Confused about secondary application

[WaltzingMatilda]

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Hi, I am a bit confused about secondary application. I got the secondary from Columbia, and it's so redundant. It's basically the same thing as the AMCAS, worded a little differently. So am I supposed to write many essays over and over, and make them all new, or am I supposed to cut and paste?! Honestly, it's the same thing!! "Why do you want to be a physician" vs. what satisfaction do you hope to get from being a physician." And list your extra. activities over again. So what exactly are they looking for?

Also, about the letter of rec. The way my school works is that all the recommenders send letter to the pre-med committee, who writes a composite letter, and then send all those letters attached with their composite one to each school. I have 7 people writing letters. Am I supposed to pick out three names and just put it into the sec applications? Are these people supposed to send the letters again (twice?). I am not applying to any MD alone program, so all letters are already geared toward MD/PhD, and they would just end up sending the same one again. So what exactly am I supposed to do here?

Thank you SO MUCH for your help as I navigate this process!

 

[Dreemer005]

Hi, I'm a P & S graduate and remember the application process from a long time ago. I think what they are looking for is your specific reasons for wanting to be at Columbia compared to other institutions and how that would play a role in developing you as a physician / physician scientist. They don't explicitly state it, but most applicants use a blanket personal statement for all their applications.

I can't help you much with the LOR question, since I was a MD and not MD/PhD. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions.

 

[WaltzingMatilda]

Thanks for replying! That gives me a better idea. I just felt that it was so redundant, because the AMCAS already covered most of what is being asked in the secondary. But I guess I will just answer it all over again 🙂

 

[marctam86]

im having the same problem.