Mentioning family members are doctors on PS

**Golden** · 19-09-2007, 09:51 PM

Personally, I am firmly against this. I have 5 doctors in my immediate family (aunties and uncles). I sent my PS to one of my aunties (a non-medic) and she thinks it would be a great idea to include that hearing about my auntie's/uncle's "exploits/experiences" as doctors has reinforced my decision to be a doctor but that is utter bullcrap since it's not true. None of my relatives have influenced my decision to study and none of them were willing to help me get work experience either but they all seem to want to brag about me "My niece wants to be a doctor etc." I know this seems like a rant (and it probably is thinking about it) but I just need a second opinion on whether I should include that I have doctors in my family on my personal statement so that I can pluck up the courage to tell my aunty "er... no that's a really stupid idea".

Thanks for reading/listening.

Golden

**hopefulmedic** · 19-09-2007, 10:02 PM

Yes, this is a difficult one. I had the same dilemma, and decided against mentioning it on my personal statement. If they ask in an interview, you can always say you have doctors in the family, and what you have observed/learnt from this (ie. work long hours, etc etc) to show you have a realistic expectation of what being a doctor is like. But on a PS, they might judge it and think it sounds like you are only going into medicine because of family links. At least if you can explain to their faces, you are less likely to be misunderstood.

In the end, I told my auntie (who said the same as yours!) that my college teachers advise against this as it can annoy admissions tutors.

Well there's a second opinion anyway!

**Golden** · 19-09-2007, 10:06 PM

Lol! Thanks so much what you said really cleared things up for me! I agree with you completely

**ads** · 20-09-2007, 01:13 PM

i agree stick to your own personal reasons - i dont think there is an benefit mentioning it

**Gillz** · 20-09-2007, 01:19 PM

Yeh its best not to mention it. It may look like work experience has been handed to you on a platter, even if that isn't true. You need to show that you have used your initiative to find placements instead of using family contacts.

**Seren y Gogledd** · 20-09-2007, 03:15 PM

I agree with hopefulmedic - not on the PS, but definitely mention it in the interview if you get a question about "Do you really know what it's like?" etc. Because they will have influenced you, whether you know it or not - you'll know a lot more about the profession than you would have otherwise.

**bryony** · 20-09-2007, 03:32 PM

I think this probably depends on the individual admissions tutors. I've heard some doctors say that they think children of doctors are great applicants as they have a realistic idea of medicine, but equally, some might have the handed to you on a platter/pushed into it theory.

My idea would be that if it's not especially relevant, and certainly if it's not true, that your relatives have given you a good idea about medicine, don't say it. After all, what are you going to say in your interview if they say "Tell me more about what you've learnt from your medic relatives" if you haven't learnt anything?
On the other hand, if it's particularly relevant to your statement, then I think, by all means, say it. A single fact like this whether stated or not is probably not going to make or break your application after all.

**f_debelder** · 20-09-2007, 06:06 PM

Because they will have influenced you, whether you know it or not - you'll know a lot more about the profession than you would have otherwise.

No, don't include it. It makes you sound like your trying to play the Old Boys/Girls network.

Because they will have influenced you, whether you know it or not - you'll know a lot more about the profession than you would have otherwise.

Not really? I have doctors in the family, but it still doesn't tell me about what being a doctor is really like, working in a surgery/ward, the feelings of pressure and responsibility, making clinical decisions, hell even giving me clinical knowledge! You can pick up impressions from family members, but you won't really know what it's like.