2015-16 Med School Applicants and their Parents

@momworried

Men should NEVER wear a black suit. (Black is for funerals!) Charcoal, navy, dark gray for men’s suits. Subtle pinstripes are OK.

Suits must fit well. Have it altered by a tailor if necessary. Most better suit brands will sell suits as separate pieces–one size for the jacket and a different size for the slacks.

(And I feel your pain. D1 has broad straight shoulders and absolutely no butt. No hips either. Skirts will slide right off of her…. Her residency interview suit was a Size 2 jacket and size 00 pants with the seat & hips taken in. Her residency interview suit was bought in NYC at an Italian designer store. It cost her beaucoup bucks, but she looked incredible! )

Son bought his suit as separates, like WOWmom suggested. As a college football player he is a BIG guy. Big shoulders and chest with a much more narrower waist. He did wear a black suit with small pinstripes. White shirt every time, just changed up his tie, and they were bold/bright. His suit was purchased at Belk’s (southern store) on a super clearance, and it was a travel suit…wool/linen/silk…would show no wrinkles no matter how much it was worn. Super clearance is defined at less than $50 for both pieces. We did spend more to have it altered due to his sizes but it did fit great. He did not care at all what he wore, he would have gone in shorts and flip flops if I let him. It did not seem to affect his interview success, at all.

We have had to purchase another suit since then for his MBA program this past year which he needed again for interviews. Did the same thing bought a nice RL suit on super discount $47 for both pieces, again separates. Had them altered and it fit great and he did well interview-wise. He will wear the same suit for residency interviews. White or blue shirts with same crazy ties. He basically feels if his clothing is going to influence the adcomms/PDs/corporate MBA types then he doesn’t want to work for them or attend that program. He feels it is a good weeding out tool for him to use on them!! Not surprised he did the same thing for undergrad. He feels even more strongly now as he has gotten older/more experience, he wants to find a good “fit” as far as programs. Just his take on the “what to wear” question.

Kat

@katwittens - RL suit for $47, now that is a bargain! I bought one recently but not anywhere close to that price.

@katwkittens --I love your sons attitude!

@WayOutWestMom -I really like the Macys dress and jacket without traditional lapels (that is the style we need!) I am going to have ot go into a local store and ask them to search for it in stores as online thay dont have any sizes close to my daughters size.

@texaspg , what do you think is holding your D back from writing the secondaries? I know that DS just wanted to get them over with so he could enjoy the rest of his summer. Is she just too busy?

She chose to be on campus for summer with the understanding that secondaries will be filed despite whatever she is doing. I suspect she doesn’t fully grasp the parents’ need for speed! I finally got one more submit last night but wish it was a week ago since they just started issuing IIs this morning.

Son just got his first II !!! So excited for him

@momworried - Congratulations!

I think D had some friends start getting IIs and so finally got motivated to start turning in secondaries. Completed 4 in last 2 days. I feel little less pressure.

@momworried Congrats thats great news!!

Another II.

@momworried , congrats!

@momworried when is he interviewing?

One is at the end of August and the other is 2nd week of September. He just got another II this morning but didn’t schedule that one yet. Need to go today and buy him a suit ASAP. Will probably need time to alter it

Congrats to your son momworried! DS is still waiting for his committee letter to be sent to amcas. He sent his primary app in on June 4th. Verified shortly after. All secondaries are complete. He is watching all of the IIs going out. Hands tied. Frustrated. I can’t blame him.

I know it’s frustration when it’s out of your hands. I wish these committees would release letters sooner. My son’s letter wasn’t supposed to be released until sometime in August. It was a miracle that it was done so early.
Hang in there. It will be ok.

@katie93mom …We have banned SDN, too!! LOL
My D’s roommate got an interview to one of the schools they both applied to… which has my girl completely freaked out. So not looking is better : )
She has 2 left to do… but she is really taking her time and answering things thoughtfully, researching and doing her very best… 1 every day or 2, and she’ll be finished Tuesday.

SDN is pretty much invaluable with info about individual schools. Lots of help keeping him sane with interview stats.

Another II this morning!!!

Bought a charcoal suit at one of the outlet stores. Fits him perfectly. What color shirt? White, blue? I’m assuming black shoes?

Michigan seems to have one of the most open admission processes. It is interesting to track the number of already issued interviews, colleges most represented etc.

http://medicine.umich.edu/medschool/education/md-program/md-admissions

http://medicine.umich.edu/medschool/sites/medicine.umich.edu.medschool/files/field/docs/2015-16%20Tracker.pptx

Congrats on all the early IIs! @momworried- yes, black shoes. Almost any conservative color shirt- blue would be nice with the charcoal suit.