For "Why X school?" secondary question, mention past interview?

[and 99 others]

For schools that ask on their secondaries "Why do you want to study at X COM?" or "Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?", is it appropriate/does it look bad to cite things you learned about the school from having interviewed at that school in a past cycle, thereby highlighting to the school that you are a reapplicant? Especially if this is a top school?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Tenk]

Saying your school has X and I like that is fine. Saying I noticed during my last interview your school has X and I like that is weird. Mention X, not the interview.

 

[and 99 others]

Saying your school has X and I like that is fine. Saying I noticed during my last interview your school has X and I like that is weird. Mention X, not the interview.

But what if it is something that I could have only found out at the interview day? For example, I want to mention how notably friendly, relaxed, and stress free the students were. Or how supportive and interactive the faculty were. It was something that really appealed to me. The proof that I know that is because I already interviewed there and interacted with current students.

 

[catnip12]

That is not a good enough reason to highlight on a secondary application prompt for why you want to attend X COM. I fear you will not get a second interview if you do use that secondary. However I am also a premed so take that for what it is.

 

[Tenk]

But what if it is something that I could have only found out at the interview day? For example, I want to mention how notably friendly, relaxed, and stress free the students were. Or how supportive and interactive the faculty were. It was something that really appealed to me. The proof that I know that is because I already interviewed there and interacted with current students.

Those are bad reasons to want to go to a medical school. You probably only met a very small % of faculty and nobody in your class. In other words, the people you met during your interview will have little to no interaction with you during medical school. You want objective reasons to go to a school, not subjective feelings.

 

[and 99 others]

Those are bad reasons to want to go to a medical school. You probably only met a very small % of faculty and nobody in your class. In other words, the people you met during your interview will have little to no interaction with you during medical school. You want objective reasons to go to a school, not subjective feelings.

I don't mean specifically the people I met with but rather that the culture and atmosphere was incredibly collaborative and stress-free. Is this not an important consideration when choosing what school to go to? Isn't this a big part of what second look visits are for?

 

[catnip12]

I don't mean specifically the people I met with but rather that the culture and atmosphere was incredibly collaborative and stress-free. Is this not an important consideration when choosing what school to go to? Isn't this a big part of what second look visits are for?

Yes but second look is after you’ve passed the interview phase. The collaborative friendly environment will be simulated at all second looks everywhere. And in many ways the people you encounter on your interview days will also be carefully curated.

I think you should reconsider writing your secondary about a previous interview day and instead would suggest that you go through the school’s website and find projects, activities, opportunities offered by that school’s program that really appeal to you. That’s the underlying reason why they put the stuff on their website.
Good luck nonetheless and I do hope you get a second chance to interview at this school.

 

[Tenk]

I don't mean specifically the people I met with but rather that the culture and atmosphere was incredibly collaborative and stress-free. Is this not an important consideration when choosing what school to go to? Isn't this a big part of what second look visits are for?

Not really. That’s for the individual to decide. Saying that to an adcom is basically the equivalent of saying I want to go to your school because it is a good school. It doesn’t really set you apart or do anything for your application because nobody is going to say: I want to go to a school where everyone is malignant and terrible. Everyone wants a school like you described. I would write about other reasons for this one.

Now if you get an interview and are asked about your previous experience or what you think of the staff, there’s your sign. You can also send a post interview email/letter although these largely have little to no impact. Good luck. Reapplying sucks, I’ve been there.

 

[and 99 others]

Not really. That’s for the individual to decide. Saying that to an adcom is basically the equivalent of saying I want to go to your school because it is a good school. It doesn’t really set you apart or do anything for your application because nobody is going to say: I want to go to a school where everyone is malignant and terrible. Everyone wants a school like you described. I would write about other reasons for this one.

Now if you get an interview and are asked about your previous experience or what you think of the staff, there’s your sign. You can also send a post interview email/letter although these largely have little to no impact. Good luck. Reapplying sucks, I’ve been there.

It sucks indeed. But thank you so much for the advice! Just wanted to make it more personal but I see your point. I'll peruse the sight.

Follow-up question:

I have friends that go to many different schools across the country and I have spoken to a lot of them about details that they really enjoy about the school and specific things that set that school apart. I want to write about the things that they have mentioned but they only know these things because they attend the school. Is it appropriate to mention these specific details and cite that I have friends that go to that school for the reason why I know those details?

 

[Tenk]

It sucks indeed. But thank you so much for the advice! Just wanted to make it more personal but I see your point. I'll peruse the sight.

Follow-up question:

I have friends that go to many different schools across the country and I have spoken to a lot of them about details that they really enjoy about the school and specific things that set that school apart. I want to write about the things that they have mentioned but they only know these things because they attend the school. Is it appropriate to mention these specific details and cite that I have friends that go to that school for the reason why I know those details?

Depends on the details. I wouldn’t mention the friends.