Though I may not be completely qualified to post this, when i was applying i had always wished someone would post some general advice to help me. I hope you find it helpful..... (sidenote: I did get in to several places so w00t for class 2013!)
Your ACCOMAS application:
Personal Statement:
After you've submitted:
DON'T JUST SIT AROUND!!!
Secondaries:
Well that's all I should say for now. I don't want to overwhelm anyone. I hope this helps. And remember relax and enjoy this time. Once you get into med school the REAL work starts.
Your ACCOMAS application:
-SUBMIT EARLY. Everyone and their mom says this and I heard it a million times but didn't listen trying to get my application perfect. But they say it for a reason. It really is a time game more than it is a numbers game. Even if you have your doubts and your personal statement isn't totally perfect, spend a day or two revising it and just SUBMIT! You will be so glad you did. if you take nothing else away from this, Remember this one point!
-Revise. Most admission committees look very negatively about stupid mistakes like misspelled words and repetitive sentences.
-Apply to as many schools as you can afford. Nothing under 5. Seriously. At least 5, but the more you apply the better your chances.
-Make your EC's worth it. Each EC description you get can be a little mini essay on what you learned and how it applies to medicine. They know what shadowing is, they know the responsibilities involved in being the president or member of a club, it is much much MUCH better to sell yourself, your skills, your qualities, your learning in this space than to waste it and say: "I filed papers, talked to whiney people, and put soup in a bowl." (even if that's really what you did)
- It really does take 4-6 weeks to get processed. So get it right the first time. You don't want to be waiting longer because you classified the spanish class as English.
-Revise. Most admission committees look very negatively about stupid mistakes like misspelled words and repetitive sentences.
-Apply to as many schools as you can afford. Nothing under 5. Seriously. At least 5, but the more you apply the better your chances.
-Make your EC's worth it. Each EC description you get can be a little mini essay on what you learned and how it applies to medicine. They know what shadowing is, they know the responsibilities involved in being the president or member of a club, it is much much MUCH better to sell yourself, your skills, your qualities, your learning in this space than to waste it and say: "I filed papers, talked to whiney people, and put soup in a bowl." (even if that's really what you did)
- It really does take 4-6 weeks to get processed. So get it right the first time. You don't want to be waiting longer because you classified the spanish class as English.
Personal Statement:
-Make sure your Personal Statement is personal. After helping over 50 other pre-meds work on their personal statements, you'd be surprised how many don't do this. Don't give us a resume and we don't care that you live in a rural area unless you make us care. Explain what YOU learned and why YOU love medicine and why YOU are passionate.
- If you're having trouble editing or knowing what works, read it out loud. It really does help.
-You don't have to address why osteopathic medicine. Most schools ask this question for secondaries. You can, but know you will be reanswering it later.
- Vary your sentences. Mix short with long, don't start every sentence with the same word, watch out from using too many phrases or commas.
-Semicolons aren't that impressive, don't use em. You look like a kiss up.
-Cliche's are bad. things like "i like helping people" or "ever since i was 9 i played with daddy's doctor toys" NO, just NO.
-Don't stretch for a "story" statement if you don't have a story or if you aren't a story person. Essays starting with a thesis can be just as good as one starting with a Hook.
-End with a bang. The biggest mistake people make is spending so much time trying to "hook" the reader they forget about the message at the end. They try to "end" the story or put a moral on it. Your last paragraph is what you leave them with. Leave them with the thought that they should pick you because you WANT it and because you DESERVE it.
- If you're having trouble editing or knowing what works, read it out loud. It really does help.
-You don't have to address why osteopathic medicine. Most schools ask this question for secondaries. You can, but know you will be reanswering it later.
- Vary your sentences. Mix short with long, don't start every sentence with the same word, watch out from using too many phrases or commas.
-Semicolons aren't that impressive, don't use em. You look like a kiss up.
-Cliche's are bad. things like "i like helping people" or "ever since i was 9 i played with daddy's doctor toys" NO, just NO.
-Don't stretch for a "story" statement if you don't have a story or if you aren't a story person. Essays starting with a thesis can be just as good as one starting with a Hook.
-End with a bang. The biggest mistake people make is spending so much time trying to "hook" the reader they forget about the message at the end. They try to "end" the story or put a moral on it. Your last paragraph is what you leave them with. Leave them with the thought that they should pick you because you WANT it and because you DESERVE it.
After you've submitted:
DON'T JUST SIT AROUND!!!
- Save a copy of your finished application (you can do this in PDF format) and keep it in digital form. You will need this later!
- Make sure to keep volunteering in at least one thing. Many schools will ask in an interview: "so what other activities have you done after you finished the application?" You should probably have at least one thing that you did.
- Start taking a harder look at all the schools you applied to (even the ones you thought were not your favorite). Make a list of 5 (even in no particular order) that are really excited to get into.
- Update your medical resume (or create one).
- Start bothering your letter of recommendation people. Get those letters IN, because the due date is COMING. its best to have them by the time you get your secondary. And yes, get an osteopathic physican, you'll need one. If you don't have one, get ONE!
- Start looking at the secondary questions for the schools above (or all in general). The secondaries roll in quicker than you think. And with school in aug or work or whatever, you have less time than you think to start writing. Less time than your personal statement, that's for sure. Here are some general questions to start on:
1) Why do you want to be an osteopathic doctor?
2) Why should we accept you/ what can you add to this year's class?
3) What is a problem in health care and how will it affect future physicians?
these questions are very general. but its good to at least start thinking about them, jot a few notes, or if you're really ahead of the game start writing up a 1 page draft.
(edit: you can find the exact secondary questions for each school here on SDN. You can check them out thanx to Chocolate Bear *stalk him!*)
- Make sure to keep volunteering in at least one thing. Many schools will ask in an interview: "so what other activities have you done after you finished the application?" You should probably have at least one thing that you did.
- Start taking a harder look at all the schools you applied to (even the ones you thought were not your favorite). Make a list of 5 (even in no particular order) that are really excited to get into.
- Update your medical resume (or create one).
- Start bothering your letter of recommendation people. Get those letters IN, because the due date is COMING. its best to have them by the time you get your secondary. And yes, get an osteopathic physican, you'll need one. If you don't have one, get ONE!
- Start looking at the secondary questions for the schools above (or all in general). The secondaries roll in quicker than you think. And with school in aug or work or whatever, you have less time than you think to start writing. Less time than your personal statement, that's for sure. Here are some general questions to start on:
1) Why do you want to be an osteopathic doctor?
2) Why should we accept you/ what can you add to this year's class?
3) What is a problem in health care and how will it affect future physicians?
these questions are very general. but its good to at least start thinking about them, jot a few notes, or if you're really ahead of the game start writing up a 1 page draft.
(edit: you can find the exact secondary questions for each school here on SDN. You can check them out thanx to Chocolate Bear *stalk him!*)
Secondaries:
- MOST SCHOOLS SEND OUT SECONDARIES IF YOU MEET THEIR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. So don't be too thrilled to get secondaries (a little party is okay save the full on bash for your interview and acceptance), they probably haven't even read your personal statment until they 'complete your application'. They just want your extra money (IMHO).
- get them out as FAST as possible. Once your application has been completed, the admissions committee begins reviewing your file. This means you have a better/faster chance of getting in while there are still spots! It still matters what you write, though so don't throw crap together. But send them in even if it isn't your best work, even if you don't have all your letters of recommendation.
- be prepared for the 'why our school' question and know that there is no magic answers.
-tailor every essay to the school you're sending it to. Even though you probably do (or should) reuse many essays, add at least one thing about the school. You can find things in the mission statement. Like sometimes the school is aimed at rural medicine or perhaps its aimed at primary care. Or maybe spirituality. Each school has some tiny little emphasis. Find it and grab on.
- get them out as FAST as possible. Once your application has been completed, the admissions committee begins reviewing your file. This means you have a better/faster chance of getting in while there are still spots! It still matters what you write, though so don't throw crap together. But send them in even if it isn't your best work, even if you don't have all your letters of recommendation.
- be prepared for the 'why our school' question and know that there is no magic answers.
-tailor every essay to the school you're sending it to. Even though you probably do (or should) reuse many essays, add at least one thing about the school. You can find things in the mission statement. Like sometimes the school is aimed at rural medicine or perhaps its aimed at primary care. Or maybe spirituality. Each school has some tiny little emphasis. Find it and grab on.
Well that's all I should say for now. I don't want to overwhelm anyone. I hope this helps. And remember relax and enjoy this time. Once you get into med school the REAL work starts.
