Name dropping on alma mater secondary?

[daemon14]

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I got a secondary from my undergraduate institution (already graduated) and it has some questions about health experiences (like shadowing, research, etc.). Most of my shadowing and research is from my undergrad days; a couple of the physicians I shadowed are even physician mentors for the M1 class every year.

Is it weird if I put down "shadowed Dr. X, 2008, # of hours" on my secondary when Dr. X is an active member of the medical school faculty? Obviously, I wouldn't do this for any other school but I'm debating for this school -- the argument for is that while I didn't get a LoR from the physicians, they would definitely give positive reviews of me if an AdCom asked them. The argument against is that I don't want it to seem to a committee member like I'm trying to overuse personal connections rather than relying on my own qualifications. Thoughts?

 

[AvidAvatar]

Sanjay Gupta always told me to never drop names, but I think it might be okay in this case. If you do end up doing it, keep the format uniform for docs not at the University.

 

[LifeTake2]

IF it fits in your answers, do it. Don't make it looked forced, but anyone that tells you medical school admission doesn't have a 'good-ole-boy' components is clueless.

I was actually told by a admissions officer to include a family member who is a proctor in my LOI just to remind her when she looks at my app.

 

[IlDestriero]

IF it fits in your answers, do it. Don't make it looked forced, but anyone that tells you medical school admission doesn't have a 'good-ole-boy' components is clueless.

I was actually told by a admissions officer to include a family member who is a proctor in my LOI just to remind her when she looks at my app.

Absolutely right.
However, the proper use of the good old boy network is to have said esteemed faculty member call the dean of admissions directly. That's how it's done.
"John, it's Charles. How are Lisa and the kids? Great, great. I wanted to talk to you about someone you're interviewing tomorrow..."

 

[TexasPhysician]

As a physician that has participated in the admissions process, I would consider doing the name dropping differently. Here's why:

We interview many applicants and see patients. Your CV will likely be skimmed very quickly, and this may happen after the interview even, depending on time. If I see a colleagues name, the first thing I would wonder is "why wouldn't the applicant get a LOR from them?". If I skim your CV after you leave and I don't personally have this colleague's number, I'll be left wondering. You don't want the admissions dept wondering. Would this doctor remember your name? If I call him and he doesn't know you, it will look poorly as well.

I would consider leaving the name off of your application, but bringing it up in the interview if you know for sure this physician remembers you. Mention that you shadowed a local physician, that he/she may be still with the program, and that he/she left a good impression on you about the program. Bring it up when you are asked why you applied to the program, when he/she asks if you have questions, etc. There are ways to drop names without it looking bad.

If you drop a name, you know I won't miss it altogether when skimming your CV or that I'll be concerned about it by noticing it later.

The other option is doing both if this person is well known. Sometimes adcoms will find the name before interview season and arrange to talk to that physician on your behalf. It's rare but does happen sometimes.

If you do have an internal connection, I'd like to know as an interviewer. It shows you are familiar here, maybe already well liked, etc. But every interviewer is different.....

This is just my opinion.

 

[alwaysaangel]

As a physician that has participated in the admissions process, I would consider doing the name dropping differently. Here's why:

We interview many applicants and see patients. Your CV will likely be skimmed very quickly, and this may happen after the interview even, depending on time. If I see a colleagues name, the first thing I would wonder is "why wouldn't the applicant get a LOR from them?". If I skim your CV after you leave and I don't personally have this colleague's number, I'll be left wondering. You don't want the admissions dept wondering. Would this doctor remember your name? If I call him and he doesn't know you, it will look poorly as well.

I would consider leaving the name off of your application, but bringing it up in the interview if you know for sure this physician remembers you. Mention that you shadowed a local physician, that he/she may be still with the program, and that he/she left a good impression on you about the program. Bring it up when you are asked why you applied to the program, when he/she asks if you have questions, etc. There are ways to drop names without it looking bad.

If you drop a name, you know I won't miss it altogether when skimming your CV or that I'll be concerned about it by noticing it later.

The other option is doing both if this person is well known. Sometimes adcoms will find the name before interview season and arrange to talk to that physician on your behalf. It's rare but does happen sometimes.

If you do have an internal connection, I'd like to know as an interviewer. It shows you are familiar here, maybe already well liked, etc. But every interviewer is different.....

This is just my opinion.

I agree with this completely.

The other possibility is they will have no clue who the doctor is. Some admissions members are pre-clinical faculty and they are unlikely to know everyone in the hospital. I would bring it up in interview when you can gage its value and make sure there is no confusion.

 

[chronicidal]

I have way more physician names on my application than there is room for LORs. This includes a list of diverse shadowing experiences and research experiences. I put their names and contact info for the sake of completeness. If I included LORs from them, they would be positive but would dilute the letters from more significant activities/classes.

 

[Narmerguy]

I have way more physician names on my application than there is room for LORs. This includes a list of diverse shadowing experiences and research experiences. I put their names and contact info for the sake of completeness. If I included LORs from them, they would be positive but would dilute the letters from more significant activities/classes.

...cool story.

 

[NickNaylor]

I didn't use a single physician's name anywhere on my application. Guess I missed out.

 

[ywlke]

I put their names and contact info for the sake of completeness. If I included LORs from them, they would be positive but would dilute the letters from more significant activities/classes.

I could have asked but I wasn't really sure that they would be able to say as much as other recommendations. "ywlke makes for a great shadow..."?

 

[NickNaylor]

I could have asked but I wasn't really sure that they would be able to say as much as other recommendations. "ywlke makes for a great shadow..."?

Most pre-meds don't seem to understand this and think physician letters are some kind of holy grail. I completely agree with you.

 

[bucks2010]

Sanjay Gupta always told me to never drop names, but I think it might be okay in this case. If you do end up doing it, keep the format uniform for docs not at the University.

I lol'd

 

[LizzyM]

LORs from docs you've shadowed aren't worth much as they tell us very little of value to us. (Usually along the lines of showed up on time, well groomed, friendly, courteous to my staff, respectful, .....brave, clean and reverent. 😉 )

Even if the doc is very well known, there may be people on the faculty who don't like him or who think that he behaves like an ass. Dropping that name and saying how much you want to be like him could work against you, or at least not work in your favor as you would like.

Proceed with caution.

 

[ywlke]

.....brave, clean and reverent.

It's been awhile since I've thought about that list.

 

[chronicidal]

...cool story.

My post wasn't very clear. This is what I meant. I think it makes sense to list docs you shadowed/worked under in your application even if they don't write a LOR for you. That said, it's unlikely a school will contact them. I would've been more comfortable omitting contact information and names (and just saying I shadowed a GI doc at hospital X, for instance) had AMCAS not required contact information.

I hear (from premed advisers) that the schools didn't request that AMCAS take contact info; AMCAS just decided it would be a fun idea to try this year.

 

[daemon14]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

We interview many applicants and see patients. Your CV will likely be skimmed very quickly, and this may happen after the interview even, depending on time. If I see a colleagues name, the first thing I would wonder is "why wouldn't the applicant get a LOR from them?". If I skim your CV after you leave and I don't personally have this colleague's number, I'll be left wondering. You don't want the admissions dept wondering. Would this doctor remember your name? If I call him and he doesn't know you, it will look poorly as well.

I actually have one LoR from a faculty member of the medical school who may be on the committee. It was written a while ago after I did some work with him. It might be weird but my undergrad and the med school were literally right next to each other so I've worked with several faculty members.

Even if the doc is very well known, there may be people on the faculty who don't like him or who think that he behaves like an ass. Dropping that name and saying how much you want to be like him could work against you, or at least not work in your favor as you would like.

Proceed with caution.

Wow, a response from the amazing LizzyM! 👍 The doctor I had in mind is very well-known in this medical school -- he's been there for over 20 years and medical students love him (when I shadowed him, there would sometimes be a medical student with us -- he even invited me to lunch at his house along with medical students he mentored).

Still, I think I'll leave it off the application but mention it if I get an interview.