Just had the experience of submitting a secondary to one of my top schools and the Internet at the coffeeshop glitched. Almost freaked out. Luckily everything appears to have made it through ok.
Anyone else struggling with all of the different ways that secondaries are trying to get at the same questions? I was super proud of my personal statement but most of my secondaries feel like a poor representation of me because I'm trying to figure out what they want.
I was and am struggling as well with them . However, I already complete 21 secondaries and I think that I am getting better at it. IMHO, and what I learned so far is that I believe that the admission committee care or less for you answer or what you think in the majority of the cases. I think that they are more concerned about your thought process and interpretation of the question. Off course you have to use your personal traits experience to answer them. Like my friend who is a doctor told me: Doctors and admission committee people have heard all types of things. They want to make sure if you are able to "illustrate" backup what you are saying with solid examples, not fancy or complicated. THIS IS MY 2 CENTS, so take with a grain of salt . I hate writing and I am not very good at it. I tend to keep simple and direct. Maybe someone with more experience can help you out. But anyways I'll provide you with a couple examples of my own. Don't mind the grammar-structure.
Poor example ( I used to write like this):
"When I am a doctor I will advocate for the poor, sick and commit my career to provide healthcare access to all at all costs"
Better in my opnion:
" When I volunteered in the ER, I met a patient who lost his finger because of an untreated bacterial infection. This outcome could have been easily prevented if he had seek healthcare in the first few days. However, the patient lived in a rural area and could not afford to sick health care until was an emergency. I hope to dedicate my career to serve people like these and others, by providing health care........ and advocating for patients like these in political spheres ........ also I plan to use technological advances to help provide healthcare to rural areas.......... yadaydayda"
My formula to approach them (Generally).
1- Read the question and understand EXACTLY what they are asking. I usually highlight "the elements"
2-Describe a short anectode realating to the question
3- what you learned
4-How yo want-planto help ( or elements trait that you posses learned)
5- wrap it up and tell how much you love medicine
another one
Q: " How would you CONTRIBUTE to the Diversity of this med school class and medical community yada yada yada...
A: - describe shortly some experiences with diversity( when I was an undergard there were people from Angola that did not speak english but we became friends or places that you lived or what ever)
- What skills I learned from it . (aspects of different cultures, language skills, belief ....)
- My personal take on them ( Despite the fact we are different, I came to appreciate and understand their point of view......)
-How they relate to medicine and Contribute to class or whatever and cite a couple of examples how this skills can be used. ( when I am doctor I will try not observe the patient, but to understand what cultural social aspects that are leading them to feel-behave in certain way by trying see the world through their eyes .... my language skills and broad life experiences will help me understand the patients and school mates.... .)
Anyways,
That is just my take and I am really bad at writing but I think this approach helps me out to keep simple and concise.
Edit: I am working on this question right now and this how I figure what they want.
1. Describe personal attributes you possess or life experiences you have had that will enable you to better understand patients with a culture different from your own. Please include your self-reflection on how this experience has changed your insights, beliefs, and/or values. (1000 characters)