Mention Skiing in a Secondary

[About28]

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So UVM has an optional essay on their secondary and I wanted to use that opportunity to talk about how I really want to go there (true, btw. It's one of my top choices). I talked about some thing I know about the school (I said uvm has an excellent faculty that I feel would provide the best learning environment for me) and I also talked about how I have a support network there and in New England (family and friends are a day trip away). Before ending by saying that I'd love to elaborate on why I want to attend UVM at an interview, I wanted to mention that I love skiing and leaned to ski on a mountain about an hour away from there. Also, attending uvm would give me the unique opportunity to keep skiing regularly while I'm a student.

Tl;dr
Does skiing belong in a "why UVM" essay?

 

[Catalystik]

So UVM has an optional essay on their secondary and I wanted to use that opportunity to talk about how I really want to go there (true, btw. It's one of my top choices). I talked about some thing I know about the school (I said uvm has an excellent faculty that I feel would provide the best learning environment for me) and I also talked about how I have a support network there and in New England (family and friends are a day trip away). Before ending by saying that I'd love to elaborate on why I want to attend UVM at an interview, I wanted to mention that I love skiing and leaned to ski on a mountain about an hour away from there. Also, attending uvm would give me the unique opportunity to keep skiing regularly while I'm a student.

Tl;dr
Does skiing belong in a "why UVM" essay?

JMO, but yes.

 

[Lamel]

If you can add it tactfully, then sure, it can show a different side of you. But don't just shoehorn it in there if it doesn't fit/flow with the rest of your essay.

 

[UltimateforFun]

I agree with what has been said by Lamel and Catalystik. I would especially include it if you are planning on it being a big part of your life in med school or if skiing has really shaped you in some way up to this point.

 

[About28]

JMO, but yes.

If you can add it tactfully, then sure, it can show a different side of you. But don't just shoehorn it in there if it doesn't fit/flow with the rest of your essay.

I agree with what has been said by Lamel and Catalystik. I would especially include it if you are planning on it being a big part of your life in med school or if skiing has really shaped you in some way up to this point.

Here's an excerpt from my essay:
"Another advantage UVM offers is the support network already available to me in New England. I have cousins and friends in the Burlington area and my entire family is a day trip away. I feel that access to family and friends will make my transition into medical school easier. My father and I also enjoy skiing together, and he taught me how to ski on sugarbush Mountian, 20 minutes from Burlington. Skiing is very important to me and attending UVM would allow me to continue the skiing tradition I have with my father while I'm experiencing the academic rigor of medical school"

Is this tactful enough? This is a rough draft but this is generally how I'd fit it into the essay

 

[UltimateforFun]

One thing to consider mentioning is how continuing to ski would add balance to your life as an outlet.

 

[sazerac]

And when you are a fourth year med student, you can ski all across the USA during your elective rotations. Sports medicine, anyone?

For example: http://www.docsky.us/electives.html

 

[Law2Doc]

Here's an excerpt from my essay:
"Another advantage UVM offers is the support network already available to me in New England. I have cousins and friends in the Burlington area and my entire family is a day trip away. I feel that access to family and friends will make my transition into medical school easier. My father and I also enjoy skiing together, and he taught me how to ski on sugarbush Mountian, 20 minutes from Burlington. Skiing is very important to me and attending UVM would allow me to continue the skiing tradition I have with my father while I'm experiencing the academic rigor of medical school"

Is this tactful enough? This is a rough draft but this is generally how I'd fit it into the essay

Honestly I'd play it down. You can mention it in passing as one of a list of things you like about the school, but I wouldn't give it multiple sentences on its own unless you do it competitively and are using it as an EC. It not like they don't know they attract skiers, you won't stand out in their applicant pool as someone who likes to ski, and they may not even really want to be known primarily for their ski school reputation.