Talking about location in secondary essays

[TheBoneDoctah]

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While writing several of my secondaries to schools, every time I come across the question of "Why this school" I want to bring up that I would love to live in that area. In all my essays, I write about why I would like to attend the school because of programs and things that caught my eye, however can I bring up additionally that the area is somewhere that I would enjoy living? As an OOS applicant, I feel that if the ADCOM knew that I wanted to live in the area that it may help.

 

[Pacna]

I'm not sure what your question is. Your logic is sound, and this is fine to mention.

 

[ciestar]

Have you actually been to these places though? I feel as though a well written secondary could be more convincing if you actually have been to these places..

But no offense, most applicants would be willing to live in the area if given an acceptance. As I said, though, your secondary would be much more convincing if you could really back up your claims with exposure to these areas.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

.

I'm not sure what your question is. Your logic is sound, and this is fine to mention.

For example, would it sound cliche if I brought up the fact that I would love to live in a state because of X,Y, and Z (even if it doesn't have anything to do with their school.)

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Have you actually been to these places though? I feel as though a well written secondary could be more convincing if you actually have been to these places..

But no offense, most applicants would be willing to live in the area if given an acceptance. As I said, though, your secondary would be much more convincing if you could really back up your claims with exposure to these areas.

This is what I have so far:

Aside from the reasons I would like to attend ________ specifically, being able to experience life in a different part of the country is imperative to me. I have lived in _______ for 26 years and have never experienced anything different. The opportunity to be able to obtain my medical education from an incredible institution that has values similar to mine, while subsequently broadening my life exposure is a desire of mine.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

bump

 

[mcrobbit]

This is what I have so far:

Aside from the reasons I would like to attend EVMS specifically, being able to experience life in a different part of the country is imperative to me. I have lived in Southern California for 26 years and have never experienced anything different. The opportunity to be able to obtain my medical education from an incredible institution that has values similar to mine, while subsequently broadening my life exposure is a desire of mine.

I agree with @ciestar that I feel like your words likely don't have real weight behind them unless you have lived in that area for a period of time, because if you've lived in that area you're more likely to approach this line of reasoning by backing it up with context as opposed to stereotypes.

My main issue with what you have written so far is that it's too many buzzwords and not enough substance. "values similar to mine," "broadening my life exposure." What do these things really mean, and how are you able to get them at a location such as EVMS as opposed to southern California? Secondly, do these things and your desire to seek them at EVMS fit with the rest of your application? Does it make you a more compelling applicant? And why does EVMS embody these differences in the first place?

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I agree with @ciestar that I feel like your words likely don't have real weight behind them unless you have lived in that area for a period of time, because you're more likely to approach this line of reasoning by backing it up with context as opposed to stereotypes.

My main issue with what you have written so far is that it's too many buzzwords and not enough substance. "values similar to mine," "broadening my life exposure." What do these things really mean, and how are you able to get them at a location such as EVMS as opposed to southern California? Secondly, do these things and your desire to seek them at EVMS fit with the rest of your application? Does it make you a more compelling argument? And why does EVMS embody these differences in the first place?

Well this is just the last paragraph to my essay. I hit on my values earlier in the essay.

 

[mcrobbit]

Well this is just the last paragraph to my essay. I hit on my values earlier in the essay.

Well that's fine then. I would take some time to review your essay and make sure that you're writing a compelling argument backed by facts & context as opposed to stereotypes and idealizations. I feel like a strong potential is there to do the latter if you have not lived in that area before, which would come off at best like you have no idea what yore talking about and insulting at worst.

It's fine, but you have to do it the right way.

 

[Remy LeBeau]

I would avoid using geography as a reason to attend a school unless you had significant ties to the area, like having lived or worked there or having family in the area.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I would avoid using geography as a reason to attend a school unless you had significant ties to the area, like having lived or worked there or having family in the area.

I'm pretty much just saying that it would be cool to love somewhere else besides where I love now and that I am open to doing so. I haven't lived in Virginia and don't know much about it, but I am open to living there and excited to have a new experience. That's what I was trying to convey

 

[areserine]

The way it's phrased, I'm not sure why you want to be in VIRGINIA rather than just anywhere that isn't where you are now. Which isn't really a reason for why you want to go to a particular school, and more about just wanting to go to any school that isn't where you have already lived. It's sort of like saying you want to go to a school because it grants medical degrees, since the same sentiment can be applied to all schools.

However, I think talking about location can be fine, and I did so in many of my secondaries. But perhaps focus more on specific things, like others have suggested. City size, proximity to things, patient demographics...

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

The way it's phrased, I'm not sure why you want to be in VIRGINIA rather than just anywhere that isn't where you are now. Which isn't really a reason for why you want to go to a particular school, and more about just wanting to go to any school that isn't where you have already lived. It's sort of like saying you want to go to a school because it grants medical degrees, since the same sentiment can be applied to all schools.

However, I think talking about location can be fine, and I did so in many of my secondaries. But perhaps focus more on specific things, like others have suggested. City size, proximity to things, patient demographics...

Okay, I will do some research on these aspects and add it to my essay.

 

[claduva94]

I think for some schools it is important to mention, but having experience there to back it up is probably equally important. Tulane comes to mind.

 

[areserine]

I see what you mean. But how could I say that I would love to live there is I haven't actually experienced it before?

Can you compare it to your current experience? "I like big cities surrounded by oceans and working with the X patient population which is big at your school."

 

[Remy LeBeau]

I'm pretty much just saying that it would be cool to love somewhere else besides where I love now and that I am open to doing so. I haven't lived in Virginia and don't know much about it, but I am open to living there and excited to have a new experience. That's what I was trying to convey

I understand that, and I stand by what I said earlier. You need a substantive reason for wanting to be in the area: worked in the area on a project, went to high school in VA, have cousins in VA you visit every summer. I don't think that just wanting to try a new area is something that an adcom would see as a plus. To them it could really go either way since you have never spent a lot of time in VA. You could actually end up hating it, no matter how open to new experiences you are.

My advice is to use that space in your secondary to elaborate on the reasons you have already given or come up with a different, meaningful reason for choosing that school.