Personal adversity/hurdle

[TO MD]

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Hey everyone,

for Case western reserve secondary, you have to write an essay about Greatest Challenge.

I wrote the MCAT twice, once last year in April and this year in June.

I received a poor score of 25, 6 in verbal the first time. I was averaging 6-8 for verbal, so that was understandable, but my science scores were 11+, so the mark didnt reflect my capabilities. (I was working full time as well)

This past June, I got a 31, 9 in verbal.

Even though I only got a 10 in PS (I was averaging 12-15), I was happy about my verbal score because English is my second language.

Basically, I have a high GPA (~3.95), great ECs and letters and everything else. My verbal score and the MCAT was what held me back last year.

I had to read every day and do verbal passages at least 2 per day (many times redoing them) to receive that 9 in verbal. Also, I am an international student applying to med school

Is this something that I can talk about in the essay? Do you think it will be effective?

Thank you

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Is this something that I can talk about in the essay? Do you think it will be effective?

If you write your secondary essay about adversity about how you had to take the MCAT twice to get the score you wanted, I will guarantee you will not get an acceptance from Case.

 

[NickNaylor]

Yeah... standardized testing (or really any sort of academic situation with no sort of extenuating circumstances) doesn't qualify as adversity in my book.

 

[TO MD]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Is it okay if I write about events in the past i.e. grade school?

I immigrated to Canada in grade 4 and had trouble speaking English for the first 3 years or so.

However, in high school, I graduated with 95%+ overall average and was top 3 student in the school and received numerous scholarships.

I had to study English, read books for many hours on a daily basis starting in grade 4 to improve my English.

Do you think that was too long ago?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Is it okay if I write about events in the past i.e. grade school?

I immigrated to Canada in grade 4 and had trouble speaking English for the first 3 years or so.

However, in high school, I graduated with 95%+ overall average and was top 3 student in the school and received numerous scholarships.

I had to study English, read books for many hours on a daily basis starting in grade 4 to improve my English.

Do you think that was too long ago?

Much better. Just make sure you include how that struggle has been a source of strength for you through today and how that struggle, and what you learned about yourself, will help make you a better physician and serve multiple communities.

 

[TO MD]

ok thanks!

Could anyone else voice their opinion on this as well please?

I'm worried that this event was too long ago 🙁 thanks

 

[Avoidthetiger]

I read it and agreed with Pons and Col.

I don't particularly like your 2nd topic about learning english but that to me is because it's nothing particularlly special. Most of my class were non-native english speakers in high school though... and while it was a challenge... it seems so ancient by the time you started college. If you have no challenging story from college though, go for it.