Is the Halo Effect seen in Admissions?

[DoctorSnow]

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Dislaimer: I have almost no knowledge of how medical schools go through applications and come to a conclusion on which individuals to accept. Also, I'm not asking this to increase any odds, just was curious on a topic.

I was studying the Kaplan Psych/Soc book and read about the Halo Effect and how it occurs when one aspect of an individual affects the judgement of another aspect. It got me wondering if admissions are somewhat affected by this?

For example, if an application looked like this:
GPA- 3.8
Research- 4 years with 3 publications
Volunteering- 20 hours
(Completely made up numbers to get my point across)

Would an adcom who enjoys research be more likely to accept this person than an adcom who enjoys volunteering? Anyone have any thoughts on this since it got me curious about if this actually is thought about in admissions. Thanks in advance for any input 🙂

 

[TheBiologist]

I think 20 hours total of volunteering isn't enough to even get an interview..

edit realized those might be made up.

 

[mistafab]

I may be biased, but I would have no expectation of halo effect from this situation. The halo effect coming from a piece of paper would be minimal at best, and would be completely countered by the absolute NEGATIVE effect that insufficient volunteering has on an app.

Halo effect is more important on the in-person aspect of the app process.

 

[Goro]

Dislaimer: I have almost no knowledge of how medical schools go through applications and come to a conclusion on which individuals to accept. Also, I'm not asking this to increase any odds, just was curious on a topic.

I was studying the Kaplan Psych/Soc book and read about the Halo Effect and how it occurs when one aspect of an individual affects the judgement of another aspect. It got me wondering if admissions are somewhat affected by this?

For example, if an application looked like this:
GPA- 3.8
Research- 4 years with 3 publications
Volunteering- 20 hours

Would an adcom who enjoys research be more likely to accept this person than an adcom who enjoys volunteering? Anyone have any thoughts on this since it got me curious about if this actually is thought about in admissions. Thanks in advance for any input 🙂

This person would be rejected.
No single person screens for who to admit; this is done at most schools by a team, and the Adcom decides upon who to invite. Hence, any halo would be dimmed by other members of the Adcom.

Think of admissions as more like the Olympic trials.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Think of admissions as more like the Olympic trials.

Although those are literally only about numbers.

 

[21Rush12]

Although those are literally only about numbers.

Yes, except Usain Bolt would need 100 shadowing hours and at least one gap year spent volunteering in a domestic violence shelter to stand a chance.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Yes, except Usain Bolt would need 100 shadowing hours and at least one gap year spent volunteering in a domestic violence shelter to stand a chance.

That's my point.

 

[DoctorSnow]

I think 20 hours total of volunteering isn't enough to even get an interview..

edit realized those might be made up.

Definitely made those up just to get my point across 🙂

 

[WGSgrad]

Definitely made those up just to get my point across 🙂

Isn't this the argument folks are making when they argue that the prestige of one's undergraduate institution impacts chances of admission to medical school?

 

[Robin-jay]

So like if you have a grand theft auto charge, and your ADCOM reader has car theft auto charge, you're more likely to get some love?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

So like if you have a grand theft auto charge, and your ADCOM reader has car theft auto charge, you're more likely to get some love?

Only if you're applying to Cooper.