Dr. Giggles:
Congratulations on your UNC acceptance. I hope others get good news too even though its almost July.
I went to talk to Dr. Peden yesterday. I was really impressed that he prepared so well to advice us on improving our application. He went through our files before the meeting and took notes. During our individual meeting, he read excerpts from the reports written by four adcom members (two interviewers and two non-interviewers).
I was pleased to hear the positive things they wrote. Two negative things that was in all four reports. One was the lack of clinical experience. I don't have any disagreement with that. I have shadowed at a primary care clinic and I am also part of a team that is trying to establish a hemodialysis center in Bangladesh. Its a part of Bangladesh where there is no such facility right now. It was a mistake on my part to think that thats medical experience. Its a huge project in terms of money and management. But I do agree it doesn't give me clinical exposure. I am starting two volunteer work from tomorrow to improve on that.
Anyways, I want opinion from anyone on the second thing that kept popping up in all four reports. The concern is with me not fitting well with the mission of the school.
I have tried my best to explain that I have been living in the U.S since 1992, and in NC since 1997. We have a house, my daughter was born here, we have all the intentions to live in NC. I declined a very good job offer from Minnesota to stay in NC. If I go to a out of state school, I want to come to NC and serve NC.
This issue is a bit frustrating because even though I was not born and raised in NC.. I really love this place and I want to practice here in future. I am more sure about that than what field of medicine I want to get into even though I really like primary care.
Because of the type of job (Semiconductor Industry), I cannot just move to anywhere in NC and prove that I love living in rural NC or such. In the end, it seems to me that it comes down to my words..whether they believe me. I love small town atmosphere. Another thing, I feel very strongly about is - if I go to ECU or UNC..tax payers are paying for my education. In a way, I feel very obligated to give something back in return.
Sorry for the long post. But I would appreciate any comment here or PM. I am just afraid that even if I get additional clinical experience, do better in MCAT, I might be stuck with the notion that I do not fit well with the mission of the school.
Thanks,
S.
!
