Redundancy in Secondaries

[makingthatmcatpur]

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How do you avoid repeating information from your primary while writing your secondaries?

Example, some of UCLA's secondary questions:

Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life? (800 char)

What has been the ONE most important volunteer work you have done and why was it meaningful? (800 char)

What is the ONE most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important? (800 char)

What has been your most scholarly project(thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities)? Describe one and give number of hours, dates and advisor. (800 char)

Three of these four questions are literally answered as my "most meaningful" experiences in the Activities/Experiences section of the primary application. Thus, should I write about different experiences or is it okay to repeat the same information?

 

[doctorleospaceman]

Ideally, all of your experiences should be meaningful if you weren't just fluffing your application with random ECs. If you have nothing to add for the "most meaningful" ones then explain what you gained from the other ones. I found the 3 "most meaningful" criteria limiting and had a lot more to say about the other ones so would view this as a good opportunity to do so.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Id say you could expand on what is already in your most meaningful, or pick something else entirely.

I guess it depends on the character limit for if you can adequately expand on what you already wrote...

 

[makingthatmcatpur]

Ideally, all of your experiences should be meaningful if you weren't just fluffing your application with random ECs. If you have nothing to add for the "most meaningful" ones then explain what you gained from the other ones. I found the 3 "most meaningful" criteria limiting and had a lot more to say about the other ones so would view this as a good opportunity to do so.

Id say you could expand on what is already in your most meaningful, or pick something else entirely.

I guess it depends on the character limit for if you can adequately expand on what you already wrote...

i can definitely expand on my most meaningful experiences from my primary. however, i just do not know if that is the best way to go about writing these secondaries. maybe writing about something entirely different is the better since adcoms have access to our primaries and can already read about those meaningful experiences in there...

 

[Astra]

This is my same problem.

For the topic of greatest challenge overcome, I plan to talk about how I overcame my brother's death. But I talked a fair bit about it in my PS.

 

[doctorleospaceman]

i can definitely expand on my most meaningful experiences from my primary. however, i just do not know if that is the best way to go about writing these secondaries. maybe writing about something entirely different is the better since adcoms have access to our primaries and can already read about those meaningful experiences in there...

Just write out both (expand on an activity from your primary or write about one of the other ones) and see which one sounds better and adds more to your application.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

i can definitely expand on my most meaningful experiences from my primary. however, i just do not know if that is the best way to go about writing these secondaries. maybe writing about something entirely different is the better since adcoms have access to our primaries and can already read about those meaningful experiences in there...

I'm of the opinion that the simplest solution is the way to go. Whatever you can write about best (most intelligently, eloquently, etc), is what you should focus on.

I think adcoms would appreciate either option if done well.

 

[Catalystik]

i just do not know if that is the best way to go about writing these secondaries. maybe writing about something entirely different is the better since adcoms have access to our primaries and can already read about those meaningful experiences in there...

Don't assume that every adcomm or screener has access to your entire application at the same time. Be sure your Secondary essays can stand on their own, just in case. And if the same person is reading them, you don't want them to seem too repetitive, as you might lose their interest. So use fresh vocabulary, anecdotes, aspects, etc if you stick to the same activities already described elsewhere.

 

[starspells]

Don't assume that every adcomm or screener has access to your entire application at the same time. Be sure your Secondary essays can stand on their own, just in case. And if the same person is reading them, you don't want them to seem too repetitive, as you might lose their interest. So use fresh vocabulary, anecdotes, aspects, etc if you stick to the same activities already described elsewhere.

Different people are assigned different aspects of the application? That's.............interesting.

Is it because different people are more well-versed in different areas? Like someone who is experienced at reading personal statements, someone else who is experienced with Work & Activities section, etc?

 

[gyngyn]

Different people are assigned different aspects of the application? That's.............interesting.

Is it because different people are more well-versed in different areas? Like someone who is experienced at reading personal statements, someone else who is experienced with Work & Activities section, etc?

Interviewers may only have access to certain parts of the application, for example.

 

[starspells]

Interviewers may only have access to certain parts of the application, for example.

What about pre-interview? The "screeners" that Cat is referring to?

 

[gyngyn]

What about pre-interview? The "screeners" that Cat is referring to?

Screeners may also have access only to certain parts of the application.

 

[starspells]

Screeners may also have access only to certain parts of the application.

Sounds like the students who use phrases like "Please see PS" that I've seen you mention will be at a disadvantage, huh?

 

[LizzyM]

Sometimes the interviewers are blinded to your grades & scores but are given access to your secondary.