Help! How do I interpret this application?

[Soulstice]

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Personal Statement

The essay section of your application is an opportunity for you to let us know who you are. To that end, use the following questions as guides. In one document, please address each question in approximately 750 words.

1. Describe a recent activity or experience that has been or is currently especially important to you.
2. How will the Humanities and Medicine program help you fulfill your personal educational goals?
3. Describe how your educational plan will enhance your future career in medicine.

This is what it says for the Mt. Sinai Humanities and Medicine application. Would this mean 3 individual essays, 750 words each? 1 essay with 3 themes covered, 250ish words each? How would you interpret this?

 

[NYBills987]

Personal Statement

The essay section of your application is an opportunity for you to let us know who you are. To that end, use the following questions as guides. In one document, please address each question in approximately 750 words.

1. Describe a recent activity or experience that has been or is currently especially important to you.
2. How will the Humanities and Medicine program help you fulfill your personal educational goals?
3. Describe how your educational plan will enhance your future career in medicine.

This is what it says for the Mt. Sinai Humanities and Medicine application. Would this mean 3 individual essays, 750 words each? 1 essay with 3 themes covered, 250ish words each? How would you interpret this?

Why don't you email their admissions office? Much more clear when they themselves tell you

 

[flatearth22]

One essay max of 750 words. Also it says use the questions as guides....not to answer them directly, per se.

 

[Soulstice]

Right--I was just thrown off by the "each question in approximately 750 words" which made it seem like they might want 3 of 750 each?

 

[ponyo]

Right--I was just thrown off by the "each question in approximately 750 words" which made it seem like they might want 3 of 750 each?

This was definitely my impression. You should probably call them.

 

[iniquus]

mean 3 individual essays, 750 words each?

I interpreted it as this. They just want 1 document because it's less files floating around in the applicant pool.

Don't listen to flatearth, he's almost always wrong.

 

[Soulstice]

Haha, I definitely hope you are all right. Already wrote one essay then realized it might be a misinterpretation. Darn!

 

[mauberley]

I would concur with flatearth's interpretation of the prompt. Shocking, I know. Anyway, let us know who's right. 🙂 750 words is a lot to spend on a single question, in my opinion.

 

[LizzyM]

I'd interprete that to be a 750 document that address the three related issues: what have you done, what do you want to do, how will our program help.

 

[Xodus]

In one document, please address each question in approximately 750 words.

What would be the point of saying "in one document" if it were supposed to be one essay? Bit redundant? My bet is 3 separate essays, 750 words each.

 

[flatearth22]

I interpreted it as this. They just want 1 document because it's less files floating around in the applicant pool.

Don't listen to flatearth, he's almost always wrong.

lol.....u were wrong!

 

[iniquus]

lol.....u were wrong!

I don't know how you concluded I was wrong. Did you call the office up?

Like one of the users said above, one document would be obvious if they wanted a single essay. I think they want 3 separate essays, one that uses each question as a guide to what the content of each essay should be about.

A quick google search shows:

Humanities and Medicine Application Requirements:
Each essay should be approximately 750 words.

If what the OP posted is the entire essay section, it seems there is more than one essay. Go back in your corner.

 

[Soulstice]

I think that seems to make more sense too.. I just wanted to see if I could get a firm consensus here so the call to the program wouldn't be necessary. But seeing that there's both opinions it makes sense to call and confirm.

 

[brandxnew]

Don't listen to flatearth, he's almost always wrong.

👍

Although I think he might be right in this case.

 

[lilmrali]

I called Dr. Hanss (the director of the program) quite a while ago and he apologized for how ambiguous the wording was. It is 3 essays though, 750 words each (just to clarify in case anyone was still up in the air.)

 

[SisterDisco08]

I was going to say 3 essays just because they bothered to number the talking points...If it's just one essay, most schools won't number, they'll bullet or list.

 

[iggs99988]

Is anyone aware of whether they alternate essay topics for different years, or will the topics for 2012 be the same?

 

[StoicJosher]

Is anyone aware of whether they alternate essay topics for different years, or will the topics for 2012 be the same?

They are usually the same but you might want to make sure. Check the school specific threads here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=826

 

[coyotelime]

2250 is way too much. They probably don't have time to read 9-10 pgs per applicant, plus you'd run our of things to say real quick. I think it's one 750 word response.