Being Repetitive in Secondaries

[frosty42]

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How bad is it to be repetitive in secondaries?

I feel like some of my essays are reiterating things I've already said in my primary.

I know that we're supposed to provide as much new information as possible, but there are only so many experiences I've had that I can talk about.

Will being repetitive be seen as a big negative by adcoms or do they expect it to some extent?

 

[gyngyn]

Word for word repetition is to be avoided.

 

[Catalystik]

How bad is it to be repetitive in secondaries?

I feel like some of my essays are reiterating things I've already said in my primary.

I know that we're supposed to provide as much new information as possible, but there are only so many experiences I've had that I can talk about.

Will being repetitive be seen as a big negative by adcoms or do they expect it to some extent?

If you have to repeat information, freshen it up with new vocabulary, sentence arrangement, and anecdotes. Also, don't assume that the same screener or adcomm will have access to all parts of your application.

 

[sweatysweetpotato79]

Building on OP's question, would it be appropriate to say "as mentioned in the primary application..." on a secondary? One of my questions is "describe your most meaningful clinical experience," but I've already hammered it home in MME and PS.

 

[Catalystik]

Building on OP's question, would it be appropriate to say "as mentioned in the primary application..." on a secondary? One of my questions is "describe your most meaningful clinical experience," but I've already hammered it home in MME and PS.

You can't assume that the same person will have access to all parts of the application. So don't cite the Primary on a Secondary application.

 

[sweatysweetpotato79]

You can't assume that the same person will have access to all parts of the application. So don't cite the Primary on a Secondary application.

That sounds good, thank you!

 

[LindaAccepted]

How bad is it to be repetitive in secondaries?

I feel like some of my essays are reiterating things I've already said in my primary.

I know that we're supposed to provide as much new information as possible, but there are only so many experiences I've had that I can talk about.

Will being repetitive be seen as a big negative by adcoms or do they expect it to some extent?

Approach an experience you mentioned in the primary from a new angle or go deeper into your motivations and the outcome, it's significance.

There is a difference between referring to an experience that was mentioned previously but adding insight or additional information, and being repetitive. The former is OK. the later is a missed opportunity and a waste for you and the reader.

 

[greys_anatomy]

Do adcoms actually have time to read all of this lol? Feel like it would take more than 3 hours per applicant esp. given how crazy long some of the secondaries are + 20000 characters of primaries + a ton of LORs + everything else. I would imagine they just skim so wouldn't really care if you repeated stuff

 

[LindaAccepted]

Do adcoms actually have time to read all of this lol? Feel like it would take more than 3 hours per applicant esp. given how crazy long some of the secondaries are + 20000 characters of primaries + a ton of LORs + everything else. I would imagine they just skim so wouldn't really care if you repeated stuff

They say they read them.

However, you don't want to give them a reason to stop reading, or to read out of a sense of obligation rather than interest.

 

[KnightDoc]

You can't assume that the same person will have access to all parts of the application. So don't cite the Primary on a Secondary application.

I keep seeing this stated on SDN, but, now that I'm in the trenches writing, it's honestly not making a lot of sense to me. It's one application, and I'm one applicant. I'm using the application, all of it, to attempt to weave a compelling narrative in order to score myself an II, and ultimately an A.

Why on earth can I not assume that it will be read, in its entirety, by whoever is reviewing and passing judgment? It seems like an impossible task -- avoid being repetitive while not assuming the reader has access to the rest of the application! 🙂

I'm just an applicant, so what do I know? Other than shielding stats (or maybe even the whole file) from some interviewers in order to avoid bias in the interview, what would be the reason to only expose some written material to any particular reviewer? From my side of the fence, that seems like a recipe for a half-baked review.

 

[Catalystik]

to avoid bias

This.