importance of secondary essays

[kimchee]

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Hi

I was wondering if anyone knows how important the secondary essays are. Are they as important as the personal statement?
Thanks

 

[J244]

Hey - I can?t emphasize enough how important the secondary essays have been for me! At every school I have interviewed at (three) they have been mentioned and discussed. They appear to have grabbed the admission committee?s interest, and especially at Loyola that was the reason I was interviewed so early (in Oct). The dean of admissions even told me that they particularly focus on the secondary essays in their admissions process. My stats were good, but nothing great, and I really think spending the extra time on the essays is worth it. It gives you a chance to put something intriguing about yourself out there past your GPA and MCAT, something that may make a committee want to interview you.

 

[DW]

this is another one of those "depends on the school" type question. Generally, i think its fair to think there's a direct relationship between the length and number of essays and the importance in the application. Duke, Northwestern, and other schools with multiple essays on various topics or one/few long essays (I'm guessing loyola falls in here too), i can only imagine the essays you write are very important. At USUHS, my interviewers gushed over my essays and it was clear that making sure i could articulate an interest in military medicine was key to them. If its GW, Temple, or other schools where its just a 4 line blurb about why you want to come here, i just put in the obligatory stuff about location and whatever. Point being, if its clear they want a well developed essay, put some substantial effort into it.

and schools like BU (give us your 100$ and a pic), well those essays cant count for much if they dont exist 🙂

 

[MD-2007-Gal]

If a school has an essay on its secondary, it's important. Even for the schools that ask for something like a two sentence reason why you want to go to the school, it's important. Your interviewers may very well refer to it. If it's a full-blown essay they want, make it good.

 

[carrigallen]

I would say that the individual med school is probably more interested in their own secondary essay (eg why do you want to go here) than the AMCAS personal statement. However, the AMCAS statement may be read by many schools, so you might want to work more on it. You can view sample secondary essay questions on pocwana's site.

 

[benzo]

Yeah, secondary essays give you another oportunity to sell yourself to the adcom. It's another chance for you to show why you are the person they should admit. Take full advantage of that opportunity!

 

[Lebesgue]

secondary essays are second in importance only to interviews...
after the primary application.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by kimchee
Hi

I was wondering if anyone knows how important the secondary essays are. Are they as important as the personal statement?
Thanks

I'd say just keep in mind that adcoms look at the whole picture. They look at your grades your essays your stats, etc. A deficiency in one area can be made up with a strength in another.

Its really hard for us sdners to say how important your secondary essays will be when schools make decisions. for some applicants that get into a certain school their secondary essays may be what saved them. for another, it may be their awesome mcats and outstanding extra curriculars. one can't say how important those secondary essays will be in the decision of the adcoms.

With that in mind, its really up to you how important you make those secondary essays. Like everyone else has said though, it is in your best interests to make sure to treat them as another way to make yourself look golden and sell yourself to the school. A good rule of thumb in the medical school application process....NEVER half-ass anything!(easier said than done sometimes, but you should strive for it) Every little piece of information a school receives from you (whether it is mcat scores or an update letter about your activities) just paints yourself a little more clearer to adcoms. You want each piece to show you are golden because you really don't know which of those pieces will grab the adcoms eye when reviewing your file.

so in conclusion....i'd say....yes, secondary essays are as important as your personal statement. (now, i'm referring to "essays." I'm not referring to 2 line blurbs like gw's secondary where they ask why you want to go there. 2 line blurbs are not essays. but you should still put a well thought out 2 line answer to those too. 🙂 )