Reusing Essays

[Leoj]

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What do you guys think about reusing essays or personal statements for another application year? I mean for the general AMCAS app and then for the secondary app questions (assuming they are the same/very similar to the previous year). When I say reuse I do mean that you do go back and edit them/update them a little but have the core ideas remain the same. Also what do you guys think about using possibly very similar answers for more than one school?

 

[lisi326]

eh, I copied the exact same "my parents got pregnant at 18 and were uber poor during my childhood" paragraph for like 4 of my secondaries. No biggie - it's not like the schools are comparing essays.

I would think you'd at least want to change your PS a little, especially if you're applying to the same schools. Just seems cheap to send the same one. But I dunno

 

[clinicallabguy]

What do you guys think about reusing essays or personal statements for another application year? I mean for the general AMCAS app and then for the secondary app questions (assuming they are the same/very similar to the previous year). When I say reuse I do mean that you do go back and edit them/update them a little but have the core ideas remain the same. Also what do you guys think about using possibly very similar answers for more than one school?

You can reuse parts and content for sure. However, if you applied last year and are reapplying this year, then you had better have something to show for this year and something to write about. They want to know how you have bettered yourself since the last cycle. I say you, but I'm not really sure if this is about you or if it is hypothetical.

 

[waitlist22]

I practically reused all of my essays and my personal statement from my 1st application year for several reasons. Firstly my personal statement was still relevant. I went through and edited, took out some things I didn't like any more and added additional reasons for wanting to be a doctor from my year off and what I had learned, deepened my desire to become a doctor etc. etc. For the secondaries I basically did the same. Used the same basic essays but added bits and pieces from my year off.

As for the same essays for all schools, yeah absolutely if they fit. The schools wont be comparing your application and quite honestly, how many different ways can you say what community service you did or what your proudest accomplishment or whatever other questions they ask?

Also I guess I should have said this in the beginning. I interviewed at 4 schools my first cycle. Waitlisted at 3. Interviewed at all 4 again in my second cycle and sitting on an acceptance. My point, I suppose, is that if they liked your essays and PS enough the first time to give you an interview then you should worry more about your interview skills and other gaps in your app. If you didn't get interviews, I would seriously consider rewriting your PS and secondaries. Just my thoughts though.

 

[fishbait63]

It depends on the circumstances:

Do you have good stats? Good ECs? Good LOR? Feel that you underperformed?

The PS might be your problem. I emailed schools after I was rejected throughout the cycle, some will actually tell you your essay sucks... See what school say about your ps.

 

[Donnie1310]

Also look at whether or not you got many interviews last time.

Early app + good stats + good essays usually = interviews

If you applied early with good numbers last time but got few/no interviews, really look at the essays.

 

[HAV000]

Also I guess I should have said this in the beginning. I interviewed at 4 schools my first cycle. Waitlisted at 3. Interviewed at all 4 again in my second cycle and sitting on an acceptance. My point, I suppose, is that if they liked your essays and PS enough the first time to give you an interview then you should worry more about your interview skills and other gaps in your app. If you didn't get interviews, I would seriously consider rewriting your PS and secondaries. Just my thoughts though.

Glad to see this went full circle for you, gg waitlist! 👍👍

 

[LizzyM]

If you are going to submit the same secondary answer to more than one school, be sure to edit it to change the name of the school you'd like to attend. Every year I see at least a couple of essays that say that the applicant would be honored to attend [not the name of my school]. 😳

 

[Leoj]

If you are going to submit the same secondary answer to more than one school, be sure to edit it to change the name of the school you'd like to attend. Every year I see at least a couple of essays that say that the applicant would be honored to attend [not the name of my school]. 😳

Of course. Also thank you for the responses guys. It seems that its ok to send the same stuff to multiple schools and as for reusing essays a second time or so, make sure they are not what held you back in the first place.

 

[newyorker41789]

I know I'm jumping on this thread a little late and it seems like great advice. However, how do people feel about using the SAME essays for the SAME school as a reapplicant instead of the same message with different words?

Also, I have heard that schools compare applications for reapplicants to show growth and so on, but I guess no one knows for sure except adcoms themselves.

Thanks for the help

 

[isoquin]

make sure it's relevant, and make sure it's not the same thing you submitted last year, because reapplying means it wasn't good enough last time