Some advice for yoru secondaries

[oOKawaiiOo]

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Every time Goro gives me advice I walk away from the computer like

Im currently working in the ER. Im trying my hardest to control my laughter. HAHAHAHAHA

 

[deleted393595]

Bumping this gem of a thread.

 

[BeachBaby]

I am aware of my privilege and have not necessarily overcome any huge obstacles/challenges, nor do I have any kind of "story" about someone dying/personal disease
When brainstorming ideas for this kind of essay, what are some topics I could consider?

 

[goodlord123]

Hey Everyone,

I have a question about the special circumstance/overcoming adversity prompt: I had really bad OCD near the end of my senior year of high school and beginning of college. I mean it impacted my life significantly to the point where my parents suggested I not attend college the first semester. But I refused to be hindered by it, went to college on time and today I no longer have OCD, but I have all the skills I used and developed to compensate for it. Would this be a good overcoming adversity/greatest challenge etc. example? Thanks so much for your help.

 

[pageantry]

I was wondering how formal the essay responses should be? Like, should I rephrase the question in my opening statement all SAT style? Or can I respond as if we were simply having a conversation? The latter feels more natural to me, but I don't want to come across as unprofessional.

Thanks anyone who's able to tell me!

 

[chemist_acs]

Goro,

For the diversity essay I did talk about my ethnic and religious background, but I talked how it shaped me and how it gave me unique qualities in working around others.

For the challenge essay, I'm not sure what you mean by trivial exactly but I wrote mine about a collaborative semester-long project that involved challenges working with my partner and how we overcame them.

From reading your advice, I am not kind of concerned that my responses aren't appropriate, but I feel that I truly expressed myself in them.

 

[Oh_Gee]

@Goro, what do I do if the greatest obstacle in my life is a big part of my personal statement? Should I write about it again, or should I write about another, smaller obstacle? For instance, I was a heavy smoker for 8 years, then successfully quit 7 years ago.

congrats on quitting! one of the few things to be proud of quitting

 

[WedgeDawg]

I was wondering how formal the essay responses should be? Like, should I rephrase the question in my opening statement all SAT style? Or can I respond as if we were simply having a conversation? The latter feels more natural to me, but I don't want to come across as unprofessional.

Thanks anyone who's able to tell me!

Just answer the question being asked. Don't make it more difficult or confusing than it needs to be.

 

[Oh_Gee]

I had a question regarding the "greatest obstacle" question (much like everyone else). Truly, my greatest obstacle has been seeing myself as a doctor due to my socioeconomic standing and upbringing. I'm considered SE01 disadvantaged on AMCAS, which isn't the lowest, but I haven't really had any good academic role models and haven't had the money to pursue many opportunities. I've been fortunate enough to get merit-based scholarships and grants so I could attend a private, college-prep high school and go to a decent college. Throughout my time at these places, it's been really discouraging to me to see my peers be able to take multiple MCAT prep classes, shadow their parents' multiple doctor friends, or be able to take part in some really interesting experiences, such as the Peace Corps (which you can't do unless you're not in debt). I've been fighting constantly the really negative thoughts that I'm somehow not cut out for medicine because I will never and have never been able to do these things that will ultimately help my application. However, after I graduated from college, I started working full-time with people of a much lower socioeconomic standing than myself, and I realized that my own experiences, even though they were not nearly as hard as these individual's experiences, could help me to better understand their lives and be sensitive to their circumstances, more so than individuals who have never had to face hardship. This has been a huge motivating factor for me to pursue medicine because I believe doctors should have the cultural competency to understand their patients' situations and how those can affect their health/wellbeing.

To me, this is the most genuine response I can think of to the "greatest obstacle" question, but I'm very scared of it coming off as me whining about not having money or playing the victim card. What does everyone else think?

just copy and paste this in your secondary. i like it

 

[beeboops]

just copy and paste this in your secondary. i like it

Heh, I essentially did though I tweaked it significantly so that this post doesn't come up if someone chooses to Google my secondary question for whatever reason 😛

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

I am aware of my privilege and have not necessarily overcome any huge obstacles/challenges, nor do I have any kind of "story" about someone dying/personal disease
When brainstorming ideas for this kind of essay, what are some topics I could consider?

Try using a story about how you helped someone else overcome an obstacle.

 

[Oh_Gee]

Try using a story about how you helped someone else overcome an obstacle.

i thought about doing this but i decided against because i feel like the school wants to know about ME. but maybe you can spin it some way

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

i thought about doing this but i decided against because i feel like the school wants to know about ME. but maybe you can spin it some way

That is what my brother did after he tried the "My life is awesome, I have no complaints". Advisor shot him down. He went with helping someone else. He is an M2 now.

 

[Oh_Gee]

That is what my brother did after he tried the "My life is awesome, I have no complaints". Advisor shot him down. He went with helping someone else. He is an M2 now.

touche

 

[lets_operate]

I have a question about the "Why do you want to go to this school" essay!

I am very interested in doing research in medical school and so one of the reasons I applied to *medical school name* was because they have good research facilities and a research track. Do I need to mention specific labs I would want to work in? Or can I just be vague and say I'm interested in pursuing research in a particular field? Or am I just being a perfectionist and this isn't necessary at all haha

 

[Oh_Gee]

would including specific stories be good or seen as not being to the point?

 

[caffeinemia]

Like one time, I broak a nail and hurt my hair. It was disasteruzz becos I had glamur shotz at the moll.

 

[NotYou20]

My parents' divorce ~ 8 years ago was the biggest challenge I have faced, but I'm not sure if its appropriate to write about something that happened in 8th grade. Thoughts on this?

would including specific stories be good or seen as not being to the point?

I think using a story to illustrate a point is a good idea.

 

[IlDestriero]

Give some serious thought to the “tell us about a time you failed” or “What’s the biggest obstacle that you overcame?” prompts. I believe a lot of people get weeded out by this one for being superficial, or coming across as over privileged. Yes, I know some of you have charmed lives, but if the biggest hurt in your life was getting a C or B for the first time, that’s not going to go down very well. Remember, to those who are given much, much is expected. So avoid writing something that would make a screener or interviewer think "that's it??"

When I was traveling a few years back, the Four Seasons was overbooked and I had to stay at the Ritz Carlton on the other side of the island. While it was a struggle to fit in with the rude and entitled new money crowd, I learned a valuable lesson in going with the flow and being flexible, and I learned that the Bar at the Ritz Carlton makes an excellent lemonade. Of course all was well again in a couple of days when I was able to move back to our suite at the Four Seasons. While it was challenging at the time, in retrospect, the lessons learned that summer will last me a lifetime.

 

[Goro]

Unfortunately colleague, humor doesn't travel well over the electrons, especially when subtle!

When I was traveling a few years back, the Four Seasons was overbooked and I had to stay at the Ritz Carlton on the other side of the island. While it was a struggle to fit in with the rude and entitled new money crowd, I learned a valuable lesson in going with the flow and being flexible, and I learned that the Bar at the Ritz Carlton makes an excellent lemonade. Of course all was well again in a couple of days when I was able to move back to our suite at the Four Seasons. While it was challenging at the time, in retrospect, the lessons learned that summer will last me a lifetime.

 

[IlDestriero]

That's actually a true story, sort of, though it was not the subject of any of my essays.
And I definitely don't like the clientele of the Ritz Carlton, in general.

 

[pinheadnomore]

My parents' divorce ~ 8 years ago was the biggest challenge I have faced, but I'm not sure if its appropriate to write about something that happened in 8th grade. Thoughts on this?

I'm in a similar boat! My most challenging experience was family-related, in high school, but I'm not sure if they'll look at it like "You haven't had a challenge since then?"
Seconding the call for input 🙂

 

[panda16]

I'm in a similar boat! My most challenging experience was family-related, in high school, but I'm not sure if they'll look at it like "You haven't had a challenge since then?"
Seconding the call for input 🙂

My greatest challenge was in high school but it fundamentally changed the way I approached obstacles in my life, so I had no problem including it.

 

[VirginiaResident]

I had a question about letters of recommendations and secondaries: Do the letters that we submitted to AMCAS get forwarded to the schools? I'm a little confused because I assigned certain letters to certain schools, but do I still have to send them from Interfolio directly to the schools?

 

[beeboops]

I had a question about letters of recommendations and secondaries: Do the letters that we submitted to AMCAS get forwarded to the schools? I'm a little confused because I assigned certain letters to certain schools, but do I still have to send them from Interfolio directly to the schools?

If your letters show up as received by AMCAS, then you don't need to do anything else. Some schools, for whatever reason, download LORs separately from the rest of the application, so on secondaries, it may seem like they don't have your letters yet. Give them a week or two to update it, and if it looks like they haven't gotten them yet, I would give the school a call/e-mail and confirm.

 

[VirginiaResident]

If your letters show up as received by AMCAS, then you don't need to do anything else. Some schools, for whatever reason, download LORs separately from the rest of the application, so on secondaries, it may seem like they don't have your letters yet. Give them a week or two to update it, and if it looks like they haven't gotten them yet, I would give the school a call/e-mail and confirm.

Awesome, thanks for the clarification. Gracias!

 

[themoonman2]

Thanks for making this thread, Goro! I have a question about the "2-week rule" for secondaries. I just started receiving secondaries, but my letters of recommendation will not be verified by AMCAS within 2 weeks of today (they should be verified, at most, within 18 days from tomorrow). Do letters of recommendation have to be in at the time of secondary submission in order to meet the "2-week rule"? I will be done writing the secondary essays before then, but do not understand how this entire process works.

 

[vellez]

I've already been accepted, but this advice would have helped a ton this time last year. I eventually came to the same conclusions as Goro, but it took several drafts and some soul searching to do so! Great advice 🙂

 

[emraldragon]

Thanks for making this thread, Goro! I have a question about the "2-week rule" for secondaries. I just started receiving secondaries, but my letters of recommendation will not be verified by AMCAS within 2 weeks of today (they should be verified, at most, within 18 days from tomorrow). Do letters of recommendation have to be in at the time of secondary submission in order to meet the "2-week rule"? I will be done writing the secondary essays before then, but do not understand how this entire process works.

Letters of recommendation do not have to be in. They see when you submitted your primary and they will see when you submit your secondary. They may not review your application until your LORs arrive but they will still see your other submission dates. The LOR does not need to make the 2 week rule (though it can delay review of your application). One of my letter writers (with significant needling) did not get his in until late November. Do not do this if you can help it of course. But I believe the adcoms realize there is only so much pressure you can place on a letter writer. Get everything in as soon as you can, but your LORs are generally slightly out of your hands.

 

[Hupsty]

Letters of recommendation do not have to be in. They see when you submitted your primary and they will see when you submit your secondary. They may not review your application until your LORs arrive but they will still see your other submission dates. The LOR does not need to make the 2 week rule (though it can delay review of your application). One of my letter writers (with significant needling) did not get his in until late November. Do not do this if you can help it of course. But I believe the adcoms realize there is only so much pressure you can place on a letter writer. Get everything in as soon as you can, but your LORs are generally slightly out of your hands.

Welp that is very good to hear. Now I need to get my butt moving though...

 

[Jabawocky]

Does anyone read Diversity statements? I know there are plenty of PS readers.

 

[themoonman2]

Letters of recommendation do not have to be in. They see when you submitted your primary and they will see when you submit your secondary. They may not review your application until your LORs arrive but they will still see your other submission dates. The LOR does not need to make the 2 week rule (though it can delay review of your application). One of my letter writers (with significant needling) did not get his in until late November. Do not do this if you can help it of course. But I believe the adcoms realize there is only so much pressure you can place on a letter writer. Get everything in as soon as you can, but your LORs are generally slightly out of your hands.

Thank you, emraldragon! I appreciate insightful response.

 

[lemmonhead]

I have a question about a secondary topic. The prompt is "Reflect on a time in your life when you experienced failure or things didn’t go as you’d planned. How did this affect you?"

I was thinking about referencing an experience I had while living and teaching in China . I had saved money to climb in Nepal, trained for months etc. then a day before the climb a blizzard hit and the climb was canceled. I was obviously upset but negotiated with my guides and was able to join another group and successfully achieve my goal of climbing a 6000m peak.

Does that come off as over privileged or is it a cool story that suggests adventure, determination and perseverance?

Thanks

 

[IlDestriero]

I have a question about a secondary topic. The prompt is "Reflect on a time in your life when you experienced failure or things didn’t go as you’d planned. How did this affect you?"

I was thinking about referencing an experience I had while living and teaching in China . I had saved money to climb in Nepal, trained for months etc. then a day before the climb a blizzard hit and the climb was canceled. I was obviously upset but negotiated with my guides and was able to join another group and successfully achieve my goal of climbing a 6000m peak.

Does that come off as over privileged or is it a cool story that suggests adventure, determination and perseverance?

Thanks

So things didn't go as planned and you said, "**** man, can I go in 2 weeks instead? I'll give you an extra $1000." They said "yeah sure" and you climbed the mountain?
How is that different from me going to the Mercedes dealer for "the blue one", after test driving and saving and preparing for my shiny new car, only to find it was sold yesterday and I took the white one instead.
The lesson from your "failure" was what? Don't give up on your dream by being flexible with your climb dates?
Things didn't go as planned when you're on the lucky side of base camp and everyone on the other side died in the Avalanche.
Things didn't go as planned when you spent 2 years trying out for NASA and they cancelled the shuttle program and essentially mothballed the U.S. manned space program.
Things didn't go as planned when the rocket carrying the satellite with the experiment you spent the last 5 years on explodes on take off.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Does anyone read Diversity statements? I know there are plenty of PS readers.

I'll read yours if you read mine.