questions about "why our school" essay

[quiktrip]

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I'm trying to write this "why our school" essay but I'm stuck.

I am re-applicant, and for my last cycle, I wrote about specific programs/etc that would fit me.

Looking back, however, I feel like I should do something more.

My plan is to briefly discuss about my personal events (spending childhood in medically underserved rural area) and talk about global health/ serving underserved oriented programs that are specific to the schools.

Is it okay to briefly discuss personal events using a couple of sentences?

How do people usually approach this topic?

 

[radiologyology]

I don't think you have to use this to "wow" a program, just be sincere. Why do you want to go to this school, what is different about this school compared to others... etc. If the school your applying to really focuses on underservered populations, go for it. However, I believe most schools look for applicants that aspire for those kind of goals.

 

[quiktrip]

I don't think you have to use this to "wow" a program, just be sincere. Why do you want to go to this school, what is different about this school compared to others... etc. If the school your applying to really focuses on underservered populations, go for it. However, I believe most schools look for applicants that aspire for those kind of goals.

right, but I don't know if I should explain the "why" part with personal experiences, along with specific info about the school

 

[Holmwood]

right, but I don't know if I should explain the "why" part with personal experiences, along with specific info about the school

You have to somehow show your fit. . . You should have already talked about global health and stuff significantly in your primary application. So all you need to do is mention how it is relevant to your goal and previous experiences with a short sentence or two just to make it clear. Never assume that adcoms (or anyone) can read your mind!

 

[quiktrip]

You have to somehow show your fit. . . You should have already talked about global health and stuff significantly in your primary application. So all you need to do is mention how it is relevant to your goal and previous experiences with a short sentence or two just to make it clear. Never assume that adcoms (or anyone) can read your mind!

Hm.. I don't know. My primary application talks about why I wanted to pursue a career that helps "underserved" people in our community, and then talked about how research/clinical experiences led me to purse medicine.
Sigh. This med school application is just so stressful

 

[Holmwood]

Hm.. I don't know. My primary application talks about why I wanted to pursue a career that helps "underserved" people in our community, and then talked about how research/clinical experiences led me to purse medicine.
Sigh. This med school application is just so stressful

I think you would have to do more research on the school. If they have scholarly requirements, they typically have an option to work with the underserved. If they don't, there might be an affiliated free clinic you could be involved in. If you find anything that's relevant to working with the underserved, mention it as part of the motivating factors for applying to that school and back up with a short blip about personal experience that makes it relevant to you.

 

[quiktrip]

I think you would have to do more research on the school. If they have scholarly requirements, they typically have an option to work with the underserved. If they don't, there might be an affiliated free clinic you could be involved in. If you find anything that's relevant to working with the underserved, mention it as part of the motivating factors for applying to that school and back up with a short blip about personal experience that makes it relevant to you.

yeah, that's what i wanted to know.
I think I've done quite a bit of research, and I just wanted to know if I could use short personal stories to make it relevant, instead of just merely listing stuff that I like about the school, or simply stating that school program fits me

 

[Holmwood]

yeah, that's what i wanted to know.
I think I've done quite a bit of research, and I just wanted to know if I could use short personal stories to make it relevant, instead of just merely listing stuff that I like about the school, or simply stating that school program fits me

Yup, sounds like a good idea. But don't make the story too long. It isn't a personal statement. : P

 

[nwts]

As far as how in-depth you should go, I think character/word limits are a good way to gauge that. If you start putting in personal stories and find that you are way over the word limit, the school probably didn't want such a detailed answer. If you put those things in and are still at or under the word limit, then you're probably giving them an appropriate level of detail. Just make sure everything pieces together well, everything is on topic, and you're at or under the word limit and you should be good to go.