Constant moving during grade school. Where to put in the app?

[Kuune]

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Hi all, I'm wondering if I should include having moved a LOT as a kid in my app, and if so, where. I've lived in the west, the south, and the northeast corners of the US, and went to 4 different middle schools. It was pretty tumultuous, but I do feel that it's helped me really experience diversity as well as becoming adaptable and really comfortable with change. However I'm not sure where I could mention this. It doesn't seem like it belongs in the EC's, and my PS is already written and focused on other things. I think it might be an interesting tidbit about me, and has definitely contributed to who I am.

 

[mmmcdowe]

If it contributes to why medical school, I'd go with PS. I talked most about it in secondaries and at interviews (also traveled a lot as a kid)

 

[Kuune]

It doesn't answer why med school at all. It just plays a role in the type of person I am. I almost forgot about interviews. It seems like a good conversation topic for then. How would you bring something like that up if it's not outright asked? Wouldn't it be really random if they were about to end the interview and asked "anything else?" and you went into a long monologue about having moved a lot as a kid?

 

[mmmcdowe]

It doesn't answer why med school at all. It just plays a role in the type of person I am. I almost forgot about interviews. It seems like a good conversation topic for then. How would you bring something like that up if it's not outright asked? Wouldn't it be really random if they were about to end the interview and asked "anything else?" and you went into a long monologue about having moved a lot as a kid?

It was usually something I brought up in the context of diversity, being able to relate with people, my underlying reasons for why I consider myself a curious person who loves to travel (I did mention traveling in my PS) and learn about new things, etc. What are you doing in NYC? School?


I would argue that the type of person you are is a very big part of why medicine.

 

[Kuune]

Yup. Went to undergrad there and will be working at NYSPI for my year off. Through my skills in stalking, you go to CUMC?

 

[mmmcdowe]

Yup. Went to undergrad there and will be working at NYSPI for my year off. Through my skills in stalking, you go to CUMC?

Yes, that is correct stalker. In fact, I live within binocular's distance of where you will work 😀

 

[Kuune]

Yup. And I'll be living up the street from you too. Small world. Or just ridiculously overpopulated city.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Save it for the secondaries. Most secondaries ask about how you'd fit in to their school or what life experiences you've had, etc. This would fit perfectly there.

 

[boaz]

Save it for the secondaries. Most secondaries ask about how you'd fit in to their school or what life experiences you've had, etc. This would fit perfectly there.

👍

Also at interviews. You'll get asked tons of times "tell me about yourself" and this is a GREAT place to start. You can also use it to address other questions as well.

It definitely doesn't go in the ECs.

 

[FrazzleSnazzle]

OP, you sound like my clone 😀. You could just do what I did and nonchalantly mention the fact that you've moved around a lot in a sentence or two in the PS. Usually, a few subconscious hints here and there is enough to ingrain the perception that you have had a diverse life experience.

And like others have said, also talk about it in more detail in your secondary essays. The overwhelming majority of schools don't screen post-AMCAS and automatically send you their secondary so it's not like you won't get another chance to mention this even if you didn't do it in your PS.

 

[LizzyM]

If there were economic hardship reasons for the many moves, you might want to put it in the disadvantaged section, particularly if you felt ill-prepared for college. If it was more a case of an adult climbing the corporate (or military) ladder, then the secondaries where it fits might be a good place.

Once in awhile you'll get an interviewer who will spring a question like, "Tell me something I wouldn't know from having read your application." In that case, you are golden.