Secondary Tie In to Medicine

[KingSoloKing]

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I am working on filling out my secondary applications and was not sure how directly we need to tie our answers to medicine. I'm currently working on UNC's secondary, where they ask about when you tried something new and what you learned from it. Would it be crazy to just talk about something that I tried in my hobby that didn't work, and answer it with something unrelated to medicine, but is still something where I tried something new and learned from it? Thank you!

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

Talking about an experience in a hobby is absolutely material. It doesn't really matter where your experience is from; rather, can you show a clear narrative that responds to the prompt.

It's not required that every secondary response be 100% about medicine or constantly point towards it. Show your competence and experience in life.

 

[Goro]

I am working on filling out my secondary applications and was not sure how directly we need to tie our answers to medicine. I'm currently working on UNC's secondary, where they ask about when you tried something new and what you learned from it. Would it be crazy to just talk about something that I tried in my hobby that didn't work, and answer it with something unrelated to medicine, but is still something where I tried something new and learned from it? Thank you!

Very common premed delusion: that everything has to be related to Medicine.

The Prompt is asking nothing of a sort. Just answer the question

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

The UNC thread can be found here, right?

Thread '2025-2026 U North Carolina - Chapel Hill'

Apr 18, 2025

2025-2026 UNC - Chapel Hill Secondary Essay Prompts:
Check your secondary invitation email carefully for a deadline!

1: Describe an experience where you attempted a task and realized during the process that you were not ready for it. How did this experience impact your approach to trying new things? (250 words)

2: How will your life experiences foster a positive educational environment and benefit your future patients? (250 words)

3: Discuss your involvement in a service activity that has impacted your understanding of healthcare and your desire...

• wysdoc
• Replies: 357
• Forum: MD Medical School-Specific Discussions Prior Years

Answer the prompt. It doesn't ask for clinical examples, and the other three give you a chance to.

And submit your secondary before the deadline.

 

[saltykiosk]

As a follow up, do adcoms generally read both primary and secondaries? I structured my application so that my primary answers "why medicine", and secondaries give context to my path and life experiences. But seperartly, althought sufficient, they won't be as strong

 

[Mr.Smile12]

As a follow up, do adcoms generally read both primary and secondaries? I structured my application so that my primary answers "why medicine", and secondaries give context to my path and life experiences. But seperartly, althought sufficient, they won't be as strong

Why do you believe they wouldn't read both primary and secondaries?

Primaries are like the community cards in Texas hold-em poker. Secondaries are the individual hole cards dealt to you by a school which hopefully allow you to match. As I posted elsewhere, secondaries are your audition for an interview at a program. You have to do both well.

Thread 'Archived AAMC video: How Admissions Committees Review Applications'

Aug 9, 2025

View during a break from secondaries or interview prep.

This is a video from 2023 which may help applicants understand how MD medical schools (and by inference other programs) review applications. Discussion points include expectations of "professionalism" during the process (in case this is nebulous to you).

• Mr.Smile12
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

• 

 

[nobadwaves]

Why do you believe they wouldn't read both primary and secondaries?

Primaries are like the community cards in Texas hold-em poker. Secondaries are the individual hole cards dealt to you by a school which hopefully allow you to match. As I posted elsewhere, secondaries are your audition for an interview at a program. You have to do both well.

Thread 'Archived AAMC video: How Admissions Committees Review Applications'

Aug 9, 2025

View during a break from secondaries or interview prep.

This is a video from 2023 which may help applicants understand how MD medical schools (and by inference other programs) review applications. Discussion points include expectations of "professionalism" during the process (in case this is nebulous to you).

• Mr.Smile12
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Pre-Medical (MD)

• 

That's a great analogy.