The LGBTQ Applicant Thread!

[chickenchaser]

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I've mentioned it in practically every secondary and have 9 II's. If you're a future person reading this, please don't even debate whether or not to completely be yourself in your applications. There are people who value you just as you are. Those who don't don't deserve your application in their hands.

Of those I've been on thus far I've only had one faculty interviewer engage me in a conversation about it. She was being SO ginger at the beginning, but we ended up having a good conversation about how it's something I value in myself, and she and the school also value in me. When it comes to student interviewers, I usually ask if they have any friends in the class to set me up with, just in case. Half joking.

That being said, go give em hell!

 

[Promethean]

The last quote. PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE KIDDING OR THAT YOU WON'T BE GOING TO THAT MEDICAL SCHOOL.

But seriously, I would love it if other applicants can post stories about how their interviewers react when we start talking about anything related to LGBT.

So, I wouldn't discriminate against an entire medical school because one interviewer admitted that he has innate biases against groups of people, but that he is working to overcome them.

I think he was obliquely admitting that he has a bias against LGBT people. He couldn't say that directly, since that would have been uncomfortable for him. So, he talked about other biases, while confirming that those biases were hypocritical (fat vs thin) and wrong (I need to work on that.) I read that subtext to say that he was talking himself out of discriminating against the applicant in front of him. I would be surprised if you don't get an acceptance to that school.

I would much rather talk to someone who admits that they have racist/judgemental feelings that they know are wrong and want to deal with, than to someone who embraces and celebrates those feelings. Or worse, someone who lacks that insight at all, and simply discriminates against others with no reflection at all. Those are the dangerous ones, as they will smile at your face and then stab you in the back.

 

[Promethean]

I was accepted to my first choice, a DO school. That means OMM lab. Which means taking my shirt off and allowing other members of my class to see and touch my body in order to learn osteopathic manipulative techniques. Now, I knew that was part of the deal, and I am cool with it. But the large and very obvious mastectomy scars are going to be relevant.

I'm very open about being FTM transgender, but sometimes you don't want to have that whole conversation with someone. Like when a delivery guy surprised me one day when I was doing chores in my backyard without a shirt. "What happened there, man?" I just sighed a big sigh and said, "That's a LONG story." And he was like, "Yeah, I got a few of those myself. Sign here for your delivery!"

That isn't going to fly in OMM. Nor would I want it to. I am glad that I can help educate others about transgender issues, so that they can learn about us before they find themselves facing a trans patient who needs their help. But as glad as I am to have that opportunity, it is still a daunting prospect to realize that it is going to mean being so vulnerable with my classmates. And the school administration and faculty. I'm trusting them not to discriminate against me because of my nonstandard body, with its scars and its art.

As our patients do every day. They come to us, trusting us to help them heal without judgment. Remembering that they have so much more at stake when they show us their bodies will help me to allow mine to be used for the education of my peers.

I believed that bringing up my personal GLBT status during the application/interview cycle would have been a distraction from more important issues, and that it had the potential to put me at an unfair disadvantage. Now that I have been accepted, I can begin to think about the role it will have in my education and my opportunities to educate others.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

I was accepted to my first choice, a DO school. That means OMM lab. Which means taking my shirt off and allowing other members of my class to see and touch my body in order to learn osteopathic manipulative techniques. Now, I knew that was part of the deal, and I am cool with it. But the large and very obvious mastectomy scars are going to be relevant.

I'm very open about being FTM transgender, but sometimes you don't want to have that whole conversation with someone. Like when a delivery guy surprised me one day when I was doing chores in my backyard without a shirt. "What happened there, man?" I just sighed a big sigh and said, "That's a LONG story." And he was like, "Yeah, I got a few of those myself. Sign here for your delivery!"

That isn't going to fly in OMM. Nor would I want it to. I am glad that I can help educate others about transgender issues, so that they can learn about us before they find themselves facing a trans patient who needs their help. But as glad as I am to have that opportunity, it is still a daunting prospect to realize that it is going to mean being so vulnerable with my classmates. And the school administration and faculty. I'm trusting them not to discriminate against me because of my nonstandard body, with its scars and its art.

As our patients do every day. They come to us, trusting us to help them heal without judgment. Remembering that they have so much more at stake when they show us their bodies will help me to allow mine to be used for the education of my peers.

I believed that bringing up my personal GLBT status during the application/interview cycle would have been a distraction from more important issues, and that it had the potential to put me at an unfair disadvantage. Now that I have been accepted, I can begin to think about the role it will have in my education and my opportunities to educate others.

Great post! Actually something I have wondered about myself (OMM). I'm not trans, but am very much aware of trans issues. I think being out as trans is very different from being out as LGB since there are a whole different set of issues and biases associated with it.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

I was out on my applications in a way that was not so direct. I talked about organizations I am involved with and refereed to my partner when talking about diversity, as just a couple examples. No one really brought it up as a central question, but might ask questions about why I was involved with a certain group, for example. I have been pleasantly surprised as interviews have treated the subject exactly as I had hoped they would! I am a re-applicant, and I have 5 II so far (four done), and I was also out on my last application, so I don't think being out is something you should worry about.

We all know from experience that hiding a big part of your identity can make conversations difficult and make you feel inauthentic, and I didn't want such a barrier in my interviews and didn't want to skirt around the subject in secondaries.

 

[AllThatRacket]

Guys, I love this thread! It's so cool to see diversity being valued at med schools and hear from other LGBTQ applicants! Anyone else have any updates on their application process??

 

[touchpause13]

I was accepted to my first choice, a DO school. That means OMM lab. Which means taking my shirt off and allowing other members of my class to see and touch my body in order to learn osteopathic manipulative techniques. Now, I knew that was part of the deal, and I am cool with it. But the large and very obvious mastectomy scars are going to be relevant.

I'm very open about being FTM transgender, but sometimes you don't want to have that whole conversation with someone. Like when a delivery guy surprised me one day when I was doing chores in my backyard without a shirt. "What happened there, man?" I just sighed a big sigh and said, "That's a LONG story." And he was like, "Yeah, I got a few of those myself. Sign here for your delivery!"

That isn't going to fly in OMM. Nor would I want it to. I am glad that I can help educate others about transgender issues, so that they can learn about us before they find themselves facing a trans patient who needs their help. But as glad as I am to have that opportunity, it is still a daunting prospect to realize that it is going to mean being so vulnerable with my classmates. And the school administration and faculty. I'm trusting them not to discriminate against me because of my nonstandard body, with its scars and its art.

As our patients do every day. They come to us, trusting us to help them heal without judgment. Remembering that they have so much more at stake when they show us their bodies will help me to allow mine to be used for the education of my peers.

I believed that bringing up my personal GLBT status during the application/interview cycle would have been a distraction from more important issues, and that it had the potential to put me at an unfair disadvantage. Now that I have been accepted, I can begin to think about the role it will have in my education and my opportunities to educate others.

Fyi not all DO schools require you to take your shirt off for OMM. I would ask the school in question if you haven't already.

I could definitely see that being uncomfortable to feel like you have to explain :/

Also idk if you've had bottom surgery (it's obviously none of my business) but there are a few techniques where the guys are asked to "adjust" themselves - basically so you don't accidentally squish their genitals when pushing on the pubic bone. Just figured that was something you might want to be aware of/prepared for a possibly uncomfortable conversation.

 

[kewlboy88]

So, I wouldn't discriminate against an entire medical school because one interviewer admitted that he has innate biases against groups of people, but that he is working to overcome them.

I think he was obliquely admitting that he has a bias against LGBT people. He couldn't say that directly, since that would have been uncomfortable for him. So, he talked about other biases, while confirming that those biases were hypocritical (fat vs thin) and wrong (I need to work on that.) I read that subtext to say that he was talking himself out of discriminating against the applicant in front of him. I would be surprised if you don't get an acceptance to that school.

I would much rather talk to someone who admits that they have racist/judgemental feelings that they know are wrong and want to deal with, than to someone who embraces and celebrates those feelings. Or worse, someone who lacks that insight at all, and simply discriminates against others with no reflection at all. Those are the dangerous ones, as they will smile at your face and then stab you in the back.

Just to be clear, my post was meant to be sarcastic when I said that I hoped the interviewee shouldn't go to that medical school. I am definitely surprised that an interviewer would say such a thing (I mean, both the interviewer and the interviewee should be professional right?) but by no means did I mean to say that the interviewee should judge their decision to attend based on one faculty member. Although, to be fair, that would have definitely raised a red flag about the faculty they choose to represent their school.

Guys, I love this thread! It's so cool to see diversity being valued at med schools and hear from other LGBTQ applicants! Anyone else have any updates on their application process??

And yes, I hope that more people discuss their interviews as LGBTQ applicants! We need more representation. I have a set of M.D. interviews coming up in the next couple of weeks and I'll be sure to update this thread as they move along. I was definitely "out" on my secondary applications and put down some global health research on MSM as one of my most meaningful experiences. So, I expect my interviews to be…..interesting.

 

[Promethean]

I could definitely see that being uncomfortable to feel like you have to explain :/

...Just figured that was something you might want to be aware of/prepared for a possibly uncomfortable conversation.

I have made a habit of being very willing to talk freely about my private business with other healthcare professionals with whom I work, provided they are respectful when they ask. As uncomfortable as it can be sometimes, I feel that it is a public service. I don't expect all transpeople to be so willing to share as I am, so I educate when I am asked questions that are excessively personal. I answer a lot of those questions, while explaining why it isn't okay to ask them of just anyone, especially not patients.

Whether I get to keep my shirt on or not, whether someone is palpating a symphysis and misses, there isn't really a legit way I am going to keep any significant secrets from medical students who are training to examine and assess human bodies. I may as well embrace the discomfort and make the situation serve the greater good. =)

 

[Goro]

Promy, may I recommend the New Yorker approach?

Them: What happened there?
You: I'm a transgender. End of story.

I was accepted to my first choice, a DO school. That means OMM lab. Which means taking my shirt off and allowing other members of my class to see and touch my body in order to learn osteopathic manipulative techniques. Now, I knew that was part of the deal, and I am cool with it. But the large and very obvious mastectomy scars are going to be relevant.

I'm very open about being FTM transgender, but sometimes you don't want to have that whole conversation with someone. Like when a delivery guy surprised me one day when I was doing chores in my backyard without a shirt. "What happened there, man?" I just sighed a big sigh and said, "That's a LONG story." And he was like, "Yeah, I got a few of those myself. Sign here for your delivery!"

That isn't going to fly in OMM. Nor would I want it to. I am glad that I can help educate others about transgender issues, so that they can learn about us before they find themselves facing a trans patient who needs their help. But as glad as I am to have that opportunity, it is still a daunting prospect to realize that it is going to mean being so vulnerable with my classmates. And the school administration and faculty. I'm trusting them not to discriminate against me because of my nonstandard body, with its scars and its art.

As our patients do every day. They come to us, trusting us to help them heal without judgment. Remembering that they have so much more at stake when they show us their bodies will help me to allow mine to be used for the education of my peers.

I believed that bringing up my personal GLBT status during the application/interview cycle would have been a distraction from more important issues, and that it had the potential to put me at an unfair disadvantage. Now that I have been accepted, I can begin to think about the role it will have in my education and my opportunities to educate others.

 

[Promethean]

Promy, may I recommend the New Yorker approach?

Them: What happened there?
You: I'm a transgender. End of story.

Oh, Goro. If only it were ever that simple.

The New Yorker approach works in New York, where you can be reasonably sure not to have to deal with the same jerk quite so often. One can be just as brisk as one wishes and not have it come back to bite you. Hospitals and medical schools are much smaller worlds.

Also, there really is a big problem of health care workers not knowing jack about trans issues, which is a big problem when we present for care. I have been treated pretty terribly on several occasions in the offices of professionals in whom I was placing ultimate trust. And that is not an uncommon story. Some of my friends who are trans have had me accompany them to medical appointments just so that they would have some support for their boundaries with the provider.

On one occasion, I went with a transgender woman to the ED when she was having an acute asthma exacerbation. The ED nurse couldn't focus on her chief complaint of not being able to breathe properly, because she was too busy asking personal, sexual questions. I called her on it, politely, and said that I would be happy to meet with her for coffee sometime and she could ask me everything she was too timid to Google, but that she was being inappropriate to her patient. She said that it was a teaching hospital, so she was allowed to ask whatever questions she wanted, and she continued disrespecting my friend until the end of her shift. My friend was humiliated, but what do you do when you are in extremis and the person who you are looking to for help is too ignorant to realize that their "curiosity" has become abusive? One could argue that asking a patient about their sexual habits is valid when taking a history, but perhaps mid-bronchospasm is not the ideal time to ask whether the patient is able to experience orgasm and under what conditions. (I wish I were exaggerating.)

Scenes like that are a big reason why I am going into medicine. There is a terrible disparity in medical care access for transpeople, and a big part of it is due to providers having earned the distrust of patients. Not because they are terrible people, but because they are genuinely deeply curious about an uncommonly encountered phenomenon. I have a pretty thick skin. If I can be the one to teach someone about trans issues before they run into a patient and humiliate them, then it is worth a little discomfort on my part.

EDIT: Took out my gentle criticism of your use of transgender as a noun rather than an adjective. While to my ear it has a certain nails-to-chalkboard sound, upon reflection, it is no more wrong than calling referring to someone who is German as "a German." Still, to me, the construction sounds more like talking about someone from England as "an English." Not definitely wrong, just somehow not quite right.

 

[Goro]

Hey Promy

Here's another tack: I just finished a wonderful mystery novel called A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger.

One of the heroes is a transgendered person, and he describes himself as "body of a man, soul of a woman". Just reverse that for you. Maybe a little poetry can say more than having to give a biography.

Oh, Goro. If only it were ever that simple.

The New Yorker approach works in New York, where you can be reasonably sure not to have to deal with the same jerk quite so often. One can be just as brisk as one wishes and not have it come back to bite you. Hospitals and medical schools are much smaller worlds.

Also, there really is a big problem of health care workers not knowing jack about trans issues, which is a big problem when we present for care. I have been treated pretty terribly on several occasions in the offices of professionals in whom I was placing ultimate trust. And that is not an uncommon story. Some of my friends who are trans have had me accompany them to medical appointments just so that they would have some support for their boundaries with the provider.

On one occasion, I went with a transgender woman to the ED when she was having an acute asthma exacerbation. The ED nurse couldn't focus on her chief complaint of not being able to breathe properly, because she was too busy asking personal, sexual questions. I called her on it, politely, and said that I would be happy to meet with her for coffee sometime and she could ask me everything she was too timid to Google, but that she was being inappropriate to her patient. She said that it was a teaching hospital, so she was allowed to ask whatever questions she wanted, and she continued disrespecting my friend until the end of her shift. My friend was humiliated, but what do you do when you are in extremis and the person who you are looking to for help is too ignorant to realize that their "curiosity" has become abusive? One could argue that asking a patient about their sexual habits is valid when taking a history, but perhaps mid-bronchospasm is not the ideal time to ask whether the patient is able to experience orgasm and under what conditions. (I wish I were exaggerating.)

Scenes like that are a big reason why I am going into medicine. There is a terrible disparity in medical care access for transpeople, and a big part of it is due to providers having earned the distrust of patients. Not because they are terrible people, but because they are genuinely deeply curious about an uncommonly encountered phenomenon. I have a pretty thick skin. If I can be the one to teach someone about trans issues before they run into a patient and humiliate them, then it is worth a little discomfort on my part.

EDIT: Took out my gentle criticism of your use of transgender as a noun rather than an adjective. While to my ear it has a certain nails-to-chalkboard sound, upon reflection, it is no more wrong than calling referring to someone who is German as "a German." Still, to me, the construction sounds more like talking about someone from England as "an English." Not definitely wrong, just somehow not quite right.

 

[Promethean]

Hey Promy

Here's another tack: I just finished a wonderful mystery novel called A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger.

One of the heroes is a transgendered <sic> person, and he describes himself as "body of a man, soul of a woman". Just reverse that for you. Maybe a little poetry can say more than having to give a biography.

I like the nickname, and I appreciate the kind advice. Since this is something I've been living with for quite a few years, I have a pretty good repertoire of responses, ranging from the meaningful to the glib, which I use according to my needs, and which suit my preferences and sensibilities.

I have the body of a man. I am a man, and it is my body. Identity is much more than the sum of a set of parts.

It would be beyond bizarre to talk about having the body of a woman. Like, where? In anatomy lab, I hope.

 

[Goro]

Chromosomal architecture of a woman?
🙂

I like the nickname, and I appreciate the kind advice. Since this is something I've been living with for quite a few years, I have a pretty good repertoire of responses, ranging from the meaningful to the glib, which I use according to my needs, and which suit my preferences and sensibilities.

I have the body of a man. I am a man, and it is my body. Identity is much more than the sum of a set of parts.

It would be beyond bizarre to talk about having the body of a woman. Like, where? In anatomy lab, I hope.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

This quote from Tim Cook sums up how I approached being gay in secondaries and interviews:

"Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day. It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life. It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros..."

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-im-proud-to-be-gay

 

[Mad Jack]

I was accepted to my first choice, a DO school. That means OMM lab. Which means taking my shirt off and allowing other members of my class to see and touch my body in order to learn osteopathic manipulative techniques. Now, I knew that was part of the deal, and I am cool with it. But the large and very obvious mastectomy scars are going to be relevant.

I'm very open about being FTM transgender, but sometimes you don't want to have that whole conversation with someone. Like when a delivery guy surprised me one day when I was doing chores in my backyard without a shirt. "What happened there, man?" I just sighed a big sigh and said, "That's a LONG story." And he was like, "Yeah, I got a few of those myself. Sign here for your delivery!"

That isn't going to fly in OMM. Nor would I want it to. I am glad that I can help educate others about transgender issues, so that they can learn about us before they find themselves facing a trans patient who needs their help. But as glad as I am to have that opportunity, it is still a daunting prospect to realize that it is going to mean being so vulnerable with my classmates. And the school administration and faculty. I'm trusting them not to discriminate against me because of my nonstandard body, with its scars and its art.

As our patients do every day. They come to us, trusting us to help them heal without judgment. Remembering that they have so much more at stake when they show us their bodies will help me to allow mine to be used for the education of my peers.

I believed that bringing up my personal GLBT status during the application/interview cycle would have been a distraction from more important issues, and that it had the potential to put me at an unfair disadvantage. Now that I have been accepted, I can begin to think about the role it will have in my education and my opportunities to educate others.

I don't think I've ever had to take my shirt off in OMM lab. Sometimes during exams you might have to lift someone's shirt up to expose skin and whatnot, but the number of people that see your scars due to this will likely be quite low. Just hoping to put you at ease a bit.

 

[Promethean]

I don't think I've ever had to take my shirt off in OMM lab. Sometimes during exams you might have to lift someone's shirt up to expose skin and whatnot, but the number of people that see your scars due to this will likely be quite low. Just hoping to put you at ease a bit.

Thanks for the reassurance. Though, I have been adding to the responses that I can use when I don't want to deal with it. Such as just nonchalantly saying: "Oh, yeah, that. Shark attack. Up by Presque Isle. Damnedest thing." Just to see how many people I can convince about the great whites in Lake Erie.

 

[Doug Underhill]

Someone in the Perelman School of Medicine thread reports that Penn is actively recruiting LGBT students. This could be helpful for those of us who do not quite meet their incredibly high stats.

 

[AspiringERMD]

Whatever happened to @familyaerospace, speaking of trans people we should all be rooting for?

 

[talkshowhost]

Wanted to bring this thread to a happier note 🙂

Any II/Acceptances lately? My next interview is at Drexel in a few weeks.

 

[p!nkelephant]

Promy, may I recommend the New Yorker approach?

Them: What happened there?
You: I'm a transgender. End of story.

Hey Promy

Here's another tack: I just finished a wonderful mystery novel called A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger.

One of the heroes is a transgendered person, and he describes himself as "body of a man, soul of a woman". Just reverse that for you. Maybe a little poetry can say more than having to give a biography.

As a helpful tool, try replacing "transgender" with "gay" or "lesbian". It sounds strange if someone says "I'm a gay" or "I'm a lesbian-ed person". I think some people might be offended when you tack on the "ed" because it implies something happened to them versus being born with that identity. Anyway, the bottom line is we should remember transgender is an adjective.

 

[Goro]

Tell it to this person
http://www.iamtransgendered.com/

Or the folks who wrote this:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/transgendered


Or this:
http://www.lauras-playground.com/transgender.htm

I'm from NY and don't give a rat's ass if someone's offended. We use the term "F you" as a greeting, after all. I care about how people act, not labels.

As a helpful tool, try replacing "transgender" with "gay" or "lesbian". It sounds strange if someone says "I'm a gay" or "I'm a lesbian-ed person". I think some people might be offended when you tack on the "ed" because it implies something happened to them versus being born with that identity. Anyway, the bottom line is we should remember transgender is an adjective.

 

[fancymylotus]

Tell it to this person
http://www.iamtransgendered.com/

Or the folks who wrote this:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/transgendered


Or this:
http://www.lauras-playground.com/transgender.htm

I'm from NY and don't give a rat's ass if someone's offended. We use the term "F you" as a greeting, after all. I care about how people act, not labels.

I think I love you. #ny4life

 

[Promethean]

As a helpful tool, try replacing "transgender" with "gay" or "lesbian". It sounds strange if someone says "I'm a gay" or "I'm a lesbian-ed person". I think some people might be offended when you tack on the "ed" because it implies something happened to them versus being born with that identity. Anyway, the bottom line is we should remember transgender is an adjective.

Although my internal grammar sensors do ping whenever someone refers to me as "transgendered," I don't let it make me worked up. I'm just happy that people are trying to use sensitive terminology. Let's be honest, as Goro pointed out, even within the community, there is dissent about what the right words are. As long as people are trying to be respectful and open to dialogue, I think that is a win.

 

[p!nkelephant]

Tell it to this person
http://www.iamtransgendered.com/

Or the folks who wrote this:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/transgendered


Or this:
http://www.lauras-playground.com/transgender.htm

I'm from NY and don't give a rat's ass if someone's offended. We use the term "F you" as a greeting, after all. I care about how people act, not labels.

If someone chooses to define themselves a certain way, more power to them. Some language can make people uncomfortable and I'm just bringing it up. Someone had to tell you, and now you know. Whether or not you like it, or use it, it's up to you. Do whatever you want.

 

[Goro]

One of the curses of your generation is the " you can't say that because somebody might be offended" mindset.

If someone chooses to define themselves a certain way, more power to them. Some language can make people uncomfortable and I'm just bringing it up. Someone had to tell you, and now you know. Whether or not you like it, or use it, it's up to you. Do whatever you want.

 

[tantacles]

One of the curses of your generation is the " you can't say that because somebody might be offended" mindset.

Don't pin that on the millennials. Many of us are perfectly happy using terminology that is hugely offensive. 🙂

 

[fancymylotus]

I wish that people were free to love whomever they wanted and express their love however they wanted without being ****ing judged. ><

 

[familyaerospace]

@AspiringERMD - I'm sorry didn't get the message because I haven't been logging in. I am currently being forced to live in a cabin in the woods which is off the grid and has no internet (or phone or mail or trash or working tv) and barely any people around for miles. That is the only place my partner can afford and that would take me. I happened to get an email message on my cell phone from SDN and had a bar. I've basically only been logging in to periodically send a message to @Goro if for no other reason than to help me keep sane. (Don't get me wrong, I love alone time but I can literally go days without seeing a person or hearing a car, but living on top of a mountain in the middle of a forest is a little extreme.)

The rejections continue on for my fourth round. I had to run a very very very small application cycle. It's now mid-Jan, no interview invites even though two of the schools waitlisted me last year. The other school rejected me a few days ago.

I spoke to the premed advisor at my undergrad and he looked over my application summary and says that it is astounding that not a single place was willing to give me a chance. He then told me to to take Biochem through one of those free online places. He didn't realize that I already did and I didn't want to tell him that. He told me to not consider applying for another 2 years at the least as he hopes the medical landscape changes.

 

[familyaerospace]

Oh and on the subject of LGBT issues, I had what I thought was an excellent interview with ScribeAmerica which I would have had to drive 90 miles one way to get to work. I was asked for more than they normally ask for and that included a full academic CV, not resume, CV which I had to give it to her online. They had my normal work resume. You know what the problem with giving someone my real academic CV is? All the publications under my birth name even if I use initials, my online one links to the actual articles so I have to come clean about it. Needless to say, there when that job prospect. They won't even return my email even though they said they would email whether or not they offered the position. They made their decision days ago.

 

[AspiringERMD]

Wow. I am so sorry, @familyaerospace. I literally don't know of a single other person who has taken that much crap from schools and had that little response while deserving to go to medical school so much. I don't even know what to say. It's hard to imagine exactly how you must be feeling. 🙁

 

[familyaerospace]

Wow. I am so sorry, @familyaerospace. I literally don't know of a single other person who has taken that much crap from schools and had that little response while deserving to go to medical school so much. I don't even know what to say. It's hard to imagine exactly how you must be feeling. 🙁

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Let me be honest, the rejections are at the point of not hurting any more. What hurts is being contacted and being told the following "Oh look at this! You should be sooooo lucky you never got into medical school, it means you don't have to deal with this."

"This" could be anything.

The only member of SDN who not only knows who I am, but has my cell phone number failed a rotation and texted me copies of the evaluation while saying what I posted above. I was doing my best not to get upset and keeping a cool head when I tried to help her. I told her what I thought would happen, a few days later asked Goro if I was on the right track with the advice (he said I was), then I think two weeks later what I said was the most likely even was exactly what happened.

This is the same person who, bless her for it, asked her school's admissions counselor for advice on my behalf. I think that post was in the reapplicants board. She meant well for sure, but the information was so contrary that it made no sense. So since round 4 was a joke of a round anyway, I redid everything according to her admin's advice and that is what was submitted. No responses at all, luckily I have the original files which I can reinsert for next round and if it turns out MCG and Mercer contact me for round 5 who ignored me on round 4, I will know with 100% certainty that the lady at the DO school is messing with me and to discredit all of her advice.

The other thing that hurts is when I post something like to Facebook and people remind me of why I need to go to medical school. Example with the guy who was "locked in" but was completely aware and remembers his mom saying "I hope you die", I said I try not to say anything around comatose patients that I wouldn't say if they were "present" just in case they can hear, several people say "And THIS is why you need to get into medical school." I know they aren't trying to hurt me but it usually hurts, I can't force the adcomms to accept me!

All I can do is work on myself as a person which is what I have been doing for the past year and a half. The person I was my first round is not the person I am during this round.

 

[AspiringERMD]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Let me be honest, the rejections are at the point of not hurting any more. What hurts is being contacted and being told the following "Oh look at this! You should be sooooo lucky you never got into medical school, it means you don't have to deal with this."

"This" could be anything.

The only member of SDN who not only knows who I am, but has my cell phone number failed a rotation and texted me copies of the evaluation while saying what I posted above. I was doing my best not to get upset and keeping a cool head when I tried to help her. I told her what I thought would happen, a few days later asked Goro if I was on the right track with the advice (he said I was), then I think two weeks later what I said was the most likely even was exactly what happened.

This is the same person who, bless her for it, asked her school's admissions counselor for advice on my behalf. I think that post was in the reapplicants board. She meant well for sure, but the information was so contrary that it made no sense. So since round 4 was a joke of a round anyway, I redid everything according to her admin's advice and that is what was submitted. No responses at all, luckily I have the original files which I can reinsert for next round and if it turns out MCG and Mercer contact me for round 5 who ignored me on round 4, I will know with 100% certainty that the lady at the DO school is messing with me and to discredit all of her advice.

The other thing that hurts is when I post something like to Facebook and people remind me of why I need to go to medical school. Example with the guy who was "locked in" but was completely aware and remembers his mom saying "I hope you die", I said I try not to say anything around comatose patients that I wouldn't say if they were "present" just in case they can hear, several people say "And THIS is why you need to get into medical school." I know they aren't trying to hurt me but it usually hurts, I can't force the adcomms to accept me!

All I can do is work on myself as a person which is what I have been doing for the past year and a half. The person I was my first round is not the person I am during this round.

I can definitely see why those would hurt a lot. I admire your dedication. I'm really hoping someone finally lets you in. Hopefully we can count on you to let us all know if that happens so we can be super-excited 🙂

 

[familyaerospace]

I can definitely see why those would hurt a lot. I admire your dedication. I'm really hoping someone finally lets you in. Hopefully we can count on you to let us all know if that happens so we can be super-excited 🙂

Thank you. I will... that is assuming I don't have a heart attack if I am accepted. If you ever see a news story about a transgender student who had a heart attack upon learning they were accepted to medical school... well then you will know who I am. It's likely my friend who texted me about her evaluation that if she finds out of my death since she of course knows my real name, she will also make an announcement here saying "You heard the story of X? Yea... that's familyaerospace. You can send condolences to his family here and his favourite charities include A, B, and C if so inclined." 😉

Right now I do have to figure out who to apply to next round assuming I continue my cycles and don't listen to the premed adviser's advice. I know I want to apply to Sackler which is a school I am falling in love with. Mercer and MCG for sure. Goro suggested Touros so I have to investigate them at some point.

One of my actual physicians has decided that enough is enough and said he will write a letter for me, he actually arranged three of my shadowing opportunities, so is responsible for almost 120 hours plus we worked at the same hospital together for my medical volunteering and he was one of the people to handle the injuries when I was assaulted a year and a half ago. So hopefully this will help if he does it.

 

[toutou]

Thank you. I will... that is assuming I don't have a heart attack if I am accepted. If you ever see a news story about a transgender student who had a heart attack upon learning they were accepted to medical school... well then you will know who I am. It's likely my friend who texted me about her evaluation that if she finds out of my death since she of course knows my real name, she will also make an announcement here saying "You heard the story of X? Yea... that's familyaerospace. You can send condolences to his family here and his favourite charities include A, B, and C if so inclined." 😉

Right now I do have to figure out who to apply to next round assuming I continue my cycles and don't listen to the premed adviser's advice. I know I want to apply to Sackler which is a school I am falling in love with. Mercer and MCG for sure. Goro suggested Touros so I have to investigate them at some point.

One of my actual physicians has decided that enough is enough and said he will write a letter for me, he actually arranged three of my shadowing opportunities, so is responsible for almost 120 hours plus we worked at the same hospital together for my medical volunteering and he was one of the people to handle the injuries when I was assaulted a year and a half ago. So hopefully this will help if he does it.

I wish you the best of luck! I've read your previous post on other threads and you seem like a kindhearted person. I think it's safe to say everyone of us in this thread and other LGBTQ applicants are definitely rooting for you!!

 

[Aloft085]

One of the curses of your generation is the " you can't say that because somebody might be offended" mindset.

Oh god yes. Some millenial was telling me on here the other day that if I ever used the word '******' in public, I'd be shunned by my friends and never get a date. Like, what planet do you live on? Anyway, I digress.

"I'm offended because someone else could be offended" is about the dumbest logic of all time.

 

[Dcr108]

I think that it's super important to be aware of how the words you say can impact those around you. To say things like "******" or "******" in a derogatory manner places those who seriously have to deal with being called those things maliciously below you. Not to mention it invalidates the problems that those people face in one way or another. I really don't think that it's too much to ask to just stop using some words that are inflammatory. It's also pretty unprofessional to say things like that. If I ever heard a doctor jokingly call someone a ******/*** I would immediately drop any respect that I had for him/her.

On a separate note, I was out on my applications (secondary essays) and have received 5 interviews of the 9 schools that I applied to. Cancelled two of them and have been accepted to two others. Currently waiting on the final decision. Anyone who says to not discuss your LGBT identity, journey, or struggle or that it has no place in medicine -- they're wrong and probably speaking from nothing more than implicit prejudice and bigotry. Anyone who disagrees with me -- you're wrong too.

 

[familyaerospace]

I wish you the best of luck! I've read your previous post on other threads and you seem like a kindhearted person. I think it's safe to say everyone of us in this thread and other LGBTQ applicants are definitely rooting for you!!

Thank you, I do appreciate it!

 

[familyaerospace]

OK, I was finally invited for an interview this round. It popped up at 10 pm tonight and I am still shaking because of it. I hoped out of bed to schedule. Feb 26, Mercer. Right after I spent about 6 hours doing research into graduate programs including two at Mercer that I specifically was going to email them about tomorrow.

I guess this means I finally have to go get a haircut doesn't it? And dig the suit out of storage. And remind myself what I wrote about in my secondaries.

If you don't mind, I might go have that heart attack now.

 

[cometstarg]

OK, I was finally invited for an interview this round. It popped up at 10 pm tonight and I am still shaking because of it. I hoped out of bed to schedule. Feb 26, Mercer. Right after I spent about 6 hours doing research into graduate programs including two at Mercer that I specifically was going to email them about tomorrow.

I guess this means I finally have to go get a haircut doesn't it? And dig the suit out of storage. And remind myself what I wrote about in my secondaries.

If you don't mind, I might go have that heart attack now.

Congratulations! I've been following your posts from this cycle, so happy you got some good news!

 

[Promethean]

OK, I was finally invited for an interview this round. It popped up at 10 pm tonight and I am still shaking because of it. I hoped out of bed to schedule. Feb 26, Mercer. Right after I spent about 6 hours doing research into graduate programs including two at Mercer that I specifically was going to email them about tomorrow.

I guess this means I finally have to go get a haircut doesn't it? And dig the suit out of storage. And remind myself what I wrote about in my secondaries.

If you don't mind, I might go have that heart attack now.

Right the hell on!

Do you need any logistical support (aka travel money) to make this happen? PM me if there is anything I could do to help make this go right. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who'd be happy to help.

 

[familyaerospace]

Right the hell on!

Do you need any logistical support (aka travel money) to make this happen? PM me if there is anything I could do to help make this go right. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who'd be happy to help.

Thank you, @Promethean you are too kind! Luckily it's a short trip and it might end up as a road trip as some friends of mine have a ton of family near where I am interviewing. My partner has already shelled out the hotel money for Econolodge ($37/night). If my friends come along, they are in charge of the gas money.

And do you know what happened when I was in my doctor's office today moaning about my ear (which we still don't know what I did to?) The medical student came in to take a history and when he left, I checked my email. There was another interview invite, this one to MCG. As medical student and I were discussing med school applications, when he came in I said "Look what just came in!" He looked at my phone and saw what it was, my doctor was like "What?... What?...... WHAT?" Then he saw. Then I told them both they had to fix me not only for Mercer but MCG too. 🙂 I just scheduled. March 2 for MCG.

 

[orthogenes]

OK, I was finally invited for an interview this round. It popped up at 10 pm tonight and I am still shaking because of it. I hoped out of bed to schedule. Feb 26, Mercer. Right after I spent about 6 hours doing research into graduate programs including two at Mercer that I specifically was going to email them about tomorrow.

I guess this means I finally have to go get a haircut doesn't it? And dig the suit out of storage. And remind myself what I wrote about in my secondaries.

If you don't mind, I might go have that heart attack now.

AHHHHHHHH!!! I am so happy to hear this!

 

[NachoPlatter]

I just saw this thread and thought I'd put in my two cents. I was out on my primary (the coming out process is partly to blame for why I had a bad semester and I openly discussed it in my PS), and I have mentioned in places in my secondaries (like talking about how I was planning my wedding for the spring to my partner, or even how I sometimes participate as a Drag King.)

Honestly I don't think it effected my chances at all- I got ~10 II, and 4 acceptances, with the one I'm taking being at a Jesuit institution.

However I do note my own privilege here- I'm a white, cis-gender lesbian who can easily pass among the heteros undetected.

But I'm keeping my fingers crossed for everyone else still waiting to hear!

 

[occams_razor]

interesting article I just read and wanted to share - White Coats And Closets: LGBTQ Medical Students Frequently Fear Coming Out


http://www.autostraddle.com/white-c...l-students-frequently-fear-coming-out-277993/

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

So I had a doctor (who is gay) tell me that certain specialties can be more conservative than others. Specifically, he said it might be harder to go into ortho as a gay man compared to some other specialties. I understand that our generation is more accepting, but we will be interviewed for residency by older people. Is there any truth to this? Are some specialties more 'conservative' (bigoted?) than others?

 

[familyaerospace]

In case anyone is curious, I think Mercer for me went relatively well.

MCG, I had to ask for an interview re-do because my open file interview was horrible, so I ended up with three interviews on Monday, then had to drive home.

 

[docdoc14]

Someone in the Perelman School of Medicine thread reports that Penn is actively recruiting LGBT students. This could be helpful for those of us who do not quite meet their incredibly high stats.

There could be some truth to this. I applied here and was invited to interview. It ultimately resulted in a current waitlist position, but that still is a chance!

In other news, I definitely echo what has already been said. I was out on my application both last year and this year. I now currently hold two acceptances, 🙂 one of which is to my in-state school.

@familyaerospace hang in there buddy! You've got a lot of people rooting for you. Let us know what happens with Mercer!

 

[SPionic]

@familyaerospace I am so happy to hear you have II! I am a lurker but I read some of your story last year and am rooting for you.
~Total Stranger on Internet

 

[VitaminVater]

interesting article I just read and wanted to share - White Coats And Closets: LGBTQ Medical Students Frequently Fear Coming Out


http://www.autostraddle.com/white-c...l-students-frequently-fear-coming-out-277993/

Reading that first free-text response was pretty disheartening, but it's pretty evident of what a lot of sexual minorities face when discussing their "label". A lot of the time hesitation to be open is not just for fear of possible violence/harassment, but because of the sheer ignorance you'll encounter.
For some brands you'll get denial, others you'll have people tell you what you actually fall under...

I think a lot of it is also unfamiliarity, with many cis-het people still sticking to the "straight or gay" mentality and that anything else is some recent, made up trend/fad/phase. I get that it's hard to encounter these worlds and peoples when they're such a minority, which is why most of time I'm forgiving and assume no malice (unless proven otherwise). But boy is it annoying having to always be the one to educate or correct others.