Was this too much??? Have I burned the bridges of opportunity???

[237392]

You know what? Nevermind... Krispy Kreme is harrassing me

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[iduwanna]

In a word: Misguided.

 

[237392]

In a word: Misguided.

oh no! can you please elucidate as to how?

 

[237392]

bump! will someone please help me!

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

Instead of sending e-mails to dermatologists, I suggest you contact some psychiatrists.

 

[bjb305]

first thing's first.. i love the enthusiasm and i really hope you carry this passion all the way through med school! but in my first response, the length of your post was too long for me to read the whole thing haha. but just think, for one of those doctors to give you a good answer, it will take a bit of their time to just think about answers for you.. some of those answers might be easier to just meet them and talk about it with them in person. i dunno maybe ask if you could shadow them? that way you can just casually talk a little bit first before they just fire away answers for you

 

[237392]

Instead of sending e-mails to dermatologists, I suggest you contact some psychiatrists.

um why? did it come across as ocd or something?

 

[Elle Woods]

I don't mean to be rude, but I think a lot of your questions came off as pretty juvenile (i.e. asking what is "cool" and "most digusting" about their job). In what context do you know the physicians you sent this to? That could make a big difference in how it is perceived.
I wouldn't say you've necessarily burned any bridges, but if I were you I would talk to your school's pre-med advisor before you do anything like this again. They should be helpful in answering some of your more general questions and also in formulating a more appropriate letter to specialists.

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

[/b]

um why? did it come across as ocd or something?

You're a fantastic troll.

No, OCD would not be the correct clinical diagnosis. I suspect a personality disorder...maybe generalized anxiety with severe obsessive fixations? I dunno. I'm just an MS-0.

 

[Greonis]

So far, only one of the derms that I contacted has responded and she referred to my letter as too burdensome for her to answer right now! I feel really guilty and sad now, and I hope I haven't ruined any opportunities to talk with them in the future! Please give me your honest opinion on your thoughts on my letter and how I came across! Is it OCD? Overwhelming? Overstepping of professional boundaries??

She stated that it was overwhelming because it was in fact overwhelming. That is an unreasonably large request to make of someone that you have never even met, independent of how you feel about her. Were you to be given the same inquiry (say, by a middle school student who admired your ability to matriculate at Duke and wanted to emulate your pathway), I am sure that you would find it to be both challenging and burdensome to address all of the inquirer's questions/concerns at once (many of which, by the way, I would view as being too open-ended/case-specific). That having been said, it is hardly the kind of incident that threatens to permanently scar your pending relationship (I would bet that the most this dermatologist did was chuckle about it over a dinner conversation).

The key to establishing a good relationship with this dermatologist (or with anyone you meet in life, to be honest) is to use moderation. When attempting to show your amorous interest in someone, for example, you do not immediately disclose all of your deepest ambitions and worst flaws on the first date. Rather, you work your way up to a point (that may take several dates over several weeks) where both of you are comfortable communicating more openly than normal. Apply that analogy to the dermatologist. In attempting to establish a professional relationship, you do not want to dump everything on her during "the first date." Rather, you want to take it slowly, first introducing yourself, giving her a brief outline of your background/interests, and - most importantly - determining whether or not such a "consultative" relationship is even appropriate in the first place (she may, for example, not be interested in "mentoring" someone, in which case you'd need to find another inspirational figure to contact). After a while, if she is willing to offer advice, you can then open up and begin to ask all of the juicy questions that pertain to entering her specialty. In fact, I'd bet that she would answer many of them for you without even being asked were you to show more tact in getting to know her.

So please, slow down!!! While I do admire your early yet strong dedication to a specific medical specialty (something that most people do not possess until well into medical school), you need to remember that you are not even through your first year of college. You have plenty of time to build good relationships with individuals (such as this dermatologist) who will help you in your quest to become a dermatologist yourself.

 

[237392]

I don't mean to be rude, but I think a lot of your questions came off as pretty juvenile (i.e. asking what is "cool" and "most digusting" about their job). In what context do you know the physicians you sent this to? That could make a big difference in how it is perceived.
I wouldn't say you've necessarily burned any bridges, but if I were you I would talk to your school's pre-med advisor before you do anything like this again. They should be helpful in answering some of your more general questions and also in formulating a more appropriate letter to specialists.

thanks! the only reason i even used that type of terminology is because i didn't want to come across as being overly grandiloquent and as if I thing I am on the same level as them !

 

[NTF]

Sigh....

Where do I start? I'm gonna bite my tongue about the email.


Here's what you should do:

1) Try to get some shadowing time with dermatologists. Try here first.
http://www.osteopathic.org/YOM/Mentor_exchange.htm

2) Try to get a job (paid or volunteer) at a dermatological practice.

3) Try to get a job (paid or volunteer) at a dermatology research lab.

4) And before you send off professional correspondence, ALWAYS let someone read it over for you before you send it.

 

[scumbagderm]

as a derm applicant i suggest you downplay your interest in cosmetics. Find out if you like medical dermatology first (the skin, rashes, pathology, ect). You will be spending 95% of your time in medical derm during residency so you need to love it. Cosmetics come later and in much smaller proportions (unless you pursue a cosmetic fellowship--but even then, you must love basic derm first).

 

[236116]

Ouch. How long ago did you do this?

you could try emailing them again, apologise for the first email- blame windows, that always works "sorry i didn't mean to add those questions at that time, stupid microsoft"- and send a short short short version.

Also, do your own damn research. You can google programmes.

Dear Dr. (Dr.'s Name),
I apologize for my earlier email, I had intended to send that version to my advisor for editing! I hope that you will forgive that error. As I stated, my name is Bob the Builder, and I am a student at Duke University. I am working towards earning admission to medical school. I have a definite interest in the art and science of Dermatology, and your name has been mentioned as a leader in the field.

I am emailing to inquire if you would consider advising me as I embark on this difficult but worthwhile path. I am perusing the vast resources available to me as an undergrad, but would appreciate your input.

I know that you are very busy, and I will very much appreciate a response from you.

Sincerely,
Bob the Builder

Do not mention specific questions.

 

[Dissected]

It's way too much for them to look at and consider. I couldn't even finish reading it, I can't imagine how long it would take to answer all of those darn questions! I would also recommend setting up an interview or shadowing them to ask some of these questions (one's pertinent to YOU as you are going into this field, excluding a lot of frivolous ones), if they would be willing to do so. If not, don't sweat it and try and research some of this info for yourself. Doctors are extremely busy, it was like pulling teeth for me to get my physician to finish and submit his letter of recommendation within the 5 month time period I gave him! I would bet that you didn't burn any bridges, you are clearly very interested in going into this field and are asking harmless questions...there are just too many at once! Its good to research a field you are interested in, but do it in a manner that won't be burdensome to those you want to learn from.


*maybe one of them is responding but it is taking him this long to finish answering all of the questions

 

[mbe36]

1. No more exclamation points!

2. That list is very overwhelming. You should have taken it step by step. Your first correspondences should be short and sweet. Find a way to get a foot in the door. Then, over time you can ask your questions if you get the chance to shadow. You have plenty of time to get all of the information. You should always be considerate of the physician's limited time.

3. Take time to answer the majority of these answers on your own. Do not waste their time by asking questions that could be answered via google or a trip to the library. I would say 80% of those questions could be researched. Plus, this is a great way for you to find out if this is actually the field for you.

4. Do not lose that wonderful enthusiasm---just take a step back and take your time.

 

[eagle34]

Holy cow, that's a long e-mail. It is good that you have such enthusiasm for the profession, but I think most importantly, I hope you have such enthusiasm for derm for just being a doctor, and helping people out. Remember, in med school, you have no choices in what you can focus on until about 4th year when you have elective rotations. Just so you know, derm is also one of the hardest residencies to get into these days because of the nice lifestyle and money.

Overall though...shadow a physician. It's hard to answer all those questions through e-mail, especially random doctors who don't know you. If you're interested in derm, shadow a dermatologist, try getting into derm research somewhere. But also, I suggest you shadow other physicians to see what other fields are out there. It's good that you have your mind made up right now, but remember, almost all medical students change their minds about specialty from their med school start point to residency apps. Going into the future, when admissions people ask you what specialty you're thinking about, it's good to say derm, but you should never say that you're totally sure about it. You can't be sure about anything until you witness it first hand during 3-4th year rotations.

However, mostly imporantly...think about your grades. Work hard, get some EC's in, try to get some leadership roles.

 

[cbrons]

EDIT After thinking about it maybe you are serious OP. I wish I had some enthusiasm like you do. Good luck

 

[236116]

Is anyone elses bull**** meter going off right now? I smell a troll.

it's thursday night, until right now i had nothing else to do.

now it's csi: laurence fishburne time

 

[237392]

She stated that it was overwhelming because it was in fact overwhelming. That is an unreasonably large request to make of someone that you have never even met, independent of how you feel about her. Were you to be given the same inquiry (say, by a middle school student who admired your ability to matriculate at Duke and wanted to emulate your pathway), I am sure that you would find it to be both challenging and burdensome to address all of the inquirer's questions/concerns at once (many of which, by the way, I would view as being too open-ended/case-specific). That having been said, it is hardly the kind of incident that threatens to permanently scar your pending relationship (I would bet that the most this dermatologist did was chuckle about it over a dinner conversation).

The key to establishing a good relationship with this dermatologist (or with anyone you meet in life, to be honest) is to use moderation. When attempting to show your amorous interest in someone, for example, you do not immediately disclose all of your deepest ambitions and worst flaws on the first date. Rather, you work your way up to a point (that may take several dates over several weeks) where both of you are comfortable communicating more openly than normal. Apply that analogy to the dermatologist. In attempting to establish a professional relationship, you do not want to dump everything on her during "the first date." Rather, you want to take it slowly, first introducing yourself, giving her a brief outline of your background/interests, and - most importantly - determining whether or not such a "consultative" relationship is even appropriate in the first place (she may, for example, not be interested in "mentoring" someone, in which case you'd need to find another inspirational figure to contact). After a while, if she is willing to offer advice, you can then open up and begin to ask all of the juicy questions that pertain to entering her specialty. In fact, I'd bet that she would answer many of them for you without even being asked were you to show more tact in getting to know her.

So please, slow down!!! While I do admire your early yet strong dedication to a specific medical specialty (something that most people do not possess until well into medical school), you need to remember that you are not even through your first year of college. You have plenty of time to build good relationships with individuals (such as this dermatologist) who will help you in your quest to become a dermatologist yourself.

Sigh....

Where do I start? I'm gonna bite my tongue about the email.


Here's what you should do:

1) Try to get some shadowing time with dermatologists. Try here first.
http://www.osteopathic.org/YOM/Mentor_exchange.htm

2) Try to get a job (paid or volunteer) at a dermatological practice.

3) Try to get a job (paid or volunteer) at a dermatology research lab.

4) And before you send off professional correspondence, ALWAYS let someone read it over for you before you send it.

as a derm applicant i suggest you downplay your interest in cosmetics. Find out if you like medical dermatology first (the skin, rashes, pathology, ect). You will be spending 95% of your time in medical derm during residency so you need to love it. Cosmetics come later and in much smaller proportions (unless you pursue a cosmetic fellowship--but even then, you must love basic derm first).

Ouch. How long ago did you do this?

you could try emailing them again, apologise for the first email- blame windows, that always works "sorry i didn't mean to add those questions at that time, stupid microsoft"- and send a short short short version.

Also, do your own damn research. You can google programmes.

Do not mention specific questions.

thank you for the advice guys. I should have asked about this before hand!

 

[Retsage]

I missed the original post but gather that it was ******ed, ridiculous, and hysterical.

Damn.

 

[237392]

as a derm applicant i suggest you downplay your interest in cosmetics. Find out if you like medical dermatology first (the skin, rashes, pathology, ect). You will be spending 95% of your time in medical derm during residency so you need to love it. Cosmetics come later and in much smaller proportions (unless you pursue a cosmetic fellowship--but even then, you must love basic derm first).

I do love the medical aspect as well, although admittedly not as much as the aesthetic aspect of it... but perhaps I was too ambiguous about that... however, the dermatologists that I contacted (with a few exceptions) focus heavily on the cosmetic subspecialty! and I felt like those opportunities would be more scarce and general medical derm opps would be easier to find!

 

[236116]

I missed the original post but gather that it was ******ed, ridiculous, and hysterical.

Damn.

it was amazing.

3 paragraphs about cosmetic derm and what kind of job should i get now to be a derm later and what programs are there for ugrads and 2345 questions about being a derm

 

[237392]

EDIT After thinking about it maybe you are serious OP. I wish I had some enthusiasm like you do. Good luck

thank you! I know it can be hard, but the more I research this field, the more motivation I have and the greater my enthusiasm is!

 

[searun]

AspiringDerm89. What does that mean, that you were born in 1989 and have a profound committment to dermatology? Could you wait a minute, while I walk outside and puke in my backyard, and then bury the puke so I don't step on it when I leave in the morning to go to my med school class. The only thing that is more disgusting than the derm thing, is the Princess thing in someone's online name. God, I hate the Princess thing. The Derm thing and the Princess thing, both are disgusting.

 

[HumidBeing]

Members are reminded, and requested to use the

RP button if they suspect trolling instead of replying to or taunting other members in the thread.

Please remember to treat other members with respect.

Since the OP has removed the original post, this thread is now closed.