Discussing MCAT in Secondary Apps

[Dog2442]

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Hello, I have just received a secondary application with the prompt "Please discuss challenges in your journey thus far to medical school." Is this strictly referencing the process getting to medical school or is it simply asking me to discuss a challenge in my life? I realize that discussing the MCAAT isn't the best idea, but that has been my biggest challenge to medical school. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[ellia]

Don't discuss the MCAT. Find something else to talk about.

 

[toedrag]

It's not uncommon to address a lower MCAT in secondary prompts. Personally, I think if you spin it in a positive light to show that you improved and matured as a student/ person, it could demonstrate persistency and resilience. I took the MCAT twice, nearly 4 years apart. I touched on it briefly because I had ~60%ile increase overall. The student I was then was not the student I am now.

 

[Dog2442]

Hmm, it sounds like there are varied opinions on this topic. I was thinking about playing it safe and avoiding the MCAT. However, the best idea I can come up with is discussing the challenges I faced while working with patients without insurance at an underserved clinic. This wasn't a personal challenge, rather a challenging aspect of medicine.

 

[Catalystik]

1) I was thinking about playing it safe and avoiding the MCAT.

2) However, the best idea I can come up with is discussing the challenges I faced while working with patients without insurance at an underserved clinic. This wasn't a personal challenge, rather a challenging aspect of medicine.

1) Perhaps you could generalize the response to include test taking in general and what you've done to improve focused studying and thus outcomes.

2) This is not what they want to see.

 

[deleted938090]

I feel that you should try to make the secondaries be as separate from your academic metrics as you can. Otherwise, you're (inadvertently) putting more weight on the numbers on paper rather than telling about yourself. The MCAT is a challenge that everyone faces on the path to medical school and isn't something that makes you unique.

 

[Med Ed]

Hmm, it sounds like there are varied opinions on this topic. I was thinking about playing it safe and avoiding the MCAT. However, the best idea I can come up with is discussing the challenges I faced while working with patients without insurance at an underserved clinic. This wasn't a personal challenge, rather a challenging aspect of medicine.

Then you aren't answering the question, which will likely harm your chances of getting an interview.

Challenges in one's journey to this point in the process could include: born into low socioeconomic household, lack of access to decent schools, lack of family support, language difficulties, lack of mentoring, academic struggles, lack of opportunities for clinical exposure, the need to work during college, etc.

 

[Goro]

Then you aren't answering the question, which will likely harm your chances of getting an interview.

Challenges in one's journey to this point in the process could include: born into low socioeconomic household, lack of access to decent schools, lack of family support, language difficulties, lack of mentoring, academic struggles, lack of opportunities for clinical exposure, the need to work during college, etc.

Indeed. No one leads a charmed life, and introspection is a required trait for doctors. If the best that one can come up with is the MCAT as a challenge, that telegraphs that one is incapable of introspection, and also views everything through an academic prism. That's not good.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Then you aren't answering the question, which will likely harm your chances of getting an interview.

Challenges in one's journey to this point in the process could include: born into low socioeconomic household, lack of access to decent schools, lack of family support, language difficulties, lack of mentoring, academic struggles, lack of opportunities for clinical exposure, the need to work during college, etc.

When you say lack of family support do you mean only l financially? Or is having ultra unsupportive parents who belittled you, questioned your judgement and were generally demeaning during your journey to get into med school, due to their own preconceived motions of what a doctor should and should not be an acceptable answer to this question?

 

[Med Ed]

When you say lack of family support do you mean only l financially? Or is having ultra unsupportive parents who belittled you, questioned your judgement and were generally demeaning during your journey to get into med school, due to their own preconceived motions of what a doctor should and should not be an acceptable answer to this question?

Support comes in many forms.