Tell ADCOM one thing that would make them accept you

[TheBoneDoctah]

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In some secondaries they are asking which ONE THING would make the ADCOM determine if you should be admitted or not.

I don't even know where to start here. Are they looking for a quality, achievement? I am so lost and don't even know where to start!

Any ideas?

 

[feeling-dizzy]

I would say list the hardest obstacle that you have ever surpassed. Of course the harder obstacles you achieved as an underdog, the more impressive it will sound

 

[Ismet]

That is an incredibly stupid question IMO. New school?

Perhaps something that shows that you fit really well with the school?

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

That is an incredibly stupid question IMO. New school?

Perhaps something that shows that you fit really well with the school?

Definitely not a new school. I agree that is is a tough question though.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Academic obstacle? @feeling-dizzy

 

[About28]

That is an incredibly stupid question IMO. New school?

Perhaps something that shows that you fit really well with the school?

It's a question in albany's secondary

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

"I know where you live"

 

[LizzyM]

"I am very generous to my alma maters' annual fund raising campaigns." /jk

 

[claduva94]

I'm sorry but I think you are misinterpreting the question. The question is "Tell us one thing about yourself that would help the Admissions Committee determine if you should be admitted to our program." I think that is just them asking to get to know you as a person better so they can tell if you would be a good fit. One factor likely won't change an admission decision. Instead, seek to demonstrate something interesting about you. I used this as a diversity essay.

 

[Heplayer92]

I used it to talk about my minor in medical anthropology and how I was able to use it to approach situations from a holistic/culturally competent perspective when dealing with patients at some clinics that I volunteered at.

/shrug.

I really think you can put anything that isn't stated on your application already to further augment it.

 

[M12B]

In some secondaries they are asking which ONE THING would make the ADCOM determine if you should be admitted or not.

OP, my suggestion would be to start with the school's mission statement. What are they looking to achieve in admitting in you? They want individuals who fit well with and will work to promote their mission. Identify something in their mission (characteristics, qualities, values, etc) that you can relate with and that you feel you exhibit, then think of a specific example from your activities or experiences or accomplishments that SHOWS that you exhibit those characteristics/qualities/values. The key is to show them, not tell them.

Basically, I would approach it as a diversity/ why am I a good fit for your school / what will I contribute to your class type of question.

Edit to add: I actually rather enjoy this type of question as it gives me the opportunity to share my unique activities/talents that don't get a spot elsewhere in my applications . Use it to set yourself apart from the pack 🙂 Best of luck to you!

 

[NYCdude]

What is a "diversity essay" exactly?

 

[Planes2Doc]

I want to do [INSERT MISSION STATEMENT].

 

[M12B]

What is a "diversity essay" exactly?

Typically diversity essays ask how you will contribute to the diversity of the class.

Many assume that 'diversity' automatically implies racial or ethnic or sociocultural themes, but where does that leave middle-class ORMs? Hence diversity prompts can also be used, alternatively, to discuss one's unique experiences and activities. One can add to the diversity of the class through diverse backgrounds and experiences, which bring about contributions such as diverse skills/ideas/ways of thinking.

 

[NYCdude]

Typically diversity essays ask how you will contribute to the diversity of the class.

Many assume that 'diversity' automatically implies racial or ethnic or sociocultural themes, but where does that leave middle-class ORMs? Hence diversity prompts can also be used, alternatively, to discuss one's unique experiences and activities. One can add to the diversity of the class through diverse backgrounds and experiences, which bring about contributions such as diverse skills/ideas/ways of thinking.

Thanks!

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Typically diversity essays ask how you will contribute to the diversity of the class.

Many assume that 'diversity' automatically implies racial or ethnic or sociocultural themes, but where does that leave middle-class ORMs? Hence diversity prompts can also be used, alternatively, to discuss one's unique experiences and activities. One can add to the diversity of the class through diverse backgrounds and experiences, which bring about contributions such as diverse skills/ideas/ways of thinking.

Awesome suggestions. Thanks much.

 

[Goro]

Oh, c'mon doc...what's the ONE best thing about you!?!?

In some secondaries they are asking which ONE THING would make the ADCOM determine if you should be admitted or not.

I don't even know where to start here. Are they looking for a quality, achievement? I am so lost and don't even know where to start!

Any ideas?

 

[username456789]

"Only I have the antidote."

 

[mimelim]

That is an incredibly stupid question IMO. New school?

Perhaps something that shows that you fit really well with the school?

This is the best question that I can imagine. If after thinking long and hard about this, you can't answer it, there is a problem. If you don't know why you belong in medical school, then there is a problem. I was asked this in interviews for medical school (HMS) and at multiple residencies.

Schools from undergrad to medical school to residencies aren't looking for truly well rounded individuals. They are looking for a well rounded class of exceptionally good people. If you can't brag about yourself, there is something wrong.

 

[Ismet]

This is the best question that I can imagine. If after thinking long and hard about this, you can't answer it, there is a problem. If you don't know why you belong in medical school, then there is a problem. I was asked this in interviews for medical school (HMS) and at multiple residencies.

Schools from undergrad to medical school to residencies aren't looking for truly well rounded individuals. They are looking for a well rounded class of exceptionally good people. If you can't brag about yourself, there is something wrong.

The way OP phrased it made it sound like a bad question. There's almost never ONE thing that is the deciding factor between acceptance and rejection, and I'm surprised an admissions committee would imply that in a secondary question. But then it was revealed that that's not the actual question. The actual question, "Tell us one thing about yourself that would help the Admissions Committee determine if you should be admitted to our program," is more understandable and a better question.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

The way OP phrased it made it sound like a bad question. There's almost never ONE thing that is the deciding factor between acceptance and rejection, and I'm surprised an admissions committee would imply that in a secondary question. But then it was revealed that that's not the actual question. The actual question, "Tell us one thing about yourself that would help the Admissions Committee determine if you should be admitted to our program," is more understandable and a better question.

My bad. Haha

 

[Gauss44]

This could make a good movie: a group of studious pre-meds who come up with creative, sometimes odd and extensive, strategies to get into medical school. In the end, the joke is on them as they try so hard that their humanness and personal imperfections rise to the top and ADCOMs ultimately take the "least of the evils."

Examples:
Hot guy who tries to ask out a female ADCOM. (Response to title: asking out)
Logical guy who attempts to study each possible ADCOM extensively online before the interview to play to ADCOM's personalities. (Response to title: imply a shared obsession)
Box-checker, this one can be a female, who thinks she knows just what ADCOMs want and does her best to "play" the part. (Response to title: taken from college prep book)
Jealous type who copies documents he wish he wrote himself from all other candidates in movie so there's some interpersonal drama.
Flanders type
Unibomber type (nuff said) messy geeky dude with something extra in his bag - as the punch line or comic disaster.

(FYI - This is a list of images of pre-med "types" or stereotypes that have come up in my imagination over time and just thought I'd share. A lot of these came from SDN posts or replies.)

 

[gyngyn]

This could make a good movie: a group of studious pre-meds who come up with creative, sometimes odd and extensive, strategies to get into medical school. In the end, the joke is on them as they try so hard that their humanness and personal imperfections rise to the top and ADCOMs ultimately take the "least of the evils."

Examples:
Hot guy who tries to ask out a female ADCOM. (Response to title: asking out)
Logical guy who attempts to study each possible ADCOM extensively online before the interview to play to ADCOM's personalities. (Response to title: imply a shared obsession)
Box-checker, this one can be a female, who thinks she knows just what ADCOMs want and does her best to "play" the part. (Response to title: taken from college prep book)
Jealous type who copies documents he wish he wrote himself from all other candidates in movie so there's some interpersonal drama.
Flanders type
Unibomber type (nuff said) messy geeky dude with something extra in his bag - as the punch line or comic disaster.

(FYI - This is a list of images of pre-med "types" or stereotypes that have come up in my imagination over time and just thought I'd share. A lot of these came from SDN posts or replies.)

These are all reasons that we strongly discourage members of the committee from revealing their service. We also rotate members frequently.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

This is one of those questions that you may always wonder if you answered it incorrectly. <<Hummm, did I say the wrong thing?>> But, in reality, you just have to answer this for yourself, not trying to figure out how best to answer the question. I'm guessing most people have a multitude of reasons why a school should accept you. You should think about /answer why THIS particular school fits YOU and why you'd choose this school over anywhere else you applied.

 

[Gauss44]

This could make a good movie: a group of studious pre-meds who come up with creative, sometimes odd and extensive, strategies to get into medical school. In the end, the joke is on them as they try so hard that their humanness and personal imperfections rise to the top and ADCOMs ultimately take the "least of the evils."

Examples:
Hot guy who tries to ask out a female ADCOM. (Response to title: asking out)
Logical guy who attempts to study each possible ADCOM extensively online before the interview to play to ADCOM's personalities. (Response to title: imply a shared obsession)
Box-checker, this one can be a female, who thinks she knows just what ADCOMs want and does her best to "play" the part. (Response to title: taken from college prep book)
Jealous type who copies documents he wish he wrote himself from all other candidates in movie so there's some interpersonal drama.
Flanders type
Unibomber type (nuff said) messy geeky dude with something extra in his bag - as the punch line or comic disaster.

(FYI - This is a list of images of pre-med "types" or stereotypes that have come up in my imagination over time and just thought I'd share. A lot of these came from SDN posts or replies.)

...Then all the characters above read each other's applications and essays. Flanders prays for mercy because the other applications seemed A LOT better than his. The vote of confidence for the others is cut short when ADCOMs figure them out one by one without notifying anyone of their reasoning (the "smell test").

Result: Flanders gets in and after reading his application (with worse grades/mcat/essays), the other applicants demand an explanation from ADCOMs just to hear, "our selection process is confidential." They conclude the process is either "random" or that Flanders had something even better "up his sleeve."

The end!

 

[feeling-dizzy]

"toughest obstacle" may mean different things to different people. Even in the interview you might be asked "what is the most challenged thing you have encountered? and how you solved it?". For me, I came to the U.S. when I was 16 with no prior English whatsoever. So overcame that deficiency is my most obstacle yet. You can cite academic like physic or math difficulty, and how you ace them later on.