Influence of secondary essays on MSTP app?

[BrightandClear]

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I'm drowning in a sea of secondaries. I still have ~10 to complete, and August is quickly ticking by. It seems like most of the essays are from the straight MD secondary app...Any insight out there on how strongly these are weighted in the MSTP decision process?

I only have a few hours to work on secondaries each day (usually between the hours of about 9 PM-midnight), and between being tired and haste to get them finished, I feel like I'm not putting out my best work. 🙁

 

[Choculitis]

I would like to know this too. My hunch is that they're probably not make or break, especially if your AMCAS essays are good.

The thing that I don't understand is why they repeat so much that we clearly have to cover on AMCAS.

 

[Swammerdam]

I don't know how important they are, but if you don't have a lot of time I would suggest focusing on those essays that are clearly geared specifically to MD/PhD students.

 

[K31]

In my opinion (as a student interviewer), neither the AMCAS essays nor the secondary essays are make-or-break for MD/PhD admissions. Your numbers, research, and letters get you an interview; your performance in the interview gets you an offer. I rarely refer to the essays when evaluating an applicant after the interview.

Obviously the essays matter to some extent because that's how you communicate prior to the interview about your research and motives for pursuing MD/PhD , but don't stress about them too much.

 

[BrightandClear]

In my opinion (as a student interviewer), neither the AMCAS essays nor the secondary essays are make-or-break for MD/PhD admissions. Your numbers, research, and letters get you an interview; your performance in the interview gets you an offer. I rarely refer to the essays when evaluating an applicant after the interview.

Obviously the essays matter to some extent because that's how you communicate prior to the interview about your research and motives for pursuing MD/PhD , but don't stress about them too much.

When you're evaluating an applicant's research pre-interview, do you look at the AMCAS research experience essay? Or just go off the listed length of time, etc...?

Also, thanks for the info!

 

[K31]

When you're evaluating an applicant's research pre-interview, do you look at the AMCAS research experience essay?

Only to get an idea what kind of research they've done in the past, and maybe glance at Wikipedia briefly so I'm not completely clueless about their area of research.

 

[erikreinertsen]

I'm drowning in a sea of secondaries. I still have ~10 to complete, and August is quickly ticking by. It seems like most of the essays are from the straight MD secondary app...Any insight out there on how strongly these are weighted in the MSTP decision process?

I only have a few hours to work on secondaries each day (usually between the hours of about 9 PM-midnight), and between being tired and haste to get them finished, I feel like I'm not putting out my best work. 🙁

Oh my goodness, I feel ya. I can't wait until we get interviews!

Side question that has definitely been answered before: what's the deadline? As in, two weeks? 1.5? I just want a ballpark of when it's time to grab a latte and work my tail off. Ideally now, but.... lab work calls.

 

[BrightandClear]

Oh my goodness, I feel ya. I can't wait until we get interviews!

Side question that has definitely been answered before: what's the deadline? As in, two weeks? 1.5? I just want a ballpark of when it's time to grab a latte and work my tail off. Ideally now, but.... lab work calls.

I don't think there's a real deadline, it's just a "as soon as possible" kind of thing. General rule of thumb that floats around pre-allo is two weeks.

Also, side note: first interview invite this morning! So pumped! 😀