How much time/effort do you put into each secondary?

[iheartsnow]

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About how much time and effort does everyone put into each secondary? On average that is, obviously there are killer ones and then those that just ask for your credit card. I'm just starting on mine and I feel like if I spend this much time on each one, I will never get them all done. Maybe it's just because after spending so long on my personal statement, I feel like a slacker if I don't write and re-write everything a dozen times. Thoughts?

 

[WinterLights]

About how much time and effort does everyone put into each secondary? On average that is, obviously there are killer ones and then those that just ask for your credit card. I'm just starting on mine and I feel like if I spend this much time on each one, I will never get them all done. Maybe it's just because after spending so long on my personal statement, I feel like a slacker if I don't write and re-write everything a dozen times. Thoughts?

It depends on how badly I want to go to the school and how difficult the essays are. If I want to go to a school then I will spend about 2-4 hours filling the secondary out. If I dont care much either way then only about 1-2 hours. If its a no-essay secondary, no more than 20 minutes.

 

[LossForWords]

Yeah, there's a point of diminished return when working and reworking all those essays. If you put a solid afternoon into one or two of them, you should get something good out of it. Working for days (or weeks) didn't really increase the quality of my essays a whole lot, IMO.

Although, if you have a dream school or something, you might want to give that more time/consideration.

 

[armybound]

same as Winter.. I try to get it done in an hour if possible. For a school I really, really care about, it will take up to ~4.

 

[UVAbme2009]

About a day. Once you've done so many, you get the same questions over and over again. Most of the time I just need to edit to make a word/character limit.

 

[WinterLights]

About a day. Once you've done so many, you get the same questions over and over again. Most of the time I just need to edit to make a word/character limit.

I havent come close to hitting the character limit on any of my essays so far. I am concise and to the point.

 

[Excelsius]

Do secondaries only ask for essays and money? If not, then what else? I am perplexed because if they send you a secondary and it has no essays, then what more do they want, besides money?

 

[WinterLights]

Do secondaries only ask for essays and money? If not, then what else? I am perplexed because if they send you a secondary and it has no essays, then what more do they want, besides money?

Basically they will ask you to list any of the following:
-pre-requisites
-Extracurriculars
-interests
-demographics
-do you know anyone affiliated with the university
-random annoying and unimportant things that I've forgot

 

[TheElement]

Man I spend like 1 week to 2 months on secondaries inbetween a 7-5 gig and all this traveling. No wonder I haven't gotten any interviews.

 

[chemolupusMD]

For me is a long process cuz i get my girlfriend to edit the essays for me (i am horrible at grammar, she is my personal editor) but it has taken me more than wut i thought i would. Good thing that some r like "fill in ur contact info and insert credit card number here"

 

[n3opologist]

For me is a long process cuz i get my girlfriend to edit the essays for me (i am horrible at grammar, she is my personal editor) but it has taken me more than wut i thought i would. Good thing that some r like "fill in ur contact info and insert credit card number here"

I have the exact same situation!!! I could read over my essays a hundred times and not catch so many stupid mistakes and grammar errors. I think my girlfriend is starting to get fed up though now that I have like 9 secondaries backed up; shoot, I hope there's not a mutiny! I'd be screwed.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I took forever to finish my secondaries. I knew my essays had to be flawless, so I was always thinking about the best way to pitch myself and maximize my word economy. Last fall was not fun.

 

[RoadRunner17]

I took forever to finish my secondaries. I knew my essays had to be flawless, so I was always thinking about the best way to pitch myself and maximize my word economy. Last fall was not fun.

Agreed. I spent a lot of time on them initially, though after a while I just started recycling essays to save time.

 

[armybound]

Agreed. I spent a lot of time on them initially, though after a while I just started recycling essays to save time.

the best is when you're a reapplicant and the school saves last year's essays for you. I spent around 10 minutes doing the Kentucky application today, and that included like 6 essays.

 

[medking]

the best is when you're a reapplicant and the school saves last year's essays for you. I spent around 10 minutes doing the Kentucky application today, and that included like 6 essays.

Armybound, I thought you had a couple acceptances from the 2008 cycle. Or am I just thinking of someone else?

 

[armybound]

Armybound, I thought you had a couple acceptances from the 2008 cycle. Or am I just thinking of someone else?

I wish. I had interviews and waitlists, but no acceptances.

 

[chemolupusMD]

I have the exact same situation!!! I could read over my essays a hundred times and not catch so many stupid mistakes and grammar errors. I think my girlfriend is starting to get fed up though now that I have like 9 secondaries backed up; shoot, I hope there's not a mutiny! I'd be screwed.

I know!!! Thats why this whole time i been taking her to dinner, doing nice stuff for her, hope she doesnt realize this or i ll be doomed!

 

[Excelsius]

Basically they will ask you to list any of the following:
-pre-requisites
-Extracurriculars
-interests
-demographics
-do you know anyone affiliated with the university
-random annoying and unimportant things that I've forgot

Isn't this redundant? I thought the first three were already covered in the AMCAS general application. I wish someone could upload a copy of a few secondaries. The info in the secondary can help up prepare for it better, in terms of ECs and experiences, but yet we can't access it unless we're applying!

 

[Begaster]

Isn't this redundant? I thought the first three were already covered in the AMCAS general application. I wish someone could upload a copy of a few secondaries. The info in the secondary can help up prepare for it better, in terms of ECs and experiences, but yet we can't access it unless we're applying!

Look at Shemarty's secondary threads. They're littered all over the pre-allo board.

 

[Excelsius]

Look at Shemarty's secondary threads. They're littered all over the pre-allo board.

I have looked through those, but they are not complete. For example, they don't include exactly what is asked about ECs, demographics, research, etc. Only the essay questions, which are not sufficient.

 

[p30doc]

Isn't this redundant? I thought the first three were already covered in the AMCAS general application. I wish someone could upload a copy of a few secondaries. The info in the secondary can help up prepare for it better, in terms of ECs and experiences, but yet we can't access it unless we're applying!

I've submitted 33 secondaries so far, and I can tell you with certainty that yes indeed this is redundant. Many schools will ask you for the same exact info that is on your primary. It is very annoying. A ton of schools will ask you to pick out things like your pre-reqs and put them into a chart they provide. Some will ask to list leadership, volunteer, clinical experiences, work experiences etc. Some will ask you which was your most significant EC from a category mentioned in the previous sentence.

 

[Dulcina]

I've submitted 33 secondaries so far, and I can tell you with certainty that yes indeed this is redundant. Many schools will ask you for the same exact info that is on your primary. It is very annoying. A ton of schools will ask you to pick out things like your pre-reqs and put them into a chart they provide. Some will ask to list leadership, volunteer, clinical experiences, work experiences etc. Some will ask you which was your most significant EC from a category mentioned in the previous sentence.

HOLY CRAP! go you!!! thats so impressive.

 

[Begaster]

I have looked through those, but they are not complete. For example, they don't include exactly what is asked about ECs, demographics, research, etc. Only the essay questions, which are not sufficient.

Most of them don't have any of that. The ones that do are usually listed by Shemarty. Just do the essays and chill. The rest is a hassle, but doesn't take more than five or ten minutes.