Perception of SDN By Adcom's

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supermintyfresh

supermintyfresh

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I was just wondering what was the general perception of SDN to members of the admissions committees at various medical schools? Many of the schools I interviewed at seemed to be aware of SDN, and reminded us not to reveal any specific details or documents/emails received. Just wondering what were some of the prevailing notions about this website? Obviously SDN is a great resource for pre-meds, but do schools feel threatened that their trade secrets are being spilled?
 
I'm really interested in this actually, it would be cool to get a different perspective.

I imagine its something like "I'm glad people have this information! This is great!"

And

"Oh my. I dont want to admit anyone in fear that they might be this poster."
 
I think adcoms keep watch on their school specific thread at the very least just to see what applicants think. If you say something unwise and you give out identifying information...bad idea. I get the impression that they know this website is here and there tends to be some blind leading the blind going on. But there's a lot of good information here too.
 
We're fully aware that SDN is NOT representative of the pre-med pool.

I'm not worried that my Admissions dean would think I'm spilling secrets; I'm not. I use a pseudonym because I don't the Dean of my school to think I'm goofing off all the time instead of writing grants, though.

I do enjoy helping and get great satisfaction when some of the people I converse with here let me know they've been accepted.


supermintyfresh said:
I was just wondering what was the general perception of SDN to members of the admissions committees at various medical schools? Many of the schools I interviewed at seemed to be aware of SDN, and reminded us not to reveal any specific details or documents/emails received. Just wondering what were some of the prevailing notions about this website? Obviously SDN is a great resource for pre-meds, but do schools feel threatened that their trade secrets are being spilled?
Click to expand...
 
And to any of the adcoms who may respond to this thread, have you ever identified a student from here based on his or her application? (I know LizzyM said it happened at least once for her, I was wondering how frequent this is). If so, does the poster's SDN post history ever come into play?
 
I think if you are just skulking SDN there is a lot of high-yield information when you first discover the site. Common tidbits of wisdom like apply early, broadly, have a highly targeted list of schools, interview tropes/etiquette, value of ECs, stay committed to an EC for a long time, have some strong clinical experience...etc. Basically, how not to have any red-flags on your application and maximize your ability to get in. This was invaluable to me as a pre-med and I'm glad I discovered it because I am now much better equipped for my eventual cycle than I was before. At times, yes, it has made me a bit neurotic but I try to keep myself sane.

After a certain point, however, the value of the information becomes low-yield and you can only derive value from SDN by discussing, which is why I made an account. I feel even though I'm by no means an expert on a lot of things (most things, really) I have a particular set of skills, life experience, and knowledge that I can use to help others. I enjoy having a good debate on SDN with other pre-meds about admissions, medicine, and policy. I learn a lot that way. Even in the tireless URM arguments that frustrate me to no end. I have the utmost respect for everyone I debate/talk to on this forum and thoroughly hope everyone succeeds. I've learned a lot even from the people who I disagree with the most strongly - barring anti-vaxxers and trolls of course.

SDN taught me about DO! I never heard anyone even talk about DOs in high school. My new physician in my college city is a relatively young DO (excellent doc, by the way) and when I told her I was a pre-med I didn't have to sound completely ignorant when I asked her about her journey to medicine, how to pick schools, and that seemed to make her happy. I have SDN to thank for that. That's why I gave them my money and donated.

An adcom that just scanned the front page might laugh at the incredible number of applicants willing to eat a poop hot dog but I think any regular member would see that SDN is a great thing.

But also...remember remember the rescindment of November.
 
A professor I talked to earlier noted that there was a lot of neurotic misinformation being spread on the site, but if you search deep, you'll find some useful tips to help you in the application process. It just takes a lot of filtering and additional research to uncover the gems of SDN that may not be readily apparent at first glance.
 
Lucca said:
I think if you are just skulking SDN there is a lot of high-yield information when you first discover the site. Common tidbits of wisdom like apply early, broadly, have a highly targeted list of schools, interview tropes/etiquette, value of ECs, stay committed to an EC for a long time, have some strong clinical experience...etc. Basically, how not to have any red-flags on your application and maximize your ability to get in. This was invaluable to me as a pre-med and I'm glad I discovered it because I am now much better equipped for my eventual cycle than I was before. At times, yes, it has made me a bit neurotic but I try to keep myself sane.

After a certain point, however, the value of the information becomes low-yield and you can only derive value from SDN by discussing, which is why I made an account. I feel even though I'm by no means an expert on a lot of things (most things, really) I have a particular set of skills, life experience, and knowledge that I can use to help others. I enjoy having a good debate on SDN with other pre-meds about admissions, medicine, and policy. I learn a lot that way. Even in the tireless URM arguments that frustrate me to no end. I have the utmost respect for everyone I debate/talk to on this forum and thoroughly hope everyone succeeds. I've learned a lot even from the people who I disagree with the most strongly - barring anti-vaxxers and trolls of course.

SDN taught me about DO! I never heard anyone even talk about DOs in high school. My new physician in my college city is a relatively young DO (excellent doc, by the way) and when I told her I was a pre-med I didn't have to sound completely ignorant when I asked her about her journey to medicine, how to pick schools, and that seemed to make her happy. I have SDN to thank for that. That's why I gave them my money and donated.

An adcom that just scanned the front page might laugh at the incredible number of applicants willing to eat a poop hot dog but I think any regular member would see that SDN is a great thing.

But also...remember remember the rescindment of November.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way. 🙂
 
Someday when I am an adcom, I will only admit people who answer "yes" to the question, "Do you post on studentdoctornetwork?"

And the world will be a better place.

Just think about it. If we all banded together, and just a handful of us ended up being adcoms, we could make this place huge. An institution. SDN could become a centerpiece, an essential part of the application process.

SDN posting. 500 posts minimum. The next checkbox EC.

And, don't forget, you have to be able to talk at length about the quality of your posts and what you learned from your posting experience.

Let's get to work men
 
One of the common and unrealistic anxieties I see here is the " I got a C in class X. Will that ruin my chances?"

Wonton Soup said:
A professor I talked to earlier noted that there was a lot of neurotic misinformation being spread on the site, but if you search deep, you'll find some useful tips to help you in the application process. It just takes a lot of filtering and additional research to uncover the gems of SDN that may not be readily apparent at first glance.
Click to expand...
 
Some admission staff are out about actively being on SDN and posting. Like at SUNY Buffalo.
 
The dean specifically tells you this on the interview.
 
Goro said:
One of the common and unrealistic anxieties I see here is the " I got a C in class X. Will that ruin my chances?"
Click to expand...

Yeah, some of the neuroticism prevalent in the forums is downright troubling. Fortunately these posts are more often exceptions to the rule.
 
I mentioned SDN somewhere on my app I think. IIRC it was only mentioned once, by an interviewer who hadn't previously heard of it wanting to know more about it. It was an awkward interview, but not really specific to the SDN thing
 
Lucca said:
Reading through it now. Wowwwwwwww. This is amazing.
Click to expand...

Jalby is the man -- even though he was like 90% culpable for the whole affair. He remains a hero in the eyes of all SDNers.
 
Espadaleader said:
Some admission staff are out about actively being on SDN and posting. Like at SUNY Buffalo.
Click to expand...


Yup!

"I am reading SDN probably more than any of you [interviewees]."
 
ommnomm said:
When I interviewed at a school the dean of admissions told me of three students he'd identified from SDN and brought it up on their interview day. He hinted that SDN posts had had a negative effect on one of the students' application.
Click to expand...

That would be extremely awkward. I don't know how I would react to something like that. I guess we all should change screen names every so often (I think this is an option for paying a membership fee here). 😉 In any event, notwithstanding any policy debates, I haven't said anything here that I wouldn't say in a public forum, so I guess I'm okay.
 
I think a good number of adcoms read SDN (particularly school specific threads) and think of the site as a useful way to gauge the opinions of people who interviewed there.

For example:

@ 4 minutes 20 seconds

 
Goro said:
We're fully aware that SDN is NOT representative of the pre-med pool.

I'm not worried that my Admissions dean would think I'm spilling secrets; I'm not. I use a pseudonym because I don't the Dean of my school to think I'm goofing off all the time instead of writing grants, though.

I do enjoy helping and get great satisfaction when some of the people I converse with here let me know they've been accepted.
Click to expand...


@Goro - In what ways does the 'typical SDN premed' differ from you average applicant?

I have my predictions, but am curious about your reality --
 
supermintyfresh said:
I was just wondering what was the general perception of SDN to members of the admissions committees at various medical schools? Many of the schools I interviewed at seemed to be aware of SDN, and reminded us not to reveal any specific details or documents/emails received. Just wondering what were some of the prevailing notions about this website? Obviously SDN is a great resource for pre-meds, but do schools feel threatened that their trade secrets are being spilled?
Click to expand...

What I took from adcoms is that SDN has a lot of great information, but make sure you remain professional when you post. That means no bad mouthing other members, bashing certain things about the schools you want to attend, posting extremely negative information about yourself, etc. This also applies to other forms of social media. I honestly don't think that a lot of schools have "trade secrets", because being admitted generally depends on most of the same things for the majority of schools.
 
Good question! Now, I have a built in bias because I see DO applicants, who have been around the block two, maybe even three times. So, I'd say more savvy about the process in general, less neurotic, less anxious, less hyper-achieving, and less outspoken. As you're probably aware of, the anonymity of the Internet makes people tend to say and act in a less sociable nature at times.

But let me also say that most SDNers are quite sociable, friendly, and helpful. Maybe 5% of the posts here give SDN its reputation. Even here in the pre-allo forum, I rarely see any anti-DO bias, and 0% of a gunner mentality. Really!

I first started coming here to raid the Interview feedback section for interview questions (which was a gold mine), but fell in love with helping people in these forums.

DokterMom said:
@Goro - In what ways does the 'typical SDN premed' differ from you average applicant?

I have my predictions, but am curious about your reality --
Click to expand...
 
Goro said:
I first started coming here to raid the Interview feedback section for interview questions (which was a gold mine), but fell in love with helping people in these forums.
Click to expand...

Did you see the question "What would people who don't like you say about you?" I thought that one was evil genius!
 
As a non-trad who was lucky enough to miss out on being a pre-med in undergrad, I can only base everything I know from SDN. SDN made me more neurotic, but I think it helped me get in.

I wonder what pre-meds are like that never go on SDN. What do ADCOMs think about this?

When I was in college, I had big dreams of becoming an investment banker. I didn't know about Wallstreetoasis.com back then. Maybe if I did, the course of my life would be different. If pre-meds don't use SDN as a resource, would they be at the same disadvantage as those trying to get into competitive Wall Street jobs without Wallstreetoasis.com? I know I've heard people say that they would be less stressed if they weren't on SDN, but would it kill their chances?

I can only wonder...
 
Planes2Doc said:
As a non-trad who was lucky enough to miss out on being a pre-med in undergrad, I can only base everything I know from SDN. SDN made me more neurotic, but I think it helped me get in.

I wonder what pre-meds are like that never go on SDN. What do ADCOMs think about this?

When I was in college, I had big dreams of becoming an investment banker. I didn't know about Wallstreetoasis.com back then. Maybe if I did, the course of my life would be different. If pre-meds don't use SDN as a resource, would they be at the same disadvantage as those trying to get into competitive Wall Street jobs without Wallstreetoasis.com? I know I've heard people say that they would be less stressed if they weren't on SDN, but would it kill their chances?

I can only wonder...
Click to expand...
There are people in my ORF concentration (Operations Research and Financial Engineering, i.e., boot camp for elite Northeastern i-bankers) who are dead set on i-banking, private equity, and don't know about that site. I'd say they're not gonna make it, but so far an okay number of them have summer offers (including one at Bridgewater and another at Blackstone, so pretty damn good too). It'll be interesting in the fall to see if they're the ones who get full-time offers.
 
knv2u said:
And to any of the adcoms who may respond to this thread, have you ever identified a student from here based on his or her application? (I know LizzyM said it happened at least once for her, I was wondering how frequent this is). If so, does the poster's SDN post history ever come into play?
Click to expand...
Yes, it happens frequently, especially for people who post a lot of personal info (such as linking an MDapps page to their profile or posting often in the med school class threads). I spent four years as an adcom, and every year, multiple applicants came to our attention via their posts on SDN. Thing is, that's not necessarily a negative. I would argue that, along with being more savvy like Goro said, the SDN crowd is also on average more qualified (better grades, better MCAT scores, better ECs, etc.) than the premed pool is as a whole. Every year, I identified multiple candidates through SDN who I thought we should aggressively recruit, say, with personal contact by the administration, scholarships, etc. Offhand I can think of at least three outstanding applicants I met on SDN who wound up getting full rides. That being said, there were also one or two people per year whose antics on SDN got them rejected.

Moral of the story is, don't be a fool, and don't be a d-bag. If you wouldn't say it in front of your top choice med school's Admissions Dean, don't say it on SDN.
 
QofQuimica said:
Yes, it happens frequently, especially for people who post a lot of personal info (such as linking an MDapps page to their profile or posting often in the med school class threads). I spent four years as an adcom, and every year, multiple applicants came to our attention via their posts on SDN. Thing is, that's not necessarily a negative. I would argue that, along with being more savvy like Goro said, the SDN crowd is also on average more qualified (better grades, better MCAT scores, better ECs, etc.) than the premed pool is as a whole. Every year, I identified multiple candidates through SDN who I thought we should aggressively recruit, say, with personal contact by the administration, scholarships, etc. Offhand I can think of at least three outstanding applicants I met on SDN who wound up getting full rides. That being said, there were also one or two people per year whose antics on SDN got them rejected.

Moral of the story is, don't be a fool, and don't be a d-bag. If you wouldn't say it in front of your top choice med school's Admissions Dean, don't say it on SDN.
Click to expand...
dat avatar doe
 
I feel that med school admissions probably aren't as arduous and competitive as many here on SDN would lead us to believe. This comes from hearing how admissions officers actively encourage people to not take everything they read on here to heart and also how so many successful applicants have never heard of this website to begin with, and they simply followed to suggestions of their pre med departments. However, even with the inflated standards set by our collective neuroticism, the benefits are being more informed, certainly, and being in touch with people who are already in the system. I suppose it's good to know that by striving for such standards we are perhaps a bit ahead of the curve.
 
An adcomm at a top school told me he often reads the X vs Y school threads when the X = his school.
 
Ace-Co-A said:
Jalby is the man -- even though he was like 90% culpable for the whole affair. He remains a hero in the eyes of all SDNers.
Click to expand...
I am not 90% culpable. I think I gave a very honest retelling of what happened to me. I even included the part about cussing him out (after I was firmly in med school and all that)

Now, if you are talking about me being culpable for bring the thread back to life, I take about 50%. It was actually dead for 4 years until someone else brought it back. You guys deserve the other 50%.


As to the initial question, I was on the scholarship committee and made sure someone didn't get a scholie because of what I read them say on here. Their e-mail addy was the same as their user name.
 
skiier54 said:
Lol SDN does not depict at all the accepted student body. There are numerous kids I know in medical school, as well as countless others who have been accepted, that are extremely un-neurotic and chill. Not implying that you guys are not chill 🙂
Click to expand...
Are you calling me not chill? I'll cut you!
 
Lucca said:
An adcom that just scanned the front page might laugh at the incredible number of applicants willing to eat a poop hot dog[...]
Click to expand...
:laugh: I still maintain that eating a poop hot dog would be worth it if I didn't have to do all the crap (no pun intended) that comes along with being pre-med. I mean if someone told me that I were guaranteed a top 15 admission without taking/paying for the MCAT/prep course, doing applications/essays, taking night classes, and filling all of my free time outside of work with extra activities, I would do it. If I still had to apply the way I am now, but just got an automatic boost into top 15 given I kept up everything I'm doing now, there's no way. My happiness and extra time with my friends, SO, and family is worth a little :barf:, 50 spots on USNWR is definitely not.
 
My mentor (at a top 20 medical school) absolutely says to not go on SDN, so I was off SDN for about a year. It will give you an ulcer, he thinks, which honestly I agree with.

My advice would be to be professional. 95% of what I say on here, I would say in front of my grandmother. So honestly I don't feel like I have that much to worry about. The other 5% is everyone can have a bad day, but I am rarely sexist or racist (just not in my nature) or anything like that so

I know someone from MSU identified me on SDN.
 
Jalby said:
I am not 90% culpable. I think I gave a very honest retelling of what happened to me. I even included the part about cussing him out (after I was firmly in med school and all that)

Now, if you are talking about me being culpable for bring the thread back to life, I take about 50%. It was actually dead for 4 years until someone else brought it back. You guys deserve the other 50%.


As to the initial question, I was on the scholarship committee and made sure someone didn't get a scholie because of what I read them say on here. Their e-mail addy was the same as their user name.
Click to expand...

Getting my post quoted by @Jalby is akin to getting touched by the pope, even if his post totally negated what I said. I feel honored.
 
familyaerospace said:
My mentor (at a top 20 medical school) absolutely says to not go on SDN, so I was off SDN for about a year. It will give you an ulcer, he thinks, which honestly I agree with.

My advice would be to be professional. 95% of what I say on here, I would say in front of my grandmother. So honestly I don't feel like I have that much to worry about. The other 5% is everyone can have a bad day, but I am rarely sexist or racist (just not in my nature) or anything like that so

I know someone from MSU identified me on SDN.
Click to expand...

The best thing you can find on SDN is people who had the same experience as you a year prior. Be it studying for the MCAT, interviewing for a medical school (or being rejected for trying to interview later) or applying for a residency. Personally I wouldn't believe a single thing told by a pre-med unless they personally went through it. Pre-meds are the worst people on earth.
 
supermintyfresh said:
I was just wondering what was the general perception of SDN to members of the admissions committees at various medical schools? Many of the schools I interviewed at seemed to be aware of SDN, and reminded us not to reveal any specific details or documents/emails received. Just wondering what were some of the prevailing notions about this website? Obviously SDN is a great resource for pre-meds, but do schools feel threatened that their trade secrets are being spilled?
Click to expand...
If it's one thing medical schools are concerned about is continued revenue stream from students. You can bet that they do look and see what SDN says about their school and how potential applicants react to it (i.e. changes in curriculum, culture, etc.) as it affects their image.

Part of the power of the Internet and SDN is that it allows a LOT of transparency when it comes to comparing medical schools, esp. with current students and alumni of those schools. Look at so many schools that trumpet their love of PBL, when those who experience it at their school tell the real deal on SDN. There are so many things you can ask here on SDN that you can't necessarily ask faculty or administration, etc. without fear of being labeled "unprofessional" or some other label.

That being said, SDN is truly a force for good when it comes to medical schools and esp. residency programs. It's your six figure debt you're taking out - spend it wisely. I would say SDN gets more powerful as you progress thru your medical education, not less.
 
Last edited:
Jalby said:
The best thing you can find on SDN is people who had the same experience as you a year prior. Be it studying for the MCAT, interviewing for a medical school (or being rejected for trying to interview later) or applying for a residency. Personally I wouldn't believe a single thing told by a pre-med unless they personally went through it. Pre-meds are the worst people on earth.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. SDN has helped me in a lot of ways, the largest being that I found a bunch of people who were in my exact same situation in previous years and what they did about it. If I get in this coming cycle, I'll owe a lot of that to SDN.

familyaerospace said:
My mentor (at a top 20 medical school) absolutely says to not go on SDN, so I was off SDN for about a year. It will give you an ulcer, he thinks, which honestly I agree with.
Click to expand...

I was told to stay very far away from SDN a year or two ago because everyone here is apparently a troll. If I hadn't stayed away, I would likely be in medical school right now. While SDN has caused a lot of stress, most of the people I have found here are very nice and altruistic people. The kinds of things I'd like to have in my doctor, minus the crippling neuroticism, of course.
 
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