If I mentioned the abbreviations of an organization in my Work and Activities, do I still need to spell that organization's name out in my secondaries

[PreMedStudent55555]

Let's say I was part of a scholar's program called Super Great Collegiate Scholar's Program (SGCSP). Due to the character limit of the secondaries, I want to save space and not type out Super Great Collegiate Scholar's Program (SGCSP).

If I spoke about Super Great Collegiate Scholar's Program (SGCSP) in my Work and Activities, would adcoms likely pick up that I am speaking about that program when I write "SGCSP helped me a lot" or scratch their heads and be confused?

@LizzyM

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[jordij94]

I don’t think the same person always reads your primary and secondary app, so I think it’s better to spell it out at the beginning of your secondary before using the acronym

 

[907914]

I don’t think the same person always reads your primary and secondary app, so I think it’s better to spell it out at the beginning of your secondary before using the acronym

This is likely correct at most schools.

A general rule of thumb is that each individual component of your application (the PS, each individual activity, each individual secondary essay) needs to act as a stand-alone document. This may lead to a fair amount of redundancy, but that’s the name of the game.

 

[LizzyM]

I concur that each portion of the application should stand alone. Don't assume that the primary will be read first, or at all. Before I do an interview, I look quickly at the activities to pick out two or three things I tend to like to ask about, and I read the secondary. If time permits, I might skim the personal statement. I also read the commentary written by the reader who recommended the interview. Sometimes the reader will identify issues that should be asked about in the interview. If I see an acronym that is not preceded by the name spelled out I will not be happy about it.

 

[907914]

I concur that each portion of the application should stand alone. Don't assume that the primary will be read first, or at all. Before I do an interview, I look quickly at the activities to pick out two or three things I tend to like to ask about, and I read the secondary. If time permits, I might skim the personal statement. I also read the commentary written by the reader who recommended the interview. Sometimes the reader will identify issues that should be asked about in the interview. If I see an acronym that is not preceded by the name spelled out I will not be happy about it.

With this, the interviewers May just be skimming the application but someone is reading the entire thing beforehand to determine who to send interviews to right?

 

[LizzyM]

Correct. The application is read in its totality if you meet a minimum cut-off for that school. Then you are queued for interview with the top N being slated for interview. (sometimes the school will hold off on making invitations for interviews more than 6-8 weeks out because there is too much churn as people schedule, then try to change, or even cancel).

 

[jhg13]

I concur that each portion of the application should stand alone. Don't assume that the primary will be read first, or at all. Before I do an interview, I look quickly at the activities to pick out two or three things I tend to like to ask about, and I read the secondary. If time permits, I might skim the personal statement. I also read the commentary written by the reader who recommended the interview. Sometimes the reader will identify issues that should be asked about in the interview. If I see an acronym that is not preceded by the name spelled out I will not be happy about it.

Just to clarify, would it be okay to indicate what an acronym of an organization is in the organization name box above as to save characters the experience description? Or are you saying that the acronym needs to be spelled out in the description as well? Thank you in advance!

 

[LizzyM]

Just to clarify, would it be okay to indicate what an acronym of an organization is in the organization name box above as to save characters the experience description? Or are you saying that the acronym needs to be spelled out in the description as well? Thank you in advance!

I'm not saying that it needs to be spelled out in the description if it appears in the name of the organization box just a few lines above the description. I think that what I was describing was using an acronym alone in the secondary despite it being spelled out in the primary.

 

[deleted972488]

If I see an acronym that is not preceded by the name spelled out I will not be happy about it.

Hmm.. I have an organization in my work/activities section where I never spelled out the acronym because I don’t find it very descriptive. I just gave a description in my own words instead. Hope that doesn’t make anyone too angry.