Secondary Essay on Interest outside Medicine

[2DEG]

Hi all:

CWRU's secondary prompts you to write "a brief essay on a subject outside of medicine, which has been an area of great interest to you". My answer 'why? girls of course' is not gonna fly I am assuming.

Seriously though - are they asking about your interest within the academic realm. Meaning, outside medicine you might be interested in chemistry or computers etc.

The way I understand is that they are asking us to describe something that we feel passionate about but outside medicine. So, for example, doing social work to solve a specific or non-specific problem in a disadvantaged part of our society.

I personally do feel very passionate about improving healthcare access for people who are poor/disadvantaged. Currently, I am working on a project to establish a hemodialysis center in a third world country. So, can I talk about this in this CWRU essay?

If anyone could enlighten me on this, I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks and have a pleasant day.
shahab

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[Kazema]

That's probably an appropriate topic for your essay if it's something you're really passionate about, and not just something you think will look good to write about. I think mainly they just want to see that you have interests outside of medicine and academics - I wrote my essay about soccer and my interviewer loved it.

 

[Nakhrewali]

That's probably an appropriate topic for your essay if it's something you're really passionate about, and not just something you think will look good to write about. I think mainly they just want to see that you have interests outside of medicine and academics - I wrote my essay about soccer and my interviewer loved it.

Yeah I actually met someone from CWRU last week who said NOT to talk about anything related to academics/medicine. I chose to write about dance--something I've been doing since I was 7. 🙂 She has a friend who wrote about fishing and well...he got in. 👍

 

[Hoooba]

I wrote about my photography hobby. If you talk about something academic or professional it will make you look like you don't have a life which I am sure is not the situation 😀

 

[2DEG]

I think I have found the most boring person on this planet. Me.

Although I do have interest in learning musical instruments like piano, guiter etc, I never pursued that due to variety of reasons. And right now, with a family of my own, its hard to do much with fulltime work, and pre-med courses etc.

I truly do feel passionate about doing social work - like improving and helping people with their education, providing better healthcare for people who don't have it at all or have very poor quality of healthcare.

My situation is that I have already talked about my dialysis project in my AMCAS essay - in fact, that was my main theme. So, I don't wanna re-state the same issue in the secondary essay.

Also, talking about something that one enjoys and good at it - like music, or dancing etc. sounds much more fun. I have interest in music, astronomy, history etc..but as I said before I really never pursued any of that.

Anyways, thanks for all your inputs. Best wishes to you all.

S.

That's probably an appropriate topic for your essay if it's something you're really passionate about, and not just something you think will look good to write about. I think mainly they just want to see that you have interests outside of medicine and academics - I wrote my essay about soccer and my interviewer loved it.

 

[AxlxA]

well guess i'll hvae to talk about cars and how i have no money to buy any but i sure would like a 10 car garage one day when i retire.

 

[LT2]

I think I have found the most boring person on this planet. Me.

Although I do have interest in learning musical instruments like piano, guiter etc, I never pursued that due to variety of reasons. And right now, with a family of my own, its hard to do much with fulltime work, and pre-med courses etc.

I truly do feel passionate about doing social work - like improving and helping people with their education, providing better healthcare for people who don't have it at all or have very poor quality of healthcare.

My situation is that I have already talked about my dialysis project in my AMCAS essay - in fact, that was my main theme. So, I don't wanna re-state the same issue in the secondary essay.

Also, talking about something that one enjoys and good at it - like music, or dancing etc. sounds much more fun. I have interest in music, astronomy, history etc..but as I said before I really never pursued any of that.

Anyways, thanks for all your inputs. Best wishes to you all.

S.

i think you look beyond or through some of the unique qualities you have. you mention you have a family of your own? could you write about this? the adcoms aren't looking for super exciting things here, people who do have something are lucky. remember, this is because they want to get to know you better. if your family is a big part of your life, it's something you're dedicated to, passionate about, etc. the prompt doesn't require you have to have outstanding accomplishments, just something you love. i bet if you sit down for a couple of minutes you could find a number of things to write passionately about! just a thought... good luck

 

[Shobra]

I agree!! I couldn't think of something in the beginning either. But I ended up talking about soccer, which I played professionally back home and which I still play it in college in intermaural sports. The questions that really annoy the hell out of me are the ones asking to describe ehtical dilemmas faced before. Well, since I have never faced any, I'll have to make something up. Is that ethical? 🙁

 

[DrBowtie]

Yes write about being a father or a mother and your kids.

 

[Kazema]

Yes write about being a father or a mother and your kids.

I agree with Brett, your kids must be something you're passionate about right? You can write about being a parent - it doesn't have to be at all connected to medicine (and shouldn't, as Nakhrewali said), and just has to demonstrate that you are more than a one-dimensional premed student. Being a parent certainly makes you that!

 

[2DEG]

LT2 and others...Thanks a lot for your suggestions. You are right..I did look beyond this. I have decided that I am gonna write about my family. We have a 4 year old daughter - and very truly this is one of the best things in life for sure. Its hard to imagine (especially being a guy I think) what it is like before having a kid.

Thanks again...
S.

i think you look beyond or through some of the unique qualities you have. you mention you have a family of your own? could you write about this? the adcoms aren't looking for super exciting things here, people who do have something are lucky. remember, this is because they want to get to know you better. if your family is a big part of your life, it's something you're dedicated to, passionate about, etc. the prompt doesn't require you have to have outstanding accomplishments, just something you love. i bet if you sit down for a couple of minutes you could find a number of things to write passionately about! just a thought... good luck