Re-applicant: Secondaries - what do I do?

[BigData_MD]

Hi all,

Disclaimer: This is my first post. I am so sorry if I am wasting time and too incompetent to find an old thread that would answer the question that I am about to ask.

Question: I am a reapplicant, and I am unsure how much I am supposed to rewrite my secondaries. I have applied to a few schools that I am currently applying to, and I am unsure if I should rewrite the entire thing or reword a substantial amount at the beginning/middle and have some updates at the end of my essays. For example, one of them asks for an autobiography - how can I rewrite something that has already occurred?! I mean, I rewritten sentences here and there at the start and middle of my essay, but I am not sure if that is good enough.

Any thoughts?

Thank you all for your patience.

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[BigData_MD]

To clarify, I do have updates to add at the end of "biographical"-type of secondary questions.

 

[TravelingMedicine]

You should rewrite it or try to reword it at least a little bit. I would trying to change the wording or swap out some answers with some of my new experiences during the gap year to show that I am still working on myself. If you didnt get an interview the first time why would they send you an interview if you submit the exact same secondary?

 

[BigData_MD]

You should rewrite it or try to reword it at least a little bit. I would trying to change the wording or swap out some answers with some of my new experiences during the gap year to show that I am still working on myself. If you didnt get an interview the first time why would they send you an interview if you submit the exact same secondary?

The thing is that I did get an interview - I was waitlisted for an interview. 🙁

I did some hard reflecting on my prior application, I needed to apply early, polish up my personal statement, and activities.

 

[TravelingMedicine]

The thing is that I did get an interview - I was waitlisted for an interview. 🙁

I did some hard reflecting on my prior application, I needed to apply early, polish up my personal statement, and activities.

are you applying this cycling ie right now or the upcoming one? I had to rewrite my PS and lost of my activities/add new ones. I am completely rewriting my secondaries.
Just my 0.02. just because you got it the first time does not mean that you will get it again as a reapplicant if you do not change some of it. If the themes/topics are the same you can reuse bits of it but I would still try to change it up so it is not completely identical.

 

[BigData_MD]

I am reapplying this cycle. I completely rewrote my PS and work/activities. For some reason, I thought I could use the same start and middle but a different end with secondaries. You know you're right. I guess I just needed to hear something that I did not want to hear. HA!

 

[JimKimSlim]

needed to apply early, polish up my personal statement, and activities.

You sure this is the reason and not your MCAT, GPA, Clinical Experience? If so, then I’d suggest hiring a coach to look at your application (if money is not an issue).

 

[BigData_MD]

Yeah, I am pretty sure. I worked as a scribe at two different hospitals (county and community). MCAT is okay, GPA is solid. I applied super late - in August (yikes) - and I took a while to write each secondary (about a week, very much yikes).

 

[candbgirl]

I am reapplying this cycle. I completely rewrote my PS and work/activities. For some reason, I thought I could use the same start and middle but a different end with secondaries. You know you're right. I guess I just needed to hear something that I did not want to hear. HA!

ADCOMS on SDN frequently tell reapplicants to completely rewrite their applications including all secondaries and to have multiple readers read them before submitting. Hopefully, the you of this cycle is different than the you of last cycle and it’s your job to prove it to the ADCOMS. Good luck.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Hi all,

Disclaimer: This is my first post. I am so sorry if I am wasting time and too incompetent to find an old thread that would answer the question that I am about to ask.

Question: I am a reapplicant, and I am unsure how much I am supposed to rewrite my secondaries. I have applied to a few schools that I am currently applying to, and I am unsure if I should rewrite the entire thing or reword a substantial amount at the beginning/middle and have some updates at the end of my essays. For example, one of them asks for an autobiography - how can I rewrite something that has already occurred?! I mean, I rewritten sentences here and there at the start and middle of my essay, but I am not sure if that is good enough.

Any thoughts?

Thank you all for your patience.

It's very hard to say "how much" you should rewrite without seeing your application. What's certain is that you shouldn't submit the same thing that didn't (fully) last year. You want to improve. And as you note, the lateness of your application probably played a role, but not as much this past cycle as in most cycle because of the pandemic.

You certainly want to highlight the growth you've experienced and the contributions you have made since you applied as much as is reasonably possible. Also look at your essays not just in terms of what you write about, but also in terms of how you presented yourself. Did you balance examples and analysis (the what and the so what)? Did you focus on results or just on tasks? (You want to highlight the former.) Did your secondaries show you belong at that specific school?

Just a few thoughts for how you can improve not only your secondaries, but even your primary, if you haven't already submitted it.

FYI, SDN is hosting a webinar on secondaries next week, which I am presenting. If you are interested, you can register at Secondaries that Secure Interviews.

 

[BigData_MD]

You certainly want to highlight the growth you've experienced and the contributions you have made since you applied as much as is reasonably possible. Also look at your essays not just in terms of what you write about, but also in terms of how you presented yourself. Did you balance examples and analysis (the what and the so what)? Did you focus on results or just on tasks? (You want to highlight the former.) Did your secondaries show you belong at that specific school?

Absolutely! I especially made that effort. In my original primary application (two cycles ago), I made a "resume" style for my works/activities section - I am surprised I got any interview invitations, ha! This time around, I attempted my best to strike a balance of examples and analysis. I will definitely apply this format of writing for my secondaries. Also, I registered for the webinar last week - I look forward to learning more. I am doing my best to finish drafts for my secondaries by the end of next week, tweak them based on what I hear on the webinar, and have them polished by the time I get my secondary application.

Thanks!

 

[candbgirl]

So this is your third time applying? 🤔

 

[BigData_MD]

Second time applying.