Guest jmh2005 Posted January 3, 2003 Report Share Posted January 3, 2003 Hi all, Seeing as things will start to get busy on the board in another 8 weeks (yes, that's when interview invites go out...) I thought it was time for me to give back (officially) as this site really helped me when I was in the application process. So, I will try to check the site daily and together with AJ we will try to answer your questions about Mac, the process, etc...seeing as our colleages have all moved on to clerkship and now have a lot less free time. Hope to be of some help, best wishes and Happy New Year!! J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nicolekavita Posted January 3, 2003 Report Share Posted January 3, 2003 I have a question for you jmh2005! 1. If granted an interview, what do you think about expressing an interest in a specific field of medicine, like Neurology? Nicole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jmh2005 Posted January 4, 2003 Report Share Posted January 4, 2003 Hey Nicole, Wow, that's a good one...I really don't know exactly what to tell you. I know that in my interview I was asked what area of medicine I seeing myself practicing. I myself, want to do Family Medicine with the extra year of emergency medicine, and that was what I told them directly. I said that I see myself as a community-based clinician who would like to also spend time in the ER working. Now, that was what I said. In my opinion, I don't think that is a negative thing at all if it does come up. To me, it shows that you've really thought of your future career and where you wish to see yourself in a few years. Especially if this (neuro) is an area that you already have experience (i.e. from neuroscience, biopsych or as a therapist, etc...), I think this is fine. You may want to think (as I'm sure you already know) of all the reasons why it is neuro specifically that you want because they may then turn it back to you for explanation (which was what happened to me). Have good reasons/explanations for your early choice. I know that some people (even if they do know what they want this early) have really hammered home the point that they simply want to work together with others, help and empower them to improve their health in a variety of settings and are unsure of their exact choice of a branch of medicine. This is fine too. Just remember it is how you say it, how sincere and articulate you are, just as much as it is about what you say. I hope that helps, just remember I'm only one opinion, there may be others that feel differently, so get as much input as you can. Take care and good luck! J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wileycoyote Posted January 4, 2003 Report Share Posted January 4, 2003 Hi jmh, couple o' questions -did you read essays this year? what is the general feeling by you and the others about the quality of this years essays (given that there was a pretty sizeable increase in the number of applicants over previous years) -In your experience and observations, are Mac students/faculty more open to complementary and alternative medicine than students/faculty in other med. schools? thx w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jmh2005 Posted January 4, 2003 Report Share Posted January 4, 2003 Hey wiley, With regards to the applications, yes I did read them in early December. I can't comment beyond some generalizations because the process is to be kept confidential (we were warned quite openly...). But as you would expect, there were some great applications and some not so great applications! I only read 30 out of the 3685 applications, so making a generalization about a sample size of 30 wouldn't be too appropriate, but like I said above I saw a pretty typical distribution in what I read. The big messages I would send are answer the question, exactly, use all your 700 characters, and write articulately! With respect to your question on the views of alternative medicine etc...that's a hard one too. As a former therapist myself, I have tried to bring up in tutorial the importance of the interdisciplinary health care team (i.e., PT, OT, RN, SLP, RD, MD, SW) and the valuable roles each can play, and the physician can't and should not "do it all". But, I suspect your questions is regarding therapies such as naturopathic/homeopathic, acupuncture, etc. The only thing I can say is that Mac is very evidence based. Not a lot of those 'untraditional' therapies have a lot of research behind them, which I think is a bit scary (not that I am opposed...) but when you don't have a lot of research, but just some anecodotal reports... So, it's hard to say what the school says on this, because I have yet to hear anyone make a comment on this topic. This week we go back to class and it is actually evidence-based medicine week until Friday, so I wouldn't be surprised if we do hear some things on this topic. To me, the important thing to remember is that your future patients, regardless of where you practice, will be taking/using additional/alternative therapies, so you need to know about the big ones (some have serious interactions with traditional meds)...just the other day in the ER a Dad told me that he had heard putting onion juice in a sore ear would help it (but didn't)...and the child ended up having a pretty severe otitis media which required anti-biotics...so it is out there, and as clinicians we need to be aware and educated as best we can (there are a few great reference books out there...) so we can best serve our patients. Hope that helps, take care, J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Carolyn Posted January 4, 2003 Report Share Posted January 4, 2003 Just another thought - I think it is great to show that you've developed an interest in a specific area; however, I also think it is important to show that you recognize the importance of becoming a general doctor before a specialist - i.e. so they know that you will be putting your all into all areas of medicine during medical school not just neuro... I know that sounds silly but it happens - in fact, the word on the street is that it is the people who 'subspecialize' so early on that are the ones who end up failing their boards, not the ones with lower gpas... As well, I think it is important to verbalize your recognition that things change. I and a lot of my classmates started at mac with some strong ideas of what specialty we wanted to pursue. Only a minority are still pursuing them and many of us after having the opportunity to be exposed to so many other fields have done complete turnarounds... I thought I might want to do a pediatric subspecialty... I am now going through the match for Emerg! Very very different. As I developed my knowledge base I realized I couldn't stick to one area - I was too interested in everything. Plus as I developed myself as a doctor (personality, skills) etc. I found my doctor personality was a much better fit for emerg meeting 40 + people a day for the first time than sitting in an office... In summary, I think it is great to have a focus to start with. You might want to approach it along the lines of: "I have done a lot of work in neurology - and find it fascinating so I will likely try to get an elective in neurology when I start medical school in order to figure out whether it is an area I would like to actually practice medicine in. At the same time, I recognize that I haven't had exposure to so many other areas. My plan would be to also do electives in a wide variety of areas in my first year so that I can feel pretty confident about my choice when the time comes as well as use the electives as an opportunity to supplement my learning in so many other important areas..." I hope that helps. take care and good luck to all. Carolyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gucio93 Posted January 4, 2003 Report Share Posted January 4, 2003 I must say that my thoughts are completely along the line of what Carolyn wrote. On a more personal note, I started off thinking that I would like to do Family Medicine, but I'm now much more interested in Internal Medicine or Obstetrics (still two very different specialties), and I'm still open to the possibility that my interests may change before the matching process begins . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MDWannabe Posted January 6, 2003 Report Share Posted January 6, 2003 Hi Nicole, I see your question has been answered by the multitude, but I wanted to take this opportunity to add my 2 cents: I, like most of the other commentators, clearly expressed my interest (in family medicine) at the outset - during the interview. As an older applicant, I thought it was particularly important to do it up front, and I strongly believe, in any case, that I will ultimately pursue a general practice. That being said, I've only had 4 months in med school, and I don't think I've met a single advisor, upper year student, preceptor or administrator who didn't at least express some degree of skepticism that I would follow my expressed goal. As was mentioned, so many people do change their minds, that it probably makes sense to exhibit an open mind on the subject. I still hold the opinion that I'd prefer to see an applicant who has a strong view of who he/she is and where he/she wants to go - just keep in mind that most people seem to believe that you won't follow your intended path! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tirisa Posted January 8, 2003 Report Share Posted January 8, 2003 Hi all, I was just wondering at what point my referees may be contacted. Does this occur only after receiving an interview?? and are all referees contacted?? Some of my referees travel often for work, so I'm just concerned about them not being around to receive a call. Thanks for any info you can provide. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jmh2005 Posted January 9, 2003 Report Share Posted January 9, 2003 Tirisa, Your referees will ONLY be contacted if the reader of your sketch is questioning what you wrote. So, for example if you told me that you worked with Mother Theresa last year in India, I would want to contact your verifer because that would not be truthful (she passed away in 1997, I believe...). I know that is an extreme example, but one that would necessitate a telephone call to verify! The calls (if any are made at all) are done only by the admissions admin at the request of a reader (readers are not allowed to call anyone). I know of no one who has requested a verifier be contacted. So, don't worry what so ever! Good luck in the process. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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