How specific on secondary?

[YBFdoctor]

---

Members don't see this ad.

When answering secondary questions like "Why do you want to attend XXX Medical School" how specific do you guys get? Do yall list specific classes you're excited to take or organizations you wanna be a part of?

ex: " I am eager to take advantage of XXX program. This program appeals to me because blah blah blah. As a volunteer at YYY, I have discovered my passion for blah blah blah, and I would love the opportunity to enroll in the XXX course in order to learn more about blah blah blah."

I feel like an essay like this can easily be used for each school, with specific school info copied and pasted into the essay. I just don't know if I'm writing this essay right, and if anyone would like to read my essay, that would be great.

 

[Disinence2]

My advice... Be sincere

You must have some reason you chose to apply to each school right?

 

[YBFdoctor]

My advice... Be sincere

You must have some reason you chose to apply to each school right?

I'm applying to each school because I wanna get out of Arizona and I think they'll accept me!

Seriously though, I've done online research to find specific info about the programs and classes that each school offers, but is that enough? Do I need to nag the admissions office or current students for more in depth info or some cool, obscure fact about the school? I guess, what I'm really asking is how in depth to make each essay? They all have cool-sounding classes and some kind of program to help underserved communities, which is something that I'm interested in. But if each school has such programs and classes, then the schools really aren't that unique, and thus don't deserve a unique essay...?

 

[WaterBird]

I'm applying to each school because I wanna get out of Arizona and I think they'll accept me!

Seriously though, I've done online research to find specific info about the programs and classes that each school offers, but is that enough? Do I need to nag the admissions office or current students for more in depth info or some cool, obscure fact about the school? I guess, what I'm really asking is how in depth to make each essay? They all have cool-sounding classes and some kind of program to help underserved communities, which is something that I'm interested in. But if each school has such programs and classes, then the schools really aren't that unique, and thus don't deserve a unique essay...?

Honestly, my "why this school" essays were pretty generic in the format you described because I got sick of filling out apps. My impression is that some schools value it much more than others, and the schools that care a lot about this essay tend to be schools overshadowed by a bigger school in town ie NYU, USC, Tufts, BU, Jefferson etc. So put more effort into it in those situations. I think nagging the admissions office is not useful, but if you do have connections with current students, it's worth using them, particularly for the schools that you really are most interested in.