Reusing secondary themes, but rewriting the essays? (reapp)

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

Long story short, I am a reapp from 2013-2014 who got 6 II between top 20s and other programs, but was waitlisted/rejected due to lack of clinical and volunteer experience, which I fixed since then.

I was analyzing my old secondaries at places that I interviewed, and I noticed that my diversity and challenge essay were all asked by the schools that interviewed me on their secondaries.

I believe that those essays are still very relevant to me. I plan on rewriting those secondary essays, however would it be fine if I reuse those same themes? Arguably, I felt that my secondaries during my first cycle were stronger than my old personal statement.

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[Lawpy]

Yes reusing themes is fine. Adcoms aren't expecting you to suddenly have a different adversity within a year or two

 

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

Yes reusing themes is fine. Adcoms aren't expecting you to suddenly have a different adversity within a year or two

Awesome! I tried drastically changing my diversity and challenge essays at first, but they resulted in significantly weaker essays that I will not use! I will be sure to extensively edit those old essays so adcoms don't get upset, but they did accurately represent me as an applicant! My "Why X School of Medicine" secondaries on the other hand , not too good and will get a lot more work.

 

[DrDorianTurkleton]

Yea looking back through my old secondaries from my previous cycle, I was not happy at all with the quality of the work so it'll be back to the drawing board for me haha

 

[gannicus89]

Might I ask how many clinical and volunteering hours you had your first time applying?

 

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

Might I ask how many clinical and volunteering hours you had your first time applying?

Admittedly, I was not the most knowledgeable premed the first time around. Roughly 20-30 hours of shadowing in one specialty. Just above 50 hours of hospital volunteering. Luckily, I fixed that before applying now.

 

[gannicus89]

Admittedly, I was not the most knowledgeable premed the first time around. Roughly 20-30 hours of shadowing in one specialty. Just above 50 hours of hospital volunteering. Luckily, I fixed that before applying now.

I see. Thanks for sharing.

 

[vellez]

If those themes got you 6 II (which is really impressive, btw), clearly they are okay to use, albeit updated.

Just a tip, and I don't mean this to be rude, but if you got 6 II with no acceptances, I highly doubt it was due your lack of volunteer/clinical experiences. Adcoms definitely take those into consideration when they offer IIs. If I were you, I'd work more on my interviewing/interpersonal skills (maybe you have been?).

 

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

If those themes got you 6 II (which is really impressive, btw), clearly they are okay to use, albeit updated.

Just a tip, and I don't mean this to be rude, but if you got 6 II with no acceptances, I highly doubt it was due your lack of volunteer/clinical experiences. Adcoms definitely take those into consideration when they offer IIs. If I were you, I'd work more on my interviewing/interpersonal skills (maybe you have been?).

Definitely, I appreciate the honest advice! My first few interviews were indeed pretty weak (especially since some were MMI), I never got the hang of interviewing until the last few (at my reaches). I have been practicing since then, so I hope I am good for that. Otherwise, my post-interview feedback has been about fixing my clinical involvement.

 

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

Bump. Although I successfully rewrote a better version of my diversity essay with the same theme, I am struggling rewriting the challenge essay. Every reworded version of it seemed weaker than the original. Can I afford to reuse, word for word, my old challenge essay? After all, it got me 4/6 interview invites.

Part of me does not want to appear lazy. On the other hand as the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[The Real SVB]

Gotta change some. Add stuff in it take some out. Don't do word for word

 

[PatrickStarMDPHD]

Will do, going to be tough but I guess I will have to do it. Thanks!

 

[The Real SVB]

Will do, going to be tough but I guess I will have to do it. Thanks!

I think changing the intro and ending may work out well since those are most noticeable upon first glance. Intro especially