Uniqueness of studying Traditional Chinese Medicine

BU Medical Sciences
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princessbooty

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I want to study traditional chinese medicine during the summer and I want to put it on my application, but I have been told that it may jeopardize my application since some admissions officers are biased against it may not like that. However, I am very interested in learning about this subject area and believe that it will allow me to stand out from other typical premed volunteer abroad activities. I know that you can't stop people from biasing and it isn't fair for them to do so, but that doesn't stop them from being biased and potentially affecting whether your application will be accepted or rejected. What do you guys think? Should I risk my application or not?
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If you're applying to DO schools, you can put it on your AMCAS since their philosophy blends Western plus Eastern medicine. For MD schools, I don't know. If you are very passionate and show how this can help you as a future physician, then do it. If you have trouble doing that, they might see it as a filler, and it will probably hurt you.
 
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Someone I know did his undergrad thesis on alternative medicine and did spend a large amount of his time abroad, shadowing alternative medicine practitioners and learning about their process.

In the end, I think he got into every school he applied to and is currently attending Harvard Med. He was also an outstanding student in other ways (high GPA, phenomenal MCAT, Goldwater recipient, etc.)

So, in short, I don't know how much it'll help you--but it won't hurt you.
 
People in academia love to pretend that they're open-minded. Probably will help more than hurt. If someone questions you about it just take the middle-road approach and talk about how we should all be open-minded and more research should be done to see if there's benefits from alternative medicine.
 
Kaputt said:
People in academia love to pretend that they're open-minded.
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Exactly.

I know some people who have studied alternative medicine and were admitted to medical school. If you're interested about it and passionate, then you should do it. As long as you're enthusiastic about it and it comes from a genuine place, put it in your application. But be willing to talk about evidence based medicine too.
 
Guessing this is a troll thread judging by the name "princessbooty."
 
And if they ask you, "Why not ND (naturopathic doctor) or OMD (oriental medicine doctor)?" Be sure that you can answer it. It's kind of like the difficulty that a nurse or pharmacist would experience that switched to pre-med.
 
Planes2Doc said:
If you're applying to DO schools, you can put it on your AMCAS since their philosophy blends Western plus Eastern medicine. For MD schools, I don't know. If you are very passionate and show how this can help you as a future physician, then do it. If you have trouble doing that, they might see it as a filler, and it will probably hurt you.
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Osteopathic manipulation is "eastern medicine?" 😕 That is the only difference in philosophies after all.....
 
And no I'm not a troll. I'm a legit premed student needing advice.
 
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And no I'm not a troll. I'm a legit pre-med student needing advice.
 
princessbooty said:
And no I'm not a troll. I'm a legit pre-med student needing advice.
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Still calling BS.

14nikvq.jpg
 
Planes2Doc said:
If you're applying to DO schools, you can put it on your AMCAS since their philosophy blends Western plus Eastern medicine. For MD schools, I don't know. If you are very passionate and show how this can help you as a future physician, then do it. If you have trouble doing that, they might see it as a filler, and it will probably hurt you.
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Go away.
At OP go for it. I think oriental medicine is occasionally cool when it isn't used as a substitute for modern medicine.
 
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Where are you learning it? If you're reading about it and saying it's a hobby, don't add it.

If you're travelling abroad or taking a class to become certified in accupuncture or interning with a traditional chinese healer, go for it.
 
Anathema said:
So we're calling out trolls based on user names now?
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Everyone gets called a troll on SDN if they say something someone with a longer membership doesnt like (sometimes the new guy will call old members troll 😕) It is as misused on this forum as "ad hominem" and "holistic".

The number of times I've been called a troll for arguing against some pre-med spouting starry-eyed misinformed nonsense is absurd. But that is the way it goes I guess :shrug:



To the OP..... I wouldn't mention it. Alternative medicine is not always well received in MD schools. DOs may be more forgiving, but then again.... they also probably wouldn't appreciate OMM being compared to other alternative techniques given their attempts at legitimizing it with research. That said, some schools also teach acupuncture so it is somewhat of a toss up. I'd play it safe and just not highlight it. I don't see it adding much and may make an old doc look at you like a crazy person.

If you absolutely must include it... spin it off as a learning experience about other cultures. Capitolize on any new insights into the ways that other cultures view their healthcare and avoid saying things like "because I think the body and mind are one" or other such drummed up nonsense. If you keep it focused on patient care and not personal philosophy you will be alright. 👍
 
SpecterGT260 said:
Everyone gets called a troll on SDN if they say something someone with a longer membership doesnt like (sometimes the new guy will call old members troll 😕) It is as misused on this forum as "ad hominem" and "holistic".

The number of times I've been called a troll for arguing against some pre-med spouting starry-eyed misinformed nonsense is absurd. But that is the way it goes I guess :shrug:
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Someone called darkjedi a troll... whatever happened to that guy? Luckily, no one called me a troll. 😎

serenade said:
Go away.
At OP go for it. I think oriental medicine is occasionally cool when it isn't used as a substitute for modern medicine.
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Why should he? He has the right to express his views.
 
Agent B said:
Someone called darkjedi a troll... whatever happened to that guy? Luckily, no one called me a troll. 😎



Why should he? He has the right to express his views.
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I dunno who darkjedi is. You probably made that name up. You're a troll
 
Agent B said:
:laugh::laugh: You and your medical school puns... man, I just can't wait to get into medical school. Sounds so awesome while completely torturesome.
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That is pretty accurate actually 😀


Medical pun? I cant think of another way to interpret the phrase "expose myself" and what looks like "self-beat banana" :laugh:
 
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