Is it necessary to avoid repetition for secondary essay topics?

[zimzamzoop]

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In my primary app, I talked about three really meaningful activities for me in my personal statement and used those same 3 as my "most meaningful". This makes sense since I've dedicated a lot of hours to these organizations. It is also worth noting that for two of these activities, I have had a very rich experience (in one for instance, I've been involved in grant writing, research, community service, mentoring, managing business relationships).

My concern and question is this: will it be frowned upon if I continue to talk about these activities for secondary essays (namely diversity and adversity essays)? I'd like to think that I'm portraying a different aspect of these activities in each instance, but I'm worried that admissions committees might get bored with this repetition.

 

[chaim123]

In my primary app, I talked about three really meaningful activities for me in my personal statement and used those same 3 as my "most meaningful". This makes sense since I've dedicated a lot of hours to these organizations. It is also worth noting that for two of these activities, I have had a very rich experience (in one for instance, I've been involved in grant writing, research, community service, mentoring, managing business relationships).

My concern and question is this: will it be frowned upon if I continue to talk about these activities for secondary essays (namely diversity and adversity essays)? I'd like to think that I'm portraying a different aspect of these activities in each instance, but I'm worried that admissions committees might get bored with this repetition.

You may want to switch it up.

 

[zimzamzoop]

Even if I do not talk about certain aspects of these activities in my primary application (such as my growing fondness for entrepreneurship and nonprofit work)?

 

[Eleithyia]

Even if I do not talk about certain aspects of these activities in my primary application (such as my growing fondness for entrepreneurship and nonprofit work)?

That might be a good thing to touch on depending what direction your secondaries are taking, but try to avoid spending too much time rehashing the primary app--they send out the secondary to learn more about you, and if you continue to focus on the same three things your interests could come off as a little narrow, despite the breadth of each of those experiences.

 

[tammyp]

I was advised that if you are using the same activities in your personal statement and meaningful experiences that you talk about different aspects or encountes in each essay. Personally I would avoid repeating as much as possible. My personal statement ended up being alot better when I just focused on one extracurricular curricular and I made another one my meaningful experience. Also personal statments do not need to be long or use all the characters. It might benefit you to only talk about one to two big extracurriculars in the PS and save the rest for the work and activites and secondaries.

 

[zimzamzoop]

I was advised that if you are using the same activities in your personal statement and meaningful experiences that you talk about different aspects or encountes in each essay. Personally I would avoid repeating as much as possible. My personal statement ended up being alot better when I just focused on one extracurricular curricular and I made another one my meaningful experience. Also personal statments do not need to be long or use all the characters. It might benefit you to only talk about one to two big extracurriculars in the PS and save the rest for the work and activites and secondaries.

Yeah I mainly talked about two activities in my PS, but for one of them it centered on a very specific story about an individual I helped and interacted with so it may allow me some extra flexibility in secondaries I guess. Thanks for the advice!

As a bit of a follow up then, do you think this would work as a diversity essay topic:
My love for movies taught me how to identify with others on a really basic level. Growing up, I had a desire to continue this exploration of other's lived experiece of sorts so I began a lot of volunteering for underserved populations. I started writing film reviews and analyses which helped me step out of my comfort zone (I always used to hate creative writing for as long as I can remember lol). I can tie this into some of my nonprofit work as well.

I was thinking about that because its a bit more unique (film reviewing) while also touching upon some unique experiences I've had (nonprofit work) and some qualities I've gained (stepping outside my comfort zone, passions gained from that such as entrepreneurial spirit, broad outlook etc).

 

[tammyp]

From my understanding, diversity essays are mainly about how you're different and how your "different-ness" can benefit a medical school or your peers. I would develop the film review topic more because its different and you could write a genuine diversity essay on that alone if you were passionate about it. Its an interesting topic that an interviewer may want to focus or discuss in person. There are other secondary prompts that will better fit the volunteering and nonprofit work.