What really makes an applicant stand out in the adcom's eyes?

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In my eyes, its not exactly pleasure...its a challenge lol. Fishing intrigues me...you gotta think like a fish...yeah. True about having an adcom who likes fishing!!
 
tylerh87 said:
In my eyes, its not exactly pleasure...its a challenge lol. Fishing intrigues me...you gotta think like a fish...yeah. True about having an adcom who likes fishing!!
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It's safe to assume that you already do.
 
BrokenGlass said:
In that case I got some bad advice because I didn't include my criminal record on my application. Do you think I should contact the schools and let them know about it?
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Send them an update! A class full of non-criminals could scarcely be described as diverse.
 
TheProwler said:
Send them an update! A class full of non-criminals could scarcely be described as diverse.
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My dream is to become a prison doctor, so I think my criminal record would be viewed favorably. I think inmates may not mesh well with someone who is not one of their own. Should I email my update or send it via snail mail?
 
LizzyM is right. It would absolutely suck if adcoms chose applicants just based on MCAT and GPA. Grades shouldn't be the end all, its just one part of the total package and says little about what kind of person an applicant besides their ability to do well academically. Doctors need to be excellent communicators and caring people - Grades do not indicate these qualities. I doubt anyone would want a science nerd who did nothing but study and consequently had no people skills or empathy to take care of their sick relative.
 
The whole process is so arbitrary. For example, someone here with high stats and great EC's to complement those stats got rejected without an interview. Then you see people with low stats and EC's that aren't particularly unique, gaining admission. What gives? 😕
 
SoCalGirl said:
The whole process is so arbitrary. For example, someone here with high stats and great EC's to complement those stats got rejected without an interview. Then you see people with low stats and EC's that aren't particularly unique, gaining admission. What gives? 😕
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The essay(s) and LORs are the factors we dont' know much about based on what people post here. Also, the school itself. I know someone accepted to Harvard & Hopkins who didn't get a secondary as an OOS applicant at another school. Had that person applied only to OOS schools then the rejections might have piled up rather than a stack of acceptance letters to top schools.
 
LizzyM said:
The essay(s) and LORs are the factors we dont' know much about based on what people post here. Also, the school itself. I know someone accepted to Harvard & Hopkins who didn't get a secondary as an OOS applicant at another school. Had that person applied only to OOS schools then the rejections might have piled up rather than a stack of acceptance letters to top schools.
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Nor do I believe everything people post here; maybe I'm just a skeptic.

And despite what everyone wants to believe, the process is and will remain very subjective. It involves humans, not robots. Your gpa and mcat will only do so much.

As an example, as an undergraduate freshman, I took an honors English class. The first paper I wrote, I did mostly on my own with little to no help from my professor (who told us to get help as we saw fit); I got a B. My second paper was inferior to the first and I didn't devote half the time I had with the first. But I went and saw my professor two or three times asking for help. I got an A on that and every paper thereafter, eventually getting an A for the class. All that was to say that what people think about you is often more important than skills you possess.
 
MattEvers said:
Nor do I believe everything people post here; maybe I'm just a skeptic.
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I'm not just relying on what people here post, I have a lot of friends who've gone through the process and are currently going through it and I'm just amazed at who's getting rejected and who's getting admitted.
 
SoCalGirl said:
I'm not just relying on what people here post, I have a lot of friends who've gone through the process and are currently going through it and I'm just amazed at who's getting rejected and who's getting admitted.
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I wasn't picking at your comment. 😀

I would agree with you generally, though I think I would use the word "subjective" rather than "arbitrary."
 
MattEvers said:
I wasn't picking at your comment. 😀

I would agree with you generally, though I think I would use the word "subjective" rather than "arbitrary."
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No worries, I didn't think you were 😀, I just thought I should add some real-life examples too (those are the ones that have me really worried).

Subjective is definitely a good way to describe it. It all depends on who's reviewing your app and whether or not they like it. One person could love you, the other hate you! 😱
 
SoCalGirl said:
No worries, I didn't think you were 😀, I just thought I should add some real-life examples too (those are the ones that have me really worried).

Subjective is definitely a good way to describe it. It all depends on who's reviewing your app and whether or not they like it. One person could love you, the other hate you! 😱
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That's why I'm applying to about 20 schools. A friend once told me "if you sling enough s*** against the wall, something is bound to stick." A graphic way of saying I hope out of 20 schools looking at my application, I can get at least one to allow me to "stick." 😛
 
I like the wall - s*** - sticking analogy...next time an interviewer asks me why I applied to so many schools, or how I picked schools to apply to, I know what my answer will be ....
 
MattEvers said:
That's why I'm applying to about 20 schools. A friend once told me "if you sling enough s*** against the wall, something is bound to stick." A graphic way of saying I hope out of 20 schools looking at my application, I can get at least one to allow me to "stick." 😛
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:laugh: That's a good way to put it. I'm planning on about 20 schools too. I'm limiting myself to only a couple of "reach" schools.
 
Piyush said:
I like the wall - s*** - sticking analogy...next time an interviewer asks me why I applied to so many schools, or how I picked schools to apply to, I know what my answer will be ....
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That'd make for a great story, but probably not an acceptance.

But you never know; maybe Lizzy will come by and tell us what she would think about an answer like that. :laugh:
 
SoCalGirl said:
:laugh: That's a good way to put it. I'm planning on about 20 schools too. I'm limiting myself to only a couple of "reach" schools.
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After reading this forum a while, it feels like ALL schools are a "reach."
 
MattEvers said:
After reading this forum a while, it feels like ALL schools are a "reach."
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Seriously! I need to stop spending so much time on SDN and stop talking to the pre-meds at my school, they're freaking me out! 😱
 
joyrunner said:
Maybe you should rethink marketing these accomplishments. A study came out a couple of months ago showing a strong correlation between hours of virtual gaming played and decreases in surgical mistakes. I would provide a source, but I would have to google it again.
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I found an article on it. It mentions the study, but it isn't the study itself. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4685909/

I found the abstract, but I can't read the full article without joining the website.
http://archsurg.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/142/2/181
 
Drogba said:
CREAM, get the money. Dolla dolla bills ya'll.

That might been top 40 >10 years ago.
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Haha yeah but actually theres a new one out right now that's got that line in it.
 
I wish I knew what made an applicant stand out because I sure as hell could use some tips.
 
someone suggested cleavage, and many seem to agree 😀

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Piyush

Trojanation said:
I wish I knew what made an applicant stand out because I sure as hell could use some tips.
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If you acted and modeled during college should you mention? 😕 And no, not the type that I would be ashame of...:laugh:
 
BrokenGlass said:
My dream is to become a prison doctor, so I think my criminal record would be viewed favorably. I think inmates may not mesh well with someone who is not one of their own. Should I email my update or send it via snail mail?
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I know I am updating an old thread, but I started laughing out loud for 2 minutes straight in a library.. and everyone in the library thinks im weird now
 
how "unique" is studying abroad// interning abroad // or living abroad for an application?
 
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I've found that the easiest way to stand out is to make a lasting impression. For example, I intend to go to my interviews dressed like this:
darth-vader-costume.jpg


Adcom: "I don't think you'd be a good fit for this school."
Me: "I find your lack of faith disturbing..."
 
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