Secondaries: An Enlightening Experience

[n3opologist]

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After writing all these secondary essays (especially UCSD's autobiography), I actually feel like I know myself better. When you are forced to write about what you can offer to medical school and what makes you so special, you really have to stop, think, and dig down deep in yourself. In our busy premed lives, it's easy to lose sight of who we are, but I feel that secondaries pull out the hard times of our pasts and the promises of our futures. Anyone feel the same way?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Usually after writing a secondary essay, I feel like I need to take a shower because im covered in bull****.

 

[scarletgirl777]

After writing all these secondary essays (especially UCSD's autobiography), I actually feel like I know myself better. When you are forced to write about what you can offer to medical school and what makes you so special, you really have to stop, think, and dig down deep in yourself. In our busy premed lives, it's easy to lose sight of who we are, but I feel that secondaries pull out the hard times of our pasts and the promises of our futures. Anyone feel the same way?

The entire thing is a psychological mind game. That's how they want you to feel.😏

 

[jka0067]

Adcoms, are you reading this thread right here? Do you see what we become?

 

[beancounter21]

Yeah, I was sort of enlightened after my very first secondary. Now it just sucks. I feel sorry for you guys who have to write an autobiography

 

[redbull928]

After writing all these secondary essays (especially UCSD's autobiography), I actually feel like I know myself better. When you are forced to write about what you can offer to medical school and what makes you so special, you really have to stop, think, and dig down deep in yourself. In our busy premed lives, it's easy to lose sight of who we are, but I feel that secondaries pull out the hard times of our pasts and the promises of our futures. Anyone feel the same way?

I'm glad you feel that way. I really think it's up to you to perceive it positively or negatively, and if positively, then that's good for your mind. I try to stay away from secondaries that make me write BS (Why have you chosen this school?) because 1 - I hate BS, 2 - I'm sure they can see thru the BS. I'm not sure if that's a good strategy though. I'll let you guys know.

 

[Dulcina]

Usually after writing a secondary essay, I feel like I need to take a shower because im covered in bull****.

yup, this is me.

honestly, why am i diverse? i'm a freaking middle-class asian girl applying to med school, you do the math.

 

[RSAgator]

Honestly, I find these secondaries emotionally draining. When you have so many to do it's like you can't feel happy about finishing one because you have a pile of them that haven't even been looked at.

 

[Kaydubz]

Honestly, I find these secondaries emotionally draining. When you have so many to do it's like you can't feel happy about finishing one because you have a pile of them that haven't even been looked at.

Really? I feel satisfied and it's an excuse to put off the rest

 

[ar2388]

Honestly, I find these secondaries emotionally draining. When you have so many to do it's like you can't feel happy about finishing one because you have a pile of them that haven't even been looked at.

yeah im burnt out form them.. and it is all bull ****... why i wanna go to NYU? well elts go check out their website and see what they have that others dont.. thats why

 

[RoadRunner17]

Oddly, I have found it to be a fairly fun experience to write these secondaries. I did a lot of soul searching while working on my PS (I went through 11 completely different drafts). So now, I have a stronger idea of the "why". That helps me get through the secondaries.. and being able to articulate these types of things gives you a lot of confidence in writing the secondary essays.

Except for of course, the secondary questions that ask why you're applying to particular schools - for only a couple have I given legitimate reasons and not BS from the website.