Updating medical schools with media attention I've received and talks I've given?

[Bonne Nuit]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I've recently received some media attention for my involvement in one of my major ECs, and, as a result, I'm going to be profiled in a publication in a significant (but niche) media market very soon. Sorry, I need to be vague about this in the interest of anonymity, but it was very exciting and unexpected when I was contacted by the journalists.

The journalists, in addition to discussing my involvement with my EC (which is related to medicine) will also be writing about my background and path to medical school in the profile. On one hand, I think it could offer a useful third-party insight into my candidacy for medical school. On the other hand, I worry that it might be dismissed as silly or a puff piece. It's going to paint me in a positive light, since the publication has a vested interest in garnering interest in this EC/field.

I was also recently invited to speak at a national convention in a field related to a different EC. I didn't put my talk on my AMCAS application when I submitted at the beginning of June, since it wasn't 100% certain it was going to happen at that point. But I did end up giving my talk two weeks ago at the convention and it went very well.

Would it be inappropriate to discuss these developments on secondaries which have an "Other Comments"-type response field? What about including links to the talk and/or profile? Should I just save it for the interviews?

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

1) I wouldn't mention that publication until it's published. You can use it as an update for med schools later in the cycle if you need to. You can give the title of the piece once complete so they can look it up if they want, but don't include links.
2) You should definitely mention the speech in the secondaries. That's awesome! In fact, this is exactly what "other comments" prompts are for! Especially since it's "new." It's something to bring up in interviews as well.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

1) I wouldn't mention that publication until it's published. You can use it as an update for med schools later in the cycle if you need to. You can give the title of the piece once complete so they can look it up if they want, but don't include links.

Sorry, this is probably relevant - the piece should be published early next week, before I finalize my secondaries. I don't know if that changes your advice.

 

[Catalystik]

1) I've recently received some media attention for my involvement in one of my major ECs, and, as a result, I'm going to be profiled in a publication in a significant (but niche) media market very soon. Sorry, I need to be vague about this in the interest of anonymity, but it was very exciting and unexpected when I was contacted by the journalists.

The journalists, in addition to discussing my involvement with my EC (which is related to medicine) will also be writing about my background and path to medical school in the profile. On one hand, I think it could offer a useful third-party insight into my candidacy for medical school. On the other hand, I worry that it might be dismissed as silly or a puff piece. It's going to paint me in a positive light, since the publication has a vested interest in garnering interest in this EC/field.

2) I was also recently invited to speak at a national convention in a field related to a different EC. I didn't put my talk on my AMCAS application when I submitted at the beginning of June, since it wasn't 100% certain it was going to happen at that point. But I did end up giving my talk two weeks ago at the convention and it went very well.

Would it be inappropriate to discuss these developments on secondaries which have an "Other Comments"-type response field? What about including links to the talk and/or profile? Should I just save it for the interviews?

1) I agree with your comments about the perception of this article as a "puff piece." Aren't you the source of their information? Didn't you already include your involvement in that EC on your application? This will not add to your candidacy and might be perceived as bragging.

2) Definitely include that you were an invited speaker at a national convention. Describe the talk. Don't include the link.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

1) I agree with your comments about the perception of this article as a "puff piece." Aren't you the source of their information? Didn't you already include your involvement in that EC on your application? This will not add to your candidacy and might be perceived as bragging.

Thank you for your thoughts. The authors interviewed a few other people I’m associated with in this field, but I was the primary source. I don’t know this for certain since I haven’t read it yet, but I suspect it’s going to end up more a publicity/marketing tool than anything else. I can’t imagine it’s going to be hard hitting journalism. So yes, maybe a little embarrassing/arrogant to discuss. I’ll leave it out. I appreciate your input.

 

[catnip12]

I think that this would be a wonderful thing to add to your app! Honestly I would have added them both.
Find a way to talk about it, then add it. I cannot see how it wouldn’t be a positive, even though it might seem like a “puff piece”?!
Isn’t that what the rest of your app is anyway?

I would advise you against not including both those experiences, if you can add them to your app.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

I think that this would be a wonderful thing to add to your app! Honestly I would have added them both.
Find a way to talk about it, then add it. I cannot see how it wouldn’t be a positive, even though it might seem like a “puff piece”?!
Isn’t that what the rest of your app is anyway?

I would advise you against not including both those experiences, if you can add them to your app.

Thank you for weighing in. I will definitely include the talk in my update. I guess that was kind of obvious in retrospect!

In terms of the profile/interview, it will likely pop up if anyone feels like Googling me. I’ll be prepared to chat about it, but my hunch is that it will be a bit too human interest-y/softball to add substance to my secondaries. I think it could run the risk of looking like awkward self-promotion if I highlight it.

It doesn’t really matter to me either way. I agreed to do the profile because I care so much about building interest in and support for this activity; the medical school question was an afterthought.

Thanks for your advice!