AMCAS Primaries Again?

[HurricaneKatt]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys. So I didn't make it this round. (booo! 🙁 ) and round 2 is coming up soon. I think one of my biggest mistakes was of course, applying so late. 🙁 The schools I interviewed at said I need more clinical exposure, which I'm working on.
Anyways, my questions are in regards to my primary.
1) Since I filled out all of AMCAS before, will it autofill all of my info and I just need to edit/update stuff, or am I going to have to go through the entire application again? (Including EC essays and my personal essay?)

2) How important is it to change my essays? For example, one of my EC's was art. Do I really need to rewrite my essay on art, will it hurt me to keep it exactly the same as last time?
I feel like some things just don't really need to be updated. Obviously some of them I will rewrite, at least partially, but I'm just wondering I guess what the expectations are and what the best thing to do is.

3) Personal statement - do you guys recommend rewriting my personal statement entirely, or is just updating it okay? In round 2, should the personal statement perhaps say something about being a reapplicant? I don't know, maybe like "Though I didn't get in the first round, I am determined to continue trying to accomplish my dream. I spent the extra year off working on bettering myself as a person by ABC and improving my medical knowledge by DEF... etc" (obviously written better than that though lol) Or is that info better left for secondaries?

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm really frustrated at having to go through the whole process again, but I know it's worth it and I want to make sure I do it even better this time. Of course. 🙂

 

[PostHaste]

Hey guys. So I didn't make it this round. (booo! 🙁 ) and round 2 is coming up soon. I think one of my biggest mistakes was of course, applying so late. 🙁 The schools I interviewed at said I need more clinical exposure, which I'm working on.
Anyways, my questions are in regards to my primary.
1) Since I filled out all of AMCAS before, will it autofill all of my info and I just need to edit/update stuff, or am I going to have to go through the entire application again? (Including EC essays and my personal essay?)

2) How important is it to change my essays? For example, one of my EC's was art. Do I really need to rewrite my essay on art, will it hurt me to keep it exactly the same as last time?
I feel like some things just don't really need to be updated. Obviously some of them I will rewrite, at least partially, but I'm just wondering I guess what the expectations are and what the best thing to do is.

3) Personal statement - do you guys recommend rewriting my personal statement entirely, or is just updating it okay? In round 2, should the personal statement perhaps say something about being a reapplicant? I don't know, maybe like "Though I didn't get in the first round, I am determined to continue trying to accomplish my dream. I spent the extra year off working on bettering myself as a person by ABC and improving my medical knowledge by DEF... etc" (obviously written better than that though lol) Or is that info better left for secondaries?

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm really frustrated at having to go through the whole process again, but I know it's worth it and I want to make sure I do it even better this time. Of course. 🙂

I don't have much advice for you, but I wanted to say I admire your attitude. You sound level headed and committed, and like you're actively working to improve, not just whining like so many here. Best of luck to you the second time around!

 

[scarshapedstar]

Hey guys. So I didn't make it this round. (booo! 🙁 ) and round 2 is coming up soon. I think one of my biggest mistakes was of course, applying so late. 🙁 The schools I interviewed at said I need more clinical exposure, which I'm working on.
Anyways, my questions are in regards to my primary.
1) Since I filled out all of AMCAS before, will it autofill all of my info and I just need to edit/update stuff, or am I going to have to go through the entire application again? (Including EC essays and my personal essay?)

From what I recall it autofilled everything but activities. And it might actually autofill those, too; last year they changed the activities section so that's an unusual circumstance. Either way you can still access your previous app and just copy-paste.

2) How important is it to change my essays? For example, one of my EC's was art. Do I really need to rewrite my essay on art, will it hurt me to keep it exactly the same as last time?
I feel like some things just don't really need to be updated. Obviously some of them I will rewrite, at least partially, but I'm just wondering I guess what the expectations are and what the best thing to do is.

Not a big deal. For your three "long form" activities it's probably worth partially rewriting them just to show a little effort. What's more important of course is that you have some new ones on the list.

3) Personal statement - do you guys recommend rewriting my personal statement entirely, or is just updating it okay? In round 2, should the personal statement perhaps say something about being a reapplicant? I don't know, maybe like "Though I didn't get in the first round, I am determined to continue trying to accomplish my dream. I spent the extra year off working on bettering myself as a person by ABC and improving my medical knowledge by DEF... etc" (obviously written better than that though lol) Or is that info better left for secondaries?

I always (applied 3 times) did a full rewrite. I felt like my statements always became a little more, well, personal each time. For your situation obviously you want to explain how your new clinical experience has totally reaffirmed your decision in every way possible. 🙂

As far as acknowledging reapp status, I prefer to just do it obliquely, as in "since my last application I've learned X and gained Y", etc. Helps to keep the tone positive.

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm really frustrated at having to go through the whole process again, but I know it's worth it and I want to make sure I do it even better this time. Of course. 🙂

Applying early is job #1. Good luck!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Have the PS readers go over it and at least make changes, that is my only advice in addition to what StarSS said

 

[HurricaneKatt]

Thank you! 🙂