COVID 19 essay??!!! In the ACOMAS primary?

[mwsapphire]

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Hi everyone,
So I'm on 1 WL and am gearing up for a reapplication, just in case.

I'm reviewing the email the ACOMAS sent to us regarding the " changes" this cycle- and it seems like there is a COVID 19 essay?
Could somebody who has began filling out the application please tell me what this is and if it is optional?

I'm not sure if I'll reapply so I don't want to open a 2020-2021 application just yet. ( Actually, does opening a 2020-2021 primary and filling it out without submitting count as submitting a primary? Like if I do get into my WL school , does it count as having submitted a primary if I never send it in, like, can they see me open it?)

Thanks in advance,
mwsapphire

 

[stormking]

I am pretty sure it's optional. It's a space to describe how COVID affected you academically and personally, ie a lot of cancelled MCATs, volunteered activities, family members affected etc

I wrote a short essay regardless. Because of the covid, I gotdrifted into working in the molecular diagnostic lab for COVID samples

 

[mwsapphire]

I wrote a short essay regardless. Because of the covid, I gotdrifted into working in the molecular diagnostic lab for COVID samples

The thing is not that much changed for me other than losing a month or so in work. It may take me longer to get a second gap year job but thassit.
Now I think its more for letting the admissions ppl know how COVID affected your application if it did, not some kind of personal essay.

 

[Kumorebi]

The thing is not that much changed for me other than losing a month or so in work. It may take me longer to get a second gap year job but thassit.
Now I think its more for letting the admissions ppl know how COVID affected your application if it did, not some kind of personal essay.

I would disagree. Above user has shown perseverance getting involved.

 

[mwsapphire]

I would disagree. Above user has shown perseverance getting involved.

View attachment 308984

While that is great, not all of us where able to do that.
My job was as a scribe, and our clinics declined scribes during the pandemic. Everywhere else had a hiring freeze ( unless you already had lots of biotech job experience). I think it's reasonable I wasn't able to do much- most entry lvl jobs shut down.
It would be a bonus if you were able to participate, but If you couldn't there is just no way they could count it against you-none of us could have seen this coming.

 

[HouseJC]

I am pretty sure it's optional. It's a space to describe how COVID affected you academically and personally, ie a lot of cancelled MCATs, volunteered activities, family members affected etc

@mwsapphire, yes, it's optional, as the AACOMAS application doesn't have a red asterisk beside that box. I've completed my DO application already and the prompt is below:

You have 2500 characters (including spaces) for your response.

 

[Neuro244]

Would any people who are already admitted med students or physicians be willing to give me feedback on my answers to this question? Thank you.