Reusing Essays

[thedogisgreen]

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I know the reusing an VMCAS personal statements is a definite no-no because you want to show how your understanding and experience of vet med has evolved. But how about for supps? I'm questioning what to do for my Oregon app in particular... the short essays about why OSU, hardships, ability to handle academic rigor, and ability to handle challenging situations are the same topics as last year. I think they were pretty decent essays and my answers on those topics haven't changed at all in the last year. Would it be seen as bad to reuse these essays? I would do a bit of minor editing, but I don't know what to change in terms of the main ideas. Any input is much appreciated!

 

[letsbereal]

As politely as possible, the essays didn't work for you the first go-round... why would you use the same ones again?

 

[thedogisgreen]

Don't know if the file review person was just being nice or not, but he seemed to like my essays, said I would have gotten in if I was in state, GPA was slightly below OOS average, it's all such a gamble, etc... 😕 So it's pretty hard to tell what to do, and also how to improve them if I need to...

 

[moosenanny]

During my only file review this past cycle, CSU said that I could definitely re-use my supplemental essays if I were to reapply. I don't know what other schools would say, but judging from their response, it doesn't seem too taboo.

 

[nohika]

As politely as possible, the essays didn't work for you the first go-round... why would you use the same ones again?

Essays are not all that they look at when deciding whether or not to accept someone. While they probably play a small part, it's nowhere near being as decisive as you're making it sound.

GPA/GRE/Experience play a far bigger role.

 

[HopefulAg]

As politely as possible, the essays didn't work for you the first go-round... why would you use the same ones again?

I would be wary of following this advice. I re-used my essays all 3 times and on my postmortems always got good remarks. "Very good essay", "Well written and informative", and so on, so why fix what ain't broken?

Now, did I update them as I got new data, progressed in my views? Yup. Did I spell check them obsessively each time? Yup. (and still just recently found yet another error) But I did re-use them each time. Only so many ways you can say "I love vet med, here's why, let me in. I'm awesome, here's why, let me in. I have good aspirations and this is how I've overcome challenges, let me in."

For other worthwhile PS ideas, check out the PS thread we did about a month or two ago where some SDNers used their collective knowledge to write the ultimate PS. 😀



But seriously: nothing wrong with re-using essays, even your PS, unless you got feedback saying/alluding not to.

 

[thedogisgreen]

Thanks for all of the more supportive responses. 🙂 Reusing these will definitely save me some agonizing - I do need to rewrite my VMCAS PS bc my IS didn't like it, although the other schools did... completely lagging on that, but finally getting somewhere on my supplementals. Definitely helps to know that other people have reused them as well.

 

[goldielocks137]

I'm definitely in the same boat as you, thedogisgreen. For some of my essays I don't know how in the world I could possibly change them and still answer the topic. (Western comes to mind immediately with their TEN supplemental questions). Yet in the back of my head is the thought, "These essays weren't good enough to get me in the first time. What would change that now?" But if you got good feedback on your supplemental essays I would leave them. Read over and see if there are any minor edits or additions you might have, but I think it's fine to reuse them. Plus, it's not like the admissions people will remember your essay. And I think even if they have previous applications stored away somewhere, they're probably too busy to go check to see if it's the same.

 

[PearlDVM]

I completely agree with HopefulAg. I re-used my essays - but just updated the information. I think that if what you wrote still rings true for you - than stick with it. Many applicants don't simply list what they've done - but tell a "beginnings" story - or paint a picture of an important event. For a lot of people - those things just don't change in a year or two. I think you just need to read it, and ask yourself "would I write all this today - do I have the same perspective?" If the answer is yes - that's great! Less work for ya this round! And it doesn't mean that you didn't grow - just that you didn't use that particular essay to explain how. Use the rest of your app to tell them that you've continued to develop. (the experiences section and explanation section might be good for this). good luck!

 

[squibby]

For other worthwhile PS ideas, check out the PS thread we did about a month or two ago where some SDNers used their collective knowledge to write the ultimate PS.

Where's Twelvetigers when you need a link?

 

[twelvetigers]

I was still in a third world country when that was posted! Geez, guys, gimme a break.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=738449

 

[squibby]

I was still in a third world country when that was posted! Geez, guys, gimme a break.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=738449

I've heard that one before. 😉