2011-2012 Case Western Reserve University Application Thread

[vc7777]

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YARR!!!

This question may have been asked already, but sifting through this thread got tiring, so I hope nobody minds if I ask.

How strict is the adcom with the "most challenging situation" essay? I personally don't think I've encountered any situations that would be challenging enough to warrant a 3500 character essay, and I certainly do not want to misconstrue my experiences.

Do you think it would be acceptable to write on a series of varied challenges, and how they have helped shape my life? Or would it be frowned upon as not directly following the prompt? 😕

I don't think this was exactly mentioned in the FAQ on the first page (which we are updating at we go forward), so no worries.

Once again, I cannot advise you beyond my own personal opinion - Myuu may have better insight into this particular essay. However, a word maximum is not a minimum. Therefore, don't feel compelled to fill the space allotted!

I think it is more important to make sure you do not just end up listing a bunch of challenges superficially. That is the danger of taking this tact.

You should be reflective: talk about the situation, explain how you thought about the situation, and how you reacted. Furthermore, you should talk about the results of your reaction, and how you will apply what you have learned to future similar / dissimilar scenarios.
Good luck

 

[xATB]

Thanks so much vc7777! I appreciate your fast response. Now I'm gonna stop being lazy by trying to copy/paste my research poster and actually write the essay 🙂 It's worth it though, case sounds awesome!!

 

[Prateek]

So for this research essay, is it okay to use terms like western blotting, RT-PCR, glucose transport etc. and just assume the readers will have some general idea of what I'm talking about?

 

[vc7777]

So for this research essay, is it okay to use terms like western blotting, RT-PCR, glucose transport etc. and just assume the readers will have some general idea of what I'm talking about?

Which essay? The scholarly one for UP or the research one for CCLCM? Excellent question. In short, I am not sure. There is always a danger of being too presumptive that your reader will know what RT-PCR is. At the same time, you want to talk in-depth about your work. It can be a slippery slope. I can't tell you for certain either way. I don't think they want a re-print of your "Methods" section of a Cell Biology article you wrote. You will have to use your best judgment, I suppose.

Also, random visual image here in Starbucks: A dude walking his dog in scrubs, with his ID badge still on just strutted by. a little gunnerish.

 

[Prateek]

Which essay? The scholarly one for UP or the research one for CCLCM? Excellent question. In short, I am not sure. There is always a danger of being too presumptive that your reader will know what RT-PCR is. At the same time, you want to talk in-depth about your work. It can be a slippery slope. I can't tell you for certain either way. I don't think they want a re-print of your "Methods" section of a Cell Biology article you wrote. You will have to use your best judgment, I suppose.

Also, random visual image here in Starbucks: A dude walking his dog in scrubs, with his ID badge still on just strutted by. a little gunnerish.

Hmm thanks 🙂 I guess I'll write something like 'We used the RT-PCR technique to determine if a particular gene was expressed in tissues' I guess that kind of explains what the technique is used for lol

And this is for the scholarly one in the UP application

 

[vc7777]

Hmm thanks 🙂 I guess I'll write something like 'We used the RT-PCR technique to determine if a particular gene was expressed in tissues' I guess that kind of explains what the technique is used for lol

And this is for the scholarly one in the UP application

Cool beans. Good luck!

 

[chronicidal]

I've been advised that, unless your methods were innovative, talking about lab procedures in specific looks immature. It is better to talk about research in a broader sense. Don't say that you did prepared cDNA and did qRT-PCR using primers you designed against a part of gene Y on chromosome 20q23.1; say you used some model system to investigate the gene expression of a gene Y, which is important in disease process X.

I know the question asks why the methods were selected. But in that case I think it's more important to explain, for instance, why you chose the model system you did or maybe even why you chose to study mRNA levels over protein levels, rather than why you used TaqMan instead of SYBR Green for qPCR.

 

[vc7777]

Hi applicants!

So, talked to Dr. Franco, and I confirmed that you can indeed (at least from the CCLCM side of the road) write the same essay for both the "scholarly" essay and the CCLCM-specific "research" essay. There is no penalty. In fact, CCLCM will not read your UP-specific essay as part of the your application review.

Good luck!
👍

 

[BMEN]

Love the essays.

1) already pre wrote most of them for other schools

2) Research is fun to talk about

Good Luck. Bioengineering/MD candidate here.

 

[Illinois2012]

Hi applicants!

So, talked to Dr. Franco, and I confirmed that you can indeed (at least from the CCLCM side of the road) write the same essay for both the "scholarly" essay and the CCLCM-specific "research" essay. There is no penalty. In fact, CCLCM will not read your UP-specific essay as part of the your application review.

Good luck!
👍

Awesome. Thanks so much for the help.

 

[orchestra]

.Required Essay: Greatest Challenge (3500 chars).

.The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe the greatest personal challenge you have faced which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a time when you felt you were "in over your head," or a time when you felt personally criticized. You may also discuss a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you may have learned about yourself..



.Optional Scholarly Essay (3500 chars).

.One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a pre-requisite requirement for the University Track, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations..


.Small Group Essay (300-1000 chars).

.If you were working on a small group project and you thought that another student wasn't carrying their load, how would you handle it?.

If we choose both University Track and College Track,
there's no O.ptional Scholarly Essay (3500 chars)..
The optional one is only for University Track.

Instead I have
Research Essay: (Required for all applicants)
Please describe the hypothesis of your research, why the methods were selected
to answer that hypothesis, your results and interpretation of your results
with respect to future findings. If you have not participated
in research or scholarly work, please indicate so in the text area below.

and also
Required Essay: Greatest Challenge (Required for all applicants)
Small Group Essay:(Required for all applicants)

Areas of Improvement Essay:(Required for all applicants to CCLCM)
Criticism and Feedback Essay:(Required for all applicants to CCLCM)

For those who applying to both Tracks, can we skip the optional Scholarly Essay ?

Thanks

 

[MelMelisqueen]

When I logged in and choose University Track and College Track,
I can't find .Optional Scholarly Essay (3500 chars)..
Instead I have
Research Essay: (Required for all applicants)
Please describe the hypothesis of your research, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. If you have not participated
in research or scholarly work, please indicate so in the text area below.

and also
Required Essay: Greatest Challenge (Required for all applicants)
Small Group Essay:(Required for all applicants)

Areas of Improvement Essay:(Required for all applicants to CCLCM)
Criticism and Feedback Essay:(Required for all applicants to CCLCM)

Did I do something wrong ?

I have that too, I think you're fine. Unfortunately the internet in my Norwegian hostel is too spotty for me to actually get anything done. Ah well, procrastination is my gift. Actually what i'm writing my areas of improvement essay on. 🙂

 

[Anranius]

As I have to write required research essay, can I skip the optional Scholarly Essay ?

Thanks

From what I understand, the optional scholarly essay is only for the University program (Case). For CCLCM, they require a research essay that will probably be seen by Case as the optional essay.

 

[hopefulMD111]

From what I understand, the optional scholarly essay is only for the University program (Case). For CCLCM, they require a research essay that will probably be seen by Case as the optional essay.

So what does everyone think about how technical to get for the CCLCM essay? I saw that this question was addressed for the UP version, but it seems like for CCLCM you would be expected to go a little more in-depth about what experiments you conducted. It sounds like the consensus is this would be inappropriate for the UP essay, though, so it worries me that they would read it.

 

[vc7777]

Ok.

Apologies for the confusion. Some historical perspective may help:

You are witnessing the divergence of what used to be a single, unified research essay prompt. It was optional for UP and required for CP. Used to be simple, right?

Now, the UP adcom wants to be inclusive of strong candidates WITHOUT a research background, and has since "relaxed" the stringent definition for their version of the prompt to be "scholarly", but not necessarily "research". I used the term "relaxed" without connoting inferior, but rather more inclusive. This is a great thing, and I am sure many good applicants will submit such essays.

At the same time, there was a move by CCLCM to be more explicit in their definition of "research" due to submissions of non-research (yet scholarly) work that was a bit of a stretch to be considered applicable.

[Before I get asked "what is a stretch?" let me say, I don't have access to this information, and can only speculate].

[[Before I get asked "please speculate on what is a stretch?" let me just give you a speculative answer 🙂 : For example, maybe a non-science scholarly "research" publication on the effects of the recession on the funding of public works of art in the midwest. While a scholarly, and admirable effort - this is not the focus of our college, and not what we are looking for]]

So, in short: If you are applying to both programs, then this is the exact same essay and must satisfy the more stringent definition of research as set forth by the CCLCM prompt.

 

[vc7777]

Also,

Some thoughts on the Areas of Improvement Essay. But first:

The thoughts and opinions of VC7777 are his/her own and do not reflect the views of CCLCM, CWRU school of medicine, CCF, its affiliates, or agents. This information is for informational and entertainment purposes only. His/her views are not meant to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent rejections from this or any medical school.

​

OK - 😏 with that behind us...
Some thoughts. Please keep in mind the point of this essay. CCLCM is asking you to talk about TAFIs (Targeted Areas For Improvement) that pertain to how you will perform in medical school and as a physician. More to the point, how you will perform on our medical school (hint, hint: if you don't know about our program, this essay may be more difficult. I suggest a little investigation into our program). Talking about how you need more upper body strength and hope to bench press 250 consistently before the end of med school? Nope. Not what we are looking for here!

Furthermore: Don't write something like "My biggest weakness is that I care too much about people" or "I study too much...blah blah blah" or some such non-sense. Nobody is perfect, and everybody struggles in medical school, (and life). Ask someone who knows you well for help with this essay if you are having trouble.

"The unexamined life is not worth living." Here is an opportunity to examine it! This isn't a beauty pageant where we expect your answer to be superficial and meaningless. Well written, introspective, and self-reflective essays will stand out.

 

[mrdude]

for the research essay should we talk about each research experience we've had (if more than 1) and the hypothesis, findings,etc for each or just the most significant?

 

[vc7777]

Really, Mr. Dude, it all depends. I will say, there is no requirement that you must list/talk about every experience in research you have had. 😳

 

[MMPman]

For the research essay, will it negatively impact me if I go over 3,500 characters? I am discussing two projects I participated in and I am close to 4,000 characters.

Thanks!

 

[sexycani]

if you to apply to both, do adcoms from both UP and CP read all essays? or do they just read their respective ones?

 

[estelyk]

I think I used a wrong word in my secondary prompt. I meant to use 'transformed,' but accidentally used 'transpired.' can't stop feeling like an idiot now...

 

[vc7777]

For the research essay, will it negatively impact me if I go over 3,500 characters? I am discussing two projects I participated in and I am close to 4,000 characters.

Thanks!

In short; yes.

The ability to follow the rules and guidelines is actually an important attribute for medical students to have. I dare say the majority of students at any school who get into trouble academically initially come to the attention of the facult due to difficulty with meeting expectations.

Furthermore, you will not win friends with the application readers if you write a significantly verbose essay.

Finally, as Mark Twain said "sorry the letter is long, I didn't have time to make it short". You should take the time to get under that character limit.



Sent from my Android phone using Tapatalk

 

[vc7777]

if you to apply to both, do adcoms from both UP and CP read all essays? or do they just read their respective ones?

To be fair to all applicants who may not apply to both programs, only the program-specific essays are considered when reviewing applications.

Sent from my Android phone using Tapatalk

 

[vc7777]

I think I used a wrong word in my secondary prompt. I meant to use 'transformed,' but accidentally used 'transpired.' can't stop feeling like an idiot now...

😱 that's bad. Well, it's out of your hands now. Better to just put it behind you.
I found the more I stared at an essay, the less likely I would see mistakes. Its always good to have someone proofread that you trust.

Good luck with your application!

Sent from my Android phone using Tapatalk

 

[Prateek]

Just submitted secondary!

 

[citrusguy2010]

is there a max number of letter of recs that case will consider?

 

[Myuu]

From what I understand, the optional scholarly essay is only for the University program (Case). For CCLCM, they require a research essay that will probably be seen by Case as the optional essay.

I would not recommend skipping essays.🙂

is there a max number of letter of recs that case will consider?

No more than seven. Note: I am not in any way saying you should send seven.

 

[Anranius]

I would not recommend skipping essays.🙂

Well, the idea is the essay isn't optional if you're doing both, amirite?

Anyway, the twitter proclaims that first interviews are going out tonight! Except my school hasn't even finished my committee letter...

 

[apoptosis123]

Interview invite!! So excited, my first one 🙂

 

[Myuu]

Interview invite!! So excited, my first one 🙂

Congrats! 😀

 

[vc7777]

Well, the idea is the essay isn't optional if you're doing both, amirite?

Define "doing both" - applying to both programs? 😕
I wonder if I am causing more confusion than I am clearing up? I hope not!

...the twitter proclaims that first interviews are going out tonight! Except my school hasn't even finished my committee letter...

And....

Interview invite!! So excited, my first one 🙂

Yes!

Apop - I don't want to presume, but could you say which program(s) you applied to, and to which you have been given an interview? Neurotic pre-meds want to know. 🙂

👍👍

 

[MilkIsGood]

do you guys think that a 6:15pm flight will be ok? Their letter says interview day ends at 4 and to schedule plane after 6pm.

 

[Myuu]

do you guys think that a 6:15pm flight will be ok? Their letter says interview day ends at 4 and to schedule plane after 6pm.

That should be fine, barring an RTA catastrophe. You can take the RTA straight to the airport.🙂

 

[MilkIsGood]

That should be fine, barring an RTA catastrophe. You can take the RTA straight to the airport.🙂

thanks. i just googled it and it would talk about an hr taking the RTA. Is CLE a busy airport?

 

[apoptosis123]

Apop - I don't want to presume, but could you say which program(s) you applied to, and to which you have been given an interview? Neurotic pre-meds want to know. 🙂

👍👍

Oh yeah - I only applied to UP

 

[Myuu]

thanks. i just googled it and it would talk about an hr taking the RTA. Is CLE a busy airport?

It is not generally a busy airport, as I understand it, but I have not been inside it since I interviewed 3 years ago.😳

 

[vc7777]

It is not generally a busy airport, as I understand it, but I have not been inside it since I interviewed 3 years ago.😳

I've made a few runs to the airport. Not a small airport, but this isn't O'Hare.

 

[MilkIsGood]

I've made a few runs to the airport. Not a small airport, but this isn't O'Hare.

so 2 hrs should be enough right? i get scared about missing flights haha,

 

[Myuu]

so 2 hrs should be enough right? i get scared about missing flights haha,

I've only ever heard of one group missing their flights while I've been here. I forget what the circumstances were, but it was pretty ridiculous and not at all common.

Don't worry!

 

[vc7777]

Myuu is the mod-boss. What she says must be true.

I'm just her henceman/woman

CCLCMer, is of course the retired, firgurehead of the whole operation. The God-Father.

 

[indonacious]

Interview invite!! So excited, my first one 🙂

When were you complete at Case? Seems like it was a very quick turnaround for you....which is awesome!

 

[oaa]

Congrats apop

 

[MelMelisqueen]

Interview invite!! So excited, my first one 🙂

congratulations! I'm happy for you.

Just looked at the secondary, and the it's its are killing me. I'm such a nerd.

 

[fizzgig]

vc7777 thanks for bending to the will of the neurotics who will ask you to speculate on stuff... before we even get to pester you. this is the most informative schools specific thread evarrrrr.

 

[vc7777]

vc7777 thanks for bending to the will of the neurotics who will ask you to speculate on stuff... before we even get to pester you. this is the most informative schools specific thread evarrrrr.

And to continue to bend the will of the neurotics:

CCLCM (the CP) will be extending the first round of interviews in a couple of weeks (or so). Note, like the University Program, the first round of interview invitations will likely be extended to applicants to just CCLCM. So sit tight if you applied to both programs, as there is some additional time to notification of interview invite, as explained elsewhere on this thread.

Remember to check out Myuu's excellent FAQ on the first page for general questions.

 

[Anranius]

Interview invite!! So excited, my first one 🙂

Congrats, that's a good first one to have!

 

[CCLCMer]

vc7777 has chastised me for leaving her all alone on this thread, so here I am to answer a few more questions. (And vc--you started it!)

How well do you feel the 3rd/4th year rotations prepared you for internship and residency?

Hmm. I'd have to say that they didn't really prepare me. But I don't think anything could really prepare you for internship. It's kind of like asking if riding a kid's bicycle with training wheels has prepared you to compete against Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. Maybe kind of, in that you understand how a bicycle basically works. But the actual physical act of doing it? Not so much. No matter where you go to school, you should definitely expect to crash a few times before you get the hang of being a resident and managing to even minimally keep up.

That being said, I've been getting good evals so far, so either I'm fooling the faculty extremely well, or I'm doing a decent job. Make of that what you will.

That is hilarious and disgusting.

Everything about childbirth is disgusting. You know how you might strain a little when you're trying to have a BM? Well, guess what happens to women when they're straining hard to push the baby out?

On another note, do you guys think it's okay to use the same essay for the research essay for the CP and the scholarly essay for the UP? I'm assuming since the question is very similar and the review processes are separate that it'd be okay, but if anybody has a reason to believe otherwise, please let me know. Thanks!

As vc already said, yes, they're the same essay.

For the optional scholarly essay for the UP, how much technical/science detail should we include? Do most adcoms have a science background and would be able to understand some biology terminology? My research would definitely sound more impressive if I could fully describe it, but I also want to make sure I'm using appropriate language for the audience I'm writing to...

So what does everyone think about how technical to get for the CCLCM essay? I saw that this question was addressed for the UP version, but it seems like for CCLCM you would be expected to go a little more in-depth about what experiments you conducted. It sounds like the consensus is this would be inappropriate for the UP essay, though, so it worries me that they would read it.

I would explain it for the intelligent layman, but don't assume that it's being read by an expert in your field.

for the research essay should we talk about each research experience we've had (if more than 1) and the hypothesis, findings,etc for each or just the most significant?

Whichever PI is writing your research LOR, that's the project you want to write about.

For the research essay, will it negatively impact me if I go over 3,500 characters? I am discussing two projects I participated in and I am close to 4,000 characters.

As vc said, following directions is a highly valued quality in an applicant.

if you to apply to both, do adcoms from both UP and CP read all essays? or do they just read their respective ones?

The CCLCM adcomms can see the UP and MSTP essays, but they use their own.

Interview invite!! So excited, my first one 🙂

Awesome, congrats!

do you guys think that a 6:15pm flight will be ok? Their letter says interview day ends at 4 and to schedule plane after 6pm.

Should be fine. As others have said, take the RTA, and traffic will be a non-issue.

thanks. i just googled it and it would talk about an hr taking the RTA. Is CLE a busy airport?

Not horribly. You're probably not going to be checking anything in anyway, right?

 

[apoptosis123]

Thanks everyone... I submitted my secondary on the 17th and got a payment confirmation. The next e-mail I got was the interview invite.

Edit: it says I was marked complete on the 18th. Gotta love that turnaround

 

[MilkIsGood]

vc7777 has chastised me for leaving her all alone on this thread, so here I am to answer a few more questions. (And vc--you started it!)


Hmm. I'd have to say that they didn't really prepare me. But I don't think anything could really prepare you for internship. It's kind of like asking if riding a kid's bicycle with training wheels has prepared you to compete against Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. Maybe kind of, in that you understand how a bicycle basically works. But the actual physical act of doing it? Not so much. No matter where you go to school, you should definitely expect to crash a few times before you get the hang of being a resident and managing to even minimally keep up.

That being said, I've been getting good evals so far, so either I'm fooling the faculty extremely well, or I'm doing a decent job. Make of that what you will.


Everything about childbirth is disgusting. You know how you might strain a little when you're trying to have a BM? Well, guess what happens to women when they're straining hard to push the baby out?


As vc already said, yes, they're the same essay.




I would explain it for the intelligent layman, but don't assume that it's being read by an expert in your field.


Whichever PI is writing your research LOR, that's the project you want to write about.


As vc said, following directions is a highly valued quality in an applicant.


The CCLCM adcomms can see the UP and MSTP essays, but they use their own.


Awesome, congrats!


Should be fine. As others have said, take the RTA, and traffic will be a non-issue.


Not horribly. You're probably not going to be checking anything in anyway, right?

Right. Not checking anything, although I would probably need to get my boarding pass from the computers.

 

[fizzgig]

no wait... nevermind...