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As a nontraditional student, you may have kids in tow when you head to medical school. Is that a red flag to medical school? Should you mention your kids?
“Did any of you mention your children in your application especially if it adds to your narrative of why you wanted to become a doctor?”
If it’s part of why you wanted to become a doctor, of course mention it. One of the students I’ve worked with, mentioned that it was the birth of his child that led him to want to become a physician. It was that spark for him to do this thing. But if you’re just throwing it out there that you have kids and a dog and why you wanted to be a doctor, which is something different, then it won’t fit the narrative of why you want to be a physician. So there’s no need to bring them up.
A lot of students are scared that if they bring up kids, it may be a red flag to the admissions committee. But don’t think of it that way. Being a nontraditional student, having kids, gives you a different point of view, it gives you a different perspective on life. Unlike what most students think that diversity is only limited to race, color, gender, etc, understand that being a parent is part of that diversity. And this is what the admissions committees are trying to do – build a community of students that are putting together a very diverse class of students who are going to work well together.
[Tweet “”Being a parent is diversity and that diversity can help add to the medical school class.” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-131-should-i-mention-kids-in-my-med-school-application/”]
Being a parent, you have experiences that a lot of other students may not have. So they may look at that and think it’s an asset and not a black mark on your application. It’s a huge asset to have that actually. So stop thinking that.
[Tweet “”A lot of you think that being a nontraditional student is going to hurt you. But it’s completely the opposite in most circumstances.” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-131-should-i-mention-kids-in-my-med-school-application/”]
Stop thinking that being a nontraditional student is going to hurt you. But it’s completely the opposite in most circumstances. So stop mentioning how your kids are going to hurt you. Again, bring it up if fits into the narrative of why you want to be a physician. There’s no use of hiding your family and trying to avoid talking about them. They’re a part of your story. But just don’t squeeze them into weird places just because you think you need to mention them along the way.
Stop worrying about your kids, your family, being married, as a disability in the application process and start looking at it from the standpoint of it being an asset that you can add to the diversity of the class. Because you’re going to have skills necessary to help the class along.
[Tweet “”Start looking at it from the standpoint of it being an asset that you can add to the diversity of the class. Because you’re going to have skills necessary to help the class along.” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-131-should-i-mention-kids-in-my-med-school-application/”]
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I just received my admission to XXXXX! This is unreal and almost feels like I am dreaming. I want to thank you for all of your help with my application. I cannot overstate how influential your guidance and insight have been with this result and I am eternally grateful for your support!
IM SO HAPPY!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP, IM INDEBTED TO YOU! Truly, thank you so much for all your help. Thank you doesnt do enough.
I want to take a few moments and thank you for all of your very instructive, kind and consistent feedback and support through my applications and it is your wishes, feedback, and most importantly your blessings that have landed me the acceptance!
I got into XXXXX this morning!!!! It still has not hit me that I will be a doctor now!! Thank you for all your help, your words and motivation have brought me to this point.
I wanted to once again express my heartfelt gratitude for your help in providing feedback during my secondary applications. Your guidance has been instrumental in my journey.
Just wanted to share my wonderful news! I received my first medical school acceptance! Thank you for all that you do for us Application Academy!!!
I am excited to tell you that I just got my third interview invite from XXXXX today! I can’t believe it. I didn’t even know if I was good enough to get one, let alone three – by mid-September. Thank you so much for all of your help and support up to this point; I would not be in this position without it!!
I wanted to thank you for helping me prepare for my XXXXX interview. Even in a 30-minute advising session, I learned so much from you. Thank you for believing in me, and here’s to another potential success story from one of your advisees!
I just received an acceptance with XXXXX! This is so exciting and such a huge relief and so nice to have one of our top choice schools! I also received an interview with XXXXX which brings the total up to 20 interviews! Thank so much, none of this would have been possible without you!
