Advanced Writing

[WhittyPsyche]

---

Members do not see this ad.

How important is advanced writing for application purposes and for overall preparation for med school?
I am a second semester freshman, I will be finishing Advanced Research Writing (ENGL 391) this semester, so far have an A+. I am wondering if to continue with writing in my sophomore and subsequent years, I am good at it and enjoy it, but will it serve a purpose?
(Have 9 writing creds from AP Lang & AP Lit, and another special topic writing course from my first semester so its not about the credit count)
Looking at possibly taking Advanced Technical Writing (ENGL 393) or perhaps a four hundred level professional/ grant proposal/ publication writing course but I'm not sure which would be most attractive or most useful. Any advice?

Thanks guys!

 

[Ismet]

How important is advanced writing for application purposes and for overall preparation for med school?

Not important. Take it if you like it or if you need to improve your writing skill, but applications just involve the writing of a personal statement and a multitude of tiny essays, and I think I've written a grand total of 4 pages of essay text so far in medical school. At my school, we do have a required scholarly research project that involves "proposals" and a final paper, but that's nothing you need advanced writing classes for.

If you're concerned about writing grant proposals, you won't be expected to do that. You'll have help from your PI if you need to write a proposal, abstract, etc.

Taking the classes won't hurt you and I'm sure you'll learn something, so again, if you're interested, take them. But don't take them for the sole purpose of med school.

 

[Doctor Strange]

While it may not affect your application directly as far as applying to med school goes, it is ALWAYS good to continue crafting your skills in writing. I've taken loads of creative and scientific writing courses just because I enjoy writing, and I think it has put me in the advantageous position of being able to express myself clearly and concisely in a written medium.

As you pointed out, this certainly helps when writing essays on secondaries and such. I got some overwhelmingly positive feedback on my personal statement, as well, which I approached as an endeavor in creative writing. I even had a discussion with one of my interviewers about how "good writing" is quite rare among applicants these days, and that he appreciated the effort I put into writing my responses.

Sure, it may not help you directly in med school, but you never know when having a strong background in writing will help you.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

Not important. Take it if you like it or if you need to improve your writing skill, but applications just involve the writing of a personal statement and a multitude of tiny essays, and I think I've written a grand total of 4 pages of essay text so far in medical school. At my school, we do have a required scholarly research project that involves "proposals" and a final paper, but that's nothing you need advanced writing classes for.

If you're concerned about writing grant proposals, you won't be expected to do that. You'll have help from your PI if you need to write a proposal, abstract, etc.

Taking the classes won't hurt you and I'm sure you'll learn something, so again, if you're interested, take them. But don't take them for the sole purpose of med school.

I definitely thought there was more writing involved in at the first year. But good to know!

 

[BABSstudent]

How important is advanced writing for application purposes and for overall preparation for med school?
I am a second semester freshman, I will be finishing Advanced Research Writing (ENGL 391) this semester, so far have an A+. I am wondering if to continue with writing in my sophomore and subsequent years, I am good at it and enjoy it, but will it serve a purpose?
(Have 9 writing creds from AP Lang & AP Lit, and another special topic writing course from my first semester so its not about the credit count)
Looking at possibly taking Advanced Technical Writing (ENGL 393) or perhaps a four hundred level professional/ grant proposal/ publication writing course but I'm not sure which would be most attractive or most useful. Any advice?

Thanks guys!

Check each school that you want to attend to see if they will take AP credit for English. I know a few schools I applied to wouldn't take it.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

Doctor Strange,

I completely agree that great writing skills are useful in almost every aspect of life. I intended to use creative writing to the fullest in my applications as well. I was just hoping continuing would not be a waste of time that something else would be more advantageous. I would like to at least taking one more advanced course, probably technical or publication related.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Doctor Strange,

I completely agree that great writing skills are useful in almost every aspect of life. I intended to use creative writing to the fullest in my applications as well. I was just hoping continuing would not be a waste of time that something else would be more advantageous. I would like to at least taking one more advanced course, probably technical or publication related.

Taking a writing class is never a waste of time, in my opinion, especially if you love writing. 🙂

 

[WhittyPsyche]

Check each school that you want to attend to see if they will take AP credit for English. I know a few schools I applied to wouldn't take it.

I didn't think I would have trouble with that. But I do have the 3 credits for Lang, and then two semesters of writing courses so far. I have heard most schools want 6 credits of writing so I should be in the clear. I will double check that though.
Thanks!

 

[BABSstudent]

I didn't think I would have trouble with that. But I do have the 3 credits for Lang, and then two semesters of writing courses so far. I have heard most schools want 6 credits of writing so I should be in the clear. I will double check that though.
Thanks!

You should be fine then.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

You are completely right, and I really do love it!

 

[plumazul]

Check each school that you want to attend to see if they will take AP credit for English. I know a few schools I applied to wouldn't take it.

It's very rare. Many schools don't even have a requirement. Were they Cal schools? Are the schools that wouldn't take the credit listed correctly here:

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFi..._Advising/AP Credit - Allopathic Medicine.pdf

I like to help keep this list up to date. It's a useful resource. 🙂

 

[survivordo]

It won't affect your application except for personal statements. Will have no bearing on your medical school experience. But as others have said it is a great general skill to have and if you enjoy it, pursue it.

Survivor DO

 

[BABSstudent]

It's very rare. Many schools don't even have a requirement. Were they Cal schools? Are the schools that wouldn't take the credit listed correctly here:

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFi..._Advising/AP Credit - Allopathic Medicine.pdf

I like to help keep this list up to date. It's a useful resource. 🙂

That list had the few that I noted that did not accept AP credit for English.

My main school to get into is UW and they say on their website

Does a technical writing class fill the requirement for the 3 quarters of English studies?

No.

So if you didn't take intro to writing then you have to take a specific upper division writing course and not like a research writing or creative writing course.

Again, this is school specific and the OP may need to research schools carefully (like we all should) before applying to them.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

That list had the few that I noted that did not accept AP credit for English.

My main school to get into is UW and they say on their website

So if you didn't take intro to writing then you have to take a specific upper division writing course and not like a research writing or creative writing course.

Again, this is school specific and the OP may need to research schools carefully (like we all should) before applying to them.

Sorry if I am being stupid here, but if it isn't creative, research, or technical writing, then what other type of writing courses are there in upper division?
And no I didn't take intro to writing but AP Lang satisfies Intro to Writing so I could not take it if I wanted to.

Note: The technical and research classes I mentioned are under ENGL, its not in another subject that is just writing intensive.

 

[Konfidence]

Taking a writing class is never a waste of time, in my opinion, especially if you love writing. 🙂

Agreed. I took many creative writing courses and I fell so in love with the art that I began writing a novel. I think it really helped with my medical school acceptances as that was a topic in most of my interviews. However, I don't see it playing a direct role in medical school and willl just be a hobby to me. So do it if you really love it.

 

[BABSstudent]

Sorry if I am being stupid here, but if it isn't creative, research, or technical writing, then what other type of writing courses are there in upper division?
And no I didn't take intro to writing but AP Lang satisfies Intro to Writing so I could not take it if I wanted to.

Note: The technical and research classes I mentioned are under ENGL, its not in another subject that is just writing intensive.

There are also rhetoric writing classes.

 

[plumazul]

My main school to get into is UW and they say on their website

"Does a technical writing class fill the requirement for the 3 quarters of English studies?"

So if you didn't take intro to writing then you have to take a specific upper division writing course and not like a research writing or creative writing course.

Yes, I've noticed this before. It's a misleading entry on their FAQ page since UW has no English requirement. They answer the question correctly:

No. The humanities requirement is generally not fulfilled by any "how to" classes.

since their humanities requirement is such that you can fulfill it without any English classes.

UW is on my list also, ... so far. 🙂

 

[BABSstudent]

Yes, I've noticed this before. It's a misleading entry on their FAQ page since UW has no English requirement. They answer the question correctly:


since their humanities requirement is such that you can fulfill it without any English classes.

UW is on my list also, ... so far. 🙂

Their requirements also change. I didn't take AP chem in high school because UW didn't accept them 4 years ago. However they now accept it.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

There are also rhetoric writing classes.

Gotcha, thanks!