"Legacies" at medical school?

[ker68]

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[Dedikated2liftn]

I am just curious - does having a doctor parent from a certain medical school increase your chances of getting in? I have seen this work a LOT for colleges (my friend is a triple legacy at Cornell and he got mostly Cs in high school...) but I am not sure how it works with medical school.

I have not one but two parents who went to med school at Uni of Rochester. They are still well-known there. They don't work there but they work in the area. I have no idea how this will affect me.

I haven't taken the MCATs yet. Got a 3.0 my freshman year but I've made it up with a 3.7ish my soph year and am still doing well (just finished soph year). About 4 years worth of LOTS of hospice work, plus research with a doc...and still more to come. I am re-taking Calc and Physics at said University over the summer because I did iffy in them (C) but I know I'll be able to do well over the summer because I'll have more time.

As you can see, I'd like to have good credentials but I am wondering if my parent's history will give me a boost. I am not sure.

The short answer is yes. As with anything in life, having connections to where you want to go is going to help you...period. There are several folks at my school who have parent physicians associated with the university. Most are doing fine, but I know of at least one who is having to repeat a year. Overall, you're going to have to be someone the school would at least consider admitting regardless of your ties; however, having said that, your connections probably provide you w/ at least a marginal advantage over similar candidates.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Of course it helps but to what degree depends on what kind of legacy you are. If your parents went there and that's it then like said above it's marginal. Should your name be Timmy Zegelbrack and the building you have an interview in is part of the Zegelbrack family wing then no worries your in.

 

[MightyMoose]

Another big factor for legacies is that the schools can feel more confident you will accept a spot at their university/school if you are offered one and have strong ties there.

 

[BrainBuff]

The fact that AMCAS makes you indicate your parents highest degree, school name and education helps establish whether you are a legacy to the school in question or not. This is very well established, especially for medical schools

 

[cfx]

I know there are schools that grant an automatic interview to applicants whose parent(s) attended their school. Beyond that, I'm not sure how much sway it has.

 

[unhappytnt]

I know there are schools that grant an automatic interview to applicants whose parent(s) attended their school.

I don't think this is true. Can you name some schools that does that?

 

[cfx]

It is true. I really have only one example, so it's an admittedly tiny sample size. I can't claim that any other schools do this, but I assume that if one school does something, there are likely others.

 

[unhappytnt]

It is true. I really have only one example, so it's an admittedly tiny sample size. I can't claim that any other schools do this, but I assume that if one school does something, there are likely others.

Wow. OK, I'll take your word for it. I am guessing that it is only a courtesy interview though, right? Meaning, someone with a 25 MCAT and 3.0 will not be considered despite being interviewed?

 

[trep14]

I've seen it work before. I know of a person who had below average stats that got in to a medical school that both her parents went to and I'm pretty sure that they made some calls to help her get in. On the flip side, the medical school that my dad attended didn't even interview me.

 

[ker68]

Thanks for the info guys.

Yeah I'm working on my credentials so I will be considered competitive anyway. My cumulative GPA may not be awesome (because of the 3.0 my freshman year) but I'm making up for it.

I'm already doing a lot with the Uni (doing research with a doctor that's there) and taking classes too.

My parents were pretty "big" at the university. My mother was a chief resident, first female one that they had in decades. My father remains a little more affiliated than her, because he has done a little teaching there and some other things.

 

[Cramster]

I don't think this is true. Can you name some schools that does that?

University of Washington (seattle). My friend got in at university of washington and was accepted nowhere else lol. He was a california resident. Didn't even get accepted at loma. Of course both his parents attended UofWashington

Realize that this isn't something they have written down somewhere as an official policy. No doubt that wouldn't look very good? The influence of legacy is just something that is a reality of any admissions process

Life isn't fair so get used to it!!!

 

[breakdanceboa]

University of Washington (seattle). My friend got in at university of washington and was accepted nowhere else lol. He was a california resident. Didn't even get accepted at loma. Of course both his parents attended UofWashington

Realize that this isn't something they have written down somewhere as an official policy. No doubt that wouldn't look very good? The influence of legacy is just something that is a reality of any admissions process

Life isn't fair so get used to it!!!

👍

 

[NontradatBeach]

I don't think this is true. Can you name some schools that does that?

Temple

 

[Hoody]

I don't think this is true. Can you name some schools that does that?

Hahnemann Medical College

 

[loveoforganic]

LSU only considers out of staters if they're MD/PhD or legacies.