, my dad graduated from a private medocal school and still donates, will this help me much?

 

[SailCrazy]

what about legendary status? that is, my dad graduated from a private medocal school and still donates, will this help me much?

Do you mean legacy status because your father is a medical school grad/benefactor?

With a post like that, let's hope for your sake that he can help you out a bit!






By the way - just teasing a bit. No harm intended! 😉


If you did, however, mean that either you or your father have somehow attained legendary status around campus, then yes, I'd say that would be to your advantage.

 

[Typhooner1]

I don't know what helps, but I do know that after this process I will.

I applied to Medical School X

My father graduated from school X
My grandfather on my father's side graduated from school X.
My grandfather on my mother's side graduated from school X.
My great-grandfather on my mother's side graduated from school X.

My parent's are family friends with several people on the admissions committee. My grandmother sees someone on the admissions committee about a tumor on her wrist.

Besides my MCAT scores (24P), all my other stats are excellent.

Maybe (I hope) this will get me an interview, but I doubt that it alone will get me an acceptance.

Does anyone want to make me feel better about my chances? I feel like total crapola right now for non-school related reasons..

=/