white applicant to howard

[chos]

folks:

i am white and i've applied to howard. i am just wondering about what people think about my talking about race in my interviews or essays. i have a lot to say about race and i am quite aware that it plays a very significant role in medicine and our society (duh). but i don't want to harp on it either. i don't want to give the impression that, with respect to howard, one MUST discuss race. of course, not discussing it is silly too. thoughts?

tia.

chos

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[GujjuNo1]

folks:

i am white and i've applied to howard. i am just wondering about what people think about my talking about race in my interviews or essays. i have a lot to say about race and i am quite aware that it plays a very significant role in medicine and our society (duh). but i don't want to harp on it either. i don't want to give the impression that, with respect to howard, one MUST discuss race. of course, not discussing it is silly too. thoughts?

tia.

chos

Talking about race is really not necessary. Don't go into the interview thinking you have higher understanding or respect for the race and that's why you want to go there. I think this could be disastrous. Try some mock question/answers and you will realize what I mean.

Instead, you should focus on what Howard provides as medical school - working with majority african american population, urban setting etc...

Good Luck

 

[chaeymaey]

How open is Howard Med to non-African-Americans?

 

[masterMood]

how well does Howard Med do for residencies?

 

[Elastase]

The stats are in the MSAR...I can't remember how many but there was definitely a sig. portion that were other.

I am guessing that anyone that fits their mission statement (which is centered on advancing medicine for the underserved, african american communities) would have a good chance despite their ethnic background. For example the UCLA/Drew (serves a majority african american and latino community) and the UCI/Prime-LC programs (designed to create leaders for the underserved latino communities) are VERY VERY diverse in their classes. Maybe Howard is not as much, but they do select students with other backgrounds...

 

[Tommy1496]

i don't think race matters as much as you think... i am white and i got in... they are looking for someone who will serve the underserved population esp. in the D.C area.... if you can show that is something you are dedicated to doing, such as having volunteer work as an EMT in a underserved area you can get in...

 

[riceman04]

How open is Howard Med to non-African-Americans?

uhhhh yeah!!!

 

[AStudent]

Your application makes a great cushion on the bottom of the trashcan.

Personal experience from someone who got interviews at quite a few schools.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I agree with other people. I really don't think race plays that much of a role. I am white and I interviewed at Meharry (hoping for acceptance!). Honestly though, they have every right to favor the African American applicant. Afterall, that is their mission statement. I respect that. I also feel that I fit well within their described mission statement of providing care to the less fortunate. We'll see though I havn't even been invited for an interview.

 

[njbmd]

folks:

i am white and i've applied to howard. i am just wondering about what people think about my talking about race in my interviews or essays. i have a lot to say about race and i am quite aware that it plays a very significant role in medicine and our society (duh). but i don't want to harp on it either. i don't want to give the impression that, with respect to howard, one MUST discuss race. of course, not discussing it is silly too. thoughts?

tia.

chos

Hi there,
Howard has a significant number of applicants and matriculants who are white, asian and other ethnicities than of African descent. While the school is a member of the HBCU, the professional schools are and have been quite diverse.

I am sure that the admissions people at Howard have heard and know quite a bit about race and healthcare as Howard has a national charter to produce physicians who will work with underserved populations so that if you feel that this is a topic for your PS or interview, they will be happy to listen and evaluate your thoughts.

A better use of your PS and interview time might be discussion of why you want to work with underserved populations (of any ethnicity) and why you believe you would fit in well at Howard (any medical school for that matter).

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

 

[MEG@COOL]

Tell them that you are racist and that you are applying to howard as a joke.

 

[cfdavid]

folks:

i am white and i've applied to howard. i am just wondering about what people think about my talking about race in my interviews or essays. i have a lot to say about race and i am quite aware that it plays a very significant role in medicine and our society (duh). but i don't want to harp on it either. i don't want to give the impression that, with respect to howard, one MUST discuss race. of course, not discussing it is silly too. thoughts?

tia.

chos

Just don't be a pawn. Whites don't have a monopoly on racism. Remember that. If you don't have racist tendencies, then don't accept any "guilt" or any of that BS.

Seriously, I had a few college courses (required liberal arts classes) where the professors "preached" that, essentially, European's (and European Americans) are the scorge of the earth. And these were both white professors. It was sickening to see that kind of self loathing. Those guys were total pawns.

The world is way more complicated than that. It's good to be aware of the harm of racism. But, just don't pander to what you think they want to hear. Just because they're admissions people doesn't mean that their view of the world is correct. So, don't sell out by telling them what you think they want to hear.

 

[masterMood]

Tell them that you are racist and that you are applying to howard as a joke.

tell them you used to be a white supremist that's started anew, and you're ready to work with black people again.