Secondary burnout

[CaliforniaAppli]

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How do you guys who apply to 30+ schools motivate yourself?

 

[DISCOSTEW]

just figure it out, get it done. simple.

 

[help2]

How do you guys who apply to 30+ schools motivate yourself?

It helped me to take breaks for myself. You'll burn out much faster if you don't. Sometimes you just need a day; this will also make the quality of your responses better.

Also, sometimes you'll be able to use parts of what you wrote for one school in an essay for another. Some questions are so similar that you can simply modify what you've already written.

 

[centrigeugle]

I followed someone else's suggestion and organized an Excel spreadsheet and grouped secondaries by color according to the date they were received. I gave myself roughly about two weeks after receipt to finish a secondary. For secondaries that weren't completed even after the 2 weeks, I started coloring them in darker shades of red, just to serve as a friendly reminder that it needs to get done.

I ended up regretting following this deadline for some of the secondaries, since the quality definitely suffered; but this method did keep me motivated and I was able to pump out 25 secondaries within a reasonable timeframe (while working). It should work for 30+ secondaries as well.

This method is also great for keeping track of all the different logins 🙂. Good luck

I did this, and agree with everything above. I got very burned out and wish I had taken a few days off - on further review with a fresher mind I found a few typos and wording I would've normally improved.

Don't set daily goals for completion, just focus on writing the essays as best you can. Secondary burnout sucks. It got to the point where I would spend hours just staring at my excel sheet in varying shades of red, yellow, green and grey (omgcomplete, hey check me out, we're cool, and **** you loma linda respectively).

 

[hiyaman]

The hardest part for me was getting started on any particular secondary/essay. Thinking of an idea to write and elaborate on was tough.

Just take it one secondary at a time. Remember to breathe.

 

[Floyd G]

I agree with all of the above. It also helps to lay out all of the questions you have in front of you, and determine a strategic order. Sometimes writing your top choices first is not ideal.

For example, schools with really open-ended topics, or a choice (like 1 of 3 topics) are best done last, imo. After you do 20 or so secondaries you will have a few essays you think are great (hopefully) and can tailor those specific essays as needed. Or combine a couple, or whatever. I also find I get better as I go along. I wish I could rewrite my PS now.

 

[centrigeugle]

I also find I get better as I go along. I wish I could rewrite my PS now.

God yes. I read my first batch of secondaries and weep.

 

[kexy]

I am experiencing this right now. AGGGGHHHH.

You should probably do as many as you can possibly do. Go until you feel like you are literally going to die, but don't submit anything. Take a 2 or 3 day break, come back, edit, and submit. Despite the general SDN hysteria, I highly doubt 2 or 3 days will make a difference in the outcome of your application. You'll be shocked how much a fresh mind helps.

But yeah. I'm on secondary 34 or so and I cannot even tell you how grateful I am to the schools that just take my money.

 

[BrightandClear]

God yes. I read my first batch of secondaries and weep.

Good news is you're not alone on that.

You should probably do as many as you can possibly do. Go until you feel like you are literally going to die, but don't submit anything. Take a 2 or 3 day break, come back, edit, and submit. Despite the general SDN hysteria, I highly doubt 2 or 3 days will make a difference in the outcome of your application. You'll be shocked how much a fresh mind helps.

👍 So true. I learned (the hard way) to write the essays for a school, set them aside, and then come back 24 hours and re-read, edit and submit.

 

[centrigeugle]

👍 So true. I learned (the hard way) to write the essays for a school, set them aside, and then come back 24 hours and re-read, edit and submit.

This really can't be emphasized enough.

You will be shocked at how many typos you miss without some time off. My major batch of secondaries had a few stupid errors...don't be like me!

Take a day off, and re-read. Read your essays out loud. Print them on paper and edit them. Find somebody else to do it.

Finding mistakes in your own writing is very difficult.

 

[kexy]

Finding mistakes in your own writing is very difficult.

2 more tips for catching typos when you're burned out and have read the same %&$# thing twenty times already. 1. Change the font.. make it bigger, make it magenta, just do something so that your eyes don't glaze over it because it looks the same as the last 20 times. 2. Read your essays backwards. Not completely backwards, but start with last sentence, then read the second to last sentence, etc.

 

[Floyd G]

2 more tips for catching typos when you're burned out and have read the same %&$# thing twenty times already. 1. Change the font.. make it bigger, make it magenta, just do something so that your eyes don't glaze over it because it looks the same as the last 20 times. 2. Read your essays backwards. Not completely backwards, but start with last sentence, then read the second to last sentence, etc.

These are great, I never heard either of those.

Also, not quite as novel, is to read it aloud.

If at all possible have someone else skim it. It's great if you can find a proofreader who is not an overly ambitious editor, but will correct actual mistakes. A fresh pair of eyes is worth all the other tricks x1000.

 

[ensuii]

applying to med school takes more motivation than med school...at least until your step 1 boards 😛

 

[camierz]

It got to the point where I would spend hours just staring at my excel sheet in varying shades of red, yellow, green and grey (omgcomplete, hey check me out, we're cool, and **** you loma linda respectively).

I did the exact same thing. I also had the same thoughts. lmao

 

[ppfizenm]

I organized them by due date and did the ones due earliest first. I did make exceptions for my top choice schools (which I did first) and if the secondary had essays I had already done or no real essays I sent those in right away. Whole process only took a few weeks. Never let a secondary go longer than two weeks either.

 

[ppappui]

Burn out? There's no burnout when the consequence is not getting into med school again. You should always be motivated to finish these secondaries ASAP 😎

 

[ppfizenm]

Burn out? There's no burnout when the consequence is not getting into med school again. You should always be motivated to finish these secondaries ASAP 😎

Why do you think you didn't get any interviews the first two times?

 

[centrigeugle]

Why do you think you didn't get any interviews the first two times?

Burned.

 

[ppfizenm]

Burned.

Didn't mean it like that at all. But I would have to say that going until your done regardless if you burnout or not is probably not the best idea in the world. An extra day or two isn't going to kill your chances at a school at this point in the cycle.

 

[ppappui]

Didn't mean it like that at all. But I would have to say that going until your done regardless if you burnout or not is probably not the best idea in the world. An extra day or two isn't going to kill your chances at a school at this point in the cycle.

No worries, was done with all secondaries in late July anyways. Did pace myself nicely since secondaries came at different times. Just the waiting game for me now and interview preps. It always motivates me to prepare harder whenever I get this kind of message:

Care for a Crylenol? You've clearly been taking enough Badvil to apply 89 times and get two interviews.

Can't wait for those two interviews later this month

 

[centrigeugle]

Can't wait for those two interviews later this month

Happy to help.

ETA: Oh, just so everybody's clear, he cried at me in private message and is now, I guess, trying to discredit me by posting little bits my reply on this public thread. What a tactician.

 

[VvnDoc]

What I did was I worked on 2-3 secondaries per week. After I finished a rough draft for one, I put it aside and started on the next one. I reread and edited the completed one(s) through out the week. I usually take a day break if needed after I submit them.

 

[sk8ngli]

Are people still doing secondaries? Am I really behind?

I feel like everyone on SDN is already done and getting interviews.
I burnt out. hard...and didn't do anything for a few weeks. I have so many more to do.

I know I'm not late, but early has come and gone, right? Is September is still a normal-ish time to be submitting secondaries? 😕

 

[ppfizenm]

Are people still doing secondaries? Am I really behind?

I feel like everyone on SDN is already done and getting interviews.
I burnt out. hard...and didn't do anything for a few weeks. I have so many more to do.

I know I'm not late, but early has come and gone, right? Is September is still a normal-ish time to be submitting secondaries? 😕

Getting late. Def get them in before October starts.

 

[blizzah]

How do you guys who apply to 30+ schools motivate yourself?

Motivation should be to go to medical school...

 

[Undecipherable]

Don't mean to be a ****, but what exactly are secondaries? Can someone me kind enough to break down the application process for me? Say the MCAT is taken sometime in June, then you fill out applications while waiting for your score. What's more?

 

[ppfizenm]

Don't mean to be a ****, but what exactly are secondaries? Can someone me kind enough to break down the application process for me? Say the MCAT is taken sometime in June, then you fill out applications while waiting for your score. What's more?

AMCAS - becomes available in May (can't submit until June- this is the primary (complete and submit early). Ideally take MCAT in Apr so you will have your scores by the time the primary comes out b/c you pick the schools you are applying to now. Takes up to 6 weeks to be verified (Also get transcripts sent in to them asap.

Secondaries - each school has their own that they will send you with their own essays. You want to get these out no later than two weeks after being sent them. The earlier the better. They also cost about 80 per so have a bank account or credit card handy that will be able to handle 1000-2000 dollars. You may be able to recycle some secondaries between schools.

If the schools like your primary they will offer you an interview.

If they like you as a candidate during the interview they will offer you a spot in their class.

You put down a deposit at the first school that accepts you. If a high choice of yours offers you acceptance you withdraw the deposit at the first school and put one down there (you generally only have about 2-3 weeks to decide to put a deposit down or not and it will count towards your tuition).

Go to med school.

 

[Undecipherable]

AMCAS - becomes available in May (can't submit until June- this is the primary (complete and submit early). Ideally take MCAT in Apr so you will have your scores by the time the primary comes out b/c you pick the schools you are applying to now. Takes up to 6 weeks to be verified (Also get transcripts sent in to them asap.

Secondaries - each school has their own that they will send you with their own essays. You want to get these out no later than two weeks after being sent them. The earlier the better. They also cost about 80 per so have a bank account or credit card handy that will be able to handle 1000-2000 dollars. You may be able to recycle some secondaries between schools.

If the schools like your primary they will offer you an interview.

If they like you as a candidate during the interview they will offer you a spot in their class.

You put down a deposit at the first school that accepts you. If a high choice of yours offers you acceptance you withdraw the deposit at the first school and put one down there (you generally only have about 2-3 weeks to decide to put a deposit down or not and it will count towards your tuition).

Go to med school.

Would you say taking the MCAT in June is horrible?

 

[ppfizenm]

Would you say taking the MCAT in June is horrible?

I took the MCAT in June. When you do that you won't really have the opportunity, because of studying, to work on/send in your primary until after you are done the test. By the time your transcripts are sent in and you are verified you will have your scores back (it will be late July at this point). You can add schools to your primary then (you won't want to add many before you get your scores so you know where you stand a chance) and you will probably complete your secondaries until mid to late August. This is still generally pretty early in the cycle but it could be earlier. Acceptances at most schools are generally offered on a rolling admissions basis so the earlier the better.

Like I said, I took in June the submitted my primary with mostly middle tier schools (only 10) because I already had a 30 on the MCAT. I got score back in mid July, got a 34, so I added more higher tier schools. Wasn't verified until August 8th. Completed all secondaries by end of august. Have three interviews so far.

The June MCAT is fine if you get a good score. If not it doesn't leave much time to take another one should you need to.

 

[Undecipherable]

I took the MCAT in June. When you do that you won't really have the opportunity, because of studying, to work on/send in your primary until after you are done the test. By the time your transcripts are sent in and you are verified you will have your scores back (it will be late July at this point). You can add schools to your primary then (you won't want to add many before you get your scores so you know where you stand a chance) and you will probably complete your secondaries until mid to late August. This is still generally pretty early in the cycle but it could be earlier. Acceptances at most schools are generally offered on a rolling admissions basis so the earlier the better.

Like I said, I took in June the submitted my primary with mostly middle tier schools (only 10) because I already had a 30 on the MCAT. I got score back in mid July, got a 34, so I added more higher tier schools. Wasn't verified until August 8th. Completed all secondaries by end of august. Have three interviews so far.

The June MCAT is fine if you get a good score. If not it doesn't leave much time to take another one should you need to.

I guess I'll have to take some FLs to guesstimate where I stand. Thanks for the info and good luck on your interviews! Do you mind if I ask who the interviews are with?