"Tell us something more" essays

[Ekaltadeta]

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What is everyone writing about for the optional open-ended tell us more essays? Half of the secondaries I have seen so far include such inquisition. Do we write a mini-personal statement, talk about activities that weren't included in AMCAS, or just leave them blank?

 

[Cydney Foote]

Definitely fill these out -- take advantage of every opportunity to flesh out your profile. Hobbies, research interests, travel experiences, these are all good topics for secondary essays. Last year, I believe an SDNer wrote successfully about her passion for cooking in her secondaries. Whatever your own passion, you're still trying to demonstrate the same qualities that you presented to the admissions committee in your initial essay(maturity, initiative, leadership, etc.), but this time you're showing those qualities from a different perspective.

Good luck!

 

[Sonya]

Hi,

Just my opinion here, these are two ideas I had.

* where you see yourself in medicine in the future (schools like to know this if you haven't talked much in your AMCAS essay).

* Autobiography. That's what i've decided on. It'll focus on how my earlier upringing affects who I am now, family values, etc. It won't be that focused on medicine (not any more than anyone's autobiography talks about their career). I think it will add a perspective to who I am.

The completely unrelated topics (cooking passion) are also good (i think), because they will add make a starter for interviews.
don't try to stretch it to related it to medicine (unless it naturally comes), or brag you have outside interests or anything.

also.. think back. I'm SURE there HAS to be stuff you didn't have space for in amcas essay... right?? if they fit in here, put them.

 

[ice_23]

I used the space to talk about two EC's that I didn't have space to write about in the primary, and related them to medicine (because for the most part, they did relate to medicine). I think these spaces are the best because they allow you to talk about something that you couldn't before (i.e. being a dancer, singer, artist, cooker, etc.) and you have the opportunity to make yourself look a hell of a lot more interesting! 🙂🙂

-Ice