Looked bored on rotation...

[Chinaski]

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Hey guys,

Longtime reader, rising fourth year medical student in need of some advice. I have been interested in going into path since college and have done well to make myself a competitive applicant (255 Step 1, 2 honors, 3 high pass, and 1 pass on clerkships, a few publications during med school, and presented an abstract at this year's USCAP). Anyway, I'm a pretty laid back type of guy and as such have had two people make comments on my evals that I appeared bored or disinterested on particular clerkships (surgery and OB). Being that I have the one advisory dean at our school who puts the bad things people say about you into your Dean's Letter, I was just wondering what role these comments will play in my application and future rank status. Have I really hurt my application? Should I perhaps indirectly address these in my personal statement? How big of red flags are these? I feel I have done more than my share to show my willingness to work hard throughout medical school, but am worried that these two comments could make it all come crashing down.

Was just looking for some advice on what might happen and how I can prepare for them. Thanks!

 

[yaah]

I don't think it will matter that much. If they are concerned, hopefully they would ask you about it. But I doubt many would be very concerned, unless maybe you got poor grades as a result (like failing grades). You can also talk to that dean (usually they offer to meet with you to discuss your deans letter) and talk about it. But personally I would not stress. I got a couple of similar comments (mine were worded more like, "could show more enthusiasm," although I also had comments on other clerkships about how especially enthusiastic I was, so go figure). Nobody ever asked me about it.

 

[BierstiefelAndy]

I agree with yaah. I wouldn't sweat it but talking to the dean who writes your deans letter/MSPE can't hurt either.

 

[KeratinPearls]

Hey guys,

Longtime reader, rising fourth year medical student in need of some advice. I have been interested in going into path since college and have done well to make myself a competitive applicant (255 Step 1, 2 honors, 3 high pass, and 1 pass on clerkships, a few publications during med school, and presented an abstract at this year's USCAP). Anyway, I'm a pretty laid back type of guy and as such have had two people make comments on my evals that I appeared bored or disinterested on particular clerkships (surgery and OB). Being that I have the one advisory dean at our school who puts the bad things people say about you into your Dean's Letter, I was just wondering what role these comments will play in my application and future rank status. Have I really hurt my application? Should I perhaps indirectly address these in my personal statement? How big of red flags are these? I feel I have done more than my share to show my willingness to work hard throughout medical school, but am worried that these two comments could make it all come crashing down.

Was just looking for some advice on what might happen and how I can prepare for them. Thanks!

With a 255 on Step 1 you have no hope in path. Sorry. Maybe you can try derm.

 

[2121115]

Just don't be an ass on your interviews and you'll do just fine.

 

[BU Pathology]

In the past I have written literally hundreds of medical student performance evaluations (Dean's letters) back when I was an Assistant Dean. Letter writers are supposed to include negative comments from the evaluations if there is a consistent thread. Most likely all the Deans from your school include these comments and you are not at a disadvantage because your letter writer has a reputation for including negative comments.

You should actually view these comments as a strength in your application. Someone reading the Dean's letter will understand that the letter is a fair reflection of the comments from your rotations, and that nothing has been hidden. Knowing that the comments may be in the letter also gives you the opportunity to prepare a response if it is raised at the interview. When I am interviewing candidates, I always try to give her/him an opportunity to address any potential issues so that I can include these in my interview report. You can even be pro-active and directly address these during the interview and not wait to be asked.

Good luck with the interview process. You will find pathology an exciting and rewarding career with a tremendous range of opportunities. At the risk of shamelss self-promotion, you should consider our program here at Boston University.

Dan Remick
Professor and Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center

 

[caribstud]

the same thing happened to me and still gets my blood boiling to this day. I even took it up with my Dean after the evaluation but was told, "that's just how he is". I was asked about it on several of my interviews which I actually prefered I had a program director tell me the same thing happened to him. Drs know how it is in med school and that some attendings can be dificult. Weathering that storm is part of medicine. As long as it isn't a trend in your letter it won't hurt you. Just be prepared to address it if you are asked.

 

[Gene_]

Just don't be an ass on your interviews and you'll do just fine.

Totally agree. Just be normal. Nobody will care if you were actually disinterested or just looked like it. Your performance at your interview and your grades/USMLE scores determine how you will be ranked.

 

[Napoleon1801]

Hey guys,

Longtime reader, rising fourth year medical student in need of some advice. I have been interested in going into path since college and have done well to make myself a competitive applicant (255 Step 1, 2 honors, 3 high pass, and 1 pass on clerkships, a few publications during med school, and presented an abstract at this year's USCAP). Anyway, I'm a pretty laid back type of guy and as such have had two people make comments on my evals that I appeared bored or disinterested on particular clerkships (surgery and OB). Being that I have the one advisory dean at our school who puts the bad things people say about you into your Dean's Letter, I was just wondering what role these comments will play in my application and future rank status. Have I really hurt my application? Should I perhaps indirectly address these in my personal statement? How big of red flags are these? I feel I have done more than my share to show my willingness to work hard throughout medical school, but am worried that these two comments could make it all come crashing down.

Was just looking for some advice on what might happen and how I can prepare for them. Thanks!

I got burned by the surgical specialties as well in my MSPE. If you want to play coy, then schedule your interviews before the dean's letter comes out (Nov at my school). I wouldn't bother addressing it personally unless the interviewer brings it up. In my 14 interviews I don't think I had anyone ask me about anything in the dean's letter. Oh yeah, and a number of people got verbatim comments on their evals, ie the surgical clerkship director was too lazy to even come up with anything.

Happy trails and good luck.