Although this topic isn't unique, it's about unique

[BurghStudent]

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So I have been scrambling for the past few days, reading about the difficulty of getting into top schools, how you want to stand out etc...

Almost all of us have done our ABCs, research, clinical and volunteer; a lot of things we pursue can fall into these categories. I would like to go beyond that, but I don't want to pursue something for the purpose of uniqueness only. So I was thinking, what is already unique about me personally?

I am not an Olympic athlete, young author or music composing violinist. But I am quite the handyman. I have done everything from painting, doors, dishwasher/fridge, new bathroom, redecorating, construction, cement, landscaping, counter tops to pond building. This is all in my own home, and I have been at it since a young age. Just a month ago I repainted the front exterior of our house. And the truth is I enjoy it- and it is partially definitive of me.

So my question is, is this the material everyone talks of or have I missed it completely? Again, I am not going to pursue something to try and 'stand out' when it's not really me. Feel free to share your own characteristic accomplishments. And don't flame me! 🙂

 

[anxiousteen]

some people fought in iraq before going to medschool

 

[BurghStudent]

I understand

 

[TopSecret]

some people fought in iraq before going to medschool

A doctor I know was a lieutenant in the USMC during Desert Storm. He was a nontraditional older student and is at Harvard now.

 

[BerlinDude]

some people fought in iraq before going to medschool

OK, well that's not practical for most of us.

 

[adeline]

no not really
unless that is your job
and you are doing 15cr of a's too

 

[RapplixGmed]

OK, well that's not practical for most of us.

Anything that is practical for "most of us" will not be unique. Keep that in mind.

Heck, even things like concert pianists, rhode scholars, Olympic athletes are all over the place in the applicant pool.

 

[Narmerguy]

Heck, even things like concert pianists, rhode scholars, Olympic athletes are all over the place in the applicant pool.

I hope not

 

[red10]

its somewhat unique but it doesn't really matter unless you can related it to med school somehow. otherwise its just a random factoid about you.

 

[not so calm now]

So I have been scrambling for the past few days, reading about the difficulty of getting into top schools, how you want to stand out etc...

Almost all of us have done our ABCs, research, clinical and volunteer; a lot of things we pursue can fall into these categories. I would like to go beyond that, but I don't want to pursue something for the purpose of uniqueness only. So I was thinking, what is already unique about me personally?

I am not an Olympic athlete, young author or music composing violinist. But I am quite the handyman. I have done everything from painting, doors, dishwasher/fridge, new bathroom, redecorating, construction, cement, landscaping, counter tops to pond building. This is all in my own home, and I have been at it since a young age. Just a month ago I repainted the front exterior of our house. And the truth is I enjoy it- and it is partially definitive of me.

So my question is, is this the material everyone talks of or have I missed it completely? Again, I am not going to pursue something to try and 'stand out' when it's not really me. Feel free to share your own characteristic accomplishments. And don't flame me! 🙂

I'm not really sure what your question is, but if you're asking if being a handyman around the house is sufficient ec activity for getting into med school, the answer is probably no.

However, it seems like you have a skill that would be very useful for helping others. Why don't you do something with that? Habitat for Humanity comes to mind.

 

[Andy71600]

I'm a D1 varsity swimmer in addition to having some decent EC's/stats. I'm hoping that it helps even a little bit

 

[RapplixGmed]

I hope not

Well i don't mean to say that there are hundreds of them but its very unlikely that what you do will be something the adcoms haven't seen before.

I guess the key is to be "more unique" than everybody else =)

 

[red10]

I think there's no real way to be unique when applying to med school unless you cure cancer and then go to med school. They've probably seen it all.
That being said, you can still contribute to "diversity" because how you view your life and career as a result of your activities and experiences will probably be closer to actually being unique.

 

[imer]

...

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

A friend had the following unique ECs:

studied under nobel prize winner, non med field
completed graduate program, ranked top 2 nationally, in non-med field
field research abroad
started a company, ranked in top 1% among its peer group, managed staff etc
traveled extensively abroad
spoke 2 foreign languages, 1 fluently
medical research in 2 med science labs

what schools required to interview? high enough MCAT + GPA
to be accepted? nail the interview and convince them that you'd be a great physician, and that you're "one of them"

don't sweat "unique"

 

[Exalya]

I happen to be an auctioneer >.> Most people I talk to think it's pretty unique. There aren't a lot of auctioneers, and I've never heard of one who became a doctor. I think having uniqueness is good--it shows that you have more than school and medicine to make you happy.

 

[red10]

I happen to be an auctioneer >.> Most people I talk to think it's pretty unique. There aren't a lot of auctioneers, and I've never heard of one who became a doctor. I think having uniqueness is good--it shows that you have more than school and medicine to make you happy.

and you'd be really good at rattling off symptoms and side effects really fast.

 

[zpiff]

I think I'm going to name my first child Unique. This thread can be about him/her.

 

[Narmerguy]

I think I'm going to name my first child Unique. This thread can be about him/her.

If you hadn't just confessed this to the whole internet, it might have been unique enough that your unique would be the first unique out of all applicants an adcom has seen, making it more unique. Now, there'll be some other unique before yours and your unique will no longer be unique 🙁

 

[BurghStudent]

However, it seems like you have a skill that would be very useful for helping others. Why don't you do something with that? Habitat for Humanity comes to mind.

I was thinking about joining Habitat for Humanity.

The question was really to see if as a side thing this would hold any weight whatsoever. I think I can relate it to med school somehow.

 

[not so calm now]

I was thinking about joining Habitat for Humanity.

The question was really to see if as a side thing this would hold any weight whatsoever. I think I can relate it to med school somehow.

I think that it could if you write it in an interesting enough way. Anything can be if you're a good writer!

 

[red10]

I think I'm going to name my first child Unique. This thread can be about him/her.

but you can't spell it Unique otherwise she won't be that unique. You have to spell it Youneek or something. (I love when people make up names/ make up the spelling of names)
I've met someone named Uniqua (pronounced Unique-wa)

 

[adeline]

but you can't spell it Unique otherwise she won't be that unique. You have to spell it Youneek or something. (I love when people make up names/ make up the spelling of names)
I've met someone named Uniqua (pronounced Unique-wa)

I unfortunately have have pts named all of those.

 

[dbrokut]

How is this for unique?

Coming from an extremely poor family in third world country with among other common diseases coming with poor nutrition, I have had two years of severe TB, been through 7.9 earthquake and assisted in removing trapped people from their flats turned death chambers, and seen a person being torched to death by fundamentalists right in front of my eyes in two-month long communal violence.

After immigrating to US, typical ECs, one poster presentation at the research symposium, and a year of research assistant on projects funded by US Navy.

 

[adeline]

How is this for unique?

Coming from an extremely poor family in third world country with among other common diseases coming with poor nutrition, I have had two years of severe TB, been through 7.9 earthquake and assisted in removing trapped people from their flats turned death chambers, and seen a person being torched to death by fundamentalists right in front of my eyes in two-month long communal violence.

After immigrating to US, typical ECs, one poster presentation at the research symposium, and a year of research assistant on projects funded by US Navy.

probably not.

 

[dbrokut]

probably not.

Really? You doubt its truthness or you really think it's not unique enough? I would like to see a another pre-med on this forum that has been through all that.

 

[adeline]

Really? You doubt its truthness or you really think it's not unique enough? I would like to see a another pre-med on this forum that has been through all that.

i'm sure it's not unique.

 

[TopSecret]

How is this for unique?

Coming from an extremely poor family in third world country with among other common diseases coming with poor nutrition, I have had two years of severe TB, been through 7.9 earthquake and assisted in removing trapped people from their flats turned death chambers, and seen a person being torched to death by fundamentalists right in front of my eyes in two-month long communal violence.

After immigrating to US, typical ECs, one poster presentation at the research symposium, and a year of research assistant on projects funded by US Navy.

Severe Tb or any sort of disease that you may have should be excluded from the application because it would raise questions regarding your physical constitution. Homicides are also not something to put on an application. Too macabre.

 

[dbrokut]

...

 

[TopSecret]

Well that is what has happened to me and I put it in my PS and related it to why I wanted to become a doctor... the whole point in my PS was to relate how a regret of not being able to do anything while a stranger was torched a painful death right in front me has fueled a desire in me to help others whom I might have power to help. And I don't think its a bit macabre... this IS a medical field!

And remember, it was during a two-month long communal violence during which hundreds of people were killed and many of them burned and I happened to see one in front me.

Not a good experience though. That incidence traumatized my childhood.

The catch is that you were there and didn't do anything to save the stranger. I don't know the circumstances (how old were you at the time?), but that wouldn't really make your application any more impressive by claiming victimhood.

 

[dbrokut]

The catch is that you were there and didn't do anything to save the stranger. I don't know the circumstances (how old were you at the time?), but that wouldn't really make your application any more impressive by claiming victimhood.

I was 14 years old and could not do anything as the event happened on the highway and I saw it from roof of my house, which was really close to highway and getting out of my house meant putting my life in danger.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

The catch is that you were there and didn't do anything to save the stranger. I don't know the circumstances (how old were you at the time?), but that wouldn't really make your application any more impressive by claiming victimhood.

👍👍, who cares people who apply have seen a various amount of things....just because you witnessed that doesn't matter at all.....and your TB doesn't matter either, people who have overcome cancer apply to med school....don't wanna burst your bubble, but I'm just sayin.

 

[dbrokut]

👍👍, who cares people who apply have seen a various amount of things....just because you witnessed that doesn't matter at all.....and your TB doesn't matter either, people who have overcome cancer apply to med school....don't wanna burst your bubble, but I'm just sayin.

I believe otherwise but whatever. I am done with this thread. 😡

 

[TopSecret]

I believe otherwise but whatever. I am done with this thread. 😡

I know someone who posed for Playboy. Now that was unique. She was my organic chem lab partner and she got into medical school.

 

[camo]

I know someone who posed for Playboy. Now that was unique. She was my organic chem lab partner and she got into medical school.

yeah and I wonder what she did for the ADCOMS during the interview. 😉

 

[Googleman]

I know someone who posed for Playboy. Now that was unique. She was my organic chem lab partner and she got into medical school.

Can you post the pics please? Or tell me which issue & pages?

I am dead serious.

 

[TopSecret]

Can you post the pics please? Or tell me which issue & pages?

I am dead serious.

It was like 10-11 years ago. A college edition, not saying which because I like my anonymity.

 

[BerlinDude]

It was like 10-11 years ago. A college edition, not saying which because I like my anonymity.

Trust me, no one is asking to find out who you are. 😎

 

[BerlinDude]

Can you post the pics please? Or tell me which issue & pages?

I am dead serious.

I concur, put up or shut up is my motto.

 

[anxiousteen]

someone from my school was a semi-professional model and got into a top school. she was drop dead gorgeous.

 

[mfrizzo3]

Well that is what has happened to me and I put it in my PS and related it to why I wanted to become a doctor... the whole point in my PS was to relate how a regret of not being able to do anything while a stranger was torched a painful death right in front me has fueled a desire in me to help others whom I might have power to help. And I don't think its a bit macabre... this IS a medical field!

And remember, it was during a two-month long communal violence during which hundreds of people were killed and many of them burned and I happened to see one in front me.

Not a good experience though. That incidence traumatized my childhood.

How is having an MD going to help you put out the flames of a man on fire?

 

[emtbrady]

I have done everything from painting, doors, dishwasher/fridge, new bathroom, redecorating, construction, cement, landscaping, counter tops to pond building. This is all in my own home, and I have been at it since a young age. Just a month ago I repainted the front exterior of our house. And the truth is I enjoy it- and it is partially definitive of me.

You should flip houses. It teaches you to yell at people that aren't as smart as you (contractors) while making sure they don't hate you, which is a great skill for a physician. Also, you can make some serious cash for your med school tuition. I have flipped three houses, which I think will be the highlight of my app.🙄

 

[Wheee]

OP, I say your handy-man-ness would be a nice break from all the other supposedly "unique" essays. Even if a bunch of other people may do the same kind of things, a lot won't write about it. I don't think the question is asked solely to find out what is unique about you that will necessarily help with medicine. It's a chance to show you've got talents other people don't, and that you're well-rounded and all that, and that you're not a robot. I wrote one about sewing and managed to tie it to my research (so it didn't seem completely out of left field). Problem solving, persistence, etc. Plus it's a bit of an unusual topic.

If I don't get in there, oh well...I'm not about to use something lame that's more closely related to medicine but is boring. If I get an interview, they'll at least be able to tell right away that I've got other interests and we can talk off of those.

Also, I ought to meet someone who can fix things like that because I'm not very handy at all. Maybe the adcoms will be subconsciously persuaded the same way...🙂