did you TYPE your app?

[otter]

This is kind of a stupid question, but I was wondering if all of you typed everything on your secondaries. Other than the essays and short answer questions (which I did on computer, printed out, cut and glued), I handwrote everything.

I assumed that no med schools expect people to whip out a typewriter and type everything on the application form. But then I have a friend who's telling me that I made a mistake by not typing and that maybe that's why I'm not faring too well.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Coalboy]

I scanned everything in, put the picture as a background in Microsoft Word, and typed overtop of it using textboxes/tables/etc. It ended up taking me three times as long as if I had typed them, but once I got the hang of it, it wasn't too bad.

 

[Keith]

i purchased a brother typewiter for $100 and typed all the short answers. i did essays in word perfect then did test prints till my resonses would fit into the spaces of the 2nd app. if i had better handwriting, i would have probably wrote in short responses. if overall you 2nd apps look neat, i don't think it will hurt you much.

 

[SMW]

Typed or word-processed everything (with help from Mom. Thanks, Mom!! ).

 

[shimmer118]

Nope, I did not type everything. Essays and short answer-type questions, yes. But simple "name, address, phone number" stuff, no.

 

[merlin]

I got a typewriter on Ebay for $10 and it worked great (well, I was a little slow on the uptake on how to use it). The funny thing is that a medical school student who used it to do his apps had it up for auction. Now what are the chances of that. Hey, maybe that typewriter is good luck.

 

[Darwin]

Same here - typed or word processed everything. But, no, I don't think your not typing would hold up your apps...unless you have such horrible handwriting that nobody can read it, of course.

 

[willbeMD]

I did what keith did. I typed in the demographic info and did the essays in MS word and did trial printing to make sure it all fit well. It did take a long time, but I figured "better safe than sorry". I would hate having that doubt lurking in my mind. It does seem kind of trivial, but you never know whose hands you application lands in.

 

[mma]

I was always under the impression that you are supposed to type or word process everything unless they specifically ask for handwritten responses (as Brown, for example, does...). I do not know, however, if a handwritten application is enough to disqualify a person from being admitted to a school.

My handwriting is so atrocious, adcoms would have thrown out my application...

mma

 

[otter]

wow - you guys are all so diligent! Come to think, I suppose small things like whether/not the applicant put in that extra effort could leave a strong first impression.

Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.

 

[Amy]

Otter, I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it's legible and looks neat, it makes no difference whether it's typed or printed. It's WHAT you wrote that counts.

 

[idiot]

Just to reassure you, I interviewed at the schools where I submitted hand-written secondaries.

 

[shimmer118]

Originally posted by otter:
•wow - you guys are all so diligent! Come to think, I suppose small things like whether/not the applicant put in that extra effort could leave a strong first impression.
•••

I don't know....for people with horrible handwriting, it might take more effort to hand-write something readable. And if you're a fast typer and/or a whiz with computers, then typing it might be easier for you...anyways, I had one school say "please type or word-process", and all the others said nothing or said "print or type". Makes no difference.

 

[gooseHC]

I made a point to type everything, and I definitely had to practice first. Typing takes a little practice in lining stuff up and whatnot.
I was very grateful of those (like Albany) had secondaries wholly on the web.
And I was very ungrateful to those schools that sent links to non-writeable .pdf adobe files. For those I found a computer on campus with the full version of Adobe (which is expensive and was hard to find on my campus!)...I swear the schools make those files non-writeable just to annoy us! As if the process is not frustrating as it is!!!

 

[Dr. Kermit]

My typewriter from 1975 (4 years my senior) and I have unfortunately decided to be good friends. I had a three month affair with it from July 2001-September 2001. I wish I knew more about computers and photoshop to feed everything through a printer.

 

[eagle26]

I remember VCU had everybody send in a "handwritten" essay. No typing allowed! Needless to say we were all curious about it when we interviewed. I think that was the most interesting secondary I had.

 

[Dr. Foxy]

Otter, I wrote many of my applications by hand until I found a typewriter to use on campus. Now I wish I had typed everything. I feel worried....but my premed advisor told me it was ok to hand write, because she couldn't see people using typewriters anymore. I think schools may have a bad first impression, but after they read everything, I'm sure it won't make a difference in the outcome. Good luck

 

[Hopkins2010]

For what its worth, I disobeyed the instructions on Johns Hopkins secondary to type it out. Wrote it by hand (neatly) instead.

Got the acceptance letter about a month ago.

 

[otter]

Thank you all for your responses!!! Based on a lot of your messages, I'm not as worried now! However, I will type everything if I have to reapply next year.

 

[A. Caveman]

are you kidding, i damn near wiped my butt with my application to UF last year. that thing had white out (the sheets were blue!) and in some areas i might even have crossed out stuff. the edges were also bent...i regreted sending it so ghetto after it was gone, but low and behold, i got an interview from them. still, didn't get in (maybe that was why )

anywho, i typed it this time, and no word.

actually, despite my experiences, I suggest typing it up. they expect you to know all kinds of crap about medicine before you EVEN GET INTO IT. so you better believe that they expect you to act like a little miniprofessional with applications. type everything. cept for the signature and date <img src="graemlins/wowie.gif" border="0" alt="[Wowie]" />

 

[EMTgirl]

i also dragged out the ol' typewriter and set that baby up at my desk for approx. 3 months. the key is to make a few copies of each secondary so you can practice to see if your essay will fit. i don't know how to do all the fancy computer stuff, so this was my only option. i spent many hours every day with my trusty typewriter...changed out the ribbon and eraser tape a few times. kinda miss it!

 

[megkudos]

Wow you guys are good!!
I didn't type anything, just wrote nice and neat. I just don't have the patience for typewriters!

 

[megkudos]

Wow you guys are good!!
I didn't type anything, just wrote nice and neat. I just don't have the patience for typewriters!

 

[THE instiGATOR]

I typed everything. Even the dates, Caveman. Contrary to what some have said, presentation does matter.