General Will using em dash tank my application?

[Question]

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Hi - succumbed to the habit of reading over my AMCAS a dozen times even though it's been a week since I've submitted, and saw a post on my Linkedin making a joke about ChatGPT's use of em dashes. I was not aware that this was a known thing.

I did not use AI at all, and I'm getting very stressed out because I saw a comment on Reddit with some admissions reader saying that they instantly throw out / scrutinize an application that uses em dashes. Does anyone have any insight on this?

— Experts please respond to this post —

 

[Mr.Smile12]

The Ins and Outs of Em Dashes and En Dashes

A basic knowledge of em dashes and en dashes can help you add flair and clarity to your communications.

umarcomm.umn.edu

I actually don't like using em dashes, and it doesn't have to do with ChatGPT. I don't think I really grew up with them. I prefer commas and parentheses, and I'll use semicolons. Just me and my preferences.

 

[Goro]

Reddit is the cesspool of the internet. Just stop going there. Full stop.
Let us suppose that admissions Deans are using AI to screen essays. Let us also suppose that the failure rate of the AI detectors is 5%. Meaning 5% of all non AI written essays are still flagged as AI by the AI detectors.

That is an unsuccessful failure rate. And that's why adcoms do not use AI to screen applications. There are computer screens for stats and other stuff like required credits or having enough credits, so do not worry about your application and send it in.

And send one to my school, somewhere west of the Missouri River too, while you're at it.

 

[Dral]

People use them. I use them very sparingly. I tend to go with punctuation similar to what Mr.Smile does.

You cannot change your app at this point, so try not to perseverate on it.

Right after you submit and before invites start coming in is when you can actually feel some relief and take some breaths so to speak. Please do that instead of worrying about something you cannot change.

Quite honestly, even if you had the option to withdraw and resubmit I'd say to not bother with it.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I can’t even bring myself to consider this question seriously—I know this is a big deal to you, but nobody reviewing hundreds of apps has any time to worry about what your type of dashes says about you. This is most certainly not going to get you shut out of medical school. Don’t worry about this

 

[Dral]

We've been there. The stress of applying can get you in certain ways and manifest as things like this.

Refocus on other more productive things. Developing that skill will do you well throughout the journey of med school and onward.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

FYI - an em-dash counts as 1 character (versus semicolon, colon, or comma).

 

[wook]

As my esteemed colleagues have discussed, I would not worry excessively about this. This was your own work. I would not focus too much on anything from reddit.



Wook