- Joined
- Apr 21, 2021
- Messages
- 168
- Reaction score
- 172
I’m a black woman. I don’t need to be preached to about representation in medicine. Your main rant on here didn’t have anything to do with you, other than the fact that you think you should be in better standing compared to others, but about other people. You can’t see behind the curtain of their apps. There definitely needs to be improvement. We certainly need more of us in medicine but thinking that your responses are perfect/app is improved doesn’t equal you being accepted. Applying to mission fit schools in regards to your specific app is also a big part of it. I just don’t see the reason for worrying about other people in the application cycle to the point where you feel negative about medicine as a whole. If those schools didn’t see value in you then research and try to find the schools that will because they do exist. Focus on you and what you can control. I had several professors from the health committee at my school in undergrad tell me I wasn’t competitive enough for med school and they refused to write me a committee letter, so I got individual letters. My stats weren’t the greatest, yet here I am. Don’t focus on what’s going on around you. Focus on you. Comparison is a thief of joy.
I agree with the sentiment but I don’t think I was ranting. Ranting would imply that everything I’m saying is conjecture or anecdotal. I’m a little disillusioned with medicine and it isn’t just relegated to the app process. As I said earlier, I’ve literally seen healthcare providers treat patients differently and it affected outcomes and patient satisfaction. Furthermore, I never said I was perfect but I have improved. In theory, I think every applicant always has room for improvement so decisions regarding admissions have to be subject to some subjectivity. The previous notion underscores what you say “applying to mission fit schools in regards to your specific app is also a big part of it.” In actuality, I think I’ll get in this time because I’ve casted a wider net. I meant no disrespect or intended to come across as preach or holier than thou.
My major contention is that the bottleneck in medical education exists for everyone but especially for us and especially for Black men. In every academic environment, there are fewer Black people and even fewer Black men. When you look at admissions, medical school matriculation and residency placement/completion, we’re up against it. In my dealings with medical professionals, as in most other arenas in this country, there is a disconnect. We’re told very earlier that we have to be diligent, work hard and carry on but this is only half the story. I’m not trying to be on a perpetual soapbox but I’m a passionate person and I tend to talk. Hopefully I can take my passion, get into medical school and one day use my passion to advocate for my patients. You’re right and I’m not trying to worry about every other person and I’m not envious. I’ve gone out of my way to help other with no intentions of it being repaid and, oftentimes, I’m not. If I’m able to help people push forward, I’m satisfied. It just hurts to see people progress and not look back and pull others forward. I have a more collective mindset and when others push against that, it’s draining.
I’ve applied to all the HBCUs and hope I’m able to attend one.
I’m sorry if I’m rambling but this issue always stirs up a passion in me.