secondary essay question: write about your personal or academic challenge and how you overcame it..

[kimcat08]

I am having a big trouble writing this essay in secondary applications..

Fortunately (I should say..) I have not had a significant challenge in my life either personally or academically. Its not that I got all As in my classes.. I just did not have a significant problem studying except that I was just being lazy and irresponsible at times. 😛

If I must come up with one challenge I can talk about that carried some significance in my life, it would be my two-years-long struggle with finding out why I must become a doctor. After talking to a bunch of doctors, I did eventually get to my answer.

Do you guys think it is an adequate one to write about? Or are the admission committees looking for something specific in answers to this kind of essay?

Thanks!!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[kimcat08]

By the way, I am a third time applicant... gpa 3.64/ 31 MCAT (VR 7/BS 13/PS 11).. I took it three times already and got scores from two of them with the first reported score being 28 with still a 7 in VR.. English is my second language (I know that cannot be an excuse). I don't think I should take it anymore though.

Since the last application, I have been working as a full-time research technician and the only improvement on my application would be that I submitted a paper as the second author and it is currently under review. Do you think it is significant enough as a re-applicant?

Thanks...

 

[gyngyn]

You need to apply to at least a dozen schools where you might get an interview. You may need to consider DO schools depending on your state of residence. Every time you apply to a particular school you will be more highly scrutinized (not in a good way). Many schools simply do not take a third application seriously. Identify the places where you stand a chance at an interview and you have not previously applied!

 

[kthxbai]

Question for @gyngyn:

Can you tell us in concrete terms how much stronger an application needs to be the second time around for an interview?

Let's say I got rejected with 100 hours of community service, 100 hours of clinical exposure, and 20 hours of shadowing. Is there a way to gauge how much stronger my improvement needs to be to stand a chance?

Thank you!

 

[gyngyn]

Question for @gyngyn:

Can you tell us in concrete terms how much stronger an application needs to be the second time around for an interview?

Let's say I got rejected with 100 hours of community service, 100 hours of clinical exposure, and 20 hours of shadowing. Is there a way to gauge how much stronger my improvement needs to be to stand a chance?

Thank you!

The answer to this is both complex and variable.
Previous applicants by definition, lacked either the stats, personal qualities or strategy to succeed.
The more cycles without success translate to more risk to a screener.

Without knowing what combination of deficits have led to your outcome, it is tough to guess which areas need most improvement. A stronger strategy is always an option, though. Thus my recommendation to focus on new schools where both you and your stats fit.

 

[Goro]

Your problem has already been identified, and a solution suggested. Your VR score is <10th percentile for nearly all MD schools, while fine for DO programs.

To follow up on what my learned colleague has stated, getting into medical school is NOT simply checking off some boxes that state "I did X, Y and Z activities". Quantity counts, but so does quality. Overall, your ECs should demonstrate consistent proof of willingness to serve others.

The answer to this is both complex and variable.
Previous applicants by definition, lacked either the stats, personal qualities or strategy to succeed.
The more cycles without success translate to more risk to a screener.

Without knowing what combination of deficits have led to your outcome, it is tough to guess which areas need most improvement. A stronger strategy is always an option, though. Thus my recommendation to focus on new schools where both you and your stats fit.

 

[the13fools]

Questions like this are mostly about trying to gauge your decision making process.

Writing about what you chose to study might work if you approach it correctly. Feel free to PM me if you want to brainstorm.