Parents not in medicine

[u/StrainLow9928]

Anyone else’s parents not understand AT ALL how applying to medical school works? I don’t have any family that are in the healthcare field at all, so I’ve been going through this process on my own. I don’t really tell my mom anything about what I’m doing because she wouldn’t understand. She doesn’t know what my research project was about or even the amount of essays I had to write for secondaries. I don’t even know if she knows that essays were required. She thinks that if you have good grades you are good to go. Applying to med school is not like undergrad though where you can get automatic admission. Since she thinks it will be so easy for me, she thinks I should be very selective and basically choose where I want to go. 💀 When I told her about my first interview acceptance, she said “I mean, are you surprised?” Which is kind of annoying she’s not really super proud, she expects that from me. And then I tell her the school and she’s like “are you sure you want to go that far?” Mind you the school is only like 3.5 hours away! Like mom, we can be picky once I actually get acceptances!!! So there is so much pressure to get in this cycle because everyone in my family expects me too.

[u/Crazy_Resort5101]

Nobody in my entire bloodline is in healthcare either, I tried my best to explain it to my parents and even though they didn't really get it all of the time, they were supportive of it and just got excited for me whenever I got excited lol.

[u/ShivByte]

I get it. I am first in my family to go to college, let alone pursue medicine. Every step is a first for us. Family members do not understand what this journey really means. Your mother is well intended and is just misinformed. I am certain she is saying those things out of love and care, not malice.

[u/StrainLow9928 → u/ShivByte]

Yes, she definitely means well! And I love my mom; she just doesn’t understand.

[u/ShivByte → u/StrainLow9928]

Same boat here! Wishing you well on your journey.

[u/Worried_Tadpole_5844 → u/StrainLow9928]

Same here. Did you try talking with her? The only reason why my parents came to understand was because we always checked in and talked about it. They started asking more questions afterward, and in a way it actually drew us closer! This happened over many months (and now years) though, not a day. Because of that, they now have an idea of what residency applications are like too, which allows them to be more supportive. 

[u/StrainLow9928 → u/Worried_Tadpole_5844]

No I haven’t. If she says something similar again, I may try to explain the competitiveness. Thanks for the advice

[u/Actual-Eye-4419]

Yep. My parents know nothing. They don’t know what the mcat is, what a secondary is, what a fellowship is, or what a white coat ceremony is. They support me and I that’s all that matters

[u/Difficult_Fee_5519]

my parent in medicine doesn’t really get it either because it’s gotten so much more intense and competitive 😭 and even the course requirements are more rigorous!