Is it worth to write the COVID essay if you were in HS when it hit?

[FastBlah]

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Title. Aside from shifting to virtual school and being stuck inside all the time, neither I nor my family were affected in terms of health or work. In all honesty, COVID really did push me to adapt and seriously helped me develop professional skills through the different virtual orgs I joined (mostly tutoring, but I had leadership roles where I supervised large teams and communicated with hundreds of people). I wrote a blurb about that and how I was able to serve the community virtually despite not being able to pursue traditional in-person activities, but I'm not sure if it makes me look pretentious. I understand that that space is meant to explain gaps in academics and serious events, but would it affect my chances if I use my "pandemic spun in a positive light" essay?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

It's up to you. What is the exact prompt?

 

[FastBlah]

1. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us. Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19.
2. Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as other relevant information.
3. Please briefly describe how the pandemic impacted your ability to pursue experiences like clinical work, shadowing, research, or community service.
4. Share any disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.

I guess there is one prompt that specifically says include relevant info, but for the others I'm not sure if they're looking for more serious events than "I couldn't go in-person b/c of quarantine measures."

 

[Mr.Smile12]

As I said, maybe after five years you can't recall any significant negative impacts or challenges; for me, that's fine. Just state the truth about how you adapted to any lack of opportunities, socialization, or "normal high school experience" like proms, graduations, and summer events. I'm sure many people had spent time and money preparing for the move to college and got dinged from what is now viewed retrospectively as highly annoying and overly controlling residential life rules set up for the emergency.

Campus Dorm Resident Assistants Adjust to a New Role: COVID Cop | Student Doctor Network | SDN

Originally published on Kaiser Health News, October 6, 2020 Breaking up parties, confiscating booze and answering noise complaints — being a resident

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[Goro]

No