Secondary Essay topics

[honeybee87]

Diversity: what do people normally write about in diversity? What are adcoms expecting? I’m ORM so I can’t talk about my ethnicity/race. I really have no clue where to start here...

Challenge: I have an essay for name one time you failed and what you did, could I use that somehow for this secondary? Maybe could I word it so that the failure itself was a challenge?

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[907914]

Diversity: what do people normally write about in diversity? What are adcoms expecting? I’m ORM so I can’t talk about my ethnicity/race. I really have no clue where to start here...

Challenge: I have an essay for name one time you failed and what you did, could I use that somehow for this secondary? Maybe could I word it so that the failure itself was a challenge?

Diversity: What is something cool about you? Do you have extensive leadership experience? Multi-cultural exposure? Are you an adventurous individual (hiking, skydiving, eating candies scorpions)? Are you calm and patient? Do you like Sudoku? Do you have manual dexterity from lots of hardcore COD?

Challenge: Yes.

 

[Rachapkis]

Rather than viewing this a question about race or ethnicity, you can emphasize the aspects of yourself that make you unique. Do you come from impoverished circumstances? Are you from an extremely large family? Are you a first generation college student? Do you have a unique approach to problem solving? Did you grow up on a commune? The ways that you can be unique and add value to a medical school class are virtually endless.

 

[honeybee87]

Diversity: What is something cool about you? Do you have extensive leadership experience? Multi-cultural exposure? Are you an adventurous individual (hiking, skydiving, eating candies scorpions)? Are you calm and patient? Do you like Sudoku? Do you have manual dexterity from lots of hardcore COD?

Challenge: Yes.

The problem for diversity is that there’s so many gifted individuals applying for medical school, and it’s hard for me to look introspectively and see how I am unique and what makes me stand out among these individuals

 

[907914]

The problem for diversity is that there’s so many gifted individuals applying for medical school, and it’s hard for me to look introspectively and see how I am unique and what makes me stand out among these individuals

Don’t compare yourself to other applicants. You were dealt the hand you were dealt. Don’t feel ashamed that you are not something that someone else is. Look at what you are. Don’t try to force a diversity essay down a different, non-you pathway. True introspection will be key to your success in this cycle.

And honestly, even if you think something is unique there are 50,000 applicants annually - chances are no applicant will provide anything new that some of these 20+ year ADCOM members have not seen. It isn’t about who you are, it is about how you spin it to show that you know who you are.

 

[theKingLT]

The problem for diversity is that there’s so many gifted individuals applying for medical school, and it’s hard for me to look introspectively and see how I am unique and what makes me stand out among these individuals

Whether it's hard or not, that is exactly what they want you to do. Be introspective. It doesn't have to be circumstances or your birth like SES or race. Personal qualities and what you choose to do with your life are important too.

 

[theKingLT]

Trust me, as someone who’s only diversity is based on “I joined the military because I didn’t think I liked learning” and “tequila is not an effective birth control for a 19 year old” heed the advice: look inside yourself and you will find something that makes you unique.

The problem is you didn't fully commit. Enough tequila on any given night can definitely inhibit baby-making

 

[907914]

The problem is you didn't fully commit. Enough tequila on any given night can definitely inhibit baby-making

Don’t half-ass your tequila consumption, kids. GBGH.

To avoid derailing: OP, list out some of the things about yourself that you look at and think “I am pretty nifty, aren’t I?”

Next, go through and find the niftiest. Then reword it so that instead of being nifty it is ‘snazzy.’ Give it a professional twist and BOOM, DONE. You are unique and diverse.

 

[honeybee87]

For the diversity essay, is it an appropriate place to talk about unique hobby? But I already put the hobby in my W/A

 

[deleted972488]

For the diversity essay, is it an appropriate place to talk about unique hobby? But I already put the hobby in my W/A

You can expand on it if you think it is worthwhile.

 

[Goro]

For the diversity essay, is it an appropriate place to talk about unique hobby? But I already put the hobby in my W/A

If you truly think that this makes you cool.

Note: doing weights/being into nutrition/health/exercise is a note merely a dime-a-dozen, but a penny -a-gross.

 

[907914]

If you truly think that this makes you cool.

Note: doing weights/being into nutrition/health/exercise is a note merely a dime-a-dozen, but a penny -a-gross.

A pence a fortnight

 

[honeybee87]

Would it be “unique” if I talk about perserverence, my work ethic, and how I never quit?

 

[907914]

Would it be “unique” if I talk about perserverence, my work ethic, and how I never quit?

Do you think it makes you unique?

 

[honeybee87]

Do you think it makes you unique?

Idk I’m asking if that’s a unique trait. In my essay tho I’m thinking about writing about certain qualities that I have that do make me me, such as my dry humor, and how I keep at it, regardless of how the social consequences (no one in the group laughing lol)

 

[907914]

Idk I’m asking if that’s a unique trait.

This is going to really bug you:

Do YOU think it is a unique trait? How do you feel about that trait in the context of who you are?

 

[honeybee87]

This is going to really bug you:

Do YOU think it is a unique trait? How do you feel about that trait in the context of who you are?

But the question becomes am I unique enough? And the traits that do make me unique, are they good enough for medical school?
And are you planning on relating your uniqueness to medicine? Or should this just be a straightforward answer

 

[907914]

But the question becomes am I unique enough? And the traits that do make me unique, are they good enough for medical school?
And are you planning on relating your uniqueness to medicine? Or should this just be a straightforward answer

That is going to vary on the prompt. “How can you contribute different perspectives to our class” versus “what diversity/background to you bring and how will that contribute to you as a physician?”

You are your own you, so yes you are unique enough. But talk about yourself in a way that shows YOU think what you are talking about is important to your story and who you are, even if it may not necessarily be so.

 

[theKingLT]

Idk I’m asking if that’s a unique trait. In my essay tho I’m thinking about writing about certain qualities that I have that do make me me, such as my dry humor, and how I keep at it, regardless of how the social consequences (no one in the group laughing lol)

I can whistle excessively loud. Like louder than 99% of the population, but I didn't write my diversity essay about it. I know, I'm being unnecessarily hyberbolic and derogatory, but the point is you still have to write about something relevant to medicine. Perseverance can work if you have some bomb experiences to back it up. Dry humor not so much.