I'm currently in the process of pre-writing secondaries and answering the question of why this med school. I applied to some schools close to me, and in the secondaries, I mentioned that I liked the idea of being close to my family while studying in med school. However, someone who read over my essays told me it was a bad idea to mention this. Any thoughts on this?
Mentioning proximity to family in secondaries?
- Thread starter jhuskp
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I think it's perfectly fine to mention your ties to the area. That's one of the things med schools look for since you are more likely to accept an offer of admission if you have personal reasons for attending. I'd say go for it.
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Maybe if you worded it like you planned on living near your family after med school and working in that area so you would prefer to study in that general location as well? I dunno...
I hope someone says it can be beneficial because when I apply I am absolutely crossing my fingers for the med schools that are near my family since we are military and if I don't get accepted to a nearby school then I have to endure a long distance marriage for awhile which will be hard. I don't plan on putting those words in my application because it sounds emotional, but I did want to get something across about my family being stationed nearby and that we are laying down roots in that state and plan to stay. If the school happens to favor in state residents that might help since it demonstrates a wanting to remain in that state.
I hope someone says it can be beneficial because when I apply I am absolutely crossing my fingers for the med schools that are near my family since we are military and if I don't get accepted to a nearby school then I have to endure a long distance marriage for awhile which will be hard. I don't plan on putting those words in my application because it sounds emotional, but I did want to get something across about my family being stationed nearby and that we are laying down roots in that state and plan to stay. If the school happens to favor in state residents that might help since it demonstrates a wanting to remain in that state.
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i think it's definitely ok to add. but i'm an applicant and i may be selectively biased.
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I would mention it, but make it an aside to your "real" reason you want to attend the school. Try to make the focus of these essays about what you love about the school itself, and not make YOU the focus (if you can.) Include it as a point among your reasons to want to attend that school, but make sure it isn't the primary reason you state for wanting to go there.
I would mention it, but make it an aside to your "real" reason you want to attend the school. Try to make the focus of these essays about what you love about the school itself, and not make YOU the focus (if you can.) Include it as a point among your reasons to want to attend that school, but make sure it isn't the primary reason you state for wanting to go there.
ditto!
This is what I did for one of my secondaries.
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Depends on who is reading the application. As an student interviewer, when I see this in someone's app I don't think much of it, especially if it's near the end and it's framed as just another reason in a long list of reasons why the person likes the school. If it's the main reason it comes off as a little weird.
On the other hand, you might get someone really old school who takes away points for it. Or maybe you get the 30 year old pediatrician who thinks it's a positive thing. Maybe these two people balance each other out, but maybe not. I'd probably just mention it near the end if it's going to play a role in your decision.
On the other hand, you might get someone really old school who takes away points for it. Or maybe you get the 30 year old pediatrician who thinks it's a positive thing. Maybe these two people balance each other out, but maybe not. I'd probably just mention it near the end if it's going to play a role in your decision.
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