Failure Essay

[PopeKnope23]

I'm having a little difficulty answering the prompt "Recount a time when you failed or made a decision you regret. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?"

Not to come off as sheltered or privileged, but would it be okay to write about how during my first semester of college, I realized I failed to challenge myself because I went to school in my hometown, lived at home and therefore wasn't really put out of my comfort zone. So from there, I decided to go out and find 3 jobs (though I didn't need to money-wise), which helped me get lots of real-world experience. I met lots of people, was put out of my comfort zone, and ended up growing a lot personally.

Will adcoms roll their eyes?

I could also maybe write about failing to learn my parents' language and how that really affects me now that I am older when speaking to my grandparents, cousins, etc. Though I can fully understand the language, this summer I've started to teach myself how to read and write it.

As always, love your guys' honesty! @Goro @gyngyn @LizzyM

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[Goro]

I'm having a little difficulty answering the prompt "Recount a time when you failed or made a decision you regret. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?"

Not to come off as sheltered or privileged, but would it be okay to write about how during my first semester of college, I realized I failed to challenge myself because I went to school in my hometown, lived at home and therefore wasn't really put out of my comfort zone. So from there, I decided to go out and find 3 jobs (though I didn't need to money-wise), which helped me get lots of real-world experience. I met lots of people, was put out of my comfort zone, and ended up growing a lot personally.

@Goro @gyngyn @LizzyM

But do you REGRET making this decision??? Going to college in your hometown is definitely a first world problem for some.
I've done tons of things I regret. And failed at.

Introspection is a required trait in a doctor.

 

[Robin-jay]

I think you need a better example where you can elaborate on a failure. This is answering a question like "whats your greatest weakness" by saying "I'm too hardworking".

That being said, my answer would be dating my ice cold ex-gf.

 

[LizzyM]

Was choosing to go to school in your hometown a "failure"? Why did you regret this decision? What did you learn from the experience of staying close to home for the first year of college? The fact that you took jobs is not relevant to the question. Why did you regret this decision? What did you learn from that decision? (not what you did about it).

 

[gyngyn]

This was not a failure.

 

[PopeKnope23]

Okay, well thank you guys for the input! I'll just have to dig deeper and find something else.

 

[PopeKnope23]

So I just thought of this, even though it's really old. But my sophomore year of HS, I tried out for the State Honors Orchestra and got rejected. I was really let down, but I used the following year to practice a lot harder and more seriously and when I tried out my junior year I made it. I even became concertmaster of my city's youth orchestra that year too.

Is this still weak? And I haven't been formally involved in music since HS due to time, though it is still a big hobby. @Goro @LizzyM @gyngyn

 

[Robin-jay]

So I just thought of this, even though it's really old. But my sophomore year of HS, I tried out for the State Honors Orchestra and got rejected. I was really let down, but I used the following year to practice a lot harder and more seriously and when I tried out my junior year I made it. I even became concertmaster of my city's youth orchestra that year too.

Is this still weak? And I haven't been formally involved in music since HS due to time, though it is still a big hobby. @Goro @LizzyM @gyngyn

My non-ADCOM opinion would be that its preferred you discuss things after HS.

 

[Goro]

My non-ADCOM opinion would be that its preferred you discuss things after HS.

I agree

 

[PopeKnope23]

I understand that, but after doing some searching on this site I see a few people who brought up high school experiences and a few of you said that was fine. Why is it not fine for my scenario?

 

[herdofturtles]

My non-ADCOM opinion would be that its preferred you discuss things after HS.

I also agree, but other than that I think this is more along the lines of a better example.

 

[PopeKnope23]

Okay, one last try. When I began college, I neglected to take care of myself health-wise (ate badly, never worked out) and was always on a mission to put the rest of my life first. I was fine and never thought much of it until I was diagnosed with a chronic kidney condition this past semester. While my lifestyle and the diagnosis may be unrelated, I learned to care for myself and regretted that it took a diagnosis for me to realize it. I honestly now have a totally different outlook on my health, mentally and physically, and the way I live my life.

 

[LizzyM]

I prefer the orchestra story... self-neglect to the point of illness is not a good look on anyone.

 

[futureneuro7]

Resurrecting this thread because I am answering this prompt now, and am facing similar issues. I don’t want to answer with the typical answer of academic failures, and how those led me to work harder and get better grades. I also don’t necessarily have a lot of regrets worth writing about, because most of my screw ups have led to me learning important lessons that I think will make me a better physician.

The only thing I can really think of is my choice of graduate school (it’s about to get political, apologies in advance). I started the program after the 2016 election, but before *things* really started to hit the fan. The program is a conservative, Christian school. I went to a catholic university, and felt that I really benefitted from that point of view in my studies, and the school was also really respectful and inclusive of other religions. Religion was taught from a scholarly perspective, not a preach-y one. No profs ever assumed all their students were Catholic, and we could even take courses on other religions (like Islam) for our upper theology requirement.
My grad school was not like that. Taught religion from a preach-y perspective, and the school had really messed up views about gender, LGBTQ+ people, non-Christian religions, etc. Not all profs or students were like that, but it was definitely there. It was a huge culture shock for me, and I do think that these issues were amplified by the increasingly extremist rhetoric of the Tr*mp administration. While I received a good education nonetheless, and learned a lot (especially about how I need to be watchful for bigotry in the medical field, which was not necessarily what the program probably intended), I hate being associated with a school that stands for these types of beliefs.

Thoughts? Is this too political to write about in a supplemental essay? I can’t really think of anything else.

 

[Goro]

Resurrecting this thread because I am answering this prompt now, and am facing similar issues. I don’t want to answer with the typical answer of academic failures, and how those led me to work harder and get better grades. I also don’t necessarily have a lot of regrets worth writing about, because most of my screw ups have led to me learning important lessons that I think will make me a better physician.

The only thing I can really think of is my choice of graduate school (it’s about to get political, apologies in advance). I started the program after the 2016 election, but before *things* really started to hit the fan. The program is a conservative, Christian school. I went to a catholic university, and felt that I really benefitted from that point of view in my studies, and the school was also really respectful and inclusive of other religions. Religion was taught from a scholarly perspective, not a preach-y one. No profs ever assumed all their students were Catholic, and we could even take courses on other religions (like Islam) for our upper theology requirement.
My grad school was not like that. Taught religion from a preach-y perspective, and the school had really messed up views about gender, LGBTQ+ people, non-Christian religions, etc. Not all profs or students were like that, but it was definitely there. It was a huge culture shock for me, and I do think that these issues were amplified by the increasingly extremist rhetoric of the Tr*mp administration. While I received a good education nonetheless, and learned a lot (especially about how I need to be watchful for bigotry in the medical field, which was not necessarily what the program probably intended), I hate being associated with a school that stands for these types of beliefs.

Thoughts? Is this too political to write about in a supplemental essay? I can’t really think of anything else.

I suggest staying away from answers that have to do with cultural and political mores.

 

[ontiquicuo]

I'd be afraid this essay would illustrate poor research and decision making skills. In assuming that the grad school's reputation is well known. (This seems like a safe assumption otherwise you wouldn't need to address it.) If you knew the reputation and did not like it, why go? (Bad decision skills) If you didn't know the reputation, why not? (Bad research)

How will you address these implications in your essay. Can you show-not-tell? Can you show your skills have improved? Not just say you learned a lesson?

 

[futureneuro7]

I'd be afraid this essay would illustrate poor research and decision making skills. In assuming that the grad school's reputation is well known. (This seems like a safe assumption otherwise you wouldn't need to address it.) If you knew the reputation and did not like it, why go? (Bad decision skills) If you didn't know the reputation, why not? (Bad research)

How will you address these implications in your essay. Can you show-not-tell? Can you show your skills have improved? Not just say you learned a lesson?

Very valid points, thank you!