Confused on Style of Secondaries?

[Mpsll]

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How should you construct your secondaries? I assume for shorter prompts they should be listing, and concise.

But, for longer responses of 250+ words, can you add your personal tone to the writing and weave an anecdote; is it worth trying to be creative (like common app essays were) or is that just too risky? Which is more memorable and stronger?

 

[cj_cregg]

Admissions essays in general should not be creative and do not have to be memorable. Personal statements have a little more wiggle room but most secondaries are asking you a specific question - just answer it. Please don't do the in media res thing. Anecdotes are fine but unless the question is asking "tell about a time when..." should not be the main point of an essay.

 

[Mpsll]

You don't need to try to be memorable? But, then how do you set yourself apart so you get invited for an interview?

 

[cj_cregg]

You don't need to try to be memorable? But, then how do you set yourself apart so you get invited for an interview?

I review an application and immediately make a recommendation to interview or not. I don't need to remember you specifically amongst hundreds of other applicants, or even in direct comparison to one, for you to get an interview.

You set yourself apart to get an interview by having strong ECs, grades, essays, and letters, and being able to talk about your experiences in a meaningful and cohesive way. That is not the same thing as memorable.

 

[Mpsll]

Ohh that makes sense. I didn't know that was how applications were reviewed, I always thought you were compared with other candidates before getting invited for an interview. Thank you!

 

[Toffifay]

I think maybe what you're looking to do is make a strong positive impression. You can get the interview invite by doing that without being memorable.

 

[LizzyM]

Leave 'em wanting more. The point of the secondary is to get the reader to say, "I'd like to meet this applicant!" Although they aren't likely to be your interviewer, it is a feeling a reader gets that impels them to recommend an interview.

 

[cj_cregg]

Ohh that makes sense. I didn't know that was how applications were reviewed, I always thought you were compared with other candidates before getting invited for an interview. Thank you!

That might be happening a few steps down the road in my school's admissions process I suppose, but at least in my role as someone making the initial recommendation of should we consider interviewing this person - it's more of a how does this person compare to the overall pool, not any other individual applicant.

 

[sardinetoast]

I'm just making sure I'm actually answering the prompt. If I can use an anectdote or story to do that, great. If not, then I don't. For instance, Ohio State asks "provide examples of some factors leading to health inequities in the US."
Well, I've worked in a free clinic for 3 years that serves a very underserved population in the US, so I've seen a lot of factors in person. So I did give short clinical anectdotes for each factor that I mentioned, to personalize it. But I don't do that with every question, just ones where I actually have a story that strengthens the essay

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thread 'Secondary Essay Q&A - April 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM Eastern'

Mar 27, 2025

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Secondary Essay Q&A - April 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM Eastern