Why I want to be a Doctor answers.

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keithslc

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I have been given alot of strange feedback from schools lately about how I was scored by my interviewers: It was commented that I was too much of a leader and wouldn't be a good follower from one school; Another school said I was too laid back during the interview (this was my first interview and I was nervous as HE double L).
I guess I will be less presenting and more timid at further interviews but, there are two comments that I am in need of some help to try to resolve. The first was a comment that I was not knowledgeable enough about OMM. I was easily able to explain the difference between Osteopathic medicine and Allopathic in regards to implementation as a reference to use of OMM. I proceeded to explain the four basic Tenets and the history of how OMT techniques were developed and evolved. I was able to explain its use as a palpatory diagnostic tool and as a treatment (I never called it Therapy!).Finally I was able to mention some examples of common ailments where OMM is commonly applicable. I have shadowed DO's and seen OMM used but was not given a whole lot of in depth explanation as to finite details of it's implementation. How much more do you feel should be expected from an interviewee?
The second and, perhaps hardest for me to communicate was an inability to explain my motivation to become a Doctor. I am not sure if I am providing enough insight to my interviewers as to why I want to be a Doctor. I want to be a Doctor based on: my exposure from shadowing Physicians in several settings, the intellectual challenge, a calling/desire to help others. This desire stems from the belief that I would be a physician who is very attentive to their needs and, have an understanding of the treatment that they require. I am not someone who had one traumatic event that made me turn toward medicine but, rather developed the calling over time. I was wondering how in depth an explanation was given by some of you who have been interviewed and accepted? Do you feel I need to break down every shadowing and clinical experience into an explanation of what they have contributed to my motivation to become a Doctor?...Thanks for your input
 
keithslc said:
Thanks for the feedback.

You might think of expanding on your general theme. From what I read, you're basically saying you want to be a doctor because you think you'll make a good doctor. That's not really a reason for doing it.

Everyone has a reason based on personal experiences, which may take a long time to figure out. It took me two years to figure out what has influenced my decision. Ultimately, mine was the innate desire and sense of duty to protect and aid others from harm or injury. I exhibit this desire in both my passion for medicine, which I view as a service to humanity and not some uber career field that makes a lot of money, as well as my determined training in martial arts. However, this doesn't really explain why. That answer lies in my experiences as a child of watching my grandmother slowly die of lung cancer, my grandfather of alzheimers, my uncle of hypoxia, another grandmother of stroke and heart attack (I actually had the unfortunate experience of watching her have a heart attack), and a very close person who was sexually abused as a child -- all the while I had to merely sit back and watch, unable to do anything about any of them.

My general theme is that I'm tired of being a spectator and want the knowledge and ability to stop harm from others, or at least have the chance to correct these wrongs when they occur. Thus my passion for martial arts (to protect those from harm or injury) and medicine (protect those from death).

Please don't steal my reasoning either.
 
JKDMed said:
You might think of expanding on your general theme. From what I read, you're basically saying you want to be a doctor because you think you'll make a good doctor. That's not really a reason for doing it.

Everyone has a reason based on personal experiences, which may take a long time to figure out. It took me two years to figure out what has influenced my decision. Ultimately, mine was the innate desire and sense of duty to protect and aid others from harm or injury. I exhibit this desire in both my passion for medicine, which I view as a service to humanity and not some uber career field that makes a lot of money, as well as my determined training in martial arts. However, this doesn't really explain why. That answer lies in my experiences as a child of watching my grandmother slowly die of lung cancer, my grandfather of alzheimers, my uncle of hypoxia, another grandmother of stroke and heart attack (I actually had the unfortunate experience of watching her have a heart attack), and a very close person who was sexually abused as a child -- all the while I had to merely sit back and watch, unable to do anything about any of them.

My general theme is that I'm tired of being a spectator and want the knowledge and ability to stop harm from others, or at least have the chance to correct these wrongs when they occur. Thus my passion for martial arts (to protect those from harm or injury) and medicine (protect those from death).

Please don't steal my reasoning either.

I think your reason/motivations are great...And please dont take this harshly but I hope you didnt say all that during the interview. Maybe you can look at your reasons and sort of simplify them so that your answers will seem straight forward (not that they arent) and less complicated. And you know what they might sound like others but if their true than thats the right answer,... just my opinion. GOOD LUCK!!
 
Thanks, my interview is in two weeks on Nov 3. 😱

The only thing I can't figure out is the paradox of using violence against someone to protect another. I really don't have an answer to this likely question, other than sometimes it's necessary.
 
OmedDOC said:
I think your reason/motivations are great...And please dont take this harshly but I hope you didnt say all that during the interview. Maybe you can look at your reasons and sort of simplify them so that your answers will seem straight forward (not that they arent) and less complicated. And you know what they might sound like others but if their true than thats the right answer,... just my opinion. GOOD LUCK!!

If I was on an AdCom and heard those two answers, after you left I would fall out laughing. I know its a tough question to answer but that doesn't have to mean it has to be such a sappy response. Whether its true or not it just doesn't sound legit.
 
omsres said:
If I was on an AdCom and heard those two answers, after you left I would fall out laughing. I know its a tough question to answer but that doesn't have to mean it has to be such a sappy response. Whether its true or not it just doesn't sound legit.

The legitimacy of the reasons is proven by the actions one takes before sitting in the interviewee chair.
 
were you addressing that to me or to the other poster?....Any suggestions from your experiences?
 
keithslc said:
were you addressing that to me or to the other poster?....Any suggestions from your experiences?


I was addressing both. I have had the advantage of being on both ends. I have had many interviews and have interviewed potential applicants to my residency program. Not to put either of you down, It all just sounds cliche. I'm sorry but I dont have a magic formula for figuring out what to say. I struggled with the same question myself. You have to find a balance between practical and altruistic reasons for persuing medicine as a career. I don't think it is frowned on to mention the financial security of the career choice or how it plays to your interest in the human system. I think that if you have any patient experience as a volunteer or something it might sound good to reflect on a unique patient of interesting situation. Mention any mentors that might have influcenced in your decision. It seemed like the more experience I got the easier the questions were. It always looks bad, though, to only talk about medicine or school. Bring up hobbies, interests, a trip. You have to find a way to stand out.
 
omsres said:
I was addressing both. I have had the advantage of being on both ends. I have had many interviews and have interviewed potential applicants to my residency program.

That's interesting. You were a dental student anyways, right?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=1943134#post1943134
"But hey, I'm not on an ad com and I've never taken the mcat....but yet I'm a third year medical student, go figure."

Please stop giving crap advice when you obviously don't know what the hell you're talking about, nor have the position or experience with which to share any, "insight". Medical school does not equal dental school.
 
JKDMed said:
That's interesting. You were a dental student anyways, right?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=1943134#post1943134
"But hey, I'm not on an ad com and I've never taken the mcat....but yet I'm a third year medical student, go figure."

Please stop giving crap advice when you obviously don't know what the hell you're talking about, nor have the position or experience with which to share any, "insight". Medical school does not equal dental school.

I'm in medical school right now. I interviewed with medicing faculty to get my residency position at 6 of my 9 interviews. Adcoms are similar in both schools, and residency interviews are twice as stressful. I work everyday with medical attendings and have had medical students work under me. I think my advice is very valid.
 
By the way your right, medical school is nothing like dental school. Its 10 times easier.
 
So, you have attended both medical and dental schools for the entirety of their programs to make that comparison? Give me a break....

omsres said:
By the way your right, medical school is nothing like dental school. Its 10 times easier.
 
For the elite, anything is possible. 😀
 
omsres said:
By the way your right, medical school is nothing like dental school. Its 10 times easier.

What a joke, get serious.. some people actually look for valid advice. If you want to post crap, open a thread and label it "CRAP".
 
Lets make this a valid thread again:

My "Why I want to be a doctor" answer is another one of those answers just like everyone else has. In order to make myself better known, I go out of my way to describe the reason I said I wanted to be a doctor as a child (an uncle dying of brain cancer that I wanted to fix) and then further my answer by explaining what I have done in the last ten years to solidify my decision.

For me, I felt it was important to not only explain my original motivation but to also show maturity in my decision by explaining more recent events that have reaffirmed my decision to pursue a career as a physician.
 
Personal is the best way to go.. you are right KaiKai.

It took me a while to prepare for this question.

I had to brainstorm.. and after a few days... I realized I had lots of reasons. Personal experiences, educational, and emotional.
 
JKDMed said:
Medical school does not equal dental school.

Osteopathic school does not equal medical school. I do, however, enjoy a good massage. Omsres was trying to be helpful and had some good advice before you jumped on him. Maybe you should listen to a man who has interviewed for a professional school and residency as well as interviewed potential applicants to his residency. Maybe. Or maybe you'll just assume that he doens't know anything b/c you, as a pre-DO student, know everything.
 
osteopathic school does not equal medical school

On a normal day, I would at this point in time go into the fact that almost all osteopathic schools have the words Shool/College of Medicince in their name...and give you a lecture about how osteopaths have all of the same rights in the United States as allopaths. Today, however, I think I am going to let one of my fellow DO gunners educate you--most ppl on this forum don't let comments like that slip by. I am just too tired to write anything eloquent today.

Come one everyone...lets hear it on this "does not equate to medical school" comment.
 
Two words.... ignorant troll

TX OMFS said:
Osteopathic school does not equal medical school. I do, however, enjoy a good massage. Omsres was trying to be helpful and had some good advice before you jumped on him. Maybe you should listen to a man who has interviewed for a professional school and residency as well as interviewed potential applicants to his residency. Maybe. Or maybe you'll just assume that he doens't know anything b/c you, as a pre-DO student, know everything.
 
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