Should I mention rural med interest in PS?

[pinkbowbunny]

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I have heard conflicting advice on this. My school's pre-health advisor said not to, whereas a physician who is also an adcom said to talk more about this. I would be mentioning my interest in rural medicine in passing; the overall focus of my PS is why I want to be a physician in general.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously, we advised...

P

Thread 'What to do with interest in rural medicine?'

May 2, 2025

I'm applying this cycle, MD only. I'm really interested in rural medicine- should I show this in my apps? How would I go about it? So far, all my clinical experience has been in a rural area (550 hours ED scribe, ~250 hours ophthalmic tech), and I really enjoy the idea of working in a rural area. I would enjoy the increased responsibility and stronger patient relationships. Rural areas can also be underserved in that they experience an even greater shortage of physicians. My undergrad institution is also in a rural area, and I have come to enjoy rural living.

Ideally, I would like to do...

• pinkbowbunny
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

Honestly, there's not a correct answer other than "admissions committees are not comprised of psychics." If you don't say it, we won't know it.

If it's clearly your purpose, you should consider mentioning it in the PS. Otherwise, "why our program" would be a natural place.

 

[Goro]

I have heard conflicting advice on this. My school's pre-health advisor said not to, whereas a physician who is also an adcom said to talk more about this. I would be mentioning my interest in rural medicine in passing; the overall focus of my PS is why I want to be a physician in general.

ONLY if you've walked the walked and done volunteering or work in rural areas, or grew up in one.

Merely talking the talk gets one nowhere.

 

[pinkbowbunny]

ONLY if you've walked the walked and done volunteering or work in rural areas, or grew up in one.

Merely talking the talk gets one nowhere.

I have clinical experience in a rural area (ED scribe + ophthalmic tech) and volunteering in the same rural area (soup kitchen). In fact, it was these experiences that made me interested in rural medicine specifically.

 

[Goro]

I have clinical experience in a rural area (ED scribe + ophthalmic tech) and volunteering in the same rural area (soup kitchen). In fact, it was these experiences that made me interested in rural medicine specifically.

Then definitely mention it!!!!!!

 

[pinkbowbunny]

Previously, we advised...

P

Thread 'What to do with interest in rural medicine?'

May 2, 2025

I'm applying this cycle, MD only. I'm really interested in rural medicine- should I show this in my apps? How would I go about it? So far, all my clinical experience has been in a rural area (550 hours ED scribe, ~250 hours ophthalmic tech), and I really enjoy the idea of working in a rural area. I would enjoy the increased responsibility and stronger patient relationships. Rural areas can also be underserved in that they experience an even greater shortage of physicians. My undergrad institution is also in a rural area, and I have come to enjoy rural living.

Ideally, I would like to do...

• pinkbowbunny
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

Honestly, there's not a correct answer other than "admissions committees are not comprised of psychics." If you don't say it, we won't know it.

If it's clearly your purpose, you should consider mentioning it in the PS. Otherwise, "why our program" would be a natural place.

Thank you. I think it can just be confusing for me, the applicant, to hear conflicting advice. As the applicant, I am not sure what is best; this is why I am seeking advice. I know of other premeds who have been misguided by poor advice or make easily avoidable oversights, and do not want to commit these same errors.

 

[LizzyM]

Just be careful if you are applying to very urban programs. They may be somewhat confused with your response to the "why our school" essay when your primary application says you want to go rural.

 

[pinkbowbunny]

Just be careful if you are applying to very urban programs. They may be somewhat confused with your response to the "why our school" essay when your primary application says you want to go rural.

That is fair. I curated my school list to include many schools (SUNY Upstate, Dartmouth, Columbia, Penn State, Alice Walton, etc.) that have an emphasis on rural medicine (in addition to keeping in mind stats, my state residency, OOS friendliness, etc.). I wanted to apply to schools that see me, the applicant, as being a good fit- not just schools whose median matriculant MCAT score is similar to mine. If this line of thinking is misguided, feel free to correct me.

 

[LizzyM]

You can be a good fit but if there are 1,000 ahead of you that are a good fit and have MCAT scores 5 points higher and GPAs that are 0.15 higher, where to you think that leaves you? With schools getting thousands of applications, good is not good enough for some of the schools that routinely enroll the cream of the crop. That said, there can be in-state schools, private schools and OOS schools that see you as a good fit. I just wouldn't suggest that you waste any money applying to Columbia despite their interest in psych and rural medicine.

 

[ridebiker]

ONLY if you've walked the walked and done volunteering or work in rural areas, or grew up in one.

Merely talking the talk gets one nowhere.

If you did not grow up in a rural area, but lived in one as an adult and had extensive personal medical experiences while living in that rural area, is that a good enough motivation to mention as why you want to pursue rural medicine? I did not mention it in my primary, because obviously not every school caters to rural medicine, but in some secondaries they mention specific programs, and I am interested in the rural ones, but want to make sure my reason will be seen as "enough" to justify it

 

[MD_Maker]

I would also like to hear about why you have such an interest, make sure it's clearly communicated

 

[Goro]

If you did not grow up in a rural area, but lived in one as an adult and had extensive personal medical experiences while living in that rural area, is that a good enough motivation to mention as why you want to pursue rural medicine?

Yes