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Secondaries
Started by linds.roth93
6
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Same Q....Short and sweet or is it story time?
Secondaries will ask a wide variety of questions. Read the questions, and answer them honestly, but in a way that highlights good attributes. Don't try to be gimmicky, just answer the questions.
But should I use a story to highlight my attributes or just come out and say what they are?
It's kind of hard to answer this question without a specific prompt that you're wondering about. Since all of the secondary questions are so different, there is not one definitive answer. For example, some prompts say: "Tell us about a time when..." Obviously, this should include a story. Other times, you don't necessarily want to tell a story just because you're looking for a novel way to say something.
What do you guys think about the question that Upenn and Yale use, quoted below. I have written a diversity essay for other schools that basically describes my experience making a film about homless and drug abusers, and how that has affected my view of drug abusers. I am unsure whether to include these as they are not exactly worded like other diversity questions
This section is optional. It should be used to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee any important information (personal, academic, or professional) not discussed in other sections of your Yale Secondary Application
Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.)
This section is optional. It should be used to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee any important information (personal, academic, or professional) not discussed in other sections of your Yale Secondary Application
Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.)
These questions are not asking for diversity essays, just anything else you want to share. If you want to share this information, this would be the place to do so (though, as stated, they are actually optional), at least for Yale.
For Yale, did you talk about it anywhere in your primary? If so, answering this question and talking about it might seem redundant. If not, it might be good to mention.
For Penn, I wouldn't mention it. The question asks about circumstances. I think they are trying to see if there is an explanation for any weaknesses in your application. Since making a film is not a circumstance, I would think that answer wouldn't really address the prompt correctly. Just my two cents.
Yeah, that was what I was thinking. Penn only gives you a 1000 characters so I would not be able to do much with that anyway. For Yale, it makes sense because there is not a character limit.
@Goro or @gyngyn
For secondaries about one's greatest challenge or how one might contribute to the diversity of a class, would it be appropriate to discuss my battle in overcoming clinically diagnosed OCD?
It is my understanding that it is sort of taboo to discuss psychiatric illness in an application but it is unclear whether that is specific to more serious illnesses like bipolar and schizophrenia.
Thanks much!
For secondaries about one's greatest challenge or how one might contribute to the diversity of a class, would it be appropriate to discuss my battle in overcoming clinically diagnosed OCD?
It is my understanding that it is sort of taboo to discuss psychiatric illness in an application but it is unclear whether that is specific to more serious illnesses like bipolar and schizophrenia.
Thanks much!
OCD is clearly a challenge and a form of adversity.
I do not think it is what we are looking for with regard to adding to the diversity of the class, however.
Ok. Thank you for your response.
Would it be appropriate to use it for the greatest challenge question or would it raise red flags?
It would certainly be a great obstacle to overcome. You would need to be sure that you have evidence to support that it has been completely vanquished, though
