How would you approach this Secondary Prompt?

[init2020]

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Prompt: "Describe how your background and future goals will contribute to the mission of the UNLV School of Medicine."

School mission: "Our vision is to create a world-class center of excellence and innovation for medical education, patient care, and research that prepares Nevada’s physicians with the most advanced knowledge, treatments, and technologies while serving the health care needs of our diverse urban community."

I'm having trouble tackling this one.

What are your opinions on how to address this? Is it a "why this school" prompt, "diversity" prompt, or something else like a combination?

 

[907914]

Prompt: "Describe how your background and future goals will contribute to the mission of the UNLV School of Medicine."

School mission: "Our vision is to create a world-class center of excellence and innovation for medical education, patient care, and research that prepares Nevada’s physicians with the most advanced knowledge, treatments, and technologies while serving the health care needs of our diverse urban community."

I'm having trouble tackling this one.

What are your opinions on how to address this? Is it a "why this school" prompt, "diversity" prompt, or something else like a combination?

It is not a “why us”. I am going to try to reword it the best I can:

We at UNLV highly value a match between our students and our mission statement. How has what you have done - Your values, activities, and upbringing - embody our mission statement. Further, we want the physician’s we produce to continue to live through our mission statement. Thus, we would like to know what you intend on your career goals and how you feel those goals reflect our missions statement.

 

[init2020]

It is not a “why us”. I am going to try to reword it the best I can:

We at UNLV highly value a match between our students and our mission statement. How has what you have done - Your values, activities, and upbringing - embody our mission statement. Further, we want the physician’s we produce to continue to live through our mission statement. Thus, we would like to know what you intend on your career goals and how you feel those goals reflect our missions statement.

Your reword is pretty much how I'm viewing it too lol. I think I'll just focus on connecting what its my app to what I know about the school.

What's your opinion on including an expereince reflection like most of us do in our personal statements? I was thinking that with only 250 words, it might be a waste of the readers time to inlcude an example to "show, don't tell" in this situation. Maybe I should be more direct in answering the prompt and let other parts of my app speak for the showing.

 

[907914]

Your reword is pretty much how I'm viewing it too lol. I think I'll just focus on connecting what its my app to what I know about the school.

What's your opinion on including an expereince reflection like most of us do in our personal statements? I was thinking that with only 250 words, it might be a waste of the readers time to inlcude an example to "show, don't tell" in this situation. Maybe I should be more direct in answering the prompt and let other parts of my app speak for the showing.

I do that exact thing in many of my secondaries m. When characters are limited, I believe anecdotes should be mentioned in passing to address the prompt as opposed to full detail like in the PS or MME essays.

Example I use:

“Just as I have worked to improve veteran mental health access in my community and I continue to improve the quality of care my lab delivers to our patients, as a physician I will seek out opportunities to improve the system in which I operate and have the greatest positive influence on the most patients.”

So, that is really really wordy (honestly just how I talk) but do you see what I mean by “anecdotes in passing”? It emphasizes what you have done and the reflection is in the actual answer to the prompt at the end.

 

[init2020]

I do that exact thing in many of my secondaries m. When characters are limited, I believe anecdotes should be mentioned in passing to address the prompt as opposed to full detail like in the PS or MME essays.

Example I use:

“Just as I have worked to improve veteran mental health access in my community and I continue to improve the quality of care my lab delivers to our patients, as a physician I will seek out opportunities to improve the system in which I operate and have the greatest positive influence on the most patients.”

So, that is really really wordy (honestly just how I talk) but do you see what I mean by “anecdotes in passing”? It emphasizes what you have done and the reflection is in the actual answer to the prompt at the end.

Looks like a good approach, thanks! And that cowlick...simply amazing! lol

 

[mchammer]

Some advice the physician I work for gave to me: The mission statements of most schools will all say the same thing, but just with different words. Every school wants to improve upon education, patient care, and research to serve their diverse population. To find out what the school really focuses on, look for letters or a welcome statement from the dean. Those are usually more specific to the school's mission and goals.

Then, go back and write this secondary. It will stand out more than your peers.