"Not captured in your application"/"Not yet mentioned"

[XOXO123]

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It seems like a lot of people use this type of secondary prompt for their diversity essay or something about their background. My standard diversity essay is about one of my ECs (a sport) and so I'm not sure if it's okay to use here since the activity has already been mentioned on my primary as a most meaningful. Is it okay to use this if it's going more in depth than the MM description and thus is new info? Or are they really looking for something completely new?

 

[LizzyM]

Don't write about something you've already written about. That's a waste of the reader's time. If you haven't anything that is important for the committee to know that you haven't already reported (because it was included elsewhere in the application) it is okay to leave it blank.

 

[XOXO123]

Don't write about something you've already written about. That's a waste of the reader's time. If you haven't anything that is important for the committee to know that you haven't already reported (because it was included elsewhere in the application) it is okay to leave it blank.

I guess I'm struggling because these prompts aren't listed as optional. One says something along the lines of, "XSOM is a diverse community. How would you enrich/enliven the XSOM community? The essay should discuss material that is not included in the rest of your application" and the other says "Please tell us something about yourself that is not captured in your application". But I guess I just need to try to come up with something new...

 

[LizzyM]

I guess I'm struggling because these prompts aren't listed as optional. One says something along the lines of, "XSOM is a diverse community. How would you enrich/enliven the XSOM community? The essay should discuss material that is not included in the rest of your application" and the other says "Please tell us something about yourself that is not captured in your application". But I guess I just need to try to come up with something new...

What the hell? Tell them you would enliven the community by representing the people in America who do things complete and thoroughly the first time.

As for the second prompt, tell them that you love your pet. If you don't have a pet, tell them that you'd like to have a pet someday. What a waste of time to answer some of these questions!

 

[ak-aka-dak]

What the hell? Tell them you would enliven the community by representing the people in America who do things complete and thoroughly the first time.

As for the second prompt, tell them that you love your pet. If you don't have a pet, tell them that you'd like to have a pet someday. What a waste of time to answer some of these questions!

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It sometimes seems more like a “Let’s mess with the applicants and throw in these secondary questions.” These are already answered in the primary. The following is a sample of some of the prompts/questions from the same school and are not optional:

Briefly describe the one clinical experience you have had that has most significantly influenced your decision to study medicine. Do not replicate your AMCAS personal statement.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Please provide a chronological list with dates of your clinical experiences/shadowing.
Please provide a chronological list with dates of your community service/volunteering.
Please briefly discuss your research experience.
Please provide a chronological list with dates of your employment.

Why are these questions replicated in the secondary? I guess the one difference is that the school explicitly wants the dates to be chronological which is probably how most applicants listed these in their primary anyway.

 

[Catalystik]

What the hell? Tell them you would enliven the community by representing the people in America who do things complete and thoroughly the first time.

Had to laugh out loud at that one. You are so good for my mental health. Keep it coming.

 

[LizzyM]

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It sometimes seems more like a “Let’s mess with the applicants and throw in these secondary questions.” These are already answered in the primary. The following is a sample of some of the prompts/questions from the same school and are not optional:

Briefly describe the one clinical experience you have had that has most significantly influenced your decision to study medicine. Do not replicate your AMCAS personal statement.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Please provide a chronological list with dates of your clinical experiences/shadowing.
Please provide a chronological list with dates of your community service/volunteering.
Please briefly discuss your research experience.
Please provide a chronological list with dates of your employment.

Why are these questions replicated in the secondary? I guess the one difference is that the school explicitly wants the dates to be chronological which is probably how most applicants listed these in their primary anyway.

It could be that they want to blind the reviewers and/or interviewers to your stats and just provide specific information to them to inform the interview. But I can see how that is a pain in the ass.