The "why this school?" interview question

[golgiapparatus88]

I'm pretty excited that I'm actually getting multiple MD interviews. With that said, I would literally go to any one that accepted me. How do you guys go about answering the "why do you want to attend this school?" question? I feel like talking about the curriculum and teaching methods, location of the school, and amount of research that goes on at the school are really generic answers, even if I mean it 100%.

What types of responses can help boost your answer to this question? If that's too specific, are there certain things I can focus on that may set my answer apart from a generic answer?

Thanks!

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[circulus vitios]

I'd pick something from their mission statement and really focus on that.

 

[wololololololo]

The question could be also stated as: "Did you read our website?" whatever you talk about be sure to link it to some aspect of your application.

 

[TheGloaming]

I'd pick something from their mission statement and really focus on that.

So many of the missions statements are vague and similar (ex. training future physicians and leaders, researchers, teachers). I feel like it would be difficult to be specific about certain things you like for each school just from their mission statement.

 

[kexy]

Take my advice with a grain of salt, since I have no acceptances yet. Ha.

It doesn't have to be generic. Try to find even one unique program or opportunity that interests you, and you can talk about that. You might have to do some investigating, but there's usually something. For example, instead of saying "I'm excited about the opportunity to work in one of your free clinics," you can say "I can't believe your school has 8 free clinics. Most of the schools I applied to only have one. I would be very excited about the opportunity to supplement my education in so many different clinical settings."

You can also talk about student groups and clinical affiliates (this will definitely vary between schools). "I love that you have everything from an a cappella group to a wilderness exploration club... I would be excited to have so many opportunities to bond with classmates". I find it helpful to relate what I'm saying to my background (instead of saying, "I like that your school focuses on service-learning", say, "I like that your school focuses on service-learning because many of my most valuable experiences during undergrad were from service-learning programs and I would be eager to continue this in medical school").

 

[MalibuPreMD]

my advice: spend 5-6 hours the day before the interview researching the school (I went through the last 2-3 years of school specific hreads on sdn, read recent news (i.e. for USC: http://keck.usc.edu/en/About/Adminis...ting/News.aspx).

For both schools that I interviewed at this was sufficient for me to talk about the school's curriculum, hospitals, and what's going on. They just want to talk about their school, find out what's going on that the administration is excited about... this is absolutely one of the easier interview questions!

 

[golgiapparatus88]

thanks everyone! this is really helpful stuff.

 

[Slowpoke]

I think this question was one of the tougher ones for me to wrap my head around. In fact, when I was asked at NYMC "Why NYMC?" I told my interviewer two things, which were both brutally honest.

1. that I applied to over 40 schools, and at the end of the day I just wanted to be a physician.

2. Valhalla is far enough from the city scene to minimalize distraction, but close enough for a weekend getaway if a person was so inclined.

I am very curious to see the outcome of this interview. I should hear back in a couple of weeks.

As for Jefferson, I was never asked specifically 'Why Jefferson' but during my conversation with the faculty member I mentioned these positives about the location:

1. I've never experienced seasons before. Philadelphia offers this!

2. I believe I can grow tremendously by leaving for the East Coast. Specifically, by living in a big city (I come from the pinnacle of suburbia-land).

3. The food in Philadelphia, especially the numerous venues around center city Philadelphia are absolutely delectable.

I think if you just give some genuine personal reasons it would serve you better than trying to woo them too much with how much you've been able to research online. But that is just my opinion.

 

[flatearth22]

I think this question was one of the tougher ones for me to wrap my head around. In fact, when I was asked at NYMC "Why NYMC?" I told my interviewer two things, which were both brutally honest.

1. that I applied to over 40 schools, and at the end of the day I just wanted to be a physician.

2. Valhalla is far enough from the city scene to minimalize distraction, but close enough for a weekend getaway if a person was so inclined.

I am very curious to see the outcome of this interview. I should hear back in a couple of weeks.

As for Jefferson, I was never asked specifically 'Why Jefferson' but during my conversation with the faculty member I mentioned these positives about the location:

1. I've never experienced seasons before. Philadelphia offers this!

2. I believe I can grow tremendously by leaving for the East Coast. Specifically, by living in a big city (I come from the pinnacle of suburbia-land).

3. The food in Philadelphia, especially the numerous venues around center city Philadelphia are absolutely delectable.

I think if you just give some genuine personal reasons it would serve you better than trying to woo them too much with how much you've been able to research online. But that is just my opinion.

General consensus on here seems to be to not focus on the city/area so much but rather the school. But it seems to have worked out for you.

btw congrats on the Jefferson acceptance. I interview there next month.

 

[Isoprop]

It's fine to talk about location, especially if you have family/friends in the area.

"One of the major reasons I applied here was that I have family and support system already in the city." is perfectly fine as long as you can talk about something else unique to the school.

 

[HulaHippos]

I've had a host student at every school i've interviewed and got to talk to them and their friends. i even went to class with my host student at a few schools before my interview (out of bordem/they had class the morning before my interview). It's been really helpful and i recommend doing it if the school offers a host student program. it gives you so much more insight than just their website/what the admissions ppl are telling you about on the day of your interview.

 

[Slowpoke]

General consensus on here seems to be to not focus on the city/area so much but rather the school. But it seems to have worked out for you.

btw congrats on the Jefferson acceptance. I interview there next month.

Thanks. Kick-butt dude!

I think a point to ponder about is if my interview at Jeff asked me "Why Jefferson" I probably would have also said something along the lines of "I would just like to be a physician and would be interested in any place that would allow me to gain the necessary tools to do so". The night before my interview I scoured Jeff's website and re-read its information packet for prospective students. Sure, one could derive several school related reasons for going there - the easiest one being their student run clinic: JeffHope. But I had to think, "how many interviewees were planning to say the same thing?"

"I want to go to Jeff because of your awesome student run clinics"

It kind of irked me because I knew I wasn't being particularly real, I had just looked over their website and found some cool things about the school and was not completely reflective of why I wanted to go there (plus, what schools don't have student run clinics nowadays?).

It is difficult to talk about the school without actually being a student there.

 

[45408]

go to the med school threads in the med school forum and ask what stands out about that school. For MCW, it's the wide array of hospitals with incredible variety that made it pretty awesome. And a world-renowned children's hospital.

 

[LizzyM]

In the Spring, the shoe will be on the other foot and schools will be hoping to be chosen over all the other schools by candidates that hold more than one offer. So, some schools want to know if you understand the school's mission and educational philosophy and why you feel you'd be a good match for that school, why it would be a good fit for you.

If you did not have a stellar undergrad record, be careful about stating that you are attracted to the school's extracurricular offerings as it could be interpreted to mean that you will put extracurriculars over academic work.

Likewise, if you lived home or close to home for college, don't list location as the reason you are most interested as it appears that you are unable to cut the apron strings. Furthermore, if there is more than one school in the area, you should have some reason besides geography, that attracts you to the school that is interviewing you today. On the other hand, if you are a state resident interviewing at a state school and you really want to practice in that state, it is a good thing to say so.

 

[45408]

Likewise, if you lived home or close to home for college, don't list location as the reason you are most interested as it appears that you are unable to cut the apron strings.

Eh, I think that's unwarranted. Location was the most important issue for me, but it was hardly because I couldn't stay away from mommy and daddy. You can want to stay around your large extended family and remain an independent adult.

 

[IMSingular]

How many schools have applied to, and why would choose this school over other schools? 🙄

 

[LizzyM]

Eh, I think that's unwarranted. Location was the most important issue for me, but it was hardly because I couldn't stay away from mommy and daddy. You can want to stay around your large extended family and remain an independent adult.

I do think that someone who was still living at home, even during the school year, and who wanted to attend medical school within commuting distance of home shouldn't give "staying close to home" as a reason for wanting to attend a specific school. Certainly, there are other reasons beside geography. It just gives the impression that one is not ready to be an independent adult.

 

[liveoak]

I do think that someone who was still living at home, even during the school year, and who wanted to attend medical school within commuting distance of home shouldn't give "staying close to home" as a reason for wanting to attend a specific school. Certainly, there are other reasons beside geography. It just gives the impression that one is not ready to be an independent adult.

Do you have a close family? Many people want to stay close to home to take care of loved ones if they were to get sick. This is a major part of MEDICINE btw.

 

[gettheleadout]

Do you have a close family? Many people want to stay close to home to take care of loved ones if they were to get sick. This is a major part of MEDICINE btw.

LOL because LizzyM is totally unacquainted with the nature of medicine.

 

[LizzyM]

Do you have a close family? Many people want to stay close to home to take care of loved ones if they were to get sick. This is a major part of MEDICINE btw.

If you are in medical school you are going to have very little time to take care of sick loved ones. You'll have even less time in residency. Medicine is not about taking care of your own sick loved ones.

I have seen families suck medical students into a vortex of errands and obligations (pick up Uncle at the airport, etc, etc). It is good to be clear what the priorities will be in medical school. I just get very uncomfortable when someone makes staying close to home a major priority over any other reason they might want to attend a given school.

 

[liveoak]

If you are in medical school you are going to have very little time to take care of sick loved ones. You'll have even less time in residency. Medicine is not about taking care of your own sick loved ones.

I'd love to see you try to relate with the families of your patients that are doing the majority of the caregiving work (and subsequently, helping the healing process infinity free of charge).

 

[LizzyM]

I'd love to see you try to relate with the families of your patients that are during the majority of the caregiving work (and subsequently, helping the healing process infinity free of charge).

I wish I understood what it was you were attempting to communicate with that comment.

My role is as a medical school/graduate school faculty member. My concern is whether students are going to be successful in meeting the demands of the didactic curriculum and the clinical training and engage in other activities (such as research or leadership in volunteerism) that will improve their chances of obtaining an excellent residency (whatever their idea of "excellent" may be based on their career goals). I have had instances of students who were not able to meet their academic obligations, or who struggled to do so, because their extended families (and by this I don't mean spouses and offspring) expected that medical school was like a part-time job with flexible hours.

 

[IMSingular]

If a student has a time to spare for volunteer then he should also be able to spend some time with his family matters. Or may be students should form a nonprofit organization where "liveoak" will help the family of "gettheleadout" and "gettheleadout" will help the family of "liveoak". Helping your own family is not volunteerism. It has to be career volunteerism. Irony is that you are supposed to learn to balance family and career. Then, irony of irony, they ask you to write an essay about how you overcame some difficulties in life. 🙄

 

[gettheleadout]

If a student has a time to spare for volunteer then he should also be able to spend some time with his family matters. Or may be students should form a nonprofit organization where "liveoak" will help the family of "gettheleadout" and "gettheleadout" will help the family of "liveoak". Helping your own family is not volunteerism. It has to be career volunteerism. Irony is that you are supposed to learn to balance family and career. Then, irony of irony, they ask you to write an essay about how you overcame some difficulties in life. 🙄

😕😕😕

 

[LizzyM]

If a student has a time to spare for volunteer then he should also be able to spend some time with his family matters. Or may be students should form a nonprofit organization where "liveoak" will help the family of "gettheleadout" and "gettheleadout" will help the family of "liveoak". Helping your own family is not volunteerism. It has to be career volunteerism. Irony is that you are supposed to learn to balance family and career. Then, irony of irony, they ask you to write an essay about how you overcame some difficulties in life. 🙄

We aren't talking about spending "some time" each week with family. We are talking about the kind of parents who call you at 2 and say, "be at international arrivals at 4 to pick up your uncle." This type of family expects you to drop any and all obligations at a moment's notice to do errands etc. Believe me, you don't want to be in a study group or a lab group with someone who is going to be absent for this sort of thing on a regular basis.

 

[MajinVegeta]

good question

 

[liveoak]

I wish I understood what it was you were attempting to communicate with that comment.

My role is as a medical school/graduate school faculty member. My concern is whether students are going to be successful in meeting the demands of the didactic curriculum and the clinical training and engage in other activities (such as research or leadership in volunteerism) that will improve their chances of obtaining an excellent residency (whatever their idea of "excellent" may be based on their career goals). I have had instances of students who were not able to meet their academic obligations, or who struggled to do so, because their extended families (and by this I don't mean spouses and offspring) expected that medical school was like a part-time job with flexible hours.

Well, SDN was crashing so my comment didn't come out right (understatment). There is a major difference between taking care of sick family members and "picking someone up" at an airport.

Assuming you've had patient contact, have you ever looked past the patient? When you leave the hospital room after your brief talk with the patient, who is looking over the patient? You need to be able to empathize with the caregiver as well as they are an INTEGRAL part of the entire healing process. Thus, as you take care of sick family members, you are becoming a better doctor.

You're obviously jaded regarding this issue because your initial post was black and white.

 

[liveoak]

😕😕😕

It wasn't very hard to understand dude. Lizzy's initial post is pretty frightening considering he/her is an adcom member (i think)

 

[candav]

It wasn't very hard to understand dude. Lizzy's initial post is pretty frightening considering he/her is an adcom member (i think)

I don't think it was very frightening, actually. Empathy is a big part of medicine, sure, but so are many other things. What about collaboration? Responsibility? How will you keep up your commitments to your classmates in medical school, to the physicians and patients you work with during clerkships, if you are devoting all of your time to your sick family member?

I've heard this same dilemma from practicing physicians many times: how do you balance personal commitments within such a consuming profession? Personally, I don't know yet, but I don't think it's as simple as you claim.

 

[kautionwirez]

If you are in medical school you are going to have very little time to take care of sick loved ones. You'll have even less time in residency. Medicine is not about taking care of your own sick loved ones.

I have seen families suck medical students into a vortex of errands and obligations (pick up Uncle at the airport, etc, etc). It is good to be clear what the priorities will be in medical school. I just get very uncomfortable when someone makes staying close to home a major priority over any other reason they might want to attend a given school.

Kind of makes me not want to send an appeal to UCSF but then again it would be tons cheaper to attend... Or I can go to NY and have a 4 year "vacation"...... Decisions decisions....

I think this question was one of the tougher ones for me to wrap my head around. In fact, when I was asked at NYMC "Why NYMC?" I told my interviewer two things, which were both brutally honest.

1. that I applied to over 40 schools, and at the end of the day I just wanted to be a physician.

2. Valhalla is far enough from the city scene to minimalize distraction, but close enough for a weekend getaway if a person was so inclined.

I am very curious to see the outcome of this interview. I should hear back in a couple of weeks.

As for Jefferson, I was never asked specifically 'Why Jefferson' but during my conversation with the faculty member I mentioned these positives about the location:

1. I've never experienced seasons before. Philadelphia offers this!

2. I believe I can grow tremendously by leaving for the East Coast. Specifically, by living in a big city (I come from the pinnacle of suburbia-land).

3. The food in Philadelphia, especially the numerous venues around center city Philadelphia are absolutely delectable.

I think if you just give some genuine personal reasons it would serve you better than trying to woo them too much with how much you've been able to research online. But that is just my opinion.

I told my interviewer I needed to get out of California and experience New York. And I fell in love with the school during interview day. I had such a positive energy that day that it was hard for my interviewer to be neutral 😀

 

[LizzyM]

You can recognize and empathize with family members who are caregivers without concurrently being a caregiver yourself.

I can't speak to the grades of the student who I saw being pulled in multiple directions... If the school offered anything it would be counseling to learn how to set priorities and be assertive.

If you want to answer "why this school?" with "because my family lives close by and I want to be nearby in case any of them get sick and need care." then go ahead. Good luck with that.

 

[kautionwirez]

You can recognize and empathize with family members who are caregivers without concurrently being a caregiver yourself.

I can't speak to the grades of the student who I saw being pulled in multiple directions... If the school offered anything it would be counseling to learn how to set priorities and be assertive.

If you want to answer "why this school?" with "because my family lives close by and I want to be nearby in case any of them get sick and need care." then go ahead. Good luck with that.

If that was directed towards me, then no that's not my reason.
UCSF, I know for a fact is one of the best medical programs in the country, from rankings/news/doctors I talk to, and personal experiences of being treated there, family/friends being treated there. SF is one of the best cities in the world, I have a place 10 mins drive from the hospital where I can live for free, etc............... I'll let the doctors treat my family.

 

[EBTrailRunner]

If that was directed towards me, then no that's not my reason.
UCSF, I know for a fact is one of the best medical programs in the country, from rankings/news/doctors I talk to, and personal experiences of being treated there, family/friends being treated there. SF is one of the best cities in the world, I have a place 10 mins drive from the hospital where I can live for free, etc............... I'll let the doctors treat my family.

How does your attending or not attending UCSF affect your family's access to UCSF's health system?

 

[LizzyM]

If that was directed towards me, then no that's not my reason.
UCSF, I know for a fact is one of the best medical programs in the country, from rankings/news/doctors I talk to, and personal experiences of being treated there, family/friends being treated there. SF is one of the best cities in the world, I have a place 10 mins drive from the hospital where I can live for free, etc............... I'll let the doctors treat my family.

No, it was liveoak who was worried about family members who might get sick.

 

[gettheleadout]

Well, SDN was crashing so my comment didn't come out right (understatment). There is a major difference between taking care of sick family members and "picking someone up" at an airport.

Assuming you've had patient contact, have you ever looked past the patient? When you leave the hospital room after your brief talk with the patient, who is looking over the patient? You need to be able to empathize with the caregiver as well as they are an INTEGRAL part of the entire healing process. Thus, as you take care of sick family members, you are becoming a better doctor.

You're obviously jaded regarding this issue because your initial post was black and white.

Okay, you spend time doing that in medical school and the rest of us will spend the time learning medicine so we can actually treat people instead of help them with general difficulties of living.

It wasn't very hard to understand dude. Lizzy's initial post is pretty frightening considering he/her is an adcom member (i think)

I disagree that it was frightening or that the post I quoted made any sense.

Also, LizzyM is a verified member of a school's adcom. The Advisor badge is a statement that SDN has confirmed her claim. If you doubt this further, it is no one's responsibility to change your mind.

 

[kautionwirez]

How does your attending or not attending UCSF affect your family's access to UCSF's health system?

wat?

 

[StoicJosher]

Another thing I do with my interviews is look for what the schools are trying to sell you on when they introduce their program before the interviews (I dont know if all interviews work like this but the ones I have been to do). Try to take the key points they tout as being unique to their program and conform/relate it to your life story/stuff from your application, personal statement etc and answer when they ask you this question.

This is definitely not the ideal way but like someone else posted - sometimes you are in it more for the "being physician" part than the being physician "at this particular school" part.

 

[Knocked Up]

In the Spring, the shoe will be on the other foot and schools will be hoping to be chosen over all the other schools by candidates that hold more than one offer. So, some schools want to know if you understand the school's mission and educational philosophy and why you feel you'd be a good match for that school, why it would be a good fit for you.

If you did not have a stellar undergrad record, be careful about stating that you are attracted to the school's extracurricular offerings as it could be interpreted to mean that you will put extracurriculars over academic work.

Likewise, if you lived home or close to home for college, don't list location as the reason you are most interested as it appears that you are unable to cut the apron strings. Furthermore, if there is more than one school in the area, you should have some reason besides geography, that attracts you to the school that is interviewing you today. On the other hand, if you are a state resident interviewing at a state school and you really want to practice in that state, it is a good thing to say so.

Lizzy, I don't have anything to add to this conversation, as aside from your comments I really cannot understand the spanglish that is coming out of the posters on this thread. However, I do have one question concerning the statement you made above. Would you grill me if I said that I wanted to conduct research at your school for 4 years and become a leader in volunteer activities at your school, given that maybe let's say theoretically my MCAT was slightly lower than your class average (but the GPA was above your median). If I bring my interviewers flowers and chocolates, would that help compensate?

 

[Ismet]

Lizzy, I don't have anything to add to this conversation, as aside from your comments I really cannot understand the spanglish that is coming out of the posters on this thread. However, I do have one question concerning the statement you made above. Would you grill me if I said that I wanted to conduct research at your school for 4 years and become a leader in volunteer activities at your school, given that maybe let's say theoretically my MCAT was slightly lower than your class average (but the GPA was above your median). If I bring my interviewers flowers and chocolates, would that help compensate?

🙄

 

[IMSingular]

Well. I am not saying that there won't be impact on student's academic performance. But he will be learning other aspects of life that are as much important. For example Chestor Carlson, the inventor of xerography aka xerox machines, had chronicly ill father. He still finished his undergraduate degree at Caltech, by no means any easier than going through medical college, and became a an extraordinory individual and inventor. Well every one may not be able to do. I also know of a lady who was a single mother of four year old who got an interview to UT Medical School, and most likely would have got an admission but decided that she couldn't handle bringing up a kid and medical school at the same time snd decided to move away from medical field. Every student should be allowed to decide for themselves and admissions committee should provide counseling towards the resolution of such conflicts rather than summarily not give an admission.

My cousin went through medical school under trying circumstances and finished the study, though he might have done better without family distraction; he also provided a role model for his brother who also finished medical school under trying circumstances.

 

[Juicec]

Lizzy, I don't have anything to add to this conversation, as aside from your comments I really cannot understand the spanglish that is coming out of the posters on this thread. However, I do have one question concerning the statement you made above. Would you grill me if I said that I wanted to conduct research at your school for 4 years and become a leader in volunteer activities at your school, given that maybe let's say theoretically my MCAT was slightly lower than your class average (but the GPA was above your median). If I bring my interviewers flowers and chocolates, would that help compensate?

God damnit mann, stop talking about the MCAT!! 😡

 

[alexandertg6]

God damnit mann, stop talking about the MCAT!! 😡

😡

 

[gettheleadout]

😡

Juicec has a point...

 

[45408]

I do think that someone who was still living at home, even during the school year, and who wanted to attend medical school within commuting distance of home shouldn't give "staying close to home" as a reason for wanting to attend a specific school. Certainly, there are other reasons beside geography. It just gives the impression that one is not ready to be an independent adult.

You can want to stay near home while not living at home. I was married the entire time I was in med school (and living away from both sets of parents), but my wife and I both wanted to be near family.

We had our first child while living near both sets of parents, and it was very beneficial.

If you are in medical school you are going to have very little time to take care of sick loved ones. You'll have even less time in residency. Medicine is not about taking care of your own sick loved ones.

I have seen families suck medical students into a vortex of errands and obligations (pick up Uncle at the airport, etc, etc). It is good to be clear what the priorities will be in medical school. I just get very uncomfortable when someone makes staying close to home a major priority over any other reason they might want to attend a given school.

Local family is also great support for someone going through tough times (e.g., med school or residency).

 

[kpcrew]

Lizzy, I don't have anything to add to this conversation

You should remind yourself of this fact every time you consider clicking "Post Reply".

 

[Slowpoke]

You should remind yourself of this fact every time you consider clicking "Post Reply".

 

[LizzyM]

You can want to stay near home while not living at home. I was married the entire time I was in med school (and living away from both sets of parents), but my wife and I both wanted to be near family.

We had our first child while living near both sets of parents, and it was very beneficial.


Local family is also great support for someone going through tough times (e.g., med school or residency).

I agree and having a social support network is a big plus. I am speaking specifically of applicants who are unmarried and still living with mommy and daddy and who, in some cases, have never traveled more than 50 miles from home. If that student tells me that the school is a good fit because "#1: it is close to home", I'm going to feel some concern. If someone has 2 other reasons they love the school "and btw, my wife and I have a lot of family nearby which makes it nice, too." that's a different kettle of fish.

 

[liveoak]

You can recognize and empathize with family members who are caregivers without concurrently being a caregiver yourself.

Well, that's a fine statement. You obviously do your job well, but are quite inept to the actual issues your patients and their families go through. Doctors giving off that robotic feel of "all that matters is my resume/work" is not a good example to set to caregivers that are giving up everything to help make YOUR JOB (doctors) easier. Patients with healthy caregivers recover infinity faster than those without. Your precious research papers that you value so much confirm this.

gettheleadout

ok dude. I think lizzy may give you a hug if you keep this up...????

 

[LizzyM]

Well, that's a fine statement. You obviously do your job well, but are quite inept to the actual issues your patients and their families go through. Doctors giving off that robotic feel of "all that matters is my resume/work" is not a good example to set to caregivers that are giving up everything to help make YOUR JOB (doctors) easier. Patients with healthy caregivers recover infinity faster than those without. Your precious research papers that you value so much confirm this.


ok dude. I think lizzy may give you a hug if you keep this up...????

liveoak, you seem to be missing the point here. The question is: who is a good candidate to study medicine at this school in the coming year? We have many to choose from and need to pick the fraction of the total applicant pool that seem to be a good fit meaning those who will thrive in our learning environment, have the smarts and the persistence to make the most of the education, those who are empathetic and excellent communicators, and who have an interest in being physicians with the particular spin that this school puts on medical education (it could be academic medicine/research, primary care/rural/minority health/ etc), and will the student thrive in the larger environment (urban, rural, suburban, Northern, Southern, etc) and have the time management and maturity to engage as an adult learner.

There are circumstances that make it likely that an applicant will thrive and others that are red flags.

I don't quite understand the need to attack me. I am not a clinician although I have worked closely with clinicians caring for patients who were often unable to care for themselves and who had caregivers. My family has provided care, or supervised the care, of loved ones, sometimes over many years. If you know how exhausing and all consuming it can be, you know how difficult it would be to do it well while doing a third year clerkship which requires overnights in the hospital.

I'm not just talking about caregiving but the social demands that parents can place on their adult children when the child is not assertive to say, "no".

 

[liveoak]

I'm not just talking about caregiving but the social demands that parents can place on their adult children when the child is not assertive to say, "no".

This is a different issue, and don't disagree.

I don't quite understand the need to attack me. I am not a clinician although I have worked closely with clinicians caring for patients who were often unable to care for themselves and who had caregivers. My family has provided care, or supervised the care, of loved ones, sometimes over many years. If you know how exhausing and all consuming it can be, you know how difficult it would be to do it well while doing a third year clerkship which requires overnights in the hospital.

Sorry for coming after you, but this does hit close to home. I really do think we are talking about different issues. When I was a caregiver, the doctors who recognized my work and gave nothing more than a pat on the back literally made my day. Doctors are role models to many patients/their families. Looking down at caregiving as a "nuisance" sets a bad example to set a crucial part of healthcare. So, when I talk about medical students/residents caring for sick familiy members, i don't view it as a detriment to their education. I'm not talking about 24/7 care, I'm taking about learning to be empathic to the people who are giving everything up to make the health care system go smoother. It makes you a better doctor.