Legacy Status Considered for Admission at DMU?

[NittanyLion302]

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My father graduated from DMU way back when it was College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. Is legacy status considered at all when applying, to not only DMU, but any other medical schools?

 

[KyleSBU]

My best friend just found out he got rejected from a school that both his parents went to....so in tht case it obviously wasnt a factor....It was actually kind of funny when my friend called to check up on his application cause the guy was asking how his parents were doing and all that while he was checking the app status and then went "well, looks like we rejected you....give your parents my best....bye"

 

[bkpa2med]

lol

 

[FutureDocDO]

My best friend just found out he got rejected from a school that both his parents went to....so in tht case it obviously wasnt a factor....It was actually kind of funny when my friend called to check up on his application cause the guy was asking how his parents were doing and all that while he was checking the app status and then went "well, looks like we rejected you....give your parents my best....bye"

Sounds like someone forgot to support the school financially.

 

[Sundarban1]

Sounds like someone forgot to support the school financially.

Exactly. The $200,000 price of education is not enough these days.

 

[Krazykritter]

Nittany,

I have read tons of applications for DMU students as I am a student interviewer. We have access to your AACOMAS application (obviously) where there was a question that asked if anyone was a physician & their school. Other than that, the interviewers and their recommendation to the Dean are based only your application and interview. We have open file interviews, but are never told anything beyond what is on the application about any applicant.

 

[CatsandCradles]

My best friend just found out he got rejected from a school that both his parents went to....so in tht case it obviously wasnt a factor....It was actually kind of funny when my friend called to check up on his application cause the guy was asking how his parents were doing and all that while he was checking the app status and then went "well, looks like we rejected you....give your parents my best....bye"

Awwwhh man that must royally stink

 

[KyleSBU]

Awwwhh man that must royally stink

He was actually kinda relieved because he got in elsewhere....and had he gone to tht school he probably would have had to deal with tht whole "you only got in there b/c of your parents" stigma....according to him anyway

 

[CatsandCradles]

He was actually kinda relieved because he got in elsewhere....and had we gone to tht school we probably would have had to deal with tht whole "you only got in there b/c of your parents" stigma....according to him anyway

Good to hear that 👍

 

[mj1878]

Nepotism sure isn't what it used to be. Sigh. 😀

 

[USArmyDoc]

Nittany,

I have read tons of applications for DMU students as I am a student interviewer. We have access to your AACOMAS application (obviously) where there was a question that asked if anyone was a physician & their school. Other than that, the interviewers and their recommendation to the Dean are based only your application and interview. We have open file interviews, but are never told anything beyond what is on the application about any applicant.

By all means, you would know better than me. However, my father is an alumni of the school as well and I felt my interview went smoother because of it. They even brought it up a bunch of times.

 

[Krazykritter]

Having a relative that is an alum can definitely be up for discussion in the interview. I have been part of this many times and I think many interviewers find it comforting that a person has the general knowledge and a good understanding of what the medical profession entails that often comes w/ having a physician (MD or DO) in the family.

 

[DrLalich]

I interviewed at a school where both my aunt and uncle are faculty (at the university, not the medical school) and both of their children (my 1st cousins) attended their medical school. Both of my interviewers recognized my name. The second interviewer that I had goes ballroom dancing with my aunt and uncle fairly often.

How socially awkward was this? Very! What did all of this get me? Wait List! (bottom half none the less)

-DrL

 

[USArmyDoc]

I interviewed at a school where both my aunt and uncle are faculty (at the university, not the medical school) and both of their children (my 1st cousins) attended their medical school. Both of my interviewers recognized my name. The second interviewer that I had goes ballroom dancing with my aunt and uncle fairly often.

How socially awkward was this? Very! What did all of this get me? Wait List! (bottom half none the less)

-DrL

Sorry, but that is absurd. If you are good enough to be interviewed, your personal connections should get you an acceptance. I know people will flame me for this, but its not like you weren't qualified. Don't people believe in professional courtesy anymore? If I were your interviewer, I would push your application as hard as possible out of respect for your aunt, etc. (IF you are qualified).

 

[Krazykritter]

USArmyDoc,

I don't totally agree w/ your previous statement. If you are good enough to get an interview it means that you are looking pretty decent on paper (unless your interview was granted via connections in the first place). However, we are much more concerned w/ what kind of person the applicant is & their motivations towards medicine. Like I said before, your interviewers probably know nothing about your "legacy" unless it is talked about in your interview.

However, I do agree w/ you that DrLalich probably did drop the ball by not using connections to his/her advantage.

 

[USArmyDoc]

USArmyDoc,

I don't totally agree w/ your previous statement. If you are good enough to get an interview it means that you are looking pretty decent on paper (unless your interview was granted via connections in the first place). However, we are much more concerned w/ what kind of person the applicant is & their motivations towards medicine. Like I said before, your interviewers probably know nothing about your "legacy" unless it is talked about in your interview.

However, I do agree w/ you that DrLalich probably did drop the ball by not using connections to his/her advantage.

Krazykritter,

Maybe I did not explain myself clearly. All I mean is that if you are good enough to get an interview and you have the close ties to the school like DrLalich then I would support his application out of respect for my colleague who was his aunt, uncle, etc. I guess it is just the way I look at things. Sorry if I wasn't clear!! 🙂

 

[Krazykritter]

You don't have to apologize. I definitely see where you are coming from and agree w/ your thought about the colleagues working at the school.

 

[USArmyDoc]

You don't have to apologize. I definitely see where you are coming from and agree w/ your thought about the colleagues working at the school.

Yea, I mean how could you go ballroom dancing one night and reject their nephew, niece, daughter the next day. Baffles me.

 

[dtrain5]

Thank God preferrence is not given to people who have "connections" or family members who are in the medical field. I think that the most qualified applicants should be the ones that get in. Both on paper, and in person. I am applying this cycle, and if I do get in I would be the first person to enter medical school that graduated from my high school. EVER!!!! I had to travel an hour to even shadow a D.O. I am not saying this because I want or expect to be given special preference because of these circumstances. I am just glad that nobody else is given preference either.

 

[Gmw1386]

I don't know if I completely agree with letting someone in because of connections at this level. I agree with it more at an undergraduate level because there are often many more seats avilable. But at the medschool lvl every seat is precious and people have worked too hard to be there. I feel that there should be some way to tell who is more deserving of the spot.

Right now I'm extrememly upset that my brother got in my college out of pure connections. Makes me feel like doing everything I was suppose to in HS was worth nothing.

Now I'm not saying that the person who gets in out of connections is not deserving, but I don't think family connections should be taken into account unless the the applicants are identical twins in term of credentials.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I don't know if I completely agree with letting someone in because of connections at this level. I agree with it more at an undergraduate level because there are often many more seats avilable. But at the medschool lvl every seat is precious and people have worked too hard to be there. I feel that there should be some way to tell who is more deserving of the spot.

Right now I'm extrememly upset that my brother got in my college out of pure connections. Makes me feel like doing everything I was suppose to in HS was worth nothing.

Now I'm not saying that the person who gets in out of connections is not deserving, but I don't think family connections should be taken into account unless the the applicants are identical twins in term of credentials.

Why are you upset that your BROTHER got in?! Christ, its your own flesh and blood. Secondly, we were talking about qualified applicants. If that person is qualified to get an interview, how could you turn around a reject one of your colleagues sons, daughters, etc.? I certainly would not do so.

I guess it depends on how you were brought up really. I was taught to look out for those who are closest to you. I will even go as far to say that if someone I knew was applying that had lower grades (both MCAT and GPA) than another applicant I would stay loyal to my friend. I guess thats why I'll never be on a comittee....or will I be 😉

 

[USArmyDoc]

Thank God preferrence is not given to people who have "connections" or family members who are in the medical field. I think that the most qualified applicants should be the ones that get in. Both on paper, and in person. I am applying this cycle, and if I do get in I would be the first person to enter medical school that graduated from my high school. EVER!!!! I had to travel an hour to even shadow a D.O. I am not saying this because I want or expect to be given special preference because of these circumstances. I am just glad that nobody else is given preference either.

I am not just talking about "in the medical field." Sorry if I confused you. What I am talking about is you go to work in the morning and there is the IM director, your close friend and colleague, and yesterday you voted to reject/waitlist his son.