How to Answer the "Why Now" Question

[Jonny Seed]

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For non-trads entering a post-bacc or medical school, how do you answer that question while sounding genuine. I don't really have a good answer other than I just know this is what I want.

 

[bunchesonothing]

For non-trads entering a post-bacc or medical school, how do you answer that question while sounding genuine. I don't really have a good answer other than I just know this is what I want.

It's a long road and time has a way spiraling by fast. If you want something to happen in your life, now is the time to start preparing for it. Not later.

 

[banana_phone]

It's a long road and time has a way spiraling by fast. If you want something to happen in your life, now is the time to start preparing for it. Not later.

That doesn't really answer OPs question. I am formulating my PS (and, when i was doing them, my post-bacc essays) around events that led to me making the decision to switch paths. I'm sure you have had events leading up this. Might be time for some introspection, as it surely didn't happen totally out of the blue, even if it seems like it.

Make a "life map" or road map of things leading you to this point. That can help you figure out why/how/when.

 

[bunchesonothing]

That doesn't really answer OPs question. I am formulating my PS (and, when i was doing them, my post-bacc essays) around events that led to me making the decision to switch paths. I'm sure you have had events leading up this. Might be time for some introspection, as it surely didn't happen totally out of the blue, even if it seems like it.

Make a "life map" or road map of things leading you to this point. That can help you figure out why/how/when.

I think you're answering why... not why now.

 

[banana_phone]

I think you're answering why... not why now.

Not particularly. At least not in my case..events in my life lead me to make that decision Now. Of course , everyone's situation is different. But there has to be some reason op made the decision when they did. Discussing events/realizations leading up to the decision can explain "why now"


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[bunchesonothing]

Not particularly. At least not in my case..events in my life lead me to make that decision Now. Of course , everyone's situation is different. But there has to be some reason op made the decision when they did. Discussing events/realizations leading up to the decision can explain "why now"


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It can help explain, but is not necessarily the same question. I wanted to be a doctor when I was a child. I wanted to be a doctor when I first entered college a long time ago. I decided to finish up college finally and push for it now. My motivations, my why behind each of those times would be different, possibly. I guess it would be similar, but there would be at least some sort of nuanced differences. Why now, for me, was for the reason I stated above. If I don't start sometime, it is not going to happen. It's not going to fall in my lap if I sit and do nothing. I've grown up and decided to take charge of my life.

 

[banana_phone]

It can help explain, but is not necessarily the same question. I wanted to be a doctor when I was a child. I wanted to be a doctor when I first entered college a long time ago. I decided to finish up college finally and push for it now. My motivations, my why behind each of those times would be different, possibly. I guess it would be similar, but there would be at least some sort of nuanced differences. Why now, for me, was for the reason I stated above. If I don't start sometime, it is not going to happen. It's not going to fall in my lap if I sit and do nothing. I've grown up and decided to take charge of my life.

Fair enough! I think I misunderstood your first response. Thought you were telling OP to do it now, rather than using that as a "why now" reasoning. THat explanation makes a ton of sense! Power to you.

And to op, it really is a personal thing for you. As you can see - bunchesofnothing and I have different reasoning and different ways of answering the question. For it to be genuine, it has to be genuine for you, and come from you.

 

[bunchesonothing]

And to op, it really is a personal thing for you. As you can see - bunchesofnothing and I have different reasoning and different ways of answering the question. For it to be genuine, it has to be genuine for you, and come from you.

Agreed. 🙂

 

[daivimarga]

For non-trads entering a post-bacc or medical school, how do you answer that question while sounding genuine. I don't really have a good answer other than I just know this is what I want.

If all else fails... Maybe reflect on personal or family health challenges. That's my plan.

The genuine answer for me is really that I snapped out of the haze of my 20s and realized how important a fulfilling challenging career is for me, over all the other things I prioritized. I tried out mental health and gave it a fair shot but it was too superficial in its breadth of knowledge. I also have in the past year, amidst existential crisis, just developed a feeling of comfort in understanding the physical world, if that makes sense? No meta cognition- dealing with the here and now, immediate needs, proven facts. I feel intellectually starved by everything else.

But again that's too existential I think!

 

[pageantry]

I think if you have time before applying it's really important to anticipate obvious questions that could be asked of your story and then address them with ECs. This becomes your personal statement and your "why now."

For instance, my "why now" began with my dad's death, so I decided it was important for me to volunteer with hospice to see how I felt about working with other dying people.

Likewise, dropping out of high school and getting my GED set me back, so I volunteered in tutoring the GED in my community. It wasn't about medicine so much as it was about getting to say, "I recognize how far I have come and I'm delighted that I can finally give back to people who were in my shoes." (It really was delightful, btw.)

Anyway, it worked out.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

For non-trads entering a post-bacc or medical school, how do you answer that question while sounding genuine. I don't really have a good answer other than I just know this is what I want.

Everyone's answer will be vastly different. Non-trad has become such a boiler plate title. I've been a working professional in a non-science career for the past 8 years. My answer includes a reflection on my actual career. That can't be said for a 24 year old engineering student who decided to do a post-bacc after undergrad.

Truthfully, I've never been asked the "Why now" question. I think you're better off just being able to discuss "why". If part of the story includes how current events in your personal/professional life influenced that change, make mention of it. But don't try to explain something that wasn't being asked.

 

[Bergamot]

OP, it could be as simple as describing an event or experience that prompted you to pursue medicine/being a clinician.

For example, spending time with someone close to you that was in the ICU and your interaction with their doctor; Prior to that experience, health care was foreign to you. In other words, what opened your eyes to this line of work?

Not everyone has some life-changing moment, but if you did--as was the case for me--be sure to tell the story in your PS.


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[esob]

For me its part life events, primarily the birth of my youngest son (my wife's obgyn was a 2nd career D.O.) coupled with the fact that my two oldest will be graduated (and therefore my domicile restriction will no longer matter), and part financial independence (that my retirement is significant enough to warrant I don't actually have to work anymore).