Siblings and Undergraduate Institutions help?

[Robizzle]

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Hey guys I was wondering if Med Schools favor applicants who:

a) Attend the same undergraduate institution as that medical school
b) Have a sibling/parent who attends/attended the medical school

If so, how much? I realize they're not gonna say oh this guy's sister is smart so he should be smart too. But would they take the time out to research the sibling or any of that business?
Thanks.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey guys I was wondering if Med Schools favor applicants who:

a) Attend the same undergraduate institution as that medical school
b) Have a sibling/parent who attends/attended the medical school

If so, how much? I realize they're not gonna say oh this guy's sister is smart so he should be smart too. But would they take the time out to research the sibling or any of that business?
Thanks.

a) Same undergrad & med school? most likely not favored. Schools seem to like the "diversity" of experiences & opinions that come from having students from many different schools represented in the med school class. (disregard the schools with 6-7 year BS/MD programs)


b) sibling/parent? That's called "legacy". It might give a slight edge in terms of getting an interview. It provides almost no edge in getting an offer of admission, at least from what I've seen. What I mean by that is it isn't something that the adcom factors into the equation when deciding who gets the offer of admission.

 

[BradenDO]

b) sibling/parent? That's called "legacy". It might give a slight edge in terms of getting an interview. It provides almost no edge in getting an offer of admission, at least from what I've seen. What I mean by that is it isn't something that the adcom factors into the equation when deciding who gets the offer of admission.

I've actually asked this question because my brother is currently in med school. This is basically the response I have gotten. So, yeah....it might peak the adcoms interest but it is not a guarentee that you will get into that school. Unless you specifically say in your personal statement or application that your sibling/parent attended or attends this school, how are they even going to know that you're related to someone at the school anyhow? Plus, I refused to mention my brother in my PS because I wanted to get in on my merits alone, not ride his coattails. 🙂

EDIT: I forgot that there is an option on the application where you can check if someone in your family is a doctor. Technically, my brother isn't a doctor yet so I wasn't able to check the box.

 

[paco4488]

I've actually asked this question because my brother is currently in med school. This is basically the response I have gotten. So, yeah....it might peak the adcoms interest but it is not a guarentee that you will get into that school. Unless you specifically say in your personal statement or application that your sibling/parent attended or attends this school, how are they even going to know that you're related to someone at the school anyhow? Plus, I refused to mention my brother in my PS because I wanted to get in on my merits alone, not ride his coattails. 🙂

EDIT: I forgot that there is an option on the application where you can check if someone in your family is a doctor. Technically, my brother isn't a doctor yet so I wasn't able to check the box.

Normally the schools will ask that question on their secondary applications. They will ask if you have any family members that have graduated or are currently attending that specific school. So I wouldn't worry about including it in your PS. You will get it out there at some point in the process.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

Hey guys I was wondering if Med Schools favor applicants who:

a) Attend the same undergraduate institution as that medical school
b) Have a sibling/parent who attends/attended the medical school

If so, how much? I realize they're not gonna say oh this guy's sister is smart so he should be smart too. But would they take the time out to research the sibling or any of that business?
Thanks.

I would guess (and my limited experience would tell me) that having a sibling in good standing at the med school is going to more or less guarantee you an interview (if your stats are decent and your PS isn't a stream-of-conciousness rant). Assuming you were qualified I think it would definitely give you a leg up on admission. There are several "legacies" in my class.

 

[LizzyM]

I would guess (and my limited experience would tell me) that having a sibling in good standing at the med school is going to more or less guarantee you an interview (if your stats are decent and your PS isn't a stream-of-conciousness rant). Assuming you were qualified I think it would definitely give you a leg up on admission. There are several "legacies" in my class.

I think that where having a sib in the class helps is in giving you ideas about the curriculum and the culture of a school. Woven into the secondary essay (if applicable) and mentioned at the interview, this shows that you know the school and you are attracted to the school's attributes. It's not who you know but what you know (because you have good information from inside the school) that becomes the deciding factor.

 

[swtiepie711]

I've actually asked this question because my brother is currently in med school. This is basically the response I have gotten. So, yeah....it might peak the adcoms interest but it is not a guarentee that you will get into that school. Unless you specifically say in your personal statement or application that your sibling/parent attended or attends this school, how are they even going to know that you're related to someone at the school anyhow? Plus, I refused to mention my brother in my PS because I wanted to get in on my merits alone, not ride his coattails. 🙂

EDIT: I forgot that there is an option on the application where you can check if someone in your family is a doctor. Technically, my brother isn't a doctor yet so I wasn't able to check the box.

I don't remember there being a box? All I remember is being asked what your parents do/what education they got/where - for sibs, all they asked me was age/sex....

 

[NonTradMed]

a) Same undergrad & med school? most likely not favored. Schools seem to like the "diversity" of experiences & opinions that come from having students from many different schools represented in the med school class. (disregard the schools with 6-7 year BS/MD programs)


b) sibling/parent? That's called "legacy". It might give a slight edge in terms of getting an interview. It provides almost no edge in getting an offer of admission, at least from what I've seen. What I mean by that is it isn't something that the adcom factors into the equation when deciding who gets the offer of admission.

My experience with the admissions process seems to be that generally, some (many?) med schools DO favor those that attend their undergrad. At least at my undergrad, our students are disapporportionately represented in the med school and they automatically give interviews if you are anywhere within their stats range. Also, quite a few schools' secondary applications specifically ask if I attended their undergrad, had a sibling/parent/personal connection to the med school/undergrad. Presumably, they do favor those that already have a connection to their school, perhaps for alumni purposes (i.e the more time you spend attending their school, more likely you will donate/feel a connection to said school).

 

[BradenDO]

I don't remember there being a box? All I remember is being asked what your parents do/what education they got/where - for sibs, all they asked me was age/sex....

Under "Additional Information", there is a section that asks if anyone in your family is a D.O. or M.D.. It then gives a pull down menu that says, "Father DO, Brother MD" etc. That's what I was referring to.

EDIT: My bad, that is for AACOMAS. I haven't finished my AMCAS yet. 😛

 

[Nexus777]

My experience with the admissions process seems to be that generally, some (many?) med schools DO favor those that attend their undergrad. At least at my undergrad, our students are disapporportionately represented in the med school and they automatically give interviews if you are anywhere within their stats range. Also, quite a few schools' secondary applications specifically ask if I attended their undergrad, had a sibling/parent/personal connection to the med school/undergrad. Presumably, they do favor those that already have a connection to their school, perhaps for alumni purposes (i.e the more time you spend attending their school, more likely you will donate/feel a connection to said school).

Medical schools do favor their undergrad, though to what extent depends on the school. It can range from 10% to 25% of their seats will be taken up by their own undergrad.