Why Are Secondaries So Inefficient?

[ridethecliche]

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Warning: This is a stupid rant. You have been warned.

One thing I've noticed from doing a ton of secondaries is that schools really suck when it comes to the programming aspect of these.

Seriously, does every school have to make you re-type out AMCAS style course requirements? Why can't write code that just pulls that data from your application and allow you to flag the appropriate classes that meet different requirements?

I'm doing a lot of secondaries, so this feels obnoxious, but making someone redo information that already exists is asking for there to be mistakes when information is transposed. Seriously... They need to write one script that does this. Some schools even make you re-type your name and address?

Why require the AMCAS application if you're going to just disregard all that info.

/end rant.

 

[ridethecliche]

Of note, I seriously say 'seriously' a lot.

*Cue why so srs picture*

 

[Abstractions]

Short answer: Because they can.

 

[rachel993]

I totally agree about the coursework thing. Some of my schools didn't make me re-enter them, but a few did. And very extensively, too. I am filling out one particular secondary and the courses alone are taking forever! such a dumb waste of my time. Honestly when schools do that, it makes me think badly of them (not that they care).
It's like, so I'm slaving away and draining my bank account for a chance to come and interview so that I can maybe go to med school, but oh wait. you don't want to search through your electronic filing systems and access my AMCAS? let me just do it all over again just for you, nbd.

ugh

 

[claduva94]

You fill it out anyway. So why would they pay coders to do that work if you are willing to pay to do it?

 

[Mayday_]

ADCOMs' response to "write one script to do this":

In all honestly, it is slightly annoying to put coursework in repeatedly, but if that's what works for them, then it is what it is.

 

[ridethecliche]

Honestly though, a few don't even bring your name and contact info from AMCAS.

They could just pull the data from AMCAS for classes and make you flag the ones that are pre-reqs. Seriously.

AND WE PAY THEM TO DO THIS! THE FREE MARKET IS BROKEN!!!

 

[claduva94]

Honestly though, a few don't even bring your name and contact info from AMCAS.

They could just pull the data from AMCAS for classes and make you flag the ones that are pre-reqs. Seriously.

AND WE PAY THEM TO DO THIS! THE FREE MARKET IS BROKEN!!!

As long as premeds are willing to pay to do it they have no incentive to change it. So it is what it is. The rest of the process itself is far worse than entering a few prereqs into boxes.

 

[ridethecliche]

It's the slippery slope fallacy at work. When it starts to suck a little bit, it will suck a lot more.

The probability of it not sucking, frankly sucks.

 

[ridethecliche]

I should probably suck it up and do the secondaries that suck and are sucking the life out of me.

I don't know what sucks more, the fact that it's a beautiful day outside or that sun isn't broken.

 

[ridethecliche]

OMG DUKE DOES THIS. I'M IN LOVE GAIZ!

 

[Spinach Dip]

FYI, I do not consider this rant "stupid".

 

[Ismet]

I think there's one of these rants every week 😛

Think of it as your introduction to a career full of filling things in and checking boxes.

 

[BeancheBlanco]

I don't think it's that big of a deal. Most of the schools I applied to didn't require me to input my classes, and those that did only really asked for the prereqs.

 

[LilEngineThatCould]

I haven't had to do this very much actually, but it was annoying for the ones I did and I think it was only for pre-reqs. Anyway, you're in for a world of surprise if you think this only happens for med school secondary apps lol job apps are horrendous which is probably why I'm a little desensitized and not as annoyed as you are haha

I've really wondered with some companies, hospitals, etc that I applied to if I should continue with the app because if their filing system is that sh***y then what can I expect from the job lol