things to discuss in the "why this school" secondary essays

[hello0]

Hey guys,

I tried to find this in other threads but no luck...I've been filling out secondaries and many of them ask "Why this school?" I usually talk about their curriculum and why I like it, in addition to the research and international opportunities that each school has...Is this the right track? Is this what they mean by the question? I don't want to talk about location since that seems frivolous, although I'm not gonna lie, that is the reason for some of the schools I applied to...Anyone have any thoughts?

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[NickNaylor]

1) Go to school's website.
2) Learn about school.
3) ????
4) PROFIT

 

[minerva3121]

Here's a recent thread that should give you some ideas: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=832253

Nick's right though, the school's website is the best resource. Read the mission statement, look at student interest groups that you might be interested in joining, find the highlights of the curriculum (do they emphasize research? problem-based learning? early exposure to patients?). A lot of this is often summarized in the online admissions handbook.

 

[gettheleadout]

Hey guys,

I tried to find this in other threads but no luck...I've been filling out secondaries and many of them ask "Why this school?" I usually talk about their curriculum and why I like it, in addition to the research and international opportunities that each school has...Is this the right track? Is this what they mean by the question? I don't want to talk about location since that seems frivolous, although I'm not gonna lie, that is the reason for some of the schools I applied to...Anyone have any thoughts?

Yes, those are the types of factors that would distinguish similar caliber schools from each other. Curriculum, hospital network, unique extracurricular programs, etc are all valid examples. I would assume location would be a seen as a valid reason to be attracted to a school, in addition to others, as many schools advertise the attractions of their city on their website.

 

[pkwraith]

Location isn't frivolous. If it's one of your criterias, you should list it if you can back it up with good reasons, along with the academics, research opportunities, etc.

 

[flatearth22]

1) Go to school's website.
2) Learn about school.
3) ????
4) PROFIT

lol.....this.

 

[NickNaylor]

Location isn't frivolous. If it's one of your criterias, you should list it if you can back it up with good reasons, along with the academics, research opportunities, etc.

While it may not be "frivolous," if that's the best reason you can come up with for attending a particular school, you should consider applying elsewhere. Unless you have some very compelling reasons - like a family member requires care and you must stay in the area - adcoms are probably looking for something a little more thoughtful.

 

[sector9]

While it may not be "frivolous," if that's the best reason you can come up with for attending a particular school, you should consider applying elsewhere. Unless you have some very compelling reasons - like a family member requires care and you must stay in the area - adcoms are probably looking for something a little more thoughtful.

So, Nick, do you think it's a valid reason to say that you have aunts and uncles in the area to provide support?

I'm not saying that I would base my whole essay on this, but wouldn't it warrant a paragraph?

I thought I had read somewhere on here that schools like to know if you have ties in the area because then it is more likely that you would actually go to the school, rather than a "shotgun" approach to applying.

 

[gettheleadout]

While it may not be "frivolous," if that's the best reason you can come up with for attending a particular school, you should consider applying elsewhere. Unless you have some very compelling reasons - like a family member requires care and you must stay in the area - adcoms are probably looking for something a little more thoughtful.

You mean my love of surfing isn't good enough for UHawaii?

 

[pfaction]

You mean my love of surfing isn't good enough for UHawaii?

I just love them tan, Hawaiian bodies. I'll play doctor for them, fo sho.

http://absolute-hawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/May-32.jpg

 

[sector9]

You mean my love of surfing isn't good enough for UHawaii?

You're missing the obvious "I'm a starfish, so I need to be near the ocean" approach

 

[pfaction]

You're missing the obvious "I'm a starfish, so I need to be near the ocean" approach

👍👍👍

 

[StudyShy]

If you're applying to Oakland University, just say that you want to be a Beaumont doctor. That would get you in for sure. 😉

 

[gettheleadout]

You're missing the obvious "I'm a starfish, so I need to be near the ocean" approach

Brilliant.

 

[ucsfstudents]

Yes, you are on the right track. If you have a friend at a particular school, you can ask them what they like about their school and include that too.

 

[pkwraith]

While it may not be "frivolous," if that's the best reason you can come up with for attending a particular school, you should consider applying elsewhere. Unless you have some very compelling reasons - like a family member requires care and you must stay in the area - adcoms are probably looking for something a little more thoughtful.

I haven't seen anyone in this thread say that location is the only reason, so I'm not sure what you're addressing. Like it or not, location and ties to a region are just as valid a criteria as lip service applicants pay to "unique" curriculum, academic opportunities, research, and all the aspects I listed in my post.

 

[mauberley]

I haven't seen anyone in this thread say that location is the only reason, so I'm not sure what you're addressing. Like it or not, location and ties to a region are just as valid a criteria as lip service applicants pay to "unique" curriculum, academic opportunities, research, and all the aspects I listed in my post.

Nick said "best reason," not "only reason." Certainly location is a factor into people's decisions, but it shouldn't be the most important reason one uses on a secondary application. That was the only thing he was trying to point out.

 

[pkwraith]

Nick said "best reason," not "only reason." Certainly location is a factor into people's decisions, but it shouldn't be the most important reason one uses on a secondary application. That was the only thing he was trying to point out.

Yes, location is not the best reason. No one here thinks it's the best reason. There is no best reason. Nonetheless, it is still a reason that people use to select their medical school, and it is reasonable topic on secondary.

Unless people only list one reason on their secondary, and then they're doing it wrong.

 

[mauberley]

Yes, location is not the best reason. No one here thinks it's the best reason. There is no best reason. Nonetheless, it is still a reason that people use to select their medical school, and it is reasonable topic on secondary.

Unless people only list one reason on their secondary, and then they're doing it wrong.

Correct. I don't think anyone's disagreeing with each other.

 

[minerva3121]

Edit: sorry, something weird happened and my post title got messed up. It's supposed to say "This sample essay can't be real"

This person mentioned prestige, challenging curriculum, and location as their reasons for attending a particular school

Emory University School of Medicine possesses several characteristics that makeit appealing and attractive to me. It is well known in the United States for its challenging curriculum taught by quality professors, as well as its high rate of acceptance among residency programs. I believe that I will achieve my highest potential as a student and future physician through attending Emory. I also findits location to be perfect, as I am a Georgia resident and would like to practice within Georgia someday. Overall, I find Emory to be a wonderful institution from which I would benefit if I were to attend.

http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/education/essay-detail/?schoolId=14035

 

[NickNaylor]

Edit: sorry, something weird happened and my post title got messed up. It's supposed to say "This sample essay can't be real"

This person mentioned prestige, challenging curriculum, and location as their reasons for attending a particular school

Emory University School of Medicine possesses several characteristics that makeit appealing and attractive to me. It is well known in the United States for its challenging curriculum taught by quality professors, as well as its high rate of acceptance among residency programs. I believe that I will achieve my highest potential as a student and future physician through attending Emory. I also findits location to be perfect, as I am a Georgia resident and would like to practice within Georgia someday. Overall, I find Emory to be a wonderful institution from which I would benefit if I were to attend.

http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/education/essay-detail/?schoolId=14035

I can almost guarantee that this essay gave everyone who read it a good laugh.

 

[Simplify]

For those of us who are older with children of school age, perhaps married, location is a huge concern. Cost of living, school districts, etc. are all significant factors in choosing a school. So, while I can't speak for the younger among us, I don't think it is appropriate to make blanket statements about how location is a frivolous reason for attending a school. That is a rather narrow view of reality. I think it is more important that your reasons come off as well-thought and genuine rather than fit some predefined mold. Unless you are sincere, try to fake the funk by feeding the school garbage about their curriculum, clubs, etc. and they're likely to see right through it. They're going to get the same narrow responses from thousands of applicants. I have a hard time believing anyone there cares as much about mission statements and student body organizations as some people here like to claim.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

Easy, just lie about everything. Milk the school's reputation, history, etc. Just imagine you are applying to a job, of course you are going to say that [company's name] is the greatest thing in the world. I mean, you want to get accepted, don't you? You can worry about honesty once you are accepted.

 

[AZFutureDoc]

These essays are really starting to worry me. I always wish I had more things to say. And I freak out, wondering if there is some big, unique aspect of the program that I didn't find while doing research.

Plus, a lot of them end up sounding generic. It is a fact that a lot of schools have similarly innovative curriculums, awesome professors, early clinical exposure, etc. I finish the essay, being as detailed as possible, and realize that I didn't provide a reason why that school is absolutely unique from all the others.

 

[Neuroguy887]

These essays are really starting to worry me. I always wish I had more things to say. And I freak out, wondering if there is some big, unique aspect of the program that I didn't find while doing research.

Plus, a lot of them end up sounding generic. It is a fact that a lot of schools have similarly innovative curriculums, awesome professors, early clinical exposure, etc. I finish the essay, being as detailed as possible, and realize that I didn't provide a reason why that school is absolutely unique from all the others.

Ding ding ding... they AREN'T very unique from each other. Make your main two concerns cost and location, everything else is fluff.

 

[NickNaylor]

Ding ding ding... they AREN'T very unique from each other. Make your main two concerns cost and location, everything else is fluff.

Those probably aren't things I would be focusing on in secondaries when asked why I want to attend x school.

 

[gobroncos123]

I can almost guarantee that this essay gave everyone who read it a good laugh.

I do not have any results/track record to speak of like NN does, so my opinion is not as qualified. But, I do not find anything particularly wrong with speaking about prestige, location, cost. Writing the "why" essay is more finding a balance between generalized and specific comments. Go too generalized and the essay says nothing unique and does not add to the application. Go too specific and it is laughable since you are going off of brochures and websites designed to showcase their school.

Prestige is definitely something to emphasize, as well as match lists/graduate history. When I buy something, I want to see that 4.5/5 star Amazon.com review. As applicants who really do not know what specific med schools are like, we need some sort of gauge. If I were the admissions boss, I would pose the "why" question after the interview as a follow up. Then, the question would have much more meaning for both applicant and admissions committee.

 

[NickNaylor]

I do not have any results/track record to speak of like NN does, so my opinion is not as qualified. But, I do not find anything particularly wrong with speaking about prestige, location, cost. Writing the "why" essay is more finding a balance between generalized and specific comments. Go too generalized and the essay says nothing unique and does not add to the application. Go too specific and it is laughable since you are going off of brochures and websites designed to showcase their school.

Prestige is definitely something to emphasize, as well as match lists/graduate history. When I buy something, I want to see that 4.5/5 star Amazon.com review. As applicants who really do not know what specific med schools are like, we need some sort of gauge. If I were the admissions boss, I would pose the "why" question after the interview as a follow up. Then, the question would have much more meaning for both applicant and admissions committee.

I agree entirely with your first paragraph.