secondaries

Quick reminder! We’re hosting our annual, 1-hour webinar, Secondary Application Strategies for Essays That Score Interviews, on Wednesday, July 20th at 5pm PT/8pm ET. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to highlight your competitive...

Hi all Just wondering if there's anyone out there who wouldn't mind looking over my secondaries (some are pre-written) and let me know what they think and offer inputs, I'm especially anxious about them being good enough for my top choice schools. Thanks in advance!

Make sure your secondary writing time is uninterrupted. First and foremost, congratulations on having pummeled through the past few years as a premed, beasting the MCAT, shadowing in hospitals, doing research, volunteering about a bagillion hours, and successfully submitting your primary...

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Hi all, I recently received another letter of recommendation (MUCH stronger than any of the previous ones I had submitted), and I was wondering if we are able to send additional LORs to schools we have already submitted secondaries to? Thanks!

It is often said that you should finish each secondary application in 2 weeks or less. Sometimes they say 3 weeks. How bad is it to take 3 weeks, or even 4 weeks? Will it seem like I don't care? My letter packet definitely won't be ready yet, so I am wondering whether it makes sense to power...

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Submitted 6/23 but have not been verified yet. Should I be worried? Am I basically screwed since everyone is already getting secondaries HELP

Just a quick reminder that our webinar on secondary essay strategies, Secondary Application Strategies for Essays That Score Interviews, will air live next Wednesday. There’s still time to register – sign up today! Who: Med school applicants who want a leg up on their secondaries When...

Revise, revise, revise! As you start to work on your secondaries, one of the things that will become clearer and clearer is that you’re working within some VERY tight character limits! How can you build on the character-count-wizardry you got going during your primary app? We have some tips...

Hi everyone! I applied to about 30 medical schools (being a California resident without any MCAT score I don't really know how competitive I am at any of them. I'm also a FAP applicant). I should find out my MCAT score this month, on July 19th. I have only received one secondary email, though...

The rest of the secondary application is working fine for me. However, when I try to upload my photo, and then save it, it says that the page is complete, but it also says "no file chosen". Anybody else having this issue? Thanks

Hey all Just got my secondary from Geisel today (pre-verification!) and of course, the first thing I did was peruse SDN for tips, and found that they really like non-trad / quirky students. I need help with my "additional info" essay. I'm currently an international student, undergrad at a...

I pretty much have only seen people talking about getting passport-type photos... But I am planning on just uploading a selfie of me at work in which I am smiling. Looks friendly and recognizable. Also, 330 kb. Any reason not to do it? There is nothing professional about it, and even quality...

Is it recommended that you stray away from discussing any type of experience that you discussed in your PS already (even if a prompt doesn't necessarily say so)? Or is it okay to discuss something but maybe from a different angle?

So I have a couple secondaries already to go and press submit, but I'm still waiting on one of my recommenders to upload his document. He is an assigned to these schools by AMCAS already and I was wondering if I should still send in the secondary anyway? Are these things linked with each other...

Hi! I have just finished one of my secondaries and designated 7 letters to that school (they didn't have a cap on letters). 6/7 letters that I sent/designated have been received by AMCAS and are very strong letters. However, the one that has not been received by AMCAS is the health committee...

Hi all, I've been browsing the various threads about this "additional information" secondary question and I have a question as to what I can/should put on it. Would it be ok for me to put down work/activities updates? Like for example I just got hired as a full-time research assistant and that...

Hi! I am currently writing some secondaries and would like some opinions on the diversity essay. I have two ideas and I'm not sure if they can be considered good for diversity or under represented status: 1. This one is more factual. Basically I am writing about how my experiences with medical...

So I'm of mixed race descent, my mother is an immigrant from Taiwan and my father is a white American. I was wondering if this would be a poor topic to pick for the diversity question for secondaries. I definitely believe that being of mixed race descent makes me more aware of race...

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Hello everyone, I've heard differing opinions on whether it's appropriate or not to write about pre-adolescence/adult events for your adversity essay? I understand to stay away from early-childhood events. But what about childhood and onwards? [examples removed to remain anon] Edit: Consensus...

Hey guys, My current research of about 4 years remains unpublished (although it is currently in the pipeline), but I have a second author publication in a low impact journal from my work in high school. Would you guys consider this worth adding to my secondary applications when specifically...

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AMCAS sent me an e-mail on June 9 saying that my application has been processed and sent out to all of my designated medical schools (I submitted the application a few minutes after it opened on June 7). When should I start to expect secondaries? I have not yet received any, even from the...

I will be out of the country from July 3-July 19th without electricity or access to my email. My application was verified June 8th. Will this mess up my timeline of applying early if I am unable to submit or write secondaries during this time? When do secondaries typically arrive?

So I have a specific interest in global health policy and management. I intend to pursue an MPH and indicated as much for several schools on my primary (I'm hoping it won't have some sort of negative impact on my likelihood of getting an interview). While filling out secondary applications for...

Hello all, I am just wondering whether it'd be okay to write about my relationship with my boyfriend of 15 months if I ever need to, e.g. on a secondary prompt that asks about difficulties interacting with people / learning to embrace differences? Is it a big no-no, or is it allowed in...

So I'm perusing through the supplemental applications of the schools for which I've submitted my primary and I notice a lot of questions that I very clearly and specifically addressed in my work/activities. For example, I'm working on one supplemental that asks: " Are you currently volunteering...

Hi SDN! I am starting to pre-write some secondaries, and I have a question regarding the common "challenging experience" prompt. Some schools ask "what has been your most challenging experience" or "describe a personal challenge". Do you think in general it's okay to talk about an experience...

I submitted my AMCAS on June 10th, and just found out today (June 14th) I had a first author paper accepted for publishing to a major journal. I didn't make any reference to this in my app, so how do I update schools on this? And how early is too early? I imagine I can do it mostly in...

I didn't think this would be cause for concern given how early I submitted (I was thinking that maybe schools took a little while in June to send back secondaries), but my friend said I should be expecting a lot already. Thoughts???

Hi all, I'm planning out my secondaries and I know that one of the common questions is concerning the biggest challenge you have faced. In high school I was raped and struggled for years to come to terms with the trauma that occurred to me. I sought out therapy, got an emotional support dog...

Hi everyone, I took my DAT 2 years ago and got a 17AA. I've been studying to retake it August 2 or July 28. First question, does it matter which of these days I take it? Second, should I submit my app before August so I can get the supplemental apps out of the way? Will schools look at my app...

Just wondering when secondaries normally go out for osteopathic schools? I understand the cycle opened in May, and I've already submitted primaries. I haven't received any secondaries yet.

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Hello all, I am applying to MD schools this cycle with an arrest record, although I was never convicted I was charged for a few things. However, I had them dropped through a diversion program. I am aware that schools ask different questions regarding criminal background on their secondary...

Please post all questions or information related to secondary applications here. For information on secondary application fees, letters of recommendation, and other requirements by school, see the 2016 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book (PDF). For essay information, see the post...

I am applying for this upcoming cycle and was wondering if any people who have already applied could shed light on the timeline for me. I saw AMCAS is releasing their primary app May 3rd and you can submit it starting June 7th. Then, AMCAS won't send it out to schools (granted that they've...