How high are the stakes for secondaries?

[gasstationsushi]

After a failed cycle a couple of years ago, I revamped my application and spent a lot of time crafting a strong personal statement this time around. After putting many months of thought into the primary, I am finding myself overthinking the secondaries. Out of curiosity, how high are the stakes when it comes to secondary applications? Are they what will make or break the chance for an interview invitation, or does that fall mostly on the primary?

I ask especially for those schools with obscure questions like "describe a research interest" or "tell us about a time when you did not agree with a rule" rather than those with a clear point like "why our school" questions. Do all of these obscure essays need to be masterpieces, or will I fine be as long as I answer the prompt? Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[LindaAccepted]

"Masterpiece" may be a little strong. Medical schools are not looking for a Mona Lisa, and they don't want to read the Great American Secondary Essay or novel.

However, it all "counts." Primary and secondary. For the secondaries, answering the question(s) clearly and articulately and in a way that adds to their insight into you and your fit with their program and community is important, if not vital.

Remember several thousand other pre-meds are vying for the same few hundred (less in some cases) seats that you are aiming for. The adcom is taking the time to review both the primary and the secondary because -- given what they glean from the primary -- they believe your responses to their secondary questions are worth investing their time in. Make it worth their while. Don't disappoint them.

 

[KnightDoc]

"Masterpiece" may be a little strong. Medical schools are not looking for a Mona Lisa, and they don't want to read the Great American Secondary Essay or novel.

However, it all "counts." Primary and secondary. For the secondaries, answering the question(s) clearly and articulately and in a way that adds to their insight into you and your fit with their program and community is important, if not vital.

Remember several thousand other pre-meds are vying for the same few hundred (less in some cases) seats that you are aiming for. The adcom is taking the time to review both the primary and the secondary because -- given what they glean from the primary -- they believe your responses to their secondary questions are worth investing the time in. Make it worth their while. Don't disappoint them.

This^^^^^. You've already been through a cycle, so you really should have some idea of how it all works.

The so-called "obscure" essays are one metric they use to stratify thousands of applicants, many of whom look very similar, to select the hundreds who will advance to the next stage of the competition (the interview). A "masterpiece" sure won't hurt, but just how necessary one is depends on how strong the rest of the application is.

Did you have any IIs during your prior cycle? If so, then your secondaries were likely fine. If not, then there really is no reason to stop the revamping after focusing on the PS. Of course, ECs and stats are probably even more important than the primary or the secondaries.

Bottom line -- there is no reason to think they would waste time on anything they didn't think was important, so "just answering the prompt" probably isn't good enough when 60%+ of applicants fail to be accepted anywhere each cycle. As a reapplicant, you should probably know this better than many. Good luck!!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

The secondary prompts are a preview to an interview, just like the personal comments essays in the primary application. At the very least, the goal is to avoid elimination (denied interview), but they will get read and scored (depending on the specific process).

There are no gold medals in writing application essays, and the world will not change because of any essay you write.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Usually, they won’t get you an interview in themselves but they’re certainly significant enough to deny you an interview

 

[gasstationsushi]

Thank you everyone! I did have one II out of ten schools last cycle despite submitting very late. This time, I am applying to twice as many schools and have come across a few more essay questions that I'm having a harder time with. For instance, I'm struggling to think of a peer whose accomplishments I feel have gone unrecognized, and I'm not even sure what the takeaway from this question should be. I can absolutely come up with something, I just don't feel like I've really had an experience that fits that prompt.

I think that I have solid answers tying in relevant experiences from my primary for 95% of the questions I've seen, and from what it sounds like the 5% that are stumping me will not make or break my application, they just may not be the strongest part.

 

[Goro]

Do NOT overthink these prompts.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you everyone! I did have one II out of ten schools last cycle despite submitting very late. This time, I am applying to twice as many schools and have come across a few more essay questions that I'm having a harder time with. For instance, I'm struggling to think of a peer whose accomplishments I feel have gone unrecognized, and I'm not even sure what the takeaway from this question should be. I can absolutely come up with something, I just don't feel like I've really had an experience that fits that prompt.

I think that I have solid answers tying in relevant experiences from my primary for 95% of the questions I've seen, and from what it sounds like the 5% that are stumping me will not make or break my application, they just may not be the strongest part.

Sorry... it's on you to know your peers. We can only react.

 

[OchemOficionado]

I looked at secondaries as another opportunity to sell myself. While you shouldn't overthink them I do think you should be offering thoughtful responses to the prompts.