Name dropping in 'Why us' secondary essay

[Zen Arcade]

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If I talked to a current medical student about the best things a particular school I am interested has to offer, is it okay to mention their name on the 'why us' secondary question? If not, should I mention that I talked to a medical student and keep it vague?

 

[Goro]

Keep it vague.

 

[LizzyM]

I agree. You never know if someone who does not think highly of the person whose name you mention will read your application and form a negative impression (even unconsciously) of you because you know (or even know of and admire) someone they don't respect.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

How about can applicant say he went to on campus daycare while parent attended the same medical school and interacted with faculty since then? 🙂

 

[deleted480308]

How about can applicant say he went to on campus daycare while parent attended the same medical school and interacted with faculty since then? 🙂

No one cares where you went to daycare

 

[907914]

No one cares where you went to daycare

“I’ve wanted to attend your school ever since I was born. In fact, I already have.”

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

“I’ve wanted to attend your school ever since I was born. In fact, I already have.”

Yeah, that was the joke I was trying to make 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

I strongly concur. However, saying that you did speak at length to an M1 who you met via SDN and learned X, Y, & Z about their school can be helpful. I would further suggest that even if this should come up at interview you should respect privacy

Good point. It is fine to say that you spoke to a med student without naming him.

 

[deleted972488]

I agree. You never know if someone who does not think highly of the person whose name you mention will read your application and form a negative impression (even unconsciously) of you because you know (or even know of and admire) someone they don't respect.

Does this still apply if you have a relative who went to the school? Should you keep it vague in case they don’t respect your sister?

 

[LizzyM]

Does this still apply if you have a relative who went to the school? Should you keep it vague in case they don’t respect your sister?

If they ask specifically if you have a family member who attended or currently attends the school, you can say "my sister is a 2015 graduate". You don't have to name her. Then again, if you have the same last name and it is not a super common last name, then they might just figure it out.

I can say that I do know of a few faculty members who I think are jerks and when I see someone name one of them as someone they look up to and want to emulate I just have to bite my tongue. It is less likely that I know a student or would know which students were a problem (uncooperative, argumentative, entitled, etc).

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

If they ask specifically if you have a family member who attended or currently attends the school, you can say "my sister is a 2015 graduate". You don't have to name her. Then again, if you have the same last name and it is not a super common last name, then they might just figure it out.

I can say that I do know of a few faculty members who I think are jerks and when I see someone name one of them as someone they look up to and want to emulate I just have to bite my tongue. It is less likely that I know a student or would know which students were a problem (uncooperative, argumentative, entitled, etc).

That's the dilemma my son will have i.e. whether to mention the faculty he knows personally since he was 2 given the

That is cute and ice breaker. I normally advise applicants to stay away from humor but this cute, use it. It leads directly into having a parent physician alumni

In this case parent was a fellow. Are residents and fellows considered alumni at medical schools?

 

[LizzyM]

Some people will claim a legacy connection if asked and if their parent(s) were residents or fellows at the affiliated medical center. I'd say, a bit tongue in cheek, if the school sends you solicitations for donations, you can call yourself an alumnus.

As for people your son has known since they were 2, the "do you have famliy members" thing pretty much means parents, siblings, grandparents, maybe aunts and uncles (certainly if it is aunts and uncles and parents and grandparents -- super legacy applicant) but no one expects a listing of people on the faculty you know socially or that your parents know professionally.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Some people will claim a legacy connection if asked and if their parent(s) were residents or fellows at the affiliated medical center. I'd say, a bit tongue in cheek, if the school sends you solicitations for donations, you can call yourself an alumnus.

As for people your son has known since they were 2, the "do you have famliy members" thing pretty much means parents, siblings, grandparents, maybe aunts and uncles (certainly if it is aunts and uncles and parents and grandparents -- super legacy applicant) but no one expects a listing of people on the faculty you know socially or that your parents know professionally.

School doesn't seek solicitations (It's a T10 public school) 🙂. I am not referring to "do you have family members" question, but why this school type of question. He was allowed to sit through few presentations at small conference hosted by this school recently and I am wondering if he can mention that.

 

[LizzyM]

School doesn't seek solicitations (It's a T10 public school) 🙂. I am not referring to "do you have family members" question, but why this school type of question. He was allowed to sit through few presentations at small conference hosted by this school recently and I am wondering if he can mention that.

I'd suggest mentioning that the student attended these conferences in [specialty area] and was impressed with the level of [teaching/engagement/faculty student interaction-- whatever] but not mention specific faculty members by name. This is exactly what I mean when I say that the reputation of the person you'd be naming many not be 100% positive and it could taint your kid's chances there.

 

[gyngyn]

Are residents and fellows considered alumni at medical schools?

Residents and fellows are chosen by the hospital, not the affiliated medical school. As such they are not considered alumni.

 

[LizzyM]

Residents and fellows are chosen by the hospital, not the affiliated medical school. As such they are not considered alumni.

I think that this depends, somewhat, by school. At my med school they get a section in the alumni magazine for career and family updates and their house staff graduation year is noted whenever someone who did post-graduate med ed is named.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I think that this depends, somewhat, by school. At my med school they get a section in the alumni magazine for career and family updates and their house staff graduation year is noted whenever someone who did post-graduate med ed is named.

You are correct and I looked up the school in question and alumni association says "We are open to all MD graduates and all MDs who have successfully completed residency or fellowship training programs at School of Medicine".

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I'd suggest mentioning that the student attended these conferences in [specialty area] and was impressed with the level of [teaching/engagement/faculty student interaction-- whatever] but not mention specific faculty members by name. This is exactly what I mean when I say that the reputation of the person you'd be naming many not be 100% positive and it could taint your kid's chances there.

Thanks. We are aware of the personality of the faculty member he knows best and not planning to mention them even though they are well known in their field 🙂

 

[blurb_123]

Does the same go for name dropping alum? Or should you just say in talking to an alumni of X school?

 

[Moko]

Does the same go for name dropping alum? Or should you just say in talking to an alumni of X school?

Just say that you spoke with an alumnus. Don't name drop anyone, regardless of their position or relationship with the school.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Residents and fellows are chosen by the hospital, not the affiliated medical school. As such they are not considered alumni.

Same as @LizzyM for me. I get alumni updates for both my residency and fellowship. They also put pressure on you for donations like med school alumni.

 

[Raryn]

Residents and fellows are chosen by the hospital, not the affiliated medical school. As such they are not considered alumni.

I get regular phone calls from the university where I did my fellowship asking me for donations to the College of Medicine.

 

[deleted819639]

If I talk about a time that I spoke to a school's PD in an info session in a "Why Us?" essay, and mention the PD by name, would that still be too overt? Or would it not matter since this figure is well known in the program anyway?

 

[deleted972488]

If I talk about a time that I spoke to a school's PD in an info session in a "Why Us?" essay, and mention the PD by name, would that still be too overt? Or would it not matter since this figure is well known in the program anyway?

I would say use the information you learned from going to the session to craft your response, but naming the PD will not benefit you and will detract from your overall message. “I met the PD once” is not a good response for “why us?”

 

[deleted819639]

I would say use the information you learned from going to the session to craft your response, but naming the PD will not benefit you and will detract from your overall message. “I met the PD once” is not a good response for “why us?”

Right, I would focus more on the interaction and what I learned rather than the PD, and the essay would read something more like "I had a chance to meet Dr. _______ at _______, where we discussed X, Y, and Z about the school." then go onto talk about X, Y, and Z. I am wondering whether bringing up the fact that I discussed these things with the PD would be considered as me being interested in the school or just obnoxious name-drop.

 

[LizzyM]

Right, I would focus more on the interaction and what I learned rather than the PD, and the essay would read something more like "I had a chance to meet Dr. _______ at _______, where we discussed X, Y, and Z about the school." then go onto talk about X, Y, and Z. I am wondering whether bringing up the fact that I discussed these things with the PD would be considered as me being interested in the school or just obnoxious name-drop.

You are missing the point. "I had a chance to meet with a faculty member from the xyz department at [event] and we discussed X, Y and Z about the school" Don't name names.

 

[82Scout]

You are missing the point. "I had a chance to meet with a faculty member from the xyz department at [event] and we discussed X, Y and Z about the school" Don't name names.

What if there is a particular faculty/dean that works on x program or has accomplished y for the campus and that is one of the things that attracts you to the school. Is it too much to discuss their name and accomplishment as to why us?

 

[LizzyM]

What if there is a particular faculty/dean that works on x program or has accomplished y for the campus and that is one of the things that attracts you to the school. Is it too much to discuss their name and accomplishment as to why us?

Go ahead but no matter who it is, there are people on campus who don't respect the person and don't like the person. If those folks happen to be on the adcom, you might be setting yourself up to be on the receiving end of some unconscious bias. Better not to name names.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

How about can applicant say he went to on campus daycare while parent attended the same medical school?

That is cute and ice breaker. I normally advise applicants to stay away from humor but this cute, use it. It leads directly into having a parent physician alumni

This happened recently! Thanks @gonnif