Reusing secondary essays from last year?

[jadealer]

Is it a faux pas to reuse you secondary essays from the previous year if you are a re-applicant? I applied to more schools this year and have a few essays I really liked from last year that I was wondering if I could minorly tweak and submit... P.S. I applied extremely late last year... primary in october, secondaries in Nov/Dec., which was probably the kiss of death for getting an acceptance.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Seven of Nine]

my initial thought is why would you if they didn't work the first time around?

 

[Avoidthetiger]

I'm reusing one of my secondary essays and (maybe) kinda of recycling a few old ones. The one I am reusing is the biggest ethical dilemma I've been in... so I really don't have a choice, though I did rewrite a good chunk of it.

I don't think you should use all the same secondaries. hopefully you have had new experiences in the past year and can think of some new material. I think few medical schools look at past applications and might not be too happy if they are exactly the same.

 

[Whites83]

I'm a reapplicant this year as well - I made advising appointments after I was rejected last year and talked to the admissions advisors about my application. They all pointed at a couple points they wanted to see improved (more comm. service, more advanced courses) - but they told me my essays were great. So for the most part, I'm keeping my secondary stuff the same (with some minor updates).

That's one of the reasons reapplicant advising can be so helpful.

 

[sedaniel]

my initial thought is why would you if they didn't work the first time around?

I second this

 

[lstone13]

I'm a reapplicant this year as well - I made advising appointments after I was rejected last year and talked to the admissions advisors about my application. They all pointed at a couple points they wanted to see improved (more comm. service, more advanced courses) - but they told me my essays were great. So for the most part, I'm keeping my secondary stuff the same (with some minor updates).

That's one of the reasons reapplicant advising can be so helpful.

I agree with this mentality. If you can get advice from any of the schools that rejected you, it could give you insight into whether or not you need to better your secondary essays. Otherwise, if you get good feedback, then I don't see why you would need to change them necessarily.

 

[greenhat06]

Ahhh I am so glad somebody else asked this question, because I am in the exact same position as the original poster. Took my MCAT August 14th and didn't submit my primary completed and verified by October 1st, so my secondaries were anywhere from mid-October to late December. Although not 100%, I truly believe that I am a "re-applicant" instead of a matriculant this year due to the late application. I was very happy with almost all of my essays, but for ones like GWU in which the secondary is really only 2 short essays, I feel okay using my ones from last year. It seems the opinion is split down the middle so far in this thread, so any other input would be much appreciated, especially for more "in-depth" type essays at schools which don't receive 2 million applications (cough cough GWU). Thanks guys

 

[lstone13]

Ahhh I am so glad somebody else asked this question, because I am in the exact same position as the original poster. Took my MCAT August 14th and didn't submit my primary completed and verified by October 1st, so my secondaries were anywhere from mid-October to late December. Although not 100%, I truly believe that I am a "re-applicant" instead of a matriculant this year due to the late application. I was very happy with almost all of my essays, but for ones like GWU in which the secondary is really only 2 short essays, I feel okay using my ones from last year. It seems the opinion is split down the middle so far in this thread, so any other input would be much appreciated, especially for more "in-depth" type essays at schools which don't receive 2 million applications (cough cough GWU). Thanks guys

Well, either way, whether you decide to keep them or change them, I think it's a really good idea to opt for the re-applicant advising from schools that may have rejected you the first go-round.

 

[amberisma]

I'm a reapplicant this year as well - I made advising appointments after I was rejected last year and talked to the admissions advisors about my application. They all pointed at a couple points they wanted to see improved (more comm. service, more advanced courses) - but they told me my essays were great. So for the most part, I'm keeping my secondary stuff the same (with some minor updates).

That's one of the reasons reapplicant advising can be so helpful.

Sorry to hijack...but would it be too late at this time to call schools and ask to meet with them to discuss my application? I haven't had time to do it until now because I have been out of the state. I am also not applying this cycle, so it would still be of some help to me.

 

[NickNaylor]

my initial thought is why would you if they didn't work the first time around?

This.

 

[greenhat06]

Well, either way, whether you decide to keep them or change them, I think it's a really good idea to opt for the re-applicant advising from schools that may have rejected you the first go-round.

Question, what is this "re-applicant advising?" I'm thinking its too late haha, but just wondering regardless, never heard of it before. I only applied to 4 schools last cycle, but in almost every one of their rejection letters they state to consult your pre-medical staff/advisor on ways to improve your application but basically don't ask them?

 

[lstone13]

Sorry to hijack...but would it be too late at this time to call schools and ask to meet with them to discuss my application? I haven't had time to do it until now because I have been out of the state. I am also not applying this cycle, so it would still be of some help to me.

Question, what is this "re-applicant advising?" I'm thinking its too late haha, but just wondering regardless, never heard of it before. I only applied to 4 schools last cycle, but in almost every one of their rejection letters they state to consult your pre-medical staff/advisor on ways to improve your application but basically don't ask them?

No, it's not too late. In fact, when there was a big possibility that I would be re-applying this year, I called the schools I had been interviewed at and that I did not get into, and they informed me that I could not get advising from them until July/August once my file had been completely closed. So when it really comes down to it, now is the time to start making those calls and request the advising.

 

[jadealer]

No, it's not too late. In fact, when there was a big possibility that I would be re-applying this year, I called the schools I had been interviewed at and that I did not get into, and they informed me that I could not get advising from them until July/August once my file had been completely closed. So when it really comes down to it, now is the time to start making those calls and request the advising.

I did the same thing.. but since I am still "actively" on the waitlist.. they will not tell me anything. I did not get any rejections from the schools where I interviewed, and I thought you should only contact schools which rejected you post-interview for feedback... is this correct?

 

[lstone13]

I did the same thing.. but since I am still "actively" on the waitlist.. they will not tell me anything. I did not get any rejections from the schools where I interviewed, and I thought you should only contact schools which rejected you post-interview for feedback... is this correct?

Those were the only schools that I intended to contact, but I do think that some schools where you may not have received an interview are, in fact, willing to comment on your application and the committee's feedback on the review of your file. I think it really just depends on the school and its policy regarding this.

 

[copper coins]

I think it's a great idea to contact admissions committees and get their feedback on your application.

I also think it's helpful to read some of the applications from friends/peers who successfully applied... Even though your essays are going to be different, it's helpful to see what kinds of points they get across and how they convey their interests/passion for medicine.