2010-2011 University of California - San Diego Application Thread
Started by ksmi117
- Status
with your application!
For countless years, the essay has been a prompt for an autobiographical statement. I don't remember the word limit, but it's pretty generous (longer than AMCAS statement if I recall).
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
What's the major difference between the secondary (autobiographical statement) versus the primary (personal statement) then?
I go to UCSD as an undergrad and spoke with the person in charge in the admissions office. He said that the only people who get automatic secondaries have "much better" stats than the current incoming class. Otherwise they look at every app and decide if a secondary is to be offered.
You have to write about something that you didn't write about in the primary. It is usually around 7500 characters though I think years ago it was 10,000.
At this time last year, verifications of receipt of primaries and secondaries were already coming out....no one has heard anything?🙂
nothing yet here. Submitted on 6/1.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Ideally the primary should answer "why are you applying to medical school," and the secondary should answer "who are you?"
that makes sense. It just kinda sucks that some stuff that addresses the secondary was used in my primary though I used it to say why I applied to medicine. DO you think its fine to have some overlap of events, as long as you use them to answer the respected questions?
I talked about some childhood thing with my parents, but I used it to say why I had an interest in underserved communities in my primary but for my secondary could I reopen the topic but instead talk about how the thing affected me as a person and how it helped me develop?
I would avoid too much overlap, your interviewers are basically going to read both essays back to back.
Verified 6/7.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
yeah kip take that down-- whatever you linked to us shows your AMCAS ID.. do not let the wrong person see it!
That's weird... when I clicked on it, it was blank. But still, I'd take it down just in case (apparently others can see the ID#).
its funny that I wouldve thought it was just a random string of numbers until the other poster pointed it out.
of course having just the AAMC ID won't get anyone very far but just in case-- also now an adcom or something may know who you are (though thats my premed paranoid side speaking)
Why would it matter if adcom people knew you were on this site. Unless you posted offensive material on some parts of the forum.
I just think its better to retain anonymity in case something gets misconstrued, as non-verbal communication seems to be a lot. In most cases (99/100) you are right, it does not matter, but there could be the small chance it does.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
you guys think screening will actually take 6-8 weeks?
No, I think they just said that so they can get as much time as they want with each application. They will probably start sending out secondaries soon.
Same. Got the email for the invite, but the link to the secondary is unavailable for the secondary on my status update. Is yours working?
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Got one, 3.6ish/31P
I have that problem too.
Ditto to the problem everyone is having with accessing the app..hopefully it's not an autobio..please no! lol
same problem as everyone else.. i hope its just that the status site is having trouble rather than them accidentally sending a mass email haha
That never even crossed my mind until you mentioned it! holy moly..could be the case lol.
good point. Im hoping to get this soon! and this gives me that much more motivation to hurry up with my NYU app..
Ive been fearing this secondary in particular.. an autobiographical essay seems like A LOT
The App button is there now and I can access the secondary...time to write an autobiography
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
i can access too..
the autobiography still irks me though.. What if I talked about my most major obstacles in my personal statement? I can give one of my obstacles a different spin, but I dont really know..
also: PRIME admission is separate from the regular MD right?
the autobiography still irks me though.. What if I talked about my most major obstacles in my personal statement? I can give one of my obstacles a different spin, but I dont really know..
also: PRIME admission is separate from the regular MD right?
This app is such a beast. When they say don't repeat your primary, is it okay if we still include similar obstacles mentioned in the primary, but in a different way?
haha thats what Im trying to ask too.. itd be REALLY hard otherwise, but I can give some situations a different twist even though it will still be pretty tough..
even the activities section is brutal.. think we can just use our amcas stuff?
either way, UCSD is a top choice for me. Love the school and city
No way! I got a secondary invitee as well! 😀
"Topics to be included are family, childhood, primary and secondary school years. You should focus on major life experiences and influences up to your entry into college."
So are we not to include college experiences in this essay? Most of my experiences that motivated me to pursue medicine occurred in college.
So are we not to include college experiences in this essay? Most of my experiences that motivated me to pursue medicine occurred in college.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Ya, based on the prompt, PLEASE do NOT write about college lol...only go up to secondary school! I say that in the nicest way possible, because I don't want you to get screwed over!
This is going to be a toughie...at least it was cut down from 7K characters to 4.8K..(compared to last year)...*phew*
Anyone know how many secondary invites they send out?
Luckily I didn't mention any of my childhood/high school experiences in my personal statement, so I can fit those in here. Still, I'm not looking forward to this essay.
Luckily I didn't mention any of my childhood/high school experiences in my personal statement, so I can fit those in here. Still, I'm not looking forward to this essay.
- Status
